No summary available.

On May 28, 2016, Dori the Giant shared a creative project inspired by the Twitter logo, which is made up of 13 circles. Dori designed 13 animals, each created from 13 circles, to showcase in their portfolio. The post received positive feedback, with many commenters praising the designs and expressing interest in purchasing prints. Dori confirmed that prints are available for sale and offered to share a tutorial on how the designs were made using Illustrator. The designs sparked enthusiasm, with some users wanting to create their own circle animals.

The Library Innovation Lab at Harvard Law School is using APIs to create a digital archive of Data.gov, which contains 311,000 public datasets. This effort aims to preserve valuable public information and prevent it from being lost over time.

Matrix.org will transition to the Matrix Authentication Service (MAS) on April 7, 2025, at 7 AM UTC, which will involve about one hour of downtime. This change is part of the implementation of next-generation authentication based on OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect.

Key points include:

• New Features: Users will have an improved account management interface at account.matrix.org, allowing them to manage devices, update contact information, change passwords, and deactivate accounts.
• Enhanced Security: MAS will improve security by ensuring only the server sees account credentials, restricting access to sensitive actions, and providing a clearer view of active sessions.
• Better Registration Experience: The new system will simplify how users register and log in, supporting modern clients like Element X.
• Current Sessions: Users will remain logged in after the migration, and existing Matrix clients will still be supported.
• Future Developments: The new authentication framework will enable more advanced login methods, such as QR-code login, and allow for more control over client access.

This migration represents a significant advancement for Matrix, following four years of development, and aims to enhance user experience and security. The Matrix.org Foundation, which supports this initiative, relies on donations to operate.

Google DeepMind has introduced a new family of Gemini Robotics models designed for robots, allowing them to learn and perform complex tasks such as preparing salads, playing games, and folding origami. Carolina Parada, the head of robotics, led her team to test these robots' abilities by asking them to complete unfamiliar tasks, like performing a "slam dunk" with a toy. The robots successfully executed these actions, showcasing significant advancements in their capabilities.

The Gemini Robotics models enhance robots' understanding of language and physical actions, enabling them to react to new objects and instructions without additional training. This development aims to create robots that can assist with everyday tasks, moving towards a future where robots are common helpers in homes and workplaces.

The models focus on two main functions: understanding and decision-making, and executing physical actions. The Gemini Robotics-ER model specializes in recognizing objects and planning movements, while the overall Gemini Robotics model is designed for dexterity, allowing robots to perform complex tasks smoothly.

These advancements are expected to significantly improve the versatility and effectiveness of robots in various industries, paving the way for robots to take on diverse roles in everyday life.

Summary of the Mermaid Chart VS Code Plugin

The Mermaid Chart VS Code Plugin allows developers to create and edit diagrams using Mermaid.js directly in Visual Studio Code. It simplifies the process of visualizing software architecture, API flows, and more, making it an essential tool for developers.

Key Features:

• No Account Needed: You can edit .mmd files without signing up, allowing for quick updates.
• File Recognition and Syntax Highlighting: Automatically recognizes .mmd files and highlights Mermaid.js syntax for ease of use.
• Real-Time Preview: Edit and view diagrams in real time, with features for pan and zoom.
• Markdown Integration: Detects Mermaid.js diagrams in Markdown files, enabling easy edits and visual integration.
• Collaboration Tools: Advanced features are available with an account, including cloud syncing and sharing diagrams with non-developers.
• Flexible Editing Options: Edit diagrams in VS Code or with a visual editor on the Mermaid Chart platform.
• AI Diagram Generation: Use AI to create diagrams from code by linking files in GitHub Copilot Chat.

Use Cases:

• Visualize DevOps processes, API interactions, microservice architectures, and improve internal documentation.

Getting Started:

1. Install the plugin from the VS Code Marketplace.
2. Open a .mmd or .md file and start editing with Mermaid.js syntax.
3. Log in for advanced features.

Benefits Recap:

• Easy editing without an account
• Syntax support and file recognition
• Real-time diagram rendering
• Markdown and cloud integration
• Git-friendly version control

This plugin is ideal for developers looking to enhance their documentation and diagramming processes within their coding environment.

No summary available.

The blog post discusses the process of porting Tailscale to the Plan 9 operating system, sharing insights and challenges encountered along the way. Initially framed as an April Fools' joke, the project became a genuine endeavor to make Tailscale functional on Plan 9.

Key points include:

1. Background: The author, Brad Fitzpatrick, humorously reflects on the difficulty and absurdity of corporate April Fools' jokes, emphasizing that Tailscale now truly works on Plan 9.

2. Challenges: The porting process faced various technical hurdles, notably due to outdated Go compiler support for Plan 9, which led to runtime issues.

3. Collaboration: Fitzpatrick teamed up with Russ Cox, who helped resolve several Plan 9 kernel issues, enabling better compatibility with Go.

4. Development Environment: A new development setup was created using a shared filesystem, significantly speeding up the testing process.

5. Networking: The port initially used a userspace networking mode, which was not ideal. Efforts were made to integrate Tailscale with Plan 9's kernel networking stack.

6. Future Directions: The project remains open for community contributions, with plans to enhance support for the 64-bit architecture and other features.

7. Conclusion: The effort was both a fun experiment and a learning experience, ultimately improving Go's support for Plan 9. The author expresses gratitude to those who contributed and hints at future improvements.

Overall, the post illustrates the complexities and humor involved in software development, especially when dealing with niche systems like Plan 9.

ReelControl Overview:

ReelControl is a browser extension that adds a progress bar and playback controls to videos on YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and Facebook Reels. This helps users manage their viewing time and enhances their video-watching experience.

Key Features:

• Progress Bar and Controls: Users can see how long a video is, rewind if they miss something, and skip ahead without restarting.
• Time Management: The extension encourages users to spend less time on social media videos by providing quick access to video length and controls.

Platform Specifics:

• Instagram: Only adds native video controls due to a clean interface.
• YouTube Shorts: Reveals a hidden progress bar and reduces clutter in the interface.
• Facebook Reels: Removes excessive clutter and adds a progress bar since there's no native controls.

Additional Information:

• The extension is open-source, allowing community contributions.
• Developed by Soliloquy Apps, which also created AudioDiary, a voice-powered journaling app.

Privacy: The developer assures that user data is not collected or sold.

As a Machine Learning Engineer at Pulse, you will develop important vision and language models that help with understanding documents. You will have the freedom to research and improve these models.

A botanist named Aaron Davis is searching for a rare coffee plant called Coffea stenophylla, which hasn't been seen in the wild since 1954. He believes this species may be able to withstand drought and heat, making it important for coffee production in a changing climate. Currently, most of the world's coffee comes from just two species: arabica and robusta. Both are struggling due to climate change, leading to concerns about future coffee supplies.

Davis's quest involves finding new coffee species that can be crossbred with existing varieties to create hardier plants. He has successfully rediscovered stenophylla and is working to cultivate it, noting its excellent flavor and potential for climate resilience. However, its low yield compared to robusta raises concerns about its viability for farmers.

In the meantime, scientists are advocating for sustainable coffee practices to help combat climate change, such as choosing shade-grown coffee and reducing fertilizer use. Davis is continuing his research, hoping to identify more resilient coffee species that can support farmers and ensure a steady coffee supply for the future.

The article discusses a meeting in 1970 between the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges and Herbert A. Simon, a pioneer in artificial intelligence. The author reflects on the significance of their conversation, which bridged the gap between literature and science, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue. Borges questioned Simon about human behavior and free will, leading to a discussion about whether our actions are determined by our past experiences, akin to a computer's programming.

Simon suggested that while our behavior might be predictable based on past influences, we still retain individuality. The conversation underscores the value of exploring ideas across different fields and the relevance of history in understanding human behavior. The author expresses a desire for more such interdisciplinary discussions today and envisions future possibilities of using AI to simulate historical figures, inspired by the ideas exchanged between Borges and Simon.

The article concludes with a personal note about the author's mother and her journals, hinting at the potential for AI to embody her thoughts and experiences in the future.

On October 14, 2024, Automattic announced that over 1,700 of its employees received stock grants, making them owners of the company.

Summary of Carl Sverre's Outline (March 2025)

• New Edge Replication Approach:

  • Lazy: Sync data at your own speed.
  • Partial: Only sync the necessary data.
  • Edge: Sync data close to where it’s needed.
  • Consistency: Ensure safe syncing of data.

