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The Anti-Social Century: America's Growing Loneliness

2025-01-11
The Anti-Social Century: America's Growing Loneliness

This article explores the rising tide of loneliness in American society. From shifting restaurant dining habits to increased time spent at home, it argues that technological advancements and societal changes have led to a decline in social interaction. Data reveals Americans are spending less time with others than ever before, correlating with negative consequences such as anxiety, depression, and political polarization. The piece also examines the rise of AI companions and their potential impact on relationships, calling for a renewed focus on building community connections and improving public social infrastructure.

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(www.theatlantic.com)
Misc

Rare Planetary Alignment: 7 Planets to Align in 2025

2025-01-11
Rare Planetary Alignment: 7 Planets to Align in 2025

Get ready for a celestial spectacle! In 2025, a rare alignment of seven planets will grace our night skies. On February 28th, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear in a near-perfect line. A smaller alignment of six planets (excluding Mercury) will occur on January 21st. While not a perfectly straight line in reality, their near-alignment on the ecliptic plane makes for a breathtaking sight. Don't miss this celestial event—binoculars or a telescope are recommended!

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(www.sciencealert.com)
Tech planetary alignment celestial event

CCL: A Minimalist Configuration Language Based on Category Theory

2025-01-11
CCL: A Minimalist Configuration Language Based on Category Theory

The author presents CCL, a minimalist configuration language inspired by Category Theory. CCL's core is key-value pairs, eschewing complex features in favor of composability and extensibility. Clever use of whitespace and simple rules handle nested structures and comments, enabling powerful features like lists, comments, sections, and multiline strings while maintaining extreme simplicity. A unique fixed-point design elegantly solves key override conflicts. Leveraging monoids and monoid homomorphisms from Category Theory ensures correct and efficient configuration composition. CCL's code is concise, easily understood, and readily implemented, making it a valuable example of elegant software design.

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(chshersh.com)
Development configuration language category theory

The Browser: A New Medium for Storytelling

2025-01-11
The Browser: A New Medium for Storytelling

This article explores the potential of the browser as a novel medium for adapting stories. Using J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as an example, it highlights how different mediums shape storytelling. The author argues that the browser, with its versatile tools (text, images, video, sound, interactivity), offers richer, more dynamic, and personalized narrative experiences. A prototype interactive adaptation of Lord of the Rings is showcased, demonstrating how browser technology enhances reader immersion and engagement through features like maps, character sheets, and sound design, creating a compelling user experience.

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(garden.bradwoods.io)
Development storytelling interactive

Free Alt Text Checker: Boost Website Accessibility and SEO

2025-01-11

This free Alt Text Checker tool helps you quickly verify if your website images include alt text. Alt text improves website accessibility for visually impaired users and boosts search engine optimization (SEO). The tool automatically scans web pages, finds missing alt text descriptions, and generates a report to help you improve your site's inclusivity and user-friendliness.

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(alttextgenerator.co)
Development website accessibility alt text

Hacker News: Lazy Man's Delight! Binary Modding a Water Dispenser for Hands-Free Operation

2025-01-11

Robbe Derks, tired of pressing buttons to get water, reverse-engineered and modified his ION 900 series water dispenser. Using an Arduino and PICkit, he dumped the firmware from the PIC18F6527 and PIC16F630 microcontrollers. With Ghidra, he reverse-engineered the firmware, identifying functions controlling buttons and valves. He then wrote C code to patch the firmware, adding a feature that dispenses 1 liter of cold water when both the 'room temperature' and 'cold water' buttons are pressed simultaneously. This involved overcoming challenges in reverse engineering and embedded programming, ultimately creating a hands-free water dispensing solution.

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(practicapp.com)
Hardware

My Weird Narcolepsy: Forty Years Old and Just Discovering I Dream While Awake

2025-01-11
My Weird Narcolepsy: Forty Years Old and Just Discovering I Dream While Awake

The author, diagnosed with narcolepsy in their twenties, describes a unique experience. Instead of the typical daytime sleep attacks, their primary symptom is cataplexy – sudden muscle weakness rendering them immobile while fully conscious. Remarkably, at age forty, they discovered they routinely dream while awake and enter REM sleep immediately upon falling asleep. The author details the bizarre sensation of cataplexy, differentiating it from paralysis, fatigue, and depression, and shares a self-discovered technique to alleviate attacks, offering a compelling insight into the unusual realities of living with narcolepsy.

