Oxide has successfully raised $100 million in a Series B funding round, led by USIT and supported by existing investors. This funding more than doubles the total capital raised by the company over its nearly six-year history, totaling $189 million. Oxide aims to revolutionize on-premises cloud computing by rethinking both hardware and software. While some investors initially doubted the market potential, others recognized the opportunity and supported Oxide's vision.

Since its founding, Oxide has developed various technological components, including custom board designs, an operating system, platform software, and integrated storage services. The company has achieved significant milestones, including shipping its first system and receiving positive customer feedback.

With increasing customer interest and a promising partnership with USIT, Oxide is poised to scale its operations and address customer needs more effectively. The company is excited about this new phase, focusing on growth, customer satisfaction, and innovation in computing.

Lucidic AI is a tool created by Abhinav, Andy, and Jeremy that helps users observe and debug AI agents. With just one line of code, you can integrate it into your agent's code and access a dashboard that tracks each run, shows trends, and helps identify issues.

The team, who previously worked on AI at Stanford, found debugging AI agents challenging, especially after experiencing difficulties with an e-commerce agent failing at checkout. They realized traditional methods of monitoring AI agents were inadequate, as they didn't consider the complexity of agents that use tools and memory.

To improve this, Lucidic AI offers features like "time traveling," allowing users to modify states and re-simulate runs to analyze outcomes. They also developed trajectory clustering to group similar agent paths, making it easier to identify patterns and failures. The tool visualizes these patterns and provides customizable evaluation criteria, or "rubrics," for measuring agent performance.

You can start using Lucidic AI for free with up to 1,000 events and steps. For more information, visit their dashboard and documentation. They welcome feedback and inquiries at [email protected].

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The text discusses the evolution of the World Wide Web from its early days to the present. Initially, the web was a free and open space filled with diverse content from various sources, allowing anyone to create and share information easily. Today, while it remains relatively easy and affordable to start a website, the web has become cluttered with ads, tracking, and centralized platforms that limit user creativity and control.

The author provides a simple guide for creating a basic website using Dreamhost, emphasizing that building a webpage is more accessible than ever. They encourage readers to explore HTML and offers more detailed resources for creating websites.

The text also critiques the current state of the web, highlighting issues like intrusive advertising and the loss of personal connection due to social media and templated designs. It calls for a return to a more personal, creative, and open web experience. There is a movement towards simpler, more authentic web designs, reminiscent of the early internet, promoting individual expression and community.

In essence, the message is about reclaiming the original spirit of the web—sharing information freely and creatively, without the constraints of modern commercialization.

The current difficulty in finding programming jobs is largely due to actions by big tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. These companies hired too many developers out of greed, wanting to dominate the talent pool and maximize profits. As a result, salaries soared, and the work environment became inefficient, filled with unnecessary projects.

This hiring spree was unsustainable, and when the economy changed—growth slowed, interest rates rose, and investor patience waned—Big Tech began laying off hundreds of thousands of programmers. Now, companies of all sizes are hesitant to hire, fearing they will repeat past mistakes. As a result, new developers and even experienced ones are struggling to find jobs.

While software remains essential for businesses like Amazon and Netflix, many side projects that were not profitable have been cut. The actions of Big Tech were not just careless; they aimed to monopolize talent and ended up leaving many developers without jobs.

The text refers to an interactive map created by the US. It likely includes features that allow users to explore various information or data visually. The key point is that the map is designed to be engaging and user-friendly, making it easier for people to access and understand the information presented.

The text discusses arrays and tables in programming, focusing on their structures and uses in various programming languages. Here are the key points:

1. Arrays and Their Basics:

   • Arrays are collections that map a sequence of numbers (1 to N) to values of a single type.
   • They are simpler to implement than associative arrays (which use arbitrary keys) and structs (which hold different types of values).

2. Extensions of Arrays:

   • Tables: Found in languages like Nushell and frameworks like Pandas, tables combine string keys (like structs) with array-like indexing. Each row acts like a struct, enabling easy access to data.
   • N-dimensional Arrays: Common in APL languages, these are arrays of arrays, where all sub-arrays have the same length, allowing for complex queries along different axes.

3. Representation of Arrays:

   • One-dimensional arrays can be thought of as functions from a range of numbers to values.
   • Two-dimensional arrays can be represented as functions that take row and column indices to return values or as functions that return other functions (currying).

4. Dimensions:

   • Dimensions can be represented as functions. For example, a pixel array can be structured to map rows and columns to pixel data, treating colors as dimensions.

5. Difference Between Arrays and Tables:

   • Tables cannot easily be transformed into arrays because tables often contain heterogeneous data types. This limits their ability to become a single function that maps dimensions to values.

6. Practical Implications:

   • The author explores how different representations can be useful for various programming tasks, such as transforming data and managing dimensions.
   • The text also raises questions about the design choices in programming languages regarding arrays and tables.

In summary, the text provides insights into how arrays and tables are structured in programming, their differences, and their applications, while also posing questions about the limitations and possibilities of these data structures.

No summary available.

Summary: Writing an OS in Rust Blog Series

This blog series by Philipp Oppermann teaches readers how to create a small operating system using the Rust programming language. Each post offers a tutorial with code examples, and the complete source code is available on GitHub.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Freestanding Rust Binary: Learn to create a Rust executable that runs without a standard library.
2. Minimal Rust Kernel: Build a basic 64-bit kernel that can boot and display output on the screen.
3. VGA Text Mode: Implement a safe way to print text using VGA mode and Rust’s formatting features.
4. Testing: Explore unit and integration testing for no_std executables within the kernel.
5. Interrupts:
   • CPU Exceptions: Set up a system to handle exceptions like invalid memory access.
   • Double Faults: Learn how to prevent system resets by managing double faults.
   • Hardware Interrupts: Configure interrupts for hardware events like keyboard input.
6. Memory Management:
   • Introduction to Paging: Understand memory isolation and the paging mechanism.
   • Paging Implementation: Apply paging in the kernel with address translation and mapping.
   • Heap Allocation: Add dynamic memory allocation capabilities to the kernel.
   • Allocator Designs: Discuss and implement different heap allocator strategies.
7. Multitasking: Investigate cooperative multitasking and the async/await feature in Rust.

Subscribers can receive updates via RSS/Atom feed, GitHub issues, or an email newsletter. The blog is currently in its second edition, which differs significantly from the first.

Readers can support the blog and its ongoing development through GitHub sponsorship.

Summary of MoebiusXBIN

MoebiusXBIN is an ASCII and text-mode art editor available for MacOS, Linux, and Windows, featuring support for custom fonts and colors. It has been updated in Summer 2025, with a completely rewritten guide.

Key Features:

• Custom Fonts: Users can choose from nearly 2400 fonts and create their own by modifying PNG images.
• Custom Colors: Offers around 200 color palettes made by the community.
• Multi-lingual Support: Supports various encodings and writing directions.
• Beginner-friendly Tutorial: A step-by-step guide is available for new users.

Background: Traditional ASCII art used fixed character sets, but MoebiusXBIN allows for greater creativity by letting artists change fonts and colors. It supports the XBIN format, enabling customized character sets.

Usage: Users can import and export fonts, and the editor includes classic and special text-mode art fonts.

For downloads and more information, visit the GitHub page. If you have suggestions or find bugs, contact the developer via email or GitHub.

The article discusses how to make libcurl applications work in WebAssembly (Wasm) by routing all traffic through a WebSocket proxy. Here are the key points:

1. WebAssembly Networking Limitations: WebAssembly does not support direct TCP connections and relies on JavaScript networking interfaces, such as fetch, which limits functionality for libcurl, a library used for network operations.

2. WebSocket Proxy Solution: To overcome these limitations, libcurl can be configured to route traffic through a WebSocket proxy server. This method is secure and allows for TCP connections by tunneling over WebSockets.

3. Using SOCKS5 Proxy: To connect to arbitrary HTTP services, a SOCKS5 proxy can be set up alongside the WebSocket proxy. This allows libcurl to route its traffic through the SOCKS5 server, enabling it to connect to any host on the internet.

4. Implementation Steps:

   • Use websockify to create a WebSocket connection that forwards to the SOCKS5 server.
   • Set the environment variable ALL_PROXY in your application to route traffic through the SOCKS5 proxy.

5. Testing and Demonstration: A public demo server is available for testing this setup, which allows users to execute R code that downloads package descriptions from CRAN using libcurl without any changes to the code, just by setting the proxy.