• What You Can Build:

  • Introduction to the Graft SQLite Extension (libgraft).

• Get Involved: Information on how to participate.

• Appendix: Additional details included.

• Roadmap: Future plans outlined.

• Comparison: A look at how this approach differs from other SQLite replication solutions.

Summary of Ray Tracing Acceleration Structures

Overview:
By March 31, 2025, hardware-accelerated ray tracing will depend on a data structure called "acceleration structure," often referred to as "BVH" (Bounding Volume Hierarchy) or "BLAS" (Bottom Level Acceleration Structure). These structures are crucial for efficiently rendering complex scenes with ray tracing.

Key Points:

1. Acceleration Structures:

   • They store scene geometry and are essential for ray traversal in rendering engines.
   • Unlike textures, their layout is not standardized across different hardware vendors.

2. Experimental Setup:

   • The study focused on a specific scene, the Amazon Lumberyard Bistro, using various GPUs to measure memory consumption and performance.
   • The results were gathered using the niagara renderer, requiring Vulkan SDK and drivers.

3. Results:

   • Different GPUs showed significant variance in BLAS size and memory consumption:
     • AMD GPUs ranged from 33 MB to 100 MB for BLAS size.
     • NVIDIA GPUs had sizes from 45 MB to 46 MB.
     • Intel's B580 GPU was around 79 MB.
   • The memory consumption varied significantly, showing a 3x difference between earlier AMD and latest NVIDIA GPUs.

4. Driver Influence:

   • The driver version affects memory consumption, with AMD's drivers improving BLAS size over time.
   • Different AMD driver versions yielded BLAS sizes from 155 MB to 100 MB, indicating substantial improvements.

5. Memory Efficiency:

   • An analysis of memory usage suggested that, ideally, BLAS sizes should be around 57 bytes per triangle, but actual sizes were often higher due to inefficiencies in tree structures and triangle packing.

6. Future Hardware Developments:

   • Upcoming RDNA4 architecture introduces new node types aimed at improving memory efficiency and ray tracing performance.
   • Continuous improvements in drivers and hardware may lead to reduced memory requirements and better performance.

Conclusion:
The performance and memory efficiency of ray tracing acceleration structures are heavily dependent on both the GPU hardware and the drivers. Ongoing developments in these areas are expected to yield further optimizations in the future.

Summary of New HTTPS Security Requirements

On March 27, 2025, the Chrome Root Program announced new security measures for HTTPS certificates aimed at improving online safety. These changes are part of a broader initiative called "Moving Forward, Together," which focuses on enhancing the security of web connections.

Key points include:

1. New Requirements: Two new practices, Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC) and linting, have been mandated for Certification Authorities (CAs) by the CA/Browser Forum, effective March 15, 2025.

2. Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC): This method improves the verification process for domain control to prevent fraud. It requires CAs to check domain control from multiple locations to reduce the risk of attacks that could lead to the issuance of fake certificates.

3. Linting: This automated process checks X.509 certificates for errors and compliance with industry standards. It helps identify weak security practices and ensures certificates are correctly formatted, reducing the chances of mis-issuance.

4. Future Plans: The Chrome Root Program is committed to ongoing improvements in web security and will phase out weak validation methods by July 15, 2025. They are also preparing for advancements in post-quantum cryptography.

These initiatives aim to make the web safer for everyone by enhancing the reliability of HTTPS certificates and the underlying security protocols.

Summary: Windows on ARM for Pixel Watch 3

A developer has successfully made Windows run on the Pixel Watch 3, marking a significant achievement in adapting Windows for non-traditional devices. This project is part of a broader exploration of running Windows on ARM architecture.

Key Points:

• The Pixel Watch 3 is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon W5 chip, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, making it capable of running more than just smartwatch software.
• The developer engaged in extensive experimentation, modifying the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) to boot Windows and Linux on the watch.
• Despite challenges, including adapting the boot process and handling firmware updates, the developer managed to run Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) on the watch.
• The project, while functional, is described as an April Fools' joke—it's real yet playful and not fully polished.
• Additional updates for other devices, like Surface Duo, are planned to be released soon.

Overall, this experiment highlights the potential of smartwatches as powerful computing devices beyond their traditional use.

Summary:

Two scientific journals recently tested the idea of paying peer reviewers to see if it would improve the review process. They offered payments of around $250 to some reviewers and found that this increased the likelihood of researchers agreeing to review papers and sped up the review process.

One study showed that 53% of researchers accepted paid invitations compared to 48% for unpaid ones, and paid reviews were submitted about a day earlier without compromising quality. Another journal used a different payment system, offering up to £600 for reviewing multiple papers, and saw a similar positive effect.

Despite these findings, some experts caution that paying reviewers could have negative impacts on the research field. Overall, while the trials provide initial data on paid peer review, the broader implications are still uncertain.

Ace is a computer autopilot that helps perform tasks on your desktop using your mouse and keyboard. It is designed to be faster and more accurate than other models, demonstrating superior performance in various computer tasks.

Key points:

• Performance: Ace outperforms other models in accuracy and speed. For example, it can make correct left-click predictions much faster than competitors.
• Speed: Ace executes tasks in superhuman time, completing actions significantly quicker than other systems.
• Learning: Ace has been trained by experts on over a million tasks but is still learning and may make mistakes.
• Future Development: The team plans to enhance Ace's capabilities as they increase training resources.
• Availability: An early version of Ace is available for testing in a research preview.

Users are invited to sign up to try Ace.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary: Real-Time Introspective Compression for Transformers

Introduction: Key Issues Transformer-based large language models (LLMs) face two main challenges:

1. Lack of Introspection: These models cannot access their internal states, making it hard to interpret their reasoning or debug them.
2. Ephemeral Cognition: The massive data generated while processing information is often discarded, making it impractical to record.

Proposed Solution: Introspective Compression This article introduces a method to address both issues by compressing the internal states of transformers into a manageable format without losing critical information. The key idea is to represent these states as coordinates on a lower-dimensional structure, akin to a map.

Analogy to Video Game Saves Just like saving a game state allows players to return to specific points in their gameplay, we aim to save the transformer’s internal states efficiently, enabling inspection, rollback, and resumption during inference.

Technical Framework

• Sidecar Transformers: A lightweight model runs alongside the main transformer to encode and decode internal states into compact representations.
• Components:
  • Main Transformer: The pretrained model generating hidden states.
  • Sidecar Encoder/Decoder: These models compress and reconstruct hidden states and attention caches.

Training Methodology The encoder and decoder are trained to minimize the difference between original and reconstructed states, using a loss function that balances reconstruction quality and latent representation efficiency.

Architectural Approaches Several architectural strategies for compression are explored:

1. Layer-Specific: Each layer has its own encoder/decoder, allowing precise introspection.
2. Grouped Layer: Compresses groups of layers, balancing efficiency with reconstruction quality.
3. Unified: One encoder/decoder for all layers, optimizing for parameter efficiency.

Handling Key/Value Cache A specialized method is introduced for compressing the key-value cache, which is crucial for the model’s autoregressive generation.

Potential Applications The ability to compress internal states opens up new capabilities for transformers, including:

• Backtracking in Reasoning: Exploring alternative paths in reasoning.
• Reinforcement Learning over Thought Trajectories: Learning from past internal states to improve future reasoning.
• Causal Debugging: Tracing errors back to their source for correction.

Future Directions The vision is to develop a metacognitive operating system for transformers, enabling them to reflect, explore, and optimize their reasoning processes, much like humans improve through practice and reflection.

Challenges Key challenges include balancing compression with fidelity, managing computational overhead, and ensuring the quality of the compressed latent space.

In conclusion, this approach aims to evolve transformers from mere text generators to advanced cognitive systems capable of introspection and improved reasoning.

The film "Fiume o Morte!" by Igor Bezinović creatively combines historical footage and dramatizations to explore the rise of the Italian nationalist leader Gabriele D’Annunzio in Rijeka, Croatia, from 1919 to 1921. Bezinović, who is from Rijeka, uses a mix of archival material and actors—many of whom are locals—to recreate events from this turbulent period, emphasizing both his personal connection to the history and the challenges of accurately depicting the past.

