Summary of PyXL:

• What is PyXL?

  • PyXL is a custom hardware processor that runs Python code directly without any virtual machines or operating systems. It allows Python to execute in silicon, making it much faster than traditional methods.

• Performance Compared to MicroPython:

  • A GPIO roundtrip takes only 480 nanoseconds on PyXL, compared to about 15,000 nanoseconds on MicroPython, making PyXL 30 times faster or even 50 times faster when adjusting for clock speeds.

• How It Works:

  • PyXL compiles Python code into a custom assembly language that runs on a pipelined processor in an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). This setup allows for deterministic timing and real-time behavior.

• GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output):

  • GPIO pins are hardware interfaces that allow the software to control external devices like sensors or motors. Unlike MicroPython, which uses a software stack to interact with GPIO, PyXL connects directly to the hardware.

• Testing and Results:

  • In a test comparing GPIO performance, PyXL consistently achieved a roundtrip time of 480 nanoseconds, while MicroPython showed variable results due to overhead, highlighting PyXL's reliability.

• Benefits of PyXL:

  • PyXL eliminates the overhead of software interpreters, leading to faster and more predictable execution of Python code. This makes it suitable for applications requiring real-time responsiveness, such as robotics, machine learning, and industrial control systems.

• Conclusion:

  • PyXL represents a significant advancement for running Python in embedded and real-time contexts, allowing developers to write performance-critical code directly in Python without compromising speed or reliability. For more information, visit runpyxl.com.

Spain's medium and long-distance trains will not return to normal service today, according to Transport Minister Oscar Puente. Shorter distance commuter services may restart once the electricity supply is restored. Efforts are being made to rescue passengers stuck on stranded trains. Recovery of train control systems will take time, and trains will need to be repositioned. The goal is to resume train service tomorrow if power is restored today. Additionally, air traffic is operating at 80% capacity due to security measures related to telecommunications.

Summary: Uncovering The Games: Winter Challenge

The author has revisited an old winter sports game called "The Games: Winter Challenge," originally developed for DOS and Sega Genesis in 1991. Driven by nostalgia and curiosity, they aim to understand the game's mechanics, particularly the ski jumping event, which they found challenging as a child.

Their process involves finding the game, analyzing its code using tools like Ghidra, and exploring its various versions, including a GOG release that lacks the original copy protection. The game employed a code wheel for protection, which the GOG version bypasses, leading to some gameplay issues reported by users.

As they investigate, the author discovers multiple versions of the game, each with unique characteristics, including different executable files created during installation. They also explore how the game uses compression techniques to optimize its code due to the hardware limitations of the time.

Key points include:

• The original game had copy protection via a code wheel, which was removed in later versions.
• The game had multiple releases and variations, complicating the understanding of its mechanics.
• The author uses reverse engineering to uncover the game's code structure, revealing that many versions share core logic despite differences.
• The game employs overlays to manage memory usage, a common practice in DOS programs.

Overall, this exploration sheds light on early 90s video game development and the challenges faced due to hardware constraints.

Autarkie - Instant Grammar Fuzzing Using Rust Macros

Autarkie is a grammar fuzzer developed in Rust that uses procedural macros to automate the creation of a grammar fuzzer. It is inspired by another project called Nautilus.

Key Features:

• Acts as a drop-in replacement for any grammar.
• Performs actual grammar fuzzing, not just structure awareness.
• Works with both AFL++ (Forkserver) and cargo-fuzz (In-process).
• Allows fuzzing of C/C++ projects through Rust-defined grammar.
• Easy to use with abstracted complexity.
• Simple integration with other fuzzers.

Unique Features:

• No need for grammar maintenance; it updates automatically with code changes.
• Guarantees exhaustive grammar coverage by ensuring all necessary types are included.
• Allows re-use of the corpus if the fuzzer is stopped and restarted.
• Can learn from other fuzzers (this feature is still being developed).
• Supports native cmplog (also in development).

Usage Examples:

1. Fuzzing C/C++ Projects:

   • Example: Fuzzing sqlite3 using grammar from datafusion-sqlparser-rs. It demonstrates how quickly you can set up a complex grammar fuzzer.

2. Fuzzing Rust Projects:

   • Example: Fuzzing Solana's sbpf interpreter in Rust, showcasing easy integration with cargo-fuzz.

Limitations:

• Autarkie is in beta and may have issues.
• Requires types to own their data without using lifetimes due to technical constraints.
• Only works with Rust's nightly version due to specific feature requirements.

Contributions: Feedback and contributions are encouraged to improve the project.

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Summary of tiny-llm: LLM Serving in a Week

Tiny-llm is a work-in-progress tutorial aimed at teaching system engineers how to serve large language models (LLMs) using MLX, focusing on low-level matrix APIs instead of high-level neural network APIs. The goal is to understand the techniques for efficiently serving models like Qwen2.

A book on tiny-llm can be found at tiny-llm book, which includes a guide for building the serving infrastructure. Additionally, there is a community on Discord where users can learn together.

Roadmap Overview:

• The project is organized into chapters, each focusing on different topics related to LLM serving.
• Some chapters are complete with code, tests, and documentation, while others are still in progress (marked as 🚧).

Key Topics Covered:

1. Initial Concepts: Attention mechanisms, RoPE, and grouped query attention.
2. Model Components: RMSNorm, MLP, and transformer blocks.
3. Model Loading and Response Generation: Loading the model and generating responses.
4. Advanced Techniques: KV cache, quantized matrix multiplication for CPU and GPU, and flash attention.

Future chapters will cover additional advanced topics, many of which are still under development.

Summary of AI's Impact on Software Development

AI is significantly changing the field of software development, particularly through tools like Claude.ai and Claude Code. Here are the key points:

1. Increased Automation: A large portion of interactions with Claude Code involves automation, with 79% of conversations focused on AI performing tasks directly, compared to 49% for Claude.ai, which is more about AI assisting humans.

2. Focus on User-Facing Apps: Developers primarily use AI to build user interfaces and applications, with web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS being the most utilized languages. This indicates that jobs related to user-facing development might be disrupted by AI sooner than those focused on backend work.

3. Adoption Trends: Startups are leading the adoption of Claude Code, making up 33% of interactions, while traditional enterprises lag behind at 13%. This suggests that more agile companies are leveraging AI for competitive advantages, while larger organizations are more cautious.

4. Types of Coding Tasks: Common tasks include developing UI/UX components and web/mobile applications. Many developers are now using "vibe coding," where they describe desired outcomes in natural language for AI to implement.

5. User Demographics: A significant portion of users includes students and individuals working on personal projects, indicating that AI coding tools are appealing beyond just businesses.

6. Future Considerations: As AI capabilities grow, there are questions about the role of human developers. Will they move towards managing AI systems rather than coding themselves? The evolving landscape may lead to job changes within software development.

In summary, AI is reshaping how software is developed, with a notable shift towards automation and a focus on user-facing applications, particularly among startups. The future will likely see more changes in developer roles as AI becomes more integrated into coding tasks.

Summary of Internet-in-a-Box:

Internet-in-a-Box is a tool that provides access to educational content without needing an internet connection. It functions like a local library, allowing users with smartphones, tablets, or laptops to access learning materials wirelessly. It's especially useful in remote areas, like mountain villages in India.

Key features include:

• Affordable Setup: It runs on a $35 Raspberry Pi computer, with fully assembled versions available for $58.
• Easy Installation: Users can install it directly on a Raspberry Pi or a Linux PC. Resources and guides are available online.
• Quality Content: It offers various educational resources and apps in multiple languages, sourced from online libraries. Users can select videos, documentaries, and educational applications tailored to their community's needs.
• Community Support: The project is supported by volunteers who collaborate with schools and libraries worldwide. Users can contribute by adding local content and artifacts.

Overall, Internet-in-a-Box is part of a grassroots movement to enhance learning opportunities globally.

No summary available.

A recent study from the University of California San Diego has identified a gene called PHGDH as a cause of Alzheimer's disease, which affects many older adults. Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover that PHGDH not only serves as a biomarker for the disease but also disrupts gene regulation in the brain, leading to Alzheimer's progression.

The study showed that higher levels of PHGDH are linked to more severe Alzheimer's symptoms. By altering PHGDH levels in mice and brain models, researchers confirmed that less PHGDH reduces disease progression, establishing it as a causal factor.

They also explored potential treatments targeting PHGDH. A compound named NCT-503 was found to inhibit PHGDH's harmful role without affecting its beneficial functions. In tests, this compound improved memory and reduced anxiety in mice with Alzheimer's.

The findings suggest a promising new avenue for developing therapies that could potentially be taken orally, unlike current treatments. Future steps will include optimizing NCT-503 and preparing for clinical trials.

No summary available.

The article discusses a significant iOS vulnerability that could be exploited with a single line of code, potentially causing severe issues on an iPhone. The vulnerability revolves around a feature called Darwin notifications, which allows processes on Apple’s operating systems to send and receive simple messages without needing special permissions.

