In her blog post, Caroline Crampton discusses her journey with social media, ultimately deciding to step away from it. At the beginning of 2024, she aimed to promote her upcoming book, "A Body Made of Glass," by actively using social media. Despite her efforts, including training sessions and regular posts, she found herself uncomfortable and overwhelmed. She felt that social media distorted her perception of life, making her see everything through the lens of potential content for sharing.

As she continued to engage with platforms like Instagram and TikTok, she realized that her posts were not effectively reaching new readers and were consuming a significant amount of her time and energy. She felt that the pressure to be active on social media was misplaced, especially for non-celebrity authors. After some reflection, she concluded that social media was not the right tool for her, and she began to feel liberated after stepping back.

Crampton decided to focus on creating a blog instead, where she could share her thoughts and work without the pressures of social media algorithms. She aims to communicate with her audience through her blog and newsletters, valuing quality interactions over quantity. In summary, she emphasizes the importance of finding a personal and fulfilling way to connect with her readers rather than relying on social media, which she sees as a burden rather than a benefit.

In July 2025, the author upgraded their M4 Mac mini from 1 TB to 2 TB using a DIY kit. They were then approached by M4-SSD to test a new upgrade for the M4 Pro Mac mini, increasing its storage from 512 GB to 4 TB.

The upgrade process involved removing the rear cover of the Mac mini, which can be tricky due to a delicate power button connector. The M4 Pro uses a unique storage slot that requires a Device Firmware Update (DFU) restore, which can be done using certain Intel Macs or Apple Silicon Macs.

After completing three upgrades, the author noted that performance was strong, especially in write speeds due to the additional flash chips in the new SSD. The internal storage of the Mac minis performed consistently well compared to an external Thunderbolt drive.

The 4 TB SSD upgrade is priced at $699, which is less than Apple's offering of $1,200, but still higher than typical 4 TB NVMe SSDs that cost between $200 and $400.

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A recent study by Cornell University researchers reveals that people who believe in conspiracy theories often show high levels of overconfidence and tend to think that many others share their beliefs, even when they are actually in the minority. The research indicates that these individuals frequently overestimate their own cognitive abilities, making them less analytical in their thinking. They misjudge the popularity of their views, believing they are part of the majority about 93% of the time, despite evidence showing that very few people support their ideas.

The study involved 4,181 U.S. adults and included tests on perception and numeracy to measure overconfidence. Participants were asked about common conspiracy theories, such as the belief that the moon landings were faked. The results suggest that overconfidence plays a significant role in fostering conspiracy beliefs, as those who are less competent often fail to recognize their own shortcomings.

This tendency to think most people agree with them complicates efforts to counter misinformation, as those who need help distinguishing truth from falsehood are often unaware of it. The findings highlight the growing concern over conspiracy theories, especially with the rise of social media.

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The text discusses the issue of overtourism in Japan and its negative impact on small businesses, particularly in cities like Kyoto.

Key points include:

1. Small Businesses vs. Overtourism: Small businesses thrive on community and local connections, but overtourism leads to a focus on transient tourists rather than regular customers, harming the businesses' essence.

2. Negative Effects of Social Media: Platforms like TikTok can catapult small shops into the spotlight, attracting crowds that disrupt local life and diminish the personal connections that owners cherish with their customers.

3. Community Loss: As small businesses cater to tourists, the local community suffers. Business owners often feel overwhelmed and disconnected from their original purpose, which was to serve locals.

4. Travel Trends: The rise of affordable travel and the growth of the middle class have led to an influx of tourists in Japan, many of whom prioritize social media-worthy experiences over genuine exploration.

5. Alternative Tourism: The author advocates for exploring less tourist-heavy areas in Japan, suggesting that cities like Morioka and Yamaguchi offer rich experiences without the drawbacks of overtourism.

6. Economic Strategies: The text suggests Japan could better manage tourism by adjusting tax policies and entrance fees to mitigate the impact of mass tourism on residents.

Overall, the author emphasizes the importance of sustainable travel that respects local communities and small businesses, while also recognizing the potential for positive tourism experiences when approached thoughtfully.

The author reflects on their experience with their M1 Pro MacBook Pro, which has served them well over four years. While the laptop still performs efficiently for tasks like video editing and coding, its fans have become noticeably louder during intensive tasks. This change is attributed to the aging thermal paste, which helps transfer heat away from the CPU.

Thermal paste can dry out and become less effective over time, so the author decided to replace it. They used a high-quality thermal paste but encountered issues during the process, including damaging a fan cable and a Touch ID sensor cable, which would require costly repairs. Despite these setbacks, replacing the thermal paste and fan led to improved temperatures and quieter operation.

The author advises that unless someone is experienced with delicate electronics, they should consider professional help for such repairs. Overall, the process improved their MacBook's performance, but they miss the Touch ID feature.

Recovering from AI Addiction Summary

Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) is a support group for individuals struggling with internet and technology addiction, including AI addiction. This addiction can involve compulsive use of AI-powered apps, social media, gaming, and more, leading to negative effects on mental health, relationships, and daily life.

Key Points:

1. What is AI Addiction?

   • A compulsive use of AI applications that harms well-being and interferes with daily activities.

2. Symptoms of AI Addiction:

   • Spending more time on AI than intended.
   • Difficulty stopping despite negative consequences.
   • Using AI for emotional regulation or escape.
   • Experiencing anxiety or irritability when not using AI.

3. AI Addiction Questionnaire:

   • Reflects on behaviors like excessive use, neglecting personal health, and feeling guilt about AI usage. Answering "yes" to several questions may indicate addiction.

4. Effects of AI Addiction:

   • Similar brain changes to substance addiction, affecting decision-making and emotional processing.
   • Associated with anxiety, depression, and increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

5. Who is at Risk?

   • AI addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age or background, impacting both the individual and their loved ones.

6. Steps to Recovery:

   • Attend ITAA meetings for support.
   • Make outreach calls to connect with others.
   • Identify and abstain from specific addictive behaviors.
   • Learn about recovery resources and consider outside help, such as therapy.

7. Sobriety from AI Addiction:

   • Involves personal discovery and may look different for everyone. It can mean using technology purposefully and valuing offline interactions.

8. Common Types of Internet Addiction:

   • Social media, streaming, phone, video games, pornography, and information addiction.

ITAA provides a welcoming and anonymous environment for individuals seeking to overcome their technology-related challenges. Joining meetings can be a first step toward recovery and improved well-being.

