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MoviePass Parent Company CEO Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud

2025-01-08

MoviePass Parent Company CEO Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud

Theodore Farnsworth, former CEO of Helios & Matheson Analytics Inc. (HMNY), the parent company of MoviePass, pleaded guilty to securities fraud. He admitted to a scheme to defraud investors in both HMNY and Vinco Ventures Inc. by misrepresenting MoviePass's "unlimited" subscription model as profitable and falsely claiming the use of AI technology to boost HMNY's stock price. This case, one of the Justice Department's first "AI washing" cases, highlights the risks of using AI claims to perpetrate fraud.

(www.justice.gov)

Startup securities fraud AI washing

Concurrent Cycle Collection: Garbage-Collected Smart Pointers in Rust for Scheme

2024-12-13

This article details the implementation of a concurrent cycle collector in Rust for garbage-collected smart pointers (Gc) within a Scheme interpreter. Gc functions similarly to Arc>, supporting interior mutability, cloning, and sending across threads. The article thoroughly explains the implementation of Gc, including thread-safe interior mutability using semaphores and read/write locks, and the implementation details of concurrent cycle collection based on the Bacon and Rajan algorithm. This includes the Trace trait, cycle detection, and mechanisms for handling concurrent modifications.

(maplant.com)

Development Garbage Collection Concurrency

LVGL: A Lightweight and Versatile Embedded Graphics Library

2025-03-29

LVGL: A Lightweight and Versatile Embedded Graphics Library

LVGL is a popular open-source embedded graphics library for creating beautiful UIs for any MCU, MPU, and display type. It boasts 30+ built-in widgets, a powerful style system, web-inspired layout managers, and supports multiple languages. Requiring minimal resources (32kB RAM and 128kB Flash), LVGL simplifies UI development. The LVGL team also offers design, implementation, and consulting services to assist developers in building high-quality GUIs.

(github.com)

Development embedded graphics library

Asus, Samsung, and MSI Announce World's First 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz Monitors

2025-01-02

Asus, Samsung, and MSI Announce World's First 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz Monitors

Asus, Samsung, and MSI have jointly unveiled the world's first 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz gaming monitors. All three utilize Samsung Display's fourth-generation QD-OLED panel, promising a longer lifespan and leveraging DisplayPort 2.1a for 4K 240Hz refresh rates without Display Stream Compression (DSC). While largely similar in specs, minor differences exist in size (Asus' is 26.5-inches), HDR support (Asus includes Dolby Vision), and warranty details. Release dates and pricing remain unannounced, but the combination of high refresh rate, high resolution, and OLED technology positions these monitors as top-tier gaming displays.

(www.theverge.com)

Hardware OLED monitor gaming monitor

The Curious Case of Consumer Routers and Weak Power Supplies

2025-01-09

The Curious Case of Consumer Routers and Weak Power Supplies

A senior computer scientist recounts two incidents highlighting performance issues with consumer-grade routers stemming from inadequate power supplies. The first involved the author's home router, exhibiting slowness when powered by a solar inverter. The second occurred in Kiribati during an ISIF Asia-funded project. Using an oscilloscope, the author observed the router drawing excessive current during voltage dips, leading to instability. Adding capacitors to stabilize the power supply resolved the issues, underscoring how seemingly minor power problems can cause significant network failures.

(blog.apnic.net)

Tech router power supply network issues

The Science Behind Star Wars' Special Effects: From Berkeley Lab to Industrial Light & Magic

2025-07-28

The Science Behind Star Wars' Special Effects: From Berkeley Lab to Industrial Light & Magic

This article recounts the story behind the iconic special effects of Star Wars and the contribution of UC Berkeley's Environmental Simulation Laboratory. To create more realistic environmental simulations, the Berkeley lab developed a computer-controlled camera system, later used by Industrial Light & Magic in the production of Star Wars, becoming a milestone in film special effects history. This technology not only advanced film special effects but also provided new simulation methods for urban planning, allowing for more intuitive understanding of planning proposals through precise models and camera techniques.

(www.nsf.gov)

Tech film special effects Industrial Light & Magic

nCompass: Revolutionizing AI Inference Cost

2024-12-16

nCompass Technologies has developed innovative AI inference serving software that reduces the cost of serving AI models at scale by up to 50%. By utilizing custom AI inference software and a hardware-aware request scheduler with Kubernetes autoscaling, nCompass maintains high-quality service on fewer GPUs, resulting in up to a 4x improvement in response time and significantly reduced GPU infrastructure costs. Users access open-source models via API with no rate limits and receive a $100 signup credit. On-premises solutions are also available for businesses demanding cost-effectiveness and responsiveness.

(www.ncompass.tech)

AI AI inference cost optimization

Coding at 50: A Programmer's Midlife Crisis?

