No summary available.

Summary:

Astra is a fast Lua runtime built with Rust, offering excellent performance, reliability, and user-friendliness for Lua servers.

Key Features:

• Speed: Utilizes Rust's efficient design for fast performance.
• Lua Integration: Works smoothly with Lua for effective scripting.
• Modular Design: Flexible and resilient architecture that can expand as needed.
• Ease of Use: Comes as a single binary package, making it simple to set up and use as a standard Lua runtime.

Example Code: You can create a server easily with Astra. Here's a quick example:

• Create a new server.
• Register routes to handle requests, like returning a greeting or counting requests.
• Configure the server's port and run it.

This makes Astra a powerful tool for developing Lua applications.

Cynthia is a user-friendly app for playing MIDI music files on all versions of Microsoft Windows. It was developed to improve MIDI playback, which had become slow and unreliable in newer Windows versions compared to Windows 95. After extensive testing and development, Cynthia offers a solid solution for enjoying MIDI music again.

Key Features of Cynthia:

• Comes with 25 built-in sample MIDI files.
• Various play modes: Once, Repeat One, Repeat All, All Once, and Random.
• Supports playing ".mid", ".midi", and ".rmi" files.
• Real-time indicators for track data and volume levels.
• Can be controlled using an Xbox Controller.
• Capable of managing thousands of MIDI files.
• Allows switching between up to 10 MIDI playback devices.
• Custom built for high stability and low-level performance.
• Also compatible with Linux and Mac via Wine.
• Open-source under the MIT License.

You can view a demonstration of Cynthia on YouTube here and check out its GitHub repository here.

No summary available.

On November 24, 2025, HelixGuard identified a significant security breach affecting over 300 components in the NPM registry within a few hours. Attackers published new versions of these packages, which falsely claimed to introduce the Bun runtime. These versions included malicious scripts that, when executed, downloaded TruffleHog to steal sensitive data such as NPM tokens and cloud service credentials.

The stolen information was sent to a GitHub Action runner named SHA1HULUD, leading to the infection of over 27,000 GitHub repositories. The attack closely resembles the earlier "Shai-Hulud" incident from September 2025.

An analysis of the affected package, @asyncapi/specs, showed that the new version added the harmful script setup_bun.js to its package.json file. This script executed another file, bun_environment.js, which was highly obfuscated and designed for data theft. It collected various sensitive information, modified the package's configuration, and repackaged it for further distribution.

The malicious workflow created by the attackers included a file that encoded repository secrets and led to the creation of numerous affected GitHub repositories. The stolen secrets included various tokens and keys related to AWS, GitHub, and other services.

Overall, the attack has compromised a substantial number of popular NPM packages, posing a serious threat to developers and organizations relying on these components.

Summary of Serflings

Serflings is a remake of the classic game The Settlers 1 (also known as Serf City). It stays true to the original while adding features like higher resolutions and online multiplayer.

Starting the Game: To play, you need a specific file (SPAE.PA, SPAD.PA, or SPAF.PA) from the original Settlers 1 game for graphics and sounds. If you have the History Edition installed, this step is not necessary. The game will look for files in these locations:

1. Current directory (where the game file is).
2. Subdirectory named "data".
3. Default path for History Edition on Windows.

Purchasing the Original Game: The original game and the History Edition can be bought from Ubisoft's store as part of a collection or separately.

Game Versions:

• Stable Version: Downloadable with integrated Java or without. If using without, you need Java 17.
• Development Version: Not stable and may have bugs. Similar download options as the stable version.

Game Features:

• It supports saved games from the original Settlers 1.
• Controls are similar to the original, with added shortcuts for easier play.
• It includes most features from the original game, like missions, AI, and custom games.

Planned Features: Some features from the original are still missing or planned for future updates, including building replacement, timers, and support for network games with more players.

Languages Supported: German, English, French, and Polish.

Enjoy playing Serflings!

This paper discusses a new universal algorithm for distributed matrix multiplication, which is important for various fields like science and AI. Previous algorithms were limited to certain types of partitioning, requiring multiple implementations and causing extra communication costs when no suitable algorithm was available. The new algorithm supports all partitioning combinations and uses a method called slicing to efficiently calculate overlapping tiles for multiplication. It can execute these calculations directly or optimize them for better performance. The algorithm is implemented in a C++ framework that allows efficient GPU communication. Performance tests show that it competes well with an established library called PyTorch DTensor, which is designed for AI applications.

The text discusses a weekly event called "fixit," where a team of about 45 software engineers takes a break from regular work to focus solely on fixing bugs. This occurs quarterly and allows employees to address minor issues that have been overlooked, such as unclear error messages or slow tests.

During the latest fixit, the team fixed 189 bugs, with participants averaging four bugs each. The event fosters teamwork and morale, as engineers share updates and celebrate accomplishments through a points system and a leaderboard.

Key points about running a successful fixit include:

• Preparation: Tagging bugs as candidates for fixing throughout the year.
• Time Limits: Bugs should not take more than two days to fix to maintain momentum.
• Participation: A larger number of participants enhances the experience.
• Gamification: Using points and recognition to keep engagement high without affecting performance reviews.

Despite some criticisms, such as whether fixits admit to neglecting bugs during regular work, the author believes they are valuable for improving product quality and team spirit. Fixits also bring a sense of satisfaction from directly addressing problems, reminding engineers of earlier, hands-on experiences in their careers.

I am the main developer of vHPC, a SLURM HPC cluster created using Docker Compose. I needed a software solution that could work with the large Italian HPC cluster, Cineca Leonardo, but developing on that live system was not feasible due to long feedback times. I looked for existing container solutions but found them lacking important features.

So, I decided to build my own virtual cluster from scratch, which helped me learn more about SLURM. I designed vHPC to meet my project needs while keeping it simple and versatile. I have now proposed to open source vHPC, and it is available for others to use and modify. I am here to answer any questions about it.

Disney has lost the rights to Roger Rabbit due to a legal provision called "Termination of Transfer," which allows creators to reclaim their copyrights after 35 years. This situation highlights the struggle of creators who often license their work to companies that do not actively promote or develop it, effectively becoming "absentee landlords."

The "Termination of Transfer" clause was established in the 1976 Copyright Act to help creators regain control over their works, but it has been weakened over time. Despite the expansion of copyright protections for media companies, the actual earnings for creative workers have declined, as they often have to negotiate with a few powerful companies that dominate the market.

Creator Gary K. Wolf, who wrote the original Roger Rabbit novel, has successfully regained the rights to the character, opening the possibility for new projects, including a sequel featuring Jessica Rabbit. This case underscores the importance of legal tools that empower creators to negotiate better terms and protect their rights.

For creators looking to reclaim their rights, resources are available through Creative Commons and the Authors Alliance.

RuBee is a specialized wireless networking protocol developed by Visible Assets Inc. (VAI) for tracking assets, particularly in secure environments like government and military facilities. It was founded by John K. Stevens, who initially focused on healthcare logistics, particularly temperature-sensitive samples.

Key features of RuBee include:

1. Active Tags: RuBee uses battery-powered tags with a microcontroller, enabling continuous communication and reliable tracking of assets.
2. Low Frequency Operation: It operates at a low frequency (131 kHz), allowing for better communication through metal and water, which often interfere with other technologies like RFID.
3. Magnetic Coupling: Unlike other systems that rely on electrical fields, RuBee uses magnetic fields, making it more robust against shielding and allowing for detection even when items are stored in metal containers.
4. Security Properties: RuBee’s short-range communication (up to 30 meters) makes it difficult to detect from a distance, enhancing security in sensitive environments.

RuBee has found its primary application in military and government contexts, particularly for tracking firearms and other high-value items. Despite its potential, its adoption outside of these areas has been limited, and it faces competition from improved RFID technologies.

VAI has continued to evolve RuBee, and it has been integrated into various defense contracts, including systems for military firearms inventory. Despite having a dated website and limited public updates, RuBee remains active within niche markets, primarily focusing on defense-related applications.

Japan is investing heavily in transforming Hokkaido, known for its agriculture and tourism, into a global semiconductor hub. This initiative is part of a broader effort to revive Japan's chip-making industry, which has declined from producing over half of the world's semiconductors 40 years ago to just over 10% today.

The central player in this effort is Rapidus, a company backed by the government and major corporations like Toyota and Sony. Rapidus aims to build Japan's first cutting-edge chip factory in Chitose, Hokkaido, and has already produced prototype 2nm transistors, a significant technological achievement.

