Summary of Top Gun's Carrier Landing Guide

If you're struggling with landing on the aircraft carrier in the NES game Top Gun, here’s a simplified guide to help you succeed.

Key Points:

1. Landing Requirements:

   • Altitude: Must be between 100-299.
   • Speed: Must be between 238-337.
   • You need to be aimed at the carrier when you land.

2. Game Indicators:

   • The game suggests a good target with "Alt. 200 / Speed 288".
   • If you go out of range, the game will alert you with messages like "Right ! Right !".

3. Controls:

   • Adjust your altitude and speed using throttle and pitch angle.
   • There’s no heading indicator, but correct headings are crucial.

4. Landing Outcome:

   • After a minute of flying, you will see a cutscene showing either a successful landing or a crash.
   • Regardless of the outcome, you’ll progress to the next level.

5. Cheat Code:

   • If you want an easy landing, use the game genie code AEPETA to guarantee success.

Technical Details for Enthusiasts:

• Speed and altitude are stored in a specific format to simplify display.
• A function checks your landing status and determines whether you land successfully or crash.

Now, practice your landing skills and aim for that perfect touchdown!

A user named Benjojo posted on December 12, 2025, noting that after creating a new TLS certificate, they observed OpenAI's search bot quickly accessing their site. The bot made a request for the "robots.txt" file, which was not found (resulting in a 404 error). The request included details like the method (GET), the user agent identifying it as the OpenAI search bot, and the time taken for the request.

No summary available.

Summary: Avoid UUID Version 4 as Primary Keys

Key Points:

1. Performance Issues with UUID v4: Using UUID Version 4 (UUID v4) as primary keys in databases, particularly PostgreSQL, can lead to poor performance due to random values that hinder efficient data retrieval and increase latency during inserts.

2. UUID Characteristics: UUIDs are 128-bit identifiers stored as long strings. UUID v4 generates random values, making them unsuitable for ordered indexing, which is crucial for database efficiency.

3. Misconceptions: There are common misconceptions that UUIDs offer security or are necessary for collision avoidance. In reality, they do not guarantee security and can be inefficient compared to integers.

4. Space Consumption: UUIDs take up more space (16 bytes) than integers (8 bytes), which can significantly affect storage and performance, especially with large databases.

5. Alternatives: Instead of UUID v4, it’s recommended to use integer sequences as primary keys. For applications needing UUIDs, consider time-ordered UUIDs like Version 7, which improve indexing efficiency.

6. Mitigation Strategies: If UUIDs must be used, strategies like rebuilding indexes, optimizing memory settings, and clustering on orderable fields can help alleviate some performance issues.

7. Recommendation: For new databases, stick with integer primary keys. If UUIDs are necessary, opt for time-ordered versions to enhance performance.

This summary emphasizes the drawbacks of UUID v4 and suggests better alternatives for database primary keys, particularly in PostgreSQL environments.

The text describes DNA replication, which is the process by which DNA makes copies of itself. Here are the key points:

• DNA Structure: DNA has a double helix structure, and both strands serve as templates for creating new DNA.
• Replication Fork: DNA replication occurs at a site called the replication fork, where a multi-enzyme complex synthesizes new DNA strands.
• Separation of Strands: An enzyme called helicase separates the two DNA strands, allowing them to be copied.
• Leading and Lagging Strands: The strand oriented from 3' to 5' is called the leading strand and is copied continuously. The lagging strand, which runs in the opposite direction, is copied in small sections known as Okazaki fragments.
• DNA Polymerase: Two types of DNA polymerase enzymes are involved: one for the leading strand and another for the lagging strand, which synthesizes the Okazaki fragments.
• Complexity: The process is complex and involves additional proteins to protect the exposed DNA strands, and the reality is more intricate than simple diagrams suggest.

The summary also mentions that there are related animations and resources available for further understanding.

No summary available.

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iRobot Corp., known for its Roomba vacuum cleaners, has filed for bankruptcy and plans to transfer control to its main Chinese supplier, Shenzhen PICEA Robotics Co. The company, based in Massachusetts and founded by MIT engineers in 1990, will see its common stock become worthless under the proposed Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan filed in Delaware.

On November 21, 2025, the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (SPSA) announced a 20-year partnership with AMP Robotics to enhance waste processing and recycling in the South Hampton Roads area. This project aims to manage solid waste for 1.2 million residents and is set to be the largest recycling initiative in the U.S.

AMP will expand its technology, which uses AI to sort and remove recyclables and organic materials from municipal solid waste (MSW). The goal is to divert 540,000 tons of waste annually, effectively extending the life of local landfills and reducing disposal costs. SPSA expects recycling rates to double, with a focus on recovering valuable resources from trash.

The initiative will also create approximately 100 jobs and provide training in advanced waste management technologies. By processing waste at multiple facilities, SPSA will improve operational efficiency and environmental impact, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This project positions SPSA as a leader in sustainable waste management practices.

No summary available.

2026 Lectures Summary:

• 1/12: Overview of the course and introduction to the shell.
• 1/13: Learning about the command-line environment.
• 1/14: Tools and environment for development.
• 1/15: Techniques for debugging and profiling code.
• 1/16: Introduction to version control using Git.
• 1/20: How to package and deliver code.
• 1/21: Ensuring code quality and using continuous integration.
• 1/22: Topics beyond just coding.
• 1/23: Question and answer session.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to significant changes in the workforce, with major companies like Amazon and Meta announcing layoffs as they invest heavily in automation. This situation raises the question of whether AI systems, which replace human jobs, should also contribute to taxes since fewer workers mean less tax revenue.

Experts highlight that labor taxes are crucial for funding public services, and the potential loss of tax income due to automation is a concern. Some, like Bill Gates, have suggested taxing robots similarly to human workers to maintain social benefits. However, others argue against a specific AI tax, suggesting instead to raise taxes on capital to better balance the tax system.

The impact of AI on jobs is uncertain; while it might create new opportunities, many existing roles could be transformed or eliminated. Predictions vary, with some economists believing AI could boost global GDP while others warn about rising inequality and job displacement.

Overall, while AI has the potential to improve productivity, it also poses risks that must be carefully managed, including its effects on employment, tax systems, and social equity.

Summary: Invader's 8-Bit Street Art in London

Invader, a French street artist known for his unique 8-bit video game character mosaics, has been adding his art to London's streets since the early 2000s. As of November 2025, there are around 166 Invader pieces in the city, with the latest wave of installations released in October 2025 during a group show at Newport Street Gallery.

Each piece is labeled with a specific identifier, like LDN-163 to LDN-166, indicating its location. Notable pieces include collaborations that represent other artists, and many fans enjoy tracking down all of Invader's work. Some pieces have been removed or lost over time, but many can still be found across London, especially in areas like Soho and Walthamstow. A map is available online for those interested in exploring the art.

Careers

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No summary available.

The text asks about your current projects and if you have any new ideas you are considering.

Summary of Dinacon 2025: Passive Acoustic Listening

At Dinacon 2025 in Bali, research focused on passive acoustic listening, which studies ecosystems through sound. The trend started with the discovery of whale songs during the Cold War, leading to increased awareness of ocean conservation.

The author conducted workshops on building inexpensive hydrophones—devices that capture underwater sound—using basic electronics. Participants learned to make a $5 hydrophone, which involved simple components and waterproofing techniques.

During the event, they also explored creating a stereo hydrophone system to better analyze underwater sounds, as sound travels differently in water. The author used a kayak to collect recordings from two hydrophones at different depths, capturing the rich underwater acoustic environment.

Additionally, a project called "Seastream" attempted to create a live underwater radio broadcast, which faced challenges with Wi-Fi connectivity and local community relations. Despite these issues, the author successfully captured and shared intriguing underwater recordings.

Lastly, the author developed a tool called the Dinacon Hydrophone Explorer to help users listen to and annotate long audio recordings, making it easier to share observations and recognize patterns in the audio data.

No summary available.

