The website is checking your browser for security. If you own the website, there's a link you can click to resolve the issue.

The article discusses a persistent internet outage issue experienced by a customer and their neighbor with Xfinity, a monopoly internet service provider. After purchasing Xfinity internet in June 2024, the customer faced daily connection drops lasting about 125 seconds, occurring 6-7 times a day. They documented over 3,000 outage incidents, showing a consistent pattern that suggests a problem within Xfinity's infrastructure rather than at their homes.

Despite multiple calls to Xfinity support and attempts to resolve the issue, including visits from technicians, the problem remained unresolved. The customer noted that Xfinity's support staff struggled to understand technical data and often blamed their equipment. The service quality declined significantly, with download speeds dropping from 1200 Mbps to below 500 Mbps.

The article highlights a lack of competition in the area, which means Xfinity has little incentive to address the outages. The customer also pointed out a security risk, as many junction boxes are unlocked, allowing anyone to disconnect service.

Frustrated and out of options, the customer is appealing for help from regulatory authorities or media to investigate the ongoing issue, emphasizing the need for community awareness and action against the service provider's negligence.

Tosijs-schema Overview

Tosijs-schema is a library for TypeScript and JavaScript that focuses on creating a single source of truth for data types using JSON Schema.

Key Features:

• Schema-First Design: Define data types once using standard JSON Schema.
• Type Inference: Automatically infer TypeScript types from schemas.
• Efficient Validation: Uses a unique "prime-jump" method for fast validation of large datasets, achieving constant time performance on massive arrays and dictionaries.
• Schema Diffing: Easily compare schemas to identify changes or structural issues over time.
• Performance: It is optimized to be smaller, faster, and safer than competitors like Zod.

Benchmark Results:

• Tosijs-schema shows significant speed advantages over Zod, being up to 1124 times faster in optimized scenarios.

Installation: You can install it via npm or bun.

Defining Schemas: Schemas are created using a simple syntax, allowing for easy definition of properties like strings, emails, and integers, along with metadata for better API documentation.

Validation Options:

1. Fast Path: Quick validation that returns a boolean.
2. Strict Path: Detailed validation that checks every item.
3. Error Reporting: Options to log or throw errors for better debugging.

Object Constraints: You can set minimum and maximum properties for objects, but note that maximum properties are only for documentation purposes and are not validated.

LLM Compatibility: Tosijs-schema is designed to work well with AI tools, generating strict JSON schemas that require no additional adapters.

Why Choose Tosijs-schema?

• It is schema-first and functional, making it lightweight (about 3kB minified) and easy to use without the complexities of class hierarchies found in other libraries like Zod.

License: MIT

Racket v9.0 is now available for download. This major update introduces Parallel Threads, allowing users to create threads that run in parallel. Key features include:

• Creation of parallel threads using the #:pool argument.
• Threads can record their results for later retrieval.
• A black-box wrapper to ensure accurate benchmarking by preventing certain optimizations.
• The decompile-linklet function for mapping linklets back to s-expressions.
• Changes to the processor-count function in BC Racket to always return the parallel count.
• New “natipkg” packages for AArch64 for package building and testing.
• Improved syntax tracking and the addition of Weibull distributions to the math library.
• Numerous repairs and documentation updates.

The release involved contributions from many developers, and the Racket community encourages new participants. Feedback and discussion are welcome on their platforms. For more details, visit the Racket blog.

Summary:

Terence Tao's research discusses the Collatz map, which transforms natural numbers by applying specific rules: for an odd number ( n ), it computes ( 3n + 1 ); for an even number, it computes ( n/2 ). The Collatz conjecture suggests that every sequence generated by this map will eventually reach the number 1, but this has not yet been proven. Tao's findings indicate that most sequences will eventually reach values less than any function ( f(n) ) that increases to infinity, regardless of how slowly it does so. A significant part of the research involves creating a self-similar measure for the behavior of the Collatz sequences. This work is part of a colloquium series at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Ken Shirriff's blog discusses his research on the Intel 386 processor, which was released in 1985 and was Intel's most complex chip at that time, featuring 285,000 transistors. To meet production deadlines, the design team utilized a method called standard cell logic, which automated the layout of the chip instead of doing it manually. This method involved using standardized circuit designs, allowing for faster and more efficient chip creation.

Shirriff highlights some unexpected circuits in the 386's design, such as large multiplexers and unconventional inverters. He explains that the control logic for selecting registers in the processor is complex due to the x86 architecture, requiring multiple control signals to manage different register configurations.

The blog also describes the 386's chip layout, which includes regions with a striped appearance due to the arrangement of standard cells, compared to manually designed functional blocks that look more solid. The chip features two metal layers for wiring, which was an advancement from previous processors.

Overall, Shirriff is exploring the unique aspects of the Intel 386's circuitry and how it was designed to handle the complexities of modern computing at the time.

No summary available.

Summary: The Privacy Nightmare of Browser Fingerprinting

Many people are concerned about online privacy, particularly the sharing of their browsing data with companies like advertisers and insurers. While avoiding Google is a good first step, it’s not enough due to the more complex issue of browser fingerprinting.

What is Browser Fingerprinting? Browser fingerprinting is a method used to track users without relying on cookies. It collects various pieces of information from your browser, such as the browser type, operating system, installed fonts, and even how your graphics hardware behaves. This combination can create a unique identifier for your browser, making it easier for companies to track you across the internet.

Challenges in Preventing Fingerprinting Traditional methods to prevent tracking, like disabling JavaScript, can actually make you more identifiable. Simple spoofing techniques can also leave traces that reveal your identity. Overall, browser fingerprinting is highly effective, and as countermeasures improve, so do the methods used to fingerprint.

Good News and Recommendations While it's difficult to fully protect against fingerprinting, some browsers, like Brave and Mullvad, are developing better defenses. Users can take steps to minimize tracking by using a VPN, managing cookie storage, and using popular browsers with default settings to blend in.

However, implementing fingerprint resistance can lead to website malfunctions and increased verification challenges.

Legality and Future Considerations The legality of browser fingerprinting is still uncertain, especially in relation to privacy laws like GDPR. There's a need for specific legislation to address these privacy concerns effectively.

In summary, resisting browser fingerprinting is complex and often inconvenient, with current methods offering only partial protection. The focus should be on advocating for better privacy laws to combat invasive tracking practices.

The researchers used focused ultrasound to stimulate the brain's scent-processing area, successfully inducing distinct smells like fresh air, garbage, ozone, and campfire in two individuals. This method, which targets the olfactory bulb located behind the nose, involved using a handheld ultrasound probe positioned on the forehead to reach the brain region responsible for smell.

They developed a stable setup to improve accuracy, and after extensive safety checks, they confirmed that the ultrasound intensity was safe. The smells felt real and were strongest when participants breathed in lightly. This study suggests that their technique can potentially create a rich channel for non-invasive brain stimulation using olfactory cues, which may even be used to encode information or evoke memories, given the olfactory system's close connection to brain areas involved in memory and emotion.

In summary, this innovative approach opens up possibilities for using smell as a direct communication channel with the brain, with future research aimed at enhancing the system's capabilities.

The report "Typechecking Is Undecidable When 'Type' Is a Type" by Mark B. Reinhold discusses the complexities of typechecking in programming languages that support dependent types and a type of all types. Here are the key points simplified:

1. Dependent Types: A function has a dependent type when its return type is based on the input value. For example, a function that returns a zero vector of length n would have a return type that changes depending on the integer n.

2. Type of All Types: This concept allows types to be treated as first-class citizens, meaning they can be manipulated like regular values. This supports complex programming constructs like polymorphism, where functions can operate on any data type.

3. Undecidability of Typechecking: The report argues that for languages with these features, there is no effective algorithm to determine the type of a program, meaning typechecking cannot always be done reliably.

