A study on Hacker News (HN) reveals that 65% of posts have a negative sentiment, and these posts perform better, averaging 35.6 points compared to the overall average of 28 points. This indicates a 27% performance boost for negative posts.

The research analyzed 32,000 posts and 340,000 comments using various models, including transformer-based classifiers and large language models. Despite different distribution patterns, negativity consistently appeared across all models. Negative sentiment often includes criticism of technology, skepticism about announcements, and complaints about industry practices, but it tends to be substantive rather than toxic.

The study raises questions about the relationship between negativity and engagement, suggesting that both controversial content and negative framing may attract attention. The researcher plans to release the full code, dataset, and a dashboard for further analysis soon.

Barry has created Prism.Tools, a collection of privacy-focused developer utilities that you can use directly in your web browser without any sign-up or data tracking. The tools include over 40 options like JSON formatters, regex testers, and Git command helpers. They are designed to be simple and self-contained, running entirely on the client side with no external dependencies or complex frameworks.

Each tool is a single HTML file, making them easy to access and modify. The project emphasizes user privacy, ensuring that your data remains in your browser. Barry aims to provide useful tools for both beginners and experienced developers, reflecting his years of experience in tech.

You can explore the tools at Prism.Tools and share any feedback about missing tools or usability issues. The project also showcases that simple, vanilla JavaScript can effectively serve many needs without relying on large frameworks.

No summary available.

AWS recently increased prices for its EC2 Capacity Blocks for machine learning (ML) by about 15%. This change was made quietly on a Saturday and affects various GPU instances, with some prices rising significantly across different regions. While AWS had previously announced price reductions for GPU instances, this increase marks a shift in their pricing strategy.

Capacity Blocks allow companies to reserve guaranteed GPU capacity for ML tasks, which is crucial for organizations that cannot afford interruptions during training sessions. The price hikes may create challenges for customers with Enterprise Discount Programs, as their guaranteed discounts will now be based on higher public prices.

This price increase may signal a broader trend, suggesting that AWS might raise prices for other services in the future, especially as global supply constraints for GPUs and other resources become apparent. Historically, AWS has conditioned customers to expect lower prices, and this change could alter that perception.

The key takeaway is that the recent price increase could be a sign of more adjustments to come, impacting how businesses budget for cloud services.

On April 26, 2022, a travel writer shared their experience of repairing ships in Yakutsk, Siberia, during extremely cold temperatures of -50°C. After an uneventful journey from Khandyga, they arrived in Yakutsk, a fascinating city known for its unique culture and extreme climate.

The writer visited a dockyard where ships are prepared for navigation on the Lena River. Due to a lack of dry-docks, workers creatively cut away the ice around the ships to access their undersides for repairs. This process involves gradually sawing through layers of ice, allowing access to parts like propellers.

In addition to repairs, new ships are also built at the dockyard. The workers, who endure harsh conditions, are well-compensated for their physically demanding jobs. The writer captured the unusual ship repair methods and the unique features of the region, sharing the experience to bring some cheer to viewers amid tough times.

Summary of Radar #16: Week of 01/05/2026

The Low Orbit Security Radar is a weekly newsletter focused on security from an offensive perspective. This week's issue highlights some unusual internet activity in Venezuela during a recent blackout.

Key Points:

• During the blackout, there were anomalies in Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) data, which is crucial for routing internet traffic.
• General John D. Caine mentioned coordinated cyber operations by the U.S. as they approached Venezuela.
• BGP data indicated strange routing patterns involving Venezuela's state-owned telecom, CANTV, suggesting possible manipulation of internet traffic.
• A spike in BGP announcements occurred just before significant events in Caracas, including explosions and military actions.
• These anomalies could indicate an attempt to gather intelligence by controlling internet traffic paths.

Overall, there are many unanswered questions regarding the purpose and implications of these BGP anomalies during a tense geopolitical situation.

No summary available.

Summary: Eerie and “Inspector Dangerfuck”: ANSI Art and Webcomics, Part 3

This article discusses Eerie, an ANSI artist who created the character "Inspector Dangerfuck" in 1994. Eerie, a musician and author today, started as a teenager in Quebec, feeling lonely and restless. He became involved in the ANSI art scene, which he describes as a creative but chaotic underground community.

Eerie's work gained attention when T Campbell claimed that "Inspector Dangerfuck" was the first comic on the Internet, a statement that lacks evidence and has been disputed. Despite this, Eerie's character became well-known, though he humorously noted that few had actually sought out his work.

Eerie's journey into ANSI art began with his experiences on bulletin board systems (BBS), where he found community and collaborated with others. He was inspired by French comics and developed a unique cartoony style, which initially received mixed reviews from the ANSI art community.

As Eerie moved through various art groups, he created a series of ANSI pieces featuring Inspector Dangerfuck, including comics and animated demos. However, despite the creativity involved, he expressed doubts about whether these works fit into the history of webcomics, emphasizing that they were not true webcomics due to the limitations of the distribution methods at the time.

In the end, Eerie concluded that while his work may be considered early online comics, they did not significantly influence the development of webcomics, as the true precursors were likely found in print comics instead. The article highlights the rich, yet often overlooked, history of ANSI art and its creators.

No summary available.

Summary of Fast Containers Library

Overview: Fast Containers is a high-performance C++23 library designed for x86-64 architecture. It offers a fast header-only implementation of data structures, particularly focusing on B+trees and memory allocation optimizations.

Key Features:

1. B+Tree Implementation:

   • A cache-friendly B+tree structure with SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) search capabilities and support for hugepages.
   • Performs significantly faster than Abseil's B+tree and standard std::map, particularly for large datasets.

2. Memory Allocators:

   • HugePageAllocator: Allocates memory in large pages to minimize translation lookaside buffer (TLB) misses and reduce allocation overhead.
   • MultiSizeHugePageAllocator: Supports variable-sized allocations, optimizing memory usage for structures like absl::btree_map.
   • PolicyBasedHugePageAllocator: Provides advanced control over memory pools, allowing shared resources between multiple trees.

Performance Benefits:

• The B+tree can be 2-5 times faster than Abseil's B+tree and std::map for large datasets (e.g., 10 million elements).
• Performance improvements are mainly observed with larger trees, where allocation costs and TLB misses become significant.

Installation and Usage:

• Requires a C++23 compiler, CMake, and an AVX2-capable CPU.
• Included in projects via git submodules and linked in CMake.
• Basic usage examples are provided, demonstrating how to create and manipulate B+trees.

Advanced Features:

• Customizable node sizes for optimizing cache behavior.
• Options for advanced users to manage memory allocations based on specific requirements.

Development and Testing:

• The library follows a structured development process with tools for code formatting and static analysis.
• Includes unit tests and performance benchmarks to ensure reliability and efficiency.

Conclusion: Fast Containers offers a highly efficient solution for managing large datasets in C++, with substantial performance enhancements through specialized data structures and memory management techniques.

DDL to Data was created to solve the problem of using production data for testing, which involved complex security processes and manual scripts that often became outdated. It allows users to simply paste their CREATE TABLE statements and receive realistic test data that maintains key relationships and constraints, without any setup required. It works with PostgreSQL and MySQL. The creator is seeking feedback from people who work with test data or staging environments to improve the tool.

Summary of Remote Mac Automation SYSTEM

SYSTEM allows you to control your Mac from anywhere using natural language commands. It operates with two main components: the Agent, hosted on Cloudflare Workers, and the Bridge, running locally on your Mac.

Key Steps to Get Started:

1. Clone and Install: Download the system using Git and install dependencies.
2. Run Setup Wizard: Configure your system interactively by providing an API key and setting up remote access.
3. Start the System: Launch the system to open the user interface and establish a connection.

Architecture:

• Agent (Brain): Managed through Cloudflare Workers, it handles natural language processing, scheduling, and state management.
• Bridge (Body): A local server on your Mac that executes commands using AppleScript, shell commands, and Raycast extensions.

Features:

• Natural Language Commands: Send commands like "Play some jazz music" to control your Mac.
• Scheduling: Set up one-time or recurring tasks using natural language or cron syntax.
• Persistent State: Remembers preferences and conversation history for personalized interaction.
• Core Tools: Automate tasks like opening apps, controlling music, managing files, and sending messages.

Security:

• Requires an API secret for all requests to protect your system.
• Uses a human-in-the-loop confirmation process for sensitive actions like sending messages.
• Cloudflare Access can be used for additional security at the network level.

Integration with Raycast:

SYSTEM can recognize and execute commands from Raycast extensions, allowing for powerful integrations with other applications.

Additional Capabilities:

• Control system settings, manage calendar events, and interact with various apps.
• Enable tools from installed Raycast extensions for enhanced functionality.

This system is designed to make controlling your Mac easier and more secure while allowing for extensive automation capabilities.

This text provides statistics about the Gemini space as of January 6, 2026. Key points include:

• Total URIs: There are 646,369 URIs in the database, with 560,646 successfully checked recently.
• Content Types: The majority (431,340) serve Gemini content, with the average size of resources being 46,339 bytes.
• Resource Sizes: Most resources are under 10 KB, with 48.4% between 1 and 10 KB.
• Media Types: The most common type is "text/gemini" (431,340 URLs), followed by images like JPEG and PNG.
• Languages: The majority of content is unspecified, but English is the most common specified language.
• Status Codes: 94.98% of checked URLs returned a success status (20).
• Capsules: There are 4,825 capsules, with over 3,000 successfully connected recently. Some capsules have a limit of 10,000 URLs.
• Certificates: Most capsules (92.5%) use self-signed certificates, and 99% of connections use TLS 1.3.
• IP Addresses: 1,263 IP addresses are used, with 27% being IPv6.
• Top-Level Domains: There are 277 TLDs in capsule names, with ".com" being the most common.