6. Final Thoughts: This method is effective because it doesn’t require modifications to libcurl or the applications using it, making it easy to run existing R code in WebAssembly. It maintains security by not requiring the client to accept untrusted certificates.

Overall, this solution simplifies using libcurl in WebAssembly while addressing the networking constraints of the environment.

Cedana is working on a groundbreaking technology that allows for the live migration of active CPU and GPU containers across global computing systems. They aim to create advanced AI orchestration systems based on their innovative checkpoint/restore technology, which will make distributed computing more flexible and resilient.

The company is supported by prominent investors, including a co-founder of OpenAI and the founding team of Meta AI. They are seeking talented systems engineers who are deeply knowledgeable about computing and container technology, particularly Kubernetes.

As part of the engineering team, you will:

• Design and build new components for their system, focusing on unique scheduling and resource management.
• Enhance system reliability by improving performance from the Linux kernel to Kubernetes.
• Collaborate with customers to solve complex infrastructure problems.
• Develop tools for monitoring and alerting to ensure high system performance.

Candidates should have a strong understanding of distributed systems, systems programming (especially in C, Go, or Rust), Linux internals, and orchestrators. Experience with GPU workloads and Kubernetes is also important.

Ideal applicants should be curious problem-solvers, able to work collaboratively, and excited about tackling challenging technical issues. Bonus points for contributions to open-source projects or experience with specific tools and environments related to Kubernetes and SLURM.

No summary available.

This post discusses NMDA receptor antagonists, focusing on two drugs: Memantine and Ketamine. Here's a simplified summary of the key points:

1. NMDA Receptors: These are crucial for memory and brain function. Antagonists of these receptors can have various effects, including anesthesia, treating Alzheimer's, and alleviating depression.

2. Drug Effects: The way NMDA antagonists affect the brain depends on:

   • Subunit Selectivity: NMDA receptors have different subunits, which influence how drugs interact with them. For example, some subunits allow more calcium ions to enter neurons.
   • Trapping vs. Flickering: Ketamine stays bound to the receptor and acts as a "trapping" antagonist, while Memantine quickly unbinds and is a "flickering" antagonist.
   • Target Neurons: The type of neurons the drug binds to also matters, as different neurons have different NMDA receptor compositions.

3. Clinical Observations: Doctors often associate these drugs with severe side effects due to their experiences with patients under the influence of drugs like PCP, which can cause extreme reactions. However, Ketamine is used safely for anesthesia.

4. Conclusion: Understanding the interactions of NMDA receptor antagonists is complex, with overlapping factors that influence their effects. The author hints at exploring other receptors in future posts.

Overall, the post highlights the intricate nature of NMDA receptor function and how different antagonists can lead to varied outcomes in brain activity and behavior.

Summary of CLJ-COLL

CLJ-COLL is a library that brings Clojure-like collection APIs to Common Lisp. It offers immutable data structures such as Cons, Queue, PersistentList, and provides Vector, Set, and Map functionalities. The aim is to make Common Lisp easier for developers familiar with Clojure, enhancing the integration of Clojure-like APIs in a Common Lisp environment.

Key Features:

• Clojure APIs: CLJ-COLL includes many APIs from Clojure's core, allowing for operations like map, reduce, and lazy sequences.
• Interoperability: It works smoothly with Common Lisp's native collection types, like lists and vectors.
• Printing Support: You can customize how common data structures are printed to resemble Clojure's style.
• Read Syntax: Special named readtables allow for Clojure-like syntax with hashes, sets, and vectors.

Limitations:

• CLJ-COLL is not a full implementation of Clojure; it lacks certain features like Clojure's destructuring and specific looping constructs. Instead, developers should use Common Lisp's native functions for those tasks.

Usage Information:

• CLJ-COLL can be installed via Ultralisp or GitHub and is designed for Common Lisp users who want to work with Clojure-like collections without needing to switch languages.

In essence, CLJ-COLL provides a bridge for Common Lisp developers to use familiar Clojure collection tools without fully adopting the Clojure language.

Summary:

In July 2025, Amir Salihefendic shared how Doist developed Bitmapist, an open-source analytics tool that significantly improved their decision-making and saved them millions.

Key Points:

• Need for Custom Analytics: Doist needed detailed cohort analytics to understand user behavior in their products, Todoist and Twist, but found commercial options too expensive and inflexible.

• Bitmap Technology: Bitmapist uses Redis bitmaps, which store large amounts of data while using minimal memory, enabling fast real-time analytics.

• Impact on Decision-Making:

  • Feature Launches: Bitmapist helps track user adoption and retention of new features, allowing for quick improvements.
  • A/B Testing: It facilitates effective testing and analysis of user behavior over time, leading to better user retention.
  • Speedy Decisions: Real-time data access allows teams to make informed decisions quickly without delays.
  • Cost Savings: Building Bitmapist in-house saved millions on analytics fees and dramatically reduced memory usage from 130GB to 300MB, resulting in substantial infrastructure savings.

• User-Friendly Visualization: Bitmapist offers easy-to-use cohort visualization tools for various teams at Doist, enabling quick insights into user behavior.

• Open Source: Doist decided to open-source Bitmapist, making it easy for others to integrate and use in their applications.

Overall, Bitmapist has become essential to Doist's analytics strategy, leading to better, faster, and more cost-effective decision-making.

Summary: Writing Memory Efficient C Structs

This article discusses how to optimize memory usage in C structs, specifically using a "Monster" struct as an example.

Key Points:

1. Struct Definition: The original "Monster" struct contains various data types, totaling 96 bytes due to padding added by the compiler for memory alignment.

2. Memory Layout: Padding occurs because the CPU prefers data to be aligned in multiples of 4 bytes. This can lead to wasted space within structs.

3. Reducing Padding: By rearranging the order of fields in the struct, padding can be minimized. For example, grouping fields of the same size together can reduce overall size.

4. Derived State: Instead of storing redundant information (like whether a monster is alive based on its health), you can derive it dynamically, further reducing struct size.

5. Using Smaller Types: Choosing the smallest appropriate data types (e.g., using uint16_t for health instead of int) can decrease memory usage.

6. Bitfields: Instead of using full bytes for booleans, bitfields can represent multiple boolean values in fewer bits, saving space.

7. Enum for Identifiers: Instead of storing strings for names, using an enum can significantly reduce the size of the struct.

8. Final Result: By applying these techniques, the original struct's size can be reduced from 96 bytes to just 20 bytes, which is especially beneficial when creating many instances of the struct.

9. Trade-offs: While optimizing for memory is important in certain contexts (like performance-sensitive applications), it should be balanced with code readability and the potential for errors, such as integer overflows.

The author encourages readers to consider these strategies while keeping the context of their applications in mind.

No summary available.

Shunsaku Tamiya, the former president of Tamiya, Inc., passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 90. He was instrumental in transforming Tamiya into a leading manufacturer of plastic model kits and radio-controlled vehicles. Initially, the company focused on lumber and wooden models, but after a fire, it shifted its attention to plastic models, thanks to advancements in technology.

Tamiya was known for his commitment to quality and precision, famously ensuring that model kits were accurate by disassembling actual cars for measurements. He also created Tamiya's iconic branding, including the distinct "twin stars" logo and the recognizable box design.

His contributions to the modeling industry earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Many hobbyists remember him fondly for sparking their interest in model building and automotive culture.

The author prefers using printf-style debugging for troubleshooting and only uses gdb as a last resort. They find printf debugging convenient but annoying because they have to remove print statements afterward. They used to rely on extensive logging, but that led to too much output. To solve this, they created a minimal debugging library called dlg, which completely disappears from production builds. It has a simple API with one main function, Printf, and it is designed for performance in debug builds. When not in use, dlg's calls are removed by the Go linker. The library also allows optional stack trace generation. The author welcomes feedback and provides a link to the GitHub repository.

The author created a tool called gtrsnipe, which converts MIDI files into guitar tab formats like ASCII tab, VexTab, and ABC notation. The program uses a system to find the best finger positions on the guitar fretboard, based on the author's own playing experience. They encourage users to try it out and share their feedback to help improve the tool.

Max has been launching weather balloons for a few years and enjoys the tracking aspect of the hobby. He started with APRS tracking systems after getting his amateur radio license in 2020. He designed small boards using trackuino firmware and eventually moved on to recovering radiosondes, which are launched by the National Weather Service.

