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Exoscale: Swiss Cloud Computing with Granular API Control

2025-03-10
Exoscale: Swiss Cloud Computing with Granular API Control

Exoscale, a Swiss cloud computing platform with multiple European server locations, offers virtual servers, S3-compatible object storage, managed Kubernetes, managed databases, DNS, and CDN. Its managed database service includes Apache Kafka and Redis alongside MySQL and PostgreSQL. Virtual servers come in various configurations optimized for CPU, memory, or storage, plus dedicated GPU instances for intensive workloads. API keys boast granular permission control, down to individual service groups (e.g., 'Compute') and even bucket-level access for object storage. The company is owned by A1, a major Austrian telecommunications provider.

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(european-alternatives.eu)
Tech API permissions European cloud

Ecosia: A Steward-Owned Company Committed to Planting Trees, Not Profits

2025-03-10
Ecosia: A Steward-Owned Company Committed to Planting Trees, Not Profits

Ecosia founder Christian Kroll has doubled down on his commitment to environmentalism by transforming the company into a steward-owned entity. This legally binding structure prevents the sale of shares for profit and prohibits profit extraction. The focus is squarely on maximizing tree planting, not shareholder returns, challenging the traditional business model and inspiring other companies to prioritize purpose over profit.

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(blog.ecosia.org)
Startup corporate social responsibility

NOMARS: The Unmanned Surface Vessel Revolution

2025-03-10

The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program has successfully completed construction of the USX-1 Defiant, a 180-foot, 240-metric-ton unmanned surface vessel (USV). Designed from the keel up without any human crew considerations, Defiant aims to revolutionize naval architecture. By eliminating the human element, NOMARS anticipates significant advantages in size, cost, reliability, hydrodynamic efficiency, sea-state survivability, and adversary resistance through stealth and tamper-proofing. Scheduled for sea trials in Spring 2025, Defiant promises a cost-effective path to a distributed USV fleet.

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(www.darpa.mil)
Tech USV autonomous navigation naval technology

Stack Traces: An Underappreciated Debugging Tool

2025-03-10

This article highlights the importance of stack traces in debugging. Using a Python example, it demonstrates how stack traces pinpoint error locations and function calls. However, the article notes challenges in obtaining and maintaining complete stack traces in modern languages like Go and Rust, and within microservice architectures. While some workarounds exist, they require extra effort compared to Python's ease of use. The author advocates for prioritizing stack traces, arguing that their benefits outweigh any performance overhead.

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(www.karl.berlin)
Development stack trace

CPython's Performance Boost: A Tale of Unexpected Twists and LLVM Regressions

2025-03-10

A recent CPython merge introduced a new bytecode interpreter implementation, initially showing impressive 10-15% performance gains across various benchmarks. However, this improvement stemmed from inadvertently circumventing an LLVM 19 regression. When benchmarked against a better baseline (like GCC or tuned LLVM 19), the actual performance boost shrinks to a mere 1-5%. Weeks of compiling, benchmarking, and disassembling revealed that LLVM 19's limitations on tail-call duplication caused the regression. While the tail-call interpreter is a valuable improvement, this incident highlights challenges in benchmarking, performance engineering, and software engineering, such as the difficulty in choosing baselines and understanding the complexities of compiler optimizations.

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(blog.nelhage.com)
Development

RTX 5090 Shows Early Promise in Llama.cpp AI Benchmarks

2025-03-10

Following CUDA, OpenCL, and OptiX benchmark testing of the RTX 5090, reader interest prompted an investigation into its AI performance, specifically with Llama.cpp. Initial benchmarks comparing the RTX 5090, RTX 40-series, and RTX 30-series cards using Llama.cpp (with Llama 3.1 and Mistral 7B models) show significant performance gains for the RTX 5090 in text generation and prompt processing. Further, more in-depth benchmarks will follow based on reader interest.

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(www.phoronix.com)
AI AI Performance

Virtual Keypunch: A Retro Trip to the 'Big Iron' Era

2025-03-10
Virtual Keypunch: A Retro Trip to the 'Big Iron' Era

Remember punch cards? Now you can experience this retro programming method with 'The Virtual Keypunch,' a free online tool. Type your text, and it generates a simulated punch card image, supporting various card types (FORTRAN, COBOL, etc.) and even binary mode. It's not just a fun nostalgic experience; it offers developers a unique way to learn about early programming.

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(www.masswerk.at)
Development

The End of the LLM Hype Cycle?

2025-03-10
The End of the LLM Hype Cycle?

This article presents a cautiously optimistic outlook on the current progress of Large Language Models (LLMs). The author argues that while LLMs excel at specific tasks, the current technological trajectory is unlikely to lead to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Improvements are more incremental, manifested in subtle enhancements and benchmark improvements rather than fundamental leaps in capability. The author predicts that in the coming years, LLMs will become useful tools but will not deliver AGI or widespread automation. Future breakthroughs may require entirely novel approaches.