D’Annunzio led a rebellion against the Italian government, ruling Rijeka as a dictator and influencing future leaders like Benito Mussolini. The film highlights the oppressive nature of D’Annunzio's regime, including its roots in racial hatred and violence against non-Italians. Bezinović incorporates local dialects and modern reflections on nationalism, making the historical events feel relevant today.

Throughout the film, Bezinović engages with the community, casting locals in roles and humorously reflecting on the process of reenactment. He draws parallels between D’Annunzio’s era and contemporary political dynamics, warning of the dangers posed by demagogues exploiting divisions in society. The film ends with a stark reminder of the consequences of D’Annunzio's rule, showcasing the dark turn of events as his regime collapsed. Overall, "Fiume o Morte!" serves as both a historical recounting and a cautionary tale about the ease with which autocratic power can rise.

The article "Why Is the World Losing Color?" discusses the trend of diminishing color in our surroundings, particularly in cars, media, and consumer products. It highlights that over 80% of new cars are now in grayscale, and studies show a shift from vibrant colors to neutral tones in various objects since 1800. This decline in color is linked not just to fashion but to deeper philosophical beliefs that have historically devalued color.

Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle viewed color as a distraction from truth, favoring form and structure instead. This skepticism towards color influenced modernist design, leading to a preference for minimalism and uniformity, evident in architecture, branding, and even music.

The article argues that color can coexist with meaning and structure, as seen in Baroque art, which uses vibrant colors to inspire and elevate rather than create chaos. It calls for a return to color in our environments, suggesting that embracing color can enhance our experience and expression.

In his 1995 diary, musician Brian Eno reflected on his 1978 ambient album "Music for Airports," describing it as music that helps people accept the idea of dying. The album uses short tape loops from improvisation sessions and aims to create a meditative atmosphere, avoiding traditional musical scales and encouraging a background listening experience.

For those wanting a longer experience, a YouTube user created a 6-hour stretched version of the album, emphasizing its continuous, atmospheric qualities. Although originally intended for personal use, the album was later performed live by the ensemble Bang on a Can in various airports, including a notable performance in San Diego in 2015, where the surrounding airport sounds blended with the music.

In 2018, London City Airport celebrated the album's 40th anniversary by playing it on a loop. As technology advances, there is hope for more ambient music in public spaces rather than traditional pop or rock.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

In this story, the author describes a frustrating experience while trying to run tests using Yarn and Jest for a React project. Here's a simplified summary of the key points:

1. Context: The author is new to React and was pair programming to implement a feature and make their first commit using Yarn, which automatically runs tests.

2. Initial Problem: When the author tried running yarn test, it hung and eventually failed with a vague error message. They had little experience with JavaScript and were confused by the error.

3. Troubleshooting Attempts: The author attempted various commands and configurations to fix the problem, including checking documentation and running tests with different flags. Despite these efforts, the tests continued to crash after about 27 seconds.

4. Discovery: With help from colleagues, they discovered that the issue was related to a command called sl, which displays a steam locomotive animation. This command was conflicting with Jest's operations.

5. Solution: The author renamed the sl command on their system, which resolved the issue, allowing the tests to run successfully.

6. Conclusion: The problem stemmed from a naming clash between a fun command (sl) and the expected command in the testing framework. The author humorously highlights the absurdity of the situation while acknowledging the helpfulness of their colleagues in troubleshooting the issue.

This narrative illustrates the challenges of debugging in software development, especially when unexpected conflicts arise.

Betty Webb, a notable World War II code breaker from Bletchley Park, has passed away at the age of 101. She was one of the last surviving code breakers and played a key role in deciphering enemy messages during the war. Webb joined Bletchley Park at 18 and later worked at the Pentagon on Japanese codes. In 2021, she received France's highest honor, the Légion d'Honneur, for her contributions.

The Women's Royal Army Corps Association praised her as an inspiration for women in the military. Webb was dedicated to preserving the history of Bletchley Park and encouraging others to learn about its legacy. In 2023, she celebrated her 100th birthday at Bletchley Park and attended King Charles III's coronation. Tributes from admirers have highlighted her remarkable character and influence.

Summary of DEDA Toolkit

DEDA is a tool for tracking and decoding information from Document Colour Tracking Dots, which are small dots printed by color laser printers. These dots encode details about the printer and printout, such as the printer's serial number. DEDA helps users read and decode these dots and offers anonymization features to prevent tracking.

Installation Steps:

1. Install Python 3.
2. Install DEDA via PyPI:
   • $ pip3 install --user deda
   • For optional features (like image anonymization), install Wand:
   • $ pip3 install --user wand

Using DEDA:

• Open the GUI: Run $ deda_gui.
• Read Tracking Data: Use a lossless image (e.g., PNG) at 300 dpi:
  • $ deda_parse_print INPUTFILE
• Compare Scanned Documents:
  • $ deda_compare_prints INPUT1 INPUT2 [INPUT3]
• Analyze Unknown Patterns:
  • $ deda_extract_yd INPUTFILE
• Create Custom Tracking Dots:
  • $ deda_create_dots PDFINPUT
• Anonymize Scanned Images:
  • $ deda_clean_document INPUTFILE OUTPUTFILE
• Anonymize for Printing: Follow specific steps to create and apply an anonymization mask.

Troubleshooting Common Issues:

• If commands are not found, ensure DEDA is installed correctly and update your PATH.
• If tracking dots are not recognized, adjust your scanning settings.
• If your printer doesn’t print tracking dots, you can create custom ones or use a mask from another printer.
• For installation errors, ensure you have the necessary build tools and dependencies.

For detailed instructions, refer to the original paper by Richter et al. (2018).

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary: Why F#?

This article discusses the author's re-engagement with F# after many years, highlighting its features and benefits as a programming language.

What is F#? F# is a functional programming language that runs on the .NET platform. It's designed to help developers write clear, efficient, and maintainable code. Key features include:

• Concise syntax
• Immutable data by default
• Type inference
• First-class functions
• Pattern matching
• Asynchronous programming support

F# was first released in 2005 and has evolved significantly over the years, with the latest version, F# 9.0, released in November 2024.

Why Use F#? The author was drawn to F# for several reasons:

• .NET's transition to open-source and cross-platform
• Curiosity about potential advantages over OCaml
• Positive feedback about F# tooling (like Rider and Ionide)

Language Features: F# has a syntax similar to OCaml, making it accessible for those familiar with functional programming. It includes features like pattern matching and type providers, which enhance its usability for data analysis and web development.

Ecosystem and Community: F# has a smaller ecosystem compared to more popular languages but includes libraries for web development (like Giraffe and Saturn) and data science (like Deedle). The community is active, albeit small, with resources like F# for Fun and Profit and Amplifying F#.

Development Tools: Tooling has improved significantly, with support across various editors. The FSharp.Compiler.Service allows for better integration in development environments, though some editors still lack advanced features.

Use Cases: F# is particularly suited for data manipulation and backend services. Its ability to interoperate with JavaScript and other languages via Fable makes it versatile for modern web applications.

Final Thoughts: The author appreciates F# for its fun and practical nature, suggesting it is a great choice for .NET developers and those interested in functional programming. They encourage readers to explore F# and its community resources for further learning.

Overall, the article presents F# as a robust language that combines the benefits of functional programming with the extensive capabilities of the .NET framework.

No summary available.

The author shares their experience of "thrift shopping" for optical media in Japan, highlighting the fun and risks involved. They focus on a special TDK DVD+R 4x product, which features a unique hard coating for durability and protection against UV light. This pack contains five discs and is noted for its compatibility warnings and a product code. The article emphasizes the quality and longevity benefits of the disc's UV guard coating compared to regular DVDs. Additionally, it includes details about the packaging and design, noting its eco-friendly materials. Overall, it celebrates the charm of older optical discs while showcasing specific products from Japan.

Joanne Chew discovered deepfake videos of herself online, created without her consent, after searching her name following a film release. Initially, she thought it was a temporary issue, but the harassment escalated, leading to thousands of fake images and videos being posted across various platforms. Chew faced ongoing harassment from a man named Ron, who created and distributed degrading content of her while also sending her disturbing messages.

Despite her efforts to report the content, platforms like YouTube often failed to take action, as they did not see it as a violation of their guidelines. Chew's situation highlights the growing problem of deepfake harassment, especially for individuals without the protection of celebrity status. As the technology becomes easier to use, the harassment can feel overwhelming, and Chew expressed feelings of despair and fear regarding its long-term impact on her life and career.