Dissatisfied with the size and weight of existing radiosonde trackers, Max created his own tracking system called Tiny4FSK. This compact flight computer uses the Horus Binary v2 tracking protocol, which is designed for high-altitude balloons, offering features like high transmit rates and good performance in weak signals. It can run for over 17 hours on a single AA battery.

Tiny4FSK includes expansion options for sensors and diagnostics via an OLED display. While the tracking procedures are mostly complete, Max is still developing some features and is working on improving RF signal strength, as the current power output is lower than typical radiosondes.

The system uses a SAMD21 microcontroller, a TPS61200 boost converter, a Si4063 radio module, and an ATGM336H GPS module, along with a BME280 environmental sensor. It’s designed to be beginner-friendly using the Arduino framework. All flight data from Tiny4FSK and other compatible trackers can be viewed in real-time on Sondehub Amateur.

Max hopes to promote the Horus Binary protocol so more tracking stations will be established.

No summary available.

Hyprnote is an open-source AI note-taking app created by Yujong, John, Duck, and Sung. It prioritizes privacy by running entirely on your device, meaning no data is sent to the cloud or third-party servers. The app transcribes and summarizes meetings using local AI models, specifically Whisper and HyprLLM, without the need for bots.

The motivation for building Hyprnote came from feedback that some companies restrict certain note-taking tools due to data privacy issues, leading employees to revert to manual note-taking. Hyprnote aims to provide a useful alternative that maintains data privacy.

In addition to its core functionality, Hyprnote allows users to connect their own internal AI models and is developing a self-hosted server option for teams needing collaboration and administrative features. The creators are also looking to enhance the app's flexibility, similar to how VSCode allows for extensions.

Overall, Hyprnote is designed to empower users with privacy-focused, locally-run AI tools. They welcome feedback from the community.

No summary available.

Summary:

This article discusses how to manage application state in HTMX by using the URL as the main source of truth, rather than relying on complex state management libraries. By encoding filters, sorting, pagination, and search parameters in the URL, users can easily bookmark and share their current view.

Key Points:

1. URL as State Representation: The URL (e.g., /?status=active&sortField=price&sortDir=desc&page=2) encapsulates the entire state of the application, making it easy to share and bookmark.

2. Three Steps to Implement:

   • Server Reads URL: The server retrieves parameters from the URL to render the appropriate view.
   • State Preservation: Forms and hidden fields are used to maintain state across interactions without complex JavaScript.
   • Automatic URL Updates: Using hx-push-url, HTMX keeps the URL in sync with form data automatically.

3. Benefits:

   • No need for JavaScript to manage state.
   • All filters and sorting are preserved.
   • Each view can be shared directly via the URL, enhancing usability and SEO.
   • The browser's back button works seamlessly with previous states.

4. Considerations: Be mindful of URL length limits and ensure proper validation of URL parameters to maintain security.

Overall, this URL-driven approach simplifies state management in HTMX applications, making them more efficient and user-friendly.

Summary of ACM's Transition to Full Open Access

ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) is moving to a fully Open Access (OA) publishing model by the end of 2025. This change aims to make all ACM research freely accessible, enhancing collaboration and innovation in computing research.

Key points of ACM's Open Access approach include:

1. ACM Open Framework:

   • This model allows institutions to support unlimited Open Access publishing without extra charges for authors from participating institutions.
   • Pricing is fixed based on an institution's publishing history, ensuring predictable budgeting.
   • Institutions get full access to the Premium version of the ACM Digital Library, which includes over 800,000 research articles and advanced research tools.

2. ACM Digital Library Access:

   • Starting January 2026, ACM will offer Premium and Basic access options for the Digital Library.
   • Premium access provides deeper insights, advanced tools like AI-assisted search, and research metrics to enhance user experience.

Open Access Pricing:

• The article processing charges (APCs) for various types of publications are outlined, with reduced prices for ACM members.

Overall, ACM's transition to Open Access reflects its commitment to removing barriers to research publication and access, aiming to foster a more inclusive and innovative research environment.

Summary:

Producthero has joined Channable, marking an exciting new phase for eCommerce. Channable offers various services for retailers, agencies, and brands, including feed management, PPC optimization, and marketplace integration. They are currently hiring, so interested candidates can check their vacancy page for job openings. Additionally, they have released an open-source tool called TechOpsqueue, designed for handling heavy batch processing tasks.

No summary available.

The author is working on a small neural network library. Their goal is to understand how libraries like PyTorch function and to enhance their coding skills.

Aria is a new scripting language designed to be easy and enjoyable to use. It has a simple C-style syntax and takes ideas from different programming languages. The language includes a small standard library and aims to help users get things done quickly. Currently, Aria is at version 0.9, and feedback is welcome as it develops towards version 1.0.

This post shares a personal journey of creating artificial fireflies using basic electronics. The author, who misses seeing real fireflies, decided to build their own blinking LED lights. They started with no knowledge of electronics but gradually learned about components like resistors, capacitors, and transistors.

Key points include:

• Initial Discovery: The author found an Astable Multivibrator circuit that could blink an LED without a timer.
• Learning Process: They used AI and online resources to learn electronics basics and successfully built their first circuit, which blinked continuously and too quickly.
• Adjustments: To make the LED blink only at night and at a slower rate, they incorporated a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and experimented with resistor values using a Potentiometer.
• Challenges Faced: The journey included troubleshooting circuit failures, using circuit simulators, dealing with soldering fumes, and salvaging components from broken electronics.
• Final Product: After multiple iterations, the author created five fireflies, which provided joy when they blinked in unison at night.

Ultimately, the experience rekindled a sense of excitement and purpose in learning and building, similar to their first experiences with programming. The author is motivated to continue improving their creations.

No summary available.

Summary of SensorLM: Learning the Language of Wearable Sensors

SensorLM is a new model developed by Google Research that connects data from wearable sensors, like smartwatches and fitness trackers, to natural language. This model was trained on 60 million hours of sensor data from over 100,000 individuals, enabling it to interpret and describe health-related activities in a meaningful way.

Key Points:

1. Wearable Device Data: Wearable devices gather extensive data about health, such as heart rate and activity levels. However, understanding the context behind this data (like why your heart rate is high) has been a challenge.

2. Data Scarcity Issue: A major hurdle in understanding this data is the lack of large datasets that pair sensor readings with descriptive text. Manually annotating such data is costly and time-consuming.

3. SensorLM Model:

   • SensorLM uses a new method to automatically generate descriptions from sensor data, creating the largest sensor-language dataset to date.
   • It incorporates two main learning strategies: contrastive learning (matching sensor data with text) and generative pre-training (producing text from sensor data).

4. Capabilities:

   • Activity Recognition: It can classify activities without needing fine-tuning (zero-shot learning) and adapts quickly with minimal examples (few-shot learning).
   • Caption Generation: SensorLM can generate coherent and accurate descriptions from raw sensor data, outperforming traditional language models.

5. Performance: The model's performance improves with more data and larger sizes, indicating significant potential for future developments.

6. Future Applications: The aim is to develop personalized health insights, digital health coaches, and tools for clinical monitoring that can interact through natural language.

In conclusion, SensorLM represents a significant step forward in transforming wearable sensor data into understandable and actionable health insights.

Summary of "Two Birds with One Tone: I/Q Signals and Fourier Transform – Part 1"

The article introduces I/Q signals (In-phase and Quadrature signals) and their importance in signal processing, particularly in wireless communication. It begins by noting that many newcomers to signal processing find I/Q signals complex and often shift to easier topics like machine learning.

Key Points:

1. Understanding I/Q Signals:

   • I/Q signals are essential for transmitting information in wireless systems.
   • They are derived from sinusoidal waves, which can represent various forms of information.

2. Electromagnetic Waves:

   • Wireless systems use electromagnetic waves as carriers for information.
   • A sinusoidal wave, produced by oscillating charges, can be mathematically expressed to encode messages.

3. Phase Concepts:

   • The confusion around I/Q signals often relates to the concept of phase, which can be understood in terms of phase shift and phase angle.

4. Orthogonality:

   • To transmit multiple messages without interference, signals must be orthogonal, meaning they do not overlap in a mathematical sense.
   • The article explains how orthogonality is achieved using specific sinusoidal combinations.

5. Mathematical Operations:

   • The dot product is a key mathematical operation that helps determine orthogonality between signals.
   • The use of amplitude and phase shifts can create orthogonal signals that do not interfere with each other.