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(www.lesswrong.com)
AI

The Brutalist and the AI-Enhanced Accent: A Commentary on Technological Interference in Film

2025-03-10
The Brutalist and the AI-Enhanced Accent: A Commentary on Technological Interference in Film

The Oscar-winning film 'The Brutalist' sparked controversy over its use of AI to refine the Hungarian accents of its actors. While the director claims AI was used subtly, critics argue it masked the actors' linguistic shortcomings and sets a worrying precedent for future film production. The article delves into the ethical implications of AI in filmmaking, suggesting its potential to stifle artistic originality and create a bland, homogenous aesthetic devoid of genuine human expression and artistic flaws. The author ultimately questions the future of artistic expression in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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(thebaffler.com)
Tech

Optimal Brain Processing: The Key Role of Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance

2025-03-10
Optimal Brain Processing: The Key Role of Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance

New research reveals a crucial aspect of brain information processing: the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neuronal activity is key to optimal information encoding. Researchers from the University of Padova, the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, and EPFL used mathematical models and information theory to show that balanced activity of these two neuron types enables efficient information processing, accurately encoding both long-timescale and rapidly changing inputs. This finding offers new insights into brain information processing and guides future neuroscientific research.

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(phys.org)
Tech neuronal balance

Open Source Android Apps: Privacy, Security, and Customization

2025-03-10

Tired of intrusive ads and privacy concerns in closed-source apps? Open-source Android apps offer a refreshing alternative. Publicly available source code ensures transparency and security, allowing users and developers to examine the code for vulnerabilities and malicious elements. Open-source apps often prioritize user privacy, collecting less data and providing clear documentation on data usage. Furthermore, you can customize the app to fit your needs, and a strong community supports ongoing development and improvements.

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(www.openapk.net)
Development open source apps

Free95: Open-Source Windows-Compatible OS Aims to Reclaim the Past

2025-03-10
Free95: Open-Source Windows-Compatible OS Aims to Reclaim the Past

Free95 is an open-source operating system compatible with Windows. It offers a user-friendly Windows-like environment with the added security and transparency of the open-source community. Your favorite Windows games and applications should run flawlessly. The project aims to remove the bloat and security concerns often associated with proprietary operating systems, offering an alternative free from corporate control. Compatibility is achieved through NT system calls and Win32 API implementation. To contribute, submit a pull request or contact developer dripkap_19416 on Discord. You can compile the OS from source or download a binary from the Releases section.

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(github.com)
Development open-source OS Windows compatible

Skulls, Monsters, and Death: Re-examining the Mexican Printmaker José Guadalupe Posada

2025-03-10
Skulls, Monsters, and Death: Re-examining the Mexican Printmaker José Guadalupe Posada

As cultural critic Ilan Stavans notes, Posada's work transports us to a universe of gothic, grotesque, magical, and bizarre incidents, with death as a primary, not existential or painful, but irrevocable, social, and egalitarian theme. His world is filled with bats, griffins, skeletons, animal hybrids, snakes, explosions, pistols, demons, ghosts, and deformities. Instead of viewing these gruesome elements as a side note, we should consider their inherent significance.

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(publicdomainreview.org)
Design Mexican printmaking death imagery gothic art

Microsoft's Quiet Breakup with OpenAI: An AI Power Struggle

2025-03-10
Microsoft's Quiet Breakup with OpenAI: An AI Power Struggle

Microsoft is quietly distancing itself from OpenAI, developing its own in-house reasoning model, MAI, and testing models from xAI, Meta, and DeepSeek as potential ChatGPT replacements in Copilot. Driven by concerns over ChatGPT's cost and speed, and hampered by OpenAI's reluctance to share documentation on its o1 model, Microsoft's massive investment and initial partnership seem to be dissolving into a fierce AI competition. Both companies are vying for market share, promising an exciting future for the AI landscape.

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(gizmodo.com)
Tech

Pompey's Theatre: A Monument to Power and the Dawn of Roman Entertainment

2025-03-10

In 55 BC, Pompey the Great inaugurated Rome's first permanent theatre, a lavish spectacle marking the city's burgeoning entertainment culture. The massive structure, seating 15,000, wasn't merely a building; it was a testament to Pompey's military achievements and political prowess. Its grand opening featured gladiatorial combats, elaborate plays (including a lavish production of Clytemnestra, subtly echoing Pompey's own triumphs), and displays of his vast wealth. While seemingly generous, Pompey's theatre served as a powerful tool for political control, a prime example of 'bread and circuses'. Its significance extended beyond Pompey's lifetime, becoming the site of Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.