Legally, while there have been some advancements, such as the Violence Against Women Act allowing victims to sue for non-consensual content, deepfakes remain largely unregulated. This leaves many victims like Chew vulnerable and underscores the need for better protection and legislation against this form of abuse.

The text introduces a project focused on creating a "Myst graph," which visually represents the connections between various locations and views in the classic video game Myst. The key points are:

1. Graph Concept: The Myst graph treats the game as an interconnected network rather than a linear experience, helping to analyze its structure.

2. Graph Details: The graph consists of 1,364 nodes (representing different views or locations) and 3,189 edges (connections between them), including some virtual nodes that don’t appear in the game.

3. Analysis Tool: The graph is designed to uncover new insights about the game’s mechanics and relationships between elements, separating gameplay from the structural analysis.

4. Future Articles: The creator plans a series of articles discussing the graph's significance, findings from its analysis, the technical process of its creation, and potential future projects inspired by it.

5. Educational Purpose: This initiative is non-commercial and aims to enhance understanding of Myst without being affiliated with the original creators.

Overall, the project seeks to deepen appreciation for Myst through a graphical representation of its game structure.

Silica gel packets are commonly found in various products like snacks, inhalers, and 3D printing materials. These tiny white pouches are essential for keeping food crispy and preventing mildew by absorbing moisture from the air. Silica gel is made of silicon dioxide, the same material as sand, but it has a unique porous structure that allows it to hold a significant amount of water vapor.

Each packet can absorb up to 40% of its weight in moisture, making it effective in maintaining low humidity levels. Different applications require different humidity control, such as preserving art in museums or ensuring snacks stay fresh during shipping.

Silica gel was first developed in the early 20th century and became commercially successful by the late 1920s. Today, most silica gel packets are manufactured overseas, as producing them domestically is less common. The rise in silica gel imports is largely due to globalization and the need for moisture control in products that travel long distances, indicating that while silica gel is widespread, it is a response to modern supply chain challenges rather than a takeover of the world.

Igatha Summary

Igatha is an open-source app designed for emergency signaling and recovery in war zones and disaster areas, allowing offline communication when traditional networks are unavailable.

Current Version:

• iOS: v1.0
• Android: v1.0

How to Use Igatha:

1. Sending SOS Signals:

   • Manual: Open the app, enable Bluetooth, and tap "Send SOS."
   • Automatic: Enable "Disaster Detection" in settings. The app monitors your sensors and sends an SOS if it detects a disaster and you either respond "Need help" or do not respond in 2 minutes.

2. Helping Others:

   • Open the app, enable Bluetooth, and check "People seeking help." Move towards areas where the distance to help decreases and listen for audible sirens.

How Igatha Works:

• Utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to send and receive SOS signals without needing the internet or GPS.
• Sends an SOS signal with a pseudonymized identifier and an audible siren.
• Disaster detection relies on sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope to identify sudden changes.

Battery Use:

• The app is designed to minimize battery consumption and can broadcast for long periods during emergencies.

Limitations:

• Currently a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with limited testing.
• BLE signal range is typically 10-30 meters indoors, but can be extended with third-party devices.

Open Source Benefits:

• Transparency and trust in crisis situations.
• Accessibility for anyone to use and improve the app.
• Community-driven development to enhance disaster response tools.

Contributions:

• Users can help by testing, reporting bugs, enhancing features, translating, and reviewing security.

Privacy & Security:

• The app operates completely offline with no data collection and uses pseudonymized identifiers for user privacy.

Contact:

• For questions or feedback, users can open an issue in the app’s repository.

This project focuses on the connections between music and shared DNA. It involves analyzing and visualizing data related to these musical relationships.

Summary of VitoDeploy:

VitoDeploy is an open-source server management tool designed for easy management and deployment of PHP applications like Laravel and WordPress. Key features include:

• Server Management: Provision and manage servers easily.
• Database Support: Manage databases like MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL.
• Application Deployment: Deploy PHP applications quickly.
• Firewall Management: Control your server's firewall settings.
• SSL Support: Use custom SSL or Let's Encrypt for security.
• Background Workers: Run background tasks with worker management.
• Service Management: Handle server services efficiently.
• SSH Key Deployment: Easily deploy SSH keys for secure access.
• Cron Jobs: Create and manage scheduled tasks.
• Monitoring: Track resource usage like CPU, memory, and disk space.
• Project Management: Organize multiple projects and invite users.

Users have praised VitoDeploy for its reliability and ease of use, making it a solid alternative to tools like Laravel Forge. It’s well-received in the developer community, with many recommending it for PHP developers.

The author created a Raspberry Pi project that serves as an e-ink train and weather tracker, which his wife loves. This device displays train times and weather information in their home, making it easier for them to check train schedules without using their phones. The tracker shows the next 30 minutes of inbound F and G subway trains, along with current weather and forecasts for the next 12 hours.

The project uses a 9.7" e-ink display and is housed in a custom frame. The display updates train arrival times and weather regularly, using a hybrid update strategy to manage refresh rates and avoid display issues.

The author shares details about the construction and programming of the device, noting that while the project took about 20 hours, it effectively meets their daily needs and is a conversation starter for guests. Instructions and materials for building a similar device are available on GitHub.

Summary of await-tree

The await-tree library in Rust helps developers manage asynchronous tasks by organizing their execution into a tree structure. Each task, represented as a node, can be composed or nested, allowing for complex control flows. Here are the key points:

• Execution Tree: As tasks run, await-tree tracks their execution in a tree format, which can be visualized at runtime using the instrument_await feature.

• Basic Example: The library provides examples where tasks like bar, baz, and foo are defined, showcasing how they can be instrumented to track their execution spans.

• Features:

  • Serde: Allows serialization of the execution tree into formats like JSON.
  • Tokio: Integrates with the Tokio runtime for spawning tasks; necessary for certain examples.

• Comparison with async-backtrace:

  • Pros of await-tree:
    • Supports dynamic span customization.
    • Handles all async control flows without issues.
    • Maintains tree structure with safe memory management.
    • Allows tree dumping at any time without waiting for task completion.
  • Pros of async-backtrace:
    • Backed by the Tokio organization.

• License: The library is licensed under the Apache License (Version 2.0).

In summary, await-tree provides robust tools for tracing and managing async tasks in Rust, with features that enhance its usability and safety compared to similar libraries.

Glubux, a member since November 9, 2016, shared details about their electricity project. They currently generate some of their own electricity using 1.4 kW of solar panels, an old forklift battery, and a Victron charge controller and inverter. Glubux plans to build a shed for the batteries and equipment.

They have also started collecting laptop batteries, currently having around 650. Their ideas for the battery packs include:

• Creating 100 Ah packs by matching cells.
• Using copper wire for easy soldering.
• Keeping the bus bar length the same for each cell.

The post received reactions from several other members.

No summary available.

Summary: Pacemaker Cells and Heart Rhythms

• Pacemaker Cells: The sinoatrial node in the right atrium is the heart's natural pacemaker, controlling the heart rate through spontaneous activation. When the heart beats normally, it's called sinus rhythm. If the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, it's known as sinus tachycardia, which often occurs during exercise.

• Reentry Tachycardia: This condition happens when the heart is paced by a circuit of cells instead of the sinus node. A non-responsive area (like scar tissue) allows the electrical wave to loop and continuously stimulate the heart. Defibrillation can restore normal rhythm by stopping this loop.

• Starting a Reentrant Loop: For a reentrant loop to begin, the wave must travel one way around a dead area. If one pathway has a longer refractory period, it can create a situation where the wave arrives at the right moment to continue the loop.

• Fibrillation: This is a more chaotic form of arrhythmia, where electrical signals meander irregularly through the heart muscle, leading to ineffective contractions. It can occur in both atrial and ventricular forms and is often triggered by varying refractory periods among cells.

• Simulation Tools: The text discusses simulations that allow users to visualize and manipulate heart rhythms, including initiating ectopic beats and defibrillation to restore normal sinus rhythm.

This overview highlights the key concepts of how pacemaker cells function and the mechanisms behind different heart rhythms and arrhythmias.

No summary available.

No summary available.