Despite this progress, Rapidus faces challenges, including a lack of experience in advanced chip manufacturing and the need for more funding to reach mass production. The Japanese government has committed substantial financial resources to support the chip industry, including a $27 billion investment and a recent $65 billion package for AI and semiconductors.

Hokkaido is also seeing the establishment of a semiconductor ecosystem, with companies like TSMC and Micron setting up operations in Japan. Rapidus plans to differentiate itself by producing custom chips faster than competitors, capitalizing on growing global demand for semiconductors, especially in light of rising AI technology.

Overall, Japan's investment in Rapidus and its semiconductor industry represents a critical effort to regain technological prowess and ensure national security in chip manufacturing.

No summary available.

The user has a Phonak Audeo 90 hearing aid that stopped working after 5 years and is looking for a new one. They have moderate hearing loss and have used hearing aids for many years. They enjoy listening to music and nature but also need assistance in meetings and noisy places. They are not concerned about the cost and want to make the most of their work insurance before retiring. They are asking for recommendations on good hearing aids.

µcad is an open-source programming language designed for creating 2D sketches and 3D objects. It is still in development but is becoming more stable with weekly updates. The website will provide news on the latest changes and features. Recently, they released version 0.2.14, and encountered some challenges with a specific issue during the release process. The blog features live coding videos demonstrating projects like a Spirograph and Lego Bricks.

Summary:

Google Cloud is enhancing the scalability of Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) to handle large workloads, particularly in AI. GKE currently supports clusters of up to 65,000 nodes, but Google recently tested a cluster with 130,000 nodes, doubling the supported limit. This scaling requires advancements in various areas, including Pod creation and scheduling.

Key points include:

1. Demand for Mega Clusters: Many customers are using clusters with 20,000 to 65,000 nodes, and demand is expected to stabilize around 100,000 nodes. This shift is moving from chip supply limitations to power constraints, as large clusters require significant electrical power.

2. Innovations for Scalability:

   • Read Scalability: New features help reduce the load on the central datastore by serving data from memory, improving speed and efficiency.
   • Distributed Storage: A proprietary key-value store supports high request rates, ensuring stable operations.
   • Job Queueing with Kueue: This tool helps manage complex AI workloads by prioritizing jobs and ensuring efficient scheduling.

3. Benchmarking: Google tested GKE's performance through a four-phase benchmark simulating different workload scenarios. The tests demonstrated GKE's ability to manage large-scale demands, including rapid Pod creation and low startup latency.

4. Performance Metrics: The benchmark showed that GKE could handle up to 1,000 operations per second for Pod scheduling and maintained stability even with over 1 million objects in the database.

Overall, the findings indicate that GKE can support AI and ML workloads at unprecedented scales, paving the way for future developments in the platform.

No summary available.

Summary: Using Secure Enclave Backed SSH Keys on MacOS

MacOS Tahoe can now create and use SSH keys backed by the Secure Enclave, replacing earlier projects like Secretive. A new library, /usr/lib/ssh-keychain.dylib, enables this feature by supporting the SecurityKeyProvider interface, which allows direct communication with the Secure Enclave.

Key Setup:

• To create a Secure Enclave backed key that requires biometrics, use:

  sc_auth create-ctk-identity -l ssh -k p-256-ne -t bio
  

• You can confirm the key creation with:

  sc_auth list-ctk-identities
  

• To delete a key, use:

  sc_auth delete-ctk-identity -h <Public Key Hash>
  

Using SSH:

• To download the keypair from the Secure Enclave, run:

  ssh-keygen -w /usr/lib/ssh-keychain.dylib -K -N ""
  

• To copy the public key for SSH access:

  ssh-copy-id -i id_ecdsa_sk_rk localhost
  ssh -o SecurityKeyProvider=/usr/lib/ssh-keychain.dylib localhost
  

Using ssh-agent:

• You can add the key directly to the ssh-agent with:

  ssh-add -K -S /usr/lib/ssh-keychain.dylib
  

Configuration:

• Set the SecurityKeyProvider environment variable in your .zprofile:

  export SSH_SK_PROVIDER=/usr/lib/ssh-keychain.dylib
  

• This allows you to use commands like ssh-add -K and ssh my-server directly.

Exportable Keys:

• You can create an exportable key variant for easier backup:

  sc_auth create-ctk-identity -l ssh-exportable -k p-256 -t bio
  

• Export the key with:

  sc_auth export-ctk-identity -h <Public Key Hash> -f ssh-exportable.pem
  

• Re-import it on another device with:

  sc_auth import-ctk-identities -f ssh-exportable.pem.p12 -t bio
  

This new method offers enhanced security for SSH keys on MacOS while simplifying key management.

The Rust Performance Book was first published in November 2020 and is authored by Nicholas Nethercote and others. It focuses on improving the performance of Rust programs and includes source code examples.

No summary available.

I created a free tool that confuses language models (LLMs) using hidden Unicode characters.

Uses include:

• Preventing plagiarism
• Hiding text from LLM scrapers
• Fun experiments

Even a small amount of this altered text can make it hard for LLMs to respond clearly.

Summary:

Fran Sans is a unique display font inspired by the destination signs on San Francisco's light rail vehicles, particularly the Muni Breda Light Rail displays. San Francisco has many independent transit agencies, each using different fonts, creating a diverse typography across the city. The Breda displays, which feature a simple mechanical design made up of geometric shapes, capture the city's blend of utility and charm.

Emily Sneddon, the font's creator, visited the SFMTA Electronics Shop to learn about these displays. She discovered that they were designed with efficiency in mind, using a fixed grid and limited characters. This inspired her to create Fran Sans, breaking down letters into modular components. The font comes in three styles and aims to balance versatility and character.

Sneddon also drew inspiration from historical typography and the Letterform Archive. However, the Breda displays will soon be replaced by newer LED signs, marking the end of an era. Sneddon hopes that Fran Sans will encourage people to appreciate the unique imperfections that give character to cities and life.

The essay discusses the importance of ego, empathy, and humility in the workplace, particularly for developers and technical leaders. It emphasizes that while empathy and humility are virtues we strive for in life, they are also practical skills that can enhance our careers.

Key points include:

1. Understanding Ego: The ego allows us to reflect and be self-aware, but it can also lead to self-justification and arrogance if unchecked. This "big ego" can be problematic in a work environment.

2. Manifestations of Ego: Developers often display their egos through jargon, gatekeeping behaviors, and statements that seek to justify their position or knowledge. These tendencies can create barriers and hinder collaboration.

3. Importance of Empathy and Humility: Empathy helps us gather new information while humility allows us to change our behavior based on that information. Both qualities are essential for effective communication and problem-solving.

4. Adopting a Collaborative Mindset: Instead of focusing on proving oneself right, the essay encourages asking constructive questions and being open to others' perspectives, which can lead to better solutions.

5. Misconceptions about Empathy and Humility: These qualities are often mistakenly seen as weaknesses. However, they require strength and can significantly improve workplace relationships and teamwork.

6. Practical Application: The essay highlights that practicing empathy and humility can lead to better collaboration and trust among colleagues, making it easier to solve problems together.

Overall, the author argues that managing our ego and cultivating empathy and humility can enhance our effectiveness and relationships at work. The essay suggests that even small changes in our behavior can have a positive impact.

Summary of "Machine Logic: Set Theory with Types"

The text discusses the ongoing debate about set theory and type theory in mathematics. While set theory, especially Zermelo-Fraenkel (ZF) set theory, is commonly seen as the foundation of mathematics, many people are unclear about its true nature and that of type theory.

Key Points:

1. Set Theory vs. Type Theory:

   • Set theory is widely believed to underpin all mathematics, yet its definition is contentious.
   • Type theory, often associated with dependent types in programming languages like Lean or Agda, was historically linked to higher-order logic before 1980.

2. NG de Bruijn's Contributions:

   • De Bruijn criticized the notion that "everything is a set," arguing that this perspective creates confusing situations in mathematics.
   • He believed that a more natural way to think about sets involves collecting elements of a specific type, which aligns with how sets are used in proof assistants like Isabelle/HOL.

3. Typed Set Theory:

   • Typed set theory avoids paradoxes like Russell's paradox (where a set could contain itself) by ensuring that elements and sets must share compatible types.
   • It includes operations like union and intersection while preventing the formation of problematic sets.

4. Higher-Order Logic and Sets:

   • Higher-order logic, influenced by the work of Whitehead and Russell, treats sets as functions that define membership through predicates.
   • This system allows for a robust understanding of functions, relations, and types.