6. I/Q Modulation:

   • I/Q modulation allows for efficient transmission by combining two orthogonal signals (a cosine wave and a negative sine wave) into one.
   • This technique enables higher data rates in communication systems.

7. Complex Numbers in Signal Processing:

   • I/Q signals can be represented as complex numbers, which simplify mathematical operations and enhance signal processing efficiency.
   • Euler’s formula relates exponential functions to trigonometric functions, facilitating the manipulation of signals.

8. Implementing I/Q Signals:

   • The article provides a basic framework for generating I/Q signals in a lab setting and discusses their representation in digital systems.
   • A digital I/Q signal consists of two parallel real signals that can be treated as complex numbers.

9. Conclusion:

   • I/Q signals are fundamental to modern communication systems, allowing for the efficient encoding and transmission of information.
   • Understanding these concepts prepares readers for more advanced topics like Fourier Transform in the next part of the series.

Overall, the article serves as an introduction to the principles of I/Q signals and their significance in signal processing, paving the way for deeper exploration in future discussions.

The iPh0n3 - USB-C Protection Case is available for CHF 49.90 but is currently sold out. It allows users to convert their iPhone to USB-C easily, without needing to buy a new device. The case supports wireless and MagSafe charging, and it enables fast charging and data transfer to computers. However, it does not support accessories that need power from the phone, which require using the Lightning port instead.

The case is made in Switzerland from durable dark gray nylon. Several models for different iPhone versions (like 11, 12, 13, and 14) are available, but they are all sold out. Interested customers can sign up for email notifications when their desired model is back in stock.

The text discusses the evolution of data interchange formats, focusing on three key formats: XML, JSON, and CBOR.

1. XML:

   • Originated from SGML, XML was designed for structured document representation on the web, emphasizing clarity and extensibility.
   • It became widely adopted in the early 2000s for applications like web services and configuration files but suffered from verbosity, making it less efficient for modern web needs.

2. JSON:

   • Developed by Douglas Crockford in the early 2000s, JSON emerged as a simpler, lighter alternative to XML, particularly suited for web applications and APIs.
   • Its minimal syntax and direct mapping to JavaScript objects made it easy to implement across various programming languages, leading to rapid adoption.
   • JSON is more compact and faster to parse compared to XML.

3. CBOR:

   • Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) was introduced to address the limitations of text-based formats like JSON in constrained environments (e.g., IoT devices).
   • CBOR combines the simplicity of JSON with the efficiency of binary encoding, reducing message sizes and improving parsing speed.
   • It retains compatibility with JSON’s data model while supporting binary data types.

In conclusion, the landscape of data representation is evolving towards specialized formats like CBOR for specific use cases, with XML, JSON, and CBOR coexisting based on application needs. Each format has distinct advantages: XML for structured documents, JSON for web APIs, and CBOR for efficiency in constrained environments.

Summary:

The U.S. Justice Department approved the merger of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Juniper Networks primarily due to national security concerns regarding China, particularly to compete with Huawei Technologies. U.S. intelligence agencies influenced this decision, arguing that the merger would strengthen American companies against Chinese competitors. Recently, there were reports of internal conflicts within the Justice Department related to this approval, leading to the firing of two senior officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi was involved in discussions with intelligence officials that highlighted the importance of the merger for U.S. interests.

In another political note, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) faces a primary challenge from 26-year-old Liam Elkind, who questions whether the 78-year-old Nadler can effectively confront President Trump.

Additionally, the U.S. economy has shown growth, with an annualized rate of 3% in the second quarter, reversing earlier declines caused by a surge in imports.

Summary of "How the Brain Increases Blood Flow on Demand"

A new study from Harvard Medical School has revealed how the brain quickly increases blood flow to areas that need more oxygen and nutrients. Researchers found that the brain uses specialized cells lining its blood vessels to communicate the need for more blood. This system is crucial for brain function and understanding how it may fail in neurodegenerative diseases.

The study involved experiments with mice and highlighted that the brain can efficiently direct blood flow using tiny channels between cells called gap junctions. These allow for rapid signals to be sent about where blood is needed. Understanding this process could improve brain imaging techniques like fMRI and provide insights into diseases where blood flow regulation deteriorates.

The findings suggest that the same blood flow regulation likely occurs in humans, which could lead to better treatments for neurodegenerative conditions. The researchers aim to apply their discoveries to develop therapies for such diseases.

How to Use the Online Ruler

The online ruler automatically detects your device to show accurate measurements in cm or inches. If it doesn't detect your device, you can manually enter your screen size or calibrate it for precise dimensions.

1. Automatic Device Detection:

   • The ruler works right away without any setup.
   • It recognizes over 100 devices including Apple, Samsung, and Google.
   • A green “Detected” box indicates it's accurate, and settings will be saved for your next visit.

2. Set Your Screen's Diagonal:

   • If auto-detection doesn't work, you can manually enter your screen's diagonal size. This will also be saved for future use.
   • To do this, find your device's diagonal size and input it in the provided box.

3. Calibrate with a Credit Card:

   • You can also calibrate the ruler using a standard credit card, which is 85.60 mm (3.37 in) wide.
   • To calibrate, place your card on the blue guide and adjust the slider until it matches the card's width.

This makes it easy to measure accurately with the online ruler.

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A new type of battery called the AI-1, developed by Enovix, is set to enhance smartphone performance significantly. This silicon-anode battery has an energy density that is about 50% higher than most current smartphone batteries. This technology could lead to longer-lasting smartphone usage without needing to recharge as often.

No summary available.

Tesla has stopped accepting orders for the Model S and Model X in Europe.

After training a calculator agent using reinforcement learning (RL), I wanted to expand my project. I built a new RL system for training advanced coding agents that can use a large amount of computing power, from 2 to 32 high-performance GPUs, costing around $1 million. Remarkably, my untrained 32B agent ranked #19 on the Terminal-Bench leaderboard, outperforming Stanford's model.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: Developed a Claude Code-inspired agent with tools and training infrastructure.
• Training Setup: Created a Docker-based training environment where each task runs in its own container.
• Data Generation: Built a pipeline to generate training data using synthetic methods and the Opus-4 model.
• Reward System: Used a combination of unit tests and a behavioral judge from a language model to evaluate performance.

Results:

• My untrained Qwen3-32B agent scored 13.75% on Terminal-Bench.
• Successfully tested training on a distributed system with 32 GPUs.
• Developed a mini-evaluation framework, with Sonnet-4 performing best.
• Full training would require about £30-50k, but I only tested the setup.

Technical Highlights:

• The synthetic dataset includes tasks of varying difficulty.
• Configurations allow easy adaptation to different hardware setups.
• The agent communicates using XML/YAML formats.

I believe that long-horizon RL will significantly impact our lives, and I encourage sharing knowledge in this exciting field. For more technical details, my GitHub repositories are available with all code and data.

Thanks for reading! Dan

The Qwen3-30B-A3B-Instruct-2507 is an improved version of the Qwen3-30B-A3B model, designed for better performance in various tasks. Key enhancements include:

• Better ability to follow instructions, reason logically, and understand texts in mathematics, science, coding, and tool usage.
• Increased knowledge across many languages.
• Improved alignment with user preferences for subjective tasks, resulting in more helpful and higher-quality responses.
• Enhanced understanding of long contexts (up to 256,000 tokens).

Model Specifications:

• It is a Causal Language Model with 30.5 billion parameters and 48 layers.
• It operates in a non-thinking mode, which means it does not generate "thinking" blocks in its output.

Performance Highlights:

• The model shows strong results in various benchmarks, particularly in knowledge and reasoning tasks.
• It excels in multilingual capabilities and offers good performance in coding tasks.

Usage Instructions:

• The model can be accessed through the Hugging Face transformers library, and specific code snippets are provided for implementation.
• It is recommended to use specific settings for optimal performance, such as adjusting sampling parameters and output length.

Agentic Use:

• The model supports tool calling, which can be simplified using the Qwen-Agent framework.

For more information, users can refer to the model's documentation and benchmarks available online.

Here’s a simplified summary of the text:

1. Cats and AI Confusion: Researchers found that adding random cat facts to math problems can confuse AI models, making them more likely to give incorrect answers. This shows a potential vulnerability in AI systems, highlighting the need for better defenses against such distractions.

2. Peacock Feathers as Lasers: A study revealed that peacock feathers can emit laser light due to tiny structures that amplify light. This discovery could lead to new medical applications, like using biological materials for lasers in healthcare.

