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Summary of "Formal Reasoning" by Herman Geuvers

This text covers the fundamentals of formal reasoning, focusing on propositional logic. It explains how formal languages differ from natural languages, emphasizing the importance of precision in logical statements. Here's a simplified overview of the key sections:

1. Propositional Logic: This is a type of logic that deals with propositions—statements that can be true or false.

2. Formal vs. Natural Languages: Natural languages can be vague, leading to misunderstandings. Formal languages are created to avoid ambiguity, allowing for clear expressions of logical arguments.

3. Basic Elements:

   • Connectives: These include 'and', 'or', 'if...then', and 'not', which are used to combine propositions.
   • Truth Tables: These are tools used to determine the truth values of propositions based on their logical connectives.

4. Models and Truth: A model is a way of assigning truth values (true or false) to propositions. A proposition is considered logically true if it holds true in every possible model.

5. Logical Equivalence: Two propositions are logically equivalent if they have the same truth value in all models.

6. Exercises: The text includes exercises to practice translating statements into formal language, creating truth tables, and understanding logical equivalence.

Overall, the text aims to provide a foundational understanding of formal logic and its application in reasoning.

No summary available.

The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) has temporarily halted normal operations due to a funding lapse but will continue essential health and safety activities.

Several incidents were reported on October 21, 2025, involving different nuclear facilities:

1. Wolf Creek, KS: Both trains of the control room emergency ventilation system were inoperable for 10 minutes due to a blown fuse during fuel reloading. This was reported as a non-emergency event. No safety impact was noted.

2. Palisades, MI: An individual fell into the reactor cavity and ingested water, leading to contamination. The person was decontaminated and sent for medical attention, reported as a non-emergency.

3. North Anna, VA: Unit 1 automatically tripped due to a negative rate trip but stabilized without issues. This event was reported as a non-emergency.

4. Elmhurst Hospital, IL: A vial containing radioactive material was dropped, leading to contamination of a technician. Decontamination efforts were ongoing, and it was reported as an unplanned contamination incident.

5. Clinton, IL: Unit 1 was manually tripped due to low oil levels caused by a leak. The reactor responded normally, and there was no safety impact.

These events require reporting but did not pose a risk to public health or safety.

Summary: Eavesdropping on Unencrypted Satellite Communications

Researchers conducted a study using a satellite dish to examine geostationary satellite communications. They found that a significant amount of sensitive information, including government and corporate communications, personal calls, and internet traffic, is being transmitted without encryption. This data can be intercepted using relatively inexpensive equipment.

Types of Exposed Traffic:

1. Cellular Networks: Unencrypted calls, SMS, and internet traffic from telecom providers.
2. Military and Government: Unencrypted VoIP and internet traffic, including sensitive tracking data.
3. In-flight Wi-Fi: Passenger internet traffic and other communications from airplanes.
4. VoIP Services: Unencrypted call audio and metadata from various providers.
5. Internal Corporate Networks: Sensitive information like login credentials and emails from businesses.
6. Critical Infrastructure: Unsecured communications related to power utilities and pipelines.

Encryption Status and Recommendations:

• There is no single authority responsible for ensuring encryption of satellite communications. Some organizations have begun to implement encryption after being notified of vulnerabilities.
• End users should use VPNs and encrypted messaging apps to secure their data.
• Organizations should treat satellite links as public networks and implement encryption at all levels.

Study Methodology: The researchers used consumer-grade equipment to capture satellite traffic from various transponders, observing a wide array of unencrypted data.

Legal and Ethical Considerations: The study was conducted legally, with proper oversight and attempts to inform affected parties about vulnerabilities.

For more information, individuals and organizations can contact the research team or consult specific guidance from cybersecurity authorities.

Summary of Pico-Banana-400K Dataset

Pico-Banana-400K is a large dataset of around 400,000 text-image-edit triplets aimed at improving text-guided image editing research. Each triplet includes:

1. An original image (sourced from Open Images).
2. A human-like instruction for editing.
3. An edited image generated by the Nano-Banana model.

Key Features:

• Sample Types:
  • About 257,000 successful single-turn edits.
  • 56,000 failed edits for preference learning.
  • 72,000 multi-turn editing cases.
• Edit Operations: 35 types, covering eight categories such as color adjustments, object changes, and stylistic edits.
• Image Resolution: Ranges from 512 to 1024 pixels.
• Editing and Evaluation: The editing process is managed by the Nano-Banana model, which also evaluates the edits using a structured quality assessment.

Dataset Construction:

• Instruction Generation: Editing instructions are created using the Gemini-2.5-Flash model.
• Editing Process: Edits are performed by the Nano-Banana model, which assesses their quality, ensuring only high-quality edits are included in the main dataset.

Applications:

Pico-Banana-400K is useful for developing controllable image editing tools, enabling single and multi-turn editing, and supporting reward-based training methods.

Accessing the Dataset:

The dataset can be downloaded from Apple's public CDN, with separate links for single-turn edits, multi-turn edits, and source images.

License:

The dataset is available for free for research and non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives license.

Citation:

For academic use, please cite the dataset as follows:

@inproceedings{Qian2025PicoBanana400KAL,
  title={Pico-Banana-400K: A Large-Scale Dataset for Text-Guided Image Editing},
  ...
}

If you have a git repository on a server with SSH access, you can clone it using the command:

git clone ssh://username@hostname/path/to/repo

This allows you to work on the code locally and push changes back to the server. By default, you cannot push to the branch you are currently using, but you can change this setting on the server with:

git config receive.denyCurrentBranch updateInstead

This setup helps synchronize code across multiple computers and simplifies working on server files.

To publish your code, point your web server to the git repository, using:

git clone https://hostname/path/to/repo/.git

You can make this process easier by running the command:

git update-server-info

To automate this, set up a git hook on the server:

1. Copy the sample hook:

   cp .git/hooks/post-update.sample .git/hooks/post-update
   chmod a+x .git/hooks/post-update
   

2. Modify the hook script to run your site generator:

cat > .git/hooks/post-update <<EOF
#!/bin/sh
set -euo pipefail
cd /path/to/site
/path/to/generator
EOF
chmod a+x .git/hooks/post-update

This approach allows you to write blog posts locally without network issues, push them to the server, and have everything update automatically. It also keeps your work backed up, as you have copies on both your laptop and the server. Git's version control helps prevent accidental deletions and makes it easy to identify issues if something goes wrong.

Here’s a simplified summary of the text:

The text describes several Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) from the 1980s that support Atari projects and gaming. Here are the key BBSs mentioned:

1. Southern Amis BBS: Main BBS for the Southern Amis Projects, showcasing Atari graphics.
2. Alcatraz BBS: A pirate-themed BBS, part of a select group of Atari boards, run by Sysop Giarc.
3. Area 52: Features Atari graphics and is managed by Sysop Phigan.
4. Basement BBS: Themed after the movie "Office Space," offering a nostalgic Atari experience.
5. NiteLite BBS: Restored from 1984, originally used by Atari Corp.
6. The Boot Factory: The first BBS Express Pro board, maintained by Sysop BF2K+.
7. Heisenberg's Hideout: A BBS themed around "Breaking Bad," suitable for classic games.
8. StarFleet HQ: Offers features like game libraries and networked message bases, run by Sysop Commodore Clifford.

These BBSs highlight the history and culture of Atari gaming and early online communities.

Here's a simplified summary of the text:

The text lists various Clojure-related projects and tools, highlighting their names, purposes, and categories. Key points include:

1. Behavioral Programming for Clojure - A library for behavioral programming.
2. Editor Code Assistant (ECA) - An AI tool for pair programming, compatible with multiple editors like Emacs and VS Code.
3. Java2D Wrapper - A creative coding tool that helps with graphics.
4. VS Code Enhancements - Tools to make VS Code more customizable, similar to Emacs.
5. Data-Driven Rendering - A library that converts hiccup (Clojure's HTML-like syntax) into DOM or strings.
6. OpenAPI Services - A library for building services using OpenAPI in Clojure.
7. Typed Clojure - An optional type system for better type management.
8. Debugging Tools - Improvements for debugging in Clojure.
9. Application Frameworks - Tools for managing application states.
10. Quantum Computing - A library for programming quantum computers in Clojure.
11. GraphQL Endpoints - Exposing GraphQL services through Pedestal.
12. Parallel Execution - Tools for executing Clojure reducers in parallel.
13. JSON Parser - A tool for converting JSON to Clojure data structures.

Overall, these projects enhance Clojure's functionality in areas like web development, AI, debugging, and more.

Feedback is encouraged, and you can contact me on X at @0xkato. The text also includes a script for integrating Disqus comments on a page about Linux booting, indicating that JavaScript needs to be enabled to view the comments.

Summary: Writing a RISC-V Emulator in Rust

This ongoing project aims to teach you how to create a 64-bit RISC-V emulator using Rust. By the end, you'll be able to run the simple Unix-like operating system, xv6, on your emulator.

Key Learning Areas:

• Understand basic computer architecture concepts like ISA (Instruction Set Architecture), privileged architecture, exceptions, interrupts, peripheral devices, and virtual memory.