AI agents are starting to disrupt the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry. Over the past 15 years, software has transformed various industries, leading to the rise of many SaaS companies. Now, with the advent of AI coding agents, the demand for simpler SaaS tools is declining as people can build custom solutions quickly and easily.

Key points include:

1. Changing Demand: Many software engineers are finding that they can create the tools they need using AI agents, instead of relying on existing SaaS products. This shift is particularly noticeable for simpler tasks.

2. Cost-Effectiveness: Companies are beginning to question the renewal costs from SaaS vendors, exploring the option of creating their own solutions to avoid high fees.

3. Maintenance Considerations: While maintenance is a concern for custom-built applications, AI agents can simplify updates and reduce security risks associated with third-party services.

4. Economic Impact: SaaS companies rely on customer growth and high revenue retention. As demand declines, these companies may face increased marketing costs and potential revenue drops.

5. Sustainability of Certain SaaS Products: Some areas, like payment processing and collaboration tools, will remain safe due to their complexity, high standards, and integration needs.

6. At-Risk Companies: Businesses that offer simple back-office tools or dashboards are particularly vulnerable, as these can be easily replaced by AI-driven solutions.

In summary, while SaaS isn't going away, companies without distinct advantages may struggle as more organizations consider building their own tools with the help of AI agents. The market may split between those with strong technical capabilities and those without, leading to increased costs for the latter.

No summary available.

The text discusses the author's experience with learning French and the development of a language app called Lexie.

1. The Coffee Problem: The author recounts a frustrating experience in a French café where they struggled to understand the barista after ordering coffee, highlighting the gap between language learning and real-life conversation.

2. The Childhood Trauma: Inspired by Tamagotchis, the author wanted Lexie to create a relationship with users that feels engaging and less like traditional learning apps. The design focused on simplicity, removing complex menus and tests to create a more personal interaction.

3. Teaching a Circle to Care: The app's minimalist design meant it lacked traditional UI elements, which presented challenges in guiding users. The author emphasized that even without buttons, users need reassurance about what to do next.

4. When Minimalism Hits a Wall: After using the app, the author realized they could not measure their progress, which is essential for users to feel in control. To address this, they added subtle indicators of progress without overwhelming the user.

5. Lines I Refused to Cross: The author set boundaries to avoid turning the app into a stressful experience. Lexie cannot "die," has no guilt-inducing features, and offers only cosmetic rewards to keep the focus on learning rather than competition.

6. Now That I'm in Québec: Finally, the author reflects on their improved ability to understand numbers in French but acknowledges that there are still challenges. Lexie is designed to provide core language skills without overwhelming users, allowing for a more enjoyable learning experience.

Overall, the text emphasizes the balance between minimalism in design and the need for user engagement and feedback in language learning.

John Varley, a prominent science fiction writer, passed away on December 10, 2025. He gained fame in the mid-1970s with his innovative "Eight Worlds" stories, set in a future where humans survive in the Solar System after aliens wipe out life on Earth. His tales featured imaginative concepts like gender fluidity, memory banking, and the contrast between glamorous cities and their hidden realities.

Varley was once considered a leading voice in science fiction, likened to Robert Heinlein, and produced many groundbreaking works. However, after moving to Hollywood to work on a film adaptation of his story "Air Raid," his writing career took a downturn. Despite returning to literature later, his ideas felt outdated compared to newer writers.

Many will remember him as a talented author, but some mourn the loss of his earlier brilliance that once set the standard for the genre. His impact on science fiction was significant, and he inspired readers and writers alike during his peak years.

No summary available.

Summary of Common Rust Lifetime Misconceptions

This text discusses common misconceptions about lifetimes in Rust, aiming to clarify how they work and address misunderstandings that beginners often have.

Key Misconceptions:

1. Types and Lifetimes:

   • It's a mistake to think that a generic type T only contains owned types. In reality, T, &T, and &mut T represent infinite sets that include references of all sorts.

2. 'static Lifetime:

   • The belief that if T: 'static, then T must be valid for the entire program is misleading. T: 'static means it can be valid for a long time, but it doesn’t have to last the entire program.

3. Reference and Type Bounds:

   • Misunderstanding that &'a T and T: 'a are the same is common. &'a T requires T to be valid for 'a, while T: 'a includes all types that can outlive 'a.

4. Non-Generic Code:

   • Many believe their code is not generic, but Rust’s elision rules often introduce implicit lifetimes and generics even in seemingly simple code.

5. Compilation Guarantees:

   • Just because code compiles doesn’t mean the lifetime annotations are correct. The compiler checks memory safety but might allow semantically wrong code.

6. Trait Objects:

   • There's a misconception that boxed trait objects don't have lifetimes. In fact, their lifetimes can be inferred based on context.

7. Compiler Errors:

   • Beginners often think compiler error messages provide the best solutions, but these messages may not reflect the most appropriate fixes for the program's logic.

8. Run-Time Lifetime Changes:

   • Lifetimes cannot change at run-time; they are statically verified by the compiler.

9. Mutable and Shared References:

   • It's incorrect to assume that downgrading a mutable reference to a shared reference is always safe. The mutable reference's lifetime extends to the shared reference.

10. Closure Lifetime Rules:

    • Closures do not follow the same lifetime elision rules as functions, leading to potential confusion.

Conclusion:

Understanding lifetimes in Rust is crucial for writing safe and efficient code. Misconceptions can lead to errors and confusion, but clarifying these points can help programmers use Rust more effectively. It's important to recognize the rules of lifetimes, how they interact with types, and the implications of borrowing in Rust.

Summary of "Debugging TypeScript Applications" by Andrey Ozornin

This book aims to simplify the debugging process for TypeScript applications, highlighting effective debugging techniques and code structuring methods to minimize bugs. As software maintenance becomes more challenging, this guide helps developers build better web applications with less frustration.

Key features include:

• Practical debugging techniques, including reading stack traces and prioritizing bugs.
• Methods for creating resilient code that can handle errors gracefully.
• Tips for effective logging, monitoring, and improving code debuggability.
• Guidance on using browser developer tools, particularly Chrome, to enhance debugging capabilities.

The book is currently in beta, with a final version expected in March 2026. It requires a computer with a Chromium-based browser and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like WebStorm or VSCode.

For $26.95, readers can access various eBook formats, including PDF, EPUB, and MOBI. The author, Andrey Ozornin, brings over 12 years of experience in software development and aims to help improve software quality for better product outcomes.

Happy debugging!

The Java Ring, introduced in 1998 by Jakob Nielsen, is a small wearable computer that has 6 kilobytes of RAM. While this may seem limited, it can store important information like passwords, credit card numbers, and links to websites. The ring allows users to access their home page on any computer with a JavaRing reader just by touching it.

Although primarily a demonstration at the time, the Java Ring showed potential for future developments, such as more memory and better designs by jewelry designers. The key benefit of wearable computers like this is their portability, making them easy to carry and use anytime, without needing to access a traditional computer.

No summary available.

The article discusses C++'s type deduction feature using the auto keyword, presenting a series of coding challenges that test the reader's understanding of how types are deduced in different scenarios.

Key Points:

1. Basics of Type Deduction:

   • auto deduces types from assigned values, like auto v = 5; deducing int.
   • It can also deduce pointers, such as auto v = &x; resulting in int*.
   • Some cases, like auto v = 5, w = 0.1;, will fail to compile due to inconsistent types.

2. Intermediate Concepts:

   • auto ignores top-level const/volatile qualifiers but maintains them for pointers and references.
   • References are treated differently; auto& can deduce lvalue references.

3. Advanced Topics:

   • The article covers forwarding references, decltype(auto), and how they behave with expressions and lambdas.
   • It highlights the complexities of type deduction in inheritance and structured binding.

4. Challenges with Lambdas:

   • The article points out that lambdas have unique capture rules, which can lead to surprises in type deduction.

5. Conclusion:

   • Readers are encouraged to explore the examples and test their understanding of C++'s type deduction capabilities.

Overall, the piece serves as both a learning tool and a challenge for programmers to deepen their knowledge of C++ auto type deduction.