3. End of U.S. Antarctic Research Vessel: The U.S. plans to stop funding its only Antarctic research icebreaker, the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer. Scientists are protesting this decision because it will leave the U.S. without a research vessel in Antarctica for the first time in decades, affecting critical research like studies of the Thwaites Glacier.

4. Protein Evolution: Researchers are learning more about how proteins evolve by swapping parts of proteins from different species. They found that many changes can reduce a protein's effectiveness, suggesting that some genetic changes are selected against in nature.

5. Health Responses to Illness: Observing someone who looks sick can trigger immune responses in others, even in virtual environments, indicating a strong link between social cues and immune function.

6. Aging and Proteins: New research suggests that aging accelerates significantly around age 50, especially in certain tissues, but the exact timing of these changes varies.

7. Cloud Creation for Reef Protection: Scientists are exploring the idea of creating artificial clouds to cool areas like the Great Barrier Reef, showing increased interest and funding for such innovative environmental strategies.

Overall, the text covers recent scientific discoveries and concerns in various fields, from AI to biology and environmental science.

This web app uses AI to transform any book into an interactive text adventure game. You can make choices that change the story, and even change the book's genre, like playing "Dune" as a detective story. It's still being developed, and feedback is encouraged.

A user tested the new GLM-4.5 Air model on their 2.5-year-old laptop, a 64GB MacBook Pro M2, and successfully created a Space Invaders game using HTML and JavaScript. The GLM-4.5 models, released by Z.ai, are large, with the smaller version having 106 billion parameters, but a 44GB quantized version is available for easier use. The user ran the model using specific commands and found it generated functional code without any edits needed. They noted that coding models have significantly improved in 2025, allowing even older laptops to run advanced models efficiently.

No summary available.

The author describes themselves as a collector of side projects, having started various ideas but never finished them. They've attempted a SaaS for freelancers, an AI tool, and a social network, but lost interest each time. Their domain names reflect these unfinished projects. Despite this, they have learned a lot and enjoyed the experience. They hope that one day they might succeed with a project. They invite others who have similar experiences to share their own successes and failures.

Phone numbers can reveal a lot of personal information, such as the caller's location and name, and even their availability. When Caller ID was introduced, it sparked privacy concerns, similar to those raised by email tracking later on.

Email addresses don’t disclose much, but tracking pixels—tiny images embedded in emails—can reveal when a recipient opens an email and provide data about their location and device. This has led to ongoing debates about the ethics of email tracking, as many recipients feel their privacy is violated without their consent.

As privacy laws like GDPR have come into effect, requiring consent for tracking, many email services now block images by default or load them in a way that protects user privacy. Tracking pixels can also harm email deliverability, as they might lead emails to be marked as spam.

To maintain privacy, users can adjust their email settings to block tracking pixels and images. Ultimately, engaging directly with recipients for responses may be more valuable than tracking data.

Summary of Elements of System Design

System design encompasses various fields like databases, operating systems, and networking, each with its own terminology and methods. This diversity can make it hard to identify common design principles that apply across different areas. The paper introduces a framework, resembling a "periodic table," that categorizes over 40 general design principles to create a shared vocabulary for students, researchers, and professionals. This aims to improve understanding, communication, and comparison of system designs.

Key Points:

1. Introduction to System Design:

   • System design has diverse domains, making it challenging for newcomers to see connections.
   • Similar principles, like "relaxation of consistency," appear across systems but are often framed differently.

2. Methodology:

   • The authors analyzed over 100 influential papers across various fields to identify high-level design principles that are abstract and general.

3. Design Principle Table:

   • The principles are organized into groups focusing on themes like structure, efficiency, semantics, distribution, planning, operability, reliability, and security.
   • Each principle is given a short symbol for quick reference.

4. Examples of Principles:

   • Structure: Simplicity, Modularity, Composability.
   • Efficiency: Scalability, Reuse of Computation, Work Avoidance.
   • Reliability: Fault Tolerance, Isolation for Correctness.
   • Security: Least Privilege, Security via Isolation.

5. Case Study:

   • A practical example is provided, showing how multiple design principles work together in a database system to efficiently process queries.

6. Limitations:

   • The framework is not exhaustive and emphasizes that principles can overlap or conflict. It is meant to facilitate clearer communication rather than serve as a strict guideline.

7. Conclusion:

   • The proposed framework aims to help people better understand and discuss system design principles across different domains, making it easier to teach and compare ideas.

This structured vocabulary serves to enhance the clarity and coherence of discussions in the field of system design.

Observable Notebooks 2.0 Technology Preview Summary

Observable is launching a new version of its notebooks, called Notebooks 2.0, and is inviting users to try it out. Here are the key features:

1. New Offerings:

   • Observable Notebook Kit: An open file format for notebooks, along with tools to create static websites from them.
   • Observable Desktop: A macOS application for editing notebooks locally, featuring new AI capabilities.

2. Goals:

   • Support file-based workflows to enhance notebook usage.
   • Use standard JavaScript to simplify learning and reusability.
   • Modernize notebooks to accommodate the latest coding syntax and libraries.
   • Allow notebooks to be rendered as fast static sites for better readability.

3. File Format: Notebooks now use a simple, HTML-based format that is easy to edit and version control. This makes it accessible for users familiar with standard text editors.

4. Vanilla JavaScript: Users can now use standard JavaScript rather than a custom version, making it easier to integrate code across different platforms.

5. Customization: Notebooks can be customized with themes and styles, allowing for various visual presentations.

6. Static Sites: Users can convert notebooks into static sites easily, improving performance and SEO.

7. Desktop Editor: The desktop application is available for macOS users, requiring macOS 15+ and Apple Silicon. This tool aims to enhance the notebook editing experience.

8. Feedback Encouraged: Observable is seeking user feedback to guide further development. Users can share their work and suggestions on GitHub.

Overall, Notebooks 2.0 aims to improve usability, integration, and collaboration in coding and data visualization.

For the past month, I've been using XMPP with Snikket for all calls and chats with my wife, Sandra. We switched from Matrix due to reliability issues with audio and video calls. With XMPP and Snikket, messaging has been excellent, but Sandra's iPhone lacks real-time notifications for calls.

We've mostly succeeded in using XMPP for all our communications, only resorting to cellular calls twice: once due to poor coverage and once due to latency in a congested area. Besides those instances, voice and video calls have been very reliable, even when switching networks. Messaging, including photo sharing, has worked perfectly.

Sandra is a typical user who prefers functionality over understanding the technical details, so it's great that XMPP has been easy for her. I haven't tried using XMPP with anyone else yet, but I think about setting it up for my parents. I appreciate having our communications handled by my home server, which is secure and encrypted.

No summary available.

A recent study has found that a large open-source AI training dataset, called DataComp CommonPool, likely contains millions of images of personal information, including passports, credit cards, and identity documents. Researchers audited just a small portion of the dataset and estimate that hundreds of millions of such images are included. Many documents, like résumés, revealed sensitive information such as birth dates and contact details.

DataComp CommonPool, released in 2023, is one of the largest datasets used for training image-generating AI models, built from web data collected between 2014 and 2022. Although the dataset creators aimed to protect privacy, they missed many identifiable images and did not effectively filter out personal information.

The study emphasizes the challenges of ensuring privacy in large datasets and the need for clearer consent regarding the use of personal data for AI training. Current privacy laws are inadequate, leading to potential violations, and the researchers argue that just because data is publicly available online does not mean it should be freely used for AI development. They hope their findings will prompt a re-evaluation of web-scraping practices and data privacy regulations.

Summary:

Sail is a programming language designed to define the instruction-set architecture (ISA) semantics of processors. Unlike traditional vendor documentation, which uses prose and pseudocode, Sail aims to provide a more precise and accessible way to describe ISA behaviors, similar to the pseudocode used by ARM and IBM Power.

Key features of Sail include:

• Clear definition of real-world ISA semantics.
• Compatibility with existing vendor pseudocode styles.
• A structure that integrates ISA semantics with relaxed-memory concurrency models.
• A robust type system that can check for errors and support code generation.
• Automatic execution and emulation of the defined ISA.
• Capability to generate definitions for theorem provers for mechanized reasoning.

A Sail specification typically consists of an abstract syntax tree (AST) for machine instructions, a decoding function, and an execution function. Sail can generate various outputs, including:

• An internal representation for execution in Sail's interpreter.
• A version that can be transformed into code for theorem provers.
• Compiled C code for efficient execution.