TopoSort Library Summary

TopoSort is a Zig library designed for efficiently performing topological sorting on dependency graphs. Key features include:

• Dependency Graph Building: Create graphs from dependency data.
• Topological Sorting: Sort nodes based on their dependencies.
• Parallel Processing: Generate subsets of nodes that can be processed simultaneously.
• Cycle Detection: Identify and report cycles in the graph.
• Node Type Support: Handle various types of nodes.

Installation Instructions:

1. Access the Releases page and choose a version.
2. Use zig fetch to add TopoSort to your project with the command:

   zig fetch --save <URL>
   

Basic Usage:

1. Import the library in your Zig source file.
2. Initialize TopoSort with your desired node type.
3. Add dependencies between nodes.
4. Perform the sort and check for cycles.
5. If no cycles are detected, process the sorted nodes.

Memory Management:

• Node values are stored by value or managed by the caller, depending on the type.

Configuration Options:

• Customize initialization with options like verbosity and maximum node value to optimize performance.

Command Line Tool: TopoSort includes a CLI tool to sort dependencies using a simple rule format similar to Makefile.

Benchmarks: The library includes benchmarks that can be run to test performance.

License: TopoSort is licensed under MIT.

For more information on using the Zig build system, refer to relevant resources.

The article discusses the need to revive and modernize the Work Simplification Program, originally developed during the Eisenhower era, which improved government efficiency. The author, Dave Deek, highlights that these process improvement tools helped achieve high levels of trust and success in national projects in the mid-20th century.

Deek proposes creating a documentation site to update and share these tools not only with government entities but also with civic organizations and businesses, aiming to help them identify and eliminate unnecessary steps in their processes. This is important because many organizations, even large corporations, struggle with process improvement due to its complexity.

The goal is to make these resources accessible to local volunteers and groups who have firsthand experience with inefficient processes, rather than relying on complicated corporate methods. By focusing on the effectiveness of government services and enhancing citizen experiences, the revived program could address implementation failures rather than just policy intentions.

Deek encourages readers to explore the original Work Simplification materials, which are available online, and to reach out for access if needed.

No summary available.

RubyUI Overview

RubyUI (formerly PhlexUI) offers a collection of beautifully designed, reusable components that you can easily copy and paste into your apps. It's open-source, accessible, and customizable. Unlike a traditional component library, you can choose and modify components to fit your project.

Key Features:

• Fast Performance: RubyUI is built on Phlex, making it up to 12 times faster than standard Rails ERB templates.
• Beautiful Design: Create stunning and customizable user interfaces.
• Organization: Keep your UI components well-structured and manageable.
• User Experience: Focus on creating memorable experiences for your users.
• Customization: You have full control over the design of all components.
• Lightweight: Minimal dependencies with custom Stimulus.js controllers.
• Reusability: Build components once and reuse them throughout your project.

How to Use:

1. Find Components: Browse live components on the documentation page.
2. Copy Code: Easily copy snippets for quick use.
3. Customize: Use Tailwind utility classes to match your needs.

Installation Steps:

1. Install the gem with:
   • bundle add ruby_ui --group development --require false
   • or add to your Gemfile: gem "ruby_ui", group: :development, require: false
2. Run the installer: bin/rails g ruby_ui:install
3. Generate your components: bin/rails g ruby_ui:component Accordion

Documentation: Full documentation is available at rubyui.com/docs/introduction, including guides, themes, and a getting started guide.

Performance Comparison: RubyUI is significantly faster than alternatives like ViewComponent and ERB templates.

License: RubyUI is licensed under the MIT license.

The text provides a collection of reviews for a book about color. Key points include:

• The book is praised for its thorough and witty exploration of color in culture, as noted by the New York Times.
• It is described as a provocative addition to color theory discussions by Artforum.
• Reviewers commend the engaging writing style, interesting anecdotes, and sharp arguments, highlighting its appeal to both art and color enthusiasts.
• The Royal Academy Magazine calls it a thoughtful and stimulating essay on Western culture's complex relationship with color.
• The book contrasts "Chromophobes," who favor whiteness, with "Chromophiliacs," who embrace vibrant colors, illustrating a cultural conflict over color.
• Overall, it is characterized as an entertaining and insightful read, blending theory with narrative elements, akin to a psychological thriller.

The table of contents lists the main topics discussed in the book.

Summary:

The article discusses a project where the author, inspired by childhood dreams, transforms a basic pedal go-kart into a powerful electric car for his young son. Key points include:

1. Project Goals: The aim is to create an electric go-kart that is fun yet safe for children, featuring a speed limiter and two driving modes—manual and radio-controlled.

2. Components:

   • Go-Kart Base: A used pedal go-kart is repurposed for the structure.
   • Motor: Hoverboard motors are used for their power and compactness.
   • Battery: A 36v, 10Ah battery is installed for good autonomy.
   • Control Systems: An Arduino Nano controls the motors and driving modes, while a cheap radio control unit manages the functions.

3. Safety Features: The kart includes a speed limiter and a manual brake pedal that can be used in both driving modes.

4. Pending Improvements: Future enhancements may include adding steering control via remote and implementing regenerative braking for better safety.

5. Concerns: The author expresses worries about losing remote signal control, emphasizing the importance of having manual braking available at all times.

Overall, the project aims to create an exciting yet safe driving experience for young children.

In a study, researchers tested four AI systems (ELIZA, GPT-4o, LLaMa-3.1-405B, and GPT-4.5) in two Turing tests with participants having 5-minute conversations with both a human and an AI. Participants then had to decide which one they thought was human. GPT-4.5 was identified as human 73% of the time, significantly more than the actual human participant, while LLaMa-3.1 was identified as human 56% of the time. The other models (ELIZA and GPT-4o) performed poorly, with only 23% and 21% accuracy respectively. This study provides the first strong evidence that an AI system can pass a Turing test, raising important questions about the intelligence of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their potential social and economic effects.

No summary available.

Scientists have been trying for over 25 years to create computer simulations of the simple brain of the nematode worm, C. elegans. Recent advancements in technology make this goal achievable and necessary. A successful simulation could lead to breakthroughs in understanding brain function and potentially aid in simulating larger brains, including humans.

The C. elegans brain consists of only 300 neurons, making it a good candidate for simulation. Past attempts have failed mainly due to a lack of detailed data on how neurons function and respond to stimuli. While researchers have mapped the connections between neurons (the connectome), they still need to understand the electrical properties and behaviors of these neurons for an accurate simulation.

Recent developments in microscopy and machine learning have improved our ability to observe living neurons in real-time. These advancements allow researchers to gather more detailed data about neuronal activity, which is crucial for building an effective simulation. The goal is to integrate these new methods into a cohesive framework to simulate C. elegans accurately, which could eventually lead to simulating more complex brains.

Overall, while challenges remain, the current technological landscape provides a promising opportunity to make significant progress in brain simulation research.

No summary available.

Summary of SSLyze

SSLyze is a fast and effective tool for scanning SSL/TLS configurations on servers. It checks for strong encryption settings and identifies vulnerabilities to known attacks, such as Heartbleed.

Key Features:

• Speed and Reliability: SSLyze is widely used to scan many servers daily.
• Easy Integration: It can be easily used in CI/CD pipelines to monitor server compliance with Mozilla's TLS configuration recommendations.
• Python API: Users can run scans from Python applications, with documentation available.
• Support for Various Protocols: It can scan non-HTTP servers like SMTP, LDAP, and more.
• Results Storage: Scan results can be saved in JSON format.

Quick Start Instructions:

• Install SSLyze on Windows, Linux, or macOS using pip, or run it via Docker.
• A pre-compiled Windows executable is also available.

Using SSLyze in CI/CD:

• By default, it checks against Mozilla's "intermediate" TLS settings and returns a status code based on compliance.
• Users can specify different Mozilla configurations for more stringent checks.

Development Setup:

• To set up a development environment, install the necessary requirements and run tests easily.

License: SSLyze is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL).

Summary: AR Computers to Alleviate Eyestrain and Myopia

Augmented Reality (AR) smart glasses may help reduce eyestrain and myopia (nearsightedness). Prolonged close reading causes muscle strain in the eyes, leading to discomfort and vision problems. AR glasses project images directly onto the retina, allowing the eyes to focus without straining.