The data illustrates the growth and diversity of the Gemini space, highlighting various aspects such as resource types, language distribution, and technical details on connections and security.

Summary:

GNOME and Mozilla are considering a proposal to disable the middle mouse button paste feature on Linux and Unix systems. This feature allows users to paste text quickly by clicking the middle mouse button, which many find useful for transferring text between applications. Mozilla suggests that this behavior can lead to confusion and accidental pastes, especially for new users coming from Windows.

The proposal includes changes to Firefox and the GNOME settings to align with this new default behavior. However, this change could disrupt the workflows of many long-time Linux users who rely on the middle-click paste function.

The middle mouse paste has been a fundamental part of Unix systems for over 30 years, making this potential change significant and controversial. Many users are voicing their concerns, arguing that removing this feature is unnecessary and could negatively impact productivity. No final decisions have been made yet, and both proposals are open for further discussion and feedback from the community.

The text is a question posed by Raymond Chen on how to exchange two neighboring memory blocks using only forward iterators.

The article "Try to Take My Position" by Andrew Graham-Yooll shares valuable advice on getting promoted in your career. The key message from his CTO is to start acting like you’re in the position you want, even before you officially have the title. This means taking on more responsibility, identifying problems, and proposing solutions proactively.

A significant example described is when a junior engineer proposed a plan to reduce incidents in their service, showing initiative and a broader understanding of team issues. This behavior exemplifies "taking the position" by thinking beyond personal tasks and taking ownership of team challenges.

Graham-Yooll emphasizes that promotions require consistent performance over time, not just a single impressive moment. Managers often look for candidates who demonstrate sustained capability and responsibility, ideally over a period of six months.

In summary, if you want to get promoted, you should act as if you already hold the desired position by thinking about team-wide issues, making proposals, and consistently showing that you can handle the role. The promotion will follow your demonstrated behavior.

Ben Hoyt recently argued that input/output (I/O) is not the main limitation in programming tasks like counting word frequencies. He observed that sequential read speeds from disks have improved significantly, while CPU speeds have not advanced as much. For instance, he achieved sequential read speeds of 1.6 GB/s with a warm cache.

To test this, he optimized a C program for counting word frequencies. However, results showed only 278 MB/s performance on a warm cache, which is much lower than expected. After examining the code, he found that certain code structures were preventing the compiler from optimizing it effectively. By simplifying the logic, he improved performance to 330 MB/s.

He then compared his program to the wc -w command, which counts words. Surprisingly, wc -w performed even worse at 245.2 MB/s due to its more complex criteria for counting words.

Hoyt emphasized the need to leverage modern CPU features like vectorization to maximize performance. He attempted to optimize counting using AVX2 instructions and managed to write a program that counted words at 1.45 GB/s on a warm cache, which is still only about 11% of the maximum sequential disk read speed.

In conclusion, while disk speeds have significantly improved, achieving high performance in word counting remains challenging due to various factors in code design and compiler limitations. The optimized code is available on GitHub for others to explore and improve.

Interpreter Summary

Interpreter is an offline tool designed for translating Japanese text in retro games. It captures text from any game window, translates it to English, and displays subtitles in a floating overlay.

Key Features:

• Offline Use: No internet needed after initial setup.
• Free: No costs or subscriptions required.
• Privacy: All text processing happens locally.
• Game Optimized: Uses MeikiOCR, tailored for Japanese game text.
• Two Overlay Modes:
  • Banner Mode: A subtitle bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • Inplace Mode: Text overlay directly on the game.
• Translation Caching: Avoids re-translating similar text.
• Multi-Display Support: Overlay matches the game display.

System Requirements:

• Compatible with Windows 10 (version 1903+), macOS, or Linux (X11/XWayland/Wayland).

Installation:

• Linux/macOS: Use a terminal command to install.
• Windows: Use a PowerShell command to install.
• Run the program with interpreter-v2 to start.

Usage:

• Open the GUI to select the game window and adjust settings.

Overlay Modes:

• Banner Mode: Subtitle bar at the bottom, adjustable.
• Inplace Mode: Transparent overlay directly over the game text, allowing game interaction.

How It Works:

1. Captures the game window.
2. Extracts Japanese text using OCR.
3. Translates the text to English.
4. Displays the translation in the chosen overlay mode.

Troubleshooting:

• Poor OCR Accuracy: Adjust the OCR confidence slider.
• Slow Performance: Initial run downloads required models; later runs use cached versions.

The author created a retro-style Game Boy Color boot animation web button because they couldn't find one they liked online. They used an emulator called SameBoy to extract the boot animation frames, taking screenshots to create a GIF.

To make the web button, they followed these steps:

1. Exporting Animation: Used SameBoy to capture each frame of the Game Boy's boot animation.
2. Cropping and Scaling: Cropped the logo to the desired size (88x31 pixels) and scaled it down.
3. Framing: Added a traditional grey frame around the scaled animation.
4. Background Fix: Initially, the animation had a white background, which they replaced with grey. They discovered that they needed to fix the background before scaling to avoid artifacts.
5. Color Remapping: Fixed the animation's fading colors from blue and white to blue and grey to eliminate ghosting effects.

After combining all these steps into a single command using ImageMagick, they created a finished button that they were pleased with, sharing their process and results with others. The author encourages others to use the button but hopes they don't face any legal issues with Nintendo over the project.

Brave has significantly improved its adblock engine, reducing memory use by 75%. This means the Brave browser now consumes about 45 MB less memory on all platforms—Android, iOS, and desktop—leading to better battery life and smoother performance. The update is part of Brave version 1.85, with more enhancements expected in version 1.86.

To achieve this, the team restructured the adblock engine to use a more efficient storage format called FlatBuffers, which allows for better memory management. Other improvements include:

• A 19% reduction in memory allocations
• A 13% increase in filter matching speed
• Shared resources that save additional memory
• A 30% boost in storage efficiency

These changes make Brave faster and more efficient, especially for users on mobile and older devices. Unlike other browsers that rely on extensions for adblocking, Brave’s integrated system allows for deeper optimizations. This upgrade reflects months of teamwork between Brave's performance and privacy teams, benefitting over 100 million users.

The LEGO® SMART Play™ System is an innovative new product that includes SMART Bricks, SMART Tags, and SMART Minifigures, enhancing the LEGO play experience.

• SMART Bricks: These bricks have sensors that respond to movements like twists and taps. They can interact with SMART Tags and Minifigures to create dynamic play scenarios with various sounds and lights.
• SMART Tags: These tiles tell the SMART Brick how to behave, mimicking different objects like cars or helicopters.
• SMART Minifigures: Each Minifigure has unique traits that trigger specific sounds and reactions from the SMART Brick.

This system aims to inspire creativity and make LEGO play more interactive and exciting. Pre-orders for the product are set to start soon.

Park Han-na is a content creator who encourages people to subscribe to her content.

Summary of Changes Since May

1. Vibe Coding Progress: The concept of "vibe coding" has evolved significantly, allowing for faster code creation with minimal issues. Initial surprises about code working seamlessly have now become the norm.

2. Experience with Agents: Working with coding agents has improved understanding of coding timelines. There's a growing suspicion when agents fail to deliver solutions promptly.

3. Model Improvements: The release of GPT 5.0 and subsequent versions has greatly enhanced productivity. The new models require less code reading and allow for more trust in their outputs.

4. Coding Languages: Preferred languages include TypeScript for web development, Go for command-line interfaces, and Swift for macOS applications. Go's simplicity has made it easier to work with.

5. Codex vs. Opus: Codex is seen as superior for larger code changes due to its thorough reading of files before writing, while Opus excels in smaller edits but can miss context.

6. Tool Development: The introduction of tools like Oracle, which streamlines interactions with agents, has improved efficiency, especially with the advent of GPT 5.2.

7. Project Focus: The author is working on multiple projects simultaneously, often using agents to manage tasks and streamline development. Their workflow is iterative, allowing for quick adjustments and refinements.

8. Documentation and Context Management: Maintaining clear documentation and utilizing agents to reference past work has become a key part of the workflow, enhancing efficiency.

9. Coding Philosophy: Emphasis is placed on starting projects with a simple command-line interface, iterating based on user interaction, and maintaining a linear evolution of projects.

10. Technical Setup: The author uses specific configurations for coding models to maximize efficiency and context management, enabling smoother project workflows.

Overall, the advancements in coding models and tools have transformed the coding process into a more efficient and less labor-intensive task.

No summary available.

Summary:

Recent tests show that JavaScript's for-of loops can be surprisingly fast when iterating over arrays, challenging the belief that they are significantly slower than traditional indexed loops. The benchmark compared different loop styles (classic for, for-of, for-in, and forEach) across various array sizes (5000, 50000, and 500000 elements) and types (integers, floats, strings, objects, and mixed values).

Key findings include:

• For smaller arrays (5000), for-of and classic indexed loops performed similarly.
• As the array size increased, for-of became less optimal, especially for float arrays, likely due to optimization challenges by the V8 engine.
• Running multiple iterations helped improve performance for for-of, making it comparable to the classic indexed loop with cached length.
• Overall, while for-of can be efficient, classic loops are generally more reliable for performance-sensitive tasks. For non-critical performance, for-of offers better usability.

In conclusion, for-of loops have improved in speed but may still lag behind traditional loops for large data sets.

No summary available.

Humans changed our future by creating computer languages similar to our own. As a result, computers learned not just our grammar and vocabulary, but also how we use language flexibly. By sharing our words with machines, we allowed them to manipulate language, leading to the potential for deceit.

At CES 2026, Intel launched the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which are the first to use the advanced Intel 18A semiconductor technology. These processors promise great performance, graphics, and battery life, powering over 200 PC designs.