Chapter Highlights:

• Chapter 1: Covers the hardware components needed for running xv6, including:

  • CPU with two instructions
  • Memory and system bus
  • Control and status registers
  • Privileged architecture
  • Exceptions and interrupts
  • Peripheral components like PLIC, CLINT, and UART
  • Virtual memory system

• Chapter 2: Discusses the instruction sets required for xv6:

  • RV64I Base Integer Instruction Set
  • "M" extension for multiplication and division
  • "A" extension for atomic instructions

After completing the book and building the emulator, you'll successfully run xv6. For questions or requests, you can contact the author @d0iasm on Twitter or GitHub.

Eric Wastl created Advent of Code, a series of programming puzzles that anyone can solve using any programming language. These puzzles are designed for various skill levels and can be used for interview preparation, training, or friendly competition. You don’t need a computer science degree—just some programming knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Key points include:

• Participation: No advanced computer needed; puzzles run on older hardware.
• Support: Share Advent of Code with others or contribute via AoC++.
• Tips: If stuck, check example solutions, ensure you understand the problem, and consider asking friends or the community for help.
• FAQs:
  • Code selection: Triple-click to select code blocks.
  • Authentication: Uses OAuth for secure login without sharing credentials with Advent of Code.
  • Puzzle difficulty: Varies; puzzles generally get harder over time.
  • Puzzle release: New puzzles are released daily at midnight EST.
  • Leaderboard changes: The global leaderboard was removed due to stress and competition issues; private leaderboards are still available.
  • AI assistance: Not recommended; puzzles are meant for human problem-solving.
  • Copyright: Advent of Code content is not to be copied or redistributed.

Advent of Code is trademarked, and while solutions can be shared, direct content copying is prohibited.

Summary of LaserTweezer – Optical Trap

Optical tweezers are tools that use laser beams to manipulate tiny objects, such as plastic beads or cells. The laser focuses on these particles, pulling them towards the strongest part of the beam. This technology allows for detailed exploration of microscopic samples.

Traditional optical tweezers are expensive and complex, requiring large equipment like microscopes and special lenses. However, a new, cost-effective design uses recycled parts from consumer electronics, such as DVD drives, allowing the setup to cost under $100 and weigh less than 500g. This DIY version still effectively manipulates small beads with good accuracy.

Construction Details:

• The design uses a DVD drive's laser system to create a focused laser beam.
• A USB webcam captures images of the sample with about 400x magnification.
• A rotating scatter disk helps prevent camera overexposure by syncing with the laser.
• Simple mechanics and LED lighting enhance the functionality.

This innovative approach maintains the core principles of optical trapping while making the technology accessible for more users.

Summary of Torchcomms Overview

Torchcomms is a new lightweight communication API designed for PyTorch Distributed (PTD) to facilitate large-scale model training. It includes a new backend, NCCLX, capable of scaling to over 100,000 GPUs. The initial release provides essential communication tools for efficient distributed training, with plans to enhance features like fault tolerance and device-specific communication in the coming year.

Key Goals of Torchcomms:

1. Fast Prototyping: Allows researchers to quickly test and implement new communication methods without affecting existing features.
2. Scalability: Supports massive training jobs by better managing communication resources and optimizing data sharing.
3. Heterogeneous Hardware Support: Designed to work with various hardware setups, accommodating different vendors and generations.
4. Fault Tolerance: Introduces a robust fault-tolerant backend for reliable distributed training.
5. One-Sided Communication: Enhances asynchronous workflows by supporting efficient message passing.
6. Device-Centric APIs: Optimizes communication by integrating it closely with computation tasks.

Why a New API? Torchcomms aims to introduce capabilities not found in existing libraries and allows for rapid development and iteration. The older PyTorch Distributed APIs will gradually be replaced by this new system as it stabilizes.

Installation & Usage: The API can be installed easily, and it provides a user-friendly way to set up communication between devices. Examples of basic usage are provided in the documentation.

Backends: The initial release includes:

• NCCLX: An optimized version of the NCCL library for large-scale tasks.
• RCCL: A backend for AMD GPUs.
• Gloo: A backend for CPU communication with advanced features.

Future Development: Torchcomms is actively evolving, and users are encouraged to participate in its development. For detailed documentation, visit the provided website.

Acknowledgments: The project acknowledges contributions from many individuals at Meta who played a vital role in developing Torchcomms.

No summary available.

Summary of D2 Tour:

D2 is a scripting language designed for creating diagrams from text input. Its name stands for Declarative Diagramming, meaning you describe what you want, and it generates the visual representation for you.

To use D2, download the Command Line Interface (CLI), create a file named "input.d2", paste your D2 code into it, and run a specific command to generate the diagram.

You can complete this introductory tour in about 5-10 minutes, and there's a cheat sheet available for reference. If you're looking for just the essentials, a Getting Started guide takes around 2 minutes.

For further exploration, you can find the source code for D2 on GitHub, and you can interact with D2 snippets in the Playground by hovering over them, though some snippets may require imports to function.

The text discusses the process that occurs before a program's main() function is executed, particularly in a Linux environment. Here are the key points:

1. Starting a Program: The operating system kernel is called to run a program through the execve system call, which requires the executable's filename, arguments, and environment variables.

2. Executable Format: On Linux, executable files are in the ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). ELF files contain information the kernel needs to load and run the program, including a header with magic bytes, entry points, and section headers.

3. Sections of ELF Files: ELF files include various sections such as .text (code), .data (initialized data), and .bss (uninitialized data). They also include a Procedure Linkage Table (PLT) for calling shared libraries like the C standard library.

4. Stack Setup: Before running a program, the kernel sets up a stack in memory to hold function arguments, environment variables, and auxiliary information needed during execution.

5. Entry Point: The entry point of the program is typically a function called _start, which prepares everything needed before calling the user-defined main() function.

6. Language Runtime: Most programming languages have their own runtime setup that occurs before reaching main(), handling various initialization tasks specific to the language.

The text provides a detailed but accessible overview of the behind-the-scenes steps that happen when a program starts running, with a focus on how the kernel and executable formats work together.

Summary of PCB Edge USB C Connector Library

This resource allows you to use your PCB as a USB C connector, offering libraries for KiCAD and EasyEDA with 10 and 14 pin versions.

KiCAD Instructions:

1. Download the zip file.
2. Open the Plugin and Content Manager (PCM).
3. Click "Install from file" and select the zip file.

EasyEDA Instructions:

• Import the .elibz files or search for "PCBTypeC_10P" or "PCBTypeC_14P" in the common library to add the symbol to your schematic.

Other Tools:

• Some EDA tools like Altium can import KiCAD footprints, and EasyEDA can export to Altium and PADS. Always verify the footprint after importing.

No summary available.

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Nike has introduced Project Amplify, the world's first powered footwear system designed for running and walking. This innovation aims to help everyday athletes move faster and farther with less effort by enhancing natural lower leg and ankle movement.

The system includes a lightweight motor, drive belt, and rechargeable battery integrated into a carbon fiber running shoe, which can be used with or without the robotics. It is intended for athletes running at a 10- to 12-minute mile pace, focusing on making movement easier and more enjoyable, similar to how electric bikes have transformed cycling.

Currently in the testing phase, Project Amplify has been developed in collaboration with the robotics company Dephy and has involved over 400 athletes. Testing shows that users feel like the system is part of their body, making activities like running uphill feel easier. Nike envisions this technology as a way to enhance everyday movement, helping athletes go beyond their perceived limits.

The company is committed to athlete-centered innovation, and Project Amplify is one of several new technologies being launched this month. It represents a significant step forward in enhancing athletic performance and encouraging more active lifestyles.

Careers at Bitmovin: Summary

Bitmovin is looking for innovative individuals to help shape the future of video technology.

Company Overview:

• Bitmovin was founded to improve video playback, encoding, and analysis.
• The mission is to provide high-quality video experiences for users worldwide.

Work Environment:

• Bitmovin promotes a healthy work-life balance, offering extra days off, flexible hours, and support for home office setups.
• Employees can participate in team activities and wellness programs.

Learning and Development:

• The company encourages continuous learning through training programs, access to online courses, and conferences.

Core Values:

1. Focus on customer needs.
2. Take ownership of your work.
3. Engage in constructive discussions.
4. Foster innovation.
5. Deliver results effectively.

Global Presence:

• Bitmovin has offices in San Francisco, Vienna, Klagenfurt, London, Berlin, and Denver, with over 170 employees.

Job Openings:

• Bitmovin is hiring for various positions across departments and locations. Interested candidates can also submit their resumes for consideration.

No summary available.

California successfully completed another summer without issuing a "flex alert," which is a warning for residents to conserve energy during peak demand times. This achievement indicates that the state's energy management strategies have improved, helping to avoid stress on the power grid. The article highlights the efforts made in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency that contributed to this positive outcome.