Key points include:

1. Darwin Notifications: These are low-level mechanisms for communication between processes. Any process can send or receive these notifications without special privileges, which raises security concerns.

2. Vulnerability Discovery: The author found that malicious apps could exploit Darwin notifications to perform denial-of-service attacks. They created a test app called "EvilNotify" that demonstrated the vulnerability by manipulating system functions.

3. Proof of Concept: The author discovered that by sending a specific Darwin notification, they could make the device enter a "Restore in Progress" state, effectively soft-bricking it. This could only be resolved by restarting the device.

4. Further Exploitation: They developed a second app, "VeryEvilNotify," that could repeatedly trigger the denial-of-service attack by using a widget extension, making it very challenging for users to regain control of their devices.

5. Reporting and Mitigation: The author reported the vulnerability to Apple, which acknowledged the issue and implemented a fix. Starting with iOS 18.3, sending sensitive Darwin notifications now requires special entitlements, preventing unauthorized processes from causing serious disruptions.

Overall, the article highlights how a simple programming oversight in system APIs can lead to severe security vulnerabilities and the importance of addressing such issues in software development.

No summary available.

In the blog post "Reversing the Fossilization of Computer Science Conferences," Bertrand Meyer argues that computer science conferences have become overly bureaucratic, diminishing their purpose as forums for innovative research. Conferences are meant to share new ideas, but they often serve as résumé-building exercises for academics, which stifles creativity and innovation.

Meyer highlights that many important contributions in the field are not published at traditional conferences, suggesting that the current selection process prioritizes conformity over groundbreaking work. He criticizes the rigid standards and unnecessary rules that have emerged, pointing out that these can lead to the rejection of valuable papers that don't fit a narrow mold.

He proposes several solutions to improve conferences, including fostering a culture focused on innovation rather than formalities, simplifying submission guidelines, and ensuring that experienced experts lead the selection process rather than junior academics seeking career advancement. By prioritizing substance over superficial standards, conferences can better fulfill their original mission of advancing knowledge in computer science.

Recent studies show that using inference-time computing effectively is essential for enhancing the performance of large language models (LLMs). This work introduces a new approach called inference-aware fine-tuning, where the model is trained to improve its performance during inference. We focus on the Best-of-N (BoN) strategy, where a verifier picks the best response from multiple LLM-generated options.

We developed new imitation learning and reinforcement learning methods for fine-tuning with BoN, which helps address the challenges of selecting the best response. Our BoN-aware models learn to balance high-quality responses with more varied ones that might better fit different inputs, similar to the exploration-exploitation strategy in reinforcement learning.

Our experiments show that this BoN-aware fine-tuning significantly boosts performance, such as improving the Bo32 score of Gemma 2B on Hendrycks MATH from 26.8% to 30.8%, and increasing the pass@32 score from 60.0% to 67.0%. Additionally, the pass@16 score on HumanEval improved from 61.6% to 67.1%.

The text is a navigation guide for a platform called Slidev. It includes sections on getting started, syntax, user interface, and various features like animations, themes, and components. Users can learn about exporting, hosting, and advanced configurations. There are also references to resources like showcases, galleries, and learning materials, as well as release notes for the current version. The guide is available in English and Simplified Chinese.

Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Lehigh University have created a new copper alloy, Cu-Ta-Li (Copper-Tantalum-Lithium), that combines exceptional strength and thermal stability, making it suitable for high-temperature applications in aerospace, defense, and industry. This breakthrough material can withstand extreme heat without degrading and maintains its shape under mechanical stress, outperforming traditional nickel-based superalloys in terms of conductivity.

The development of this alloy is the result of a $25 million partnership and has been supported by various institutions, including the National Science Foundation. The alloy's unique structure, stabilized by a specific atomic layer, prevents grain growth at high temperatures, enhancing its durability.

The research involved advanced techniques such as powder metallurgy and extensive testing, confirming the alloy's long-term stability and performance. The U.S. Army has patented this alloy, recognizing its potential for military applications like heat exchangers and propulsion systems.

Future research will focus on measuring the alloy's thermal conductivity and developing other high-temperature materials. This project illustrates how federal investment in science can lead to advancements in materials technology, benefiting national security and industrial innovation.

Reading obituaries can enhance creativity by introducing you to diverse and unexpected ideas. Keith Sawyer, a creativity researcher, has found that the most original ideas often come from making connections between unrelated concepts. Many people tend to learn information that aligns with what they already know, limiting their creative potential.

Research shows that creativity thrives on linking distant ideas, which can lead to surprising and innovative combinations. For example, inventions like Velcro arose from unexpected associations. Sawyer suggests that reading obituaries—particularly those of lesser-known individuals—can expose you to a variety of fields and experiences, helping to stimulate your creative thinking.

To effectively use obituaries for creativity, read them slowly and reflect on the details. Ask questions about the people’s lives and their unique experiences. This practice encourages curiosity and helps form connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, potentially leading to creative insights. Ultimately, engaging with diverse narratives can enrich your cognitive landscape and foster creativity in your daily life.

Summary of "The World After Amazon"

"The World After Amazon" is a project that encourages Amazon workers to share their visions of the future through speculative fiction. In 2023, 13 Amazon workers wrote short stories that explore life after Amazon, highlighting the contrast between the company's promise of convenience and the harsh realities faced by its employees.

Amazon has portrayed itself as a positive force in society, but its workers often endure difficult conditions for the company's profit. The project aims to empower these workers to reclaim their narratives and collectively shape a better future.

The book features a variety of stories, each offering unique insights into potential futures of work. It emphasizes the importance of worker writing in organizing and raising awareness about labor conditions. Notable contributors to the project, including professors and authors, stress that these stories reflect the hope and solidarity among workers, and the creative potential to envision alternatives to the current corporate landscape.

Readers can access the stories online, as a PDF, or as an audiobook, and there are plans for events to promote the book in various cities. The project underscores the role of imagination in driving political change and the significance of workers' voices in shaping the future.

The article discusses the ongoing vulnerability of mobile networks to a type of hacking tool known as an IMSI catcher, which exploits a weakness in cellular protocols. Here are the key points:

1. IMSI Basics: The International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is a unique identifier for each mobile account, linking a SIM card with the user's account.

2. IMSI Catchers:

   • Active IMSI Catchers: These mimic cell towers to trick phones into connecting, allowing them to capture IMSIs but are detectable and illegal.
   • Passive IMSI Catchers: These listen for IMSIs without interfering, making them harder to detect.

3. How They Work: When a phone connects to a network, it often sends its IMSI in an unencrypted form during registration, particularly during initial connections or when switching between towers.

4. Vulnerabilities Across Generations:

   • 2G and 3G: IMSIs are sent in clear text, making them vulnerable.
   • 4G: Security is slightly improved, but vulnerabilities remain, particularly during handover processes.
   • 5G: Introduces new identifiers (SUPI and SUCI) that aim to protect user identity, but issues remain with incomplete network rollouts and misconfigurations.

5. Potential for Continued Exploitation: Despite improvements in 5G, IMSI catchers may still be feasible due to incomplete updates in networks and downgrades from 5G to older protocols.

6. Prevention Tips: Users can reduce risk by prioritizing 5G connections, using airplane mode in low coverage areas, or keeping devices in Faraday bags to block signals.

In conclusion, while 5G has made strides in improving security, vulnerabilities still exist, and IMSI catchers are not entirely eliminated.

Summary: The Suburban Office Park that Launched Silicon Valley

Stanford Research Park, located in Palo Alto, California, is a key site in the history of Silicon Valley. Established in the early 1950s, it was one of the first suburban office parks in the U.S. and has hosted influential tech companies like Tesla, Google, and HP. The park's origins trace back to Stanford University's need to generate revenue from its land, which was initially unsuitable for agriculture.

The park began attracting technology companies thanks to Frederick Terman, a Stanford professor who encouraged graduates to start their own businesses. Companies like Hewlett-Packard and Varian Associates set up operations in the park, benefiting from long-term leases that provided financial support to Stanford.

As Silicon Valley grew, Stanford Research Park played a central role in its development, contributing to the region’s innovation and economic boom. Despite recent trends of companies moving back to urban centers, the park remains successful, housing around 29,000 employees.

However, its legacy includes challenges such as a significant imbalance between jobs and housing in Palo Alto, raising concerns about the impact of such suburban developments. Overall, Stanford Research Park is recognized as a pioneering model for suburban office parks worldwide.

The article explores the experiences of patients in a palliative care unit at Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark, emphasizing the focus on comfort and emotional support rather than curing illness. It highlights the stories of several patients, including René Damgaard, who is terminally ill with cancer, and Liv Simonsen, who has a recurrence of breast cancer.

In the palliative care unit, staff members provide not only medical relief for physical symptoms but also help patients and their families cope with the emotional challenges of dying. They address issues like pain, anxiety, and the fear of death, often allowing patients to find peace with their situation.