2025-02-22

A seasoned programmer reflects on his career, finding large-scale, high-pressure coding frustrating: poorly understood domains, vast APIs, cryptic documentation, ever-changing tech stacks, and unpredictable bugs. He realizes this intensity isn't sustainable, especially at 50. He prefers building small, reliable tools—like a sub-28KB C and Erlang image compositor—over large projects. This raises questions about programmer career paths and sustainability: is high-pressure coding a young man's game?

(prog21.dadgum.com)

Development midlife crisis

Science Nerd Faces Jail Time for Ordering Radioactive Material Online

2025-03-26

Science Nerd Faces Jail Time for Ordering Radioactive Material Online

A 24-year-old Australian man, Emmanuel Lidden, faces up to 10 years in jail for ordering radioactive plutonium online as part of his quest to collect all elements of the periodic table. The incident triggered a major hazmat response in August 2023 when the package arrived at his parents' home in suburban Sydney. While his lawyer argued Lidden is an 'innocent collector' with no malicious intent, prosecutors countered that his actions created a market for illegal materials. Lidden pleaded guilty to breaching Australia's nuclear non-proliferation act and will be sentenced on April 11th. The case highlights the dangers of acquiring hazardous materials illegally and the challenges faced by law enforcement.

(au.news.yahoo.com)

Tech radioactive material periodic table nuclear non-proliferation

Geometric Series Solution for Capacitor Charge Under Square Wave Excitation

2025-01-24

This article analyzes the charge and discharge process of a capacitor under the influence of a symmetric square wave voltage. By establishing recursive equations for charging and discharging, the geometric series solution for the process is obtained. Special cases are discussed where the time constant is much smaller or larger than the period of the square wave. For example, when the time constant is much smaller than the period, the capacitor fully charges and discharges; when the period is much smaller than the time constant, the circuit acts as a low-pass filter.

(ivanbelenky.com)

Hardware capacitor square wave geometric series

Learn Arabic Easier: A Website That Redefines Language Learning

2025-03-08

Learn Arabic Easier: A Website That Redefines Language Learning

Learning Arabic can be challenging due to its complex alphabet and sentence structures. The website "Learn Arabic" offers a unique approach: start reading Arabic words and sentences without first learning the alphabet. It features 8261 Arabic words and 2625 sentences and phrases, each with detailed explanations and links to aid understanding. The site leverages the Arabic root system and word pattern associations to enhance memorization and comprehension. This innovative method makes learning Arabic easier and more engaging.

(arabic.fi)

Misc Arabic learning online learning

Pentester Bypasses Security with Null Byte Injection

2025-01-27

Pentester Bypasses Security with Null Byte Injection

0xold, a seasoned penetration tester, shares two vulnerabilities discovered using null byte injection. The first involved a password reset callback URL parsing issue; injecting the Unicode null byte character `\u0000` bypassed restrictions, allowing partial control of the callback URL. The second was a path traversal to XSS. Fuzzing revealed a `templatename` parameter; null byte injection and a custom wordlist led to successful XSS exploitation. Furthermore, null byte injection bypassed an internal WAF, enabling SQL injection.

(medium.com)

Development null byte injection penetration testing vulnerability exploitation

Enhance Integer Parser: Embrace Scientific Notation

2025-08-11

This article proposes an improvement to integer parsers to support scientific notation (e.g., 1E9 for one billion). The author argues that current integer parsers often reject inputs like "1E9," making entering large integers cumbersome. By allowing parsers to recognize and handle scientific notation, inputting large numbers can be simplified and made more efficient. The article also discusses potential compatibility issues with this improvement and how to address them.

(owl.billpg.com)

Development integer parsing

Recursion Demystified: A Project-Based Approach

2025-01-04

The Recursive Book of Recursion challenges the intimidating reputation of recursive algorithms. Using Python and JavaScript examples, it progressively explains recursion's fundamentals, common algorithms (factorials, Fibonacci sequences, tree traversal, maze solving, etc.), and optimization techniques (tail call optimization, memoization). It covers advanced topics like divide-and-conquer, permutations, combinations, and dynamic programming, culminating in fractal art generation. Project-based and highly accessible, this book is perfect for beginners and experienced programmers alike.

(inventwithpython.com)

Development

US Restricts Swiss Access to AI Chips

2025-01-27

US Restricts Swiss Access to AI Chips

The US has tightened export controls on AI-related products, granting unrestricted access to crucial AI chips only to a select group of 'allies,' excluding Switzerland. This move has sparked concerns in Switzerland, as these chips are essential for academic research and commercial applications. The Swiss government is engaging with US authorities to ensure that Swiss research and industry are not unduly hampered, highlighting Switzerland's credentials as a reliable partner.