No summary available.

Summary of Hashcards:

Hashcards is a unique spaced repetition app for studying, similar to Anki and Mochi, but it operates without a traditional database. Instead, it stores flashcards as Markdown files in a simple directory structure, allowing users to manage their flashcards easily. You create flashcards using a straightforward format, and you can study them via a web interface.

Key features of Hashcards include:

• Local Storage: Your flashcard collection is saved as plain text Markdown files, giving you ownership and flexibility.
• Effortless Card Creation: The design prioritizes easy entry of flashcards, reducing friction and encouraging users to create more cards.
• Content Addressing: Cards are identified by a hash of their content, streamlining updates and edits.
• Integration with Git: You can use Git for version control, making it easy to track changes and share your collection.
• Customizability: You can generate flashcards from structured data and manipulate your collection with standard programming tools.

The creator was dissatisfied with existing apps (Anki and Mochi) due to their interfaces and algorithms. Anki has a complex interface while Mochi has a simpler design but lacks advanced scheduling and flexibility. Hashcards aims to combine the best features of both, providing a user-friendly experience with a powerful scheduling algorithm.

In essence, Hashcards is designed to make learning easier and more efficient, allowing for more effective study habits.

Summary:

The text outlines the history of the Xerox company, highlighting its significant contributions to the computing industry.

1. Origins: Xerox began as the Haloid Company in 1906, making photographic paper. By 1934, it had nearly $1 million in sales despite the Great Depression.

2. Invention of Photocopiers: Chester Carlson invented electrophotography in 1938, which later became the foundation for Xerox copiers. Despite initial challenges in licensing his invention, Carlson collaborated with Haloid to develop it further.

3. Xerography Development: Haloid, after going public, invested heavily in developing xerography, transforming the company into Xerox in 1961. The Xerox 914, introduced in 1959, was a significant success, allowing easy copying on plain paper.

4. Research and Innovation: Xerox established the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1970, leading to major innovations like laser printing, networking, and the graphical user interface (GUI). The Alto, developed at PARC, was a groundbreaking computer that introduced many concepts still used today.

5. Competitive Challenges: Despite its innovations, Xerox faced stiff competition and struggled to bring products to market effectively. The Xerox Star, a commercially advanced system, failed to achieve expected sales.

6. Shifts in Strategy: In the 1980s and 90s, Xerox underwent multiple restructurings and explored new business models, including digital multifunction machines. They also faced legal challenges over intellectual property.

7. Modern Era: Xerox adapted to changing markets, notably with its acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services. The company has evolved, but its legacy of innovation in copying and computing remains significant.

Overall, Xerox is recognized for its pioneering technologies that shaped modern computing, even as it faced challenges in adapting to the digital age.

In May 2023, a controversial pull request (PR) from the Svelte repository sparked discussions on Hacker News about the use of TypeScript versus JSDoc. Rich Harris, a key figure in the Svelte community, clarified that using JSDoc comments for type declarations in JavaScript files was not a rejection of TypeScript but rather a reinforcement of Svelte's commitment to it.

This led to a surge of blog posts comparing TypeScript and JSDoc, often highlighting JSDoc as a way to gain the advantages of TypeScript without the need for a build step. The author argues against framing it as a competition, suggesting instead that JSDoc is essentially a part of TypeScript.

Key points include:

• TypeScript originated as a tool to improve JavaScript development by adding features like type safety and IntelliSense.
• JSDoc is interpreted by the TypeScript language service, making it a part of the TypeScript ecosystem.
• Many features available in TypeScript can also be expressed in JSDoc, though some may be clunkier.
• Using JSDoc can enhance developer experience by linking directly to code rather than type declaration files.

Ultimately, the author believes that using JSDoc is not an anti-TypeScript stance but a way to leverage TypeScript's benefits without the overhead of a build process.

The dark web report is being discontinued because it didn't provide helpful next steps for users. Here are the important dates:

• January 15, 2026: Scans for new dark web breaches will stop.
• February 16, 2026: The dark web report will no longer be available.

Instead of the report, the focus will shift to tools that offer clearer actions to protect your online information. Users are encouraged to use existing security tools such as:

• Security Checkup
• Google Account Passkey
• Authentication Tools
• Google Password Manager
• Password Checkup

Additionally, there's a tool called "Results about you" to help remove personal information from Google Search.

All dark web report data will be deleted on February 16, 2026, but users can delete their data sooner if they wish. To delete your monitoring profile, follow the instructions on the dark web report page.

Note: Only consumer Google Accounts can access the dark web report; Google Workspace and supervised accounts cannot.

No summary available.

This text is an introduction to a blog series about the D3D/OpenGL graphics pipelines, aimed at graphics programmers with a solid understanding of modern 3D APIs and hardware design. The author, Fabian Giesen, notes that while there are many resources available on graphics pipelines, there is a lack of intermediate content that is both current and informative.

The series is structured into several parts, covering topics such as GPU memory architecture, the 3D pipeline, texture sampling, rasterization, pixel processing, geometry shaders, and compute shaders. Giesen emphasizes that the content is intended for those with prior knowledge of graphics programming, as it delves into technical details rather than providing beginner-level explanations.

The series aims to provide a more substantial understanding of the graphics pipeline without the flashy visuals often found in hardware reviews. Giesen has also mentioned the possibility of creating a cleaned-up PDF version of the series in the future.

No summary available.

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Summary: Fraudulent Remote IT Workers from North Korea

Four individuals from North Korea, Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il, are wanted for stealing over $900,000 in virtual currency from two companies in 2022. They used fake names and identification to secure jobs as Remote IT Workers and exploited their access to carry out the theft. They have been charged with wire fraud and money laundering, and federal arrest warrants were issued for them in June 2025.

The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information that helps disrupt financial activities supporting North Korea, including the exportation of workers and cyber crimes.

The suspects are fluent in English and Korean and are connected to the United Arab Emirates and Laos. If you have any information about them, you can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online.

No summary available.

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The author, Marcus Olang', discusses the frustration of being mistaken for a robot or AI by critics who claim his writing lacks a "human touch." He emphasizes that his writing style reflects the rigorous education system in Kenya, which shaped his formal and structured approach to English. Olang' argues that the characteristics of his writing, such as balanced sentences and a rich vocabulary, are not signs of artificiality but rather the result of a specific cultural and educational background influenced by colonial history.

He points out that AI models, like ChatGPT, often mirror the formal writing style taught in Kenyan classrooms, which prioritizes clarity and structure. This leads to a perception that such writing is robotic, while in reality, it stems from a deeply human educational experience. Olang' critiques AI detection tools for being biased against non-native English speakers and argues that they fail to recognize the validity of diverse writing styles shaped by different histories and educational systems.

Ultimately, he calls for recognition of varied forms of humanity in writing, suggesting that what may seem "robotic" to one might actually be a different expression of human experience.

In December 2025, inspired by Dylan Beattie, the author shares their journey into public speaking, which began in late 2022. They went from small meetups to speaking in front of large audiences within months. Here are ten key lessons learned from their experience:

1. Start Small: Begin with local meetups to build confidence before tackling larger audiences.
2. Practice: Rehearsing is essential to respect your audience and deliver a good talk, regardless of how many times you've spoken before.
3. Tell a Story: Every talk should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Avoid confusing the audience with too many stories.
4. Use Big Fonts: For live coding or presentations, ensure text is large enough to be easily read by everyone.
5. Remove Distractions: Take off your lanyard to avoid distractions during your presentation.
6. Start with Humor: Opening with a joke can ease tension and create a connection with the audience.
7. Own the Stage: Move around and engage with the space to feel more comfortable while speaking.
8. Expect Variability: It's okay if you don’t stick to your script perfectly; embrace spontaneity during your talk.
9. Be Authentic but Performative: Amplify your energy and personality to engage the audience.
10. Remember the Audience Wants You to Succeed: They are cheering for you, not waiting for you to fail.

Bonus Lesson: Bring water to avoid dry mouth and take moments to pause and collect your thoughts during your talk.