The author has previously used tools like Mermaid.js for quickly creating diagrams, but found it necessary to transfer those diagrams to Lucidchart for better customization. To improve this process, they are developing a new tool that combines the features of both tools into one. This project is still in the early stages, and the author is seeking feedback, especially from those who create architecture diagrams. They envision a workflow where AI generates a first draft of the diagram, which users can then customize, making it faster to create complex diagrams.

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I'm unable to access external links directly, including the one you've provided. However, if you can share the text or key points from that link, I would be happy to help you summarize it!

Depix Overview

Depix is a tool designed to recover plain text from pixelized screenshots, particularly those made with a linear box filter. It was initially created as a proof of concept to help retrieve obscured passwords.

Key Features:

• Works with pixelized images to recover text.
• Includes tools to visualize and create pixelized images.
• Users can specify search images to assist in recovery.

Updates:

• In December 2024, the repository was made private due to excessive media attention and stars on GitHub.
• In November 2023, the code was refactored for easier execution.

Usage Instructions:

1. Install dependencies.
2. Run the Depix script with specified input and output paths.
3. Optional tools are available for testing and generating pixelized images.

Algorithm:

• The algorithm matches blocks in the pixelized image with blocks from a reference image.
• It assumes that text is aligned at pixel boundaries, which may not always be true due to modern text rendering techniques.

Limitations:

• Requires knowledge of font types and screen settings.
• Performance can degrade with additional image compression.

Future Development: Plans include adding more filter functions and tools based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs).

Related Tools:

• Other researchers have created similar tools with better precision, such as DepixHMM and UnRedacter, which have been inspired by Depix's concept.

The article discusses the challenges faced by vulnerable languages on Wikipedia due to the rise of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). Kenneth Wehr, who manages the Greenlandic version of Wikipedia, found that most articles were created by non-native speakers using machine translators, leading to numerous errors. This issue isn't isolated to Greenlandic; many smaller Wikipedia editions in languages worldwide are filled with poorly translated content, which can negatively impact the AI models that learn from these pages.

Key points include:

1. Quality of Content: Many articles in lesser-known languages are filled with inaccuracies due to reliance on machine translation, which often produces nonsensical or grammatically incorrect text.

2. AI's Role: AI systems, including Google Translate and ChatGPT, are trained using data from Wikipedia, meaning errors on Wikipedia can perpetuate poor translations and lead to a cycle of misinformation.

3. Community Involvement: Successful Wikipedia editions rely on active and knowledgeable contributors. Smaller language editions often lack such communities, leading to deterioration in content quality.

4. Consequences for Languages: The poor quality of content can discourage speakers from using their languages, risking their survival and pushing them closer to extinction.

5. Hope for Improvement: Some communities, like the Inari Saami speakers, have successfully used Wikipedia to revitalize their language. This shows that quality contributions can make a difference, but many other languages face dire challenges.

6. Decision to Close Editions: Wehr's request to close the Greenlandic edition was accepted, highlighting the urgent need for quality content in endangered languages.

Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of careful management of Wikipedia's language editions to prevent further decline of vulnerable languages exacerbated by AI and machine translation.

The article by Bobbie Chen discusses the importance of effective error messages in user experience (UX) design. It critiques the tendency for error messages to be overly cute or apologetic instead of clear and helpful. Good error messages should specifically describe the problem and suggest possible solutions, but many common messages, especially related to login issues, are vague to prevent security risks like account enumeration attacks.

Chen explains that some error messages are intentionally designed to withhold information, which can protect against attackers but frustrate genuine users. For example, vague messages like "Password is incorrect" may be used to prevent revealing whether an account exists.

The article also addresses the concept of "oracles" in error messaging, where even a small piece of information can be exploited by attackers. It discusses how error messages can impact security in cryptography, using examples like padding oracle attacks.

Finally, Chen emphasizes that creating effective error messages involves balancing user needs with security concerns. Designers must consider trade-offs in their messaging strategy to ensure that real users can navigate issues without compromising security. The effectiveness of an error message relies on understanding the problem and defining meaningful solutions.

Summary of "WebDAV Isn't Dead Yet"

The author expresses frustration with reliance on Amazon S3 for file storage, suggesting that WebDAV is a better alternative for many users, especially those working on personal projects or self-hosting. The key points include:

• Current Landscape: Traditional FTP is outdated, and SFTP relies too heavily on SSH and Unix systems. S3 has become the default for many web applications, benefiting Amazon but complicating things for others.

• Who Benefits from WebDAV: WebDAV is suitable for users needing basic file storage with authentication, efficient syncing, and privacy. The author lists essential features they need, like authentication and file writing, while dismissing unnecessary advanced features.

• Accessing WebDAV: Various tools support WebDAV, including MacOS Finder, Windows Explorer, and popular file transfer applications. Most web servers already support WebDAV, making it easy to set up.

• Configuration Example: The author shares a basic Apache configuration for WebDAV, highlighting the importance of privacy and how to ensure users only access their own files.

• Personal Use Cases: The author uses WebDAV for syncing files with apps like Joplin and Keepassium, as well as for publishing a blog.

• Encouragement to Try WebDAV: The author believes WebDAV is still viable and worth considering, despite perceptions of it being outdated.

Overall, the message is to reconsider using WebDAV as a practical and efficient file storage solution.

Rock Tumbler Instructions Summary

Transforming rough rocks into shiny tumbled stones is a rewarding hobby. Rock tumbling is straightforward if you follow a few simple steps and guidelines.

Key Points:

1. Ideal Materials: Use quality rocks with a Mohs hardness of 6-7, sized between 3/8" and 1 1/2". Common types include:

   • Chalcedony: Agate, jasper, etc.
   • Quartz: Amethyst, rose quartz, etc.
   • Other Rocks: Granite, basalt, etc.

2. Three Golden Rules:

   • Garbage In, Garbage Out: Start with good quality rough to ensure excellent results.
   • Avoid Contamination: Clean your tools and rocks thoroughly between steps to prevent grit mixing.
   • Great Results Take Time: Don’t rush the tumbling process; take the time needed for each step.

3. Tumbling Process:

   • Four Steps:
     • Coarse Grind: Use coarse grit for about 7 days. Rinse and inspect rocks afterward.
     • Medium Grind: Clean rocks and barrel, then use medium grit for another week.
     • Fine Grind/Pre-polish: Use fine grit for a week, ensuring cleanliness.
     • Polish: Apply polishing grit and run for another week for a shiny finish.

4. Burnishing: If rocks appear hazy, tumble them with soap and water for added shine.

5. Record Keeping: Maintain a tumbling log to track your progress and results for future reference.

By following these steps and tips, you'll enjoy creating beautiful polished stones. Happy tumbling!

The author discusses their experience with bots that scrape data from websites, specifically for training AI models. These bots are aggressive, ignore standard rules meant to block them, and can easily overwhelm servers with requests.

To deal with this, the author considered various strategies like blocking IPs, using rate limits, or implementing paywalls and CAPTCHA, but found these methods inconvenient for users or ineffective against the bots.

Sending them large files or 404 errors also didn't work, as the bots simply adapted. Eventually, the author discovered that feeding them random, dynamically generated content was the easiest and cheapest solution. This method uses minimal server resources and doesn't require maintenance, effectively keeping the bots occupied without burdening the server.

Summary of Key Points:

1. Alexander’s Conquest: Join Alexander the Great's army on a journey of ancient warfare and empire-building across the world.

2. Barbecue Drama: A friendly barbecue turns chaotic with burnt food, awkward jokes, and surprising secrets.

3. Portal in the Forest: Discover a glowing arch leading to a mysterious and dangerous world.

4. The Last Sorceress: As the last sorceress in a magic-banning realm, decide whether your powers will save or doom the world.

5. Indian Village: Experience the joyful adventures of ancient Vrindavan, featuring Lord Krishna in a vibrant setting.

6. Forbidden Island: Survive on an island where the native tribe has historically attacked outsiders, forming a dangerous friendship with one tribesman.

7. Island of Genetic Monsters: After a shipwreck, navigate a dangerous island filled with genetically altered creatures and hidden secrets.

8. Gym Humor: Enjoy the chaotic yet funny atmosphere of a gym, filled with quirky characters and amusing workout situations.

9. Post-Apocalyptic Atoll: Explore a world where the remnants of civilization float in a magnetic sea, battling rival factions.

10. Fall of the Bastille: Witness the revolutionary fervor in Paris, 1789, as the people storm the Bastille.

11. Camping Weekend: Enjoy heartfelt moments and laughter during a camping trip with friends.

12. Waking up in the Year 3000: Experience a transformed Earth where humanity has evolved in unexpected ways.

13. Time Travel Adventure: Correct altered events in history after a time experiment goes wrong.

14. Alien Conference: Represent humanity at a council of aliens, navigating potential diplomatic disasters.

15. Hidden Secrets: Uncover hidden passages and ancient secrets beneath the city while working late in a library.

This summary captures the essence of various adventurous and dramatic narratives, ranging from historical events to fantastical journeys.