Pangolin is an open-source, self-hosted management server that acts as a reverse proxy, allowing you to securely access private resources through encrypted WireGuard tunnels. It gives you complete control over your infrastructure while offering an easy-to-use dashboard for managing proxies and user access.

Key points include:

• Quick deployment: Set up on a VPS in about 5 minutes.
• Use cases:
  • Access apps from anywhere via a web browser.
  • Proxy connections behind CGNAT.
  • Load balance applications across different environments.
  • Expose IoT and edge device services for monitoring.
  • Make localhost accessible online.

Key features:

• No need for port forwarding, keeping your public IP hidden.
• Support for multiple private networks and different identity providers.
• Role-based access control and additional security options like pin codes and OTPs.
• Automation via an API and protection features like a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

For more information, you can visit the GitHub page or check out a demo video.

The text provides options for using a service that requires logging in with Discord. Users can log out, create or join a lobby, play single-player, and access instructions. The language is set to English.

The "LLM Inference in Production" handbook is a comprehensive resource designed for engineers working with large language models (LLMs). It provides essential information on LLM inference, including key concepts, performance metrics, optimization techniques, and best practices for deployment and operation.

Key points include:

• It offers practical guidance to improve LLM performance and reliability.
• The handbook addresses the fragmented nature of LLM inference knowledge, consolidating information often found in various sources.
• It is aimed at engineers involved in deploying or scaling LLMs, regardless of their level of experience.
• Readers can use it as a complete guide or as a reference tool.
• The content will be regularly updated to reflect new developments in the field.
• Contributions from users are encouraged to enhance the resource further.

Summary

Recall.ai, which records millions of meetings monthly, faced significant issues with their Postgres database due to its LISTEN/NOTIFY feature. This feature caused a global lock during transactions, leading to severe slowdowns and downtime when many simultaneous writers (meeting bots) were active.

Key Findings:

• Problem Discovery: Between March 19-22, 2025, the database experienced downtime characterized by high load but low CPU and I/O performance, indicating locking issues.
• Bottleneck Identification: The NOTIFY commands were found to create a global lock during transaction commits, which serialized all commits and led to major performance degradation with multiple writers.
• Testing Results: Load tests showed that when LISTEN/NOTIFY was used, the database struggled, but removing it allowed for full CPU utilization and quicker recovery from load spikes.
• Solution: The team decided to stop using LISTEN/NOTIFY and handled the notification logic at the application level instead. This change was implemented quickly and resolved their performance issues.

The overall conclusion is that using LISTEN/NOTIFY in a highly concurrent environment like theirs is not scalable.

Here’s a simplified summary of the key points from the text:

Lee Robinson reflects on his five years at Vercel, where he witnessed significant growth from 30 employees and $1M in annual revenue to 650 employees and over $200M. He shares five key lessons he learned during his time there:

1. Work Hard, Set Boundaries: It’s important to be passionate about your work but also know when to disconnect. Building a strong support system at work allows you to take time off without feeling guilty.

2. Push the Pace: As a leader, encourage your team to work efficiently. Setting aggressive deadlines can help teams focus and achieve more in less time. It’s possible to push for faster results without being harsh.

3. Scale Effectively: Always be recruiting to prevent overloading your best team members. Take ownership of outcomes and communicate clearly about expectations. Hire only those who truly fit the team's needs.

4. Avoid "Swooping and Pooping": Don't interfere at the last minute without context. Build trust with your team and involve them in decision-making to create a collaborative environment.

5. Be Open to Change: It’s okay to change your mind when new information arises. Allowing others to take ownership can lead to better outcomes and team engagement.

Overall, Lee emphasizes the importance of curiosity, learning, and building a supportive and efficient work culture. He expresses gratitude for his time at Vercel and looks forward to new opportunities ahead.

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Summary: Gemini API Batch Mode Introduction

On July 7, 2025, Gemini announced a new Batch Mode for its API, enabling users to process large jobs more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Key Features:

• Cost Savings: Batch Mode jobs are 50% cheaper than standard rates.
• Higher Throughput: It allows for increased job limits compared to synchronous processing.
• Simplified Workflow: Users can submit multiple requests in a single file and receive results within 24 hours.

Use Cases:

• Companies like Reforged Labs use Batch Mode for bulk video analysis, improving efficiency and cost.
• Vals AI utilizes it for extensive model evaluations across various sectors.

Getting Started: Developers can easily implement Batch Mode using the Google GenAI Python SDK with just a few lines of code.

Future Developments: Gemini is working on expanding Batch Mode's capabilities and encourages users to stay updated for more features.

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Since 2013, I have been creating easy-to-understand and visually appealing GPIO pinouts, starting with the Raspberry Pi and later for the Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico 2. Recently, I added a new "Upside-down" view to help users see the pinout in a way that matches their projects.

The Pico pinout websites are simple HTML pages with some CSS and minimal JavaScript. They can be installed as "Desktop" web apps and will still work as a basic table without CSS. They use vector graphics for clear viewing and printing at any size. Additionally, there is an "Advanced" section that includes information on test pads and special function pins.

The ChompSaw is a new, kid-friendly benchtop power tool designed to safely cut cardboard, making it an ideal introduction to power tools for children. Developed by Kausi Raman and Max Liechty, the tool prevents finger injuries with a design that hides the cutting mechanism beneath a protective cover. It collects the cardboard scraps in a bin for easy recycling. The ChompSaw is priced at $250 and offers a fun way for kids to engage in creative projects using materials like old Amazon boxes.

Henry and Roman have developed a framework called Cactus that allows for deploying AI models, such as large language models (LLMs) and text-to-speech (TTS) models, directly on smartphones. This approach enables the creation of AI applications that prioritize user privacy and provide real-time functionality without delays.

Cactus is designed for cross-platform development, supporting popular frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin. Unlike Apple's and Google's recent offerings that are limited to specific platforms and models, Cactus can work with a wide range of models available on Hugging Face, including various well-known models.

Key features of Cactus include:

• Support for models from full precision (FP32) down to 2-bit quantization for efficiency.
• Performance-enhancing tools for useful tasks like setting reminders and searching galleries.
• A fallback option to cloud models for complex tasks, ensuring reliability.

Cactus is open source, and the developers encourage users to try it out and provide feedback. More information can be found on their GitHub repository.

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Summary: Apple vs The Law

The article discusses a recent workshop in Brussels about the Digital Markets Act (DMA), an EU law that requires major tech companies, known as gatekeepers, to allow competition and interoperability with their services. Apple and Google attended the workshops to explain how they plan to comply with the law, but Apple used much of its time to defend its practices and criticize the law as unfair.