(www.swissinfo.ch)

Tech

Viking Hoard Reveals Surprising Trade Links Between England and the Islamic World

2025-08-18

Viking Hoard Reveals Surprising Trade Links Between England and the Islamic World

A Viking-Age silver hoard unearthed in Bedale, North Yorkshire, is rewriting our understanding of Viking-era trade. Analysis reveals that a significant portion of the silver, dating back to the 9th-10th centuries AD, originated not from local plunder but from the Islamic world, specifically Iran and Iraq. This silver traveled along established trade routes, reaching Scandinavia and eventually England. The discovery challenges the simplistic 'Viking raider' stereotype, highlighting the sophisticated trade networks and economic integration of Viking-Age England within a broader Eurasian economic system. The hoard's contents, including ingots, necklaces, and a sword pommel, demonstrate the Vikings' ability to refine and recast silver, blending Eastern and Western materials, showcasing cultural fusion alongside economic exchange.

(www.heritagedaily.com)

Tech Viking Age Trade Networks

Xerox's 50 Series: A Comeback Story

2025-09-17

In 1988, Xerox launched its 50 series copiers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Chester Carlson's invention of the first xerographic image. Xerox touted the 50 series as its most significant product line since the 10 series in 1982. Featuring enhanced capabilities and a higher price point, the 50 series (models 5018, 5028, 5046, 5052, and 5090) helped Xerox reclaim market share lost to Japanese competitors.

(xeroxnostalgia.com)

Tech Xerox Copiers

The Man Behind Apple's Iconic Sounds: The Sosumi Beep and More

2025-06-12

This article unveils the story behind Jim Reekes, the creator of iconic Apple sounds like the Mac startup chime and the iPhone camera shutter sound. He reveals the inspiration for the Mac startup sound – the final chord of The Beatles' 'A Day In The Life' – and the origin story of the Sosumi beep, born from a trademark dispute. Multiple video links showcase interviews and clips of Reekes detailing his creative process, including the synthesizers and camera he used.

(reekes.net)

Tech Sound Design Mac Startup Sound

Netflix's Movie Paradox: Billions Spent, Mediocrity Delivered

2025-09-10

Netflix's Movie Paradox: Billions Spent, Mediocrity Delivered

Netflix's massive spending on original films has yielded a surprising number of critical and commercial flops, exemplified by the $320 million bomb, *The Electric State*. This article explores Netflix's filmmaking challenges: high salaries attract journeyman directors prioritizing timely delivery over artistic vision; A-list stars boost visibility but not quality; Netflix's business model prioritizes content quantity over quality, turning films into disposable filler. The fundamental incompatibility between directors' artistic ambitions and Netflix's volume-driven approach results in a shortage of high-quality movies.

(www.statsignificant.com)

Tech

Chewing Hard Objects Boosts Brain GSH Levels and Improves Cognition?

2025-03-03

A Korean study found that chewing hard objects (like wooden blocks) significantly increases glutathione (GSH) levels in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain. GSH is a crucial antioxidant, and higher levels are associated with better memory performance. In contrast, chewing gum showed no significant effect on GSH levels. Researchers suggest that increased cerebral blood flow from chewing hard objects may stimulate GSH synthesis. This study proposes a simple way to boost brain antioxidant defenses, but further research is needed to validate its effectiveness across different age groups and brain regions.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Tech Glutathione Antioxidant Cognitive Function

Bacteria Build Living Gels in Polymers: A New Twist on Biofilms

2025-01-26

Bacteria Build Living Gels in Polymers: A New Twist on Biofilms

Caltech and Princeton University scientists have discovered that bacteria growing in polymer solutions, like mucus, form long, intertwined cables—a kind of ‘living Jell-O.’ This is significant for understanding diseases like cystic fibrosis, where thickened lung mucus fosters dangerous bacterial infections. The discovery also has implications for studying biofilms (the slimy coatings on surfaces) and their industrial impacts. The researchers found that external pressure from the polymers forces the bacterial cells together. A theoretical model accurately predicts when these cable structures will form. The reason for cable formation remains a mystery: it may be a bacterial defense mechanism or conversely, a way for the body to expel the infection more easily. This unexpected finding opens up new avenues of research into bacterial growth and biofilm control.

(www.caltech.edu)

Tech polymers biofilms

Archive Team: Rescuing Digital History from the Brink

2024-12-18

Archive Team is a loose collective of archivists, programmers, and volunteers dedicated to preserving our digital heritage. Since 2009, they've been battling website shutdowns, data deletions, and more, striving to save historical information before it's lost forever. They actively participate in various data archiving projects, offering advice on data management and recovery. Current projects include saving data from platforms like Telegram and Cohost, along with ongoing efforts for sites such as Blogger, GitHub, and Imgur.