5. Integration of ZF Set Theory:

   • The text explains how ZF concepts can be integrated into higher-order logic, allowing for the use of familiar set-theoretic notions while maintaining the benefits of typed systems.

6. Hereditarily Finite Sets:

   • The notion of hereditarily finite sets (sets that are finite at all levels) provides a useful framework for modeling data in programming without needing to rely on infinite sets.

Overall, the text emphasizes the importance of clearer definitions and structures in mathematics, advocating for a typed approach to sets that avoids the complexities and paradoxes of traditional set theory.

Imed is developing Outcrop, a fast alternative to Notion and Confluence, using Rust. After leaving Stripe, where he saw the importance of efficient knowledge bases, he aimed to create a simple and speedy tool for teams to manage information. Outcrop focuses on quick search capabilities and real-time collaboration.

To achieve this, Imed initially struggled with a complex database setup in Go but switched to Rust, which allowed him to simplify the code significantly using macro crates. He integrated a lightweight authorization system inspired by Google’s Zanzibar, enabling quick permission checks.

The search engine for Outcrop is built on the fast Tantivy library, allowing for efficient, multilingual queries. Imed also developed a custom collaborative editing system using Prosemirror rewritten in Rust, improving performance for document edits.

He envisions Outcrop as more than a text editor, incorporating features for various document types and workflows, aiming to connect knowledge management with task management. A marketing page is available for early access sign-up, with plans to launch within six months at a cost of around €/$10 per seat. Interested users can support the project by becoming early sponsors.

The recent Cloudflare outage disrupted many popular apps and websites for several hours due to a configuration error that caused a major system failure. While this situation was inconvenient, it highlights a bigger issue: the increasing centralization of the internet and our reliance on it for nearly every part of our lives, such as work, banking, and education.

The internet was originally designed to be decentralized, but many services are now concentrated with a few big providers like Cloudflare and AWS. This makes our digital infrastructure vulnerable to outages, as seen with Cloudflare's failure. Such events serve as warnings and emphasize the need for more resilient systems that can function independently when issues arise.

Just like the changes businesses made after COVID-19 to diversify their supply chains, we need to build redundancy into our digital systems. Relying too heavily on a few key players puts society at risk, and we should prepare for potential outages by ensuring there are reliable alternatives available. Embracing these outages can lead to stronger and more resilient infrastructure.

The author, Roman Grebennikov, discusses his project of fitting a search engine called Nixiesearch into AWS Lambda, aiming for a cost-effective, serverless search solution. Here's a simplified summary of the key points:

1. Serverless Limitations: Traditional serverless search engines often rely on standby nodes and have hidden costs. The author believes it should be possible to run a search engine like Nixiesearch in a truly serverless way.

2. Challenges with Existing Solutions: Popular search engines like Elasticsearch have large container sizes (around 700MB) and slow startup times (up to 40 seconds). This makes it difficult to implement them in a serverless environment.

3. Native Compilation: The author is using GraalVM to compile Nixiesearch into a native binary, which reduces the size and eliminates JVM warm-up times, making it more suitable for AWS Lambda.

4. Storage Choices: The search index can be stored on AWS S3 or EFS (Elastic File System). The author tests various methods to minimize latency, including segment replication and direct access to S3.

5. Performance Metrics: The initial cold start time for the Lambda function is about 449ms, while warm requests are significantly faster (around 3ms). However, using network-attached storage slows down search performance due to random read latencies.

6. Future Improvements: The author intends to make search processes more efficient by implementing concurrent data loading techniques to reduce latency.

7. Conclusion: Although running a search engine on AWS Lambda presents challenges, the author believes it can be done effectively with the right optimizations. He invites readers to explore Nixiesearch and shares insights on his ongoing development journey.

In essence, the author is experimenting with innovative solutions to create a fast, serverless search engine using AWS Lambda, despite the inherent challenges.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) revealed that its new website cost approximately $96.5 million, significantly higher than the initial estimate of $4.1 million. The redesign was said to be necessary for modern security and usability standards. Following numerous complaints from users, particularly farmers who struggled with the updated radar map, the federal environment minister has asked the new BOM CEO, Stuart Minchin, to investigate the high costs and functionality issues.

Since its launch on October 22, the website has faced criticism for being difficult to navigate, leading to public outcry and a government directive to make improvements. The BOM has since reverted some features, like the radar map, to better suit user needs. Minister Murray Watt expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation and urged Minchin to prioritize resolving these issues. Critics, including National leader David Littleproud, have called for accountability over the high costs, emphasizing that the changes have impacted public safety by limiting access to crucial weather data.

The text describes a toy memory allocator that is not safe for use with multiple threads, which is something the author plans to improve later. Additionally, the author wrote a tutorial blog post that explains their approach and the code, which takes about 20 minutes to read. A link to this blog post is included in the README.

No summary available.

No summary available.

The text discusses the history and evolution of the Domain Name System (DNS) and its security measures, particularly focusing on the implementation of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC).

Key points include:

1. Early Internet Development: The ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, initially connected a few hundred expensive computers, using a simple "hosts file" for network address mapping.

2. Growth of the Internet: As more institutions wanted access, TCP/IP was developed to support many more connections, leading to the creation of the Internet as a network of networks.

3. Introduction of DNS: With the rapid increase in connected computers in the early 1980s, the centrally managed hosts file was replaced by a distributed database called the Domain Name System (DNS).

4. Lack of Initial Security: The DNS evolved in a secure environment and did not incorporate strong security measures initially, which became an issue later on.

5. Security Concerns and DNSSEC: In 1990, security flaws led to the development of DNSSEC, but early versions were hard to deploy. A major security flaw discovered in 2008 prompted faster implementation of DNSSEC, allowing for cryptographic signing of DNS responses.

6. Building Trust in DNSSEC: To enhance trust and transparency, ICANN created a robust framework for managing cryptographic materials, including secure sites, multiple access requirements, and public ceremonies.

7. Personal Experience: The author recounts their 15-year journey as a Crypto Officer for DNSSEC, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and the transition of responsibilities to a successor.

8. Conclusion: The author reflects on the success of DNSSEC implementation and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the system's security. They plan to step back from most ceremonies but may participate as an external witness in the future.

Summary of "Hyperoptic: IPv6 and Out-of-Order Packets"

On November 17, 2025, the author discusses their experience enabling IPv6 on their RouterPi and issues with connectivity from their ISP, Hyperoptic. They successfully configured IPv6, but after rebooting, their router did not receive responses from Hyperoptic’s upstream router, causing intermittent connectivity problems.

Key points include:

• Router Solicitation (RS): A request sent by IPv6 devices to locate routers. The author’s router received unsolicited Router Advertisements (RAs) every 15-30 minutes instead of immediate responses after reboots.
• Connectivity Issues: After restarting, the router would obtain an IPv6 address but lack a default route, leading devices to struggle with connections, often defaulting to IPv4.
• Workarounds: Changing the MAC address of the router’s WAN interface can prompt an immediate RA, restoring connectivity. This can be done using the macchanger command. Alternatively, users can manually set the default gateway.
• Out-of-Order Packets: The author also noticed packets arriving out of order, which can disrupt streaming and online gaming. This was traced to the router misinterpreting MAC addresses starting with '4' or '6', which led to incorrect packet handling. Changing the MAC address fixed the issue.

For persistent solutions, the author suggests creating a system file to make the MAC address change permanent. They express concern that many users may face similar issues without realizing it.

CERN has introduced general principles for the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) following the approval of a comprehensive AI strategy. These principles are applicable across all areas of CERN’s work, including scientific research and administrative tasks.

Key principles include:

1. Transparency: Clearly document and communicate how AI is used and its contributions.
2. Responsibility: Humans must maintain accountability for AI's use and outcomes.
3. Lawfulness: AI usage must comply with legal standards and CERN’s Code of Conduct.
4. Fairness: AI should promote inclusivity and prevent bias or harm.
5. Security: Protect AI systems from cybersecurity risks and ensure safe usage.
6. Sustainability: Evaluate AI's impact on the environment and society positively.
7. Human Oversight: AI must always be under human control and assessment.
8. Data Privacy: Respect and protect personal data while using AI.
9. Non-military Use: AI at CERN should only be used for civilian purposes.

These guidelines aim to ensure that AI technologies are used ethically and effectively within CERN.

In a special interview from November 22, 1996, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Toy Story, Steve Jobs discusses Pixar's journey following the film's success. Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated feature film and became a hit, leading to Pixar's stock price nearly doubling after its IPO, valuing the company at around $1.5 billion. The film received three Academy Award nominations and won a Special Achievement Oscar.