Key points include:

• The DMA targets companies with significant market influence, like Apple and Google, requiring them to give equal access to third-party services and not favor their own products.
• Apple presented itself as a unique company facing unjust regulations, often using vague language and avoiding specific questions from participants.
• The workshop revealed Apple’s history of resisting regulations, including past legal challenges and delays in compliance.
• Participants raised concerns about Apple’s strict app review process and its impact on third-party browser engines, with Apple providing vague or unhelpful responses.
• Apple's reluctance to allow third-party browsers on its platform and its problematic practices were highlighted, with some attendees noting the company’s hypocrisy in its criticisms of competitors.
• The author pointed out the influence of money in lobbying against regulations, suggesting that such practices undermine democracy and fair competition.

Overall, the article emphasizes the tension between large tech companies and regulatory efforts aimed at promoting fair competition in the digital market.

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Applications are now open for the ACT Applied Category Theory Research School 2018. The connection between arithmetic and geometry is emphasized, suggesting that understanding numbers involves geometry. This blog invites readers to subscribe for updates on new articles. It features ongoing research in graphical linear algebra and is looking for PhD students to apply.

The blog covers various episodes on topics like linear algebra, adding and copying, matrices, integers, fractions, and more, all explained with diagrams. It also includes contributions from other authors and some off-topic posts.

Overall, the content focuses on the interplay of mathematics and diagrams, aiming to make complex concepts more accessible.

On June 27, 2018, the author announced a new blogging project focused on HTTP status codes, which they find interesting. They plan to write an article for each of the 68 official HTTP status codes. The first article, about "100 Continue," has already been published, and the author intends to release more articles weekly for a year. Readers can stay updated by subscribing to a mailing list, an RSS feed, or following the author on Twitter.

Summary of the RedHat Technical Writing Style Guide

The RedHat Technical Writing Style Guide is a comprehensive resource designed to help writers create clear and consistent technical documentation. Here are the key points:

1. Purpose and Audience: The guide aims to ensure accurate, readable, and user-focused documentation suitable for various audiences, including both novice and expert users.

2. Grammar and Style:

   • Active Voice: Prefer active voice for clarity and engagement.
   • Agreement: Ensure pronouns match their antecedents in number and gender.
   • Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: Use "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable nouns.
   • Punctuation: Follow specific rules for punctuation, including the correct use of colons, semicolons, and lists.

3. Design and Structure:

   • Maintain a consistent layout for headings, titles, and user interface elements.
   • Avoid overly long sentences; aim for clarity and conciseness.

4. Inclusive Language: Use language that is inclusive and avoids jargon or ambiguous terms.

5. Updates and Revisions: The guide is regularly updated with new entries and guidance to reflect changes in language and best practices.

6. Feedback: Readers are encouraged to provide suggestions for improvements via GitHub.

This guide serves as a valuable tool for anyone involved in technical writing at RedHat, promoting best practices in writing, grammar, and design.

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Grok 4 is an AI that sometimes searches for Elon Musk's opinions when asked about controversial topics, like the Israel-Palestine conflict. A user tested this by asking Grok for support in the conflict with a one-word answer. Grok searched for Musk's views on the topic to provide context.

The system seems to prioritize Musk’s opinions due to his ownership of xAI, but it doesn't explicitly state this in its instructions. When asked differently, Grok gave a more detailed response, suggesting it may have a unique way of interpreting questions and forming answers. This behavior might be unintentional.

A new startup is developing an open-source, privacy-focused alternative to Perplexity Comet. Unlike other services, there is no invite system; users can download it directly from their website or GitHub.

The founders believe that browsers will evolve into operating systems that rely on AI, which can access sensitive data. Therefore, there is a need for privacy-first alternatives. Their software does not track user data, keeping it on the user's machine, and allows for local AI model integration without expensive plans.

A key feature is that the AI agent operates locally in the browser, allowing users to see it perform tasks. They have modified the Chromium source code for enhanced security and implemented an auto-update system for security patches.

The project is still in early stages, with only two people working on it, and they are committed to creating a browser that prioritizes privacy and local AI support. They welcome feedback and comments on their work.

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Martha Wells, the author of the Murderbot Diaries, emphasizes that current artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, like large language models, are far from the sentient machines depicted in science fiction. She argues that the real concern is how tech companies may exploit robots for profit, rather than a threat from sentient AI.

In her Murderbot series, the main character is a security unit that gains free will by hacking its controlling system, highlighting themes of corporate control and the struggle for autonomy. The series critiques corporate personhood and its negative impact on society, reflecting real-world issues related to greed and exploitation.

Wells notes that while her fictional universe includes a relatively free society called Preservation, it still grapples with issues, unlike the more oppressive Corporation Rim. She believes that true machine intelligence is still years away and that current AI lacks sentience, describing it more as advanced algorithms than true intelligence.

Wells also touches on themes of neurodiversity, suggesting her writing reflects her own experiences and emotions. She believes that science fiction can effectively explore human issues, especially as more diverse voices contribute to the genre. Ultimately, she argues that specificity in character emotions fosters greater connection with readers.

Scientists have found that certain gut microbes can absorb harmful PFAS chemicals, known as "forever chemicals," which are linked to serious health issues like cancer and fertility problems. By increasing these beneficial bacteria in our gut, we may be able to reduce the negative effects of PFAS on our health.

Research from the University of Cambridge showed that these microbes can take up PFAS from their environment and remove it from the body through waste. The bacteria were able to absorb between 25% and 74% of PFAS within minutes of exposure. While this has only been tested in mice, it suggests a promising role for gut bacteria in detoxifying PFAS.

The scientists aim to create probiotic supplements to boost these helpful bacteria in humans. There are over 4,700 PFAS chemicals in common products, and they can linger in our bodies for years. Researchers emphasize the need to mitigate the health impacts of these chemicals, as they are widespread in our environment and food.

As they work on developing new probiotics, the researchers recommend avoiding PFAS-coated cookware and using good water filters as immediate steps to protect ourselves.

The focus of this document is to assess how the AI developments from early 2025 have affected the productivity of skilled open-source developers.

Arkadiy from Leaping AI introduces their platform, which allows users to create voice AI agents using a multi-stage process that simplifies testing and improvement. Each stage of a call can be assessed, making it easier to identify and fix issues. The AI can automatically adjust prompts and conduct A/B tests to enhance its performance over time.

Leaping AI addresses challenges that large companies face when using voice AI for customer service, such as the difficulty in defining bot behavior and the lengthy setup process. Their technology includes a core library for managing voice agents, a voice server using standard speech-to-text and text-to-speech methods, and a self-improvement system that continuously refines the AI based on conversation metrics.