4. The >.*-calculus: Reinhold introduces a minimal typed calculus (the >.*-calculus) that incorporates dependent types and the type of all types. While it has some familiar properties of typed languages, it also has limitations, such as the inability to guarantee that every program will terminate (strong normalization fails).

5. Girard’s Paradox: The report references Girard's paradox, which shows inconsistencies in type theories that allow the type of all types, leading to the conclusion that such a theory cannot have a complete and consistent typechecking algorithm.

6. Implications: The findings imply that while dependent types and rich type systems offer powerful programming capabilities, they also introduce significant challenges in ensuring type correctness and consistency.

In summary, Reinhold's report highlights the trade-off between the expressive power of advanced type systems in programming languages and the inherent limitations of typechecking these systems.

Canonical has announced an extension of support for Ubuntu LTS (Long-Term Support) releases to 15 years through the Legacy add-on for Ubuntu Pro. This applies starting from Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) and offers continuous security updates, compliance tools, and OS support without requiring disruptive upgrades.

The Legacy add-on, initially introduced in 2024, previously provided a total of 12 years of support. With this expansion, users can now maintain production systems for 15 years, which is beneficial for industries with strict security and compliance needs.

Key points include:

• 15-Year Support: Ubuntu LTS releases will now have 15 years of security maintenance.
• Continuous Security: Canonical’s security team will provide ongoing updates to ensure system safety without major upgrades.
• Flexibility for Businesses: This extended support allows organizations to plan major migrations more effectively and manage compliance without rushing into upgrades.
• Simple Activation: Current Ubuntu Pro subscriptions remain active with no need for re-enrollment or major changes to systems.

Overall, this update aims to make it easier for businesses to maintain their systems over a longer period while ensuring security and compliance.

After my father's death, we discovered hidden love letters revealing a side of him I never knew. He had a relationship with a man named Edward for three years, which was a stark contrast to the distant and unhappy father I remembered. My parents had an arranged marriage, and although he often worked away, I only had a few memories of him being a caring father.

Edward shared that my dad had dreams of happiness and a life with him, far from the rigid expectations of his traditional upbringing. They had plans to build a future together, which included living openly as a couple. I realized my dad had been hiding his true self for decades, and it made me reflect on the conversations we never had.

Although my mom viewed my dad's life as wasted, I found solace in the joy he experienced in his last years with Edward. I keep my father's ashes in a cherry wood box, and during Edward's visit, he mourned deeply, revealing a relationship I had never known. Their love brought to light the life my father could have lived, filled with happiness and authenticity.

No summary available.

Summary:

sit Tool:

• Function: sit is a command-line tool for creating compressed StuffIt 1.5.1 archives on Unix systems, preserving files and folders along with their metadata.
• Compatibility: Archives can be opened on classic Mac OS and modern systems using programs like StuffIt or The Unarchiver.
• Usage: Run sit in Terminal with file or folder names as arguments. The default output file is "archive.sit" unless specified with -o. Options allow controlling file type, creator, and line endings.
• Building: Compile the tool by running make in the sit directory.
• Limitations: Uses LZW compression by default; might not handle file creation dates correctly on some Unix systems. The software may have bugs.

macbinfilt Tool:

• Function: A utility for processing Mac binary files from Usenet, specifically for extracting and reassembling BinHex 4.0 encoded data.
• Usage: It can filter and reorder multi-part articles automatically. Use it to clean up BinHex data for decoding with tools like xbin.
• When to Use: Ideal for working with historical Mac software from Usenet, especially for multi-part articles that need reassembly.

Both tools are designed to help manage Mac files and archives effectively, particularly in a Unix environment.

A UK tech minister, Ian Murray, has not provided a specific cost for the government's digital ID initiative, which aims to create digital identities for all legal residents by August 2029. This system is expected to help prove eligibility for work and provide benefits like easier access to services. The plan involves using smartphones and building on existing digital services.

During a committee meeting, Murray stated that the budget for the project is still undecided and will depend on consultations. Initial costs will be covered by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), but other departments may also need to contribute as the system is developed.

Concerns were raised about whether departments would be able to secure funding for their contributions without affecting other essential services. Murray emphasized that the digital ID project is a priority for the government and will be overseen by the Government Digital Service (GDS).

Additionally, the role of chief digital officer will not be replaced; instead, those responsibilities will be managed by the permanent secretary to ensure a government-wide approach. However, there are doubts about whether the permanent secretary will have the necessary experience for digital transformation.

Summary: Silicon Valley Startups and Their Ethical Issues

Silicon Valley startups often claim to be improving the world, but their practices are deeply unethical, institutionalizing theft on a global scale. While companies like Google promote ideals such as "don't be evil," the reality is that their culture exploits workers and contributes to significant social issues, such as poverty and inequality.

The startup environment is structured like a mini-dictatorship, where owners control everything and workers are kept in the dark about salaries and profits. This system leads to a clear divide between capitalists, who profit from the labor of workers, and the workers themselves, who receive only wages, thus violating the principle of fair exchange.

Most startups are funded by venture capitalists who demand ownership stakes, allowing them to profit from the workers' contributions without directly participating in the work. This creates systemic exploitation, as the owners benefit disproportionately from the value created by their employees.

Furthermore, the culture in Silicon Valley discourages the establishment of worker cooperatives, which could offer fair profit-sharing and democratic decision-making. Instead, workers are incentivized to accept stock options which can obscure their exploitation, as these options tie them to the capitalist system.

In summary, while Silicon Valley presents itself as a progressive and innovative hub, it perpetuates economic inequality and social injustice. To truly enact positive change, workers should consider creating democratic worker cooperatives rather than traditional capitalist firms, which only serve to reinforce existing power imbalances.

Summary of WorldGen Research Update

WorldGen is a new technology that allows users to create interactive 3D worlds by simply typing a text prompt, such as “cartoon medieval village” or “sci-fi base station on Mars.” This system ensures that the generated worlds are visually consistent and sound, allowing characters to move freely without issues.

Developed by the 3D GenAI Team at Reality Labs, WorldGen uses advanced techniques like procedural reasoning and diffusion-based 3D generation to create rich, navigable environments suitable for gaming and simulations. It generates entire 3D scenes that maintain quality over larger areas (up to 50 x 50 meters), unlike other systems that only focus on a single viewpoint.

While still in the research phase, WorldGen can produce content compatible with popular game engines like Unity and Unreal. The aim is to make 3D content creation faster and more accessible, enabling more people to build virtual worlds without needing coding skills.

Future improvements are planned to allow for even larger spaces and faster generation times. The team behind WorldGen acknowledges the collaboration of various individuals who contributed to this project.

No summary available.

No summary available.

The text discusses an innovative approach to consuming news by looking at historical events from 40 years ago, allowing people to engage with significant stories without the stress of real-time news. The idea is to revisit events from the Reagan Era, drawing parallels to today's issues like celebrity influence, Cold War dynamics, and economic challenges.

The system works by scanning old newspapers, converting them into text, and then analyzing and scoring the stories based on their historical significance. It then generates new headlines and summaries from these events, making them compelling and easy to consume over time.

For instance, the text describes how the story of the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking unfolds in a dramatic way when read in 2025, highlighting the surprising reactions and consequences of the events. This method provides the excitement of news with the comfort of knowing the outcomes.

The technology used includes React, Node.js, and Gemini for processing the information. The service is available at forty.news, where users can opt to receive stories via email.

Summary of the Underwater Camera Specialist's Report (DCA23FM036)

Accident Details:

• Location: 900 nautical miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Date: June 18, 2023
• Time: 9:45 AM EDT
• Submersible: OceanGate Titan

Investigation Overview:

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not form a specific underwater camera group for this incident but created a summary based on existing data.
• The underwater camera examined was a SubC Rayfin Mk2 Benthic model, capable of recording underwater video and images up to 6,000 meters deep.

Camera Condition:

• The camera was recovered with an intact outer casing but had a shattered lens.
• Internal examination showed partial damage to circuit boards and broken connectors.
• A Secure Digital (SD) memory card was found undamaged.