(wiki.archiveteam.org)

Tech digital heritage web archiving data preservation

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

2025-01-03

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

Apple silently enabled a feature called "Enhanced Visual Search" in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, which analyzes photos for landmarks without explicit user consent. While Apple claims to use homomorphic encryption and differential privacy to protect user privacy, the lack of transparency and opt-in choice has sparked concern. Developers criticize Apple's lack of explanation and user notification, arguing the approach is even more intrusive than its abandoned CSAM scanning plan. Although no evidence suggests Apple violated its privacy statements, the lack of communication is the core of user discontent.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

arXiv: How Preprints Revolutionized Research Sharing

2024-12-26

arXiv: How Preprints Revolutionized Research Sharing

From papyrus to preprints, the dissemination of scientific research has undergone a dramatic transformation. This article traces the history of peer review and highlights the emergence of arXiv and its impact on the scientific community. arXiv, as a preprint server, broke down the barriers of traditional journals, enabling rapid and open sharing of research findings. However, it also faces challenges related to quality control and information overload. The author explores the conflict and convergence between preprint culture and traditional academic publishing models, and the profound impact it has on the future direction of scientific research.

(joinreboot.org)

Tech preprints peer review

AMD Instinct™ MI300X Boosts Ansys Fluent CFD Performance

2025-01-19

AMD released a blog post showcasing the impressive performance of its Instinct™ MI300X accelerator in Ansys Fluent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Benchmarks using four benchmark models (sedan car, aircraft wing, exhaust system, and F1 race car) on both AMD MI300X and NVIDIA H100 platforms showed up to a 10% improvement in time-to-solution for the MI300X. This is attributed to the MI300X's 192GB HBM3 memory capacity and high memory bandwidth, along with AMD Infinity Cache™. The blog details the testing methodology, system configurations, and a step-by-step guide to installing and running the benchmarks. The MI300X proves to be an excellent choice for applications requiring steady-state analysis.

(rocm.blogs.amd.com)

Hardware

FTC Delays Enforcement of Click-to-Cancel Rule

2025-05-12

FTC Delays Enforcement of Click-to-Cancel Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed enforcement of its “click-to-cancel” rule until July 14th, pushing back the original May 14th deadline. The rule, part of the Negative Option Rule, requires subscription cancellations to be as easy as sign-ups. The FTC cited a reassessment of the burden of immediate compliance as the reason for the delay. While enforcement will begin July 14th, the FTC remains open to amending the rule if problems arise during implementation.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech click-to-cancel

SaaS SSO Pricing: A Security Tax or Revenue Grab?

2025-08-19

This article exposes the exorbitant pricing of Single Sign-On (SSO) features across numerous SaaS vendors. Many vendors lock SSO behind expensive 'Enterprise' plans, often increasing the price by several hundred percent or even more. The author argues that SSO is a critical security requirement, and the massive price hikes are not justified by maintenance costs but rather represent a profit opportunity. The article calls for SaaS providers to either include SSO in core offerings or provide it as a reasonably priced add-on, not a deterrent to better security practices.

(sso.tax)

Tech

Supercharge Your Shell: The Ultimate Guide to fzf/skim and zsh History Search

2025-03-26

The author, a heavy Unix terminal user, noticed vast differences in shell efficiency among users. By combining the Ctrl-r shortcut with the fuzzy-finding tools fzf/skim, command search efficiency was dramatically improved. The article details configuring zsh and skim to enhance history command display, replacing meaningless integers with timestamps and customizing the display format (e.g., using "1d", "2d" for command execution time) for more intuitive command selection. Ultimately, the author's shell efficiency doubled, encouraging readers to improve their shell usage habits for increased productivity.

(tratt.net)

Development Shell efficiency

Mystery Solved: The 'Evil' RJ45 Dongle Was Just Old Tech

2025-01-17

Mystery Solved: The 'Evil' RJ45 Dongle Was Just Old Tech

A tech blogger investigates a Chinese-made RJ45-to-USB dongle accused on social media of containing malware. Through reverse engineering, the author discovers the dongle uses a publicly available, signed driver for a clone of the Realtek RTL8152B chip. The onboard flash memory stores the driver, essentially acting as a 'software-defined' CD-ROM. The conclusion? The dongle itself is harmless, just employing an outdated method of driver delivery. The article, written in a lighthearted tone, highlights misinterpretations and overreactions in cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of security, particularly for critical infrastructure and strategic businesses.

(lcamtuf.substack.com)

Tech hardware reverse engineering

Coding Without Bugs: A Viable Approach for Small Teams and Startups

2025-01-23

Coding Without Bugs: A Viable Approach for Small Teams and Startups

A senior engineer shares their experience of pursuing 'bug-free coding' at Telegram and various projects. While seemingly inefficient, they argue that this approach avoids massive maintenance costs and team burnout in the long run. The author uses personal anecdotes and project examples to demonstrate that focusing on code quality and maintainability alongside product velocity leads to efficient development and high-quality products.

(korshakov.com)

Development Code Quality

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