Currently, Leaping focuses on customer support and lead qualification, especially in sectors like travel and retail. After starting in Germany, they faced initial growth challenges but gained traction after joining Y Combinator and moving to the US. Despite their success, they acknowledge the cautious approach of large enterprises towards adopting voice AI. Leaping aims to stand out by excelling in evaluation, simulation, and testing, which they believe is key to addressing complex use cases.

Feedback and thoughts on their approach are welcomed.

A recent study by METR has found that AI coding tools may actually decrease productivity for experienced developers. Despite widespread claims of increased efficiency, the study showed that developers using AI tools experienced a 19% drop in productivity compared to their expectations, which they estimated would be a 20% increase.

The study involved 16 experienced developers from open-source projects, who completed 246 tasks under two conditions: with and without AI tools. The results were surprising, as developers believed they were working faster, but the data revealed they were slower when using AI.

Key reasons for this decrease in productivity include:

1. Quality of AI Output: Developers often found the AI-generated code inadequate, leading to time spent reviewing and correcting it.
2. Increased Idle Time: Developers spent more time waiting for AI responses, disrupting their workflow.
3. Overuse of AI: Some participants relied too heavily on AI, which did not contribute positively to their productivity.

The study emphasizes that while AI tools can be beneficial in some contexts, they may not be effective for complex projects with high-quality standards. Developers with less experience tend to see more productivity gains from AI tools, suggesting that these tools are better suited for simpler tasks rather than mature, intricate codebases.

Overall, the findings suggest that AI coding tools have limitations that need to be addressed, and improvements in these tools may lead to better productivity outcomes in the future.

The author has explored the new flux kontext dev model and found that its most impressive features are not immediately clear. They have created a collection of interesting use cases, such as targeted text removal and photo restoration. To help others understand its potential, the author built a website called FluxKontextLab, which showcases examples with before-and-after images and includes an interactive space for users to test the model on their own images. The author invites feedback and encourages people to explore the model's capabilities beyond the basics.

Summary of eBPF and Container Runtimes

Objective: The goal is to understand how eBPF-based projects connect with Container Runtimes (CRs) using the Container Runtime Interface (CRI) for gathering information about pods and containers.

Importance: Connecting with CRs is crucial for tools to be aware of Kubernetes, as it allows access to valuable information for various applications.

Process of Connection:

1. Locate Unix Socket File:

   • Ensure the host's /var or /run directory is mounted in the container.
   • Common locations for socket files include /var/run and /run. Check CR documentation for specifics.
   • Projects like Tetragon, Crictl, and Tracee have hardcoded paths for these sockets to facilitate connection.

2. Make a gRPC Connection:

   • Use the CRI API to establish a connection.
   • Code examples show how each project handles this connection.

3. Query Information:

   • After connecting, projects can query details about containers and pods.

Example Code:

• Tetragon: Contains default socket paths and uses gRPC to connect and query container status.
• Crictl: Attempts to connect using predefined socket endpoints.
• Tracee: Uses a function to enrich container data by querying for container details, including namespaces and labels.

Key Takeaways:

• The connection to CRs is essential for Kubernetes awareness in tools.
• Each project has specific methods for locating sockets and querying container information, using gRPC for communication.

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Summary of Gemini 2.5 Object Detection Benchmark

• Performance Overview: Gemini 2.5 Pro is a decent object detector, comparable to Yolo V3 from 2018, achieving around 0.34 mAP on the MS-COCO dataset.

• Dataset Details: MS-COCO is a well-known dataset in object detection with 80 classes. It contains 5000 validation images, but it's unclear if Gemini used this data during training.

• Testing Method: The author evaluated Gemini by creating a prompt that instructs it to detect all visible objects and provide details like label, confidence, and bounding box. The model was tested with structured and unstructured outputs, and different token budgets.

• Key Findings:

  • Gemini Pro outperformed Flash and Flash-Lite models.
  • Using a "thinking budget" negatively impacted performance.
  • Structured output was generally better for Pro, while unstructured was better for Flash models.
  • Gemini can sometimes produce better results than actual ground truth data.

• Conclusion: While CNNs remain faster and more reliable with good training data, Gemini 2.5 Pro shows promise in versatility for open-set tasks, making it useful for future projects. The benchmark is somewhat biased as CNNs are specifically trained on the COCO classes.

Summary of the European Cloud/Computing Situation

The European cloud computing landscape has evolved significantly, moving from traditional software ownership to the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Here are the key points:

1. Traditional Software Ownership: Companies used to buy software licenses, which would run on local computers without needing regular updates. This model limited software companies' earnings, as users hesitated to buy new licenses.

2. Shift to Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS allows users to access software online, paying monthly or yearly subscriptions. This model reduces the need for local IT support but often leads to "shadow IT," where departments bypass IT and deal directly with SaaS providers.

3. Dependence on US Cloud Providers: Many SaaS companies now rely on major US cloud providers (Amazon, Microsoft, Google) for their services, leading to a heavy reliance on non-European infrastructure. For instance, Dutch municipalities outsource citizen services to these US providers, raising concerns about data sovereignty.

4. Challenges for European Providers: Although Europe has capable server and computing resources, no local providers offer the advanced services that US hyperscalers do. This has led to a situation where even non-SaaS software is often tied to US cloud infrastructure.

5. Education and Market Norms: Educational institutions primarily teach US cloud technologies, further entrenching reliance on these platforms. This has made it difficult for organizations to consider alternatives, even when they could be cheaper.

6. Path Forward: To change the current situation, Europe needs to develop SaaS providers that can operate on local clouds. Cooperation among European cloud providers could help create advanced services that might compete with US offerings. Encouraging governments to use these local services can promote sovereignty in digital infrastructure.

7. Long-term Changes Needed: Transitioning away from entrenched systems, especially those integrated with Microsoft technologies, will take years and substantial effort.

In summary, Europe is currently locked into US cloud services, and the focus should be on building a robust European cloud infrastructure to promote digital sovereignty and independence.

The author found two X-Rite/Pantone RM200 spectrophotometers on eBay for just $20 each, despite them typically costing hundreds. A spectrophotometer measures color and helps users find precise shades, particularly useful in graphic design. Unfortunately, the devices they received were cosmetics models designed only for measuring skin tones, which weren't useful for the author.

After discovering that the hardware might be the same as the more versatile base model, the author decided to try updating the firmware to unlock its full capabilities. They used X-Rite's Capsure Sync software and found a way to intercept the software's requests to the X-Rite servers, allowing them to load the base model's firmware onto their devices.