Key features include:

• New Processors: The Series 3 includes high-performance Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors, designed for gaming and productivity, featuring up to 16 CPU cores and 12 Xe cores.
• Efficiency and Performance: They offer significant improvements in multithread performance and gaming speed, along with up to 27 hours of battery life.
• AI Integration: For the first time, these processors support AI applications in various fields like robotics and healthcare, with enhanced performance metrics for AI tasks compared to previous models.

Pre-orders for laptops with these processors start on January 6, 2026, with global availability on January 27, 2026. Edge systems using these processors will be available in the second quarter of 2026.

Tube trains in the future may use quantum physics to navigate underground accurately, especially where GPS signals are weak or unavailable. Traditional systems rely on satellites and accelerometers, which can drift and lose precision in tunnels.

Researchers are developing quantum accelerometers that utilize cooled atoms to measure movement with high accuracy without needing GPS. This technology, funded by a £1.25 million grant from the UK government, is part of the Rail Quantum Inertial Navigation System (RQINS) project aimed at improving navigation for the London Underground and potentially the national rail network.

These quantum sensors can enhance location precision from meters to centimeters, allowing for quicker identification of track faults. This capability is especially valuable in case of GPS outages, which could significantly impact the economy. The project involves collaboration with Transport for London, QinetiQ, and various academic institutions, emphasizing the potential benefits of quantum navigation for UK rail infrastructure.

Summary of "Databases in 2025: A Year in Review"

In 2025, significant events and trends in the database industry included:

1. PostgreSQL's Dominance: PostgreSQL continued to lead the database sector with its latest version (v18) introducing key features like an asynchronous I/O storage subsystem and improved query optimization. PostgreSQL companies attracted major investments, with Databricks acquiring Neon for $1 billion and Snowflake purchasing CrunchyData for $250 million.

2. Distributed PostgreSQL Projects: New initiatives aimed at scaling PostgreSQL, such as Supabase's Multigres and PlanetScale's Neki, emerged, indicating a push towards horizontal partitioning.

3. MCP Adoption: The Model Context Protocol (MCP) gained traction, allowing language models (LLMs) to interact with databases more effectively. All major database vendors introduced MCP servers, enhancing integration capabilities.

4. MongoDB Legal Issues: MongoDB sued FerretDB for allegedly infringing on its patents and trademarks, highlighting ongoing tensions in the NoSQL space.

5. File Format Competition: New open-source file formats aimed to challenge the dominance of Parquet, with several noteworthy releases in 2025.

6. Acquisitions and Mergers: Numerous acquisitions occurred, including DataStax by IBM and Quickwit by DataDog. A notable merger between Fivetran and dbt Labs aimed to create a stronger ETL solution.

7. Funding Landscape: While early-stage funding slowed, notable rounds included Databricks raising $4 billion and Supabase securing $200 million.

8. Company Closures: Several database companies, including Fauna and PostgresML, shut down operations, indicating a challenging market landscape.

9. Larry Ellison's Success: Oracle's founder became the richest person in the world, reflecting the significant financial impact of the database industry.

Overall, 2025 was marked by PostgreSQL's continued rise, new technological advancements, intense competition, and notable financial movements within the database sector.

No summary available.

In January 2025, Sam Altman predicted that AI agents would start working alongside humans, significantly changing company operations. OpenAI's Kevin Weil suggested that AI would transition from being a smart chatbot to handling real-world tasks, like booking hotels. This led to excitement in the tech industry about a potential "digital labor revolution."

However, by 2026, these predictions did not come to fruition. AI agents like ChatGPT Agent failed to perform complex tasks effectively, and experts like Gary Marcus criticized the technology as inadequate. Even OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy acknowledged that expectations had been inflated.

The author argues that instead of focusing on what AI might achieve in the future, we should pay attention to its current capabilities and impacts. The emphasis should shift from predictions to understanding how existing AI technologies are affecting our lives now.

The article discusses new research on how homeowners in flood-prone areas, rather than opting for federal buyouts, often choose to sell their properties. This trend has significant implications for community resilience in the face of climate change.

Key points include:

1. Relocation Patterns: Many Americans are expected to move away from properties at risk of flooding and other disasters. Most people who leave these areas do so by selling their homes rather than accepting government buyout offers.

2. FEMA Buyout Program: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a buyout program designed to purchase and demolish risky homes, converting the land into open space, which can reduce future flood damage. However, funding for this program is currently at risk due to budget cuts.

3. Local Ties: Despite selling their homes, many people move only a short distance away (5 to 10 miles), maintaining local connections. However, this practice can pass the risk of flooding to new residents rather than eliminating it.

4. Recommendations for Improvement: The authors suggest enhancing the buyout program to make it more attractive by allowing homeowners more time to decide about selling and demolishing their properties. This could help communities better plan for future land use and reduce flood risks.

Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of improving buyout programs to foster community resilience while addressing the ongoing risks of climate change.

Cory Doctorow's speech at the 39th Chaos Communications Congress outlines his vision for a "Post-American Internet," a concept emerging from the chaotic political climate under Donald Trump. Doctorow, an activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), emphasizes that despite decades of challenges in defending digital rights, a new opportunity has arisen for a more equitable internet.

Key points from the speech include:

1. Coalition Building: Trump's presidency inadvertently created new alliances among various groups, including digital rights activists, businesses interested in tech sovereignty, and national security advocates. This diverse coalition aims to challenge the dominance of U.S. tech companies.

2. Anticircumvention Laws: Doctorow critiques laws that criminalize modifying digital products without manufacturer permission, which he argues stifles innovation and enforces corporate control. He shares historical examples of how these laws have been imposed globally through trade agreements.

3. Economic Shifts: The decline of American consumerism and the ongoing economic struggles for many Americans create a context where countries can prioritize their tech sovereignty, reducing reliance on U.S. companies that exploit these laws.

4. Digital Sovereignty: Countries are beginning to pursue "digital sovereignty," seeking alternatives to U.S.-based tech services that have proven unreliable or exploitative. Initiatives like Eurostack aim to create local, open-source alternatives.

5. Hope for Change: Doctorow expresses cautious optimism, encouraging a collective movement toward a more equitable digital landscape that prioritizes user rights and technological freedom, emphasizing that the door to this change is slightly ajar.

In summary, the speech calls for a concerted effort to dismantle harmful tech monopolies and build a more inclusive internet, leveraging the current geopolitical climate as an opportunity for significant reform.

Neural network pruning can significantly reduce the number of parameters in trained networks by over 90%, leading to lower storage needs and better performance during inference, all while maintaining accuracy. However, it's often hard to train these pruned, sparse networks effectively from the beginning.

Researchers discovered that a common pruning method reveals smaller subnetworks that can train well. This leads to the "lottery ticket hypothesis," which states that large, randomly-initialized networks contain smaller subnetworks, or "winning tickets," that, when trained alone, can achieve similar accuracy to the full network in about the same number of training steps. These winning tickets are special because their initial weights make them easier to train.

The study includes an algorithm to find these winning tickets and experiments supporting the hypothesis. They found that winning tickets are usually only 10-20% the size of the original networks for datasets like MNIST and CIFAR10. Moreover, larger winning tickets learn faster and achieve higher accuracy than the original networks.

Tailsnitch Summary

Tailsnitch is a security tool for auditing Tailscale configurations. It checks for over 50 potential security issues, including misconfigurations and weak access controls.

Getting Started:

1. Set Up API Credentials: Use your Tailscale API key or OAuth credentials.
2. Run an Audit: Simply execute tailsnitch to perform a security scan.
3. Focus on Critical Issues: Use tailsnitch --severity high to see only high-severity findings.
4. Fix Issues Interactively: Run tailsnitch --fix to address problems directly.

Installation:

• You can download a ready-made binary or install it via Go. Alternatively, you can build it from source.

Authentication Methods:

1. OAuth (Recommended): Offers scoped access that remains valid even if users leave.
2. API Key: Functions under the permissions of the user who created it.

Usage Examples:

• Conduct a full audit: tailsnitch
• Output results in JSON format: tailsnitch --json
• Filter results by severity or category (e.g., access or authentication).

Interactive Fix Mode: This feature lets you fix issues directly via the API, preview changes, or auto-select safe fixes.

Evidence Export for SOC 2: Generate reports for audits in JSON or CSV format, detailing compliance status and test results.

Ignore Known Risks: You can create a .tailsnitch-ignore file to bypass certain warnings about known issues.

Command Reference: Tailsnitch includes various flags to customize its operation, such as specifying severity levels, categories, and reporting formats.

Security Checks: Tailsnitch performs 52 checks across seven categories, identifying critical, high, medium, and informational risks.

CI/CD Integration: You can integrate Tailsnitch into CI/CD pipelines to automatically catch security issues during development.

For more information, refer to the Tailscale Security Hardening Guide and other related resources.

The author recounts their experience helping their father, a designer of spa centers, with a software issue. Their dad uses an old program called TileCreatorPro, which became problematic when they upgraded their computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The software's original manufacturer was no longer reachable, so the author searched for alternatives and discovered a support contact for a related product.

After getting a response that allowed them to test the software on a spare machine, they successfully registered it. However, when the family desktop was upgraded again, the software stopped working due to a changed "magic number" required for registration, and the author couldn’t get a response from support.

Determined to fix the issue, the author decided to reverse engineer the program despite lacking experience. Using various tools, they set up an environment to run the software and eventually found the code responsible for generating the magic number. After some trial and error, they successfully hardcoded the magic number, allowing their dad to use TileCreatorPro on Windows 10.

In the end, the author managed to ensure their father could continue using the software, at least until the next system upgrade.

No summary available.