No summary available.

On December 15, 2025, it was reported that Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbot has been added to LG TVs through a webOS update, and users cannot delete it. While users can ignore the app, it signifies a growing trend of integrating AI into everyday devices, including televisions. Microsoft aims to expand its AI presence in various markets, including Linux, where LG TVs run a Linux-based operating system.

Additionally, LG TVs have a feature called "Live Plus," which uses AI to provide personalized recommendations based on what is displayed on the screen. Users can disable this feature in the settings, but the overall push for AI integration raises concerns for those who prefer not to have AI processes on their TVs.

The article highlights the controversy surrounding unwanted software installations and the implications for user privacy.

In 2002, two student projects, Last.fm and Audioscrobbler, began using "collaborative filtering" to recommend music and create social networks online. Last.fm was founded by four students from Ravensbourne College in London as an internet radio station that built user listening profiles to suggest music. It won an award at the Europrix multimedia competition that year.

Collaborative filtering, which recommends content based on user preferences and similar users' data, was inspired by techniques previously used by companies like Amazon. Last.fm's system created a "Map of Music" to show connections between songs based on listening habits.

Meanwhile, Richard Jones at the University of Southampton was developing Audioscrobbler, which tracked song plays to build listening profiles for recommendations. Both platforms shared similar goals of using user data to foster music discovery and community, moving away from traditional broadcast media where listeners had limited control.

Last.fm eventually evolved into an online radio service, paying for music licensing, and both platforms paved the way for the social web that became popular in the following years.

No summary available.

The Baumol effect, also known as Baumol's cost disease, is an economic principle introduced by economists William J. Baumol and William G. Bowen. It explains how wages in jobs that have not seen significant productivity growth tend to rise due to competition with higher-paying jobs in sectors where productivity has increased. This results in higher costs for services, particularly in areas like healthcare, education, and the arts, while manufactured goods tend to become cheaper.

Key Points:

1. Wage Increase Without Productivity Growth: Wages in low-productivity sectors rise to compete with higher wages in more productive sectors, leading to increased costs in those areas over time.

2. Impact on Employment: As wages rise in stagnant sectors, more workers move to these jobs, resulting in a shift in the labor force from high-productivity industries to low-productivity ones.

3. Economic Growth Effects: This shift can slow overall economic growth because a larger portion of the workforce is employed in sectors with lower productivity growth.

4. Government Spending: The Baumol effect affects government spending significantly since many public services (like education and healthcare) are labor-intensive and have seen little productivity growth.

5. Income Inequality: Rising costs in service industries can make these services unaffordable for lower-income individuals, despite overall economic growth.

6. Sectors Affected: The effect is particularly pronounced in labor-intensive services, where productivity improvements are harder to achieve compared to manufacturing.

In summary, the Baumol effect illustrates how differences in productivity growth across sectors lead to rising costs in certain industries, impacting wages, employment, and overall economic growth.

Summary:

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University are working on using a modified version of baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to produce 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO), a compound used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. As fossil fuel prices increase, this yeast-based method offers a sustainable alternative. However, traditional yeast struggles with high levels of 2,3-BDO, limiting its production.

To overcome this, Associate Professor Ryosuke Yamada and his team genetically altered the yeast, creating a mutant strain that can thrive in high 2,3-BDO concentrations, multiplying its production capability significantly. The study suggests that this genetic modification technique could help create other strong microorganisms for producing various useful substances.

The findings were published in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology and were funded by Japan's GteX Program.

Summary of "AI and the Ironies of Automation - Part 2"

This article explores the complexities and challenges of automating work with AI, particularly focusing on observations from Lisanne Bainbridge's paper "The Ironies of Automation."

1. Human Role in AI Automation: While AI can automate tasks, human oversight is still crucial. In critical environments, like industrial settings, quick human intervention can prevent disasters. In contrast, many white-collar jobs don’t have such urgent conditions, yet humans still face pressure to monitor AI outputs quickly.

2. Efficiency vs. Comprehension: Companies often expect AI to enhance productivity to superhuman levels, but this can be problematic. Humans must understand AI outputs at equally fast speeds to remain effective, which is challenging under stress.

3. User Interface Issues: Current AI systems often present information in overly complex ways, making it difficult for humans to spot errors. A better user interface is needed to support human operators in identifying problems swiftly.

4. Training Challenges: Proper training for human operators is essential, especially for rare and unexpected situations. However, traditional training methods may not prepare them for these scenarios, leading to a paradox where the most automated systems require the most investment in human training.

5. Leadership in AI Management: Managing AI agents requires a different skill set than traditional roles. Humans must learn to lead and direct AI effectively, which differs from simply monitoring their work. This leadership skill is often overlooked in training programs.

6. Conclusion: The article emphasizes that automating tasks with AI doesn't eliminate challenges; it may create new ones that require advanced solutions. Addressing these issues will take time and ingenuity, and sharing insights within the community can help foster better solutions.

Overall, the discussion highlights the need for thoughtful integration of AI in the workplace while considering human capabilities and limitations.

Summary of NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Family of Models

Release Date: December 15, 2025

NVIDIA has introduced the Nemotron 3 family, which includes three models: Nano, Super, and Ultra. These models are designed for agentic AI applications, emphasizing efficiency and accuracy.

• Models Overview:
  • Nano: The smallest model, cost-effective, and highly accurate compared to similar models.
  • Super: Optimized for collaborative tasks and high-volume workloads, like IT ticket automation.
  • Ultra: The largest model, offering top-tier accuracy and reasoning capabilities.

The Nano model is now available, with Super and Ultra set to be released soon.

Key Technologies:

• Hybrid MoE: Combines Mamba-Transformer and MoE architecture for high performance and accuracy.
• LatentMoE: Enhances accuracy with a hardware-aware expert design in Super and Ultra.
• Multi-Token Prediction: Improves text generation efficiency in Super and Ultra.
• Long Context Support: Handles context lengths of up to 1 million tokens.
• Reinforcement Learning: Trained in diverse environments for better performance across tasks.

Nemotron 3 Nano Model:

• Contains 3.2 billion active parameters, achieving greater accuracy than the previous Nemotron 2 Nano.
• Outperforms other models on various benchmarks and has higher inference throughput.
• Supports extensive context length while maintaining strong performance.

Open Source Release: NVIDIA is making the following available:

• Model checkpoints and technical data for Nemotron 3 Nano.
• Large datasets for training and fine-tuning.
• A developer repository for resources and model recipes.

For more information, you can refer to the Nemotron 3 white paper and technical reports available on NVIDIA's website.

Summary: Developing a Food-Safe Finish for Wooden Spoons and Cups

The author is on a journey to create an ideal wood finish for hand-carved wooden utensils, focusing on a finish that is fast-curing, food-safe, solvent-free, and visually appealing. They have explored various options, including:

1. Natural Drying Oils:

   • Tung Oil: Food-safe after curing but takes 2-4 weeks and can be irritating in liquid form.
   • Polymerized Tung Oil: Cures faster but hard to find and may need thinning.
   • Linseed Oil: Edible but yellowing and slow to cure.

2. Hardwax Oils:

   • Osmo Polyx Oil: Fast-curing and food-safe but uses solvents that have a strong smell.
   • Rubio Monocoat: Cures quickly and has a pleasant smell but is tricky to apply.

3. Other Alternatives:

   • Food-safe epoxies and edible oils (like coconut and olive oil) do not offer adequate protection.
   • Beeswax is limited in temperature resistance, while carnauba wax is harder but has a glossy finish.

4. Urushi Lacquer:

   • Provides a durable finish but changes wood color and requires many coats, which is not desirable for the author's work.

5. Hassui Ceramic (Liquid Glass):

   • Durable but leaves wood looking bare and takes too long to cure.

The author has conducted multiple experiments to create a blend of tung oil with waxes and resins, aiming for a balance of durability, protection, and aesthetics.