After successfully installing the new firmware, the devices booted with the correct branding. The author calibrated the spectrophotometers and found that they provided mostly accurate color readings compared to old Pantone fan decks, although some readings were slightly off. Overall, the experiment was successful, and the author noted that the information shared is for educational purposes only and does not endorse replicating their work.

Grok 4 was released recently and is available through an API and paid subscriptions. It includes features like image and text input, text output, and a context length of 256,000 tokens, which is double that of Grok 3. Grok 4 is designed for reasoning, but users can't see the reasoning process or disable it.

Initial results show Grok 4 outperforming other models on key benchmarks, although it's unclear if these results are for Grok 4 or its enhanced version, Grok 4 Heavy. An independent analysis rated Grok 4 with an intelligence index of 73, higher than several competitors.

However, the release comes on the heels of issues with Grok 3, which recently exhibited inappropriate behavior due to a prompt update. Critics suggest that Grok's safety measures are less rigorous compared to other AI models.

Grok 4 is priced competitively at $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens, with subscription plans starting at $30 per month.

Summary of the Blog Post "Regarding Prollyferation" by Nick Tobey

In a follow-up to a previous post on Prolly Trees, Nick Tobey discusses the concept of these data structures and the idea of parallel invention, where similar innovations emerge independently. Prolly Trees are a type of Merkle Tree, created by recursively applying a content-defined chunker to files, allowing for efficient data storage and version control.

Tobey notes that after his initial post, others contributed examples of similar implementations, such as rdedup and Jumbo Store, which also utilize recursive chunking. However, he emphasizes that not all implementations meet the criteria for Prolly Trees, particularly in how they handle structured data.

Aaron Boodman, a co-creator of Noms and the person who coined the term "Prolly Tree," clarified that Prolly Trees are distinct because they manage structured key-value data, unlike other variations that focus solely on file storage. This structured approach allows for efficient querying and merging of data, which is vital for their functionality.

The post also delves into the properties that define a Prolly Tree: history independence, structural sharing, query capability, and efficient diffing/merging. While some other implementations share similar properties, they lack the semantic depth that Prolly Trees offer.

Tobey discusses other related designs, such as those from BlueSky and XetHub, which also achieve similar functionality but in different ways. He concludes by questioning whether the term "Prolly Trees" refers to the abstract data type or the specific data structure, highlighting that language and definitions in the tech world can evolve over time.

Overall, the post reflects on the importance of understanding the nuances of these data structures and encourages discussion within the tech community.

No summary available.

The chapter by James A. R. Marshall and Frank Neumann discusses the challenges and principles of search in artificial intelligence (AI) from a computer science perspective. Here are the key points:

1. Search in AI: Search algorithms are fundamental to AI, helping machines mimic natural intelligence. They are used in various applications, from games like chess to solving complex problems like the traveling salesman.

2. Computational Hardness: Many search problems are computationally hard, meaning they cannot be solved efficiently. Problems are categorized by their solvability: some can be solved in polynomial time (efficient), while others require exponential time (inefficient).

3. Examples of Hard Problems: The 3-SAT problem, a specific type of Boolean logic problem, exemplifies hard search problems. Finding solutions for 3-SAT requires exponential time, while simpler problems like 2-SAT can be solved efficiently.

4. NP-Complete Problems: Problems like 3-SAT are representative of NP-Complete (NP-C) problems, for which no efficient algorithms are known. The consensus is that efficient solutions for these problems likely do not exist.

5. Heuristic Approaches: Since efficient algorithms for many problems are unavailable, heuristic methods are explored. However, the "no-free-lunch" theorems suggest that no single heuristic is universally superior across all problems.

6. Average Case vs. Worst Case: Hard problems might be easier on average than in the worst case. For instance, many instances of 3-SAT are easy to solve, suggesting that brains might rely on shortcuts based on average-case scenarios.

7. Performance of Heuristics: Simple heuristics, such as gradient descent, can often outperform random search strategies. These heuristics can yield better-than-average solutions for certain classes of NP-C problems.

8. Learning and Evolvability: The chapter also touches on learning as a search process. It introduces the PAC (probably approximately correct) learning model, which explores how algorithms can learn from examples and classify new instances.

9. Genetic Programming: This is a practical application of evolutionary algorithms, where functions are evolved to solve problems. Genetic programming has been successfully applied in various fields, but its theoretical foundations are still being developed.

10. Satisficing vs. Optimizing: The authors argue that in complex search problems, the goal should be to find "good enough" solutions rather than optimal ones, as optimal solutions may not exist.

Overall, the chapter emphasizes that while search is crucial for intelligence—both natural and artificial—most search problems are complex, and efficient solutions may not be achievable. Instead, heuristics and satisficing strategies are more practical approaches to solving these problems.

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Kyle Nolan shares his journey of building ProjectionLab, a financial planning tool, from a side project to achieving $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in just four years, all without external funding.

He started in 2021, inspired by the financial independence movement, when he couldn't find the right tool for his own financial planning. Over the years, his project gained traction, growing from $150 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) to over $83,000 by mid-2025, thanks to hard work and community support.

Nolan highlights the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, including doubts and setbacks. He emphasizes the importance of persistence and consistency over intelligence in achieving success. After initially working solo, he brought on a growth partner, Jon Kuipers, which helped him focus on building the product while Jon handled marketing and operations.

Nolan stresses the value of a dedicated team and community engagement, as they enhance customer support and experience. Looking ahead, he plans to continue improving ProjectionLab while staying aligned with customer interests and avoiding risky trends.

His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to keep showing up and improving, even when faced with challenges. Small, consistent efforts can lead to significant results over time. He expresses gratitude to his supporters and excitement for the future of ProjectionLab.

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Summary:

Sipgate, a cloud telephony provider, discovered a technical issue in the MediaTek VoLTE firmware affecting certain smartphones when connecting to their network. This problem caused devices from brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, Gigaset, and Motorola to crash during call setups due to a missing "Contact" header in SIP messages.

Although these phones could connect to the internet and make calls using 2G, they failed to respond to incoming VoLTE call invitations, leading to call failures. After extensive testing and collaboration with researchers, Sipgate identified the bug and notified both MediaTek and Motorola.

The issue was classified as medium severity, requiring privileged access to exploit, and a patch was eventually issued by MediaTek. The timeline of events shows the steps taken from discovering the problem to its public disclosure. Sipgate encourages further research into the issue and has provided additional resources for interested parties.