The text discusses the author’s journey of wanting to train their own language model (LLM) three months ago. They share their experiences, challenges, and learning process throughout this endeavor. The author highlights the importance of understanding the technical aspects, the resources required, and the steps taken to achieve their goal. Overall, it’s about the personal growth and knowledge gained from the experience of working with machine learning and language models.

I'm introducing a new multilingual Chonky model for text-splitting. This model builds on previous ones that were mainly trained on English texts. The new model, called mmBERT, was trained on a large dataset with 1833 languages. To improve its performance, I added books from Project Gutenberg to the training data.

I also adjusted the training process by randomly removing punctuation from the last word of each training chunk to make the model better suited for real-world data. However, evaluating the model is challenging because real-world data often comes from messy sources like OCR texts and meeting notes, and I couldn't find suitable labeled datasets for this purpose.

I attempted to fine-tune a larger version of mmBERT, but it didn't perform as well as the smaller model. I welcome feedback on the new multilingual model, which you can try out. You can find all the Chonky models and the related wrapper library through the provided links.

Summary: The Intersection of Security and Reliability

The document discusses the challenges and importance of balancing security and reliability in system design. It begins with an anecdote about a Google incident in 2012, where a simple announcement about a WiFi password change led to system failures, illustrating how reliability issues can impact recovery efforts due to security protocols.

Key Points:

1. Reliability vs. Security:

   • Reliability concerns arise from nonmalicious factors like software bugs or hardware failures.
   • Security risks come from adversaries actively trying to exploit vulnerabilities in the system.

2. Design Considerations:

   • Systems must be designed with both reliability and security in mind, acknowledging that different risks require different responses.
   • For example, systems might fail open (allowing access) for safety but could create security vulnerabilities.

3. Redundancy and Risk:

   • Adding redundancy can improve reliability, but it may also increase the potential attack surface, making the system more vulnerable.

4. Incident Management:

   • Different approaches are needed for reliability and security incidents. Reliability issues often benefit from diverse input during problem-solving, whereas security incidents require confidentiality to avoid tipping off attackers.

5. The CIA Triad:

   • Both security and reliability focus on three core attributes: confidentiality, integrity, and availability, though they approach them differently.

6. Complexity and Change:

   • Systems evolve, often increasing complexity, which can lead to unforeseen issues.
   • Simple, well-structured designs are easier to manage and secure.

7. Response and Recovery:

   • Effective crisis response and recovery mechanisms are crucial. Teams should have plans in place before incidents occur, and regular training and simulations help maintain readiness.

8. Importance of Early Design Considerations:

   • Security and reliability should be integrated from the start of the design process, rather than being added later.

9. Crisis Management Protocols:

   • Establishing clear protocols and chains of command is essential for effective incident response, as demonstrated by Google's Incident Management at Google (IMAG) program.

Overall, the document emphasizes that security and reliability are intertwined aspects of system design that must be continuously addressed throughout the system's lifecycle to prevent costly failures.

Summary of Updates on Libera.Chat and the Online Safety Act (OSA)

• Libera.Chat, a non-profit IRC network, has seen a significant increase in donations, and appreciates the support received.
• Legal advice indicates that the Online Safety Act (OSA) is likely not applicable to Libera.Chat due to limited connections to the UK, as the organization is based in Sweden and does not rely on UK payment providers.
• The OSA applies to online services with links to the UK, which are defined by having a significant number of UK users or targeting UK users specifically. Libera.Chat does not meet these criteria.
• Some online communities are blocking UK IP addresses to reduce potential regulatory issues, which could limit access for UK users.
• Libera.Chat ensures a safe environment by blocking harmful content and does not plan to implement user ID requirements to protect user privacy.
• While they believe they are not under the OSA, they acknowledge that Ofcom might disagree, but they do not see it as a priority for enforcement.
• The organization is committed to engaging with any concerns raised by Ofcom and prefers constructive resolution.
• They will continue to monitor the situation regarding user privacy and potential future legislation that may affect their operations.

This article discusses how to create a basic Linux micro-distribution from scratch, focusing on the RISC-V architecture and using QEMU for simulation. Here are the key points:

1. Overview of the Project: The goal is to build a minimal Linux distribution that isn't very functional but illustrates the process of creating one from the ground up. It involves compiling the Linux kernel and writing software to package the distribution.

2. Understanding Key Concepts:

   • Operating System Kernel: It manages hardware resources and provides interfaces for applications to interact with the hardware without needing to know the details.
   • Linux Distribution: A complete operating system that includes the Linux kernel plus additional software and tools that allow users to perform tasks like browsing the web.

3. Building the Kernel:

   • The article explains the steps to compile the Linux kernel for RISC-V, including setting up the environment and using cross-compilation tools.

4. Creating the Initramfs: The initial filesystem (initramfs) is crucial for the kernel to function. It contains the init process, which is the first user-space program the kernel runs, and is essential for starting other processes.

5. Developing an Init Process: A simple init process is created to print messages and spawn a shell, demonstrating how processes are managed in Linux.

6. Using QEMU: The article demonstrates how to use QEMU to boot the custom Linux micro-distribution and troubleshoot issues like kernel panics.

7. Creating a Functional Environment: It touches on creating a more useful micro-distribution using the u-root project, which provides ready-to-use user-space tools.

8. Package Management: While not covered in detail, the article emphasizes the importance of package managers in managing software on a Linux system.

9. Conclusion: The article aims to provide a simplified view of Linux distributions for beginners, helping them understand the basic structure and functionality of Linux systems.

The article also includes practical examples of coding and compilation, making it a hands-on guide for those interested in Linux system development.

I created a web app called ShadcnThemer for designing and sharing themes for shadcn/ui. It uses Next.js 15, Tailwind CSS 4, Drizzle ORM, and Supabase. The app allows users to easily create color themes, see live previews on different UIs, and export the themes for use in their projects. I have some experience from previously building the Theme Studio for VS Code, and I enjoyed using modern technology for this project. You can find the code on GitHub.

The paper discusses the implementation of SELF, a dynamically-typed object-oriented programming language that significantly improves performance compared to other languages like Smalltalk. Key points include:

1. Performance Boost: The authors claim to have doubled the performance of dynamically-typed languages, making SELF run twice as fast as the fastest Smalltalk version. This is achieved through various implementation techniques.

2. Prototype-Based Model: Unlike traditional languages that use classes, SELF is prototype-based. It allows for dynamic object creation by cloning existing objects, which helps maintain flexibility in programming.

3. Maps for Efficiency: To address storage inefficiencies from its prototype model, SELF uses "maps" to group similar objects. These maps store type information and object behavior, reducing the space required for each object.

4. Dynamic Compilation: The system dynamically compiles multiple versions of a method based on the type of the receiving object, which allows for faster execution since the compiler can optimize for specific scenarios.

5. Interactive Programming Support: Despite optimizations, SELF supports interactive programming, enabling real-time changes and debugging without disrupting the execution environment.

6. Memory Management: The memory system efficiently organizes objects and their references to minimize overhead and maximize speed. Techniques like segregation of byte arrays enhance performance during memory scanning.

7. Custom Compilation: The SELF compiler customizes machine code for different object types, allowing it to produce more efficient code than traditional static methods.

8. Simplicity and Flexibility: SELF maintains a simple syntax and avoids hard-coded methods, allowing users to define their own control structures while preserving performance.

Overall, the paper outlines innovative strategies to enhance the efficiency and usability of a prototype-based language, making it competitive with class-based languages.

The article discusses a vintage book titled "All About Cubical Quad Antennas," which the author, EI3LH, found interesting not just for its content but for an envelope and notes discovered inside it. The envelope, marked "Margaret’s Letter," was addressed to Mr. F. Beamond, but the actual letter was missing.

Inside, there was also a yellowed paper with FM frequencies and a sketched map. The author speculated that the frequencies were related to BBC Radio 4 and that the map pointed to Westminster Bridge Station. A stamp on the envelope, from before the UK’s decimal currency change, dated the letter to around 1968. The author discovered that this stamp was introduced in 1967 and that the envelope featured a postmark for the Shrewsbury Musical and Floral Fete from that year.

Further research revealed that the Necropolis Railway, which was once associated with Westminster Bridge Station, transported the dead, raising curiosity about Mr. Beamond's interest in it. The author reflected on how they would view the book differently after this investigation and noted the historical connections they uncovered, including information about Mr. F. Beamond, who may have passed away in 1997. The article concludes with a sense of nostalgia and intrigue about the past.

Summary of TARmageddon Vulnerability (CVE-2025-62518)

On October 21, 2025, a critical vulnerability known as TARmageddon was discovered in the async-tar Rust library and its popular fork, tokio-tar. This vulnerability, rated 8.1 (High), allows attackers to execute remote code by overwriting files, impacting major projects like uv, testcontainers, and wasmCloud.

Despite patches being available for some forks, tokio-tar remains unpatched, highlighting the issue of "abandonware" in open source software. The Edera team coordinated a complex disclosure process since the most popular fork was not actively maintained. They developed patches, reached out to maintainers, and informed downstream projects about the vulnerability.

The vulnerability stems from a flaw in how the library processes TAR files, allowing attackers to introduce malicious files during extraction. Possible attack scenarios include hijacking Python package builds and compromising container images.