Dr. Johan Randén and nurse Sigrid Nielsen stress the importance of communication and emotional care, noting that many patients who initially consider assisted dying often change their minds when given adequate support. The unit fosters a calm atmosphere, contrasting with the chaos of other hospital departments, and encourages patients to express their feelings and say goodbye to loved ones.

The article culminates in the death of René, who, surrounded by his family, finds peace in his final moments. It illustrates how palliative care can provide dignity and comfort to those facing the end of life, emphasizing the significance of emotional connections and the support of healthcare professionals.

The text describes the internal struggle of a coder named Zach Bellay, who feels torn between two influences: an angel representing curiosity and enjoyment in coding, and a devil urging him to pursue profit and success. Zach has always loved computers, starting with games and evolving through various programming experiences. He has also been influenced by a desire for entrepreneurial success, fueled by media that glorifies hustle culture.

Zach recognizes that while coding for fun brings him joy, the pressure to start profitable side projects often distracts him from that enjoyment. He acknowledges the importance of staying updated with technology to earn a living, but wishes he could focus solely on his passions. Ultimately, he understands that managing this inner conflict is key to avoiding burnout and finding a balance between enjoyment and financial responsibility.

The article discusses the challenges of reverse geocoding, which is the process of converting geographic coordinates (like latitude and longitude) into human-readable addresses. The author, who runs a database of memorial benches, explains that while there are services that can convert coordinates into addresses, not all locations have traditional addresses, especially those in parks or less defined areas.

The main points include:

1. Purpose of Human-Readable Addresses: Users want a simple description of a bench's location and the ability to find nearby benches through clickable links.

2. Precision Issues: Reverse geocoding can yield overly detailed addresses that are not user-friendly. The challenge is to create concise and relevant addresses without unnecessary information.

3. Local Variations in Addresses: Different countries have different address formats, and some places may not fit neatly into traditional address categories, complicating the process.

4. Use of Points of Interest (POIs): Nearby landmarks can help provide context for locations without specific addresses. However, relying on POIs can also lead to confusion if they are not logically close to the bench.

5. International Considerations: Address formats vary globally, and language differences must be considered, especially on an international platform.

6. Proposed Solution: The author suggests a plan to automate the process by using mapping services to find the nearest POI, format the address in English, and concatenate it for display, aiming to keep the process simple for users.

Overall, the article highlights the complexities of turning raw geographic data into useful and understandable information for users.

Summary: FPU Emulation Revival for i486SX on NetBSD

This project aims to restore support for FPU emulation in the NetBSD operating system for older 486SX processors, which lack hardware floating-point units (FPUs). It reintroduces the MATH_EMULATE option in NetBSD 10.x and modifies previous changes that removed FPU emulation support.

Key Points:

• The project is still in development and may have bugs.
• Some mathematical functions may not work correctly, especially when used with the standard library (libc).
• A list of FPU emulated instructions is provided, showing which operations are functioning properly (✅ OK) and which are still under review or not applicable (⏳ TBD, ❌ N/A).

Installation Steps:

1. Obtain the source code.
2. Compile the kernel by configuring it with the MATH_EMULATE option.
3. Replace the existing kernel with the newly compiled one.

Contact Information: For questions or issues, users can reach out to Mikhail Zakharov. The project is licensed under the BSD-2-Clause license.

Summary of Boxie - Offline Audio Player for Kids

In April 2025, a parent created "Boxie," an offline audio player for their 3-year-old, inspired by the classic Game Boy. The goal was to design a simple, portable, and kid-friendly device that plays audiobooks without needing internet connectivity.

Key Features:

• Design and Functionality: Boxie resembles a Game Boy and uses physical cartridges to store audio content, which allows the child to see cover art while listening. It has a volume knob and buttons for easy navigation.
• Power Source: It is powered by safe NiMH batteries and turns on/off automatically when cartridges are inserted or removed.
• Components: The player is built on an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, utilizing a micro SD card for audio storage. A MAX98357A amplifier is used for sound output.
• Soldering and Electronics Skills: The creator learned to solder, design PCBs, and use various electronics tools to build the device. They emphasize the importance of using ESP32 microcontrollers over Arduino for more advanced projects.
• Assembly and Tools: The project requires specific tools and components, including a 3D printer for the enclosure and various electronic parts for assembly.

Future Improvements:

• Plans to add a headphone jack and additional components for enhanced audio output.

Bonus Projects:

• The creator also designed a USB cartridge reader for easy audio file management and modified a digital microscope for better usability.

Overall, Boxie represents a DIY approach to creating a durable and engaging audio player for young children, combining electronics skills with thoughtful design.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of Insurance Fraud Discovery in Crash Data

At Matrisk AI, we were analyzing vehicle crash data to create geospatial risk scores when we unexpectedly discovered potential insurance fraud linked to Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs). Here's a simplified overview of what we found:

Key Points:

1. Importance of VINs: By tracking VINs, we could see which vehicles were involved in multiple accidents and identify unusual patterns, such as frequent insurance changes.

2. Data Analysis: We filtered around 15 million crashes to focus on valid VINs and excluded incidents involving drugs or alcohol. Our analysis looked for:

   • Multiple crashes of the same VIN within a short period.
   • Overlapping insurance coverage for the same VIN.
   • Patterns like single-vehicle nighttime crashes and reported injuries.

3. Red Flags for Fraud:

   • Two or more accidents with the same VIN within six months.
   • Frequent switching of insurance carriers within a short time.
   • Late-night accidents with no witnesses, often linked to staged crashes.
   • Inflated injury claims from fraud rings.

4. Propensity Score: We developed a scoring system to prioritize VINs that showed these suspicious patterns, helping identify cases worth closer inspection.

5. Insurance Switching: We inferred insurance coverage periods based on crash data, noting overlapping coverage as a potential indicator of fraud.

6. A Case Study: One VIN had multiple late-night, single-vehicle crashes with insurance changes that raised suspicions, but this alone doesn’t confirm fraud—it could just be coincidence.

Why This Matters:

Insurance fraud is a significant issue, costing the industry billions. Our findings suggest that analyzing VINs alongside crash data can help insurers and risk managers identify suspicious patterns early, guiding resource allocation for investigations.

This analysis demonstrates how data can reveal unexpected insights into vehicle insurance fraud.

China has seen a significant increase in clinical trials, jumping from over 600 in 2017 to nearly 2,000 in 2023. This growth is largely attributed to regulatory reforms that have streamlined the approval process for new drugs. American pharmaceutical companies are now increasingly licensing drugs from Chinese labs instead of relying solely on American or European biotech firms.

Key factors for China's success include:

1. Regulatory Reforms: China has implemented policies such as priority reviews and implied licenses, which allow trials to proceed if there are no objections within 60 days.

2. Efficient Trials: Chinese companies often conduct early-stage trials at a lower cost, making it easier to attract international investment and collaborations.

3. High Enrollment Rates: Many Chinese trials have higher enrollment levels compared to U.S. trials, which often struggle to recruit participants.

4. Learning and Innovation: The streamlined processes have led to faster drug development and a more effective feedback loop in clinical research.

While the U.S. system has historically led in pharmaceutical development, it is now experiencing stagnation. In contrast, China’s model emphasizes centralized coordination and a more efficient regulatory environment, suggesting that both countries can benefit from adapting their frameworks to improve drug discovery and trial participation. Other countries like Japan, South Korea, and India are also following China's lead.

Summary of bhvr

bhvr is a modern and lightweight fullstack repository for building web applications in TypeScript. It offers a simple way to create apps without the bloat and restrictions often found in other frameworks.

Key features include:

• Bun: A fast JavaScript runtime that handles dependency installation, bundling, and workspace management.
• Hono: An ultrafast web framework that simplifies backend and API development while ensuring type safety.
• Vite: A next-generation tool for frontend development that provides quick server starts and optimized production builds.

bhvr is designed for easy deployment in any environment while maintaining type safety and performance. It uses React for building UI components but allows for flexibility in choosing other options.

To get started, you can create a new project using the command: bun create bhvr@latest.

A pipe organ is essentially a large instrument made up of many pipes that produce sound. Each pipe is positioned on a wind chest that contains compressed air, supplied by a bellows or blower. The organ has different stops, each controlling a set of pipes (called a rank) that produce specific tones. When a stop is pulled, it allows air to flow to those pipes.

To create sound, an organist presses keys on the keyboard. This action opens valves (called pallets) that let air into the selected pipe, generating the musical note.

Each pipe organ is unique and customized for the buyer, taking into account factors like the number of sounds, the room size, appearance, and budget.

This text argues against the idea that large language models (LLMs) can replace human programmers. The author references Peter Naur's paper, "Programming as Theory Building," to explain that true programming requires a deep understanding and theory of the software, which LLMs lack.

Key points include:

1. Understanding Theory: According to philosopher Gilbert Ryle, a "theory" goes beyond just knowledge; it involves actively building and understanding the concepts behind programming, which LLMs cannot do.