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(www.historytoday.com)
Misc Pompey theatre

Structured: Redefining Data App Development

2025-03-10
Structured: Redefining Data App Development

Structured is revolutionizing how developers build and deploy data applications by consolidating the entire analytics stack into code. Addressing the inefficiency of deploying production-grade data-intensive apps, Structured offers a lightweight SDK enabling developers to prototype, deploy, and manage data applications (dashboards, internal tools) in hours. They're looking for experienced full-stack engineers to join their team and work on building the core SDK, designing interactive components, and optimizing performance. The tech stack includes Python, TypeScript, Next.js, React, Postgres, AWS/GCP.

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(www.ycombinator.com)
Development data app development lightweight SDK full-stack engineer

Tesla Used Car Prices Plummet Amidst Growing Competition

2025-03-10
Tesla Used Car Prices Plummet Amidst Growing Competition

The used car market is booming! Driven by historically high new car prices, consumers are flocking to the pre-owned market for better deals. Used Tesla Model Ys, in particular, have seen prices drop over $6,000 in the past year, with some low-mileage models available for under $30,000. Used Model 3s are even cheaper, with some high-mileage options dipping below $15,000. This trend is linked to the launch of new Tesla models, increased competition, and shifting consumer search preferences. A surge in rival EV manufacturers is giving consumers more choices, challenging Tesla's market dominance.

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(www.forbes.com)
Tech

The Quirky Tales of Green Bank Observatory: Old Cars, Starry Skies, and RFI Battles

2025-03-10
The Quirky Tales of Green Bank Observatory: Old Cars, Starry Skies, and RFI Battles

This concluding part of a series recounts the unique challenges and triumphs of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, West Virginia. From its fleet of antique diesel cars, necessary to avoid radio frequency interference (RFI), to its simple teaching telescope used for educational outreach, the story reveals the dedication and ingenuity of NRAO's staff. The article details the intricacies of the observatory's 40-foot telescope, the massive Green Bank Telescope (GBT), and the RFI monitoring station, while highlighting the harmonious relationship cultivated between NRAO and the local community, even amidst historical conflicts and ongoing battles against RFI from various sources, including military aircraft.

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(raoulpop.com)
Tech Radio Astronomy

Palestinian Grad Student Arrested: Political Protest Leads to Visa Crisis

2025-03-10
Palestinian Grad Student Arrested: Political Protest Leads to Visa Crisis

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who played a prominent role in anti-Israel protests, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities revoked his student visa and green card, citing support for Hamas. The arrest is seen as an escalation of the Trump administration's crackdown on student political activism, sparking debate about free speech and political retaliation. Khalil was a key negotiator in student protests and faced disciplinary action from the university for his social media activity. The arrest is also linked to the Trump administration's threat to cut funding to Columbia University over its handling of antisemitism on campus.

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(apnews.com)
Misc political protest visa crisis

Nearby Galaxy's Hidden Monster: Hypervelocity Stars Reveal Supermassive Black Hole

2025-03-09
Nearby Galaxy's Hidden Monster: Hypervelocity Stars Reveal Supermassive Black Hole

A new study suggests a previously unknown supermassive black hole lurks in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud. Researchers tracked hypervelocity stars, finding their trajectories didn't originate from our galaxy's central black hole, but rather from a black hole within the Large Magellanic Cloud, estimated to be 600,000 times the mass of our Sun. This strongly supports the existence of a supermassive black hole at the Large Magellanic Cloud's center, offering new insights into galactic evolution. The search is now on to directly detect this hidden object using various telescopes.

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(www.npr.org)
Tech hypervelocity stars Large Magellanic Cloud

Niigata's Geothermal Snow-Melting System: A Clever Solution

2025-03-09
Niigata's Geothermal Snow-Melting System: A Clever Solution

Facing heavy snowfall, Niigata, Japan, developed a clever snow-melting system in the 1960s called 'shosetsu'. This system uses geothermal heat to warm groundwater, which is then pumped through pipes under roads and sprayed onto the asphalt to prevent snow from freezing. Niigata currently has approximately 571 kilometers of roads equipped with this system, offering a more environmentally friendly and car-friendly alternative to traditional salting methods.

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(www.core77.com)
Tech snow melting

arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

2025-03-09
arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

arXivLabs is a framework for collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on the website. Individuals and organizations involved share arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv only works with partners adhering to these principles. Got an idea to improve the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

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(arxiv.org)
Development

Variational Lossy Autoencoders: When RNNs Ignore Latent Variables

2025-03-09
Variational Lossy Autoencoders: When RNNs Ignore Latent Variables

This paper tackles the challenge of combining Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) with Variational Autoencoders (VAEs). While VAEs use latent variables to learn data representations, RNNs as decoders often ignore these latents, directly learning the data distribution. The authors propose Variational Lossy Autoencoders (VLAEs), which restrict the RNN's access to information, forcing it to leverage latent variables for encoding global structure. Experiments demonstrate VLAEs learn compressed and semantically rich latent representations.