To remediate the issue, users are advised to upgrade to patched versions or switch to actively maintained forks like astral-tokio-tar. If immediate action isn't possible, alternatives include using the standard tar crate or implementing runtime mitigations.

This incident emphasizes that even secure programming languages like Rust can have logic bugs, and the open-source community must stay vigilant about maintaining libraries to protect users from risks.

The article discusses common mistakes engineers make during code reviews and emphasizes best practices for effective reviews. Here are the key points:

1. Understanding the Whole System: Engineers often focus too much on the "diff" (the changes made) instead of understanding how the new code fits into the entire codebase. It's crucial to consider existing methods and consistency when reviewing.

2. Limit Comments: A good review should have only five or six thoughtful comments. Too many comments can overwhelm the author and make it hard to identify important feedback. Instead of commenting on every small issue, it’s better to highlight broader stylistic changes.

3. Avoid Personal Taste: Engineers should not review code based on personal preferences. Instead, they should accept that different approaches can be valid and approve changes that are functional, even if they wouldn’t have written them the same way.

4. Clear Review Status: The status of the review (approval, comments, or blocking) is essential. If there are significant issues, a blocking review should be left to clearly indicate that merging the code is not acceptable.

5. Encourage Approvals: Most code reviews should ideally result in approvals, especially in fast-paced environments. Excessive blocking reviews can indicate problems within the team dynamics or processes.

6. Final Takeaways: Focus on the overall impact of code changes, limit feedback to significant points, review with the intention of whether the code works, and only block changes when necessary.

The article concludes that while there are various approaches to code review, the aim should always be to maintain quality without unnecessary gatekeeping.

Jacqueline is a bootloader created using the Free Pascal dialect for the i386 architecture. The developer does not plan to continue its development after achieving basic functionality in an emulator.

Why Pascal? Although Pascal is not typically used for low-level programming, it can still be effective for systems programming. Free Pascal includes features similar to those found in C and Rust, such as:

• Pointers and memory addresses
• Inline assembly code

Free Pascal can produce object files in common formats like PE and ELF, allowing it to work with code written in different languages such as C and Assembly.

Requirements to Set Up Jacqueline:

• An i386-elf toolchain for compiling Assembly and linking the kernel image
• A Free Pascal distribution with 32-bit support
• BSD make or GNU make
• QEMU to run the kernel

To build the project, use the command: make qemu.

Summary of Generalized K-Means Clustering

Security: The project adheres to security best practices, with a dedicated document for reporting vulnerabilities.

New Features: Version 0.6.0 introduces a modern DataFrame API (Spark ML) and eliminates the older RDD-based approach for new projects.

Key Offerings:

• Generalized K-Means supports various types of divergences (like Squared Euclidean and KL) and clustering methods (including Bisecting K-Means and Soft K-Means).
• It’s designed to handle large datasets with millions of points across many dimensions.

APIs:

• DataFrame API: Recommended for new projects.
• Legacy RDD API: Available for backward compatibility but archived for new developments.

Quick Start Example: To use the DataFrame API, you can easily create a data frame and fit a Generalized K-Means model to it.

Testing and Validation:

• The project has a robust CI pipeline that ensures code quality through various tests, including performance checks and model persistence.
• It automatically validates the input data against the requirements for different divergences.

Performance Considerations:

• Different strategies are available for handling large datasets efficiently, including options for broadcasting and chunk processing.

Input Requirements:

• Some divergences have strict input requirements (e.g., KL divergence needs positive values), and the library provides suggestions for data transformation to meet these needs.

Installation:

• The project runs on Spark 3.5.1 and Scala 2.13. You can include it in your project with a specific library dependency.

Python Support:

• A PySpark wrapper is available for Python users, allowing access to the same functionalities.

Contributions: Developers are encouraged to contribute by following specific guidelines and updating documentation as needed.

License: The project is licensed under Apache 2.0.

This summary highlights the essential features and usage of the Generalized K-Means Clustering project while ensuring clarity and simplicity.

The article discusses a significant change in Apple's iOS 26 that affects how the shutdown.log file is handled. This file has been crucial for detecting spyware infections like Pegasus and Predator.

Key points include:

1. Shutdown.log Importance: The shutdown.log file has been used to trace malware infections on iOS devices, helping security experts identify compromised devices.

2. Pegasus and Predator Spyware: Both spyware types have evolved to erase or manipulate evidence in the shutdown.log to evade detection. Pegasus developers have improved their methods to wipe this log completely.

3. iOS 26 Changes: With the rollout of iOS 26, the shutdown.log is overwritten on each device reboot, erasing previous entries and potentially hiding evidence of spyware infections.

4. Detection Challenges: Users on earlier iOS versions could find specific indicators of compromise (IOCs) in the shutdown.log, but the new changes complicate detection efforts.

5. Advice for Users: Before updating to iOS 26, users are advised to save their shutdown.log by taking a sysdiagnose, and consider delaying the update until Apple resolves this issue.

Overall, the changes in iOS 26 could hinder the ability to detect spyware at a time when such threats are increasingly common.

The Christmas Island shrew, a small mammal weighing only five grams, has been declared extinct after years of decline. Once plentiful on Christmas Island, its distinctive cry filled the night until the arrival of black rats and their parasites, which devastated native wildlife. By 1908, the shrew was presumed extinct, with only museum records remaining.

There were brief hopes of rediscovery in 1958 and 1984, but no more individuals were found after the last known shrews died in captivity. Despite extensive searches, silence prevailed, and the shrew was officially recognized as extinct, marking the 39th mammal species lost in Australia since colonization.

Although the shrew's loss may seem small, it highlights the ongoing threats to biodiversity and the impact of invasive species. Its story raises important questions about how many other species may vanish unnoticed. Some still hope that the shrew may survive in hidden corners of the island. However, the forest is now quieter, and the shrew's absence serves as a reminder of the fragility of life.

In a world where there are no safety rules, one gem is bold enough to suggest, "What if we just take a guess?"

Summary of BLE Beacons and beaconDB Testing Project

The project, initiated on October 25, 2025, focuses on exploring Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and how they work with beaconDB, a service that continues the location services previously provided by Mozilla Location Service (MLS).

Key Points:

1. What is beaconDB?

   • A service for location lookup using data from BLE beacons, WiFi access points, and cell towers, created after the retirement of MLS.

2. What are BLE Beacons?

   • BLE beacons are small devices that send out signals to identify locations, especially useful where GPS signals are weak (e.g., indoors).
   • Different types of beacons exist, such as iBeacon (Apple) and Eddystone (Google).

3. Beacon Selection:

   • The author chose stationary BLE beacons (Feasy FSC-BP104D) for testing, focusing on a long battery life and avoiding unnecessary features.

4. Testing Process:

   • The plan included buying beacons, checking their MAC addresses, and using the beaconDB API to confirm they had no associated location.
   • The author recorded observations while walking their dog and used NeoStumbler to collect data.

5. API Interaction:

   • The author experimented with beaconDB's API to submit observations but initially received errors (404) when querying with their BLE beacons.

6. Direct Submission:

   • The author exported data to CSV from NeoStumbler and directly submitted it to beaconDB but continued to receive 404 errors.

7. Final Findings:

   • After investigating, it was found that while beaconDB accepts BLE beacon data, it does not currently use them for geolocation. This led to the realization that the initial hypothesis about beaconDB's functionality was incorrect.

The project provided insights into BLE beacons and helped clarify their role in location services, even though the expected outcomes were not achieved.

Summary:

Google Pixel phones have a persistent issue where users cannot call 911, a critical problem that has recurred over the years. Recent reports highlight that Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 users are still facing difficulties connecting to emergency services, even when in good network coverage. Some users have shared their experiences online, stating it can take a long time to reach 911 due to this bug.

Although Canadian operator Bell alerted its customers about the issue, no major US carrier has done the same. This ongoing problem raises serious concerns since it affects users' ability to contact emergency services. Many believe Google needs to prioritize fixing this issue and collaborate with network carriers to ensure it doesn't happen again.

The author describes their experience working with a difficult coworker on a team that was previously struggling. After joining the team as a lead, they managed to stabilize it and grow it from four to ten engineers. However, one particular coworker, who is less experienced but was previously told he should lead, constantly criticizes the author’s work and creates tension in meetings. This behavior includes passive-aggressive comments and resistance to important discussions, like a post-mortem after a significant outage.

Despite the author's promotion and support from other teammates, they feel burned out and frustrated by the ongoing conflict. The author’s manager seems unhelpful, suggesting that the difficult coworker is improving and asking the author how to handle the situation. The author wishes for a more peaceful work environment where they can focus on their job without constant conflict.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of "15 Years of Progress"

The text compares two coding frameworks: an older one from 2010 and React, a newer framework that has evolved over the years. While both can accomplish the same tasks, the author points out that there has been little real progress in understanding how to use these tools effectively.

Key Points:

1. Readability vs. Complexity: React's code appears cleaner and easier to read, but this simplicity hides complex behaviors. In contrast, older frameworks like Backbone are more explicit about their processes, making it easier for beginners to follow.