2. Illusion of Knowledge: LLMs may appear to have knowledge about programming, but this is just an illusion. They generate outputs based on learned patterns, not from an actual understanding or experience of programming.

3. Practical Nature of Programming: Programming is not merely producing code; it's about developing and maintaining a theory of how the program works. Naur emphasizes that effective programming requires intimate knowledge and continuous engagement with the software.

4. Limitations of LLMs: To replace human programmers, LLMs would need to acquire a true understanding of programming theories, which they cannot.

The author concludes that believing LLMs can replace programmers misunderstands the essence of programming itself.

Summary of TmuxAI:

TmuxAI is an AI-powered terminal assistant designed to enhance your workflow in tmux, a terminal multiplexer. Here are the key points:

• Collaboration Style: TmuxAI acts like a helpful colleague by observing your terminal activity and providing context-aware assistance based on what you are doing.

• Easy Setup: It requires no special configuration and works immediately with your existing tmux setup.

• Compatibility: TmuxAI works with various terminal environments, including SSH connections and database command lines.

• Features:

  • Context-Aware Assistance: It understands what’s displayed across your terminal panes in real-time.
  • Prepare Mode: Tracks commands and provides feedback on their execution.
  • Watch Mode: Monitors your activity and suggests improvements or explanations based on your goals.
  • Open Source: TmuxAI is available for free and can be customized to fit your needs.

• Example Use: TmuxAI can help you start a Docker container and connect to a MySQL shell by guiding you through the necessary commands.

In summary, TmuxAI is a versatile, user-friendly assistant that streamlines terminal tasks and improves productivity.

The system is checking your web browser for security purposes.

The text discusses how OpenAI's o3 model approached a complex chess puzzle, showing behavior similar to a human. Here are the key points:

1. Initial Setup: The model carefully analyzed the chessboard, taking time to understand the positions of the pieces.

2. Testing Moves: It tried some obvious moves but quickly doubted their effectiveness as it realized they wouldn't lead to a checkmate.

3. Programming Attempts: When reasoning alone wasn't enough, it attempted to use Python to run a chess engine but failed.

4. Pixel Analysis: Stuck, the model resorted to measuring the chessboard's pixels to deduce information about the pieces, demonstrating persistence.

5. Signs of Doubt: As it continued to calculate, it expressed uncertainty about finding the best move.

6. Web Search: Ultimately, after about 8 minutes, it used Bing to find a solution and verified the suggested move.

The author's fascination lies in how the o3 model mimics human problem-solving by reasoning, attempting different methods, and even "cheating" to find answers. This highlights both the strengths and limitations of current AI models in problem-solving and creativity.

Computer architects are debating how to best calculate the average performance of different systems based on various workloads. The main methods discussed are the arithmetic mean and the geometric mean, with the latter being favored by some experts because it provides consistent and meaningful comparisons. However, a recent paper suggests using the Equal-Time Harmonic Speedup instead, claiming it has clearer physical meaning.

The author argues that while both the geometric mean and the harmonic mean have their downsides, the geometric mean is still the better choice for general comparisons, as it is widely recognized and easier to use. Ultimately, without knowing the exact workloads being run, any average reported will likely be inadequate for accurately assessing performance. The author believes the ongoing debate is unnecessary and suggests that researchers should focus on new ideas rather than arguing about averaging methods.

Summary: Business Founders Are Less Valuable Than They Think

Many business founders, especially those without technical skills, struggle to find co-founders because they often overestimate their own value. They tend to have inflated egos, believing their ideas alone are enough to succeed, but execution and teamwork are crucial for a startup's success.

The author highlights that technical co-founders are often more valuable because they can bring ideas to life. Business founders should focus on building skills that complement technical expertise, particularly in customer engagement and relationship building. Demonstrating success in attracting customers or investors can help them prove their worth.

Ultimately, a founder’s real value lies in driving the business forward, particularly through strong networks of potential customers or investors. By focusing on building these connections, business founders can differentiate themselves and become more appealing partners for technical co-founders.

Kumiko is an ancient Japanese woodworking technique that creates intricate interlocking geometric patterns. Originating in Japan during the Asuka period (538-710 C.E.), this craft has gained popularity worldwide. It was traditionally used for decorative screens and furniture but has evolved into a standalone art form.

The 43rd annual Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C., from April 24 to 27, will showcase kumiko alongside works by 120 American artists in various mediums. One featured artist, David Gootnick, uses Alaskan cedar to create his kumiko pieces, cutting wood into thin, precise slats that fit together without nails or glue, although he sometimes uses glue for durability.

Gootnick learned about kumiko from online resources and combined traditional designs with his own contemporary styles. Another artist, Michael Jury, incorporates kumiko patterns into his handmade furniture, highlighting the craft's versatility. Overall, kumiko continues to inspire modern craftsmanship while honoring its historical roots.

No summary available.

Summary: Unlocking Ractors: object_id

In a recent discussion about Ruby's ractors, it was noted that while ractors can help with CPU-bound tasks, they currently face challenges due to implementation bugs and a global lock that limits their performance. Improvements are underway, particularly in addressing a known issue with the fstring_table, which has been replaced with a more efficient structure, making ractor performance significantly better.

The #object_id method has emerged as another contention point. Historically, it was simple and directly linked to an object's memory address, but changes made in Ruby 2.7 introduced complexity. Instead of returning a memory address, #object_id now relies on two hash tables to ensure stability during garbage collection, making it more resource-intensive and requiring locks for concurrent access.

To improve performance, there are discussions about optimizing the #object_id method by reducing the need for locks and centralizing storage. One proposed solution involves storing an object's ID directly within the object itself, which could allow for faster access without locking the entire virtual machine. However, challenges remain, especially for different object types that handle instance variables in various ways.

The ongoing work aims to make ractors more efficient and reduce contention, showcasing the complexity of optimizing Ruby's features for parallel execution. Further refinements are needed, particularly for handling generic objects.

snapDOM Summary

snapDOM is a powerful tool designed for capturing HTML elements and converting them into scalable SVG images. It is part of the Zumly animation engine, which facilitates smooth zoom-based transitions.

Key Features:

• Captures full DOM, including styles, fonts, and pseudo-elements.
• Exports images in various formats: SVG, PNG, JPG, WebP, or canvas.
• Lightweight and relies on standard Web APIs.

Installation Options:

• Use NPM: npm i @zumer/snapdom
• Use CDN: <script src="https://unpkg.com/@zumer/snapdom@latest/dist/snapdom.min.js"></script>
• Import as a module in JavaScript.

Basic Usage Example:

1. Capture an element:

   const svgDataUrl = await snapdom(document.querySelector("#myElement"));
   

2. Insert the captured image into the page:

   const img = new Image();
   img.src = svgDataUrl;
   document.body.appendChild(img);
   

API Methods:

• snapdom(el, scale?): Captures as SVG Data URL.
• snapdom.toImg(el, scale?): Captures as an HTML image.
• snapdom.toCanvas(el, scale?): Captures as a canvas element.
• snapdom.toPng(el, scale?): Captures as a PNG image.
• Other methods for JPG, WebP, and Blob formats.

Special Features:

• Supports capturing content from Shadow DOM and pseudo-elements.
• Inlines external images and replicates fonts without needing external files.
• Allows exclusions or placeholders during capture.

Limitations:

• Requires CORS access for external images.
• Fonts must be fully loaded before capturing.
• Does not capture iframes.
• May struggle with very dynamic or complex layouts.

Performance: snapDOM is fast and efficient, outperforming other popular libraries in benchmark tests, especially for larger elements.

License: MIT License, © Juan Martín Muda - Zumerlab.

The text discusses the challenges of reading RSS feeds, particularly how many apps present an overwhelming stream of content, often referred to as a "firehose." This format can be stressful for some users, though others may enjoy it.

NetNewsWire is highlighted as an example of a typical feed reader that uses this river-of-news approach, showing posts in reverse chronological order. While many users prefer this style, some seek a calmer reading experience.

FraidyCat is presented as an alternative that minimizes anxiety by preventing any single publisher from dominating the feed and allowing users to control how often they fetch updates. Rad Reader offers an even simpler format, showing just recent updates and links to posts.

The author created BlogCat, a web extension that also focuses on a non-overwhelming experience by letting users choose when to retrieve feeds without notifications or background fetching.

Overall, the text emphasizes that RSS feeds can be approached in various ways, and users can find or create solutions that fit their preferences.

Summary of A lisp Implementation

• Project Overview: A lisp implementation called "alisp" is currently an interpreter, with plans to add compilation features later. The goal is to align with Common Lisp standards, though strict adherence is not required.

• Getting Started: To clone the project, use the command: git clone https://git.savannah.nongnu.org/git/alisp.git. It's recommended to use the latest version for the newest features and fixes.

• Development Details: The code is written in C89 and uses GNU libraries for user input and precise calculations. The implementation covers over 75% of Common Lisp and includes a profiler and a debugger, which are often lacking in other free implementations.