Data Recovery:

• The SD card contained encrypted data, and attempts to access this data revealed complications due to encryption methods.
• The camera’s operating system was outdated and likely used older encryption techniques, complicating data retrieval.

Technical Findings:

• The camera’s internal components, including a System-On-Module (SOM), were damaged.
• The encryption keys necessary for accessing the SD card data were likely stored in the damaged CPU or other inaccessible areas.
• Two approaches to recover the data were identified: extracting the encryption key from the NVRAM chip or using a hardware method to boot with a replacement SOM.

Conclusion:

• The investigation highlighted significant challenges in recovering data from the camera due to physical damage and encryption issues. Further efforts would require specialized equipment and techniques to potentially access the encrypted data.

No summary available.

Summary: "The Boring Part of Bell Labs" by Elizabeth Van Nostrand

Elizabeth Van Nostrand reflects on her father's work at Bell Labs, particularly in the applied division at Holmdel, contrasting it with the more famous research division at Murray Hill known for groundbreaking inventions like transistors. Through an interview with her father, she learns about the supportive roles that enable major innovations.

A key highlight is the "One Year On Campus" (OYOC) program, which allowed new graduates to earn a master's degree while working at Bell Labs, receiving a salary and covering tuition. This program attracted many applicants in 1970, and her father participated, studying operations research at Cornell.

Van Nostrand's father worked on practical projects, such as designing tools like slide rules for salesmen, improving inventory control for telephone exchange parts, and using simulations for call processing. He emphasized the importance of mundane but essential work that supports innovations, illustrating how routine tasks can be vital for overall efficiency.

Overall, the text celebrates the less glamorous yet critical functions at Bell Labs that contribute to technological advancements and acknowledges the value of applied work in the broader context of research and development.

A recent court filing revealed serious allegations against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, regarding sex trafficking and user safety on its platforms. Former head of safety Vaishnavi Jayakumar stated that Meta had a high threshold for suspending accounts involved in sex trafficking, allowing up to 16 violations before action was taken. Plaintiffs in a lawsuit claim Meta knowingly allowed harmful content, including abuse and mental health issues, to persist on its platforms while downplaying these risks to the public and Congress.

The lawsuit involves over 1,800 plaintiffs, including parents and school districts, accusing Meta and other social media companies of prioritizing growth over user safety, particularly for children. They argue that Meta's policies and practices have led to increased mental health problems among teens and that the company failed to implement safety features that could protect young users.

Meta has since introduced features aimed at enhancing user safety, such as private accounts for teens, but plaintiffs allege these changes were delayed for years. The brief cites internal documents suggesting that while Meta recognized the addictive nature of its products, it did not take sufficient action to address these issues, fearing it would impact user engagement.

The allegations also include that Meta misled Congress about its awareness of the negative effects of its platforms, neglected to remove harmful content, and targeted younger users as part of a business strategy. Meta has denied these claims, asserting it has made efforts to improve safety and protect its users.

This paper examines approximate Hadamard matrices, which are special square matrices made up of the numbers +1 and -1. These matrices are well-conditioned, meaning they perform reliably in calculations. The key finding is that as the size of the matrix (n) increases, the best possible condition number approaches 1. The authors also present some specific examples of infinite families of these matrices.

This guide helps you set up audio on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 (16IAX10H) using Linux. Here are the main steps:

1. Install Firmware: Copy the aw88399_acf.bin file to /lib/firmware/.

2. Download Kernel Sources: Get the Linux kernel version 6.17.8.

3. Patch Kernel: Apply the provided patch to the kernel sources.

4. Configure Kernel: Enable specific options in the kernel configuration to support audio.

5. Compile and Install Kernel: Build and install the patched kernel.

6. Install NVidia Drivers: Use the NVidia DKMS drivers for better graphics support.

7. Generate initramfs: Create an initramfs based on your distribution's requirements.

8. Update Bootloader: Modify your bootloader configuration to include the new kernel.

9. Reboot: Restart your system and check that you're using the new kernel.

10. Install ALSA Configuration: Copy the ALSA configuration file for proper audio control.

11. Calibrate Audio: Run specific commands to set up the audio system.

After completing these steps, your audio should function correctly. The guide includes a disclaimer stating that the authors are not responsible for any issues that may arise from following it. The effort behind this solution involved significant collaboration and testing from multiple contributors.

No summary available.

The author discusses their experience with TypeScript, highlighting the satisfies keyword as their favorite. TypeScript has a complex type system, which can sometimes lead to confusion, especially when it doesn't infer the most precise types. For example, while one object can be defined as having a specific string value (like "Jerred"), another object may just be typed as a general string, which can lead to type mismatches when passed to functions requiring specific types.

The satisfies keyword can help simplify type assignments by allowing TypeScript to infer more specific types without needing explicit annotations. This is useful when defining complex types, like ensuring a property is a specific value (e.g., isCool: true).

Using satisfies, the type can be more accurately assigned based on the actual value, making the code cleaner and reducing the chance of errors. Overall, satisfies helps developers ensure that TypeScript accurately reflects the intended types in their code.

Scientists have found that kissing dates back over 21 million years, suggesting it originated with the common ancestors of humans and great apes. This research, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour, indicates that Neanderthals may have kissed too, possibly even with early humans.

The study defined a kiss as non-aggressive, mouth-on-mouth contact without food transfer. Researchers observed kissing behaviors in various animals, including wolves, prairie dogs, polar bears, and certain birds, to trace the evolutionary history of kissing.

While the study identified when kissing likely evolved, it did not explain why it developed. Some theories suggest it may have stemmed from grooming behaviors or served as a way to assess a partner's health. Lead researcher Dr. Matilda Brindle emphasized the importance of studying this behavior, highlighting its significance in understanding our connection with non-human relatives.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) for Debian

Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) is a commercial service that extends the support for Debian releases to 10 years, adding 5 extra years beyond the standard 5 years provided by the Long Term Support (LTS) project. ELTS is managed by Freexian and is not officially part of the Debian project. It focuses on providing updates for individual users and non-profit organizations, with the specific packages supported determined by subscribing organizations.

Currently, ELTS covers:

• Debian 9 "Stretch": Supported from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2027.
• Debian 10 "Buster": Supported from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029.

Future releases include:

• Debian 11 "Bullseye": Support from September 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031.
• Debian 12 "Bookworm": Support from July 1, 2028, to June 30, 2033.
• Debian 13 "Trixie": Support from July 1, 2030, to June 30, 2035.

For more information about ELTS and updates, you can visit Freexian's Extended LTS webpage. If you need additional help with Debian systems, consider hiring paid consultants.

The author often struggles with writing good commit messages and prefers to express their own thoughts rather than letting AI write them. To address this, they created a tool called "smartcommit" that asks questions about code changes and helps users articulate their thoughts into clear commit messages. This tool captures the "what," "how," and "why" of the changes. The author developed it after feeling confused about their own changes six months into a project and is seeking feedback on the tool.

Charli XCX shares her thoughts on the realities of being a pop star, emphasizing that she views her work more as a creative expression than a job. She highlights both the fun aspects, like attending glamorous parties, meeting interesting people, and enjoying free gifts, as well as the challenges, such as feeling out of place in strange environments and dealing with public perceptions.

She observes that being a pop star can lead to ridicule, especially from those who want to pigeonhole her into a certain image. Charli reflects on how success can change relationships and how she sometimes feels disconnected from her past self. Despite the glamorous facade, she acknowledges the humbling experiences that remind her of her roots.

Charli also discusses the expectation for celebrities to always be truthful, noting that she doesn't see her favorite artists as role models but rather as sources of escapism and fantasy. Ultimately, she embraces the complexities of her identity as an artist and the freedom to express herself without being confined to public expectations.

I'm sorry, but I can't access external links or content. However, if you provide me with the text or main points you want to summarize, I'll be happy to help!