After Toy Story's success, Pixar decided to focus solely on feature films, closing its television-commercial unit. By the time of the interview, the company had grown significantly, and a new film, A Bug’s Life, was in production. Steve talks about how Pixar's business model empowers artists and engineers, the lessons learned from Disney about focus and discipline, and the importance of creating a strong team dynamic. His experiences at Pixar influenced his vision when he returned to Apple, emphasizing innovation and timeless ideas.

Gitlogue is a command-line tool that allows you to replay your Git commits in a typing-style format. Here are the key features:

• Realistic typing animation
• Syntax-highlighted differences (diffs)
• Visual file tree view
• Ability to replay any commit
• Standalone command-line interface

You can find a demo video in the README and check out the repository at GitHub.

I’m sorry, but I can’t access external links directly. However, if you provide the text or main points from the document, I’d be happy to help you summarize it!

Mux - Coding Agent Multiplexer Overview

Mux is a desktop application designed for parallel development with coding agents. It allows users to work on multiple tasks simultaneously, enhancing productivity in various scenarios, such as:

• Maintaining context during code reviews, refactoring, and developing new features.
• Utilizing the powerful GPT-5-Pro model for complex problems.
• Running tasks in the background, which can resume automatically after interruptions.
• Conducting A/B testing by trying different approaches to the same problem.
• Exploring new ideas without disrupting the main project.

Key Features:

• Isolated workspaces that track changes using Git.
• Support for local and remote Git operations.
• Compatibility with multiple AI models, including local and various online models.
• A VS Code extension for easy access to Mux workspaces.
• User-friendly interface with options for managing agents and generating rich outputs.

Additional Information:

• Mux is currently in a Preview state, so users may encounter some bugs and performance issues, but it is still effective for development.
• Installation is available for macOS and Linux, with downloadable binaries provided.

For more technical details, users can refer to the documentation and setup guides. The software is open-source under the GNU Affero General Public License.

Scientists have discovered that a type of moss called Physcomitrium patens survived for nine months on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS). Remarkably, 80% of the moss spores were still able to reproduce once they returned to Earth. This research, published in the journal iScience, highlights how resilient moss can be in harsh conditions, including extreme temperatures and high radiation in space.

The moss samples were exposed to various stressors, including UV light, freezing, and heat. While most conditions had little effect, UV light caused some damage. However, the moss fared better than other plants tested under similar circumstances, suggesting that its protective structures help it survive in tough environments.

The findings could help scientists understand how to build ecosystems in space and explore the resilience of other plant species in future studies.

Summary: Build Desktop Applications Using Go & Web Technologies

Wails is a tool for creating desktop applications using Go and web technologies. Unlike traditional methods that rely on a web server, Wails combines Go code and a web frontend into a single executable file, making it easier to develop applications.

Key Features:

• Use standard Go for backend development.
• Build user interfaces with any familiar frontend technology.
• Quickly create rich frontends using templates.
• Easily connect Go methods to JavaScript.
• Automatic TypeScript definitions for Go structures.
• Support for native dialogs, menus, and dark/light modes.
• Modern visual effects like translucency.
• Unified event system between Go and JavaScript.
• A powerful command-line tool for project generation and building.
• Multi-platform compatibility with native rendering (no embedded browsers).

Target Audience: Wails is designed for Go programmers who want to integrate HTML/JS/CSS frontends into their applications without needing to set up a server.

FAQs:

• Wails can be seen as a lightweight alternative to Electron but is tailored for Go developers.
• The name "Wails" is a play on words related to building WebView applications, similar to how Rails is associated with Ruby.

For installation instructions and more details, users can visit the official website. The project has a roadmap for future enhancements and recognizes its contributors and sponsors.

Summary: How to Mount Proton Drive on Linux Using rclone and systemd

This guide explains how to automatically mount Proton Drive on a Linux system using rclone and systemd. It has been tested on Arch Linux but should work on most Linux distributions with slight adjustments.

Key Features:

• Mounts Proton Drive at login using systemd.
• Utilizes rclone with specific caching for compatibility.
• Runs as a background service with logging.
• Supports FUSE for shared access.

Quick Start Steps:

1. Install Dependencies:

   • Install fuse3 with: sudo pacman -S fuse3.
   • Install rclone (version 1.64.0 or newer) using the provided download method.

2. Configure Proton Drive:

   • Run rclone config, create a new remote named "proton," and log in through the browser.

3. Run the Setup Script:

   • Make the setup script executable and run it. This will create the mount point, configure systemd, and handle necessary user permissions.

4. Reboot or Log Out/In:

   • If added to the fuse group, log out and back in for changes to take effect.

Verification:

• Check the mount by running ls ~/ProtonDrive.
• Check the service status with systemctl --user status rclone-proton.mount.service.

Uninstallation:

• To remove the setup, disable the service and delete the relevant files.

Requirements:

• rclone (>= 1.64.0) with Proton Drive support
• fuse3
• Proton Drive account

Troubleshooting:

• If the mount fails, check the logs with journalctl --user -u rclone-proton.mount.service and restart the service as needed.

This guide provides all necessary scripts and configurations to mount and manage Proton Drive on Linux efficiently.

MathWonder: Mathematics for Everyone - Summary

"MathWonder" is a fun and engaging book designed for kids aged 8 to 12, created by Dr. Qiujiang Lu. It introduces complex numbers in a way that makes math exciting and accessible. Instead of focusing solely on traditional numbers, the book explores how modern technology, like touchscreens, connects to math through surface numbers, making learning interactive.

Key Features:

• The book simplifies complex topics and turns them into enjoyable experiences.
• It includes real-life examples and creative metaphors to help kids understand.
• Readers will learn essential math tools and concepts while building confidence.
• By the end, they'll master the number line, number grid, and key math operations like addition and multiplication.

Ideal for kids, homeschoolers, and anyone wanting to make math fun, "MathWonder" promises to transform how young learners view mathematics. Dr. Lu, a researcher from Silicon Valley, combines his expertise in math and physics to create this exciting educational journey.

Order Info: The book is priced at $19.95 and has an ISBN of 979-8-9927543-3-9.

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In the next ten years, we may see AI agents that can handle complex tasks on their own without much human supervision. This chapter looks at recent progress 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 we might need to ensure markets work well.

McMaster-Carr is an industrial supply company with an exceptional e-commerce website, mcmaster.com, which many people may not know about. The site is designed for efficiency, focusing on helping users quickly find specific parts like nuts, bolts, and bearings without distractions like popups or ads.

Key features of the website include:

1. Simple Design: The site has a minimalistic look, primarily in grayscale, to keep the focus on product categories and search functionality.
2. Effective Search Function: Users can type in specific terms and narrow down results using various filters, making it easy to find the exact part needed.
3. Informative Product Listings: Each product comes with clear specifications and helpful explanations, combining a catalog and engineer's handbook.
4. CAD File Availability: The site offers downloadable CAD files for almost every part, streamlining the design process for engineers.
5. User-Centric Approach: The design prioritizes functionality over aesthetics, aligning with the needs of its customers, who are often looking for specific items rather than browsing.

The only improvement suggested is to make the search bar more prominent on the homepage, as new users might overlook it. Overall, McMaster-Carr's website exemplifies how to cater to customer needs effectively, showcasing the importance of usability in e-commerce.

The text provides a list of values related to forces, with corresponding minimum and maximum radius measurements. The values range from -0.97 to 0.99 for forces and have several corresponding radii. Overall, the data seems to involve various types of measurements for forces and radii.

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Jimmy Cliff, a legendary Jamaican reggae singer and actor, has passed away at the age of 81 due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. His wife, Latifa Chambers, shared the news on Instagram, thanking fans for their support throughout his career. Cliff was known for hits like "You Can Get It If You Really Want," "I Can See Clearly Now," and "Wonderful World, Beautiful People." He gained fame not only for his music but also for his leading role in the influential 1972 film "The Harder They Come," which helped popularize reggae worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Jamaica, Cliff started his music career in the 1960s and rose to prominence after signing with Island Records. His music often featured messages of hope and social consciousness. Throughout his career, he faced challenges, including racism in London, but continued to create impactful music. He received several accolades, including the Jamaican Order of Merit, and was recognized by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness as a cultural giant.

Cliff's career spanned decades, and he experienced a resurgence in the 1990s with his version of "I Can See Clearly Now" featured in the film "Cool Runnings." He collaborated with many artists and won multiple Grammy Awards. His final album, "Refugees," was released in 2022. While he acted sporadically after "The Harder They Come," his primary legacy remains his music and his role in shaping reggae's global reputation.