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(www.fortressofdoors.com)
Misc narcolepsy cataplexy sleep disorder

The Untold Story of the Texas Wends: A Journey Across Continents

2025-01-11
The Untold Story of the Texas Wends: A Journey Across Continents

In 1854, 558 Sorbian/Wendish people, led by Pastor John Kilian, embarked on a perilous journey from Lusatia (modern-day Germany) to Texas. Driven by religious conflict, they braved the Atlantic crossing and the threat of yellow fever, finally settling in Lee County and establishing Serbin. Despite the eventual dominance of German and English, the Wends tenaciously preserved their unique culture and language. Today, their heritage lives on through the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum, an annual festival, and the enduring spirit of their descendants.

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(en.wikipedia.org)
Misc cultural preservation religious conflict

TikTok Ban: Can Uncle Sam Stop the ByteDance Beat?

2025-01-11
TikTok Ban: Can Uncle Sam Stop the ByteDance Beat?

The Supreme Court is considering a law that could ban TikTok in the US. However, experts question whether a ban would be effective, citing the law's vagueness and the ease with which users could circumvent it using VPNs, pre-downloaded apps, or alternative download methods. The law doesn't mandate internet providers to block TikTok access or users to delete the app. While Apple and Google app stores would be required to remove TikTok, determined users could still find ways to access the platform, highlighting the challenges of enforcing a nationwide ban on an internet-based service.

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(www.yahoo.com)
Tech US Ban Legal Loopholes

The Myth of Exponential Hypergrowth: How Companies *Really* Grow

2025-01-11
The Myth of Exponential Hypergrowth: How Companies *Really* Grow

This article challenges the common assumption of exponential growth in tech startups. By analyzing real-world data from companies like Facebook, Slack, and Dropbox, the author argues that high-growth companies actually follow a quadratic growth model, not exponential. A new model, the 'Elephant Curve,' is introduced to explain the lifecycle of marketing campaigns and their impact on overall revenue growth. This model suggests that multiple campaigns, when layered, result in quadratic growth. The article also explores the impact of virality, word-of-mouth, and hot trends on product growth, offering corresponding models like the logistic growth curve. Finally, actionable advice is provided for marketing teams and product managers to better understand and manage company growth.

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(longform.asmartbear.com)
Startup Company Growth Elephant Curve Model Quadratic Growth

DockView: Zero-Dependency Docking Layout Manager for React, Vue, and TypeScript

2025-01-11
DockView: Zero-Dependency Docking Layout Manager for React, Vue, and TypeScript

DockView is a zero-dependency docking layout manager supporting tabs, groups, grids, and split views. It works with React, Vue, and vanilla TypeScript. Features include serialization/deserialization, theming, drag-and-drop, popout windows, floating groups, a comprehensive API, and high test coverage. Built with security in mind, DockView uses GitHub Actions for verified publishing and builds. It boasts excellent documentation and live examples, making it a powerful and easy-to-use layout management solution.

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(github.com)
Development Layout Manager

De-smarting a Marshall Uxbridge: A Hacker's Audiophile Journey

2025-01-11

The author found two discarded Marshall Uxbridge smart speakers and, tired of their 'smart' features, decided to transform them into a high-fidelity stereo system. He disassembled the speakers, removed the original smart modules, and designed and built a new analog circuit featuring active filters and linear power amplifiers. The result is a stunning audio system with precise stereo imaging and a wide frequency range. This project is a testament to the author's skills and passion for high-quality audio.

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(tomscii.sig7.se)
Hardware DIY audio analog circuit

The Chaos of English: A Poem Exposing the Madness of Spelling

2025-01-11

Gerard Nolst Trenité's 'The Chaos' is a classic poem showcasing the irregularities of English spelling and pronunciation. Using nearly 800 words, Trenité masterfully weaves together rhyming couplets featuring words with wildly inconsistent pronunciations, like 'heart, hear, heard' and 'one, anemone, Balmoral'. This rhythmic exploration of English's phonetic labyrinth is both a fascinating linguistic puzzle and a testament to the challenges faced by learners and native speakers alike. The poem sparks reflection on the quirks and complexities of the English language.

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(ncf.idallen.com)
Misc English spelling English pronunciation

PrivTracker: One-Click Private BitTorrent Tracker

2025-01-11

PrivTracker lets you create a private BitTorrent tracker with a single click. Share torrent files securely with only your friends; no public exposure. It works by using a unique announce URL that restricts peer sharing to your group. The instructions include easy-to-follow guides for using Transmission on Linux and macOS. Simply generate the announce URL, add it to your torrent, and share with your friends for private and secure file sharing.

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(privtracker.com)
Development Private Tracker File Sharing

Txtlog: An Easy-to-Use Open Source Log Service

2025-01-11

Txtlog.net is a simple and easy-to-use text log service that doesn't require an account to get started. It supports various log formats (valid JSON, invalid JSON, or raw text), offering fault tolerance and a clean dashboard. Txtlog automatically performs Geo IP checks and provides a secure, high-performance queue based on Redis Streams. All code is open source under the permissive MIT license. For enhanced security, users can optionally set a username and password and remove the public view link.