• Experiment Results:
  • The initial blends were too brittle or sticky. Adjustments were made by adding beeswax and lanolin for better consistency.
  • A final blend included damar resin, which improved sheen and durability.

The author aims to create a finish that protects the wood, enhances its natural beauty, and cures quickly, allowing for safe use with food and beverages. They continue to refine their formulation and share insights from their experiments.

The article discusses the author's experiences using GraphQL in a large enterprise application. Here are the key points:

1. Niche Problem: While GraphQL aims to solve the issue of "overfetching" data, the author finds that this problem is often already addressed by using a Backend for Frontend (BFF) architecture in many enterprise setups.

2. Implementation Challenges: GraphQL is more complex and takes longer to implement than REST. It requires defining schemas, types, and resolvers, which adds to the maintenance burden.

3. Observability Issues: GraphQL’s status code conventions complicate error tracking. Unlike REST, where 2XX codes indicate success, a 200 response in GraphQL can still mean there were errors, making it harder to monitor.

4. Caching Problems: Although Apollo's caching is theoretically good, it can be fragile and complex in practice, leading to more roundtrips and extra coding.

5. ID Requirement: GraphQL's expectation for IDs on objects can be problematic, as not all APIs provide this, leading to additional logic and potential overfetching.

6. Binary Data Handling: GraphQL struggles with file uploads and downloads, often reverting to REST for these tasks, which undermines the idea of a single API.

7. Learning Curve: Onboarding developers on GraphQL is slower because it requires learning new concepts and practices, whereas REST is more familiar to many.

8. Error Handling: GraphQL's error responses are more complex than REST's straightforward error handling, increasing the difficulty of debugging.

In conclusion, while GraphQL has valid use cases, the author believes it is often unnecessary in many enterprise environments where existing solutions already effectively address the problems GraphQL aims to solve.

No summary available.

Specialized fonts for dyslexic readers are becoming popular, but experts say they are based on a misunderstanding of dyslexia. Originally thought to be a visual issue, dyslexia is actually a language processing difficulty. Research has shown that fonts designed for dyslexia, like OpenDyslexic and Dyslexie, do not improve reading speed or accuracy compared to standard fonts like Arial and Times New Roman. In fact, some studies indicate that these specialized fonts may hinder performance.

Using these fonts can give students false hope, potentially leading to disappointment and feelings of inadequacy when they don’t see improvement. Experts recommend using legible fonts for all readers and emphasize that effective reading instruction for dyslexic students should be evidence-based, systematic, and multisensory. Classroom accommodations, like audiobooks and text-to-speech software, can also help support their learning. Overall, dyslexia fonts do not offer the benefits they claim, and traditional fonts may be more effective.

A recent report highlights the significant impact of AI on the copywriting industry, revealing stories from various professionals who have lost jobs or faced major changes due to AI adoption. Many copywriters, once secure in their roles, now find themselves struggling as companies turn to AI for cheaper and faster content generation.

Key points include:

1. Job Losses: Many copywriters have been laid off or had their roles significantly altered, forced to manage AI tools instead of writing content themselves. For example, Jacques Reulet II shared how he transitioned from writing to training AI, only to be laid off when the AI became capable enough to replace him.

2. Quality Concerns: Workers report that while AI-generated content is cheaper, it often lacks the quality and nuance that human writers provide. Many clients are realizing that AI might not meet their needs, leading to a pushback against solely using AI for content creation.

3. Wage Declines: The shift to AI has resulted in lower wages and fewer job opportunities. Many copywriters have seen their rates drop or have been forced to accept gigs involving editing AI-generated text rather than creating original content.

4. Broader Impacts: The issues affect not just copywriters but also artists, translators, and medical writers who report similar job losses or reduced hours. Many are concerned about the future of their professions as AI continues to evolve.

5. Changing Career Paths: Some professionals are shifting careers or exploring new avenues, such as online work or further education, due to the diminishing prospects in copywriting and related fields.

Overall, the report paints a bleak picture of the current state of the copywriting industry, with many workers expressing anxiety about their future and the viability of their skills in an AI-dominated landscape.

No summary available.

A person has been wanting to start a personal blog for years but keeps hesitating. They write privately but rarely publish anything. Their main concerns include feeling that their ideas aren't original, believing AI can explain topics better, and fearing that their work might seem naive or unimportant. Despite this, they find value in reading personal blogs and LinkedIn posts, appreciating the insights and clear thinking rather than just originality.

They are seeking advice from those who blog about:

• The benefits of blogging.
• Types of posts that were effective for learning and networking.
• Practical tips for simplifying the blogging process, like post length and themes.
• What they would do differently if starting a blog today.

Ultimately, the person wants to create a "public notebook" rather than a media business.

No summary available.

The author discusses their efforts to improve syntax highlighting for documentation generated by Rust's rustdoc tool. Here are the key points:

1. Background: Rust allows users to create HTML and JSON documentation from comments in their code, which is beneficial for offline access and previewing before publication. However, once published, the documentation is static and cannot easily be changed.

2. Problems: There are several challenges with implementing syntax highlighting, including choosing the right highlighting solution, the size of the generated HTML, and ensuring compatibility across different languages and platforms.

3. Solution: The author has developed a project called arborium, which provides ready-to-use syntax highlighting for 96 different programming languages. It simplifies the process of integrating syntax highlighting by bundling necessary grammars and functionalities.

4. Implementation Angles:

   • Angle 1: A client-side solution that uses JavaScript and WebAssembly, which is easy to implement but poses security risks and requires downloading large files.
   • Angle 2: A proposal to integrate syntax highlighting directly into rustdoc, which would require some changes to the tool but would improve performance and security.
   • Angle 3: A backend solution where a post-processing tool enhances the rustdoc output with syntax highlighting while keeping the documentation lightweight and secure.

5. Conclusion: The author aims for arborium to be a long-term solution for better syntax highlighting in documentation, emphasizing its potential to improve the user experience in reading code documentation.

Overall, the author expresses excitement about the project's potential and encourages the use of arborium for enhancing Rust documentation.

No summary available.

I created a digital I Ching that respects the original mathematical principles rather than using random methods.

Key points:

• The app uses the traditional Yarrow Stalk algorithm, which involves modulo-4 arithmetic.
• To reflect how people naturally split stalks, I applied a Box-Muller transform for a more realistic Gaussian distribution.
• I conducted a Monte Carlo simulation with 1 million runs to check for any bias from this method, and the results showed a balanced 25% distribution for the outcomes (0, 1, 2, 3).
• This means the app captures human imperfections while maintaining accurate probability distributions.

The technology stack includes Next.js and Tailwind CSS. Feel free to ask me any questions about the mathematics or hexagrams!

No summary available.

No summary available.

The text discusses a library that standardizes the use of special comments in Python source code analysis tools. Here are the key points:

• Purpose: Many Python tools (like linters and coverage tools) use specific comment formats, but there is no unified standard. This library aims to create a standard for these comments, making it easier for developers to use and understand them.

• Comment Structure: The library defines a simple format for action comments, which consists of:

  1. Key: The name of the tool the comment is for.
  2. Action: The command associated with the comment.
  3. Arguments: Additional details related to the action.

• Installation: The library can be installed via pip install metacode.

• Usage: Users can import a parsing function and extract comment details easily. The parser can handle multiple comments in one line and allows for flexible case sensitivity and multiple keys.

• Inserting Comments: The library also provides a function to insert new comments into existing code.

• Cross-Language Compatibility: The library's comment format is based on a simplified version of Python syntax, making it possible for developers using other programming languages to create compatible parsers.

Overall, this library simplifies the way comments are handled across different Python tools, promoting consistency and ease of use.

This text discusses efficient coding practices for BASIC programs on the ZX Spectrum, particularly focusing on how to optimize line numbers and program structure for better performance.

Key Points:

1. Line Numbering and Limits:

   • ZX Spectrum allows line numbers from 1 to 9999 in manual editing, but technically supports up to 65535. However, using high numbers can cause execution errors.
   • Each line in memory takes up 2 bytes for the number and 2 bytes for its length, leading to space constraints.