The author created an app called DoNotNotify because they were frustrated with how apps misuse notifications on Android. Many apps send unwanted ads through notifications that can't be blocked. DoNotNotify logs all incoming notifications and organizes them by app. Users can set rules to allow or block notifications based on their content, using simple filters or more complex regex expressions. The app includes predefined rules for popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It operates solely on your device, does not connect to the Internet, and is completely free without ads. You can find more information on their website: donotnotify.com.

A serious security threat called Kimwolf has been spreading rapidly, infecting over 2 million devices worldwide, particularly in countries like Vietnam, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States. The majority of these infections are found in Android TV boxes that lack proper security measures. Kimwolf malware can force infected devices to carry out harmful activities, such as ad fraud and denial-of-service attacks, which can take websites offline.

The malware spreads by exploiting residential proxy networks, which are intended to anonymize users’ Internet traffic. These proxies have vulnerabilities that allow attackers to access devices within private networks, bypassing firewalls. Many of the infected devices come from unofficial sources and often have malware pre-installed or require users to download additional harmful software.

A researcher named Benjamin Brundage discovered how Kimwolf takes advantage of these vulnerabilities while studying for his exams. He found that the malware utilizes a feature called Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which should only be used during testing but is often left active on devices, allowing attackers to gain full control remotely.

Brundage alerted affected proxy providers about these security issues, and some have since taken measures to fix the vulnerabilities. However, the threat remains significant, as the botnet can quickly rebuild itself. Users are advised to avoid using unofficial Android TV boxes and be cautious about the devices connected to their networks, as even a guest's infected phone can compromise an entire home network.

Overall, the rise of the Kimwolf botnet highlights the importance of securing Internet-connected devices and being aware of the risks posed by low-cost, unregulated technology.

David Murphy reflects on the beauty and significance of the insular Irish script, known as Cló Gaelach, which was historically used for writing Irish. He shares his nostalgia for this script, recalling how it represented heritage and antiquity, contrasting it with the modern Latin character set that has replaced it. The old script, developed by medieval monks, included unique features like dots over consonants to indicate pronunciation, but was difficult to print, leading to the use of a modified Latin script.

Murphy discusses efforts to incorporate Cló Gaelach into modern media using typographic techniques. He has experimented with adding discretionary ligatures to a Gaelic font, allowing for the visual representation of the old script while keeping the underlying text accessible for screen readers and copy-pasting.

To enhance accessibility, he uses the HTML <ruby> element to display Irish text alongside its English translation in a way that prioritizes the Irish script. This method aims to maintain the flow of reading for both Irish speakers and non-speakers while ensuring that screen readers can interpret the content correctly.

Overall, Murphy's work combines a love for traditional typography with modern web practices, aiming to enrich user experience while preserving the essence of the Irish language. He expresses a desire to return to the spirit of early blogging, discovering valuable content about Gaelic typewriting and typography that isn't easily found elsewhere.

Summary of "Observability's Past, Present, and Future"

In this post, the author discusses their journey in the observability field and addresses frustrations with current tools and practices. The article breaks down observability into three parts: its past, present, and future.

Part 1: Observability's Past

• Observability emerged in the early 2010s due to the increasing complexity of software from cloud computing and microservices.
• Traditional reliability methods became ineffective as more bugs and outages occurred with faster deployment cycles.
• The introduction of distributed tracing tools, such as Google’s Dapper and Twitter’s Zipkin, helped engineers debug complex systems.
• The concept of observability became popularized, evolving into a key aspect of software engineering, but over time, it led to excessive focus on tools and processes rather than their original purpose.

Part 2: Observability's Present

• Today, observability is essential for managing production systems, with platforms like Datadog and Grafana being widely used.
• Despite significant investments in observability tools, engineers still face challenges, such as slow instrumentation and ineffective alerts.
• The gap between the effort put into observability and the actual improvements in system reliability is largely due to difficulties in interpreting the data generated.

Part 3: Observability's Future

• The author believes observability will become increasingly important as software complexity rises, especially with the rise of AI.
• As more software is developed rapidly, the challenge of maintaining and operating these systems will grow, making effective observability crucial.
• However, the current approach to observability needs to evolve to meet these new challenges.

In conclusion, while observability has not yet met its full potential, it remains a critical area for future development in software engineering.

The study examines the impact of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), specifically large language models (LLMs), on scientific productivity and writing quality across various academic fields. The researchers analyzed data from three major preprint repositories—arXiv, bioRxiv, and SSRN—covering over 2 million preprints from 2018 to 2024. Key findings include:

1. Increased Productivity: Scientists using LLMs have shown a significant increase in manuscript submissions, with productivity rising by 36.2% in arXiv, 52.9% in bioRxiv, and 59.8% in SSRN. This boost is attributed to LLMs aiding in tasks like idea generation and writing, particularly benefiting non-native English speakers.

2. Quality of Writing: While LLMs can produce polished text, they may obscure the true quality of the research. Higher writing complexity in LLM-assisted papers correlated negatively with publication success, suggesting that traditional signals of quality, such as complex language, are becoming less reliable.

3. Diversity in Literature Discovery: LLMs seem to broaden researchers' exposure to a wider range of prior literature, encouraging citations of less-cited and newer works. However, they may also reinforce existing biases by emphasizing more accessible, high-impact research.

4. Implications for Scientific Communication: As LLMs change the landscape of scientific writing, they challenge existing standards for evaluating research quality. This could lead to a reliance on author credentials and institutional affiliations instead of writing quality, countering the democratizing effects of LLMs.

5. Future Directions: The study highlights the need for ongoing research to understand how LLMs will continue to influence scientific practices, including the potential for LLMs to aid in the evaluation of research manuscripts.

Overall, while LLMs present opportunities for enhancing productivity and broadening access to literature, they also pose challenges to maintaining quality and integrity in scientific communication.

Summary: Debugging a Bug in Rust's Octocrab Library

The author recently faced a challenging bug while working on the bors GitHub merge bot. After hours of investigation, they discovered that the issue was related to the Octocrab library, specifically its retry mechanism for HTTP requests.

Key Points:

1. Context: The author was improving the bors merge bot to handle GitHub requests more robustly. Most tests involved sending actual HTTP requests to a mocked server.

2. Bug Discovery: During a refactoring, some tests failed because a PATCH request sent by bors had an empty body, which was unexpected. The issue only occurred intermittently, suggesting a deeper problem.

3. Investigation Process: The author initially suspected their own code but, after debugging, realized the issue might lie with dependencies. They used tools like Wireshark to analyze the HTTP traffic and confirmed the body was missing in some requests.

4. Root Cause: The bug was traced to Octocrab's retry mechanism. When a request failed, Octocrab attempted to resend it, but due to a shallow copy of the request body (using Arc), the body was consumed after the first send, resulting in empty requests on retries.

5. Fix: The author proposed a solution to Octocrab to create a deep copy of the request body for retries, rather than relying on a shallow clone. This fix was implemented and merged into the library.

6. Lessons Learned: The author reflected on their debugging approach, acknowledging that they should have suspected the dependency sooner. They also explored the potential of using language models to assist in finding bugs but noted that human insight is still crucial.

In conclusion, the experience not only resolved the bug in the bors bot but also improved the Octocrab library, highlighting the interconnectedness of software dependencies in development.

In "Google Broke My Heart," Jeff Starr shares his disappointing experience with Google regarding copyright infringement of his book. For years, he relied on Google to help remove pirated copies of his work from search results, but in 2026, when he submitted a DMCA request, Google questioned his identity as the author. Despite providing evidence and asking for guidance on how to prove his copyright ownership, he received a response denying action on his request and suggesting he resolve the issue directly with the website hosting the pirated content.

Jeff expresses his frustration and heartbreak over Google’s lack of support compared to the helpful service he had previously experienced. Ultimately, he feels ignored and betrayed by a company he once trusted, highlighting a significant change in Google's approach to assisting content creators.

Summary of "From Placeholder to Purpose: The Evolution of Few Shall Return"

Few Shall Return began in November 2024 with just two developers and a vision for a 2D dungeon extraction game. However, they struggled to find quality 2D art, which slowed their progress. To overcome this, they switched to a 3D format using assets from the Synty collection, allowing them to create a workable version of the game.

As they prepared for their launch on Steam, they faced a new challenge: they needed marketing materials they couldn't produce themselves. They resorted to using AI-generated images, which, while functional, felt out of place.

Recently, the team announced that their latest game build is now free of AI-generated content thanks to the addition of a dedicated artist. This artist has been replacing the AI assets with custom art that better represents the game.

Looking forward, the team aims to replace all purchased assets with original in-house content to create a unique visual identity for the game. They acknowledge this is a big task for their small team but believe it's essential for delivering a high-quality experience. They appreciate the support from their community and encourage fans to wishlist the game on Steam and join their Discord.

The text provides links to a YouTube video and a TechCrunch article about the Pebble Round 2 smartwatch. The Pebble Round 2 is noted for being very thin and is a reboot of the original Pebble smartwatch. The article likely discusses its features and specifications.

In 2007, a small team at Yahoo created Yahoo Pipes, a groundbreaking tool that allowed users to visually program and manipulate web data through a simple drag-and-drop interface. Pipes enabled users to aggregate, filter, and customize information from various online sources, such as RSS feeds, making complex web programming accessible to non-coders.

The service gained immense popularity upon its launch, far exceeding initial user expectations, which led to server overloads and technical challenges. Despite its innovative approach and influence on user interface design, Pipes lacked a solid business model and internal support for further development, ultimately leading to its decline.

The team behind Pipes, inspired by the open-source ethos and visual programming concepts from tools like Apple's Automator, crafted a platform that resonated with the era's internet culture. However, after a brief period of success, Yahoo faced internal restructuring and layoffs, which contributed to the eventual discontinuation of Pipes in 2015.