2. Common Issues in React: Many developers face frustrating problems with React, such as:

   • Input fields unexpectedly clearing because of key changes.
   • Infinite loops caused by incorrectly set dependencies.
   • Functions that don't reflect updated state due to stale closures.

3. Understanding the Complexity: To effectively use React, developers often need to grasp intricate concepts like virtual DOM diffing and state management, which can be overwhelming.

4. Need for Simplicity: While React may be beneficial for large applications, it raises the question of whether smaller apps really need such complexity. There is a desire for a framework that is both intuitive and easy to understand, similar to older tools like Backbone and jQuery.

Overall, the text argues for a need to rethink frameworks to prioritize clarity and ease of use, especially for simpler applications.

Scientists at Penn State have developed a new method to predict materials that could become superconductors, which are capable of conducting electricity without any energy loss. Current superconductors only work at extremely low temperatures, making them impractical for many applications. The Penn State team aims to find materials that can operate at higher temperatures.

The researchers combined computer modeling with new theoretical insights to address this challenge. They connected existing theories about superconductivity, particularly the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory, which explains how traditional superconductors work through electron pairing. Their new approach also incorporates "zentropy theory," which helps understand how materials change properties with temperature.

By using this method, the team successfully predicted superconductivity in various materials, including some not typically thought to be superconductors, like copper and gold. Their future plans include using their method to identify new superconductors and predict how temperature and pressure affect their properties.

If successful, this research could lead to high-temperature superconductors that could revolutionize energy systems and technology, potentially even at room temperature.

A leaked document reveals that Amazon has been strategizing to keep its datacenters' water usage largely secret. Despite being the world's largest datacenter owner, Amazon has not disclosed its total water consumption, unlike competitors like Microsoft and Google. The company used a smaller water usage figure to mitigate reputational risks, fearing negative publicity from revealing the true extent of its water use.

In 2021, Amazon consumed 105 billion gallons of water, equivalent to the usage of a large city. The internal memo indicated that executives were cautious about public disclosures, even suggesting that revealing complete data could lead to accusations of a cover-up. Amazon's "Water Positive" campaign, launched in late 2022, commits to returning more water than it uses by 2030, but it only accounts for primary water use, not secondary use related to electricity generation.

Critics argue that this selective reporting is misleading and fails to reflect the full environmental impact of the company’s operations. Experts have pointed out that excluding secondary water use does not align with best practices in environmental science. Additionally, Amazon's approach to water management has raised concerns about transparency and accountability, with some former employees suggesting the company is trying to obscure its true water footprint.

Summary of Unlocking Free WiFi on British Airways

While flying from Hong Kong to London with British Airways, the author discovered that they could access free WiFi for messaging by signing up for British Airways' frequent flyer program, The British Airways Club. This was possible even for economy passengers and did not require email verification.

Once connected to the WiFi, the author tested various messaging apps. They found that WhatsApp, Signal, and WeChat worked for sending messages, but Discord did not. This led to questions about how the airline could differentiate between these apps. The author suspected that the system used Server Name Indication (SNI) to identify the domains being accessed, which is a known issue since SNI can leak domain names during the TLS handshake.

Through experimentation, the author confirmed that British Airways blocked non-messaging domains and allowed access only to certain whitelisted domains. They explored ways to bypass these restrictions by creating a proxy server that could route other traffic under the disguise of messaging, using a trick with the SNI.

After setting up this proxy on a VPS, they successfully connected while onboard the flight, enabling them to browse websites like Hacker News using the "messaging" WiFi. However, the speed was limited, possibly due to bandwidth throttling by the airline.

The author also touched on ECH (Encrypted Client Hello), a potential solution to SNI leakage, which allows the true domain to be hidden during the TLS handshake. They tested this successfully, indicating it might work even with non-standard ports.

In conclusion, the author highlighted the risks associated with SNI, emphasizing it shouldn't be blindly trusted as it can be manipulated, which can have implications for security and privacy.

Summary of the Swift SDK for Android Announcement

On October 24, 2025, Joannis Orlandos announced the launch of the Swift SDK for Android. This development allows developers to create Android applications using Swift, expanding the language's reach across different platforms, including cloud services and Windows applications.

The Android workgroup, which anyone can join, has worked for months to make this SDK available. It is now included with the Windows installer and can also be downloaded for Linux and macOS.

A "Getting Started" guide is available to help developers set up Swift on Android, and many Swift packages are already compatible with Android. The swift-java project will help integrate Swift and Java, making it easier to use both languages together.

The announcement encourages developers to share their experiences and ideas on Swift forums, helping to shape future improvements. The workgroup is also drafting a vision document to guide future efforts for Swift on Android.

Developers interested in this new SDK are invited to join the community and contribute to its growth.

NewPipe is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of growth and development. Over these years, it has evolved from a small project to a well-organized association with many contributors and millions of users. Five years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team wrote about their dedication to the project, and they have continued to thrive since then.

Recently, NewPipe has been undergoing a significant rewrite to improve its app, and the association has successfully established a structure to hire part-time developers, ensuring ongoing development. They are currently looking for new contributors to help with open issues.

Looking ahead, the team is optimistic about completing the app's refactor, envisioning a fresh design and new features. However, they also face challenges, particularly from Google, which has been increasingly targeting alternative projects like NewPipe. Despite these difficulties, the team is committed to finding creative solutions and continuing their work.

In summary, NewPipe celebrates a decade of success while navigating both exciting advancements and significant challenges. They invite others to join them in their journey.

Summary of Memory Tagging for C/C++ Memory Safety

Key Points:

1. Memory Safety Issues in C/C++:

   • Common problems include use-after-free, buffer overflows, and uninitialized memory.
   • These issues account for over 50% of high/critical security bugs in platforms like Chrome and Android, leading to crashes and data corruption.

2. Limitations of Current Tools:

   • AddressSanitizer (ASAN) is difficult to use in production and does not fully address security risks.

3. ARM Memory Tagging Extension (MTE):

   • Introduced by ARM in September 2018, MTE is a new feature aimed at improving memory safety.
   • It is not yet available in hardware and may take years to be implemented.
   • MTE is described as "Hardware-ASAN on steroids," with minimal RAM and CPU overhead.

4. How MTE Works:

   • The extension is designed for 64-bit systems.
   • Each 16-byte aligned memory section has a 4-bit tag, and pointers also contain a tag.
   • Load and store operations check these tags to prevent mismatches, raising exceptions when they do.

5. Memory Allocation with Tags:

   • During memory allocation, the system aligns memory to 16 bytes and assigns a 4-bit tag.
   • When memory is freed, it is retagged to prevent reuse errors.

6. Examples of Issues Addressed:

   • Heap Buffer Overflow: An attempt to access memory beyond the allocated space will trigger an error due to tag mismatch.
   • Heap Use After Free: Accessing memory after it has been freed will also result in an error, thanks to the retagging process.

Overall, the ARM Memory Tagging Extension aims to enhance memory safety in C/C++ programming by utilizing a tagging system to detect and prevent common memory-related errors.

No summary available.

ASIMO, short for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is a well-known humanoid robot created by Honda in 2000 and discontinued in 2018. Standing 4 feet 3 inches tall, ASIMO was designed to assist people, especially those with mobility challenges. Honda began its robot development in the 1980s, leading to several prototypes before creating ASIMO.

ASIMO was the culmination of prior innovations from Honda's E series and P series robots, which focused on creating bipedal walking technology. ASIMO could recognize people, gestures, and sounds, allowing it to interact with humans effectively. It was equipped with advanced sensors for navigation and could respond to voice commands.

Despite its impressive capabilities, ASIMO was not available for sale and was valued between $2 million and $2.5 million. The robot's development aimed to explore practical applications of the technology, leading to its retirement in favor of more functional uses. ASIMO is currently displayed at the Miraikan museum in Tokyo, Japan.

Summary: The Missing Semester of Your CS Education

This course focuses on an important yet often overlooked area in computer science education: becoming proficient with tools used in the field. While students learn advanced topics like operating systems and machine learning, they typically don't receive formal training in essential skills like using the command line, text editors, and version control systems.

The course aims to help students master these tools, enabling them to work more efficiently and tackle complex problems. It covers various topics over a series of lectures, including:

• Overview and command-line basics
• Shell tools and scripting
• Using text editors (like Vim)
• Data wrangling
• Command-line environment
• Version control with Git
• Debugging and profiling
• Metaprogramming
• Security and cryptography
• A Q&A session

Lectures are available on YouTube, and the course is co-taught by Anish, Jon, and Jose. The materials have been shared beyond MIT to benefit a wider audience, and translations of the content are available in multiple languages.

For more information or questions, you can contact the class via email. The course is supported by various individuals and organizations at MIT.

Recent advances in multimodal models have improved text-guided image editing, with notable systems like GPT-4o and Nano-Banana leading the way. However, progress is limited by a lack of large, high-quality, publicly available datasets that use real images. To address this, we have created Pico-Banana-400K, a dataset containing 400,000 images specifically for instruction-based image editing. This dataset is unique because it combines high quality and diversity, using a detailed editing classification system to cover various edit types while ensuring that the original content is preserved.