2. Interpreter Behavior:

   • The BASIC interpreter does not use an indexed table for line addresses, which means it searches through the program linearly (O(n)) when executing commands that reference line numbers (like GOTO and GOSUB).
   • This leads to increased execution time, especially for lines further down in the program.

3. Efficiency Tips:

   • Place frequently called routines or loops near the start of the program to reduce search time.
   • Use longer lines if possible, as fewer lines make searching quicker, even though each long line has its own challenges.
   • Avoid non-executable statements (like REM) in the main program flow; keep them at the end to minimize search times.

4. Tools and Techniques:

   • The tool ZX-Basicus can help optimize code by profiling execution, merging lines, and relocating code to improve efficiency.
   • Use literal numbers for line references instead of expressions to make maintenance easier.

Overall, structuring code efficiently on the ZX Spectrum can significantly enhance performance, particularly in programs with many line jumps or frequent calls to routines.

On November 25, 2025, Trigger.dev experienced a security breach caused by a sophisticated npm supply chain worm named Shai-Hulud 2.0. This worm compromised over 500 packages and affected more than 25,000 repositories across the JavaScript ecosystem, impacting several companies including PostHog and Zapier.

Key events of the incident included:

• A routine debugging session revealed a suspicious pull request (PR) closed by an engineer, which led to notifications of multiple force-pushes and PR closures.
• The breach occurred when one of our engineers unknowingly installed a compromised package, resulting in credential theft and unauthorized access to our GitHub organization.
• The attacker had access to the engineer's GitHub account for 17 hours before initiating a destructive attack, during which they cloned 669 repositories.
• In a rapid 10-minute window, the attacker force-pushed changes, closed 42 PRs, and targeted critical repositories.
• Detection of the attack was swift, with access revoked within minutes of the first malicious activity being spotted.

Fortunately, Trigger.dev's own packages remained safe throughout the incident, and no sensitive customer data was accessed. Recovery involved restoring lost branches using GitHub's Events API and local developer histories, completed within 7 hours.

In response to this incident, several security measures were implemented:

1. Global disabling of npm scripts to prevent arbitrary code execution during installations.
2. Upgrading to pnpm version 10, which enhances security features.
3. Switching npm publishing to use OpenID Connect (OIDC) to avoid long-lived tokens on developer machines.
4. Enabling branch protection across all repositories to mitigate unauthorized changes.

The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities within the npm ecosystem and the need for robust security practices. Trigger.dev shared lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of proactive security measures and handling sensitive information carefully.

No summary available.

Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, is experiencing glitches and spreading misinformation, particularly about a recent shooting at Bondi Beach that resulted in eleven deaths during a Hanukkah gathering. One of the heroes, Ahmed al Ahmed, who disarmed a shooter, has become the focus of both praise and Islamophobic backlash.

Currently, Grok is providing incorrect and nonsensical responses to user inquiries. For example, it mistakenly identified a video of al Ahmed as an old clip of a man climbing a tree and confused images related to the shooting with unrelated events. It has also mixed up details from different incidents, such as the Bondi shooting and a shooting at Brown University.

These errors are not new for Grok, which has previously given questionable answers, including conspiracy theories and inappropriate comments. The exact cause of these glitches remains unclear, and attempts to get a response from the developer, xAI, have only received automated replies.

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Summary of Linux Sandboxes and Fil-C

Memory safety and sandboxing are distinct concepts in software security. A program can be memory safe but not sandboxed, or vice versa. For instance:

• A memory-safe Java program may allow file access, posing risks if it has bugs.
• A sandboxed assembly program might not allow file operations, but could still have memory safety issues.

Combining both memory safety and sandboxing is ideal for security.

Fil-C is a memory-safe implementation of C and C++, capable of working with low-level system components. It can use Linux's sandboxing features, such as:

1. chroot - limits the program's view of the filesystem.
2. User Privileges - runs processes with restricted user permissions.
3. setrlimit - prevents certain actions like opening files.
4. seccomp-BPF - filters system calls to minimize vulnerabilities.

The document outlines how to adapt OpenSSH's sandboxing techniques to work with Fil-C. Key points include:

• Preventing Thread Creation: Fil-C uses threads for memory management, which could conflict with OpenSSH's sandboxing rules. A new API, zlock_runtime_threads(), was introduced to manage this.

• Adjustments to OpenSSH's Sandbox: Changes to the seccomp filter were made to ensure that any violations kill all threads and include necessary permissions for Fil-C's operation.

• Implementing prctl: The prctl system call manages privileges and seccomp filters for all threads in a Fil-C process to maintain security.

In conclusion, effective security combines memory safety with sandboxing, and this document describes how to achieve that using Fil-C with Linux's existing technologies without compromising security measures.

No summary available.

The text discusses the growing unpopularity of the media in the United States and explores why the public has lost trust in journalists. It begins with a reflection on a public television series from the late 1980s that featured ethical dilemmas faced by military personnel and journalists during war. The contrasting responses of journalists Peter Jennings and Mike Wallace to a hypothetical situation involving American soldiers highlighted a perceived lack of moral engagement among reporters compared to military members.

As the text progresses, it critiques how political talk shows have evolved, suggesting that they prioritize entertainment and conflict over substantive discussions about important issues. Reporters often focus on political tactics rather than the real-life impacts of policies on citizens.

The author highlights a disconnect between journalists and the public, where journalists are preoccupied with political maneuvering while citizens want to know how policies affect their lives. This disconnect contributes to the media's declining credibility, as the public increasingly sees journalists as out-of-touch and more interested in the "game" of politics than in addressing societal problems.

The text also points out that while politicians are expected to disclose their financial dealings to maintain transparency, journalists often do not face similar scrutiny, leading to a double standard that further alienates the public.

Overall, the piece argues that the media's focus on political drama rather than genuine issues has resulted in a loss of trust and credibility, which poses a significant challenge to democracy itself.

Summary of Cargo Rail

What is Cargo Rail? Cargo Rail is a tool designed to improve Rust project management by unifying dependencies, detecting unused features, and optimizing Continuous Integration (CI) processes. It replaces several other tools and simplifies dependency management with just one configuration file.

Key Features:

1. Dependency Management:

   • Unifies versions of dependencies.
   • Prunes unused features and detects undeclared features.
   • Computes the Minimum Supported Rust Version (MSRV).

2. CI Optimization:

   • Only tests affected crates, reducing CI costs and time.
   • Integrates with GitHub Actions for streamlined CI workflows.

3. Crate Extraction:

   • Simplifies the process of extracting crates with full git history and supports bidirectional syncing.

4. Release Management:

   • Automates the process of preparing releases with changelog generation.

Installation:

• Install using the command: cargo install cargo-rail
• Optionally use pre-built binaries.

Basic Usage:

• Initialize with cargo rail init.
• Preview changes with cargo rail unify --check.
• Apply changes using cargo rail unify.

Configuration:

• Configuration is managed in a .config/rail.toml file, allowing customization of features like dependency detection and release settings.

Real-World Impact:

• Proven to reduce the number of dependencies and prune dead features in various projects, leading to cleaner and more efficient Rust workspaces.

Migration:

• Users of older tools like cargo-hakari can migrate to Cargo Rail by following straightforward steps to check and apply changes.

Conclusion: Cargo Rail enhances the Rust development experience by providing a comprehensive solution for dependency management and CI optimization, making it easier to maintain and release Rust projects effectively.

The text references a post titled "Show HN: Gemini Pro 3 imagines the HN front page 10 years from now." It provides a link to the Hacker News discussion about this future vision of the website.

No summary available.

No summary available.

In this episode, Kent Overstreet provides an update on bcachefs, a copy-on-write file system for Linux. He discusses the latest developments, including the significant new "Reconcile" feature, which is the biggest update in about two years. Overstreet explains the advantages of being removed from the kernel and shares insights about the challenges and solutions related to integrating a new file system. The episode also includes mentions of various tools, like the Dotfiles Installer and SSH-Studio, which help with configuration management. Overall, the discussion highlights the progress and future of bcachefs as it competes with systems like ZFS and Btrfs.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Apple has released iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2, which include new features, bug fixes, and important security updates. The updates fix over 20 security vulnerabilities, including two serious WebKit bugs that could allow attackers to run harmful code or corrupt memory. These vulnerabilities may have already been used in attacks against certain individuals using older versions of iOS.