Sail has been used to model parts of several architectures, such as Arm-v8, Arm-v9, RISC-V, and CHERI-MIPS.

The language also supports modular specifications, conditional compilation, and various command-line options for compiling and outputting code, including to C and SystemVerilog. An experimental automatic formatting feature is also available for improving code readability.

Overall, Sail provides a flexible and powerful tool for defining and working with processor architectures.

Summary: Dropbox Passwords Discontinuation

Dropbox is discontinuing its Passwords feature on October 28, 2025, to focus on improving other core features. Users are encouraged to transfer their passwords to another password manager, such as 1Password.

Key Dates:

• August 28, 2025: Dropbox Passwords will be view-only; users can see their saved data but cannot add new passwords or use autofill.
• September 11, 2025: The mobile app will stop working, but users can still access their passwords through the browser extension.
• October 28, 2025: All stored passwords will be permanently deleted.

Exporting Data:
Users must export their passwords by October 28, 2025, to avoid losing access. This can be done through the browser extension or mobile app as a CSV file. Admins can check which team members are using Dropbox Passwords via the admin console.

Security During Transition:
Dropbox assures that data will remain secure during the transition. Users should save exported data in a secure location and not share it.

Support:
For help with exporting data or other questions, users can contact Dropbox support.

Current Subscription:
There are no changes to existing Dropbox subscriptions. Users should explore other security features offered by Dropbox.

The document discusses the transition to using WebAssembly (WASM) for add-ons in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS 2024) instead of traditional DLLs. Key points include:

1. WASM Benefits: This change enhances security and portability. WASM modules can be compiled from C/C++ projects, support debugging, and are compatible with standard C libraries.

2. Running WASM: WASM modules are executed as native code, not interpreted, and can run outside web environments.

3. SDK APIs: Various APIs are provided for developing WASM modules, including those for communication, events, gauges, and maps. The legacy gauge API is deprecated.

4. Performance Improvements: MSFS 2024 allows WASM modules to run on separate threads, improving performance compared to MSFS 2020.

5. File Access: Access to files is restricted in encrypted packages. Developers should use specific prefixes to read files from add-ons.

6. Limitations: Current limitations include lack of support for the Windows API, C++ exceptions, and multi-threading. Debugging requires compiling in Debug mode.

7. Upgrade Path: Developers are advised on how to update existing MSFS 2020 WASM modules to be compatible with MSFS 2024.

Overall, the document provides guidance for developers on how to create and manage WASM modules effectively in the new flight simulator environment.

Behavior Cloning (BC) using curated data is a common method for fine-tuning large language models and for imitation learning. This approach is linked to Reinforcement Learning (RL) strategies for finding the best actions. The authors explain that supervised fine-tuning (SFT) can be viewed as trying to maximize a lower limit of the RL goal, which helps explain why it often performs well.

They introduce a modified version of SFT called importance weighted supervised fine-tuning (iw-SFT). This new method improves on SFT by optimizing a closer connection to the RL goal, which can lead to better performance. iw-SFT is easy to implement and can also be adapted for data with quality scores. These new SFT methods are competitive with advanced RL techniques, achieving notable results like 66.7% accuracy on the AIME 2024 dataset.

A recent study from the University of Guelph found that honey bee death rates in Canada are increasing, even though the use of antibiotics in beekeeping has halved due to new regulations. This surprising trend suggests that bees may have become reliant on antibiotics for their health, and without effective alternatives, their mortality rates during winter have risen significantly.

The researchers analyzed data from over 700,000 bee colonies from 2015 to 2023 and discovered that overwintering mortality increased from under 20% to over 40% despite reduced antibiotic use. The study also identified nitrogen dioxide, a common air pollutant, as another factor contributing to bee mortality by affecting their foraging abilities.

Lead author Dr. Brendan Daisley emphasized the need for a "One Health" approach, which considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This approach is essential for finding solutions to colony losses and exploring alternatives to antibiotics, such as probiotics.

Daisley is involved in the Canadian Bee Gut project, which aims to understand the bee microbiome and its role in bee health. He stressed the importance of continued research funding to address the challenges facing honey bees, which are crucial for food security and environmental sustainability.

The author explores using AI tools for coding from the comfort of their terminal. They examine various open-source large language models (LLMs) to find one suitable for coding tasks, focusing on free alternatives to commercial tools like Claude Code.

1. Model Selection:

   • Deepseek-r1:8b: Popular but struggles with coding tasks, often gets stuck.
   • Mistral:7b: Fast but lacks accuracy for coding.
   • Qwen3:8b: Effective and versatile, chosen for local use.

2. Setting Up:

   • Ollama: Used to run local LLMs and manage models easily.
   • Aider: A "pair programming" tool that helps guide the AI in coding tasks.

3. Using Aider:

   • Requires user guidance for coding.
   • It can add files, answer questions, and generate code based on prompts.
   • Performance varies; while it helped troubleshoot effectively, it struggled with new projects and simple refactoring was sometimes slower than manual coding.

4. Challenges:

   • Aider performed well in explaining errors, reducing time compared to searching online.
   • The Qwen CLI tool aims for autonomy but faced issues with local context limits and file writing.

Overall, while AI tools like Aider and Qwen show promise in assisting with coding, they still require considerable human oversight and may not always improve efficiency.

The text discusses the discovery of Spotify playlists belonging to various public figures, including celebrities, politicians, and journalists. The accounts, which often use real names, were uncovered through careful investigation, revealing what songs these individuals have been listening to since summer 2024.

Key details include:

• The site is not affiliated with Spotify or the individuals listed.
• Examples of playlists from notable figures are provided, showcasing their diverse musical tastes.
• Specific playlists include themes like "Making Dinner" from JD Vance and "Baby Shower" from Karoline Leavitt, featuring popular songs from artists like Beyoncé, Adele, and Justin Bieber.
• Other public figures mentioned include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, each with unique playlists reflecting their preferences.
• The text draws a parallel to the Panama Papers, suggesting this information reveals personal aspects of these public figures' lives.

Overall, the piece highlights the interesting and varied musical interests of prominent individuals.

In July 2025, a discussion about AI design emphasizes a shift from using "copilot" metaphors to advocating for AI Head-Up Displays (HUDs). This idea stems from a 1992 talk by researcher Mark Weiser, who criticized the notion of AI as a helpful assistant. Instead, he suggested designing technology that makes users more aware of their surroundings, like a HUD in planes that displays essential information without direct interaction.

Weiser argued for an "invisible computer" that seamlessly integrates into our lives, rather than a distracting assistant. Modern examples of this concept include spellcheck, which alerts users to mistakes without conversation, and custom debugging tools that provide visual insights into programming tasks.

While HUDs are not always better than copilots, they can enhance human capabilities for specific tasks, especially when aiming for extraordinary results. Routine tasks might be better suited for virtual assistants, but for complex situations, tools that extend human senses may be more effective. The text encourages exploring different AI interfaces that support and empower users.

No summary available.

The text discusses a concept inspired by AI software engineering agents. It proposes using AI to help developers understand the code generated by AIs.

The "PR Quiz" tool creates a quiz based on a pull request and prevents merging until the quiz is passed. Users can customize settings like which AI model to use and how many attempts are allowed to pass. The author notes that higher-quality reasoning models, though more costly, produce better questions.

Regarding privacy, the tool runs a local web server and uses ngrok to provide a temporary URL for the quiz, ensuring that only the code is sent to OpenAI, the model provider.

Project Zero Update - July 29, 2025

Google's Project Zero has introduced a new trial policy called "Reporting Transparency" to improve security vulnerability reporting and patch adoption. The main points are:

1. Current Policy: Since 2021, they have used a "90+30" model, giving vendors 90 days to fix vulnerabilities before public disclosure, followed by a 30-day period for users to adopt the patch.

2. Identified Issues: A significant delay, known as the "upstream patch gap," exists between when a vendor releases a fix and when it is implemented in products for users.

3. New Trial: Starting now, within a week of reporting a vulnerability, Project Zero will publicly announce:

   • The vendor or project involved
   • The affected product
   • The date of the report and the 90-day deadline

4. Goal: This trial aims to increase transparency in the vulnerability reporting process, which could help vendors fix issues more quickly and improve user patch adoption.

5. Security Considerations: No technical details that could help attackers will be shared until after the disclosure deadline.

6. Expected Outcomes: The hope is that better communication between upstream vendors and downstream dependents will lead to faster fixes and a safer overall ecosystem for users.