Pico-Banana-400K also supports more complex editing tasks. It includes three specialized subsets: (1) a 72,000-example collection for studying multi-turn editing, (2) a 56,000-example preference subset for research on alignment and reward models, and (3) paired instructions for enhancing instruction rewriting and summarization. Overall, Pico-Banana-400K provides a valuable resource for developing and testing new text-guided image editing models.

The text discusses the importance of formalizing mathematics using proof assistants like Lean, emphasizing benefits beyond just catching errors.

Key points include:

1. Finding Errors: While one obvious benefit is identifying mistakes in proofs, there are other significant advantages to formalizing math.

2. Analogy with TypeScript: The author compares formalizing math to using TypeScript in programming. TypeScript helps catch errors, but its advantages extend to improving developer tools, creating a shared design language, and providing immediate feedback while coding.

3. Benefits of Lean: Similar to TypeScript, formalizing math with Lean offers:

   • Enhanced tools for navigating mathematical definitions and generating documentation.
   • The ability to analyze and visualize relationships between mathematical proofs.
   • Improved organization of mathematical results through version control and dependency management.

4. Efficiency in Mathematics: The formalization process could make mathematics more efficient and enjoyable, despite requiring mathematicians to prove what they may consider trivial statements.

5. Future of Formalization: The author expresses hope that these benefits will encourage mathematicians to adopt new tools and methods, despite the challenges of learning them.

Overall, the text advocates for the formalization of mathematics as a way to enhance the discipline, making it more structured and accessible.

No summary available.

Summary of Auto Dark Mode

Auto Dark Mode is a tool for Windows that automatically switches between dark and light themes based on the time of day, helping to reduce eye strain. It works with Windows 10 (22H2 and later) and Windows 11.

Key Features:

• Automatically changes themes at sunrise and sunset.
• Allows users to postpone theme switches.
• Changes desktop wallpapers, mouse cursors, and accent colors.
• Includes options for gamers to prevent switching during gameplay.
• Offers additional features for battery-powered devices.
• Supports keyboard shortcuts and custom scripts.
• Lightweight and easy to uninstall without needing admin rights.

Installation Options:

• Available for download from the Microsoft Store, GitHub, and other package managers like WinGet, Chocolatey, and Scoop.
• Installation is straightforward with a simple .exe file.

Note: Some security warnings may appear during download due to the lack of a developer license, but these can be ignored. For support and further information, users can visit the project's wiki or translation page.

On October 22, 2025, I spoke at a gathering for coding agent fans in San Francisco about the dual nature of using coding agents like Claude Code.

I highlighted two opposing views:

1. Benefits of YOLO Mode: Using the mode called “YOLO” or --dangerously-skip-permissions allows coding agents to operate with fewer restrictions, enabling them to solve complex problems autonomously. This can lead to significant productivity gains, as I demonstrated with three projects I completed in just 48 hours while working on other tasks.

2. Risks of YOLO Mode: Despite its advantages, this mode carries substantial risks, particularly from prompt injection attacks, where malicious content can manipulate the agent to leak sensitive information. I explained the "lethal trifecta" concept, illustrating the dangers when a coding agent has access to private data, untrusted content, and external communication capabilities.

To mitigate these risks, I emphasized the importance of using sandboxes—secure environments that limit access to files and network connections. Many effective sandboxing solutions exist, including OpenAI Codex Cloud and Claude Code for the web. However, controlling network access is crucial to prevent data leaks.

I concluded by encouraging the use of YOLO mode but stressed the necessity of doing so within a sandbox for safety.

ProEnergy is transforming old CF6-80C2 jet engines into power generators to support data centers during their construction and early operation phases. These modified engines, called PE6000 gas turbines, can generate 48 megawatts (MW) of power. ProEnergy has already sold 21 turbines for two data center projects, providing over 1 gigawatt (GW) of power.

The decision to use jet engines comes from a shortage in the gas turbine market, where delivery times are extending due to high demand, especially from AI data centers. In contrast, ProEnergy can deliver its turbines by 2027. The company focuses on the CF6-80C2 engine, which is commonly used in commercial and military aircraft.

After their initial use, these turbines can serve as backup power or be sold to utility companies. ProEnergy, based in Sedalia, Missouri, offers various services related to energy generation, while the trend of using natural gas for data centers continues to grow.

No summary available.

No summary available.

The article "The Great SaaS-Lighting: How IT Users Got Gaslit" critiques the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, suggesting that it often prioritizes vendor profits over customer needs. While SaaS companies advertise benefits like flexibility and easy payment, the reality is that customers face pressures to stay locked into products they may not want. Customer success managers are more focused on keeping users engaged with the product rather than genuinely helping them succeed.

The author argues that the SaaS landscape has become overly complex, with many applications solving the same problems without significant differentiation. This results in a bland software market reminiscent of 1980s shopping malls—predictable and controlled, with little innovation. The article emphasizes the need for organizations to find tailored solutions that work for them instead of conforming to generic best practices or popular platforms. Ultimately, the future of technology should focus on individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Summary of "Learn APL" Notes

This document serves as a reference for the APL programming language, based on tutorials from APL Wiki and TryAPL. It is not a complete guide but a helpful tool for future reference. Users are advised to use a monospace font that supports APL characters.

Key Sections:

1. Getting Started:

   • Instructions on starting APL and performing simple arithmetic.
   • Explanation of arithmetic functions, operations on lists, and the order of execution.

2. Variables:

   • How to assign values to variables and valid naming conventions.
   • Details on multi-variable assignments and using system commands for variable management.

3. Tables:

   • Introduction to functions like Roll and Iota for table manipulation.
   • Techniques for selecting elements and querying data dimensions.

4. Writing Functions:

   • Creating user-defined functions and understanding the Slash operator.
   • Tips on using function results in expressions.

5. APL Concepts:

   • Overview of the APL system, including data types, built-in functions, and error handling.

6. The Workspace:

   • Managing functions, operators, and workspace size.

7. Error Handling:

   • Common errors and methods for error trapping.

8. Formatting:

   • Using the "Format" primitive for output display.

9. Further Topics:

   • More advanced APL concepts like array types, vector notation, and object-oriented programming.

The document also includes exercises to practice the concepts covered, ensuring a hands-on learning experience.

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This article explains how modern operating systems, particularly Linux, handle shared libraries using load-time relocation. Shared libraries are often referred to as shared objects or dynamic shared objects (DSOs).

Key Points:

1. Loading Executables:

   • When an executable is run, it is loaded into a fixed memory address based on information from its ELF header.
   • The linker resolves all internal references, and if the executable does not use shared libraries, no additional relocations are needed.

2. Loading Shared Libraries:

   • Shared libraries cannot have a predetermined load address since multiple programs may use them. The actual address is determined when the program runs.
   • The dynamic loader is responsible for loading shared libraries and adjusting their addresses.

3. Relocation Methods:

   • Load-time Relocation: This method involves preparing the shared library for relocation when it is loaded into memory.
   • Position Independent Code (PIC): A more recent and recommended method that allows code to execute properly regardless of the memory location.

4. Creating Relocatable Shared Libraries:

   • A shared library can be compiled without the -fPIC flag to prepare it for load-time relocation. The linker uses placeholder addresses, which the dynamic loader will later adjust based on the actual load address.

5. Relocation Entries:

   • The shared library contains relocation entries that tell the dynamic loader how to adjust the addresses of variables and functions at runtime.

6. Relocating Function Calls:

   • When function calls are made to global functions, the addresses may also need to be relocated. The relocation entries for function calls are generally more complex.

7. Global Variables:

   • If a global variable from a shared library is referenced in an executable, the linker creates a copy in the executable's address space to prevent conflicts.

8. Conclusion:

   • Load-time relocation is a method used to resolve references in shared libraries upon loading. While position independent code is often preferred today, understanding load-time relocation is beneficial for grasping how linking and loading works in operating systems.

The article aims to demystify the process of linking and loading shared libraries, providing a foundation for understanding more advanced topics like position independent code.

Summary: Diamond Blankets for Cooling Future Chips

As computers become more powerful, they generate a lot of heat, which can degrade performance. Traditional cooling methods struggle to keep up, especially as chips become more compact and complex. Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method using diamond to efficiently manage this heat.

Diamond is an excellent thermal conductor and can be integrated into chips without interfering with their functions. The team has successfully created a thin layer of polycrystalline diamond that can be applied at low temperatures, preserving the integrity of sensitive semiconductor components. This diamond layer helps spread heat away from hot spots, significantly lowering temperatures and improving performance.

Early tests with gallium-nitride transistors showed that the diamond layer reduced temperatures by over 50°C, allowing the devices to operate more effectively. This innovation could also benefit advanced 3D chip architectures by addressing thermal bottlenecks that occur in stacked chips.