A user on Hacker News has created a tool called gh-slimify to help migrate GitHub Actions workflows to the new, cheaper ubuntu-slim runners. The migration process can be complicated, as it requires checking for Docker usage, services, and dependencies that may not be available in the slim version.

gh-slimify automates this process by scanning your repository to identify which workflows can be safely switched, flagging any issues, and updating only the compatible workflows with simple commands:

• gh slimfy analyzes workflows
• gh slimfy fix updates safe jobs

The tool is open-source and includes a bonus feature: a prompt for an AI agent that can perform similar workflow analysis. The creator is seeking feedback, particularly on edge cases and areas for improvement.

Here are the key points from the latest news:

1. Edge Copilot AI: The Edge browser's AI can now take screenshots for users.

2. Chrome for Android: Users can now pin tabs in the Chrome browser on Android devices.

3. Xbox Games Release: 32 new games will be available on Xbox next week (November 24–28).

4. Windows 11 Update (KB5070307): This update enhances the context menu in File Explorer and allows users to uninstall apps directly from the Library page.

5. JPEG XL Support in Chrome: Google is working on reintroducing JPEG XL, an image format that reduces file size without losing quality, back into Chrome after previously removing it due to low interest. This format is already supported by other platforms like Safari and in PDF documents.

These updates reflect ongoing improvements and features in popular software and platforms.

Summary of Tektronix Products in Movies and Shows

Tektronix equipment has appeared in many films and television shows from 1953 to present. The appearances are categorized into three time periods:

1. 1953-1984: Notable films and shows include:

   • The Magnetic Monster (1953) features a brief appearance of a Tektronix oscilloscope.
   • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) uses a P600X probe.
   • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) showcases a Grass Valley Switcher.
   • Other films like Silent Running, Diamonds Are Forever, and Ghostbusters also feature various Tektronix models.

2. 1985-2009: Highlights from this period include:

   • Back to the Future (1985) and Real Genius (1985) feature multiple Tektronix products.
   • A Beautiful Mind (2001) and episodes from Lost also include these instruments.

3. 2010-Present: Recent appearances include:

   • Hidden Figures (2016) and episodes from The Big Bang Theory.
   • Ghostbusters (2016) features a Tektronix oscilloscope in the ECTO-1 vehicle.

Overall, Tektronix products have been prominently featured across various genres, showcasing their relevance in both scientific and entertainment contexts.

Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) is a security feature designed to prevent memory corruption and exploitation by signing pointers in ARM architectures (starting from Armv8.3-A). It adds a small cryptographic signature to pointers, allowing the system to validate their use at runtime. This is particularly important for distinguishing between user-mode and kernel-mode addresses, which are defined by the most significant bit of the address.

In Windows, PAC is implemented to protect instruction pointers, specifically return addresses, in both user-mode and kernel-mode. The process begins during the system startup when the boot loader checks if PAC is supported and initializes the necessary signing keys. These keys are stored in specific system registers, which are updated as the execution mode changes between user-mode and kernel-mode.

Windows uses PAC to enhance security against attacks that manipulate return addresses, such as return-oriented programming (ROP). If a return address is corrupted, PAC will cause the system to fail and prevent unauthorized execution, thus improving system integrity.

The implementation of PAC in Windows is tightly controlled by the kernel, which manages the signing keys and ensures that they cannot be easily modified by attackers. Additionally, features like HyperGuard protect against unauthorized changes to PAC-related data.

Overall, PAC provides a robust defense mechanism against certain types of memory corruption exploits on ARM-based systems running Windows, with potential for future enhancements to protect data access as well.

Summary of Racket v9.0 Release: Parallel Threads

On November 23, 2025, Racket introduced version 9.0, which now supports shared-memory threads that can run in parallel on multicore systems. This is a significant upgrade from previous versions, which only allowed concurrent execution.

Key Features:

• Creating Parallel Threads: You can easily create a parallel thread by adding a flag in the thread call. For example, using the flag #:pool 'own allows a thread to utilize its own resources, effectively improving performance.
• Performance Gains: Benchmarks show that parallel threads can significantly reduce execution time, especially on multicore processors. For example, a task that took longer with a single thread can run about twice as fast with two parallel threads.
• Backward Compatibility: Racket ensures that existing libraries and programs will still work. However, libraries that use mutable variables must now incorporate locks or other concurrency controls to function correctly in a multithreaded environment.

Additional Improvements:

• The new version includes enhancements to Racket's thread scheduling and garbage collection to better support parallelism.
• While parallel threads improve performance for numerical tasks or those using unshared data structures, I/O operations may still need optimization for better speed.

Overall, Racket v9.0 aims to enhance programming efficiency by making it easier to utilize multicore hardware while maintaining compatibility with existing code.

Kodak operated a secret nuclear device in its basement for over thirty years, known as the californium neutron flux multiplier (CFX). Installed in 1975, the CFX used weapons-grade uranium and a small amount of californium-252 to generate neutrons for research purposes, such as analyzing chemicals and conducting neutron radiography, which is better for detecting lighter materials than X-rays.

Despite its complex setup that resembled a nuclear reactor, the CFX was designed to remain subcritical, meaning it couldn't sustain a nuclear chain reaction. It operated under strict government oversight until it was decommissioned in 2007. Kodak only drew public attention when an employee revealed its existence in 2012, leading to concerns about the use of highly enriched uranium.

Ultimately, the CFX was a notable example of Cold War-era engineering rather than a secretive weapon program, showcasing the intersection of advanced technology and nuclear science in a corporate setting. The facility has since been sold, and the area was declared safe after the device was removed.

The MCP Apps Extension (SEP-1865) is a new proposal aimed at adding interactive user interfaces to the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This extension responds to strong demand from the MCP community and builds on existing work from MCP-UI and OpenAI Apps SDK. It will allow MCP servers to provide rich user interfaces to host applications, making it easier to present visual information and gather complex user input.

Currently, MCP servers can only exchange text and structured data, which can complicate tasks like rendering visual data. The lack of standardization in current implementations has led to challenges and potential fragmentation within the ecosystem. The MCP-UI project has already shown that interactive apps can integrate well with MCP, and leading companies are starting to adopt these patterns.

The new extension proposes a standardized way to declare UI resources, enabling efficient communication between UI components and host applications using existing protocols. Initially, it will support HTML content in sandboxed iframes, ensuring broad browser compatibility and security. Future updates may include additional content types.

Key security measures include sandboxing, pre-review of templates, structured communication, and user consent for actions initiated by the UI. The extension is optional, allowing existing systems to continue working without changes, and it includes fallback options for text-only interactions.

The MCP community is encouraged to review the full specification, provide feedback, and participate in discussions to help refine and implement this proposal.

The text appears to be a prompt for signing in or registering for a service. It likely involves creating an account or accessing an existing one. The main points are about logging in or signing up to use the service.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary

This article discusses the concept of "open bus behavior" in vintage Macintosh computers, particularly in the compact models like the 128K, 512K, Plus, SE, and Classic.

Key Points:

1. What is a Bus?

   • A bus in digital electronics connects multiple devices, enabling communication between them. The compact Macintosh uses an address/data bus with specific lines for addressing and data transfer.

2. Open Bus Behavior:

   • When the CPU requests data from an unassigned address, it can still receive a signal indicating success due to built-in logic that acknowledges all bus transfers, even if no device actually responds. This can lead to undefined data being read.

3. Impact of Open Bus Behavior:

   • This behavior can affect software, as some applications may depend on the values returned from unassigned memory addresses.

4. Examples of Software Issues:

   • Two applications were analyzed:
     • The Print Shop 1.0: Initially failed to run due to checks involving unassigned memory addresses, which resulted in the app exiting if it read a zero.
     • Animation Toolkit 1.0: Crashed on Macintosh Plus with 4MB RAM due to a memory allocation error that the program didn't handle properly.

