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Federal Workers Ditch Messenger for Signal Amidst Privacy Fears

2025-02-13

Federal Workers Ditch Messenger for Signal Amidst Privacy Fears

Driven by concerns about government surveillance and the perceived coziness between tech companies and the administration, US federal employees are increasingly migrating to encrypted messaging apps like Signal. Fearful of their communications being leaked, they're abandoning platforms like Facebook Messenger and adopting Signal for sensitive conversations, highlighting a growing distrust in both the government and mainstream tech companies. This shift underscores the importance of robust privacy measures in an era of heightened political polarization.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

2025-02-13

arXivLabs is a framework enabling collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on the website. Individuals and organizations involved embrace arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and partners only with those who share them. Have an idea to improve the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

(arxiv.org)

Development

RDAP: The WHOIS Protocol's Successor Takes Center Stage

2025-02-13

The WHOIS protocol (port 43), a standard for accessing domain name registration data for over 35 years, is being phased out due to its limitations, including lack of standardization, internationalization support, and security. RDAP, developed by the IETF, is its replacement. Designed to address WHOIS's shortcomings, ICANN mandated its support by all gTLD registries and registrars by August 26, 2019. Technical implementation is largely complete, and the next step involves amending registry and registrar agreements to ensure RDAP's service level. ICANN will continue transitioning to RDAP and raising global awareness.

(www.icann.org)

Tech

DOGE: An Unprecedented National Cyberattack

2025-02-13

A department called "DOGE" has gained unauthorized access to critical US government systems, including the Treasury Department, USAID, and the Office of Personnel Management. They obtained sensitive data, including trillions in federal payments, classified information, and personal data of millions of federal employees. This wasn't a sophisticated external hack, but an internal breach, unprecedented in its audacity and impact. While some access has been blocked, copied data and potential vulnerabilities remain. The situation poses a grave national security threat, demanding immediate action to restore system integrity and security protocols before irreversible damage occurs.

(www.schneier.com)

Tech

DOGE's Intrusion into FEMA: A Power Grab in Plain Sight

2025-02-13

DOGE's Intrusion into FEMA: A Power Grab in Plain Sight

Sources inside FEMA reveal that DOGE, an organization whose motives remain unclear, has gained access to FEMA's core financial management system, including the FEMA Grant Outcomes (FEMA GO) and the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS). This access grants DOGE control over disaster grant disbursements and access to sensitive personal information of disaster relief and migrant aid applicants, including A-numbers. While claiming to be auditing FEMA, DOGE employees, described as primarily computer scientists, lack financial management expertise, leading to misunderstandings and potential misuse of data. The firings of at least four FEMA employees under questionable circumstances further escalate concerns. This situation raises serious questions about data security, internal controls within government agencies, and potential political maneuvering.

(www.dropsitenews.com)

Tech

Elizabeth Holmes Speaks Out From Prison: 'It's Been Hell'

2025-02-13

Elizabeth Holmes Speaks Out From Prison: 'It's Been Hell'

In her first interview since being convicted of fraud, Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of Theranos, speaks from prison. She details her daily routine: workouts, a largely vegan diet, teaching French to fellow inmates, and working on criminal justice reform. Holmes maintains her innocence but acknowledges mistakes, expressing a desire to return to healthcare technology after release. The emotional toll of separation from her two young children is profound, highlighting the human cost of her downfall.

(people.com)

Startup

BigQuery's New Pipe Query Syntax: Easier to Read, Write, and Maintain

2025-02-13

Google BigQuery introduces a new pipe query syntax that simplifies writing and maintaining SQL queries with a linear structure. This syntax allows applying operators like SELECT, aggregate, GROUP BY, JOIN, and WHERE in any order and any number of times, resulting in clearer and more understandable query logic. It addresses issues in standard SQL such as strict clause ordering, the need for CTEs or nested subqueries for complex queries, and introduces new pipe operators like EXTEND, SET, DROP, and RENAME for greater flexibility in data manipulation.

(cloud.google.com)

Development Pipe Syntax

Nanosensors Detect Pancreatic Cancer in Blood Tests

2025-02-13

Nanosensors Detect Pancreatic Cancer in Blood Tests

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking blood test using nanosensors to detect pancreatic cancer early. The test focuses on identifying active proteases, enzymes present even in the earliest stages of tumors. In a study of 356 individuals, the nanosensors achieved 98% accuracy in identifying healthy individuals and 73% accuracy in detecting pancreatic cancer, distinguishing it from other pancreatic diseases. This advance holds immense promise for improving early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer, offering a lifeline to millions.