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(txtlog.net)
Development open source logging log service text logs

Autoscaling Your Kubernetes Apps with Dash0: Beyond CPU and Memory

2025-01-11
Autoscaling Your Kubernetes Apps with Dash0: Beyond CPU and Memory

This blog post demonstrates how to leverage Dash0 for automated scaling of Kubernetes applications. While Kubernetes simplifies scaling, manual replica adjustments are inefficient. Dash0 automates this process by monitoring application telemetry. The post explores three Kubernetes autoscaling types: Horizontal Pod Autoscaling, Vertical Pod Autoscaling, and Cluster Autoscaling, focusing on Horizontal Pod Autoscaling. It explains its mechanics and how to utilize custom metrics (like latency) instead of solely relying on CPU and memory utilization for optimal scaling strategies. Dash0 integrates with the Prometheus Adapter, enabling PromQL queries against Dash0 data to drive HPA, resulting in automated scaling based on application performance and improved user experience.

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(www.dash0.com)
Development Autoscaling

Sony Pushes for C++20 as LLVM Clang's Default

2025-01-11

Sony engineers are proposing a change to the default C++ mode in the LLVM Clang compiler, switching from C++17 to C++20. This aligns with Sony's upcoming plans to make C++20 the default for their PlayStation 5 compiler. While some C++20 test cases currently fail and Clang's C++20 support isn't yet complete, Sony intends to contribute a build/test bot to assist upstream development. This initiative aims to accelerate Clang's adoption of C++20, leading to a more efficient compilation environment for game development.

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(www.phoronix.com)
Development

Rethinking US Healthcare Economics: A Radical Proposal

2025-01-11

A blog post outlines a disruptive plan to tackle the economic woes of US healthcare. The author argues the industry's complexity drives exorbitant costs, proposing a return to a simpler model: patients receive care and pay what they can afford. The core question becomes funding for those unable to pay. The author suggests reducing costs through increased transparency (publishing bills of materials and provider margins), simplified contracts, and removing insurance companies. The ultimate goal is to more than halve total healthcare spending. Several funding mechanisms for the uninsured are explored, sparking a lively debate in the comments.

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(blogmaverick.com)
Misc cost transparency insurance companies

Track Bluetooth Devices via Apple's Find My Network with Go

2025-01-11
Track Bluetooth Devices via Apple's Find My Network with Go

Go Haystack leverages OpenHaystack and Macless-Haystack to track personal Bluetooth devices using tools written in Go/TinyGo. It supports various Bluetooth hardware, including Adafruit Bluefruit and BBC micro:bit, and includes TinyScan for local device scanning. Users need an Apple ID with 2FA enabled and must set up anisette-v3-server and macless-haystack. Device information will eventually appear in the Macless-Haystack web UI.

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(github.com)
Development Bluetooth tracking

Jeju Air Crash: Black Boxes Silent Before Impact

2025-01-11
Jeju Air Crash: Black Boxes Silent Before Impact

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed in Korea, resulting in 179 fatalities. The investigation revealed that both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) stopped recording four minutes before the plane crashed. This crucial data loss complicates the investigation, forcing investigators to rely on other evidence to determine the cause of the crash. Possible causes under investigation include bird strike, landing gear malfunction, and the runway barrier. The transport minister resigned, and authorities are investigating the airport and Jeju Air.

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(www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Tech black box Jeju Air

Linux Hearing Aid Audio Streaming: An Open Source Breakthrough

2025-01-11

Asymptotic.io has achieved a significant breakthrough by enabling native support for the ASHA protocol on Linux, bringing accessibility improvements for Linux users with hearing aids. This multi-year project, from proof-of-concept to integration into BlueZ and PipeWire, solves a long-standing problem. The project not only enhances accessibility on Linux but also showcases the power of open source and the expertise of the Asymptotic.io team. Future plans include adding stereo support and extensive testing for reliability and stability.

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(asymptotic.io)
Development hearing aids

Duke Mathematician Awarded National Medal of Science

2025-01-11
Duke Mathematician Awarded National Medal of Science

Ingrid Daubechies, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Duke University, has been awarded the 2025 National Medal of Science, the nation's highest honor for scientists and engineers. Her groundbreaking work in signal processing, particularly her contributions to wavelet theory, underpins much of today's image processing technology. Daubechies' research transcends disciplinary boundaries, impacting fields from art restoration to evolutionary biology. A tireless advocate for women in STEM, her award celebrates a remarkable career marked by innovation and impact.