5. Emulation Accuracy:

   • The emulator "Snow" was improved to accurately replicate this open bus behavior, allowing it to run applications correctly, even if it resulted in crashes similar to real hardware.

6. Conclusion:

   • Achieving accurate emulation of vintage systems requires replicating their quirks and bugs closely, which can sometimes lead to problematic behavior in software.

This understanding is essential for developing accurate emulators and preserving the experience of using vintage Macintosh software.

A recent study involving over 100,000 young adults suggests that owning a smartphone before age 13 can lead to worse mental health outcomes later in life, especially for girls. The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that early smartphone use is linked to issues such as low self-image, feelings of detachment, and suicidal thoughts.

Key findings include:

• About 48% of girls who had smartphones by age 5 or 6 reported serious suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% of those who got smartphones at age 13 or older.
• For boys, 31% with early smartphone access reported severe suicidal thoughts, versus 20% of those who waited until they were older.
• The study highlights the negative impact of social media, cyberbullying, and poor family relationships on mental health.

Experts recommend that children should not have smartphones until at least age 14 and suggest parents discuss responsible internet use with their kids. Limiting social media access is also advised to protect children's mental well-being. Overall, the findings call for more awareness and guidelines surrounding smartphone use among children.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance announced two important updates for IoT technology: Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi, introduced on November 18, 2025.

Zigbee 4.0 enhances the security, range, and interoperability of IoT devices. It combines traditional Zigbee and Smart Energy features, simplifying certification and improving smart home solutions. It supports multiple frequency bands (including 800 MHz and 900 MHz) for better coverage and is fully compatible with existing Zigbee devices. Key security features include advanced authentication methods and tools to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring a secure network environment. Usability is improved with features like Bluetooth Low Energy onboarding and efficient setup for multiple devices.

Suzi is a new brand for Zigbee's long-range, low-power mesh networking technology. It aims to provide reliable connectivity for various applications, including residential and industrial uses, while maintaining high security standards. The Suzi Certification Program will start in early 2026, allowing manufacturers to certify products that utilize this technology.

Together, Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi aim to enhance global IoT networks, making secure and intelligent connectivity more accessible. The Connectivity Standards Alliance continues to lead the development of open standards for IoT solutions.

Summary of the macOS Boot Chain & Security Architecture

1. Silicon Root of Trust: The security of macOS on Apple Silicon is established by hardware rather than software. The Boot ROM, also known as SecureROM, is the first code executed and is immutable, creating a hardware root of trust.

2. Boot Process:

   • Upon powering up, the system enters a high-privilege state. The Boot ROM initializes hardware, masks interrupts, and sets up the execution environment.
   • It then decrypts the Low-Level Bootloader (LLB) using a unique hardware key, the GID Key, which is never exposed to software.

3. Security Measures:

   • Code Signing: The Boot ROM uses a Public Key Accelerator (PKA) to verify the integrity of the firmware before execution. It checks signatures against an embedded Apple Root CA key.
   • Development vs. Production: Devices have different configurations for development (more debugging options) and production (strict security measures). This distinction affects how firmware is signed and the ability to debug.

4. Proprietary ISA Extensions: Apple has added custom instructions to the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) to enhance security, such as:

   • Pointer Authentication Codes (PAC): Protects against pointer corruption by validating pointers with cryptographic signatures.
   • Branch Target Identification (BTI): Prevents certain types of attacks by enforcing rules on indirect branches in code.

5. Secure Enclave Processor (SEP): This is a separate chip that handles sensitive operations like biometric authentication independently from the main processor. It runs its own OS and has strict protections against attacks.

6. SEP Operations:

   • The SEP initializes from its own Boot ROM and uses a Memory Protection Engine (MPE) to secure interactions with memory.
   • It implements anti-replay mechanisms using an Integrity Tree to ensure that past states cannot be restored maliciously.

7. Communication: The SEP and the main processor communicate through a Mailbox interface, ensuring messages are exchanged securely and asynchronously.

8. Secure Storage: The SEP interacts with a Secure Storage Component (xART) to manage sensitive data, ensuring it is encrypted and protected from tampering.

9. Reverse Engineering Focus: Understanding the internal workings of the SEP and its communication protocols is crucial for analyzing security and potential vulnerabilities.

In summary, the security architecture of macOS on Apple Silicon relies heavily on immutable hardware, strict code signing, and advanced cryptographic techniques, with the Secure Enclave Processor functioning as a critical component for managing sensitive tasks securely.

A recent study found that moss spores can survive for nine months in the vacuum of space. Researchers tested spreading earthmoss (Physcomitrium patens) by placing its spore capsules on the outside of the International Space Station, where they faced harsh conditions like intense radiation and extreme temperature changes. Surprisingly, over 80% of the spores germinated after returning to Earth, demonstrating unexpected resilience.

The study highlights the evolutionary toughness of mosses, which have adapted to survive in extreme environments since they first moved from water to land about 500 million years ago. This survival capability is significant for future space exploration, suggesting that mosses could help establish ecosystems on the Moon or Mars, as they require minimal soil and can extract nutrients from rock.

The writer is looking for a donated PC or laptop because they want to start freelance work but can't afford a computer. They are grateful for any help and are willing to pay for shipping if necessary.

Diffusion language models can generate text quickly, while autoregressive (AR) models produce higher quality results. The challenge is to combine the speed of diffusion models with the quality of AR models. Current methods struggle to balance these two aspects, often sacrificing efficiency or quality.

Introducing TiDAR, a new hybrid model that combines the strengths of both approaches. TiDAR drafts tokens using diffusion techniques and samples final outputs with autoregressive methods, all in one forward pass. This design makes efficient use of GPU resources and improves both drafting speed and quality.

TiDAR has been rigorously tested against various models, showing better performance in speed and quality compared to speculative decoding and other diffusion models. It can generate significantly more tokens per second while closing the quality gap with traditional AR models.

No summary available.

The article discusses the potential revival of niche blogs as personal blogs make a comeback. It suggests that blogging has few rules, and what is considered "meaningful" content varies by individual. In the past, niche blogs focused on specific topics thrived, with writers often seen as experts in their fields. However, blogging has changed, with social media and influencers dominating attention.

Despite the decline in commercial blogging, there is a growing movement for personal websites, which provide a platform for sharing diverse information rather than just personal journals. The author believes that restoring quality niche blogs is essential for providing reliable information in a digital landscape filled with misinformation and AI-generated content.

The article emphasizes the need for independent writers to create well-written, focused content without overwhelming ads or distractions. This resurgence aims to rebuild a vibrant online space that prioritizes accessible and trustworthy information.

Summary: Helping Valve to Power Up Steam Devices

Valve recently announced three new gaming devices: the Steam Frame (a wireless VR headset), the Steam Machine (a gaming console), and the Steam Controller (a handheld game controller). These devices are successors to the popular Valve Index and Steam Deck and will be released next year.

Igalia has collaborated with Valve on SteamOS, especially contributing to the Steam Frame, which uses an ARM-based CPU. This means that games designed for x86 CPUs, common in gaming PCs, need a translation layer called FEX to run on the Frame. This translation process can be challenging and requires extensive testing.

Additionally, the Steam Frame uses a Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU, which requires a reliable Vulkan driver, Mesa3D Turnip, to ensure high performance and correct rendering of desktop games. Igalia has worked hard to implement necessary features and optimizations to improve the driver’s performance compared to proprietary options.

Igalia’s engineers have also contributed to shader compilers and ensured their work benefits a wide range of Snapdragon hardware. They actively participate in developing graphics API standards like Vulkan, helping game developers with better performance across devices.

Looking ahead, Igalia continues to innovate, focusing on efficient task scheduling and display driver support for AMD hardware to enhance the performance of SteamOS. Their partnership with Valve promises to improve Linux gaming and invites collaboration on future projects.

No summary available.