(www.nature.com)

Tech nanosensors pancreatic cancer early detection

Elizabeth Holmes' Prison PR Stunt Backfires

2025-02-13

Elizabeth Holmes' Prison PR Stunt Backfires

Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of Theranos, continues her PR campaign from behind bars. Her recent interview with People magazine, painting a sympathetic picture of her prison life and motherhood, has been met with widespread skepticism. Holmes' continued denial of fraud and attempts to rehabilitate her image through portraying herself as a caring mother contrast sharply with her past actions and highlight her seeming addiction to fame. The timing and tactics of her PR efforts only amplify the public's perception of her manipulative nature.

(www.theverge.com)

Startup Elizabeth Holmes corporate fraud

Chrome Incognito Gets IP Protection: A Two-Hop Proxy for Enhanced Privacy

2025-02-13

Chrome Incognito Gets IP Protection: A Two-Hop Proxy for Enhanced Privacy

Chrome is introducing IP Protection for Incognito mode, enhancing privacy against cross-site tracking. Using a two-hop proxy system, users' original IP addresses are masked, protecting them from third-party tracking. Only domains on a Masked Domain List (MDL) are affected, and essential web functionality remains intact. Google and external CDNs operate separate proxies, preventing either from accessing complete user information. Launching after May 2025, users can disable the feature.

(github.com)

Tech IP Address

Open Source License Dispute: A Fight for Software Freedom

2025-02-13

The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) filed an amicus brief supporting a downstream licensee's right to remove “further restrictions” under the Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPLv3) Section 7 in the ongoing Neo4j, Inc. v. PureThink, LLC case. The core issue revolves around whether Neo4j's added “Commons Clause” can be removed. SFC argues that downstream licensees have the right to remove such restrictions under AGPLv3 Section 7, paragraph 4, even if imposed by the original licensor. SFC's brief provides detailed legal analysis of AGPLv3 Sections 7 and 10, arguing that the lower court wrongly sided with Neo4j's interpretation, which could fundamentally alter the community's understanding of adding and removing “further restrictions.” The ruling will have significant implications for software freedom and users' rights.

(sfconservancy.org)

Development legal dispute

Wayland's Resurrection: A Three-Year Retrospective

2025-02-13

Three years ago, a critical post about Wayland sparked heated discussion. Now, the author revisits the past and finds that Wayland has made remarkable progress. Many of the pain points, such as explicit sync and rendering thread stalls, have been effectively addressed. Improvements in Mesa, protocol enhancements, and active community participation have driven Wayland's development. While some challenges remain, such as embedding foreign surfaces and multi-window management, the future of Wayland looks bright.

(dudemanguy.github.io)

Development Graphics

Wger: Open-Source Workout & Diet Management App

2025-02-13

Wger: Open-Source Workout & Diet Management App

Wger is a free, open-source web application for managing personal workouts, weight, and diet plans. It also functions as a simple gym management tool and offers a REST API for easy integration. Easily deployable via Docker, a demo image is available for quick testing. The code and content are open-source, and translations are supported.

(github.com)

Development

From PhoneNet to G.hn: A History of Home Networking

2025-02-13

From PhoneNet to G.hn: A History of Home Networking

This article traces the evolution of home networking technologies from PhoneNet in the 1980s to G.hn today. PhoneNet, using phone lines for low-speed AppleTalk networks, pioneered home networking. HomePNA followed, leveraging pulse position modulation and QAM to increase speeds and attempting centralized networking in multi-unit dwellings. Finally, G.hn emerged as a more versatile standard, supporting phone lines, coaxial cables, powerlines, and fiber, finding widespread use in set-top boxes. While WiFi's rise has diminished reliance on these technologies, they remain relevant in embedded systems and ISP infrastructure.

(computer.rip)

Tech home networking network technology

Australia's Treasury Copilot Trial: ROI Positive, But Employee Confidence Lags

2025-02-13

Australia's Treasury Copilot Trial: ROI Positive, But Employee Confidence Lags

A 14-week trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot by Australia's Department of the Treasury showed a positive return on investment (ROI), but employee confidence in its workplace effectiveness fell short. The trial revealed Copilot's actual applicability was lower than anticipated, with most participants using it less than three times a week. While Copilot excelled at basic administrative tasks like summarizing information and generating meeting minutes, it struggled with more complex tasks. The Treasury concluded that more careful staff selection, comprehensive training, and ongoing monitoring of AI's impact are crucial. The findings also hinted that AI-as-a-service might not be suitable for organizations handling sensitive data like the Treasury, suggesting on-premises AI infrastructure may be preferable.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Task Explorer: A Powerful Cross-Platform Task Manager