Key Factors Causing Eyestrain and Myopia:

1. Long-term muscle contraction in the eyes.
2. Lack of sunlight exposure on the retina.
3. Limited peripheral vision.

Benefits of AR Glasses:

• Prevents Eyestrain: Allows the use of both ambient and projected light, reducing muscle contraction.
• Reduces Myopia: With modifications, AR glasses can create a computer display that uses sunlight and protects the eyes while still providing clear images.
• Comfortable Use: Users can lie down, reducing back and neck pain, and avoid dizziness since the eye muscles remain relaxed.
• Dynamic Reading: Users can move freely without being confined to a static position, promoting a more active lifestyle.
• Environmentally Friendly: Encourages outdoor use and reduces reliance on artificial lighting.

Conclusion: AR technology offers a promising new approach to addressing eyestrain and myopia, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

The text discusses the impact of AI on consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. It notes that although AI is meant to simplify tasks for consultants, it has instead led to tighter deadlines and less creative work. Junior consultants, who are responsible for research and data analysis, are expected to use AI tools but often find the new demands overwhelming. Senior partners may view AI as a solution to improve efficiency, but this has resulted in unrealistic expectations for quick turnarounds on complex tasks. Consequently, junior consultants may submit low-quality work generated by AI under pressure.

Additionally, the text briefly mentions subscription options for a publication called The Ken, which includes various plans offering access to in-depth articles and newsletters on business topics.

Summary: Nue Framework Release Announcement

On April 1, 2025, Tero Piirainen introduced Nue, a web framework designed to optimize web development by focusing on modern standards like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Key Highlights:

• Nue enables the creation of lightweight apps, even lighter than a typical React button.
• A demonstration showed a Rust computation engine handling over 150,000 records efficiently, surpassing the limitations of JavaScript.
• Nue offers rapid feedback for developers, enhancing build speed and improving the workflow in tools like VSCode and Sublime.

Target Audiences:

• Rust, Go, and JS Engineers: Nue promotes a model-first approach, simplifying design and allowing for more efficient coding practices.
• Design Engineers: It encourages building simpler design systems with modern CSS techniques.
• UX Engineers: It allows for more control over user experience by moving away from complex React patterns.

Nue's Philosophy: The framework aims to reduce the complexity of modern web development, bringing back the joy of creating applications without the burdens of heavy frameworks.

Next Steps: The development of Nue will follow three phases, and interested individuals can join a mailing list to stay updated on progress.

No summary available.

Air pollution is a major global health crisis, causing millions of premature deaths each year. It originates from burning fuels like wood, biomass, and fossil fuels. Despite this ongoing issue, progress has been made in reducing air pollution in many countries.

To effectively address air pollution, it's crucial to understand its sources. The Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) provides valuable data on air pollutants, going back to the 18th century. This data helps identify the main sources of pollution, categorized into agriculture, energy, industry, transport, and waste.

Key pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), black carbon, methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Each of these pollutants impacts health through various pathways, such as direct toxicity, forming particulate matter, or generating ozone, which can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

For instance, SO2 mainly comes from energy production and industrial processes, while NOₓ is primarily emitted from transport and energy generation. Black carbon is produced from the incomplete burning of fossil fuels and biomass. Methane is largely released through agriculture, especially from livestock and rice cultivation, as well as leaks in oil and gas production.

Addressing air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach, such as transitioning to clean energy, reducing meat consumption, and improving agricultural practices. Many countries have successfully reduced pollution levels, leading to significant health benefits.

Overall, while air pollution remains a critical challenge, there are effective strategies available to reduce its impact on health and the environment.

Side projects can be helpful, but their impact on job hunting is mixed. They usually don't help you get noticed by employers, as most side projects go unnoticed on resumes. However, if you're interviewing at companies that focus on practical skills, side projects can be beneficial and deepen your understanding of technology. Conversely, if the companies you’re targeting mainly ask algorithm-related questions, then side projects may not be the best use of your time. Ultimately, while side projects can make you a better engineer, when you're job hunting, it's more effective to focus on interview preparation and networking.

Dave Täht, a significant figure in network engineering, has passed away. He was known for his contributions to important technologies like FQ-CoDel and CAKE, which helped combat bufferbloat, a problem affecting internet performance. His work has greatly improved internet connectivity, enabling reliable video calls and access to services for many people, including those in remote areas.

Dave believed in open-source principles, often turning down lucrative contracts to prioritize the positive impact of his work. His efforts also helped companies like Starlink reduce latency, benefiting young entrepreneurs in developing countries.

He was not only a mentor and friend to many but also an inspiration for improving global internet access. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues and the community he impacted.

Summary of Textcase Library

Textcase is a Python library designed for converting strings into different text formats, such as snake_case, kebab-case, and camelCase.

Key Features:

• Text Case Conversion: Easily switch between various text formats.
• Extensible: You can add custom cases and boundaries.
• Acronym Handling: Formats acronyms correctly (e.g., HTTPRequest).
• Non-ASCII Support: Works with non-ASCII characters without issues.
• Reliability: Fully tested to ensure accuracy.
• Documentation: Clear guides and examples for easy use.
• Performance: Fast and efficient, without using regular expressions.
• Lightweight: No external dependencies needed.

Installation: To install Textcase, create a virtual environment and run:

pip install textcase

Usage: You can convert strings with the convert function. Here are a few examples:

• Convert to snake_case: convert("ronnie james dio", case.SNAKE) returns ronnie_james_dio.
• Convert to CONSTANT: convert("Ronnie_James_dio", case.CONSTANT) returns RONNIE_JAMES_DIO.

For more examples and details, refer to the documentation.

No summary available.

Nushell has released version 0.103.0, introducing several new features and improvements:

1. Background Jobs: Users can now manage background jobs with commands like job spawn, job list, and job kill. Support for moving running commands to the background is also added, but this feature is still experimental.

2. Package Support: Official packages for Debian (.deb), Red Hat (.rpm), and Alpine (.apk) systems are now available.

3. Custom Command Attributes: Users can attach attributes to custom commands to improve documentation and discoverability. Two built-in attributes are @example and @search-terms.

4. New Commands in std-rfc Module: This experimental module includes new helper commands for data conversion, table manipulation, key-value storage, and clipboard interactions.

5. Vi-mode Enhancements: Improvements have been made to the Vi-mode, including better visual selection and command consistency.

6. Completion and LSP Enhancements: Several fixes and improvements for Language Server Protocol (LSP) and command completion have been added.

7. Bug Fixes and Changes: Various bug fixes, changes to existing commands, and removal of deprecated features have been implemented to improve overall functionality.

To get this version, users can download pre-built binaries or install it via Rust’s package manager, Cargo. Optional plugins are also available for additional features.

No summary available.

In a humorous April Fools' prank in 2025, the author, a database programmer at a university, modified the READY message on campus printers to say "INSERT 5 CENTS." This was done as a joke to make it seem like printing would require a fee. The author sent an email announcement about this new policy, which caused panic among staff who didn't know it was a prank.

While many found it funny, the university administration panicked, leading to a chaotic situation. The author had to send multiple retractions to calm things down, and the incident attracted attention from higher-ups, resulting in trouble for him. Despite the initial backlash, the prank was eventually seen as a legendary joke, and the author learned to be more cautious in the future.

CERN is a leading research organization that studies the basic structure of particles that make up the universe using advanced scientific instruments. Its mission includes conducting fundamental research, contributing to society, and promoting international collaboration. CERN has made significant discoveries, such as the Higgs boson, and is known for the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator. The organization also focuses on educating and inspiring the public about science. In addition to various experiments and projects, CERN emphasizes responsible environmental practices and knowledge sharing.

No summary available.

The text discusses the creation of a simulated economy for an open-world RPG where players' actions influence market prices. The aim is to develop a complex economic system that reflects real-world behaviors through simple individual actions.

Key points include:

1. Concept: The economy will adapt to player actions, such as destroying resources or trading items, affecting prices and market dynamics.

2. Motivation: An example illustrates how individuals make purchasing decisions based on personal value and expected market price. If a player values an item more than its expected price, they are likely to buy it.

3. Implementation: The initial simulation involves a simple market where actors (buyers and sellers) adjust their expected prices based on transaction outcomes. Buyers lower their expected price after a purchase, while sellers raise theirs. This process continues until the market reaches a balance.

4. Results: The simulation shows that expected prices converge towards the average of individual personal values, creating a functional economy without predefined prices.