Summary of "Calculus for Mathematicians, Computer Scientists, and Physicists" by Andrew D. Hwang:

This book serves as an introduction to abstract mathematics, particularly focusing on calculus. It covers a wide range of topics divided into several chapters:

1. The Language of Mathematics: Discusses the nature of mathematics, sets, operations, and logic.
2. Numbers: Explains different types of numbers including natural, integers, rational, real, and complex numbers.
3. Functions: Introduces basic definitions, classes of functions, and concepts like composition and inverses.
4. Limits and Continuity: Covers the concepts of limits, continuity, and sequences and series.
5. What is Calculus?: Defines calculus, rates of change, and total change.
6. Integration: Introduces integration, including partitions, examples, and properties of the integral.
7. Differentiation: Focuses on derivatives, their behavior, and higher derivatives.
8. The Mean Value Theorem: Explains the theorem and its implications for differentiability.
9. Fundamental Theorems: Discusses the relationship between integration and differentiation.
10. Sequences and Functions: Examines convergence and series of functions.
11. Logarithmic and Exponential Functions: Describes natural logarithms and exponentials.
12. Trigonometric Functions: Covers sine, cosine, and their properties.
13. Taylor Approximation: Introduces numerical and function approximation techniques.
14. Elementary Functions: Briefly touches on complex analysis and antidifferentiation.

Throughout the book, figures and examples are used to clarify and illustrate the concepts discussed. The aim is to provide a solid foundation in calculus and its applications in mathematics and science.

The Band of Holes, located in the Pisco Valley of Peru, consists of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 large holes, each about 1 meter wide and 50-100 cm deep. These pits, which have raised edges, are thought to have been created during the Inca Empire (1438–1533). Their exact purpose is unclear, but theories suggest they might have been used for storage, as graves, or for defensive positions.

The site stretches about 1.5 kilometers and has been studied since the 1930s, with early surveys suggesting they were empty graves. Recent research proposes that these holes could have served as storage for agricultural products, possibly for tribute to the Inca state. In 2025, researchers proposed that the site may have originally functioned as a marketplace before being used for accounting purposes related to tribute collection. Further studies are planned to explore these ideas.

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Racket v9.0 has been released and is available for download at https://download.racket-lang.org/.

Key features of this release include:

• Introduction of Parallel Threads, allowing for more efficient multitasking.
• Threads can now be created using the #:pool argument, and they can store results for later retrieval.
• Improvements in the compiler and syntax tracking.
• New functionality in the math library, including Weibull distributions.
• Several bug fixes and documentation enhancements.

The release was made possible thanks to contributions from many developers. Racket is an open-source project and encourages new contributors. Feedback and discussions can take place in the Racket community on platforms like Discourse or Discord.

For more details, visit the blog post at https://blog.racket-lang.org/2025/11/racket-v9-0.html.

Paul is developing a tool called Syd, which is a forensic workstation that works offline. It combines various tools like YARA and Nmap with a user-friendly interface, using a local AI model to analyze results without sending any data to the cloud, ensuring privacy for sensitive investigations.

He created Syd because existing tools can be slow and using online AI services poses security risks when dealing with sensitive information. Syd is built with Python and includes a special parser that formats data from YARA into a structured format the AI can understand.

Paul has been using Syd to analyze files and found it significantly speeds up the process, as demonstrated in a video he shared. He mentions that while creating simple AI applications is easy, integrating AI with other tools is more complex. He invites feedback on other useful analysis tools and how others manage privacy concerns when using AI for log analysis.

A recent court filing reveals serious allegations against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, regarding its handling of sex trafficking and the safety of young users on its platforms. Key points include:

1. High Tolerance for Violations: Meta had a "17x" strike policy for accounts involved in sex trafficking, meaning an account could have 16 violations before being suspended. This policy was deemed excessively lenient compared to industry standards.

2. Awareness of Harms: The filing claims Meta was aware that its platforms facilitated harmful interactions, such as adults contacting minors, and that its products contributed to mental health issues among teens. Yet, it allegedly failed to disclose these dangers publicly or to Congress.

3. Targeting Young Users: Meta reportedly targeted young users aggressively to maintain engagement, even when internal research suggested that its products could be addictive and harmful.

4. Delayed Safety Measures: Internal documents indicate that Meta resisted implementing safety features that could protect young users, fearing they would impact user growth. For example, it took years to default teen accounts to private settings.

5. Misleading Congress: The plaintiffs allege that Meta misled Congress about its knowledge of the negative effects of its platforms on teens, particularly in failing to disclose results of internal studies showing that time off Facebook and Instagram improved mental health.

6. Addiction Concerns: Employees reportedly recognized the addictive nature of Meta's products but felt that the company downplayed this issue publicly. Proposed features to mitigate addiction were often sidelined due to concerns over user engagement metrics.

Overall, the allegations paint a troubling picture of Meta's prioritization of growth and profits over the safety and well-being of its young users. Meta has denied these claims, stating it has made efforts to improve safety and protect teens on its platforms.

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After the author's father passed away, they discovered hidden love letters revealing that he had a secret relationship with a man named Edward for three years. The author's parents had a strained marriage, largely due to cultural pressures, and the father often worked away from home, missing important family events. Despite the father's absence, they shared moments together, during which he expressed his sadness and disappointment in life.

Edward described a loving relationship with the author’s father, who had planned to leave his wife and live openly with him. The letters and Edward's memories showed a different, happier side of the father, contrasting with the grim man the author knew. The author felt a mix of grief for the missed conversations and the life their father could have lived.

The father's struggles with his identity and his eventual cowardice in confronting his family led to a life full of unfulfilled potential. After finding the letters, the author's mother expressed regret over the wasted lives involved. The story captures themes of love, loss, and the complexities of family relationships.

Summary of RTorrent BitTorrent Client

Overview: RTorrent is a command line BitTorrent client designed for high performance. It uses the ncurses interface and is suitable for users who prefer a text-based application.

Getting Started:

• To learn how to use RTorrent, visit the Wiki page.
• You can download the latest stable version of RTorrent.

Related Projects:

• There is a dependency-free bencode editor available here.

Support Development: You can support RTorrent's development through donations via:

• PayPal
• Patreon
• SubscribeStar
• Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Cardano

Building RTorrent:

1. Navigate to the RTorrent directory.
2. Install required dependencies, including libtorrent.
3. Generate configuration scripts.
4. Optionally, create man pages for documentation.

Usage: For detailed usage instructions, refer to the User Guide.

Licensing: RTorrent is licensed under the GNU GPL. It uses components from Mozilla's NSS and has specific licensing considerations for linking with OpenSSL.

Dependencies Required:

• libcurl (version 7.12.0 or higher)
• libtorrent (same version as RTorrent)
• ncurses

Build Dependencies:

• libtoolize
• aclocal
• autoconf
• autoheader
• automake

Intel is developing support for a new power-saving feature in Linux for its Xe3P graphics, which will first appear with Nova Lake processors. This support will be introduced in the upcoming Linux 6.19 kernel, although additional features will be added in later versions.

One key feature being worked on is Xe3P_LPD, which allows the system cache to be used for frame-buffer compression (FBC). This will help reduce power consumption when the system is idle. The Xe3P_LPD can reserve a portion of the system cache (up to 2MB) for FBC, improving efficiency by tracking which FBC instance is using the cache.

This update is currently being reviewed but won't be ready for Linux 6.19; it is expected to be available in the next version, Linux v7.0.

No summary available.

The MCP Apps Extension (SEP-1865) is a new proposal aimed at improving the Model Context Protocol (MCP) by adding support for interactive user interfaces. This extension responds to community requests for better ways to present visual information and gather user input, moving beyond the current text-based communication.

Key points include:

1. Standardization of UI Resources: The extension introduces a uniform method for defining user interface elements, which simplifies how MCP servers can deliver interactive tools to applications.

2. Challenges with Current System: The existing MCP framework mainly allows text and structured data exchanges, making it difficult to handle complex visual data or user interactions efficiently. This often leads to cumbersome text exchanges.

3. Collaboration: The proposal is a collaborative effort involving teams from OpenAI, Anthropic, and the MCP-UI community, building on existing projects that successfully demonstrated the need for rich user interfaces.

4. Design Features:

   • Pre-declared UI resources help improve performance and security.
   • Communication between UI components and hosts uses a standard JSON-RPC protocol, ensuring structured and auditable interactions.
   • The initial implementation focuses on HTML content rendered in secure, sandboxed iframes.