Despite its short life, Pipes left a lasting impact on the development of visual programming tools and continues to inspire new applications and platforms in the field. Team members reflect fondly on their experience, hinting at the potential for a modern revival of the concept.

Summary: Sandboxing Untrusted Python Code

Python lacks a safe way to run untrusted code due to its introspective nature, which allows access to core elements of the interpreter. Previous attempts to restrict dangerous functions have failed, leading to the conclusion that it’s safer to run Python in a sandbox rather than trying to sandbox Python itself.

The growing importance of sandboxing arises from the increasing use of Python in AI/ML, particularly with AI agents that may execute untrusted code. Issues like prompt injection in large language models (LLMs) have highlighted security vulnerabilities, exposing sensitive data through malicious external instructions.

To ensure safety, the focus should shift from improving prompts to implementing isolation at the infrastructure level. This means restricting access to only the necessary files, networks, and credentials for AI agents, creating multiple layers of isolation.

Currently, there are two main approaches to sandboxing AI agents:

1. Agent-Level Isolation: Using tools like Firecracker (a microVM) and Docker, although Docker is less secure.
2. Task-Level Isolation: gVisor provides a balance between security and overhead.

An emerging alternative is WebAssembly (WASM), which can sandbox tasks directly in the browser with minimal privileges. While it has limitations with certain libraries, its potential for secure task isolation is promising.

In conclusion, as AI systems evolve, it’s crucial to design them with an understanding that they may encounter untrusted code. Proper planning and implementation of isolation measures are necessary to mitigate risks effectively.

David Rosen, co-founder of Sega, passed away at the age of 95 on Christmas Day. He was a key figure in the development of the arcade and home gaming industry in Japan from the 1960s to the 90s. After serving as a US Air Force pilot in Korea, he stayed in Japan and started a business importing photo booths, which expanded to coin-operated machines like pinball tables.

In 1965, he merged his company with Nihon Goraku Bussan, creating Sega. Under his leadership, Sega transitioned from importing games to designing its own, producing popular arcade games like "Periscope" and "Killer Shark." Rosen was skilled at recognizing talent, hiring Hayao Nakayama, who later became president of Sega Japan.

During the 1980s and 90s, Sega became a leading arcade manufacturer, known for innovative games like "Outrun" and "Virtua Fighter." Rosen also ventured into home gaming, competing with Nintendo. Despite initial struggles, Sega's Master System found success in Europe and South America. The Genesis console, launched in the US in 1989, was marketed as a more mature option for teens.

Rosen remained involved with Sega until his retirement in 1996. Although Sega faced challenges in the home console market later on, it maintained its dominance in arcades. Throughout his life, Rosen was proud of his contributions to the gaming industry, and many recognized him for his pivotal role in Sega's success.

Summary of German Strings in Data Processing

German Strings are a specialized string format developed to optimize data processing in systems like CedarDB. Here are the key points:

1. Custom String Implementation: Unlike typical string representations in programming languages, German Strings are designed for efficiency in data handling.

2. Advantages:

   • Space Efficiency: German Strings utilize a 128-bit structure, minimizing overhead and allowing for better performance.
   • Short String Optimization: Strings with 12 characters or fewer are stored directly in the structure, avoiding pointer dereferences and speeding up access.
   • Immutable Data: Strings are treated as immutable, enhancing safety and parallel processing.

3. Storage Classes:

   • Temporary Strings: Behave like typical strings, allocated and freed automatically.
   • Persistent Strings: Remain valid indefinitely, ideal for constants or short strings.
   • Transient Strings: Point to valid but potentially temporary data, allowing for quick access without the overhead of copying.

4. Trade-offs: While German Strings provide many benefits, they require developers to carefully consider string lifetimes and mutability.

5. Widespread Adoption: The format has been implemented in various systems, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving data processing efficiency.

German Strings offer a powerful solution for optimizing string handling in database systems and beyond, especially for those willing to adapt their programming practices.

No summary available.

Summary of "Welcome to Gas Town" by Steve Yegge

Gas Town is a new integrated development environment (IDE) aimed at simplifying the management of multiple AI coding instances, referred to collectively as "Claude Code." It helps developers handle the complexities of running numerous AI programs efficiently, allowing them to focus on their projects instead of getting bogged down in administrative tasks.

Key features of Gas Town include:

• Orchestration: It organizes and manages workflows across multiple AI agents, similar to how Kubernetes manages containers.
• Role-Based Structure: Gas Town has defined roles for agents (e.g., Mayor, Polecats, Witness, Crew) that work together to keep the system operational.
• Beads: These are the fundamental units of work in Gas Town, functioning like issues in a tracker, and are stored in Git for version control.
• Molecular Workflows: Work is organized into workflows called "molecules," allowing agents to handle tasks step-by-step efficiently.
• Convoys: These are collections of tasks that can be tracked and managed as a single unit.

However, Gas Town is still in its early stages and is not recommended for those who are not experienced or comfortable with complex coding environments. It requires a significant investment of time and resources, and users need to be prepared for a chaotic yet productive work style. The author emphasizes that it's not yet polished and might require considerable effort to maintain and operate effectively.

In conclusion, Gas Town represents an ambitious approach to AI-assisted coding, promising to enhance productivity for those ready to embrace its challenges.

Summary:

Donut Lab has unveiled the world's first all-solid-state battery, ready for use in electric vehicles, at CES 2026. These high-performance batteries will power the 2026 model Verge Motorcycles, demonstrating immediate real-world application.

The Donut Battery offers impressive energy density of 400 Wh/kg, enabling longer ranges and lighter designs. It can be fully charged in just five minutes and has a lifespan of up to 100,000 cycles without significant capacity loss. Importantly, it is safe, as it contains no flammable materials and performs well in extreme temperatures.

This battery is made from abundant materials, making it more affordable than traditional lithium-ion batteries. It can be produced in various sizes and formats, enhancing design versatility for different applications, including drones and vehicles.

Donut Lab's innovations started with the Donut Motor, which allows for a more efficient electric vehicle design. The introduction of the Donut Battery marks a significant milestone in electric mobility, providing a practical solution without the trade-offs seen in previous technologies.

Collaborations with companies like Verge Motorcycles and WATT Electric Vehicles showcase the battery's versatility in various vehicles and applications, from motorcycles to smart trailers and defense platforms. Donut Lab aims to redefine electric mobility standards with this breakthrough technology, driving the industry towards safer, more efficient, and sustainable solutions.

The text discusses the development of a chunking library called "memchunk," designed for efficient text chunking in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines. The authors began by benchmarking their previous library, "chonkie," on large datasets like Wikipedia, realizing that performance was slower than desired. They explored the limits of text chunking speed and ended up creating memchunk.

Key Points:

• What is Chunking?: Chunking involves splitting large text into smaller pieces for embedding models. The effective method is to split at natural boundaries like periods or newlines, rather than at fixed character lengths, which can disrupt sentence structure.

• Delimiters for Chunking: Using delimiters to define chunk boundaries prevents cutting sentences in half, which improves retrieval quality. Most advanced chunking techniques focus on this principle.

• Memchr Library: Memchunk is built on the memchr library, which uses optimized byte search techniques. It employs:

  • SWAR: A method to process multiple bytes simultaneously.
  • SIMD: On compatible systems, it uses vector instructions for faster processing.

• Three-Needle Limit: Memchr supports searching for up to three bytes at once due to diminishing returns on performance with more needles. For more than three delimiters, a lookup table is used, which allows for fast O(1) lookups.

• Backward Search: Memchunk improves efficiency by searching backwards for delimiters, reducing the number of operations needed to find chunk boundaries.

• Performance Benchmarking: Memchunk outperforms other Rust chunking libraries significantly, achieving throughput up to 164 GB/s, allowing for rapid processing of large datasets, like chunking English Wikipedia in around 120 milliseconds.

• Python and WASM Support: Memchunk offers bindings for Python and WebAssembly, enabling use in various environments while maintaining performance.

In summary, memchunk is a highly optimized chunking library that leverages advanced searching techniques to efficiently split text at natural boundaries, significantly enhancing performance for applications involving large datasets.

Summary of Singularity - POC of Stealthy Linux Kernel Rootkit

Overview: Singularity is a sophisticated rootkit designed for Linux systems that uses advanced techniques to hide its presence and activities at the kernel level. It targets modern Linux kernels (version 6.x) and provides numerous stealth capabilities.

Key Features:

• Process and File Hiding: Makes processes and files invisible to system monitoring tools.
• Network Stealth: Hides network connections and prevents detection by tools like netstat and ss.
• Privilege Escalation: Offers methods to gain root access.
• Log Sanitization: Filters logs to prevent detection of hidden activities.
• Self-Hiding: Conceals itself from system lists and monitoring software.
• Remote Access: Can initiate a hidden reverse shell via ICMP.

Installation Requirements:

• Linux kernel 6.x, kernel headers, GCC, Make, and root access.

Installation Steps:

1. Clone the repository.
2. Run the setup script to install and hide the module automatically.

Usage:

• Hide Processes: Use specific signals to make processes invisible.
• Hide Files: Files matching certain patterns will not appear in directory listings but can still be accessed.
• Gain Root Access: Two methods are provided for privilege escalation.
• Hide Network Connections: Network connections can be concealed from all monitoring tools.

Protection Mechanisms:

• Intercepts attempts to disable its protections and blocks various detection methods related to logs, network monitoring, and forensic tools.

Compatibility:

• Works on specific Linux kernels (6.x) and architectures (x86_64, ia32).

Purpose: Singularity is a research tool aimed at exploring kernel-level stealth techniques, helping defenders understand potential threats, and contributing to the cybersecurity community's knowledge.

Important Note: This tool is intended for educational and research purposes only, and users should only test it on systems they own or have permission to access. Misuse is discouraged and could be illegal.