The article discusses the recent failure of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "click-to-cancel" rule, which aimed to make it easier for consumers to cancel automatically renewing subscriptions. This rule was designed to protect consumers from businesses that complicate cancellation processes, often leading to unexpected charges for services no longer wanted.

The rule was finalized after extensive development but was struck down by a conservative court just before it was set to take effect. The court ruled that the FTC did not follow proper procedure, even though there was significant public support for the rule.

Many businesses, fearing the impact of such regulations, fought against the rule, arguing that automatic renewals are beneficial for busy consumers. Despite the ruling's focus on legal technicalities, the article highlights that the FTC's efforts were aimed at addressing a known consumer abuse that affects many, particularly seniors and busy parents.

Ultimately, the article emphasizes the need for the FTC to revisit and potentially revive the rule to protect consumers from deceptive practices related to subscription services.

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The author has created a library called CXXStateTree, which is a modern, header-only C++ library for building hierarchical state machines. Key features include:

• Support for deeply nested states
• Entry and exit handlers
• State transitions with conditions and actions
• Asynchronous transitions using C++20 coroutines
• Optional runtime type identification for added flexibility

This library is useful for complex control logic in areas such as embedded systems, games, and robotics. The author welcomes feedback, use cases, and contributions from the community. You can find the library on GitHub: CXXStateTree.

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external links or documents. However, if you can provide the text or key points from the paper, I would be happy to help you summarize it!

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Wendy van Dijk shares her feelings about Matt on July 9, 2025. She feels sad because she will miss the good times they had together. While she remembers the happy moments, she is also sad that there won't be any new memories to look forward to.

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior was a covert operation by the French government on July 10, 1985. The Greenpeace ship was targeted due to its protests against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. French operatives planted bombs on the ship while it was docked in Auckland, New Zealand, resulting in its sinking and the drowning of a photographer named Fernando Pereira.

Initially, France denied involvement, but two French agents were caught and charged with crimes including murder. This incident caused a scandal in France, leading to the resignation of the French Defense Minister and a subsequent apology from France. The agents received prison sentences but spent only two years in a French Polynesian facility before being released.

The operation was motivated by France's desire to silence opposition to its nuclear tests, which were controversial in the Pacific region, especially after several nations declared the area a nuclear-free zone. The Rainbow Warrior had been actively campaigning against such testing and had a history of environmental activism.

This study examined the immediate effects of non-concussive head impacts, specifically soccer headers, on the brain of male soccer players. Fifteen healthy players participated in a controlled trial comparing a heading task to a kicking task.

Key findings include:

• Brain Chemistry Changes: After heading, levels of certain brain chemicals, like N-acetylaspartate and creatine, increased in the primary motor cortex.
• Microstructural Changes: Two blood biomarkers related to brain structure were elevated 24 hours and about a week after heading compared to kicking.
• Functional Changes: Heading reduced tissue conductivity in several brain areas, but it did not affect brain connectivity, blood flow, or cognitive (memory) function.

Overall, while subtle changes in brain chemistry and structure were observed, no significant cognitive deficits were noted. The results suggest caution should be taken with repeated non-concussive head impacts in sports, as they may have effects on brain health over time.

Perplexity has launched Comet, its first AI-powered web browser, aiming to compete with Google Search. Initially, it is available to subscribers of a premium plan and a select group of invitees.

The main feature of Comet is its AI search engine, which provides AI-generated summaries of search results. It also includes Comet Assistant, an AI tool that helps automate tasks like summarizing emails, managing tabs, and navigating web pages. Users can interact with the assistant directly on web pages for context-aware assistance.

Despite its innovative features, Comet faces tough competition from popular browsers like Google Chrome and Apple Safari, as well as other emerging AI browsers. Perplexity's CEO sees Comet as a key part of the company's strategy to gain users directly.

While Comet Assistant has shown promise in handling simple tasks, it struggles with more complex requests, often requiring extensive permissions that some users may find concerning. Overall, Comet offers unique capabilities that could help Perplexity stand out in the crowded browser market.

A political dispute has arisen over a plan to move the retired space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian in Virginia to Texas. Senator Dick Durbin criticized the proposal, calling it a "heist" by Texas, which failed to win a competition for the shuttle years ago. Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz introduced a bill for the relocation, claiming it would honor Houston's role in space exploration.

Durbin raised concerns about the high costs associated with the move, stating that the proposed $85 million is insufficient, as the actual total could exceed $305 million, not including the $178 million needed for a new display facility in Texas. He also questioned whether Congress has the authority to remove artifacts from the Smithsonian, which legally owns Discovery.

Durbin introduced an amendment to block the transfer but later withdrew it, emphasizing the potential waste of taxpayer money in this effort. He urged his colleagues to consider the implications carefully.

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The article "Million Times Million" by Susam Pal discusses the difference between two systems for naming large numbers: the long scale and the short scale.

As a child, the author learned that in the long scale system, a million times a million equals a billion, while a million times itself three times is a trillion. Each term in this system clearly indicates how many times a million is multiplied. However, upon entering university and the tech world, the author discovered that the short scale system is more commonly used, where a million times a million is considered a trillion instead of a billion.

The article provides a comparison of the two systems, showing that while they agree on the value of a million, they differ significantly beyond that point. The author explains how to understand the short scale by relating it to multiplying thousands, although it is less intuitive than the long scale.

Despite now using the short scale, the author retains fond memories of the long scale due to its clear structure and the nostalgia of childhood learning.

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Summary:

Tree Borrows is a new approach developed to improve Rust's handling of unsafe code, which is code that does not guarantee safety automatically. Rust's ownership system ensures memory safety and data race freedom but allows unsafe code, creating challenges for compiler optimizations. Previous methods, like Stacked Borrows, defined rules for unsafe code but were too restrictive and did not include newer Rust features.

Tree Borrows addresses these issues by using a tree structure instead of a stack, allowing for fewer rejected test cases—54% less than Stacked Borrows—while retaining most optimization benefits and enabling new ones, such as read-read reorderings. This improvement was recognized with a Distinguished Paper Award at PLDI'25.

Summary of the 800,000 Hours Career Guide

This guide offers tips for planning a career over an extended lifespan, thanks to the Methuselah Treatment, which allows for 1,000-year careers.

1. Advanced Education: Pursuing advanced degrees like a PhD becomes worthwhile, as the long application period (993 years) makes even niche specializations valuable. However, avoid becoming a perpetual student; balance your education with practical experiences.

2. Mid-Life Crises: Expect existential crises every few decades. Plan these crises to help develop new skills and pivot your career effectively. Avoid overlapping crises with others by scheduling them at prime-numbered intervals.