5. Future Improvements: The simulation currently uses rounds for transactions but will evolve to allow for random buying and selling, introducing more complexity and the concept of scarcity.

Overall, the goal is to create a dynamic and responsive economic system that mimics real-world markets through player interactions.

Google is making it easier for organizations to use end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) emails in Gmail. Historically, E2EE required complex setups like S/MIME, which many organizations couldn't manage. Now, Gmail allows users to send E2EE emails simply, without needing to exchange certificates or use complicated software.

Starting today, enterprise users can send E2EE emails to anyone within their organization, with plans to expand to all Gmail users soon and eventually to all email inboxes. When sending an E2EE email, if the recipient is a Gmail user, the email is automatically decrypted. If the recipient is not a Gmail user, they receive an invitation to view the email securely in a restricted version of Gmail.

This new feature enhances privacy, as the encryption keys are controlled by the customer and not Google. IT teams also benefit by avoiding complex certificate management. Additional security features being introduced include default E2EE settings for sensitive data, classification labels for emails, data loss prevention tools, and a new AI model to enhance threat protection.

Overall, Google is committed to making secure communication accessible for all organizations, helping them meet compliance and security needs.

OpenChess is an open-source smart chessboard that makes interactive chess games affordable and accessible for everyone. It uses inexpensive electronics and 3D printing, allowing users to create their own chess experiences without spending a lot of money.

Key Features:

• Affordable: Uses a custom circuit board with magnetic sensors and lights for real-time move detection.
• DIY-Friendly: Users can print their own board and pieces at home.
• Programmable: Built on Arduino, it can be customized for different game modes or educational tools.
• Modular & Open: Everything is open-source, enabling users to modify the board and design their own pieces.

To build OpenChess, you'll need:

• An OpenChess PCB for detecting pieces.
• An Arduino Nano for controlling the board.
• 3D printed components, which can be customized.

OpenChess is great for classrooms, custom games, or fun projects, putting creative control in the hands of the user.

The U.S. Marines are set to receive high-speed, electric seagliders called the Viceroy, which can travel up to 180 mph for about 180 miles. Regent Craft, the company behind the seagliders, has completed a contract with the Marine Corps and secured an additional $10 million agreement to further develop the technology.

These seagliders are designed to assist in military operations, particularly in challenging maritime environments, by taking off and landing on water without the need for runways. They are electric-powered, can be recharged from shore, and have low radar and sonar visibility, making them ideal for stealth operations.

Regent Craft is enhancing its manufacturing capabilities with a new facility in Rhode Island, expected to be operational by 2026, to support the production and testing of the Viceroy. The seagliders could play a crucial role in modern defense strategies, especially in complicated coastal operations and rescue missions.

Summary of Pico-PubSub

Pico-PubSub is a very small Pub/Sub library, designed to be as lightweight as possible with no dependencies, and its code is only 149 bytes. It is intended for use in small applications, like JS13K games.

Key Features:

• Zero Dependencies: The library is entirely self-contained.
• Minimal Size: At 149 bytes, it is smaller than other similar libraries.
• Basic Functions:
  • sub(event, callback): Subscribes to an event.
  • pub(event, data): Publishes an event with related data.

Usage Example:

1. Install with npm install pico-pubsub.
2. Import the library and use the sub and pub functions to subscribe to and publish events.

Troubleshooting:

• TypeScript support may be added in the future, but a simple TypeScript snippet is provided for now.

Competition:

• Nano-PubSub: Slightly larger at 194 bytes.
• Tiny-PubSub: Even larger at 401 bytes and includes more features.

In conclusion, Pico-PubSub is a compact and efficient choice for handling Pub/Sub patterns in JavaScript applications.

The text describes a JavaScript function that manages the restoration of a sidebar's state in a web application.

Key points include:

1. Media Query Check: The script only runs if the screen width is at least 50em.
2. State Management: It retrieves the sidebar's state (like scroll position and open/closed details) from the session storage.
3. Element Selection: The script looks for a specific HTML element to update based on the retrieved state.
4. Sidebar Restore Class: A custom HTML element is defined to handle restoring the sidebar's open/closed state based on saved data.
5. Error Handling: The code includes try-catch blocks to prevent crashes from potential errors.

Additionally, the text includes a table of contents for Tauri documentation, covering topics like security, development, debugging, plugins, and distribution methods. It lists different versions of Tauri and its components, indicating ongoing updates and improvements.

Summary of WattWise: Terminal-Based Power Monitoring Using Smart Plugs

Overview:
WattWise is a command-line interface (CLI) tool designed to monitor the power consumption of high-performance computing workstations using TP-Link Kasa smart plugs. It aims to help users manage electricity costs, especially during peak pricing periods.

Challenge:
High-performance computing can lead to significant electricity bills. Balancing performance and energy efficiency is essential, especially when running demanding workloads.

Workstation Setup:
The workstation features dual EPYC CPUs and plans for multiple GPUs, requiring careful power management to operate on a standard household outlet.

WattWise Development:
WattWise was created to display power consumption data in a user-friendly terminal format. It pulls data from smart plugs or Home Assistant, offering real-time monitoring and historical data.

Key Features:

• Monitoring: Real-time wattage display, color-coded power levels, and historical charts.
• Power Management: Automatic CPU/GPU throttling based on electricity pricing, customizable performance profiles, and easy setup.
• Deployment: Can be installed directly from source code or via Docker, with options for different connection methods.

Dynamic Power Management:
WattWise adjusts CPU and GPU performance based on system load and electricity rates, helping to save power during peak times. A simpler PI control strategy is used for effective power management.

Implementation:
The interface is straightforward, showing current power usage and historical data. It supports direct connections to Kasa plugs or integration with Home Assistant.

Limitations:
Currently, WattWise works with a single Kasa smart plug and requires Linux systems for power management features.

Usage:
Users can install and run WattWise with simple commands to monitor power usage continuously or check quick readings.

Future Plans:
Improvements include support for multiple plugs, compatibility with other brands, enhanced visualizations, and better predictive algorithms.

Conclusion:
WattWise began as a personal project to monitor power usage effectively and has evolved to include automated power management features. The project is open-source, inviting contributions and adaptations from the community.

Summary:

The Guardian US has successfully operated without a paywall by relying on reader donations, which have increased significantly, especially during politically charged times. Unlike other newspapers that have compromised their integrity under billionaire ownership, The Guardian promotes itself as independent and committed to fair reporting.

In recent months, donations have surged to over $44 million, comprising more than 60% of its revenue. This growth was partly fueled by a strong response to fundraising appeals highlighting press freedom and the importance of reliable information, especially amid political unrest.

The Guardian's unique approach, which includes covering global perspectives, has attracted a diverse audience of around 40 to 50 million monthly visitors, surpassing even the Wall Street Journal in the U.S. However, the sustainability of this model remains uncertain, as it relies heavily on fluctuating donation patterns.

The article discusses Douglas Coupland's novel Microserfs, which was published 20 years ago and explores the lives of young coders working at Microsoft in the mid-1990s. The book is significant as an early fictional representation of the tech industry and its culture, predating other notable works like The Circle and popular TV shows like Silicon Valley and Halt and Catch Fire.

Microserfs follows a character named Daniel, who works as a "bug checker" at Microsoft. He and his friends experience anxiety and existential fears related to their jobs and the tech industry. The story highlights their transition from corporate life to a more free-spirited start-up environment in Silicon Valley, where they seek personal fulfillment and a reconnection with their bodies and identities. The book reflects the cultural moment just before the rise of the internet and the tech boom, capturing the hopes and disillusionments of the time.

Coupland's work is seen as a blend of fiction and journalism, drawing from his experiences observing Microsoft employees. The narrative captures the early 90s tech culture and the complex relationship between workers and their corporate identities, suggesting that the dream of finding personal meaning in work is often undermined by the realities of capitalism.

The article also compares Microserfs with contemporary shows like Silicon Valley, which portrays a more cynical view of the tech industry, highlighting the struggles of start-ups against larger corporations. It notes that the idealistic vision of tech workers as creators of meaningful change has shifted, as evidenced by the darker tones in modern portrayals of Silicon Valley and its entrepreneurs.

In summary, the piece reflects on how Microserfs provided an early lens into the tech culture that has evolved into a more complex and often disillusioned narrative in today’s media.

No summary available.