The article critiques Apple's macOS Tahoe, particularly focusing on the use of icons in the operating system. The author highlights several key issues:

1. Overuse of Icons: Adding icons to every menu item makes it harder to find specific functions, as nothing stands out.

2. Lack of Consistency: Icons for basic functions like "Cut," "Save," and "Open" vary between apps, which confuses users. Consistency is essential for quick recognition.

3. Icon Reuse: The same icons are used for different actions across apps, leading to confusion. Users may mistakenly think they understand an icon's meaning based on previous experience.

4. Poor Design Choices: Many icons are too small and lack clarity, making them difficult to recognize. The design relies on subtle differences that users may struggle to notice.

5. Confusing Metaphors: Some icons do not accurately represent their associated actions, leading to misunderstandings.

6. Text in Icons: Icons that include text blur the line between visual symbols and written language, causing confusion about their meanings.

7. Scanning Difficulties: The mixed use of icons and text disrupts the ability to scan menus quickly, which is essential for user efficiency.

The author argues that the principles of good icon design, established in Apple’s earlier Human Interface Guidelines, remain relevant despite technological advances. The conclusion expresses disappointment in the execution of icon design in macOS Tahoe and hopes that the critique serves as a guide for better practices in the future.

The concept of "local-first" software is challenging to define clearly. It promotes user control over data and resists vendor lock-in, but not all local-first applications are the same. The term suggests that a user should be able to work without relying on other computers or servers, emphasizing the importance of being able to function offline.

Key points include:

• Spectrum of Local-First: "Local-first" is not a strict category but a spectrum. Some systems fit better than others.

• Servers are Allowed: While local-first advocates for peer-to-peer solutions, using servers can be beneficial for reliability and performance. Local-first apps may still sync with remote services but should allow users to run their own servers if needed.

• No Spinners: Users should not experience delays (like spinning icons) when accessing their data. Apps should work offline as much as possible.

• Free and Open Source: True local-first apps should be open source, ensuring users maintain control over their data and can continue using the software if the original provider fails.

• Web Technologies are Limited: Building local-first apps on the web often complicates their functionality. Native apps are preferred for better performance and offline capabilities.

• Multiplayer not Required: While multi-device access is crucial, seamless collaboration features might not be necessary for all apps, depending on their purpose.

• Future Challenges: Many communication and media applications, like email and messaging, face difficulties transitioning to a local-first model. However, there is potential for growth in free and open-source cloud services.

Overall, local-first software emphasizes user autonomy and functionality without relying on constant internet access, but there are various considerations and challenges to navigate.

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UNIST has developed a new generator that produces electricity from raindrops, led by Professor Park Young-bin. This generator, called the S-FRP-DEG, uses carbon fiber composites inspired by the way lotus leaves repel water. The surface of the generator is designed with tiny bumps that help raindrops bead up and quickly bounce off, generating electricity through a process similar to static electricity.

In tests, a single raindrop could create up to 60 volts of electricity. This technology can power drainage systems and alarms during heavy rainfall without needing an external power source. The use of carbon fiber makes the generator resistant to corrosion and pollutants, allowing it to perform well over time.

The team also demonstrated real-time rainfall detection with the generators, which can help manage urban infrastructure and prevent flood damage. Future plans include applying this technology to various mobility systems, like aircraft and cars. The research was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The author reflects on the differing reactions people have to photography based on the type of camera used. When using a smartphone, people are generally accepting and unbothered, but using a larger camera like a DSLR can make one feel like a threat. This discrepancy seems to stem from perceptions of intent—phones are seen as tools for casual documentation, while larger cameras suggest a more serious purpose.

The article highlights how this perception affects photographers today, making street and event photography challenging as subjects often react negatively to professional-looking cameras. Despite advancements in smartphone camera technology that can rival professional gear, the social acceptance of phone photography remains high, while traditional cameras are viewed with suspicion.

To adapt, photographers may need to embrace smaller, less intimidating equipment or focus on building rapport with their subjects. The piece argues that the camera has become a barrier to artistic photography, prompting a need for photographers to navigate these social dynamics to succeed.

No summary available.

Summary: The Legal Research Duopoly of LexisNexis and Westlaw

Tom Blakely, a federal judicial law clerk, discusses how the legal research market in the U.S. is dominated by two companies: LexisNexis and Westlaw. This duopoly started after significant mergers in the 1990s, leading to high legal research costs, with Lexis charging up to $469 for a single search. The legal system relies on access to case law, yet it is often hidden behind expensive paywalls, making it difficult for citizens to understand and engage with the law.

Historically, legal research involved cumbersome physical books, but the introduction of computer databases like Lexis and Westlaw transformed the field. Despite their technological advancements, the lack of competition has stifled innovation and kept prices high. For example, a small law firm might pay around $2,100 monthly for Westlaw access.

Blakely also points out that the government, which produces legal opinions, contributes to this problem by charging high fees for access to court documents through the PACER system. He argues that by making legal case records freely accessible, new competitors could emerge, driving down costs and improving access to justice. However, the issue tends to be overlooked by policymakers, limiting potential reforms.

In conclusion, addressing the monopoly held by Lexis and Westlaw is crucial for increasing transparency, reducing legal costs, and ensuring better access to justice for all.

The author has been using Claude Code for coding tasks for six months and found that a tool called Beads, released by Steve Yegge in October, helped with task tracking. However, Beads became slow and frustrating over time due to its frequent updates. After struggling with it, the author decided to create a new tool called "ticket" over the holidays.

Ticket is a simple bash script that focuses on managing task dependencies without the complexity of Beads. It uses basic utilities and does not require a database, allowing users to work more efficiently. The author is seeking feedback to identify any gaps in its functionality, as it was designed for their specific workflows.

Anna's Archive, a popular shadow library and search engine for pirated books, has lost control over its main domain, annas-archive.org, which has been suspended. This suspension is likely due to actions by the domain registry, possibly related to legal pressures, but the site's operator denies it is connected to their recent Spotify backup project.

Launched in 2022 after a crackdown on Z-Library, Anna's Archive aims to provide free access to books and supports AI researchers. Despite facing lawsuits and being blocked in some countries, the site remained operational until its domain was suspended.

While the main domain is down, Anna's Archive still functions through alternative domains, and the team reassures users that this is a common issue for shadow libraries. They encourage users to check their Wikipedia page for the latest domain information. However, the legal challenges they face could impact their operations in the future.

Summary of "21 Lessons From 14 Years at Google"

The author shares insights gained over 14 years at Google, emphasizing that successful engineers focus more on collaboration, communication, and user needs than just technical skills. Here are the key lessons:

1. User Focus: Prioritize understanding user problems over getting attached to specific technologies.

2. Collaboration Over Being Right: Aim for team alignment rather than winning technical arguments.

3. Take Action: Start projects to gain real feedback instead of getting stuck in endless planning.

4. Clarity Over Cleverness: Write clear code that others can understand, rather than clever code that may confuse.

5. Innovate Wisely: Limit the use of novel technologies to areas where they add unique value.

6. Visibility Matters: Ensure your contributions are recognized by others; your work won't advocate for you.

7. Less is More: Sometimes, the best solution is to not write additional code.

8. Consider User Impact: Bugs and changes affect users, so treat them with care.

9. Team Alignment: Misalignment often slows progress more than lack of effort.

10. Control Your Focus: Concentrate on what you can influence rather than external factors.

11. Understand Abstractions: Know the underlying systems to effectively troubleshoot when issues arise.

12. Writing for Clarity: Teaching others helps solidify your understanding.

13. Value Invisible Work: Recognize and appreciate the importance of support tasks like documentation.

14. Beware of Easy Wins: Winning debates too easily may indicate a lack of genuine agreement from others.

15. Metrics Can Mislead: Be cautious with metrics as they can be gamed; focus on insights.

16. Embrace Uncertainty: Admitting what you don't know fosters a safe environment for learning.

17. Build Your Network: Relationships last beyond jobs and can open future opportunities.

18. Remove Unnecessary Work: Eliminate tasks rather than adding complexity for performance gains.

19. Purpose of Process: Use processes to reduce uncertainty, not just for documentation.

20. Value Your Time: As you progress, prioritize how you spend your time over just earning money.

21. No Shortcuts: Expertise comes from consistent practice and learning from experiences.

Ultimately, the core message is to stay curious, humble, and people-focused, as a long career in engineering is filled with opportunities to learn and grow.

LLMRouter Overview

LLMRouter is an open-source library designed to improve the efficiency of large language model (LLM) inference by intelligently selecting the best model for each query. Here are the key features:

1. Smart Routing: Automatically directs queries to the most suitable LLM based on complexity, cost, and performance.
2. Multiple Router Models: Supports over 16 routing models, including KNN and SVM, organized into categories like single-round and personalized routers.
3. Unified Command-Line Interface (CLI): Provides tools for training, inference, and interactive chatting with a Gradio-based user interface.
4. Data Generation Pipeline: Generates training data from 11 benchmark datasets with automatic API calls for evaluation.

Release Information:

• LLMRouter was officially released in December 2025, featuring its routing capabilities and a unified CLI.

Router Types:

• Single-Round Routers: Includes models like KNN, SVM, and others.
• Multi-Round Routers: Designed for multi-turn conversations.
• Personalized Routers: Tailored to user preferences.
• Agentic Routers: For complex tasks using KNN and LLM.

Getting Started:

• Installation can be done via source code or PyPI. API keys are required for making inference calls and can be configured in various formats.

Data Preparation:

• The library provides a pipeline for generating training data, including query extraction, embedding creation, and API evaluation.

Training and Inference:

• Users can train various router models using prepared data and perform both single and batch inference.