Three brothers discovered a valuable Superman comic while cleaning their late mother's attic in California. The comic, Superman #1 from June 1939, was in excellent condition and sold for $9.12 million at auction, making it the most expensive comic ever sold. The brothers found the comic among old newspapers in a cardboard box, which had been forgotten for years. Their mother had collected the comic books between the Great Depression and World War II but never showed them to her children. The comic's great condition was attributed to the cool climate of northern California. This sale surpassed the previous record for a comic book by $3 million, highlighting the emotional connection the brothers have with the comic as a family memory.

No summary available.

The text is a directory of humorous and unconventional academic works, primarily focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) topics. It includes a list of various papers and projects by different authors, covering quirky subjects like math problems, AI, and even unique studies related to animals and food. Some examples are "Conference Fermi Problems," "The Carcinisation of Satan," and "Are Cats Good?" The directory showcases a mix of serious and playful research, indicating a trend of merging humor with academic inquiry. Overall, it highlights the creativity and diversity in STEM humor.

Summary of "SimpleMMO – How I made a hole a home" by Mike

In August 2017, Mike wanted to find a simple game to play during his free time, specifically one that was easy to use and didn't require much commitment. After searching extensively, he realized that most games were overly complex or had poor user experiences. This led him to the idea of creating his own game, which would be straightforward, with minimal loading screens and a clear objective.

On August 23, 2017, he began developing SimpleMMO using the Laravel framework, quickly creating a basic prototype. On February 2, 2018, he launched the game, which featured basic functionalities like traveling, PvE, PvP, and an inventory system. Initially, the game received over 100 downloads in its first month, surprising Mike.

As he continued to develop the game over the following months, he introduced new features, but some design flaws emerged due to a lack of foresight. The game saw a surge in downloads, reaching over 50,000, but then faced a significant drop when a change in the Google Play Store algorithm affected visibility.

Despite the challenges, SimpleMMO has grown to over 500,000 downloads by 2021, with an active community and ongoing improvements. Mike reflects on his journey, sharing his experiences and plans to discuss more about SimpleMMO in future blogs.

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external links or content from the internet. If you provide the text you want summarized, I can help you with that!

No summary available.

I created vibescaffold.dev, an AI tool that helps you develop your ideas into a complete plan for implementation. It guides you through four main steps:

1. Define your product vision and minimum viable product (MVP).
2. Use AI to create the technical structure and data models.
3. Develop a staged plan for development.
4. Generate a document for automated workflows.

I've experienced that giving AI coding tools more context leads to better results. Many tools complicate the process with unnecessary details, but this workflow aims to simplify it and support AI agents while reducing confusion. I welcome feedback on this process, especially regarding whether the upfront planning is helpful or limiting.

No summary available.

The project combines classic binary data entry with modern Unicode technology, allowing users to input any Unicode character through a USB interface. Key features include:

• A 280 x 240 display that shows a large preview of characters, including color emoji support.
• Options for entering different types of codepoints, UTF-8 encoding, and hex literals.
• Functions as a USB HID keyboard to send OS-specific codepoint sequences.
• Access to approximately 200 MB of TrueType font files stored on an SD card for quick searches by codepoint.
• Embedded Unicode block and codepoint names in the firmware, based on data from unicode.org.
• A stylish brushed aluminum front panel with clear labels.

The project began in mid-2022 for a Hackaday contest but was paused for improvements. After a year, the creator completed a version they were satisfied with. The device can render a wide range of characters, including ASCII and emojis, using the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller.

Future improvements planned for the project include better handling of glyph substitutions and creating drivers for Windows and Linux to simplify UTF-8 input. The creator acknowledges the support of various open-source projects that facilitated the build and highlights the enjoyable design process.

For more details, additional resources like schematics and a user manual are available on GitHub.

This text discusses a 1996 interview with Steve Jobs, released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Toy Story," the first full-length computer-animated film. The film was a huge success, leading to Pixar's public offering and a market valuation of about $1.5 billion. "Toy Story" was nominated for three Academy Awards and won a Special Achievement Oscar.

By the time of the interview, Pixar had grown significantly and was focused on feature films. Steve shares insights about Pixar's unique business model, which empowers artists and engineers, and emphasizes the importance of storytelling. He reflects on lessons learned from Disney about focus and leadership, particularly how to manage a highly talented team.

Overall, Steve describes creating an environment where talent can flourish and how his experiences at Pixar influenced his leadership style when he returned to Apple.

In the next ten years, AI agents capable of planning and carrying out complex tasks with minimal human supervision may be used in various industries. This chapter reviews recent advancements in AI and raises important questions for economists about how these AI agents will work with humans and each other, affect markets and organizations, and what rules or systems might be needed for markets to function effectively.

The Canterbury food bank, managed by Liam Waghorn, is facing increased demand due to rising food prices and the ongoing cost of living crisis. Many families, like a mother from Herne Bay with four children, rely on the food bank for basic necessities, often struggling to afford food and utilities.

The food bank has seen a significant rise in the number of food parcels distributed, jumping from about 450 per month in 2019 to over 1,100 now. Their monthly food costs have also surged, reaching £10,000, while donations are declining. Despite receiving some local support, the charity is facing challenges as inflation continues to push food prices higher.

The two-child benefit cap, which limits financial support for families with more than two children, is a significant issue. Advocates argue that abolishing this cap would help lift many children out of poverty. The food bank's operations have become more professional, adapting to the increasing need for assistance in the community, which has become a permanent fixture in the welfare system rather than a temporary solution.

Overall, the food bank is working hard to meet the growing demand, but faces financial strains as the number of families in need continues to rise.

Germany is taking significant steps to improve justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, announced that date rape drugs will now be classified as weapons, allowing for tougher prosecutions against their use. This decision aims to make women feel safer and more secure.

In 2024, nearly 54,000 women and girls were victims of sexual offences in Germany, with a notable increase in domestic violence cases. To enhance victim protection, the government has approved the use of electronic ankle monitors for domestic violence offenders and developed an app for victims to document abuse securely.

Despite these efforts, many cases go unreported, and there is no standard definition for femicide in Germany. The government is working to encourage more victims to come forward and seek help.

No summary available.

The creator of Wealthfolio shares updates about the app, which has improved significantly over the past year. Key updates include:

1. Multi-platform Support: Wealthfolio is now available on mobile devices (iOS) and desktop computers (macOS, Windows, Linux), with an Android version coming soon.
2. Addons System: Users can now add extensions to customize the app and create their own integrations.

The app continues to prioritize privacy, transparency, and open-source principles.

The author reflects on their three years at Data General (DG), a company founded by Edson de Castro, who significantly influenced the author's career. DG had a mix of positive and negative experiences, leading to a confusing work environment. The author appreciated the freedom and close relationship with Ed but found the company's culture strange and sometimes harsh, especially towards customers.

DG was known for its unconventional approach, achieving rapid success despite breaking traditional business rules. The contrast with their previous employer, Hewlett-Packard (HP), was stark; at HP, job security was high, while at DG, employees felt expendable and driven by profit.

The author started as Director of Software Development but discovered that software was undervalued in the hardware-focused company. Despite challenging conditions, the team was talented. The author shares anecdotes about the company's quirky behavior, management style, and lack of structure, highlighting the chaotic atmosphere.

The author faced difficulties, such as an oppressive employment agreement that restricted their future opportunities and a lack of formal management for the software team. Ultimately, these experiences at DG were life-changing and set the author on the path to becoming an entrepreneur, despite the initial doubts and challenges.

A magician named Zi Teng Wang implanted an RFID chip in his hand to use for magic tricks but forgot the password to access it. Initially, he thought it would be a fun way to perform tricks, but he found it cumbersome when trying to demonstrate it with other people's phones. He attempted to program the chip to link to a Bitcoin address or a meme, but when the meme link stopped working, he realized he couldn't reprogram it because he forgot the password he set. Zi humorously noted that he's now "locked out of technology inside my body," highlighting the risks of such implants.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of XBMC 4.0 Release

A new version of Xbox Media Center (XBMC), version 4.0, has been released, marking the first major update since 2016. This version updates the Original Xbox's media center software, which has a rich history dating back to 2002. XBMC has evolved from Xbox Media Player to Kodi, influencing many media applications, including Plex.