Project Zero will monitor the impact of this trial and share updates on its effectiveness.

In the introduction to Lapham’s Quarterly, the writer reflects on the late Lewis, who valued the human voice in writing. He believed that understanding an author’s spoken words was crucial to grasping their work. The writer expresses gratitude for Lewis's influence, stating that his writings continue to resonate with him after his death.

The essay reflects on the collaborative relationship between writers and readers, which fosters creativity and hope. The author shares personal memories of Lewis and goes on a journey through his past works, highlighting Lewis's critical views on society and capitalism. The piece is a collage of Lewis's thoughts, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and the complexities of human experience.

The author discusses contemporary issues, questioning societal values and the state of democracy, all while acknowledging the confusion of modern life. He concludes by recognizing literature's enduring power to explore human nature and the shared aspirations of people throughout history. Ultimately, the essay serves as both a tribute to Lewis and a commentary on the challenges and wonders of existence.

No summary available.

Summary of "The Convenience Trap: Why Seamless Banking Access Can Turn 2FA into 1FA"

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for digital security, requiring users to provide multiple types of evidence to access accounts. Common methods include passwords, biometric data, and physical devices. However, many banking methods consolidate security onto one device—typically smartphones—making them less secure and often reducing true two-factor authentication (2FA) to single-factor authentication (1FA).

Key points about various authentication methods:

1. Mobile Banking Apps with Biometric Access: These use your phone’s biometrics but often rely on a single passcode, making them vulnerable to theft if the passcode is compromised.

2. SMS-based Tokens: SMS is insecure and can be intercepted easily. Notifications can also appear on paired devices, exposing codes to potential thieves.

3. Authenticator App Without Interaction: This method sends simple prompts but remains vulnerable to device theft and malware.

4. Authenticator App With User Interaction: This is safer as it requires specific actions (like biometric verification) but still risks device theft.

5. Separate Hardware Device/Code List: This older method is very secure as it keeps authentication separate from devices, reducing the risk of malware.

6. Passkeys: The most secure method, particularly when tied to a physical security key. They resist phishing and are hard to steal without the physical key.

Recommendations: For the best security:

• Use hardware-bound passkeys if available.
• If not, opt for a separate hardware authenticator.
• Consider using a dedicated smartphone for banking to minimize risk.

In conclusion, smartphones can become a single point of failure in banking security. Financial institutions should prioritize safer default security measures for users.

A trade group for datacenter operators in Europe, including major companies like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, is concerned about proposed EU efficiency standards. The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) represents over 100 operators and claims to cover 85% of Europe's datacenter capacity. While they support sustainability, they believe the current proposals for minimum performance standards (MPS) are poorly designed and could hinder progress.

The CNDCP argues that the proposals are premature and based on incomplete data, which could lead to flawed long-term policies. They suggest a phased approach to policy development that allows for better data collection and improvements over time. The group also questions the focus on large datacenters, suggesting that smaller facilities often perform worse but are overlooked.

Additionally, they highlight the need for regulations to consider regional climate differences and advocate for more flexible metrics for energy and water usage. The CNDCP warns that overly complex regulations could hurt the EU's competitiveness in AI and cloud computing. They believe that while effective standards are needed, the current proposals require significant revision to avoid negative impacts on the industry.

Summary of Maru Operating System

Maru is an innovative operating system that transforms your smartphone into a desktop computer. By connecting your phone to an HDMI screen and using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you can enjoy a full desktop experience anywhere.

Key Features:

• Mobile and Desktop Integration: While on the go, your phone functions normally. When connected to a screen, it becomes a powerful desktop with Debian Linux for advanced customization.
• Fast and Efficient: Maru is built on Android Oreo with no unnecessary bloatware, ensuring smooth performance and ample storage.
• Quick Setup: Connecting to an external display is quick (under 5 seconds), and your desktop state is saved when you disconnect, allowing for seamless transitions.
• Productivity: It supports multitasking, enabling you to work on spreadsheets, presentations, and other tasks efficiently.
• Shared Resources: Access your files and internet connection across both mobile and desktop modes, eliminating the hassle of managing multiple devices.

Maru offers endless possibilities for personal computing, allowing you to customize your experience and run various tools. Join the Maru community for updates and to learn more.

Cucumber is a tool for running automated acceptance tests using plain language, making it easy for everyone on your team to understand and communicate better. You can quickly start using Cucumber with a short tutorial. It supports Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD), a process designed to improve development.

For example, a test scenario shows how customers can withdraw cash:

• If a customer has enough money, their withdrawal is successful.
• If a customer tries to withdraw more than their balance, the withdrawal is declined.

Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, is a prominent figure in the AI industry, known for his outspoken views on the rapid development of artificial intelligence. He believes that AI could soon replace many entry-level white-collar jobs and has been vocal about the need for regulations in the field. Amodei founded Anthropic in 2020, and under his leadership, the company has quickly grown, reaching a valuation of $61 billion and generating substantial revenue from its AI technology.

Amodei's background includes a strong interest in science, particularly biology, which was influenced by the loss of his father to a cureable illness. This personal tragedy drives his commitment to ensuring that AI technology is developed safely and responsibly. He gained recognition at OpenAI for his work on the GPT-3 model and has a firm belief in the potential of AI to solve complex problems.

Despite his achievements, Amodei faces criticism from some in the tech community who view his safety-focused approach as overly cautious. He emphasizes the need for ethical AI development, advocating for transparency and collaboration across the industry. As Anthropic continues to innovate and expand, Amodei remains committed to influencing the direction of AI technology while addressing its potential risks.

The Rotring 600 ballpoint pen is a well-regarded writing instrument known for its solid all-metal construction and reliable clicker mechanism. It uses a standard Parker-style refill and is similar in design to the Rotring 600 mechanical pencil, with only minor differences in the nib and lettering.

While the pen is praised for its high quality, there was a reported issue where the included refill mechanism failed, but switching to a different refill resolved the problem. Overall, the pen is considered a good investment, especially if purchased on sale. The writing experience largely depends on the refill used, but the pen's durable design makes it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a long-lasting ballpoint pen.

Microsoft has launched a new feature called Copilot Mode in the Edge browser, which aims to enhance the way users browse the web by integrating AI. Traditionally, browsing has been a linear process, but Copilot Mode changes this by anticipating user needs and streamlining tasks.

Key features of Copilot Mode include:

1. Streamlined Interface: When you open a new tab, you'll see a single input box that combines chat, search, and navigation, helping you get started quickly.

2. Context Awareness: Copilot can access all your open tabs, allowing it to assist with comparisons and decisions without needing to switch between tabs.

3. Voice Navigation: Users can interact with Copilot using natural voice commands, making it easier to find information or compare products.

4. Dynamic Pane: Copilot can appear alongside any webpage, allowing users to perform tasks like converting measurements or translating text while keeping the original content visible.

5. Task Guidance: Soon, Copilot will help organize your browsing history into topic-based journeys, suggesting next steps based on your interests.

Privacy and security are prioritized, with Microsoft ensuring that user data is protected and only collected with permission. Users can opt in or out of Copilot Mode at any time.

This experimental feature is available for free for a limited time, and Microsoft encourages users to provide feedback to help improve it. For more information or to try it out, visit aka.ms/copilot-mode.

No summary available.

No summary available.

India and the US have launched a new satellite called Nisar, developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This satellite is designed to monitor Earth and detect even the smallest changes in land, sea, and ice. Nisar weighs 2,392 kg and was launched from India at 17:40 local time.

Nisar is unique because it uses two radar frequencies, allowing it to observe the Earth's surface accurately. It will pass over the same locations every 12 days, helping scientists track changes related to climate and natural disasters, such as earthquakes and forest fires.

The satellite is part of a $1.5 billion mission that took over a decade to develop, showcasing collaboration between the two countries, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian officials describe Nisar as a significant step in India's space leadership and international partnerships.

The launch follows recent achievements in India's space program, including a successful Moon landing and plans for future missions, including human spaceflight and a space station.

Summary of Truchet Tiles

Truchet tiles are square tiles with non-symmetrical patterns used in graphic design and information visualization. They can be arranged in various ways to create different patterns, with each tile's orientation conveying information.

• History: The concept was introduced by Sébastien Truchet in 1704 and later popularized by Cyril Stanley Smith in 1987.