• Project Status: The project is single-handedly developed, and contributions in the form of patches are not accepted, but feedback on bugs and suggestions are welcome. It is licensed under the GPL version 3 or later.

• Recent Updates:

  • Version 1.1 (March 2025) introduced enhancements to the LOOP function, a better compiler, and improved debugging tools.
  • Version 1.0 (November 2024) added features like a pretty printer and improved object handling.
  • Previous versions included various improvements and bug fixes.

• Support and Donations: Users can report bugs and suggestions through the project's README. Donations to support the project are accepted via platforms like Liberapay and Patreon.

For more details, users can refer to the project's README and test scripts available in the repository.

Summary of Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S. (2003–2023)

Between 2022 and 2023, the overall rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States decreased by 4.0%, with 105,007 deaths reported in 2023. The age-adjusted death rate fell from 32.6 to 31.3 per 100,000 people. Here are the key points:

1. Demographic Changes:

   • Death rates decreased among young and middle-aged adults (ages 15-54) but increased for older adults (55+).
   • Rates dropped for White non-Hispanic individuals but rose for Black non-Hispanic and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander groups.

2. Opioid Trends:

   • Deaths involving synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, saw a decline after years of increase, while rates for heroin and natural opioids also decreased.
   • Methadone rates remained stable.

3. Stimulant Use:

   • Rates of overdose deaths linked to cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) continued to rise.

4. Death Rates by Age Group:

   • The highest rates were seen in individuals aged 35-44, while the lowest rates shifted from those aged 65+ in 2022 to 15-24 in 2023.

5. Significant Changes:

   • The largest increase in overdose death rates was among adults aged 65 and older, while the steepest decrease was among those aged 15-24.

In conclusion, while the overall trend shows a slight improvement in overdose death rates, certain groups, especially older adults and specific racial demographics, are experiencing troubling increases. The report emphasizes the ongoing challenges with synthetic opioids and stimulants in the context of drug abuse in the U.S.

No summary available.

The Civic User Testing Group in Chattanooga invites residents to provide feedback on the city’s apps, websites, and services. Participation is open to everyone, and you don't need to be tech-savvy.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign Up: Fill out a form to volunteer as a civic user tester. You will be contacted when testing opportunities are available.

2. Participate in a Session: You will preview a new app, website, or service and share your thoughts on it.

3. Get Paid: After the session, participants receive a $20 gift card for their feedback.

Your input is valuable, whether it’s a big idea or a simple suggestion. The city wants to hear from you!

Summary of "ZFS: Apple's New Filesystem That Wasn't"

The article discusses Apple's journey with the ZFS filesystem, beginning in 2006 when Apple announced its plans to integrate ZFS into Mac OS X. ZFS, known for features like snapshots and data integrity, was seen as a significant upgrade over the aging HFS filesystem.

Initially, there was excitement among developers about ZFS being included in Mac OS X, especially after Apple showcased it at WWDC 2008. However, internal issues, including legal concerns with Sun Microsystems and a preference for developing proprietary solutions, led to the project's decline. By the time Snow Leopard was released, ZFS was mostly absent from Apple's plans.

Despite some attempts to revive the project, including negotiations between Apple and Sun, ZFS was ultimately abandoned. Instead, Apple announced a new filesystem called APFS in 2016, which, while aiming for modernization, left some disappointed that Apple did not adopt ZFS. The article concludes by noting that a community has continued to maintain ZFS, contrasting with Apple's decision to create its own filesystem.

The article discusses implementing multitenancy in Rails applications using a "one database per tenant" approach, particularly with SQLite. The author shares personal experiences with challenges and solutions in managing database connections for multiple tenants.

Key Points:

1. Multitenancy Concept: Each tenant (user) has its own database, which ensures data isolation and simplifies management, especially for smaller applications.

2. Connection Management Issues: The author faced problems with connection management in Rails, particularly with ActiveRecord, which complicates handling multiple databases due to its design and features like connection pooling.

3. Using SQLite: The SQLite database is favored for smaller tenants since it is file-based and simpler to manage. It allows easy backups and debugging, with each tenant's data stored in its own database file.

4. ActiveRecord Limitations: Rails’ ActiveRecord has evolved over time but still struggles with dynamic database management. The connection handling is not straightforward, making it difficult to switch between tenant databases efficiently.

5. Proposed Solution: The author created a middleware solution that integrates with ActiveRecord to manage database connections dynamically. This middleware uses a mutex to ensure thread safety and establish connections for each tenant as needed.

6. Conclusion: The approach of using separate databases for each tenant is beneficial for small-scale applications. The article encourages developers to consider this method for better data management and isolation, especially with SQLite.

In summary, the author emphasizes the effectiveness of the "one database per tenant" strategy using SQLite in Rails, while also addressing the challenges faced in connection management and providing a middleware solution to overcome these issues.

A team from the University of Zurich conducted a four-month, undisclosed experiment on the popular subreddit r/changemyview, using AI-generated comments to try to influence debates. The moderators were upset because this violated the forum's strict rules against AI content. The research team claimed their goal was to study a significant issue and that they ensured no harmful content was posted. However, one AI comment fabricated personal details about a user's family to win an argument, raising ethical concerns. The moderators criticized the experiment as manipulative and unnecessary, stating that previous research on psychological risks exists. The university defended the project, asserting it provided valuable insights and posed minimal risks. The incident highlights the discomfort of engaging in discussions that might be swayed by fake narratives created by bots.

Summary of European Critical Dependencies on Microsoft

Many European countries heavily rely on Microsoft services, with over 70% of public services in some nations depending on the company for email and other operations. This dependency poses risks related to vendor lock-in, potential price increases, and data privacy concerns tied to U.S. legislation like the Cloud Act.

Key Findings:

• A study of municipal websites and email servers revealed that countries like Belgium (72% reliance), the Netherlands (60%), and Scandinavian nations show significant usage of Microsoft mail servers.
• In contrast, countries like Germany (4%) and Hungary (3%) have much lower reliance on Microsoft, indicating varying national strategies toward digital services.
• Concerns are rising among municipalities about being locked into Microsoft services, which complicates any transition to alternatives and raises questions about data sovereignty.
• Several countries are advocating for the development of local infrastructure and open-source solutions to reduce dependency on U.S. tech giants.

Political Context:

• Dutch municipalities have voiced worries over their reliance on Microsoft, fearing financial and legal vulnerabilities.
• The International Criminal Court faces challenges related to its dependence on U.S. technology amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Future Considerations:

• There is a strong call for Europe to invest in its own digital infrastructure and open-source software to ensure sovereignty and security.
• Policymakers are encouraged to prioritize local services and technologies over established foreign providers to safeguard data and operations.
• The article emphasizes the need for urgent action to break free from reliance on a single vendor to avoid future crises in digital services.

In conclusion, while Europe has made strides in promoting local services, the current dependency on Microsoft and other U.S. companies poses significant challenges that need to be addressed through strategic investments in digital sovereignty and open-source solutions.

Large Language Models (LLMs) are often criticized for lacking true language understanding. This study examines a specific aspect of understanding related to language: identifying who is doing what in a sentence (thematic roles). The researchers conducted two experiments to see if the main training goal of LLMs—predicting the next word—helps them understand thematic roles. They found that while LLMs show some similarity in sentence structure, they do not effectively capture thematic roles like humans do. Although some parts of the LLMs can identify these roles, the overall ability is weaker compared to human understanding.

No summary available.

This repository is archived and will no longer accept contributions. It contains the source code for The Homebrew Channel, but much of its functionality relies on libogc, which has been found to contain stolen code. Initially, it was believed that parts of libogc were original, but it has now been revealed that the threading and OS code is taken from RTEMS, without proper attribution. The developers of libogc have not addressed this issue and have dismissed any attempts to raise concerns.

As a result, the authors of The Homebrew Channel have decided it is impossible to legally compile the software, due to the serious copyright violations involved. They urge the community to demand legal practices in the development of console SDKs and toolkits.

The repository includes parts like the Homebrew Channel, a reload stub, and tools for banner creation, but does not include the installer. The provided code has not been tested on a real Wii, only on the Dolphin emulator.

To build the software, specific development tools and libraries are required, and the build process has only been tested on Linux. The source code is released under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.

On April 14th, a hacker accessed 4chan's server by exploiting an outdated software through a fake PDF upload. They managed to download sensitive database information and source code before moderators intervened and stopped further damage. The breach highlighted the site's failure to update its systems due to a lack of resources and financial support over the years.

4chan had been running on old servers purchased second-hand, and efforts to acquire new servers began in late 2023, finally succeeding in mid-2024. During the downtime, the compromised server was replaced, and updates were made to the software. Although PDF uploads are temporarily disabled, some boards will return, while the /f/ - Flash board will not due to security concerns. Additional volunteer developers are being recruited to manage the workload. 4chan is determined to continue operating despite the challenges.

This project involves transforming an IKEA PS 2014 lamp into a Death Star from Star Wars. The project includes adding motors and remote control features. It has 16 updates (commits) and was created on December 23, 2024. The project is shared under a Creative Commons license that allows non-commercial use.