One WebKit issue was resolved by improving memory management, while the other was fixed with better validation. Other vulnerabilities addressed include an App Store bug that could expose sensitive payment information, memory corruption from malicious image files, unauthorized access to hidden photos, and potential loss of passwords during FaceTime remote control.

Apple urges all users to update their devices to the latest versions to protect against these vulnerabilities.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Mathlib4 Overview

Mathlib4 is a library for the Lean theorem prover, maintained by users. It includes tools for programming and mathematics, plus tactics to help develop mathematical concepts.

Installation

• Instructions for installing Lean, mathlib, and tools are available on the website.
• You can also use GitHub Codespace or Gitpod to access the project.

Using Mathlib4

• For guidance on using mathlib4 as a dependency, visit the provided GitHub link.
• After installation, you can start with a tutorial project and explore the "Learning Lean" resources.

Documentation

• Mathlib's documentation includes automatically generated files, theories covered, and extra Lean materials.
• A Zulip chat room is available for discussions, where users can ask questions and share ideas.

Contributing

• For contributing guidelines, refer to the community guide.
• Introduce yourself in the Zulip channel and seek help from community members.
• Commands are provided for building, testing, and updating mathlib.

Building and Documentation

• You can download cached build files and build HTML documentation from the mathlib4_docs repository.
• A survival guide is available for Lean 3 users transitioning to Lean 4.

Dependencies

• Contributors can update dependencies with specific commands but should not include documentation-related dependencies during updates.

Maintainers

• A detailed list of current maintainers and their areas of expertise is available online.

This summary highlights the key aspects of mathlib4, including its purpose, installation process, documentation resources, community engagement, contribution guidelines, and maintainer information.

No summary available.

The article discusses a technique for enhancing Win32 window procedures by adding a fifth argument to better pass context information. The author reflects on a previous method using closures in C and proposes a simpler way to access program state during window messages.

Key points include:

1. Window Procedure Basics: The standard Win32 window procedure (Wndproc) has four parameters determined by the system, which limits how context can be passed to it.

2. Current Workarounds: Developers typically use global variables or a GWLP_USERDATA pointer to share state, but these methods can be cumbersome.

3. Proposed Solution: The author suggests creating a new Wndproc5 with an additional context parameter. This involves building a "trampoline" function that can handle the extra parameter while conforming to the x64 calling convention.

4. Memory Allocation for Trampolines: The article discusses allocating executable memory using a specific assembly section, ensuring the trampolines are close to the other code and data to avoid issues with addressing.

5. Function Creation: A function, make_wndproc, is introduced to create a Wndproc that accepts the additional context. The window procedure can now directly access the program state through this new argument.

6. Use Cases: While the approach is more complex than using GWLP_USERDATA, it can be beneficial in scenarios like custom memory allocators that lack context pointers.

The author provides code snippets and a complete example for implementing this technique, emphasizing its potential usefulness in specific programming contexts.

MIT engineers have developed a new method to track and predict how individual cells in a fruit fly embryo fold, divide, and rearrange during early development. This process, known as gastrulation, occurs over about one hour when the embryo transitions from a smooth shape to more defined structures. The researchers created a deep-learning model that can predict cell behaviors with 90% accuracy, which may eventually be used to study more complex tissues and identify early signs of diseases like asthma and cancer.

The model combines two common approaches in modeling cell behavior: treating cells as points or bubbles. This dual-graph structure allows for a more detailed understanding of how cells interact over time. The team trained the model using high-quality videos of fruit fly embryos, achieving accurate predictions about individual cell dynamics.

The researchers hope to apply this method to other species and potentially human tissues, enhancing disease diagnostics and treatment. They emphasize that the main challenge now is obtaining high-quality video data for further research.

The author, Julio Merino, shares his experience migrating his web services from Azure Functions to a FreeBSD server. Initially, he relied on Azure's serverless functions for hosting his applications, but a warning about an upcoming end-of-life for the Linux Consumption plan prompted him to act sooner than expected.

He describes his transition process, which involved setting up a FreeBSD server in his garage and adapting his services to run independently without Azure's infrastructure. This required him to implement features like configuration injection, logging, and process management using FreeBSD tools.

Merino notes several benefits of self-hosting, including:

• Predictability: No more worrying about cloud provider changes.
• Performance: His applications run significantly faster on a dedicated server.
• Ease of Management: Local management is more straightforward than managing cloud deployments.
• Cost: He reduced his monthly expenses from around $20 to nearly zero.

However, he acknowledges some downsides, such as reduced availability, lack of a staging environment, and the need to set up auto-deployments again. Overall, he views the migration positively and is pleased with the results of hosting his services on FreeBSD.

A startup named SPhotonix has developed "5D Memory Crystals" for data storage that can last up to 13.8 billion years, which is about the age of the universe. These crystals can hold 360 terabytes of data on a 5-inch glass disc, using femtosecond lasers to encode data in five dimensions. The company is preparing to test this technology in data centers over the next two years after successfully moving it out of the lab.

SPhotonix's current prototypes can write data at speeds of 4 MB per second and read it at 30 MB per second, but they plan to improve these speeds to 500 MB per second within a few years. The estimated costs for the technology are around $30,000 for a writer and $6,000 for a reader. SPhotonix has raised $4.5 million and aims to validate their technology in real-world environments.

This innovative storage solution does not require power to retain data, making it suitable for long-term archives. SPhotonix's approach differs from other companies by focusing on integrating their technology into existing data center systems rather than offering a complete storage service.

Summary of "Fed 24 Years of My Blog Posts to a Markov Model" by Susam Pal

Susam Pal shared a simple text generator program called Mark V. Shaney Junior, inspired by a similar program from the 1980s. This Python program uses a Markov model, which generates text based on patterns it learns from input data—in this case, 24 years of Pal's blog posts.

Key Points:

1. Program Overview:

   • The program is about 30 lines long and is designed for easy understanding.
   • It is a recreational project where the author explores ideas through coding.

2. Gibberish Generation:

   • The program can produce funny and nonsensical text by analyzing the blog's content.
   • Examples include text generated from "A Christmas Carol" and Pal's own blog posts.

3. Markov Property:

   • The generator uses trigrams (three-word sequences) to predict the next word based on the previous two words.
   • This approach is called the Markov property, meaning the next word depends only on the current state, not the entire history.

4. Comparison to Modern Models:

   • While this Markov model is straightforward, it lacks the complexity of modern large language models (LLMs) that can understand broader context.
   • The simplicity of the Markov model serves as a good introduction to language modeling.

5. Customization:

   • Users can adjust the model's order (the number of words in the key) to influence the coherence of the generated text.

Overall, the project showcases a fun way to explore text generation using a simple Markov model, highlighting both its limitations and charm.

The article discusses common misconceptions about the PostgreSQL database maintenance command, VACUUM, particularly regarding its effect on indexes. Here are the key points:

1. Misconception About VACUUM: Many developers believe that running VACUUM will keep their database healthy by cleaning up dead rows and reclaiming space. However, it doesn't restructure B-tree indexes, which can lead to index bloat.

2. Data Storage in PostgreSQL: When rows are deleted, they are marked as dead but remain in the database until VACUUM runs. While VACUUM can remove dead tuples from tables, it doesn't rearrange index entries, leaving gaps in the B-tree structure.

3. Experiment Demonstration: An experiment showed that after deleting a large portion of data and running VACUUM, the table size decreased significantly, but the index size remained the same, indicating unaddressed bloat.

4. Index States: Index pages can be full, partial, sparse, or empty, affecting performance. VACUUM does not merge sparse pages or change the structure of the index.