Key features of XBMC 4.0 include:

1. Modern Interface: It introduces the Estuary user interface, enhancing navigation and usability while maintaining performance on older hardware.

2. Games Library Support: XBMC 4.0 now offers a comprehensive games library with metadata support, allowing users to view artwork and descriptions for games, along with enhanced support for emulated games.

3. Metadata Scrapers: The new version restores functionality for retrieving movie and TV information online, helping users create rich media libraries.

4. Improved Multitasking: Despite the Xbox's hardware limitations, the update allows better multitasking for smoother operation.

5. Music Features: XBMC continues to support high-quality audio playback and various visualizers, enhancing the music experience.

6. Add-ons and Customization: The software supports Python-based add-ons, allowing users to expand its functionality. An online repository for add-ons is also available.

7. Updated Settings and Tools: The settings interface has been revamped for easier navigation, offering various playback and library management options.

This update aims to modernize the XBMC experience while preserving its legacy, ensuring the Original Xbox remains a functional media center. Ongoing development is expected, with future releases planned.

Users can download XBMC 4.0 and contribute to its development via GitHub.

Summary of "Solving Fizz Buzz with Cosines"

The article discusses the popular programming challenge "Fizz Buzz," where players count numbers but say "Fizz" for multiples of 3, "Buzz" for multiples of 5, and "FizzBuzz" for multiples of both. A typical Python solution is provided, but the author proposes a more complex solution using trigonometric functions, specifically cosines, to represent the Fizz Buzz sequence in a mathematical form.

Key points include:

1. Definitions: The Fizz Buzz sequence is defined with functions that map numbers to their respective outputs (numbers, "Fizz", "Buzz", "FizzBuzz").

2. Index Function: An index function determines which output to select based on whether a number is divisible by 3 or 5.

3. Indicator Functions: These functions simplify the process of identifying multiples of 3 and 5.

4. Trigonometric Functions: The author shows how to express the index function using cosine functions, leading to an elegant mathematical representation of the Fizz Buzz logic.

5. Discrete Fourier Transform: The article explains how the Fizz Buzz sequence can also be analyzed using Fourier transforms, demonstrating the periodic nature of the problem.

6. Conclusion: The final formula for the index function combines several cosine terms, ultimately producing a compact Python program that generates the Fizz Buzz sequence using trigonometric calculations.

Overall, the article illustrates how a simple programming exercise can be analyzed and expressed through advanced mathematical concepts, showcasing the interplay between programming and mathematics.

The provided code is a simple Java program that defines a class called HelloWorldFlow.

Key points:

• It has a method sayHello that runs a loop five times.
• In each loop, it calls another method say, which prints a greeting and returns the current loop count.
• The total of the counts from each call is added up and printed as the "Sum".

Overall, the program greets "World" five times and calculates the sum of the counts from each greeting.

Duralex, a French glass manufacturer known for its iconic Picardie glasses, recently launched a fundraising campaign to secure its future. Within just over five hours, they raised €5 million, and pledges quickly soared to over €19 million. This overwhelming support reflects the brand's nostalgic significance to many French people, symbolizing pride and tradition.

The company's director, François Marciano, expressed surprise at the rapid response, stating they were initially prepared for a longer fundraising period. Duralex, which became a staff cooperative after facing financial difficulties, has seen a surge in orders following the appeal.

The factory, located near Orléans, produces glass using a traditional process that has changed little since its founding in 1945. The Picardie glass, first introduced in 1954, is celebrated for its design and practicality, being microwave and dishwasher-safe.

Duralex plans to use the raised funds to modernize its factory and expand its product line, including new glasses for international markets. The company aims to break even by 2027, driven by increased sales and renewed public interest.

Google DeepMind has launched Nano Banana Pro, an advanced image generation and editing model built on Gemini 3 Pro. This tool allows users to create high-quality visuals with accurate text in multiple languages. Key features include:

• Versatile Design Creation: Users can easily turn ideas into infographics, diagrams, and visual mockups.
• High-Quality Output: Generate images with up to 4K resolution and consistent branding.
• Enhanced Text Rendering: Create images with clear and legible text, available in various languages.
• Advanced Creative Controls: Users can refine images by adjusting angles, focus, and lighting.

Nano Banana Pro is accessible through several Google products, including the Gemini app and Google Ads. It also includes a digital watermark for transparency, helping users identify AI-generated content. The model is available for free with limited usage for casual users, while professional users can access more features with subscriptions.

NASA has launched its Mars ESCAPADE mission, consisting of two twin probes named "Blue" and "Gold," which are set to arrive at Mars in September 2027. These probes will study how space weather affects Mars' atmosphere. They are the first Mars-bound spacecraft designed and built by Rocket Lab, a company with roots in New Zealand, which is why kiwi birds are featured on the spacecraft.

The mission aims to understand Mars' climate history and why it lost its atmosphere, which once supported liquid water. The probes will enter orbit around Mars and conduct two science campaigns between 2028 and 2029, gathering data on the planet's near-space environment in relation to solar wind.

Additionally, the probes carry plaques that honor the Rocket Lab team members who contributed to the mission, reflecting the company's global presence with symbols like the American bald eagle. The mission signifies a collaboration between several organizations, including the University of California, Berkeley, and NASA.

The paper discusses weight-sparse transformers, which are designed to have interpretable circuits in language models. The main idea is to train models with most of their weights set to zero, making each neuron's connections simpler and more understandable. This approach allows researchers to isolate and analyze the circuits that perform specific tasks, revealing that these circuits often correspond to clear, natural concepts.

Key findings include:

1. Interpretable Circuits: The weight-sparse models can isolate compact circuits for different tasks, making them easier to understand compared to dense models.
2. Trade-offs: Increasing the sparsity of weights improves interpretability but can reduce the model's overall capability. However, larger models with fixed sparsity can enhance both capability and interpretability.
3. Challenges: While weight-sparse models offer better interpretability, training them is inefficient, and scaling them beyond a certain size while maintaining interpretability is difficult.
4. Applications: The methods developed can potentially be applied to existing dense models, allowing for better understanding of their operations by creating "bridges" between sparse and dense model activations.

The research aims to enhance mechanistic interpretability in language models, enabling clearer insights into how these complex systems function. However, challenges remain in making these models efficient and fully interpretable.

No summary available.

No summary available.

The text discusses the complicated history of aspirin, from its ancient roots to modern use. Here are the key points:

1. Ancient Uses: Many historical claims suggest that willow bark, which contains salicin that converts to salicylic acid in the body, was used by ancient civilizations for pain relief. However, solid evidence for these claims is lacking, and much of it comes from folklore or unverifiable sources.

2. Discovery of Aspirin: Reverend Edward Stone is credited with first using willow bark extract to treat fever in 1763. This led to the identification of salicin and the eventual development of salicylic acid in the 19th century.

3. Synthesis of Aspirin: In 1897, Felix Hoffman at Bayer synthesized acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to reduce side effects associated with salicylic acid. However, there is controversy regarding who should be credited for its invention, with some attributing significant contributions to Arthur Eichengrün, a Jewish chemist, who faced challenges due to antisemitism.

4. Popularity and Expansion: Aspirin became widely popular after Bayer marketed it in 1899. Its use increased significantly after studies in the late 1980s showed its effectiveness in preventing heart attacks, leading to its recommendation for cardiovascular disease prevention.

5. Modern NSAIDs: Following aspirin, many other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were developed. Research has shown that these drugs work by blocking enzymes that produce pain-causing compounds.

6. Lessons on Historical Evidence: The text emphasizes the importance of referencing credible sources in scientific research to distinguish fact from myth, suggesting that many widely held beliefs about aspirin's origins may be exaggerated or incorrect.