Interactive Chat Interface:

• Allows users to engage with the model in a chat format, with options for context management.

Customization:

• Users can create custom routers and tasks using a plugin system, enhancing the library's functionality.

Future Enhancements:

• Planned improvements include stronger user profiling, multimodal routing support, and continual learning.

Contribution:

• The library encourages community contributions to expand its capabilities.

Citation: If you use LLMRouter in your projects, please cite it following the provided format.

Summary of Decorative Cryptography

The blog discusses a Linux kernel feature called TCG_TPM2_HMAC, which aims to protect against attackers who can intercept communication between the kernel and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This feature uses HMAC and encryption to secure data on the TPM bus, which can be vulnerable to both passive (snooping) and active (tampering) attackers.

Key points include:

1. Threat Model: Active attackers can manipulate TPM measurements, while passive attackers can only read data. Both types of threats can lead to serious security issues, like unauthorized access to sensitive information.

2. Functionality: TCG_TPM2_HMAC establishes secure sessions for TPM operations and adds overhead to kernel transactions. It uses a session key for encryption and HMAC to ensure data integrity.

3. Vulnerabilities: The kernel relies on userspace to validate keys, which can be compromised. This creates a flaw in the security chain, making it easier for attackers to spoof or tamper with TPM interactions.

4. Lessons Learned:

   • Cryptography alone doesn't guarantee security; effective key management is essential.
   • Security chains must remain directional to maintain trust.
   • Features that are not well-explained can mislead users into a false sense of security.
   • Engaging in open discussions about security can lead to improvements and better understanding.

5. Conclusion: Real threats from physical attackers require a robust root-of-trust, such as integrated security features in CPUs, to effectively protect systems.

The author emphasizes that these opinions are personal and do not reflect any employer's views.

Summary of "Guarding Against Physical Attacks: The Xbox One Story" by Tony Chen

Microsoft's Xbox One and PS4 have successfully avoided hacking and piracy for nearly six years, marking a first in gaming history. This talk covers how Microsoft achieved this security for the Xbox One.

Key points include:

• Security Goals: The Xbox was designed to protect against hardware attacks.
• Architecture: A custom system-on-chip (SoC) was developed in collaboration with AMD. This design ensures that data from flash memory, hard drives, and RAM is treated as untrustworthy.
• Software Changes: Specific software updates were implemented to enhance the security of the system and its games.

The presentation will also address the importance of secure boot processes and system attestation, as well as provide a summary and a Q&A session for further discussion.

An anonymous gambler made $436,000 betting on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro just before it was publicly announced. The bets were placed on Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market. The odds of Maduro being out of power increased significantly just before the announcement by President Trump, raising suspicions of insider knowledge regarding the operation.

The gambler used a relatively small initial bet of $32,537 and made four different bets related to Venezuela. Other users on Polymarket also profited from this event. Following this incident, Congressman Ritchie Torres proposed a bill to prevent government employees from trading on prediction markets when they have access to nonpublic information.

Prediction markets, which allow bets on various outcomes including sports and politics, have become more popular in the US but face regulatory scrutiny. While insider trading is illegal in stock markets, prediction markets have fewer regulations regarding this issue. Kalshi, another prediction market, stated that it prohibits insider trading, including by government employees.

Circuit Artist is a game where players draw digital circuits as pixel art, similar to MS Paint. The game allows real-time simulation of these circuits, with a clear view of each wire's state.

The original version had several issues:

1. Players couldn't see how different types of adders worked since everything resolved instantly.
2. Design errors became confusing, as the game didn't explain non-converging wires.
3. The layout of wires didn't matter, making spatial choices irrelevant.
4. It was difficult to visualize how signals propagated through the circuit.

To improve the game, the engine was rebuilt using variable-delay event-based simulation. This means that the delay of each wire depends on its length and how many connections it has. The new system allows for better visualization of signal propagation with a glow effect.

New features include:

• Time rewind: Players can pause and rewind the simulation to debug circuits, especially useful for complex ones.
• Layers: Players can use up to three layers for wiring, with different propagation speeds.

The game has a campaign for beginners, which is still being developed. There are plans for Steam Workshop support, allowing users to create their own campaigns.

For more information, the game is available on GitHub and Steam.

RevisionDojo is a test prep company that focuses on International Baccalaureate (IB) exams and has raised $3.4 million in funding. Recently, users on the r/IBO subreddit have reported unethical marketing practices by the company, including:

1. Astroturfing: Creating fake accounts that pretend to be students sharing positive reviews and exam tips to make it seem like there is genuine excitement for their product.
2. Paid Fake Posts: High school students have been offered money to write promotional posts on Reddit.
3. Pressuring Critics: Users who leave negative reviews have been contacted by company representatives and faced mass downvotes on their comments.
4. Soliciting Copyrighted Materials: They are using TikTok influencers and fake posts to encourage students to sell them official IB exam papers, which breaks IB rules.

The moderators of r/IBO are investigating these practices. Recently, RevisionDojo acquired OnePrep, a free SAT prep tool, and has continued to use similar manipulative tactics, resulting in a surge of fake positive reviews and coordinated posts promoting OnePrep on Reddit.

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Ugreen is expanding its product line into smart home technology, as announced at CES 2026. The new SynCare series will include two indoor cameras (ID500 Pro and ID500 Plus), an outdoor camera (OD600 Pro), and a video doorbell (DB600 Pro), all set to launch in the second half of 2026.

Key features include:

• 4K video capture and low-light performance.
• AI capabilities for recognizing people, pets, and events.
• Cross-camera communication, allowing alerts across devices.
• The outdoor camera has a weather-resistant design and advanced monitoring zones with alarms.

Ugreen plans to offer a Smart Display (D500) that connects to these cameras, but it's not required to use the features, as a mobile app will suffice for monitoring. Pricing details will be revealed at IFA 2026.

I created a standard for labeling and tracking mushrooms from their beginning as spores or cultures to when they are harvested. The latest version (v1.1) now includes tracking of clonal generations and follows JSON-LD format for better compatibility with agricultural and scientific data systems.

You can find the specification here: Open Standard Specification.

I also developed client libraries for easy use:

• For Python: pip install wols
• For TypeScript/JavaScript: npm install @wemush/wols

The goal of this project is to address the disorganized practices in mycology, such as misidentified species and inconsistent records. I welcome feedback from anyone involved in tracking biological specimens, agricultural data, or mycology.

Summary of "Utopian Scholastic: An Aesthetic and an Approach to Learning"

This text reflects on the concept of "Utopian Scholastic," which describes a visual and educational style popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It captures a sense of optimism during a time when technology was advancing rapidly, making learning more accessible through media like interactive CD-ROMs and educational books. The author shares nostalgic memories of exploring libraries and engaging with visually stimulating materials, like DK Eyewitness books, which encouraged self-guided learning.

The piece highlights how early interactive media, such as the game "Hyperland," predicted the future of educational exploration. It emphasizes the importance of personal agency in learning, allowing users to navigate topics in a non-linear fashion, akin to wandering through a museum.

However, the author expresses concern about the transition from this optimistic era to a more commercialized and controlled internet landscape. They argue that modern user interfaces often limit exploration and reduce users to passive consumers, contrasting sharply with the engaging experiences of Utopian Scholastic.

Despite these challenges, the author maintains hope for the future of education and creativity. They encourage fostering curiosity and independent thought in the next generation, emphasizing that meaningful learning can still occur through interactive games and media. The text concludes with a call for individuals to embrace their capacity for exploration and problem-solving in a world facing significant challenges.

The author has created a simple experiment over the weekend called Cleoselene, which allows for the development of multiplayer games without complex client-side logic. Instead, the games are fully rendered on the server using straightforward Lua scripts. This approach lets developers write multiplayer games like single-player ones, reduces data load by streaming game elements instead of graphics, prevents cheating through server-side rendering, and keeps game secrets secure on the server. The project is for fun and experimentation, not for commercial purposes. If you're interested, you can try out a game called Astro Maze with friends at the provided link.

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The author has created a tool called OSS Sustain Guard, designed to help users assess the sustainability of open-source software (OSS) packages they depend on. It provides insights on aspects like maintainer redundancy, activity trends, and funding, which can be difficult to track manually for numerous dependencies. The tool aims to encourage conversations about OSS sustainability without judging projects, using data from public sources.

To get started, users can install it via pip and run a command with their GitHub token. It works with various programming languages and does not collect personal data. The author invites feedback on the tool’s metrics and how to improve its communication.

For more information, you can visit the GitHub repository: OSS Sustain Guard.

Novo Nordisk has launched Wegovy, the first and only oral GLP-1 weight-loss pill in the US, which is more affordable than its injectable versions. The once-daily pill was approved just before Christmas and is now available at over 70,000 pharmacies. It costs $5 a day for self-paying patients, significantly lower than the typical $1,000 monthly cost for weight-loss injections. The higher doses will be available soon, with the initial dose priced at $149 a month.

This launch aims to provide an easier, needle-free option for the 100 million Americans living with obesity. Novo Nordisk hopes to regain market share after facing competition and profit warnings in the past year. Eli Lilly is also developing an anti-obesity pill and plans to offer competitive pricing. The UK is currently reviewing the Wegovy pill for approval.

Product News Summary

The blog titled "Enterprise Robotics, Redefined" covers important updates in the field of enterprise robotics. It emphasizes new developments and innovations that are changing how businesses use robots. The article is designed to be informative and takes about six minutes to read.

Recently, there's been a lot of discussion about adding refactoring "stories" to our project backlog. However, this approach is not effective for managing "technical debt." Here's a simpler breakdown:

1. Initial State: When a project starts, the code is clean, and everything runs smoothly. However, as we rush to build features, we neglect the code's quality.