5. Security Measures: The proposal emphasizes security, implementing iframe sandboxing, pre-review of UI templates, and requiring user consent for certain actions.

6. Backward Compatibility: The extension is optional, allowing existing implementations to continue without changes while enabling a gradual transition for adopting UI features.

7. Community Involvement: The proposal invites community feedback and participation in testing and discussions to refine the extension further.

In summary, the MCP Apps Extension aims to enhance user interaction in MCP by standardizing UI elements, addressing current limitations, and ensuring a secure and collaborative development environment.

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A three-year-old boy named Oliver Chu has made incredible progress after becoming the first person in the world to receive a new gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, a rare inherited disease that can lead to severe physical and cognitive decline. Before treatment, Oliver could not produce a crucial enzyme due to a faulty gene, which is vital for keeping his cells healthy.

In a pioneering trial at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, doctors modified Oliver's cells to help his body produce the missing enzyme. After one year of treatment, Oliver is showing normal development, much to the joy of his parents. His mother, Jingru, expressed her amazement at his progress, noting improvements in his speech and mobility.

Historically, Hunter syndrome primarily affects boys and can lead to serious health issues, with most patients not living past their twenties. The only existing treatment is expensive and does not address cognitive symptoms. The new gene therapy aims to rectify the underlying genetic issue, and early results suggest it is working well for Oliver.

Doctors hope that this treatment can also be made available for other children with the condition, including Oliver's older brother, Skyler, who also has Hunter syndrome. The success of this trial could pave the way for more gene therapies for other rare diseases.

Summary of "The Privacy Nightmare of Browser Fingerprinting"

Many individuals concerned about online privacy seek to limit the sharing of their web browsing data. While avoiding major companies like Google is a start, the challenge of protecting privacy is growing due to browser fingerprinting.

Background: Five years ago, the main privacy issue was third-party tracking cookies, which allowed websites to track users across multiple sites. Although legislation has improved cookie management, the more pressing concern now is browser fingerprinting.

What is Browser Fingerprinting?: Browser fingerprinting collects data from your browser to create a unique identifier, which can track you without cookies. It gathers information like your browser type, operating system, installed fonts, and even specific hardware details. Techniques like canvas fingerprinting further complicate this, as they analyze subtle differences in how graphics are rendered on your device.

Challenges in Defeating Fingerprinting: Simple solutions like disabling JavaScript can reveal your identity instead of hiding it. Other methods, such as spoofing browser information, can lead to inconsistencies that fingerprinting can exploit. Consequently, fingerprinting is difficult to prevent, and trackers have advanced their techniques significantly.

Current Situation: There isn’t much good news. While some websites that demonstrate fingerprinting effectiveness may overstate the issue, real-world tracking is statistically-based and harder to execute. Some browser developers are working on countermeasures, with Brave and Mullvad leading the way.

Protective Measures: To reduce tracking, users should:

• Delete long-lived cookies and use a VPN.
• Use common browsers and operating systems to blend in.
• Keep their system configurations standard and avoid unique customizations.
• Consider browsers with built-in fingerprint resistance.

However, these measures can lead to inconveniences, such as frequent CAPTCHA challenges and website malfunctions.

Legal Status: The legality of browser fingerprinting is unclear, with potential violations of privacy laws such as GDPR, which may not explicitly address it. New legislation may be necessary to tackle this privacy threat effectively.

Conclusion: Resisting browser fingerprinting is challenging and comes with downsides. While fingerprinting mostly yields statistical data, it primarily supports aggressive online advertising. Ultimately, effective control may require legislative action to protect user privacy against invasive tracking methods.

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The text discusses the evolving nature of engineering management and how the expectations for good leadership change over time due to shifts in the business environment. Here are the key points:

1. Changing Expectations: The definition of effective engineering management has shifted from a focus on leadership and team empowerment in the 2010s to a hands-on technical approach in the 2020s. Managers who once followed the industry's expectations are now seen differently as priorities change.

2. Business Realities: The narrative around what constitutes good leadership often reflects current business challenges rather than true moral shifts. Leaders need to adapt to these changing realities rather than get caught up in the "morality tales" that accompany them.

3. Key Skills for Managers: The text outlines two groups of skills for engineering managers:

   • Core Skills: Essential for all management roles, including execution, team shaping, ownership, and alignment.
   • Growth Skills: Important for career advancement, such as taste, clarity, navigating ambiguity, and working across timescales.

4. Self-Assessment: Managers are encouraged to self-assess their skills through reflective questions related to execution, team dynamics, ownership, and more.

5. Career Considerations: As individuals progress in their careers, they must balance different priorities (such as pace, prestige, and learning) and recognize the long-term impact of their decisions.

6. Engagement and Energy: Maintaining motivation over a long career requires finding a balance between impactful work and activities that energize you.

In summary, effective engineering management is not static; it is influenced by changing business conditions and requires a set of adaptable skills. Managers should self-reflect and make deliberate career choices to remain engaged and effective.

How to Repurpose Your Old Phone into a Web Server

This guide shows you how to turn an old Android phone into a small home web server, helping to reduce e-waste. You'll need:

• An unused Android phone
• A charger and power source
• A Wi-Fi connection
• A Linux computer

Step 1: Install PostmarketOS

1. Find your phone model on the PostmarketOS website to ensure it's supported.
2. Install the pmbootstrap tool on your computer.
3. Generate and flash the PostmarketOS image to your phone using command-line instructions.
4. Reboot your phone to ensure it starts up correctly with PostmarketOS.

Step 2: Set Up Your Server

1. SSH into your phone using the default username user and password 147147.
2. Connect your phone to your Wi-Fi network.
3. Find your phone's local IP address to access it over the network.

Step 3: Serve a Web Page

1. Create a directory for your website files.
2. Create a simple HTML file with "Hello, World!" text.
3. Set up a firewall rule to allow web traffic.
4. Start a web server and test it by accessing the page from a web browser.

Extras: Remote Access and Maintenance

• For security, avoid exposing SSH (port 22) to the internet; consider using a VPN for remote access.
• To keep your server updated, use the appropriate command to upgrade packages.

Next Steps Future advanced instructions will cover setting up a domain, HTTPS, and ensuring the server runs after rebooting.

Summary of "Giving the Jakks Atari Paddle a Spin"

The Jakks Pacific Atari Paddle, released in 2004, combines paddle games and plug-and-play technology for the Atari 2600. Unlike the original Atari paddles, which came in pairs for multiplayer, the Jakks version offers both single-player and two-player options but only includes one paddle.

The device uses different hardware than the original Atari 2600, with games that do not run on the original console's technology. It is believed to be based on a microcontroller, and the games include modified versions like Pong and Warlords that may use "partial emulation" of the original games.

The paddle controller has a simple design and lacks many original console controls, which are now managed through a menu button. The gameplay experience is mostly faithful to the original titles, but with some odd rendering issues.

Overall, the Jakks Atari Paddle is seen as a fun, nostalgic novelty rather than a must-have, suitable for casual gaming if found at a low price.

Researchers have used focused ultrasound to stimulate smell-related areas in the brain, successfully creating distinct scents like fresh air, garbage, ozone, and campfire smoke. This approach is new and hasn't been tried before, even in animals.

To achieve this, the team directed ultrasound waves from a probe on the forehead towards the olfactory bulb, the brain region responsible for processing smells. Despite challenges with positioning and signal interference, they developed a stable setup to produce reliable smells.

They confirmed the effectiveness of their method through controlled trials with participants, ensuring that the smells were genuine and not just imagined. The scents were tied to specific locations of ultrasound focus, showing potential for fine-tuned olfactory stimulation.

The researchers believe that this technology could allow for a new way to communicate meanings directly to the brain through smells, similar to how language works. Since the olfactory system connects closely to areas involved in memory and emotion, it offers a unique pathway for encoding information, possibly enhancing learning and memory.

Overall, the study shows promise for non-invasive ways to influence brain functions through smell, opening the door to new applications in communication and memory enhancement.

In October 2025, Qualcomm acquired Arduino, causing concern among the maker community due to the negative impact such acquisitions often have on open platforms. Adafruit Industries, a key player in open hardware, has raised alarms about significant changes to Arduino's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Key changes include:

1. User License: Arduino now has a perpetual, irrevocable license to use anything users upload (like code and projects), even after account deletion.
2. Data Collection: There's increased data collection, especially relating to AI usage, and user information will be shared with other Qualcomm companies.
3. Restrictions: Users cannot reverse engineer the platform without permission from Arduino.