In summary, aspirin's history is a blend of verified discoveries and longstanding myths, illustrating the challenges of accurately tracing the origins of medical knowledge.

Experts are recommending that Prozac (fluoxetine) should no longer be prescribed to children for depression. Research indicates that Prozac is no more effective than a placebo in treating depression in children and adolescents. Despite current guidelines allowing its use alongside therapy for moderate to severe depression, a review of 12 studies found that the drug's benefits are minimal and do not justify its potential side effects, which can include weight gain, sleep issues, and increased suicidal thoughts.

The study's lead author, Martin Plöderl, emphasized that the slight improvements seen with Prozac are not significant enough to impact patients' overall conditions. Other researchers have pointed out that guidelines in the UK, US, and Canada continue to recommend Prozac despite evidence of its ineffectiveness.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) still supports a mix of psychological therapies and medication for treating young people's depression but stresses the importance of regular specialist supervision. However, some experts argue that the risks of medication should not be taken when there is no proven benefit over placebo.

Android and iPhone users can now easily share files, starting with the Pixel 10 family. A new feature called Quick Share allows file transfers between iPhones and Android devices, making sharing simpler. This update focuses on security, with strong protections for user data. It's part of ongoing efforts to improve compatibility between different operating systems, like previous enhancements with RCS and tracking alerts. The feature is rolling out now, and more Android devices will support it in the future.

Summary of Concrete Shipbuilding in Argentina

This blog explores concrete shipbuilding in Argentina, particularly during and after World War I, when there was a need for vessels due to steel shortages. After the war, interest in concrete ships declined, and many built between 1917 and 1921 fell out of use.

Key Points:

1. Hume Hermanos: Founded in 1908, this civil engineering company built concrete ships to meet their transport needs. Their first ship, Concreto Primero, launched in 1918, was designed for carrying materials along rivers but is now unaccounted for. Their second ship, Don Alberto, launched in 1919, had a brief operational life of only three months.

2. GEOPÉ: An Argentinian subsidiary of a German company, GEOPÉ built two concrete ships: La Prensa (1918) and Nestor (1919). While little is known about La Prensa, Nestor was used for transporting sand and gravel before being sold and repurposed multiple times. Eventually, it became abandoned.

3. Dyckerhoff & Widmann: This company built several concrete barges during the war, including some that did not meet expectations. They also constructed floating jetties post-war, many of which still exist today and serve various purposes.

4. Surviving Structures: Today, some concrete ships and floating jetties from the early 20th century remain functional, providing unique insights into this area of maritime history.

5. Mysterious Barges: Three unidentified concrete barges were recently discovered on the Paraná River, prompting further research into their origins and purpose.

The blog concludes that while concrete shipbuilding in Argentina faced many challenges, several interesting remnants still exist that reflect this unique aspect of maritime history.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Researchers at Rice University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new physics-based model to improve MRI scans. This model, called the NMR eigenmodes framework, helps explain how contrast agents interact with water molecules, leading to clearer medical images and safer diagnostics.

Traditionally, models oversimplified the complex interactions of water molecules with contrast agents, limiting their accuracy. The new approach uses the Fokker-Planck equation to better capture molecular behavior, providing a more detailed understanding of how these interactions occur.

This research not only enhances MRI technology but also has potential applications in various fields, including battery design and studying fluid behavior in confined spaces. The team has made their code available as open source to promote further research and development.

A bug reported five years ago (Bug 1627423) was recently closed as a duplicate of another bug (Bug 1682759). The issue involved the EXIF orientation information in PNG images not being properly used for displaying images in Firefox, leading to inconsistencies in how PNGs and JPEGs were rendered.

Key points include:

• The problem was that images with the same EXIF orientation were displayed differently in browsers.
• Other browsers like Safari handle this orientation data differently than Firefox and Chrome.
• The bug was resolved by referencing another bug that addresses the same issue.

The bug's status changed from "NEW" to "RESOLVED" and marked as a duplicate just two months ago.

No summary available.

Summary: Learning Vulkan and Creating a Game Engine

The author learned Vulkan and developed a small game engine with two demo games in three months. The project was an educational experience, primarily aimed at creating simpler, level-based games rather than a general-purpose engine.

Key Points:

1. Learning Path:

   • Started with OpenGL to grasp graphics programming basics before moving to Vulkan.
   • Recommended resources for learning OpenGL include Learn OpenGL and various tutorial books.
   • Emphasized the importance of math skills, especially linear algebra, for graphics programming.

2. Vulkan vs. Other APIs:

   • Vulkan provides more control and better performance compared to OpenGL, but it is more complex.
   • Alternatives like Godot or Unreal Engine are better for quick game development without deep API knowledge.
   • The author chose Vulkan for its open-source nature and future-proof capabilities, despite OpenGL's ease of use.

3. Engine Development:

   • The author created a simple engine called EDBR (Elias Daler's Bikeshed Engine) with around 19,000 lines of code.
   • The engine supports features like model loading, shadow mapping, and dynamic rendering, with a focus on clean architecture.

4. Implementation Techniques:

   • Utilized bindless textures and other advanced Vulkan features to simplify handling graphics data.
   • Employed compute shaders for tasks like skeletal animation (skinning) to optimize performance.
   • Used a separation between game logic and rendering to streamline code and improve maintainability.

5. General Advice:

   • Avoid over-complicating projects (known as "bike-shedding") and focus on creating a simple game first.
   • Take advantage of libraries like vk-bootstrap and Vulkan Memory Allocator to ease Vulkan development.
   • Embrace a practical approach to learning; iterate and improve rather than striving for perfection in initial implementations.

6. Future Goals:

   • Plans to enhance the engine with features like bloom, ambient occlusion, and better font support.
   • Aims to continue learning and building upon the foundation established through this project.

The article highlights that while learning Vulkan is challenging, it is achievable, and the author hopes their experience will inspire others to explore graphics programming. The code for the engine and demos is available on GitHub.

Summary of "Event Sourcing in Go: From Zero to Production"

Overview: Event sourcing is a method for managing data that focuses on storing changes as a sequence of events, rather than just the current state. This approach allows for a complete history of data changes, making it ideal for applications that require audit trails and debugging capabilities.

Key Points:

1. Benefits of Event Sourcing:

   • Provides a complete audit trail.
   • Enables time-travel debugging by replaying events.
   • Allows independent scaling for reading and writing through CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation).
   • Snapshots improve performance with large datasets.

2. Core Concepts:

   • Event Storage: Stores immutable events that represent state changes.
   • Aggregate Root: Represents a cluster of domain objects that are treated as a single unit.
   • CQRS: Separates commands (which change data) from queries (which retrieve data), allowing for better performance and scalability.

3. Implementation:

   • Uses PostgreSQL for an event store that can handle up to 10,000 events per second.
   • Events are indexed for efficient querying.
   • Metadata is included with events for context and traceability.

4. Performance and Optimization:

   • Snapshots and batch processing can enhance performance.
   • Event streaming with tools like Kafka allows for real-time updates and integration with other systems.

5. Testing and Monitoring:

   • A robust testing strategy is essential to ensure data consistency and system reliability.
   • Monitoring tools track performance and potential issues within the event store.

6. Security Considerations:

   • Implement access controls, data encryption, and procedures for handling sensitive information.

7. Migration from Traditional Systems:

   • Existing systems can be transitioned to event sourcing by generating events from current data states.

8. When to Use Event Sourcing:

   • Ideal for applications requiring detailed auditing, complex business logic, or where historical data is critical.
   • Not recommended for simple applications with no audit requirements due to increased complexity and storage costs.

Conclusion: Event sourcing is a powerful approach for managing data in systems that require detailed auditing and complex interactions. While it involves higher storage costs and complexity, its benefits in certain domains, like finance, can be transformative. Starting small and gradually expanding its use is advisable.