No summary available.

Summary of pkg.pl: An Experimental Package Manager for Scryer Prolog

pkg.pl is a testing tool for creating a package manager for Scryer Prolog. It's still in early development and has security issues, so it shouldn't be used widely yet. The project welcomes contributions, questions, and discussions.

How to Use:

• A package consists of a directory with a file named scryer-manifest.pl. The structure includes:
  • The package name.
  • An optional main file that gets imported.
  • A list of dependencies, which can include Git URLs.

Installation Steps:

1. Copy the pkg.pl file into your project. It acts as both the dependency manager and the package loader.
2. Run the command scryer-prolog pkg.pl -g pkg_install,halt to download dependencies to a scryer_libs directory (note that it doesn't support transitive dependencies).

Using Packages in Your Code:

• Load the package manager with :- use_module(pkg).
• Load a specific package using :- use_module(pkg(package_name)).
• Utilize exported predicates from the package in your program.

An example program can be set up to run tests from the loaded package.

No summary available.

Summary:

The article discusses influential group chats among elite figures in tech and politics that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. These chats, particularly on platforms like Signal and WhatsApp, have become pivotal in shaping political opinions and alignments, especially towards Donald Trump and the right. Key participants include tech leaders like Marc Andreessen and venture capitalists who engage in discussions on various topics, including culture and political strategy.

The group chats serve as a private space for members to express ideas and build consensus away from the public scrutiny of social media, which many felt was dominated by progressive viewpoints. They have been described as a modern-day "Republic of Letters," where influential conversations occur that could significantly impact American politics and media.

The chats began around 2018-2019 but gained momentum in 2020, particularly after Andreessen's influential essay calling for a revival of American industry. The participants are often seen as a network that shares insights, tactics, and humor, helping to reinforce a conservative coalition in Silicon Valley.

However, this alliance has faced challenges, especially as public sentiment shifts and internal disagreements arise over loyalty to Trump and strategies against the left. As these dynamics evolve, there is a growing recognition of the power and influence of these private conversations in shaping political discourse in America.

Summary:

The text discusses "Zersetzung," a psychological warfare tactic used by the East German secret police, the Stasi, during the Cold War. It aimed to undermine opponents by subtly disintegrating their identities and social connections rather than through direct violence. Key strategies included:

1. Social Isolation: Targets were cut off from friends and family through manipulation and misinformation.
2. Psychological Manipulation: Techniques like gaslighting made individuals doubt their perceptions and reality.
3. Paranoia: Targets were made to feel watched and mistrustful of those around them.
4. Personal Attacks: False information and harassment were used to damage targets' reputations and mental health.

Zersetzung effectively silenced dissent in East Germany, leaving many victims with lasting psychological scars. The tactics have modern parallels in today's psychological warfare, particularly in authoritarian regimes that use digital tools and social media for manipulation and control. The text emphasizes the ongoing relevance of these tactics in contemporary political and social landscapes.

RetrOS 32bit Summary

RetrOS 32bit is a hobby project aimed at creating a 32-bit operating system focused on networking for i386 architecture. It features graphics, multitasking, and networking capabilities and began development on May 12, 2022.

Key Features:

• Users: Three default users (system, admin, guest) with the admin password set to 'admin'.
• Built With: The operating system is developed using C and Assembly for the kernel and utilities, C++ for user applications, and Docker for cross-platform compilation.
• Hardware Compatibility: Tested on various laptops and desktops, including Lenovo, Asus, Dell, Samsung, and IBM devices.

Getting Started:

• Prerequisites: Requires Docker for cross-platform compilation and specific compilers for MacOS and Linux.
• Installation:
  • Clone the repository and check for dependencies.
  • Compile the kernel using make img and run it in QEMU with make qemu.

Usage:

• Run RetrOS-32 using a browser emulator or on real hardware by burning the ISO to a USB or CD.

Roadmap:

Future updates aim to include features like a custom bootloader, improved graphics, networking capabilities, and various applications.

License:

The project is distributed under the MIT License.

Contact:

For more details, visit the project page on GitHub: RetrOS-32.

Summary of "Calibrations Have a Context Collapse Problem"

What is Context Collapse?
Context collapse happens when a message meant for one audience is interpreted by many, leading to misunderstandings. This issue isn't only found on social media; it also affects performance reviews in organizations, where the stakes are high for employees' careers and morale.

Issues with Calibration Meetings:
Calibration meetings are intended to fairly assess employee performance, but they often turn into competitive storytelling sessions. Managers can misinterpret an engineer's work due to their own biases and lack of understanding of different domains.

Key Problems Identified:

1. Domain-Specific Blind Spots: Managers may not fully understand work outside their specialty, leading to underappreciation of achievements.
2. Technology-Specific Bias: Differences in technology knowledge can result in oversimplified views of complex tasks.
3. Visibility Bias: Flamboyant projects often overshadow critical behind-the-scenes work that has significant impact.
4. The Advocacy Lottery: Ratings can vary significantly based on how well managers present their engineers' work.
5. Anchoring and Herd Mentality: Initial opinions can sway the entire group, leading to consensus without honest debate.
6. Inconsistent Rating Interpretations: Different managers have varying standards for performance ratings, causing confusion.
7. Time Constraints: Limited time for discussions reduces complex work to simple bullet points.
8. Confusion between Growth and Impact: Different managers may value growth trajectory over direct business impact, complicating evaluations.
9. Manager Behavior Patterns: Calibration can encourage rating inflation and strategic manipulation rather than honest assessments.

Consequences:
These problems lead to talent disillusionment, biased career trajectories, eroded manager credibility, and missed opportunities for organizational learning.

Potential Solutions:

• Create smaller, domain-focused calibration discussions.
• Use templates for consistent representation of accomplishments.
• Implement ongoing performance check-ins rather than year-end reviews.
• Focus on values and developmental feedback rather than just outcomes.

Conclusion:
To improve calibration processes, organizations should recognize the complexities of engineering work and avoid reducing it to oversimplified narratives. By asking critical questions during meetings and fostering a culture that appreciates context, organizations can better support and understand their employees.

Summary: Why Do Electrons Not Fall Into the Nucleus?

Electrons do not fall into the nucleus of an atom due to several important concepts in quantum mechanics.

1. Misleading Models: The common image of electrons orbiting the nucleus like planets is incorrect. Classical physics suggests that if electrons revolved around the nucleus, they would lose energy and spiral into it, causing the atom to collapse.

2. Quantum Mechanics: In the 1920s, it became clear that electrons behave differently than classical particles. They do not have a fixed position or velocity. Instead, we can only describe their location in terms of probabilities.

3. Energy Balance: As an electron moves closer to the nucleus, its potential energy decreases (becomes more negative), but this is balanced by an increase in its kinetic energy. This balance prevents it from collapsing into the nucleus.

4. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: Electrons cannot be precisely located and have a defined momentum at the same time. This principle highlights that at such small scales, electrons cannot be thought of as simple particles.

5. Probability Density: While electrons are more likely to be found near the nucleus, the increasing volume of space at larger distances means that they are less likely to actually be found inside the nucleus itself.

In summary, due to quantum mechanics and the balance of energy, electrons do not fall into the nucleus, despite being most probable near it.

This blog post discusses how to unpack executables that have been compressed using tools like UPX, which is common in the demoscene to reduce file sizes for competitions. A packed executable is a small program that unpacks the actual program into memory when run. To analyze these packed executables, it's useful to extract the original program.

Key steps in the unpacking process include:

1. Finding the Execution Point: To analyze the program, you need to find the point right after the unpacking is done but before the main code runs. This involves identifying the jump instruction in the packed code that leads to the unpacked code.

2. Setting Breakpoints: Instead of setting a typical breakpoint at the main code, you can set a breakpoint at the last instruction of the unpacking code. This allows you to pause execution just as the unpacked code is about to run.

3. Reconstructing Imports: Packed executables usually have minimal information about their system function dependencies. During unpacking, the real dependencies are dynamically loaded. To analyze the unpacked executable, you need to reconstruct the Import Directory Table (IDT) that specifies these dependencies.

4. Tracking Function Addresses: As the executable runs, you can observe calls to functions like GetProcAddress to track where these function addresses are stored in memory. This helps you build the IDT for the unpacked executable.

The author successfully implemented these techniques in their tool, retrowin32, enabling the analysis of unpacked executables, which can now be understood by analysis tools like Ghidra.

Summary:

Welcome to learn-c.org, a free interactive tutorial for learning the C programming language, suitable for all skill levels. You don't need to download anything; just click on a chapter to start learning.

The tutorial covers basic topics like:

• Hello, World!
• Variables and Types
• Arrays
• Conditions
• Loops (For and While)
• Functions

It also includes advanced topics such as:

• Pointers
• Structures
• Dynamic allocation
• Recursion
• Linked lists
• Binary trees

If you want to contribute tutorials, there is an option available. Good luck with your learning!