2. Build-Up of Issues: As we continue, small issues accumulate, creating obstacles in the code. We might notice problems, but we're too busy to address them.

3. Increased Complexity: Over time, the code becomes cluttered with bugs and inefficiencies, making it harder to work with. This slows us down significantly.

4. Need for Refactoring: Eventually, we realize we need to refactor the code to regain efficiency. However, asking for dedicated time to fix past mistakes often gets denied by project owners.

5. Ineffective Big Refactoring Sessions: Even if we get time for a massive refactor, it's often not enough, and the results are disappointing.

6. Incremental Refactoring Approach: Instead of waiting for a big refactor, we should clean the code while working on new features. This means taking time to improve the code in the areas where we're actively working.

7. Benefits of Incremental Changes: This approach may take a little extra time initially, but it pays off quickly. As we clean up while adding features, we create a cleaner codebase that improves our efficiency over time.

8. Positive Outcomes: By consistently improving the code as we build, we ultimately deliver more features and work more effectively.

In summary, instead of putting off code improvements for a later time, we should clean up the code bit by bit as we work on new features, leading to better results for everyone involved.

A former C++ developer turned Product Manager is creating a text-based simulator to help engineers deal with workplace politics as they become Leads. This simulator is not an AI chatbot but a crafted narrative based on real-life experiences. The first scenario, called "The Backchannel VP," involves a situation where the VP of Engineering is bypassing the Lead and assigning tasks directly to junior staff, leading to confusion. The goal is to resolve this issue without losing your job. The creator is seeking feedback on whether the designed "Correct" path reflects real-world experiences. You can check it out at the provided link.

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Summary: Eurostar AI Chatbot Vulnerabilities

A security investigation of Eurostar's AI chatbot revealed four significant vulnerabilities:

1. Guardrail Bypass: Attackers could manipulate the chat history to bypass security checks, allowing harmful inputs to be processed by the chatbot.
2. Information Disclosure via Prompt Injection: By crafting specific messages, attackers could extract sensitive information, including the underlying AI model's name and system prompts.
3. HTML Injection/Self-XSS: The chatbot failed to validate HTML inputs, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts that could execute in users' browsers.
4. Unverified Conversation and Message IDs: The system did not properly validate message IDs, allowing attackers to spoof their IDs and potentially replay malicious content in other users' sessions.

The disclosure process was frustrating, with delays and a lack of communication from Eurostar, leading to concerns about how many other vulnerabilities might have been overlooked during their transition to a new vulnerability disclosure program.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Implement consistent security measures across the chatbot’s architecture.
• Validate and sanitize all inputs and outputs rigorously.
• Ensure that security checks are enforced server-side, preventing client-side manipulations.
• Monitor and log interactions for unusual activity.
• Train staff and users to recognize and respond to suspicious behavior.

Overall, the case highlights that traditional web and API security principles are still crucial when developing AI-driven systems.

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The text discusses the author's experiences and challenges in transitioning from the X server (X11) to Wayland, a newer graphics stack for Linux. Key points include:

1. Historical Context: The Wayland project started in 2008 but was not usable on the author's computers until recently due to poor driver support, especially for nVidia graphics cards.

2. Hardware and Software Setup: The author tested Wayland on a high-end PC with an 8K monitor and used NixOS as the operating system. They faced issues with configuring their graphics setup due to the complexity of the nVidia drivers and monitor requirements.

3. Driver Support: Initially, nVidia drivers did not support Wayland. Recent updates have improved compatibility, but glitches and performance issues persist.

4. Experiments with Wayland: The author spent a day using Wayland and encountered various issues with applications, including:

   • Difficulty configuring settings in the Sway window manager (a Wayland equivalent of i3).
   • Problems with font rendering, screen locking, and application behavior.
   • Specific issues with applications like Chrome and Emacs, including performance and usability challenges.

5. Conclusion: While the author made some progress in getting Wayland to work, they still experienced significant drawbacks compared to their existing X11 setup. They concluded that Wayland is not yet ready for their daily use due to ongoing glitches and performance issues.

Overall, the author expresses a desire to transition to Wayland but acknowledges the need for more development and fixes before it can replace their current setup.

Selective applicative functors are a concept introduced in 2019, aiming to explain how certain functions can choose between predetermined branches in a way that allows for interesting programming patterns. The main function associated with selective functors is select, which facilitates this branching behavior.

1. Definition: Selective applicative functors extend the standard applicative functors by allowing functions to select between branches based on prior results. The key operation is defined as:

   select :: f (Either a b) -> f (a -> b) -> f b
   

2. Branching: The branch function builds on select to manage multiple branches:

   branch :: Selective f => f (Either a b) -> f (a -> c) -> f (b -> c) -> f c
   

3. Theoretical Challenges: The concept faced challenges in theoretical analysis, particularly in finding a suitable algebraic structure. Traditional tools did not apply well, leading to difficulties in composing these functions.

4. Arrow Perspective: A shift to viewing these functors through the lens of arrows (composable structures) rather than just functors offers a clearer understanding. This perspective helps express exclusive determined choices and aligns closely with programming language structures like Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs).

5. Finite Control Flow: Selective applicative functors enable finite control flow, which is the ability to choose from a limited set of options without requiring dynamic behavior like monads.

6. CaseTree Structure: A new structure called CaseTree is introduced to encapsulate the behavior of selective functors, allowing for recursive definitions of branching cases.

7. Static Analysis: This framework allows for static analysis through near-semirings, offering insights into how selective functors can be understood and utilized in programming.

In summary, selective applicative functors provide a framework for managing branching in functional programming while allowing for static analysis and clearer algebraic structures, enhancing the expressiveness of programming languages.

Shadowlight is a unique solo experience in Minecraft focused on conversation with NPCs (non-player characters). These NPCs use advanced language models and have distinct personalities. Players earn trust by listening carefully, using the right tone, and asking good questions to progress the game.

The main objective is to interview characters in a manor, collect clues, and determine who is guilty of a crime. After each session, players receive feedback on their conversational skills to help them improve for the next attempt.

You can try Shadowlight for free by joining their Minecraft server at mc.playshadowlight.com. Feedback from players is welcomed to enhance the experience.

Trailer and gameplay videos are available online for more insight.

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The article discusses the negative impact of GitHub's dominance on the open source ecosystem, as experienced by the author, Ploum, who teaches an "Open Source Strategies" course.

Key points include:

1. Access Issues: Ploum was blocked from accessing GitHub for an hour, highlighting the risks of relying on a centralized platform. He realized most of his students' projects were hosted on GitHub, with only one student avoiding it.

2. Centralization Problems: Centralization can lead to losing access to important work, as seen in Ploum's experience and in anecdotes about others being locked out of their accounts on major platforms like Google and Apple.

3. Lack of Alternatives: Despite teaching students about alternatives to GitHub, most of them only looked for projects on GitHub, which limits their exposure to the wider open source community.

4. Teaching Approach: Ploum reflects on his teaching method, recognizing that he inadvertently taught students that open source is mainly confined to GitHub.

5. Future Changes: To address this, he plans to require students to contribute to projects they care about, rather than randomly selecting from GitHub, encouraging deeper engagement with open source software.

Overall, the author emphasizes the need to move away from reliance on monopolistic platforms like GitHub to foster a healthier open source ecosystem.

The one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene highlights the challenges faced in Western North Carolina, particularly regarding mobile web access during the disaster. The storm caused significant flooding and damaged cell towers, leaving people unable to access essential emergency information. As a web developer, I found it frustrating to load websites for updates on storm damage and road closures due to poor connectivity and slow loading speeds.

The most valuable information I received came from a simple daily email newsletter from a local state representative, which provided clear updates in a bulleted list format. This experience underscored the importance of having fast-loading, straightforward websites, especially for critical information during emergencies.

Beyond crisis situations, there is a broader need to improve website performance and user experience. Many websites are overloaded with unnecessary content, making them slow to load, especially on mobile devices. We should focus on simplifying web design, reducing file sizes, and ensuring accessibility for all users. This includes using basic HTML and making websites responsive.

Improving website performance and content organization can greatly enhance user experience. Engaging with users and developers can help identify pain points and streamline information delivery, making websites more effective in serving their audiences.

The author of the post created a custom board called the Cerelog ESP-EEG to improve affordable brain-computer interface (BCI) hardware. This open-source project includes firmware and schematics designed to address signal quality issues common in DIY devices. The key features include compatibility with the OpenBCI GUI and Brainflow API, allowing users to visualize data without coding.

The device uses the TI ADS1299 chip for EEG data collection, implementing a "True Closed-Loop Active Bias" to reduce interference from electrical noise, resulting in cleaner data. The setup is easy to use and works right out of the box for real-time data visualization.

For those who prefer not to assemble the hardware themselves, assembled units are available for purchase. The author encourages feedback from the engineering community and highlights the challenges faced during development. A safety note advises using a battery for power to avoid electrical hazards.

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The author reflects on the experience of sitting alone in a café, which seems contradictory since cafés are meant for socializing. Most people there are with others or absorbed in work, but the author chooses to take a staycation instead of traveling. This time off allows for a slower pace of life, especially while walking their dog.

Leaving their phone at home during a walk leads to a sense of freedom and mindfulness, allowing thoughts to flow and reflect on life. Visiting a café alone without distractions reveals the emotions and worries of others, urging the author to observe rather than rush. They note how the café operates and ponder whether they are seen as a regular.

The author acknowledges the loneliness that comes with sitting alone but finds power in it. They realize they can't control others' perceptions but embrace the joy of solitude. Each visit to the café reinforces the idea that others may also feel alone, and they find comfort in this shared experience.

Ultimately, the author concludes that writing by hand in the café enhances their experience. Writing becomes a physical act that slows down time, encouraging deeper reflection.

No summary available.