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(today.duke.edu)
Tech National Medal of Science Signal Processing Wavelet Theory

Vim's Rebirth After Bram Moolenaar's Passing

2025-01-11

The death of Bram Moolenaar, Vim's creator, shook the community, but the project lives on. At VimConf 2024, new maintainer Christian Brabandt outlined the project's reorganization and future plans. The team expanded, the website and infrastructure were upgraded, security vulnerability reporting and community communication were addressed. While Vim is currently in maintenance mode, development hasn't stopped; version 9.1 was released, with plans to improve the GUI, terminal support, and spell checking. Community collaboration is crucial; Brabandt emphasized listening to user needs and maintaining a healthy community.

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(lwn.net)
Development Community Maintenance

Black Magic: A Blazing Fast Circular Buffer

2025-01-11

This article presents a clever optimization of circular buffers using virtual memory paging. Traditional circular buffer read/write operations are inefficient due to boundary handling. The author uses the `mmap` system call to map the buffer to two contiguous virtual memory regions. This allows writes to proceed continuously without boundary checks, drastically improving performance. This method leverages the OS to handle wrap-around automatically, eliminating complex boundary checks and modulo operations. The result is a threefold performance increase.

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(lo.calho.st)
Development circular buffer virtual memory

US Equity Market Structure Primer: A Quick Guide

2025-01-11

This primer provides a concise overview of the US equity trading landscape. Initially created as an onboarding document for new hires, it covers the lifecycle of an order, market participants, communication mechanisms between them, and a high-level view of overall market activity. The guide can be read sequentially or selectively, with a visual representation of the order lifecycle offering a clear picture of the process. Even with limited prior knowledge, the sections on market participants, communication, and overall market activity provide a functional understanding of US equities trading. Future updates will delve deeper into market structure history and inherent conflicts of interest.

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(primer.prooftrading.com)
Tech US equities market structure trading

OMG! Nearly All Binary Searches and Mergesorts Are Broken

2025-01-11
OMG! Nearly All Binary Searches and Mergesorts Are Broken

Google software engineer Joshua Bloch revealed a nearly two-decade-old bug lurking in binary search algorithms, found in both the JDK and Jon Bentley's 'Programming Pearls'! The bug stems from the line `int mid = (low + high) / 2;`, causing integer overflow and array index out-of-bounds exceptions when the sum of `low` and `high` exceeds the maximum positive integer value. This bug only manifests with massive datasets, making it particularly dangerous in today's big data world. The article explores various fixes and emphasizes that bugs can persist even with rigorous testing and proofs, urging programmers to remain cautious and humble.

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(research.google)
Development algorithm bug binary search mergesort

C++26: The Unnamed Placeholder `_` Arrives

2025-01-11

C++26 introduces a game-changing feature: the unnamed placeholder `_`. This solves a long-standing annoyance in C++: handling unused variables. Previously, developers needed `[[maybe_unused]]` or `std::ignore` to avoid compiler warnings, especially with structured bindings. The `_` placeholder can be declared multiple times without conflict and implicitly has the `[[maybe_unused]]` attribute, simplifying code and improving readability. This feature is already implemented in GCC 14 and Clang 18.

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(www.sandordargo.com)
Development unnamed placeholder compiler warnings

Wikipedia Searches Reveal Three Distinct Styles of Curiosity

2025-01-11
Wikipedia Searches Reveal Three Distinct Styles of Curiosity

A new study analyzing Wikipedia search data reveals three distinct styles of human curiosity: the busybody, the hunter, and the dancer. Busybodies zigzag through numerous, often unrelated topics; hunters focus on a smaller set of closely related articles; and dancers connect disparate topics to synthesize new ideas. The research also found that people in countries with higher education levels and greater gender equality tend to browse like busybodies, while those in other countries lean towards a hunter approach. This interdisciplinary study, integrating topology, psychology, and cognitive science, offers novel insights into human behavior.

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(www.scientificamerican.com)
Tech curiosity network science

Donut Motor: Reimagining In-Wheel Motors

2025-01-11
Donut Motor: Reimagining In-Wheel Motors

Donut Lab unveils the revolutionary Donut Motor, a direct-drive in-wheel motor that transforms electric vehicle powertrains. Offering superior torque and power density, it's lighter, more compact, and boasts lower costs and simpler maintenance, along with significantly improved efficiency. By eliminating the complexities of traditional powertrains, the Donut Motor achieves more precise control and optimized cooling, delivering unprecedented performance across various applications, from cars to drones. Its simplified architecture and ease of integration lower the barrier to entry for EV development.

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(www.donutlab.com)
Tech in-wheel motor direct drive
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