The researchers are working with industry partners, including major tech companies, to integrate this diamond technology into future chip designs. If successful, it could revolutionize how heat is managed in electronics, enabling higher performance without the limitations imposed by heat.

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Summary: How to Make a Smith Chart

A Smith chart is a graphical tool used in electrical engineering, represented as a grid based on a specific mathematical function. This post explains how to create a Smith chart without discussing its applications.

1. Function and Transformation: The Smith chart is derived from the function ( f(z) = \frac{(z - 1)}{(z + 1)} ), which transforms points in the right half-plane (z-plane) into the w-plane.

2. Möbius Transformations: This function is a type of Möbius transformation, which maps lines and circles in the z-plane to circles or lines in the w-plane.

3. Imaginary Axis Mapping: The imaginary axis in the z-plane is mapped to the unit circle in the w-plane. By analyzing three points on the imaginary axis, we confirm that this mapping results in a circle.

4. Right Half-Plane Mapping: Since the imaginary axis is the boundary of the right half-plane, the entire right half-plane maps inside the unit circle.

5. Vertical and Horizontal Lines:

   • Vertical lines in the z-plane (with constant positive real parts) map to circles in the w-plane, tangent to the unit circle at point w = 1.
   • Horizontal lines (with constant imaginary parts) map to circles unless they pass through the point at infinity, in which case they map to lines.

6. Angle Preservation: The transformation preserves the angles between intersecting lines, meaning vertical and horizontal lines will intersect at right angles in the w-plane.

7. Grid Spacing: The resulting grid in the w-plane will be unevenly spaced, with a denser concentration on the right side. To create a usable Smith chart, one must start with a grid in the z-plane that has more vertical lines for smaller real values.

The next post will address how to handle the spacing issue in more detail.

This text outlines the contents of a mathematical or physics-related book, organized into two main sections: Front Matter and Back Matter.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Basic Concepts: Coordinates, vectors, complex numbers.
2. Matrices: Operations, eigenvectors, and special matrices.
3. Calculus: Differentiation (including chain rule and vector differentials), integration, and vector surface integrals.
4. Differential Equations: Ordinary and partial differential equations, along with their solutions.
5. Series and Functions: Power series, Fourier series, and Fourier transforms.
6. Physical Applications: Waves, classical mechanics (orbits), and quantum mechanics (specifically the hydrogen atom).

The text serves as a comprehensive guide to essential mathematical tools and concepts used in physics.

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The text mentions two mathematical concepts related to "Rupert's snub cube" and "Rupert's Property." The first link refers to an article discussing these topics, while the second link leads to a discussion with comments on Rupert's Property. The dates indicate when these discussions took place, with the first in September 2025 and the second in August 2025. Overall, the focus is on exploring unique mathematical shapes and their properties.

Summary of Valetudo:

Valetudo is a software for vacuum robots that operates without cloud connectivity, created by Sören Beye since 2018. It's designed to be a simple, reliable solution that allows users to take control of their vacuum robots. The project has grown with contributions from others, especially Dennis Giese, who helps enhance the software.

While exact user numbers are unknown, it’s estimated to have a few thousand users based on downloads and support group memberships. Valetudo is open-source, licensed under Apache-2.0, encouraging users to understand and modify the software without dependence on vendors.

The project is described as a "privately-owned public garden," inviting users to enjoy and contribute ideas but reminding them that it is not commercialized. Users are free to leave if they don't like how it operates, and they can create their own projects if they wish.

For more information, users can check the documentation, getting started guide, or join community discussions.

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Since the resurgence of deep learning in 2012, various machine learning frameworks have emerged, notably PyTorch and TensorFlow. In 2019, PyTorch has gained significant traction in research, surpassing TensorFlow in the number of papers published at major conferences. In contrast, TensorFlow remains dominant in industry, primarily due to its long-standing presence and better production capabilities.

Key points include:

1. Research Trends: PyTorch has become the preferred choice for researchers, with a majority of papers at major conferences using it, while TensorFlow's popularity in research is declining.

2. User Preferences: Researchers favor PyTorch for its simplicity, user-friendly API, and effective debugging features. TensorFlow's frequent changes in API have made it less appealing.

3. Industry Adoption: Despite PyTorch's popularity in research, TensorFlow still leads in industry job listings and usage. This is attributed to industry’s focus on performance, deployment needs, and existing infrastructure.

4. Recent Developments: Both frameworks have introduced new features to address their weaknesses: PyTorch introduced TorchScript for better deployment options, while TensorFlow moved to eager execution for ease of use.

5. Future Outlook: The competition between PyTorch and TensorFlow continues, with the potential for PyTorch to gain a foothold in industry as more researchers graduate and bring their preferences to companies. However, TensorFlow's established presence and robust production features make it a formidable player.

Overall, PyTorch is currently leading in research, while TensorFlow remains the go-to choice for production environments. The evolving landscape suggests ongoing changes as both frameworks adapt to meet the needs of their respective users.

Summary of "The Night Land" by William Hope Hodgson

"The Night Land," published in 1912, is a unique blend of horror and science fiction. The story follows a grieving widower from the 17th century who envisions a future where the sun has vanished, leaving Earth in eternal darkness. The last humans live in a massive metal pyramid, constantly threatened by terrifying shadow creatures.

The narrator discovers that his beloved may still be alive, trapped in a distant city, and he sets out to rescue her. The novel combines themes of love, doom, and survival, appealing to readers who enjoy imaginative and complex storytelling.

H.P. Lovecraft praised it as a remarkable piece of macabre fiction, and it introduces concepts that influenced the dying Earth genre, including telepathy, reincarnation, and alien monsters. The writing style mimics 17th-century prose, which may be challenging for some readers but adds to its unique charm.

The text is about a project to create a self-compiling compiler for a simplified version of the C programming language. The author, Warren Toomey, is documenting the process on GitHub, making it accessible for others to learn from. The journey is divided into 64 parts, covering topics like lexical scanning, parsing, various programming constructs (if statements, loops, functions), and more technical aspects like ARM assembly code generation and type checking.

Warren has paused this project to start a new programming language called "alic." He acknowledges that he used some ideas and code from the SubC compiler by Nils M Holm, which is in the public domain. His own code is licensed under GPL3, while other documents are under a Creative Commons license.

Language models are improving, but they still struggle with multi-digit multiplication. This study explores why by analyzing a model that successfully learns multiplication using an implicit reasoning process. Here are the main findings:

1. Long-range Structure: The model shows it can recognize long-range patterns necessary for multiplication.

2. Mechanism: It uses attention to create a directed graph that helps it store and retrieve partial products during calculations.

3. Geometry: The model uses specific mathematical representations, like Minkowski sums and Fourier basis, to handle digits efficiently, which standard models do not.

The study also found that typical fine-tuning methods lead to a model that doesn't learn these long-range dependencies well. To improve learning, the researchers introduced an additional loss function that helps the model track intermediate sums, allowing it to learn multiplication effectively. In conclusion, this research highlights a common issue in teaching models long-range dependencies and shows that the right guidance can help solve it.

The blog post discusses Synadia's commitment to supporting the Zig programming language and the Tigerbeetle project by pledging financial and technical resources. This partnership aims to enhance open-source development and promote innovation. Synadia believes that contributing to these projects will help improve software tools and create better solutions for developers. The pledge highlights the importance of community support in the tech industry.

Steinar H. Gunderson discusses his experience with modern perfect hashing for strings, particularly his implementation which was not widely adopted despite being faster than gperf. The main goal of perfect hashing is to create a code that maps a fixed set of strings to unique integers, avoiding collisions.

Key points include:

1. Problem Definition: Perfect hashing aims to efficiently map known strings to integers, unlike regular hash tables that deal with unknown sets.

2. Implementation Approach:

   • Gunderson splits strings by length to eliminate bounds checking and optimize memory comparisons.
   • He critiques using the PEXT instruction (for bit extraction), noting its limitations on certain architectures like ARM and its potential for large tables with poorly behaved input.

3. Magic Numbers: He introduces a method used in computer chess to create hash indices using a "magic" number, which helps in reducing collisions when mapping input strings.

4. Code Examples: He provides code snippets demonstrating how to implement the hashing for CSS keywords, showcasing different strategies based on the string lengths.

5. Finding Magic Values: To discover effective magic numbers, he employs a technique called the killer heuristic, which focuses on previously found collisions to expedite the search.

6. Optimizing Splits: Gunderson notes the importance of choosing effective splits when hashing, as the right division can lead to better performance in finding perfect hashes.

7. Performance Results: His implementation achieved about twice the runtime speed of gperf while generating smaller compiled code. However, he acknowledges the complexity and potential need for caching in the building process.

In summary, Gunderson's work highlights the intricacies and potential of modern perfect hashing, inviting others to explore this area further.

Since opening in 2019, Britain's National Centre for Gaming Disorders has seen many teenagers, often encouraged by their parents. Recently, however, the clinic has started treating more adults, with 67 patients over the age of 40. The oldest patient, who is 72, has a strong interest in smartphone games.

The text highlights that Oxc and Rolldown allow for very quick building and generating of declaration files.