Mithril.js Summary

• What is Mithril.js?

  • Mithril.js is a lightweight JavaScript framework (8.96 KB gzipped) for building Single Page Applications (SPAs). It is fast and includes built-in routing and XHR utilities. It is used by companies like Vimeo and Nike and supports major browsers without the need for polyfills.

• Installation

  • You can install Mithril.js via CDN or npm:
    • CDN: Use script tags from unpkg or jsDelivr for both development and production.
    • npm: Run npm install mithril --save.

• Documentation

  • Visit mithril.js.org for documentation, including API docs, a guide to building a simple application, and examples.

• Getting Help

  • Join the Mithril.js community on Zulip or ask questions on Stack Overflow with the mithril.js tag.

• Contributing

  • Check the Contributing FAQ on the Mithril.js site for guidance, and feel free to ask questions in the Zulip community.

Thanks for reading!

Kagi, an ad-free subscription search engine, recently introduced a "no use, no pay" billing policy, meaning users won't be charged if they don't use the service in a given month. This change, suggested during a brainstorming session, quickly gained attention and went viral on social media, demonstrating the importance of fair billing practices in customer satisfaction.

Brandon Saltalamacchia, Kagi's marketing lead, explained that the decision was made to enhance customer happiness rather than to boost revenue. Although this approach could potentially lead to increased user engagement and new subscribers, Kagi prioritized customer care over immediate financial gain.

Implementing this policy required significant planning to address various billing complexities, but it ultimately resulted in a positive response from current customers and attracted new ones. The day of the announcement marked Kagi's most substantial growth in six months.

While this practice may not be widely adopted by other SaaS companies due to concerns about steady revenue, Kagi's model allows them to prioritize long-term trust over short-term profits, as they are a Public Benefit Corporation not focused on maximizing shareholder value.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Ken Shirriff's blog explores the intricacies of computer history, vintage computer restoration, and integrated circuit reverse engineering. In a recent post, he delves into the microcode circuitry of the original Pentium processor.

Key points include:

1. Microcode vs. Machine Instructions: Microcode is a layer of software that operates beneath machine instructions. Instead of using complex logic gates, processors like the Pentium use microcode stored in ROM (Read-Only Memory) to execute simpler micro-instructions.

2. Pentium Microcode ROM: The Pentium features a microcode ROM that is intricate in design. It consists of two banks, each outputting 45 bits for a combined total of 90 bits per micro-instruction, allowing for 4608 micro-instructions in total.

3. Transistor Arrangement: The microcode ROM is built from a grid of transistors, where the presence or absence of a transistor represents binary data (0 or 1). The design is optimized to minimize space while maximizing performance.

4. Microcode Address Register (MAR): The MAR holds the address for the micro-instructions, allowing the Pentium to fetch and execute the necessary microcode for machine instructions. It supports operations like incrementing addresses and branching to new micro-addresses.

5. Row-Select Drivers: The circuitry uses an efficient design to select rows in the microcode ROM using a combination of address decoding and optimized gates, allowing for effective activation of the necessary rows.

6. Output Circuitry: The microcode's output is managed by multiplexer circuits that select the appropriate bits for processing, ensuring that the right microcode is delivered to control the processor's operations.

7. Testing Circuitry: To ensure reliability, the Pentium incorporates testing circuits that check the integrity of the microcode ROM, utilizing pseudo-random number generators and checksums to detect any errors.

In conclusion, the microcode ROM in the Pentium is a complex but crucial component, showcasing advanced design techniques that allow for efficient processing and testing. Shirriff's insights provide a detailed look at the inner workings of this historic processor.

No summary available.

OpenAI recently introduced image generation in ChatGPT, allowing users to create stunning images, including Studio Ghibli-style portraits. This feature quickly led to a flood of Ghibli-themed content across social media, showcasing both the excitement and challenges of AI in art.

Key points include:

1. Launch and Impact: OpenAI's new image generation sparked a trend where many users, including celebrities, created Ghibli-style art, highlighting the capability of AI to blend text and visuals effectively.

2. Artistic Concerns: This trend reignited discussions about the value of art. Legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki criticized AI art as a devaluation of true artistic effort, contrasting the painstaking work behind hand-drawn animations with the ease of AI generation.

3. Cultural Shift: The ease of replicating an aesthetic raises questions about the meaning of art and creativity. As unique artistic styles become widely accessible, the focus may shift from craftsmanship to the ideas behind the art.

4. Market Dynamics: The overwhelming popularity of Ghibli-themed creations overshadowed significant tech announcements, indicating that emotional appeal often outweighs technical advancements in capturing public attention.

5. Future of Creativity: Experts suggest that while AI can produce art, the role of human creativity and direction will remain crucial. As AI-generated content rises, the value of authentic, handcrafted work may become even more appreciated.

6. Policy Adjustments: In response to the trend, OpenAI is reportedly refining its content generation policies to balance creativity with respect for individual artists.

Overall, the Ghibli-fication trend illustrates both the potential and pitfalls of AI in art, raising important questions about creativity, value, and the future landscape of artistic expression.

The Go App Optimization Guide is a series of articles designed to help developers create faster and more efficient applications using the Go programming language. It provides practical techniques and insights for optimizing performance in various types of applications, such as APIs and microservices.

Key Points:

• The guide emphasizes that while Go has fewer performance tuning options compared to languages like C++ or Rust, it still offers many ways to enhance application speed.
• It covers essential patterns for performance, including:
  • Effective use of sync.Pool
  • Avoiding unnecessary memory allocations
  • Proper struct layout and memory alignment
  • Efficient error handling
  • Using interfaces without extra costs
  • Reusing slices and in-place sorting

Each pattern includes practical examples and benchmarks for immediate application.

Upcoming topics will include high-performance networking strategies, such as:

• Utilizing Go’s net/http and net.Conn effectively
• Handling many concurrent connections
• Performance tuning techniques
• Load testing and identifying bottlenecks

The guide is aimed at backend engineers, developers focused on reducing latency, teams transitioning to Go, and anyone interested in Go’s performance capabilities.

More articles and resources will be added, so readers can stay updated.

No summary available.

Use a smart metronome that tracks your practice and gives you useful insights. It focuses on helping you improve speed, endurance, accuracy, and adaptability.

Key points:

• No music theory knowledge needed.
• Access a library of exercises or create your own.
• Free to use with no ads and no signup required.
• Works in any web browser on PC and smartphone; no app download necessary.
• Your data is stored on your device, and you can export or delete it anytime.
• It can work offline if your browser supports it.

Summary: The Demoscene as a UNESCO Heritage in Sweden

The demoscene has been recognized as a national UNESCO heritage in Sweden, following an application by Ziphoid and the author. This movement is part of a broader initiative to establish the demoscene as a global UNESCO heritage, similar to efforts in other European countries. The demoscene is one of the oldest creative digital subcultures, maintaining its values and traditions despite technological changes.

The main focus of the demoscene is to create productions that push hardware limits, but not all participants share this goal. Some, like the author's group Hack n’ Trade, prioritize making unique creations, while others contribute by organizing events or preserving software without producing releases themselves.

The author reflects on the difference between their research and personal experiences within the demoscene. While there are large international events, they value local gatherings and the friendships formed there, emphasizing the joy of creating for fun. The scene is diverse, with participants ranging from professionals seeking nostalgia to those embracing a counter-culture. This blend of conservatism and openness is part of what makes the demoscene worthy of recognition as an intangible heritage.

Heather Cox Richardson, a respected historian, reported that two of her Facebook posts disappeared without explanation on March 31, 2025. She noticed that not only could she not see her posts, but many of her followers also confirmed that they were missing from her page. One deleted post discussed serious allegations about Trump's administration, which had gained significant attention before vanishing. Richardson expressed concern that this erasure represented a larger issue of controlling historical narratives, urging her readers to follow her on Substack, where her writings are available without restrictions. She emphasized that if Facebook can remove a historian's work, it raises questions about what else might be hidden from the public, highlighting the dangers of selective visibility on social media.

Neuralatex is an auto-grad library for neural networks that works with LaTeX. It allows you to define your neural network's architecture, loss functions, training data, and hyperparameters directly in your LaTeX document. When you compile your document, it automatically generates or loads data, trains the network, conducts experiments, and creates figures. You can also see training debug information in the LaTeX log or include it in your paper.