2025-02-13

Task Explorer: A Powerful Cross-Platform Task Manager

Task Explorer is a powerful task management tool that not only monitors running applications but also provides deep insights into their activity. Its UI prioritizes speed and efficiency, delivering real-time process data with minimal interaction. Information is displayed in accessible panels; selecting a process reveals detailed information in the lower half of the screen, easily navigable with arrow keys. Dynamic data refresh offers real-time insights into system performance and behavior.
Advanced features include a Thread Panel showing stack traces, a Memory Panel for viewing and editing process memory, a Handles Panel displaying open handles, a Sockets Panel showing connections, and a Modules Panel listing loaded DLLs. Robust system monitoring features real-time graphs of CPU, handles, network traffic, and disk access. System information panels allow control over system services.
Built with the Qt Framework, Task Explorer is compatible with Windows 7+ (32/64-bit) and plans to support Linux.

(github.com)

Development task manager

Approximating Float Multiplication with Bit Manipulation: A Neat Trick

2025-02-13

Approximating Float Multiplication with Bit Manipulation: A Neat Trick

This article explores a clever method for approximating float multiplication using bit manipulation. The approach involves casting floats to integers, adding them, adjusting the exponent, and casting back to a float. While this method fails catastrophically with exponent overflow or underflow, its accuracy is surprisingly good for most cases, staying within 7.5% of the correct result. The author delves into the underlying principles, explaining why simple addition can approximate multiplication. Although likely less efficient than native float multiplication in practice, its simplicity and potential for power savings in specific scenarios make it an interesting exploration.

(probablydance.com)

Development approximation algorithm

Federal Data Vanishing: Civil Society Steps Up to Save the Day

2025-02-13

Federal Data Vanishing: Civil Society Steps Up to Save the Day

Hundreds of federal datasets and government websites have mysteriously disappeared or been drastically altered since the start of the Trump administration. Responding to this crisis, civil society organizations are taking action. Harvard's Library Innovation Lab recently released 16 terabytes of archived data.gov, a complete copy of the platform's former holdings. On February 13th at 3 PM Eastern, MuckRock will host an event featuring the Internet Archive and the Harvard Law School Library Innovation Lab, discussing at-risk data, how to access rescued data, and how to contribute to preservation efforts.

(www.muckrock.com)

Tech government data

My Vim Workflow: A Decade of Productivity Hacks and Automation

2025-02-13

This article details a decade's worth of Vim (specifically GVim on Windows) usage, culminating in a collection of productivity tips and custom configurations. The focus isn't on specific Vim scripts, but rather on the importance of identifying and optimizing one's workflow. The author showcases custom key mappings for streamlined actions: using `` instead of ``, automating buffer saving with error handling, and quick system clipboard copying. Techniques for automatically creating directories before saving files and running Git commands within the :terminal are also explored. The article encourages readers to explore Vim's help pages and iterate on their own workflow optimization.

(sharats.me)

Development

The Marshmallow Test: It's Not Just About Willpower

2025-02-13

The Marshmallow Test: It's Not Just About Willpower

The famous marshmallow test suggests that children who delay gratification achieve more in life. However, further research reveals that factors like stable home environments, economic background, and cultural differences significantly impact the results. Children from stable homes with reliable adults are more likely to develop patience, while those from impoverished backgrounds are more inclined to seize immediate opportunities. The author uses personal parenting experiences to emphasize the importance of adult consistency and creating a trustworthy environment for fostering patience in children, highlighting that patience is a strategy, not simply a personality trait.

(desunit.com)

Misc delayed gratification marshmallow test

Euclid Telescope Spots a Perfect Einstein Ring

2025-02-13

Euclid Telescope Spots a Perfect Einstein Ring

The European Space Agency's Euclid telescope has discovered a perfect Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505, located 590 million light-years away. This rare phenomenon, a result of gravitational lensing, shows light from a distant galaxy (4.42 billion light-years away) warped into a ring by the gravity of NGC 6505. The discovery highlights Euclid's observational power and provides a unique opportunity to study a distant galaxy in detail, marking a significant advancement in cosmology.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Einstein Ring Gravitational Lensing Euclid Telescope

Trump's Second Term: A Descent into Competitive Authoritarianism?

2025-02-13

Trump's Second Term: A Descent into Competitive Authoritarianism?

This article analyzes the potential threat to American democracy posed by a second Trump presidency. It argues that the Trump administration may weaponize government institutions to target opponents, suppress dissent, and steer the US towards 'competitive authoritarianism'. While the US possesses strong institutions and a relatively robust civil society, the politicization and weaponization of government agencies could lead to democratic backsliding, ultimately undermining the vitality of American democracy.