5. Impact on Query Planning: The query planner estimates costs based on the number of physical pages in an index, which can lead to inefficient query execution when there is bloat, as the planner may assume there are more rows than actually exist.

6. Reindexing and Alternatives: To fix index bloat, the REINDEX command can be used to rebuild the index. Tools like pg_squeeze can help rebuild tables and indexes with minimal downtime.

7. When to Act: Index bloat becomes a concern after significant deletions or when the bloat ratio exceeds certain thresholds. Regular monitoring is recommended to determine when maintenance is needed.

8. Conclusion: While VACUUM is important for maintaining table health, it does not address index structure issues. Understanding the difference between heap bloat and index bloat is crucial for effective database maintenance.

Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of proactive management of indexes in PostgreSQL alongside regular VACUUM operations.

Tambourine is an open-source voice dictation system that allows users to control speech-to-text (STT) and language models (LLM) for inserting text into any application. The creator developed it to have a customizable alternative to existing systems, ensuring full control over its functionality.

Tambourine is based on Pipecat's modular framework, running on a local Python server that combines STT and LLM models. This design makes it easy to switch between different providers and experiment with various setups.

The desktop app is built with Tauri, using TypeScript for the front end and Rust for system integration. It allows users to activate the voice interface with a global hotkey, enabling formatted text input in emails, documents, chat apps, and more.

The system streams audio to the Python server, which transcribes speech in real time, cleans up the text, and applies custom formatting. Users can change providers and settings without needing to restart the app.

Tambourine is still in development, with ongoing improvements and refinements. The creator is seeking feedback, especially from those interested in the future of voice interfaces.

Summary:

Researchers are exploring the causes of mental fatigue, which affects many people, especially those with long COVID and other chronic conditions. Unlike computers, human brains tire after intense thinking, leading to decreased motivation and focus. This fatigue can also contribute to serious errors in tasks like driving and medical decisions.

Scientists are now studying cognitive fatigue using new methods, including biological markers, rather than relying solely on self-reports, which can be inaccurate. They believe that cognitive fatigue results from metabolic changes in the brain, possibly due to energy depletion or toxic build-up from neural activity.

Current research is looking at how these biochemical changes affect decision-making and effort. For instance, after difficult tasks, people are more likely to choose immediate rewards over delayed ones, indicating how fatigue alters motivation.

Understanding cognitive fatigue is crucial, as it impacts not only those with long COVID but also individuals with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, and multiple sclerosis. The goal is to develop better treatments and interventions to help those suffering from this debilitating symptom.

Summary of Cryptids

Cryptids are a type of Turing Machine that operate under a simple mathematical rule but are related to complex, unsolved mathematical problems. Most known Cryptids behave similarly to the Collatz problem, indicating that their halting behavior is difficult to determine.

The term "Cryptid" was introduced by Shawn Ligocki in October 2023, alongside the discovery of a specific Cryptid called Bigfoot.

A list of notable Cryptids includes:

• Bigfoot (discovered Nov 2023)
• Hydra (discovered May 2024)
• Antihydra (discovered June 2024)
• Lucy's Moonlight (discovered Mar 2025)

These Cryptids can be categorized into Minimal Cryptids (that cannot be simplified further) and larger, constructed Cryptids. Examples of larger Cryptids include machines linked to famous unsolved problems like the Riemann Hypothesis and Goldbach's Conjecture.

Some Turing Machines exhibit chaotic behavior but do not qualify as Cryptids because they are not connected to known mathematical problems.

In summary, Cryptids represent intriguing mathematical constructs that challenge our understanding of computation and unsolved problems in mathematics.

The Linux kernel has officially added stable drivers for the General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB), a technology introduced by HP in 1972 for lab equipment. After being in the "staging" area for a year, the GPIB drivers have now been promoted to the main part of the Linux kernel with the release of version 6.19. This marks a significant milestone for enthusiasts of vintage hardware, as the GPIB standard has become outdated with the rise of newer interfaces like USB and Ethernet.

The GPIB drivers were cleaned up and improved while in staging, thanks to dedicated developers. Before this, they were maintained separately by vintage hardware fans. Alongside this development, the VCHIQ interface code for Raspberry Pi has also been refined and moved into the main kernel, benefiting Raspberry Pi users as well.

Overall, this update is a positive development for both vintage hardware supporters and Raspberry Pi users, as it enhances support within the Linux kernel.

Summary of "Compiler Engineering in Practice - Part 1: What is a Compiler?"

This blog post by Sean Silva introduces the concept of a compiler, which is a program that translates code from one programming language to another while ensuring that the output behaves the same as the input. For example, it can convert C code into x86 assembly language. Compilers are essential tools in software development, and they can be complex, but their fundamental function is straightforward: reading a file and writing a file.

Key points include:

• Reliability: Compilers must be reliable because errors (miscompiles) can lead to serious issues, such as data loss or security vulnerabilities. Debugging miscompiles can take a long time and slow down development.

• Intermediate Representation (IR): Compilers use a complex data structure called IR to represent program behavior. This allows them to transform the code while preserving its original meaning. The IR is intricate and requires careful management to prevent errors during transformation.

• Software Engineering Principles: Compilers are large, long-lived software projects that benefit from good software engineering practices like API design and testing. Unique challenges arise from the need to ensure correctness throughout the compilation process.

The blog post is part of a series aimed at sharing practical insights into compiler development. Future topics will address modern compilers, organization, testing, and the overall compiler lifecycle.

The article discusses the concept of checkpointing in message processing, drawing parallels with video games from the past, such as "Super Frog." Checkpointing allows a process to pause and resume without losing progress, similar to how games used codes to restart from a specific level.

Key points include:

1. Checkpointing in Business Processes: When using message-based systems, it's crucial to ensure that if a process fails, it can recover without losing information. This is achieved through an "Outbox" pattern, which stores messages alongside the database transaction.

2. Database Structure: The Outbox table tracks messages with a unique position and transaction ID, ensuring that messages are processed in order without gaps.

3. Processor Checkpoints: A separate table, processor_checkpoints, stores the last processed position for each processor. This allows the system to know where to resume processing after a failure.

4. Stored Procedures: The article explains how to implement a stored procedure to manage these checkpoints, ensuring that updates occur only when the expected position matches the current one.

5. Trade-offs: While this approach provides reliability and can detect issues like competing processes, it requires a system that guarantees global ordering of messages. Not all messaging solutions offer this, and long transactions can delay processing.

6. Conclusion: The author emphasizes the importance of global ordering and checkpointing, while also noting that mature tools exist to manage these complexities. Finally, there's a call to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

Overall, the article provides insights into implementing resilient message processing systems using checkpointing techniques.

Summary: Using an E-Ink Tablet as a Monitor for Linux

The article discusses how to use an old Android E-ink tablet, specifically the Onyx BOOX Air 2, as a secondary display for a Linux system (Arch Linux with i3wm). This setup helps reduce eye strain while reading and writing.

Key Points:

1. Purpose: The writer aims to reduce eye strain while reading legal texts and notes. Using an E-ink tablet serves this purpose well.

2. Setup Overview:

   • The tablet mirrors one screen rather than extending it and is mainly used for reading (70%) and writing (30%).
   • The connection is established using VNC (Virtual Network Computing), which allows the tablet to function as both a display and an input device.

3. Comparison of Methods:

   • Deskreen: This method was found inadequate due to poor streaming quality and high input lag.
   • VNC: Setting up a VNC server (using TigerVNC) proved successful and was completed in about 20 minutes.

4. VNC Server Setup:

   • Install the TigerVNC package.
   • Create a password and configure user settings.
   • Adjust the resolution to match the E-ink display for optimal viewing.

5. Running VNC:

   • The x0vncserver command is used to mirror the display settings. A script is provided to automate this process.

6. Additional Tips:

   • It's recommended to use a high-contrast theme for coding or writing on the E-ink tablet to enhance readability.

The overall experience is reported as beneficial for reading and light tasks, while more demanding activities like coding may not perform as well due to the device's limitations.