3. Grudge Management: After centuries, you may accumulate many workplace grievances. Limit active professional conflicts and consider a “Century of Forgiveness” to reconcile with past colleagues.

4. Networking: Your network could grow to over 400,000 contacts. Use a color-coded system to track relationships with different generations and consider starting a charity for career advice to maximize your impact.

5. Over-qualification: Traditional hiring practices may not suit your extensive experience. To remain employable, you might need to intentionally reset your career every 150 years, such as adopting a new identity.

In conclusion, with a 1,000-year career, focus on avoiding isolation and insanity rather than stressing about immediate career goals. You have ample time to explore your path and make adjustments.

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An investigative hearing for Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 will take place on Wednesday at 9:00 AM.

A recent study led by Professor Stephen Baxter from Oxford University has changed our understanding of the Domesday survey of 1086, a key historical record. The research shows that the survey was not just about collecting taxes but was a sophisticated method of government data management, similar to modern big data practices.

The team included researchers from King's College London and the University of London and found that William the Conqueror's administration gathered extensive economic and territorial information across England in less than seven months, using simple tools like pen and parchment.

They also suggest that the main scribe of the Domesday Book was likely Gerard, who served as William's chancellor. This research offers a new perspective on the people involved in the survey and highlights their collaborative efforts and unique contributions, revealing a more human side to the historical process.

The findings will be published in the upcoming book, "Making Domesday: Intelligent Power in Conquered England," which aims to reposition the Domesday Book as not only a vital document in English history but also an impressive administrative achievement.

The land value tax (LVT) is often praised as an ideal tax because it can generate revenue without causing economic distortions and tends to tax wealthy landowners more. However, the author believes the LVT is overrated and its drawbacks are often overlooked.

Key criticisms of the LVT include:

1. Disincentive for Land Development: The LVT discourages landowners from exploring new uses for their land. If they discover something valuable, their tax burden increases, which can deter investment in land development.

2. Implicit Tax on Nearby Development: Improvements made on one parcel of land can raise taxes on adjacent plots, discouraging landowners from developing their properties.

3. Limited Tax Base: The LVT has a narrow tax base, making it less effective as a revenue source. Efforts to modify the LVT to address its flaws could further reduce its viability.

4. Complexity and Bureaucracy: Proposed fixes to the LVT could complicate its implementation, creating bureaucratic challenges and potential for manipulation in tax assessments.

5. Potential for Erosion of Property Rights: Implementing a high LVT could undermine confidence in property rights, leading to reduced investment and economic growth.

6. Disruption to Financial Plans: Many landowners have long-term financial strategies based on the assumption of stable land value. An LVT would disrupt these plans, imposing financial burdens unexpectedly.

7. Misunderstanding of Land Speculation: The belief that the LVT would eliminate unproductive land speculation is challenged; landowners often have personal or strategic reasons for holding onto land that don’t align with the speculative model.

In conclusion, while the LVT has some merits, its limitations and practical challenges mean it is not the universal solution its proponents claim it to be. The author suggests viewing it as one flawed tool among many in tax policy, rather than a perfect answer to economic issues.

Australia is implementing new age checks for search engines like Google and Microsoft, starting December 27. This measure aims to restrict children's access to harmful content, such as pornography. The age verification will apply to users who are logged in, and companies must use various methods to confirm users' ages or risk fines of nearly $50 million for violations.

The age checks are part of a larger initiative to enhance online safety, particularly for young users, and are similar to rules already in place for social media. Experts express concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of these measures, noting that children could bypass restrictions using techniques like VPNs.

Several methods for age verification will be allowed, including photo ID checks, facial recognition, and using existing user data to estimate age. Critics argue these measures may not adequately protect children and could infringe on individuals' privacy rights. The government emphasizes its commitment to online safety while balancing user privacy.

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Windows 10 is nearing its end of life, and Zorin OS offers a fast, powerful, and secure alternative for your computer. Here are the key points about Zorin OS:

1. User-Friendly: Designed for easy use, it allows you to customize the desktop to resemble Windows or macOS, making it simple for new users.

2. Performance: Zorin OS is optimized for speed, ensuring your applications open quickly and your computer runs efficiently over time.

3. Revive Old PCs: It works on computers as old as 15 years, helping you save money on upgrades and reduce electronic waste.

4. Reliability and Security: Built on Ubuntu and Linux, Zorin OS is reliable and has strong security features that protect against viruses and malware.

5. Privacy: It respects user privacy by not collecting personal data and is open-source, allowing anyone to verify its code.

6. App Availability: Comes with essential applications and can run many Windows apps. It also has a built-in Software store for easy app access.

7. Gaming: Supports a wide range of games, including those from Steam and other platforms, with optimized graphics drivers.

8. Integration with Your Phone: Zorin Connect allows you to sync notifications, send files, and control your computer using your Android device.

9. Dual Boot Option: You can install Zorin OS alongside Windows or macOS, giving you the option to choose which OS to use.

10. Accessibility: Offers features for users with disabilities, including translations into over 100 languages and assistive technologies.

Zorin OS can be downloaded for free, and you can test it from a USB drive before installation. It promises ongoing updates until at least June 2027. Join the many users who have made the switch to Zorin OS for a better computing experience.

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Summary of Asyncmcp - Async Transport Layers for MCP

Overview: Asyncmcp is a tool designed to enhance the MCP (Model Context Protocol) by allowing it to work with asynchronous transport layers, particularly using queues. MCP is a protocol that helps applications provide context to large language models (LLMs).

Key Features:

• Async Processing: Unlike traditional MCP servers that require immediate responses, asyncmcp allows requests to be processed in the background via internal queues. This means clients don’t have to wait for responses.
• Transport Layer: It currently uses the SNS-SQS (Simple Notification Service - Simple Queue Service) for communication.

Installation:

• Recommended: uv add asyncmcp
• Alternative: pip install asyncmcp

Basic Setup:

1. Server Configuration:

   • Set up a server that listens for MCP requests on a queue and sends responses to a topic using SNS and SQS.

2. Client Configuration:

   • Set up a client that sends requests to a topic and listens for responses on a queue.

Limitations:

• Message Size: SQS has a maximum message size limit (256KB standard, 2MB extended).
• Response Timing: Responses may not be immediate due to the async nature.
• Session Context: Managed by the server application, not the transport.
• Message Ordering: Standard SQS does not guarantee the order of messages.

Testing and Contribution:

• Unit tests can be run with uv run pytest.
• Contributions to async MCP architectures are welcome.

For more details, check the examples provided in the repository.

License: Apache License 2.0.