• Variations:

  1. Contrasting Triangles: Each tile is divided diagonally into two contrasting colored triangles, allowing four orientations.
  2. Quarter-Circles: Tiles feature two quarter-circles connecting the midpoints of adjacent sides, with two possible orientations.
  3. Diagonal: These tiles are white squares with a black diagonal, which can create labyrinth-like patterns.

Truchet tiles have also been used in games and can be analyzed mathematically for their connectivity. Overall, they are versatile tools for creating intricate visual designs.

I can't access external links directly, including the one you provided. However, if you can share the main content or key points from the text, I would be happy to help you summarize it!

The Saltgator is a desktop machine that lets you create soft plastic items like rubber grips and phone cases. It uses SoftGel injection molding to make pieces up to 250mL (about 8.4 ounces) in approximately 15 minutes, mostly waiting for the machine to heat up. The actual curing time is just 3 minutes. You can use pre-made resin molds or make your own with a 3D printer. The machine has size limits due to its built-in syringe, with a maximum length of 276mm (10.9 inches). Priced at $230, it has been successfully funded through Kickstarter and is expected to ship in September.

On July 22 and 23, 2025, the High Court of Justice in London will hear the Wikimedia Foundation's legal challenge against the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) regulations. The Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, argues that these new rules could harm the platform and its volunteer contributors.

Stephen LaPorte, General Counsel for the Wikimedia Foundation, emphasized that the court has a chance to protect public interest projects like Wikipedia. The Foundation believes the regulations could expose contributors to risks, such as identity verification that compromises their privacy and safety. This could lead to data breaches or even legal repercussions in oppressive regimes.

The legal challenge is unique as it includes a volunteer Wikipedia editor, User:Zzuuzz, highlighting the real-world impact on those who contribute to the site. The Foundation hopes to defend the privacy and safety of Wikipedia contributors and maintain the integrity of free knowledge.

The hearings will be public, and the decision will be announced after the court session. The Wikimedia Foundation aims to ensure that online platforms like Wikipedia continue to serve as safe and reliable resources for everyone.

Companies are increasingly using AI to communicate with customers, but consumers still have to make calls manually. To address this, I created Piper, an AI that can make phone calls on your behalf. You simply tell Piper what you need, and it handles the conversation while you focus on other tasks. Currently, it's available as a web app, with a Chrome extension coming soon.

Building Piper involved overcoming some technical challenges, such as minimizing delays in conversation and ensuring the AI stays aware of the call's context. So far, Piper has successfully completed around 50 calls, although it struggles with complex verification processes. I believe we're moving towards a future where AI will handle most routine phone calls, allowing AI to communicate with AI. You can try a voice demo on our website.

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In a recent competition at DistrictCon, researchers Alan Cao and Will Tan successfully exploited two outdated networking devices, highlighting the security risks of end-of-life (EOL) hardware. They demonstrated that when manufacturers stop updating devices, any unpatched vulnerabilities can be targeted by attackers.

The devices they focused on were the Netgear WGR614v9 router and the BitDefender Box V1. Both have not received updates for years, making them vulnerable to exploitation. They developed multiple methods to hack the Netgear router, using various vulnerabilities in its Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) service to gain remote access. For the BitDefender Box, they exploited a firmware downgrade vulnerability and command injection flaws to gain control over the device.

Their findings stress the importance of understanding the security implications of using EOL devices. They encourage consumers to be aware of manufacturer support timelines and to consider open-source alternatives. The research also highlights common vulnerabilities in IoT devices, such as UPnP flaws and inadequate firmware update mechanisms.

Looking ahead, they plan to participate in future competitions and urge others to be cautious with EOL devices, emphasizing that while these devices can be useful, they can also pose significant security risks.

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The text discusses innovative ideas for improving multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance user experience. Here are the key points:

1. User Frustration: Many people dislike MFA, so there's a need for better solutions that balance security and usability.

2. Authentication Ideas:

   • Poker Hands: Users select a poker hand as an easy-to-remember second factor.
   • Rubik's Cube: Users scramble a digital cube and must replicate the scramble to log in.
   • Chess Matches: Users play a chess game upon account setup and must recreate it during login.
   • Typing Patterns: Users can authenticate based on their unique typing speed.
   • Fingerprint Matching: Users confirm a displayed fingerprint instead of using hardware.
   • Postal Passcodes: Passcodes are sent via physical mail to avoid SMS vulnerabilities.
   • Self-Portraits: AI analyzes self-portraits for identity verification without invasive photo submissions.
   • Karaoke Auth: Users sing a song to authenticate, requiring full song completion for reliability.
   • Relative Passcodes: Codes are sent to a randomly chosen family member for added security.
   • Teeth Scanning: Users can scan their teeth with their smartphone for biometric authentication.
   • AI Authentication: Users communicate with an AI to gain access without traditional passwords.
   • Chess Skill Assessment: Users play against a chess engine to verify skill level.
   • Cinemauth: Users rank movies to verify identity through preference analysis, adaptable for enterprise use.

3. Creative Caution: While creativity in authentication is often discouraged, the author promotes their open-source solution, Tesseral, as a robust option for businesses.

Overall, the text emphasizes finding new, user-friendly approaches to authentication while ensuring security.

Copyparty Overview:

Copyparty is a tool that turns almost any device into a file server, allowing users to upload and download files through a web browser. It requires Python (version 2 or 3) and has optional dependencies. Key features include support for various protocols (HTTP, FTP, WebDAV, etc.), resumable uploads/downloads, and an intuitive user interface.

Getting Started:

• To start, simply run the copyparty-sfx.py script.
• It can be accessed online with a Cloudflare tunnel for sharing.

Features:

• File Management: Users can upload, rename, delete, and organize files and folders.
• Media Support: Plays various audio formats, creates playlists, and allows for real-time streaming of files.
• Search Functionality: Users can search for files by size, date, and other criteria.
• Customization: Offers options for user accounts, permissions, and hidden files.
• Cross-Platform: Works on multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Installation Options:

• Install via Python package manager or use a pre-built executable for Windows.
• Available on various Linux distributions (Arch, NixOS, etc.) and can be run in Docker.

Security and Performance:

• Supports HTTPS for secure connections and has features for managing user permissions.
• Provides high-performance file transfers, with no file size limits.

Community and Support:

• Users can find testimonials and community feedback, and report bugs or request features.

In summary, Copyparty is a versatile and user-friendly file server solution that offers extensive features for file management and sharing, suitable for both personal and professional use.

The text includes links to PonyLang's website where users can discover more about the language and access a playground for hands-on experience. The focus is on providing information and resources related to PonyLang.

The research explored whether variable names affect AI code completion, specifically using GitHub Copilot. An experiment tested 8 AI models on 500 Python code samples with 7 different naming styles.

Key findings include:

1. Descriptive Names Are Best: Variable names like current_temperature led to better code completions than simpler names like x.

   • Exact match rate: 34.2% for descriptive names vs. 16.6% for obfuscated names.
   • Higher similarity scores for descriptive names in both edit distance and semantic correctness.

2. Consistent Ranking: The order of effectiveness in naming styles was:

   • Descriptive > SCREAM_SNAKE_CASE > snake_case > PascalCase > minimal > obfuscated.

3. More Tokens, Better Performance: Descriptive names used 41% more tokens but improved semantic performance by 8.9%. This indicates that AI models favor clarity over brevity.

For Developers: Using descriptive variable names can enhance AI coding tools' performance, supporting the idea that clear naming benefits both humans and machines. The findings are consistent across different AI models and architectures.

The text discusses concerns about the PKGBASE system in FreeBSD, particularly how it affects the Base System. The author, vermaden, highlights a significant issue: when using the command pkg delete -af on a PKGBASE system, it removes most of the Base System, unlike on a traditional FreeBSD system where it only deletes third-party packages. This change means essential tools, like the vi editor, are lost. Vermaden expresses frustration about this shift, questioning the reliability of the system's behavior and the principle of "POLA" (Principle of Least Astonishment) that FreeBSD is known for.

Four months ago, I started creating an extension called Monochromate, which turns web pages into greyscale. I realized its usefulness while using it on my phone, but I couldn't find a good option for browsers. So, I developed this extension and made it open source. It has over 100 users on the Chrome Web Store and currently has a 5-star rating.

Many might wonder why use this extension instead of built-in filters. The reason is that I wanted to avoid greyscaling my work sites, so I included features like site exclusion, a scheduler, and intensity control. Monochromate works with all major browsers, including Firefox, providing a consistent experience. I would appreciate any feedback!