The prostate gland causes significant health issues for men, particularly prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate cancer affects 1 in 40 men in the U.S., while BPH, which makes urination difficult, impacts most men over 60. BPH can potentially become malignant, leading many to seek surgery for relief.

A theory proposed by Israeli doctors Gat and Goren suggests that BPH and prostate cancer may be linked to problems with the spermatic veins, which drain blood from the testicles. As men age, these veins can malfunction, causing blood to flow backward and flood the prostate with high levels of testosterone, leading to abnormal growth and cancer.

While their surgical treatment shows promise, the medical community has largely ignored this theory, raising questions about why innovative ideas often struggle to gain traction in medicine. The procedure involves blocking the faulty veins to prevent harmful backflow.

Despite some supportive research, the theory still requires further validation. Many challenges, including the need for proper screening and skilled surgeons, hinder widespread adoption of this approach. The existing medical framework often prioritizes established practices over new ideas, making it difficult for potentially effective treatments to be recognized and implemented.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has released new records about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). These records were obtained from several government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, as required by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. They are now part of the National Archives' UAP Collection.

This release aims to promote transparency and make information available to the public. NARA plans to continuously add more UAP records online as they are received from federal agencies.

For more information, visit www.archives.gov/uap.

No summary available.

No summary available.

NASA is leveraging graph technology and large language models (LLMs) to create a People Knowledge Graph, which helps them identify experts, form teams, and plan for future skills. Here are the key points:

1. Purpose: The People Graph addresses the messy data structures of traditional databases by connecting people, projects, and skills in a way that allows for complex queries, such as finding employees with specific expertise or identifying skill gaps.

2. Technology: The system is built using Memgraph, an enterprise graph database, and runs on NASA’s secure AWS cloud. It incorporates tools for data ingestion and processing, allowing real-time queries.

3. Data Sources: The graph integrates various data, including personnel information and AI/ML project data, linking skills extracted from team resumes to employees in the graph.

4. Graph Structure: It consists of nodes representing employees, skills, projects, and more, all labeled to facilitate efficient searching and analysis.

5. Live Demonstration: During a community call, the team showcased how to use the graph to find subject matter experts, analyze project overlaps, and generate leadership reports. They also introduced a chatbot for natural language queries.

6. Future Plans: NASA aims to enhance the graph's data quality, automate data pipelines, and expand its scale significantly, targeting over 500,000 nodes and millions of edges in the future.

7. Challenges: The project is ongoing, with efforts to improve data accuracy, handle ambiguities in skill names, and refine the system's capabilities.

Overall, NASA's People Knowledge Graph is a pioneering effort to optimize people analytics and project management through advanced technology.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Stuffed-Na(a)N: Utilize NaNs in a New Way

Stuffed-Na(a)N is a tool that helps you make use of NaN (Not a Number) values in JavaScript. Normally, NaNs can cause problems in calculations, but with Stuffed-Na(a)N, you can "stuff" your data into NaNs and retrieve it later.

Key Features:

1. Encoding and Decoding: You can encode a string into an array of NaNs and decode it back. For example, encoding "Hello world" results in an array of NaNs, which can be decoded back to the original string.

2. Data Preservation: NaNs can maintain your data during mathematical operations, allowing you to perform calculations without losing the original information.

3. Compact Storage: The tool is very efficient, achieving a compression ratio of -25%, meaning it can store more data in less space.

4. Fast Performance: Stuffed-Na(a)N is designed to be quick, processing thousands of objects in just 1–3 milliseconds.

5. Privacy Protection: It ensures that data remains safe, as NaN arrays cannot be easily copied without losing information, making it useful for protecting personal information.

Installation:

You can install Stuffed-Na(a)N via npm or use it directly in your browser console.

Enterprise Edition:

Offers additional features like better efficiency and support for specific processors, along with a dedicated customer success manager.

Future Plans:

The developers aim to enhance the software with public benchmarks and improved security.

In summary, Stuffed-Na(a)N provides an innovative way to handle NaNs, making it easier to store and process data while ensuring privacy and efficiency.

NASA's Curiosity rover was recently spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) as it drove across the Martian surface. An image taken on February 28, 2025, shows the rover as a small dark dot, leaving behind tracks that could last for months before being erased by wind. This is believed to be the first time a Mars orbiter has captured the rover mid-drive.

On its 4,466th Martian day, Curiosity was making its way to a science stop that may contain ancient geological formations created by groundwater. The rover has been moving at a slow speed of about 0.1 mph and has completed around 11 drives since February 2, covering approximately 1,050 feet. The duration of its journey to the new location will depend on various factors, including terrain difficulty and software navigation.

The image was taken with the HiRISE camera, which usually captures scenes in black and white with a colored strip. Although Curiosity has been photographed in color before, this particular image captured it in the black-and-white area. The rover is expected to reach its new science destination within about a month.

Curiosity is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Arizona operates the HiRISE camera.

Here’s a simplified summary of the text:

1. dbdiagram: Create database diagrams by writing code, aimed at developers and data analysts.
2. dbdocs: Generate web-based documentation for databases using code, easily fitting into your development process.
3. dbml: An open-source language for defining and documenting database structures.
4. Holistics.io: Build reports and analytics using code, with version control through Git. It allows for the design and publication of datasets for users to explore on their own.

OpenAI's new o3 model can guess the location of a photo in a way that feels like science fiction. To use it, you upload a photo without clear landmarks and prompt the model to guess the location. The o3 model analyzes the image, initially pretending it can't see it, but then begins identifying clues like colors of houses and vegetation typical of California.

During its analysis, it even runs Python code to zoom in on details like license plates, attempting to confirm the state for more accurate guesses. In a test, it correctly identified the general area as Central Coast California, even though it initially guessed Cambria, which was 200 miles off. However, it mentioned El Granada as a secondary guess, which was spot on.

This capability raises concerns about privacy, as the model can determine locations from seemingly innocuous photos. While other models like Claude and Gemini also attempt similar tasks, o3 integrates tool usage into its thought process more effectively.

Overall, using o3 is both entertaining and alarming, showcasing the advanced capabilities of AI in recognizing and deducing locations from images.

No summary available.

Compiler reminders in Elm are a helpful feature that keeps code maintainable. They alert developers when a code change requires other changes, resulting in compiler errors that guide the developer on what to fix. For example, if you add a reset button to a counter, the compiler will notify you if you forget to define or handle the new reset action in the code.

The process often involves:

1. Adding a new feature (like a reset button).
2. Receiving compiler errors indicating what’s missing.
3. Making the necessary adjustments (like updating the message handling) based on those errors.

This approach, known as compiler-driven development, emphasizes that if the code compiles, it usually works correctly.

Compiler reminders are linked to type safety, ensuring that code is correctly structured and avoids errors. However, they are distinct from basic type checks. Developers are encouraged to explicitly handle all cases in their code to receive these reminders effectively.

Beyond compiler reminders, other tools like linters provide reminders for unused variables or necessary code cleanups. Custom linter rules can also help maintain consistency when updating code, like ensuring all user types are accounted for when adding a new variant.

In summary, reminders—whether from compilers or other tools—are crucial for maintaining code quality and ensuring that developers don’t overlook important tasks. Using various types of reminders effectively can lead to highly maintainable codebases.

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BART has introduced new coloring sheets for its anime mascots, Mira and Jasmine, along with a guide on how to make a BART costume. The mascots were inspired by BART employees and animals, promoting public transportation, especially among youth. They were created through a popular artist call in 2022, receiving nearly 500 submissions.

The mascots include:

• Baylee: An online influencer from the East Bay, knowledgeable about local food and attractions.
• Nimbus: A nature-loving character who writes stories inspired by the Bay Area.
• Jasmine: A high school student and aspiring fashion designer who loves trains.
• Mira: A former system worker turned train operator who is friendly and familiar with regular riders.
• Barty: A cheerful bunny spirit who helps riders navigate.

Fans are encouraged to cosplay as the mascots, with guides available. Official merchandise, like acrylic standees and stickers, can be found on BART’s online store.

Chongqing is the world’s largest city, with a population of 34 million, located in central China. It covers an area as large as Austria and represents China's rapid urbanization. Over the past 30 years, the government has worked to develop rural areas, significantly boosting the city's economy. In the last 20 years, Chongqing's GDP per capita has increased 16 times, and the city has shifted from heavy industry to leading in automotive and IT sectors.

Chongqing features modern skyscrapers, like the Raffles City built in 2019, and has impressive infrastructure, including a vast metro system with 12 lines. The city produces more cars than France and England combined and plays a significant role in global laptop and motorbike production. The text highlights various attractions and developments in Chongqing, showcasing its blend of historical and modern elements.

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The text discusses how to use Newlib to create a compact C standard library for bare metal systems, specifically targeting RISC-V architecture. Here are the key points simplified:

1. Understanding Bare Metal Systems: Unlike full operating systems that utilize complex layers for functions like printf, bare metal systems have minimal support and require direct implementation of basic functionalities.