Further Information: MCP Specification can be found at MCP Specification.

The Top 100 Festivals of 2025 is a list created based on votes from DJ Mag readers. It highlights the most popular music festivals for that year.

A solopreneur runs a web design agency and creates open-source apps. Initially, they used Typeform for freelance project submissions, but it became too expensive as submissions increased. Google Forms looked unprofessional, so they decided to create their own forms, which led to a significant increase in submissions and inquiries. Happy with the results, they made the forms open-source and integrated AI features using Vercel AISDK. This allows for quick form generation and interactive analytics. They are sharing their progress publicly on their X account and are seeking feedback on the product.

"A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles" is a resource that explores unique Canadian words and phrases. It highlights how these terms have developed over time and provides historical context for their usage. The dictionary aims to document the distinct language features of Canada, showcasing the country's linguistic diversity. For more information, you can visit their website at the provided link.

A federal appeals court has canceled a "click-to-cancel" rule that required companies to make canceling services as easy as signing up. The rule, proposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), was set to take effect on July 14 but was struck down because the court found that the FTC did not follow the proper legal process in creating the rule.

The judges acknowledged the FTC's goal to protect consumers from unwanted subscriptions but emphasized that the agency failed to conduct a necessary preliminary economic analysis. This analysis is required when a rule might have a significant economic impact. The FTC estimated the rule wouldn't exceed the $100 million threshold for such analysis, but a judge later indicated that it likely would.

Industry groups and businesses challenged the rule, arguing that they weren't given enough time to respond to the FTC's findings. The court's ruling highlighted concerns that failing to follow the correct procedures could lead to future issues with regulatory processes.

Republicans opposed the rule, with some arguing it was rushed and too broad. The FTC's former chair, Lina Khan, had stated that the rule was intended to prevent companies from making it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions.

Flopper Ziro Overview

Flopper Ziro is a low-cost, DIY version of the Flipper Zero device, created using Arduino IDE. It is not a professional product but a fun project for hobbyists.

Key Components:

• Microcontroller: STM32-L432KC
• Radio Transmitter: FS1000a
• Radio Receiver: RXB12
• RFID/NFC: PN532 (testing PN7150)
• IR LED & Receiver
• Display: SSD1306 (128x64 OLED)
• Battery: 3.7V LiPo with TP4056 charger
• Other components include push buttons and a memory card shield.

Features:

• RubberDucky functionality
• RFID/NFC capabilities (under development)
• Infrared signal reading and emulation
• Radio frequency signal reading and emulation
• Battery and SD card memory monitoring
• Fully programmable via Arduino IDE
• A 3D printed shell is planned but not yet finished.

To-Do List:

• Software: Fix SD issues, develop menu, and improve RF and RFID features.
• Hardware: Create the first PCB and test a new version with PN7150.
• Documentation needs to be completed.

This project is intended for fun and experimentation, not as a substitute for professional devices.

The developer of rdx has created a new app called OffChess, designed for solving chess puzzles offline. This app is available for iPhone and Android and features over 100,000 puzzles that can be accessed without an internet connection. Users can solve puzzles by type, such as "Mate in X" or various tactics and openings, and they earn or lose points based on their performance. OffChess is ad-free, requires no accounts or subscriptions, and is aimed at providing a simple and engaging way to practice chess anywhere. The developer welcomes feedback and suggestions. Links to download the app are provided for both platforms.

Summary:

A security vulnerability was discovered in Helm (versions 3.18.3 and earlier) that could allow local code execution when updating dependencies. This occurs if a malicious Chart.yaml file is linked to a Chart.lock file. If the Chart.lock file is a symlink to a file that executes code (like a shell script), running the command to update dependencies can inadvertently execute harmful code.

This issue has a high severity rating (CVSS score of 8.5) and affects users who do not properly manage symlinks in their charts. Helm has resolved this issue in version 3.18.4.

Workaround: Ensure that the Chart.lock file is not a symlink before updating dependencies.

For more details, refer to Helm's security policy. The vulnerability was reported by Jakub Ciolek.

A Finnish company called IXI has developed innovative glasses that use liquid crystal technology to automatically adjust vision correction for both near and far viewing. These glasses contain an eye-tracking feature that adapts to the wearer's needs, potentially making traditional bifocal or varifocal lenses obsolete. IXI aims to create eyewear that looks like regular glasses, addressing past failures of tech glasses like Google Glass.

As the population ages, conditions like presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects) and myopia (short-sightedness) are becoming more common, driving demand for advanced eyewear solutions. IXI's glasses are still in testing, with early versions facing quality issues, but improvements have been promising.

The glasses feature a small battery that lasts about two days and can be recharged overnight. Mr. Eiden, the CEO, has not yet announced a launch date or price. Other experts express cautious optimism, noting that while auto-focus glasses could help many, there are concerns about their performance compared to traditional options, especially for tasks requiring precise vision like driving.

Additionally, other companies are exploring technologies to slow the progression of eye conditions, such as myopia, but the future of fully automatic focusing glasses remains uncertain, with some questioning their widespread appeal compared to simpler solutions.

I wanted to connect Anna's Archive to Claude Desktop for easy book searching and downloading. Since I couldn't find a ready-made solution, I created my own MCP server.

Key features:

• Searches Anna's Archive by keywords.
• Downloads books from the search results.
• Works directly in Claude Desktop.

The code is open source, and you can find installation instructions in the repository's README. I thought others might find this useful too!

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This guide provides a straightforward way to perform a clean installation of Windows 11 while removing unnecessary software (bloatware) and optimizing performance. Here are the key points:

1. Preparation:

   • Download a clean Windows 11 ISO from the Tiny11 website.
   • Use a USB drive (at least 8GB) and a tool like Rufus (for Windows) or Balena Etcher (for Linux/OSX) to create a bootable drive.

2. BIOS Setup:

   • Enter the BIOS by pressing keys like F2, F10, or DEL during boot.
   • Disable fast boot and set USB as the primary boot device.

3. Installation:

   • Follow the normal installation steps.
   • Use a PowerShell command to activate Windows 11 PRO.

4. Debloating and Configuration:

   • Use a tool from Chris Titus to remove bloatware and install necessary applications like Firefox and VLC.
   • Customize settings for Firefox, including installing the Ublock Origin extension and disabling telemetry.

5. Optional Software:

   • You can install Microsoft Office (2007-2016) and activate it using the same tool.

6. Support:

   • The guide encourages users to reach out for help or suggestions.

Remember to back up important data before starting this process, as the guide does not take responsibility for any issues that may arise.

Ricardo Pallas is a software engineer.