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(theahura.substack.com)
AI representation learning

Secret Passages Unearthed Beneath Milan's Sforza Castle: A Da Vinci Connection?

2025-03-09
Secret Passages Unearthed Beneath Milan's Sforza Castle: A Da Vinci Connection?

Scientists have discovered a hidden network of underground passages beneath Milan's Sforza Castle using non-destructive methods like ground-penetrating radar and laser scanning. The tunnels, hinted at in a Leonardo da Vinci sketch from around 1495 and historical records, likely served as escape routes or defense mechanisms for soldiers. This discovery underscores Da Vinci's military engineering prowess and highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Further investigation revealed additional tunnels and underground chambers, one possibly leading to the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, potentially built by the Duke of Milan to access his late wife's tomb. Despite significant historical damage, the castle's subsurface structures retain a wealth of historical information, reminding us that history is often hidden in plain sight.

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(www.cnn.com)
Tech Sforza Castle Underground Tunnels

Info Warfare: Truth and Digital Risks in the Next Conflict

2025-03-09
Info Warfare: Truth and Digital Risks in the Next Conflict

In war, truth is often the first casualty. In the next major conflict, virtually all information could be a victim. Over-reliance on digital communication exposes Western societies to significant risks, as seen in Ukraine's experience with Russia. Hacker groups (both military and criminal) have infiltrated television, the internet, and streaming radio, spreading disinformation, launching denial-of-service attacks, and jamming GPS signals, posing a serious challenge to societal narratives and stability.

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(www.spectator.co.uk)
Tech information warfare digital risks

Hammershøi's London Triumph: From Wimpole Street to Critical Acclaim

2025-03-09
Hammershøi's London Triumph: From Wimpole Street to Critical Acclaim

Vilhelm Hammershøi spent the winter of 1912 and spring of 1913 in England, culminating in successful exhibitions. His connection began with Leonard Borwick, a renowned pianist who, after discovering Hammershøi's work, championed his art. Borwick, a favorite of Queen Victoria, secured exhibitions at prestigious London venues, including the Guildhall and the Van Wisselingh Gallery. The shows were lauded by critics, with Hammershøi dubbed 'the find of the season' and his paintings praised for their 'reserve and cool'. Hammershøi's personal affinity for music, evident in his childhood sketches and his wife's accounts, likely informed his artistic vision.

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(www.richardmorris.org)
Design exhibition Denmark

The Power of Abstraction: How Linux and FFmpeg Build Extensible Media Frameworks

2025-03-09
The Power of Abstraction: How Linux and FFmpeg Build Extensible Media Frameworks

This article explores how Linux and FFmpeg achieve code extensibility through abstraction and interfaces. Linux's "everything is a file" philosophy, using the `file_operations` structure to define a common interface for file operations, allows various resources (network sockets, special files, USB devices) to be accessed uniformly. FFmpeg employs a similar strategy, using abstract concepts like `AVCodec` to easily add new codecs and formats; the integration of DAV1d exemplifies this design's advantages. The article uses Ruby, Go, and C code examples to illustrate different ways to implement abstract interfaces in various programming languages, ultimately highlighting the crucial role of good software design in improving code maintainability and extensibility.

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(leandromoreira.com)
Development

Deep Dive into Apple's XNU Kernel Exclave Architecture

2025-03-09
Deep Dive into Apple's XNU Kernel Exclave Architecture

This article delves into the secure enclave architecture within Apple's XNU kernel. Exclaves manage resources via a two-level kernel table structure, encompassing domains (e.g., com.apple.kernel) each containing multiple resources (services, buffers). Conclaves, a special resource type, enable shared access among services, controlled by a Conclave Manager. A new _exclaves_ctl_trap() system call manages various Exclave operations, including launching conclaves, looking up services, and executing downcalls (secure world code execution). Upcalls allow secure world code to invoke specific XNU kernel functions. The article details the three-stage Exclave boot process and how the SPTM memory typing system controls Exclave memory access.

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(randomaugustine.medium.com)
Development Secure Architecture

SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics for Web Design

2025-03-09
SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics for Web Design

This article answers common questions about SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), covering its definition, image conversion methods, advantages over other formats like PNG and JPEG, sources for free resources, HTML usage, animation techniques, responsive design implementation, optimization, and editing tools. Web designers and developers alike will find practical information on using SVG.

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(websvg.com)
Design
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