Despite these changes, Qualcomm and Arduino claim that the core values of Arduino will remain unchanged, and support for existing non-Qualcomm Arduino boards will continue. However, the community is right to be cautious given the language in the new policies, which seem contrary to Arduino's original principles of openness and transparency. The future of Arduino under Qualcomm will depend on how both companies address these concerns.

Starting with Git 3.0, the default branch for new repositories will be changed from 'master' to 'main.' This change means developers won’t need to set the default branch manually anymore.

The announcement was included in the recent release of Git 2.52, and the Software Freedom Conservancy confirmed this update back in June 2020. GitHub also switched to 'main' as the default branch for new repositories in October 2020.

While Git 3.0 does not have a confirmed release date, it is expected to be available by the end of 2026. Other improvements in Git 3.0 will include upgrading the default hash function for better security, changing the storage format for better compatibility with macOS and Windows, and more integration of Rust in the build process.

On November 13, 2025, Canonical announced an extension of support for Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) releases to 15 years through a feature called the Legacy add-on. This change allows businesses to maintain their systems without needing major upgrades, which can disrupt operations, especially in regulated industries.

Initially introduced in 2024, the Legacy add-on increased support to 12 years, which includes standard security maintenance, expanded security maintenance, and additional coverage. Due to positive feedback, Canonical has now extended this to 15 years, providing continuous security updates and support.

This extension applies to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and newer versions, ensuring that users have a stable environment and ample time for planning upgrades. Users can also access optional break/fix support from Canonical's team for troubleshooting.

Overall, this move aims to help organizations manage their IT infrastructure more effectively, allowing for strategic upgrades while ensuring ongoing security. Current Ubuntu Pro subscriptions will remain active without any need for re-enrollment or major changes.

The article discusses the controversy surrounding Suno, an AI music startup that recently raised $250 million and is facing lawsuits for allegedly using copyrighted material to train its AI model. Suno's CEO, Mikey Shulman, claims that AI will lead to a future where more people actively create music. However, the author, Terrence O'Brien, finds this notion insulting, arguing that simply typing a prompt for AI-generated music lacks the creativity and effort involved in traditional music-making.

O'Brien critiques the idea that AI tools can enhance the value of music, suggesting that they actually undermine its worth by making music too easy to produce. He points out that established music production software is often more affordable and accessible than Suno's offerings. The author concludes that while the tools for music creation have become more accessible, Suno's approach bypasses the essential creative process, potentially devaluing music as a whole.

The author often struggles with writing good commit messages and prefers to express their own thoughts rather than letting AI do it for them. To solve this, they created a tool called "smartcommit" that asks questions about code changes and helps users write clear commit messages that explain what was done, how it was done, and why. This tool was developed after the author faced confusion about their past changes in a project. They are seeking feedback on their creation.

Researchers have found that kissing dates back over 21 million years, suggesting that it originated with the common ancestor of humans and great apes. Their study indicates that even Neanderthals may have kissed and that humans and Neanderthals could have shared kisses as well.

The researchers defined a kiss as non-aggressive mouth-on-mouth contact with some movement of lips, without food transfer. They studied various species, including humans, chimps, bonobos, wolves, and polar bears, to trace the evolutionary history of kissing.

While the study identified when kissing likely evolved, it did not explain why. Some theories suggest it may have developed from grooming behavior or as a way to assess a partner's health and compatibility. The lead researcher, Dr. Matilda Brindle, emphasizes the importance of studying kissing as a behavior shared with our non-human relatives, rather than dismissing it as trivial.

Summary:

David Miličević's article discusses optimizing algorithms and data for better performance. Here are the key points:

1. Focus on Data: Effective optimization starts with understanding and visualizing your data. If your data is not optimal, no algorithm can compensate.

2. Profiling: Before optimizing, profile your code to identify bottlenecks. This can reveal unexpected performance issues.

3. Specialize Algorithms: Modify algorithms to fit your specific data needs, reducing unnecessary complexity. For example, instead of using a generic function to convert strings to integers, a specialized approach can be much faster.

4. Cache Optimization: Organize data for better cache usage. Access data in a way that minimizes cache misses, and consider reorganizing structures to reduce padding and improve efficiency.

5. Use SIMD: Vectorize your code to process data in parallel, utilizing SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions for faster execution.

6. Parallelization: Once data is organized and processed, parallelize the workload using tools like OpenMP. Be cautious of false sharing, which can slow down performance.

7. Consider Language Limitations: Not all programming languages support these optimizations equally. Systems languages like C, C++, and Rust are best for performance-critical applications, while languages like Python and Java may require more complex workarounds.

The article emphasizes that data-oriented design and a deep understanding of your algorithm's interaction with data are crucial for achieving optimal performance.

Summary:

Zorin OS 18 has reached 1 million downloads within a month of its release, setting a new record. The upgrade from Zorin OS 17 to 18 is now available for testing, allowing users to keep their files, apps, and settings during the upgrade. This upgrade is currently limited to users of Zorin OS 17 Core, Education, and Pro editions.

Feedback has been positive, especially from users transitioning from Windows, highlighting the polished experience of Zorin OS 18. Over 78% of downloads came from Windows users, indicating a successful shift to a more user-friendly Linux alternative.

Users are encouraged to back up their data before upgrading, as this testing phase may have stability issues. The full upgrade option will be available to all Zorin OS 17 users in the coming weeks. Stay updated by subscribing to the Zorin newsletter.

No summary available.

The author expresses disappointment with the Rust programming language, highlighting several key issues:

1. Slow Compilation: Rust's compilation speed is significantly slower than C++, and efforts to improve it haven't been effective. The complexity of Rust's generics and borrow-checking systems contributes to this problem.

2. Complexity: Rust is as complex as C++, requiring a deep understanding of ownership and borrowing to write even simple code. This makes it difficult to develop high-level logic, leading some developers to prefer simpler languages like Node.js or Go.

3. Memory Safety Concerns: While Rust emphasizes memory safety, the author argues that it sacrifices practicality and reliability. Many applications do not need perfect memory safety, and Rust can crash frequently, undermining its reliability.

4. Mutable Shared State Challenges: Rust struggles with mutable shared state, which is essential for many applications like GUIs and databases. Using such state often leads to inefficiencies and negates Rust's advantages.

In summary, the author views Rust as a mediocre language that, despite its development efforts, doesn't effectively solve the problems it was designed to address. They caution against viewing Rust as the best programming language for all scenarios.

Ken Shirriff's blog focuses on computer history, vintage computer restoration, and integrated circuit (IC) reverse engineering. Recently, he studied the Intel 386 processor's standard cell logic, which was introduced in 1985 and was Intel's most complex chip at that time, featuring 285,000 transistors.

To manage this complexity and meet production deadlines, the 386 team used a method called standard cell logic. This technique allowed for faster chip layout by using standardized circuit elements and software to automate the placement and routing of components, rather than doing it manually. Although this approach was risky, it ultimately allowed the 386 to be completed ahead of schedule.

Shirriff highlights some unexpected features in the 386’s circuitry, such as large multiplexers and non-standard inverters. He explains that the standard cell regions of the chip have a striped appearance due to the arrangement of cells and wiring, contrasting with more solid-looking manually designed blocks.

In discussing the control logic for register selection, Shirriff notes the complexity of handling various register types and instruction formats in the x86 architecture. He mentions that selecting registers involves managing multiple control signals and cases, which makes the register control logic intricate.

He also explains the use of multiplexers in the 386, which combine input signals into a single output. Instead of traditional AND/OR gates, the 386 employs CMOS switches made from two transistors for efficient operation. This design choice optimizes performance by using both NMOS and PMOS transistors.

In summary, Shirriff's exploration of the Intel 386 reveals the innovative approaches taken to handle its complexity and the unique features of its circuitry.

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The person works in energy market communications and systems that help with energy trading and balancing. They notice that it takes a long time for parties to process messages and believe that financial systems engineering could provide useful insights. They are looking for good resources on this topic.

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The text discusses a unique approach to consuming news by looking back at events from 40 years ago. The author, who avoids current news due to anxiety, created a system that allows people to engage with historical events without the stress of real-time reporting. This method highlights parallels between the past and today, such as celebrity influence and economic issues.

The system processes old newspaper articles by transforming images into text, scoring events based on their historical significance, and extracting factual information to generate new headlines and summaries. The author found that experiencing these past events in a serialized format was surprisingly engaging and enjoyable, as it provided the excitement of news without uncertainty.