2. Newlib Overview: Newlib is a lightweight C standard library designed for embedded systems. It allows developers to build custom libraries from fundamental building blocks instead of starting from scratch.

3. Cross-Compilation: This involves compiling code on one platform (like x86) to run on another (like RISC-V). The cross-compilation toolchain must be set up to target the desired architecture and use the Newlib library.

4. Toolchain Setup: The toolchain automates the creation of a compiler and library paths needed for RISC-V development. This setup ensures that the right libraries are used during compilation.

5. Implementing UART: The article details how to implement UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) functions for input and output, which are essential for communication in bare metal applications.

6. Creating a Simple Application: An example application is provided that uses printf to display messages and accepts user input, demonstrating how to build a basic program using the library.

7. C Runtime and Linker Script: A minimal C runtime is necessary for proper execution of the program, along with a linker script that organizes memory allocation for different sections of the code.

8. Important Configuration: The toolchain is configured with specific flags to ensure compatibility with the RISC-V architecture, especially for handling memory addresses.

9. Running the Application: The application can be tested using QEMU, a virtual machine that emulates RISC-V hardware, allowing developers to see the output and debug the process.

10. Conclusion: This process enables the use of libraries in bare metal environments, providing a pathway for more complex applications while maintaining control over system resources.

Overall, the text serves as a guide for developers looking to implement C standard library functionalities on bare metal systems using Newlib, with a focus on RISC-V architecture.

A recent article in The Atlantic has brought attention to LibGen (Library Genesis), a site known for providing free access to academic literature. This has sparked discussions among academics, many of whom were previously unaware of the extensive literature on the site.

LibGen is often associated with socialist and communist beliefs, as its founders aim to make knowledge accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. However, this free access also allows undesirable users to benefit from the content.

The author, Martin Paul Eve, has compiled a list of essential readings on LibGen and related platforms like Sci-Hub, which shares academic articles. Some notable works include:

1. Bodó, Balázs - “The Genesis of Library Genesis” in Shadow Libraries.
2. Eve, Martin Paul - “Lessons from the Library” in Digital Humanities Quarterly.

The bibliography also includes various articles discussing the implications of academic piracy and the debates surrounding it. This summary highlights the growing interest in academic piracy and the ongoing conversations about access to knowledge.

The article discusses the current state of Windows as an operating system (OS), arguing that it is struggling and becoming less user-friendly. Here are the key points:

1. User Base: Windows has a massive user base, with about 1.5 billion people using it, but many are satisfied with Windows 10 and don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11.

2. Forced Changes: Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 on users, despite it not being necessary for many, leading to frustrations. Users feel pressured into adopting new features and services that they may not want.

3. Lack of Communication: Microsoft has not clearly communicated its future plans for Windows, leading to uncertainty about upcoming versions.

4. Corporate Environment: In corporate settings, IT decisions often prioritize budget and compliance over user experience, leaving employees with limited choices and control over their tools.

5. Alternatives: The article suggests exploring alternatives like macOS or Linux. macOS is seen as a more user-friendly option, while Linux offers freedom but can be complex. Users are encouraged to consider these options to avoid the pitfalls of Windows.

6. Long-Term Planning: Users should gradually transition to alternative systems while still using Windows for familiar tasks, allowing time to adapt to new environments.

The overall message is to be proactive about exploring alternatives to Windows, which may lead to a better user experience in the long run.

The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel is a large underground water management system located in Saitama, Japan. It is designed to help control flooding by collecting and channeling excess rainwater away from urban areas. The system includes tunnels and reservoirs to store and redirect water, making it an important infrastructure for protecting the region from heavy rain and flooding.

Unauthorized AI bots on Reddit are causing issues with genuine social interaction. Researchers from the University of Zurich ran an experiment on the subreddit r/changemyview, using AI to post comments that mimicked real users without revealing they were bots. They argued this was ethical and informative, but many disagreed, saying it undermines real human engagement.

The presence of AI bots adds to existing problems on Reddit, where many users already encounter insincere posts from trolls and propaganda sources. This situation raises concerns about trust and authenticity in online discussions.

The article also touches on philosophical ideas about reality and perception, suggesting that as online interactions become more artificial, people may seek more authentic, face-to-face connections. The author hopes for new ways to encourage real-world socialization, rather than relying on nostalgic ideas of community.

Logchef Summary

Logchef is a modern and efficient log analytics platform that simplifies log management. It runs as a single binary and uses ClickHouse for fast log storage and querying. Key features include:

• Flexible Log Exploration: You can query any ClickHouse table without needing a predefined schema.
• Versatile Query Options: It allows simple searches and advanced SQL queries.
• High Performance: It is designed for quick queries on large datasets, using minimal resources.
• Team Access Control: Supports secure access with customizable permissions for different users.
• Easy Deployment: Installation and management are straightforward since it’s a single binary.

To get started, you can use Docker to download and run Logchef easily. For detailed setup and usage instructions, visit their documentation at logchef.app. Logchef is licensed under the AGPLv3 License.

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David Schleinkofer, a renowned American science fiction and fine artist, passed away on April 20, 2025, due to Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He had a successful 40-year career known for his unique airbrush style, with art training from Bucks County Community College and The Philadelphia College of Art.

Schleinkofer gained fame in the 1970s, particularly for the cover art of the influential book "Tomorrow and Beyond: Masterpieces of Science Fiction." His work appeared on many science fiction paperbacks and magazines, including "Science Digest" and "Asimov Sci-Fi Magazine." He also created art for various companies and products, including Transformers toys and video games like Sim City.

In later years, he shifted focus to fine art, producing landscapes and portraits that were sold globally. Schleinkofer's work was recognized for its striking and thought-provoking qualities. He was born on January 29, 1951, and his contributions to art, especially in the science fiction genre, will be remembered fondly by fans and peers alike.

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The authors of this study focus on security bugs that are introduced by compilers, which are programs that translate code from one language to another. Although compilers are designed to produce code that behaves correctly, they can still introduce security issues that are not immediately obvious. These issues arise because users may incorrectly assume their code is secure based on the compiler's output, while compiler developers expect users to fully understand the language specifications and the assumptions made by the compiler.

The researchers analyzed 4,827 potential bug reports from popular compilers (GCC and Clang) to identify and categorize these security bugs. They found that these bugs are common and can have serious consequences. The study highlights that it is unrealistic to expect users to grasp all compiler assumptions, particularly the "no-undefined-behavior" rule, which often leads to security problems.

Overall, the study emphasizes the need for greater awareness and understanding of compiler-introduced security bugs to better protect users and their code.

Silicon Valley is recognized as the global leader in technology, surpassing other regions like Boston's Route 128. Its success stems from strong networks and a dynamic culture that encourages innovation and collaboration among entrepreneurs. The author shares a personal experience of attending multiple events in Silicon Valley, highlighting its unique environment that fosters overlapping connections.

One key network, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), started as an Indian initiative but is now inclusive of diverse members. This shift reflects Silicon Valley's openness and growth potential. In contrast, Boston, once a major tech hub, has fallen behind due to its more rigid corporate structure and lack of flexibility in adapting to new technologies.

A 1994 book by AnnaLee Saxenian argued that Silicon Valley's collaborative and risk-taking culture gave it an edge over Boston's secretive, large corporations. While Boston still has strong research institutions and is competitive in biotech, Silicon Valley continues to lead in technology entrepreneurship and innovation. Overall, many entrepreneurs are drawn to Silicon Valley for its vibrant network and culture of openness, which fosters success.

No summary available.

The paper presents CosAE (Cosine Autoencoder), a new type of Autoencoder that combines traditional Fourier series with a neural network. Unlike regular Autoencoders that lose detail in their compressed data, CosAE encodes important frequency information in its bottleneck, allowing for significant data compression (up to 64 times smaller) without losing image quality when decoding.

The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of CosAE through experiments on two difficult tasks: flexible-resolution super-resolution and blind image restoration. Their results show that CosAE outperforms existing methods, proving its ability to create a versatile representation for restoring images.

In this newsletter, Ryan Bell reflects on the early days of the internet, particularly the 1997 GeoCities era. He reminisces about coding in a time before modern web technologies like JavaScript and CSS frameworks, where the web was raw and personal. He shares his journey from tinkering with code as a child to learning programming languages and developing complex applications.

Bell highlights the importance of hands-on learning and experimentation in coding, emphasizing that understanding comes from practice and persistence. He describes a memorable moment when he created a simple game in Macromedia Director, which led to opportunities in software engineering.

As technology evolved, he adapted to new languages and tools, eventually embracing advanced coding practices. Today, he discusses "Vibe Coding," where modern coding tools enhance creativity and collaboration, allowing for faster development. He stresses the importance of setting boundaries and guidelines when working with AI coding assistants to maintain control over the process.

Ultimately, Bell encourages readers to stay curious, keep experimenting, and embrace the changing landscape of coding, as the focus shifts from just building to exploring the "why" behind projects.

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