(www.foreignaffairs.com)

Misc Democracy

Dormant Volcanoes Hiding Giant Magma Chambers: A Surprising Discovery

2025-02-13

Dormant Volcanoes Hiding Giant Magma Chambers: A Surprising Discovery

Cornell University research challenges the long-held belief that active volcanoes' magma bodies dissipate after eruptions. Using seismic waves, researchers found persistent, large magma chambers beneath six Cascade Range volcanoes, including dormant ones like Crater Lake. This suggests magma bodies exist throughout a volcano's lifespan, not just during active periods. The discovery has significant implications for volcanic monitoring and prediction, highlighting the need for improved monitoring networks.

(phys.org)

Tech volcanoes magma chambers seismic waves

My Self-Hosted Web-Based Coding Environment

2025-02-13

Tired of Glitch's limitations, the author built their own web-based coding environment. The backend is Django, storing project files locally, with domains handled via a Let's Encrypt wildcard certificate. It features template reuse, live preview, autosave, Makefile builds, and even integrated Elm package installation and shell command execution. Git integration was added, simplifying version control with Jujutsu and leveraging Forgejo's create-on-push for seamless deployment. Currently hosting 80 projects, ranging from experiments to daily tools.

(checkmyworking.com)

Development Coding Environment

The Tiny Half Cent: America's Smallest Coin

2025-02-13

The Tiny Half Cent: America's Smallest Coin

The United States half cent coin, the smallest denomination ever minted, held a brief but fascinating history. Minted from 1793 to 1857, it underwent five design changes, all crafted from pure copper at the Philadelphia Mint. Its diameter varied slightly over the years, and it was ultimately replaced by the smaller cent in 1857. Today, these coins are highly sought after by collectors for their rarity and historical significance.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Misc US Coins Numismatics

YouTube's Subtle Redesign: A Refined Red

2025-02-13

YouTube's Subtle Redesign: A Refined Red

YouTube subtly refreshed its branding, focusing on its iconic red. The previous pure red had technical issues, appearing orange on some screens and potentially causing screen burn-in. The new red is a slightly cooler shade, addressing these problems while maintaining a vibrant, approachable feel. This wasn't a revolutionary overhaul, but a careful refinement, aiming to improve user experience across devices and screens while staying true to the brand's identity.

(design.google)

Design Brand Redesign

NOAA Releases Chilling Audio of Titan Sub Implosion

2025-02-13

NOAA Releases Chilling Audio of Titan Sub Implosion

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released an audio recording capturing the implosion of the Titan submersible, which tragically killed five people during a Titanic exploration mission in June 2023. The recording reveals a distinct sound believed to be the catastrophic failure of the vessel. Investigations into the disaster have uncovered significant design and operational flaws, including prior incidents highlighting safety concerns ignored by OceanGate. The audio adds another layer to the ongoing investigation and underscores the risks involved in deep-sea exploration.

(jalopnik.com)

Tech Titan Submersible OceanGate Titanic

NESFab: A High-Performance Programming Language for NES Games

2025-02-13

NESFab is a new programming language designed for creating NES games. Optimized for 8-bit limitations, it's more ergonomic than C while producing faster assembly code. It boasts easy-to-use libraries, making it simple to get started, whether it's your first or hundredth NES game. Features include automatic bank switching, streamlined asset loading, and integration with the MapFab level editor for increased development speed. While currently in beta, NESFab outperforms compilers like GCC and LLVM in benchmarks, potentially making it the best-performing 6502 compiler available.

(pubby.games)

Development

Apple Returns to Advertising on X

2025-02-13

Apple Returns to Advertising on X

Apple has resumed advertising on X this month, marking its return after a hiatus of over a year. The company had paused ads in November 2023 following controversial statements by owner Elon Musk. Ads promoting Safari's privacy features and the Apple TV+ show *Severance* have been spotted. This follows a report last month suggesting Apple's return, a decision mirrored by other major brands who paused and then cautiously resumed advertising on the platform after Musk's acquisition and subsequent changes to content moderation.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Advertising

A Static Website for Professional Communication

2025-02-13

A Static Website for Professional Communication

A new static website project, "How to Professionally Say," offers alternative phrasing for common workplace communications to promote professionalism and avoid misinterpretations. Data is sourced from Instagram content creator @loewhaley. The project is in early stages, with the author seeking community feedback to refine its content and make it more broadly applicable. The project is open-source, welcoming contributions and suggestions.

(github.com)

Development professional language open-source project

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