For example, a historical event from 1985, where Palestinian hijackers took over a cruise ship, was presented in a way that built suspense over weeks, making it feel like a dramatic story. This method stimulates interest and enjoyment while reassuring readers with the knowledge of how events ultimately unfolded.

The tech stack used for this system includes React, Node.js, and Gemini for processing tasks. The service can be accessed without signing up, although users can choose to receive updates via email.

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McDonald's, established in the 1950s in Downey, is experiencing a significant drop in customers from low-income households due to rising fast-food prices. This trend reflects broader economic pressures on low-income consumers, who are facing increasing costs for housing, clothing, and childcare. In the early 2000s, McDonald's successfully turned its fortunes around with the introduction of the Dollar Menu, aimed at budget-conscious customers. However, that strategy is no longer effective as inflation has caused menu prices to rise significantly.

Recent reports indicate that while traffic from low-income customers has declined sharply, higher-income patrons are increasingly frequenting fast-food restaurants. The rising costs of essential items, such as beef and labor, have contributed to this shift, leaving many low-income families struggling to afford even basic meals.

Studies show that many renters are now spending over 30% of their income on housing, leaving them with little for other expenses. As prices continue to rise, the economic divide has become more pronounced, with wealthier customers able to spend more while lower-income shoppers cut back.

McDonald's has attempted to adapt with new promotions, but sales have fluctuated, showcasing the challenges the company faces in a changing economic landscape. Overall, the situation highlights the growing affordability crisis affecting consumers across the board, particularly those with lower incomes.

Cloudflare's recent research highlights issues with Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), a technology used by internet service providers (ISPs) to manage limited IPv4 addresses. CGNAT allows multiple users to share a single IP address, but it can lead to problems for innocent users when a malicious user is blocked or throttled. This is especially prevalent in Africa and Asia, where CGNAT is more commonly used due to fewer available IPv4 addresses.

The study found that traffic from CGNAT IPs is often treated unfairly by ISPs, facing throttling three times more often than traffic from unique IP addresses. This happens because many users share the same public IP, making it harder to distinguish legitimate traffic from bots.

Cloudflare suggests that better detection of CGNAT IPs is necessary to minimize negative impacts on users and improve security measures. They emphasize the need for a shift to IPv6 to resolve these issues, as CGNAT was only meant to be a temporary solution.

The article discusses the revival of personal blogs and suggests that niche blogs could be next in line for a comeback. It reflects on the past golden age of blogging when many people shared diverse topics and sought to define what made blogs meaningful and successful. Personal blogs are gaining popularity again as a reaction against social media dominance, which has led to misinformation and a lack of reliable content.

The author highlights the importance of niche blogs, which focus on specific topics and can provide quality, reliable information. They argue that these niche blogs should be created by independent writers, rather than commercialized sites filled with ads. The goal is to foster a web filled with accessible and trustworthy information.

Overall, the text emphasizes the need for a balance between personal expression and specialized knowledge in blogging, aiming to create a vibrant online space once more.

The article titled "It's Not Always DNS: Exploring How Name Resolution Works" discusses the intricacies of name resolution on the internet, emphasizing that DNS (Domain Name System) is not the only method for resolving domain names into IP addresses.

Key points include:

1. Recent Incident: A recent internet issue was mistakenly attributed to DNS problems, but it was actually caused by a configuration file that was too large for a program to handle.

2. Basics of Name Resolution: Computers use IP addresses to communicate. Humans prefer using domain names (like google.com) instead of remembering numbers (like 172.253.135.139). DNS is one method for translating these names into IP addresses, but there are others, such as the /etc/hosts file and LDAP.

3. DNS Functionality: DNS works by taking a domain name and returning a Resource Record that contains various types of data, including IP addresses (A records), email server information (MX records), and more.

4. DNS Queries: The article provides a simple example of how a DNS query is constructed and sent using a Go program. It explains the packet structure and how responses are parsed.

5. Zones and Delegation: DNS is organized hierarchically into zones, each managed by specific name servers. Delegation allows different parts of a domain to be managed by separate name servers.

6. Caching: Local DNS servers cache answers to reduce traffic and improve speed. Popular servers like Google and Cloudflare are highlighted for their caching capabilities.

7. getaddrinfo() Function: This function in programming languages helps resolve names into addresses. It uses a configuration file to determine the order of resolution methods.

8. Name Service Switch: The Name Service Switch (NSS) allows for modular name resolution, enabling the use of different methods based on configuration settings.

9. systemd-resolved: This service is part of systemd that enhances DNS functionality with features like caching and DNSSEC.

10. Verification: The article concludes by demonstrating how to trace system calls related to name resolution, confirming the use of various configuration files.

Overall, the article emphasizes that while DNS is crucial, it's just one part of a larger system for name resolution on the internet.

Summary: Helping Valve to Power Up Steam Devices

On November 21, 2025, Valve announced three new gaming devices: the Steam Frame (a wireless VR headset), the Steam Machine (a gaming console), and the Steam Controller (a handheld controller). These devices are successors to the popular Valve Index and Steam Deck and will launch next year.

Igalia, a company that has collaborated with Valve on SteamOS, is excited to contribute to these devices, especially the Steam Frame, which uses an ARM-based CPU. To play games made for x86 CPUs (common in gaming PCs) on the Frame, Igalia developed a translation tool called FEX to convert x86 code into ARM-compatible code.

Developing the Frame also involved challenges with its Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU, requiring a robust Vulkan driver (Mesa3D Turnip) to ensure games run correctly and efficiently. Igalia engineers have worked to optimize this driver to improve game performance and fix rendering issues.

Igalia has also contributed to the Vulkan API, ensuring it meets high standards and helps developers create better games. Their work has included creating efficient task schedulers for gaming and enhancing display drivers for color management on various hardware.

Overall, Igalia's ongoing partnership with Valve aims to enhance Linux gaming, and they encourage others interested in tackling similar challenges to reach out.

A recent study published on November 21, 2025, found that moss spores can survive exposure to the vacuum of space for nine months. 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 radiation and extreme temperature changes. Surprisingly, over 80% of the spores were able to germinate after returning to Earth, showing that moss has remarkable resilience.

The study highlights moss's evolutionary ability to withstand tough environments, dating back to when plants first adapted to land over 500 million years ago. This ability could be significant for future space exploration, particularly for potential ecosystems on the Moon or Mars, since moss can thrive with minimal soil and extract nutrients from rocks. The researchers aim to use these findings to explore building ecosystems in extraterrestrial settings.

Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) is a security feature used in ARM architectures (Armv8.3-A and Armv9.0-A) to prevent memory corruption by signing pointers. This allows the system to verify that pointers used in code or data are valid during runtime.

Key points about PAC:

• It uses unused bits of 64-bit addresses to store cryptographic signatures alongside pointers.
• PAC is available on certain ARM processors and helps distinguish between user-mode and kernel-mode addresses.
• The Windows operating system implements PAC for both user-mode and kernel-mode processes, starting from the initialization of the kernel.
• During system startup, the Windows boot loader checks for PAC support and sets an initial signing key used for kernel pointers.
• Windows can use multiple signing keys for different purposes, but currently, it primarily supports signing for instruction pointers (return addresses).
• User-mode processes are automatically opted into PAC when created, but there is no current method to disable this feature.
• Windows PAC helps protect against return address corruption, which is a common exploit technique. If a return address is found to be invalid, the application will crash as a safety measure.
• The Secure Kernel in Windows utilizes HyperGuard to prevent unauthorized changes to PAC signing keys, enhancing security.
• Overall, PAC provides significant protection against certain types of memory corruption exploits in ARM-based Windows systems.

In conclusion, while currently limited in scope, PAC offers a robust defense mechanism against memory corruption in ARM-based systems, with potential for future enhancements.

Summary of WorldGen Research Update

WorldGen is a new technology that allows users to create interactive 3D worlds by simply typing a text prompt, like "cartoon medieval village" or "sci-fi base station on Mars." This system generates cohesive and visually appealing 3D environments that are easy to navigate.

Key features of WorldGen include:

• It combines advanced AI techniques to create detailed 3D scenes.
• Unlike other systems, it maintains high quality across larger areas, not just from a single viewpoint.
• It is compatible with popular game engines like Unity and Unreal.

Currently, WorldGen is still in research and not yet available for developers, but it aims to simplify 3D content creation, making it accessible to more people, even those without coding skills. Future improvements will focus on generating larger spaces and reducing the time it takes to create these worlds.

Overall, WorldGen represents a significant advancement in creating immersive 3D environments efficiently.