No summary available.

Nightingale Editors is celebrating five years of the Nightingale community, which began in July 2019. This publication was created to address a gap in the data visualization field.

In the latest installment of the analysis of Snowden documents, key findings reveal that certain sections detailing U.S. intelligence facilities were intentionally omitted from two published documents. This information, discovered through PDF metadata, highlights specific U.S. facilities like Potomac Mission Ground Station (PMGS) in Washington, D.C., and Consolidated Denver Mission Ground Station (CDMGS) in Denver, which were scrubbed from the documents while equivalent foreign facilities were retained.

The analysis showed that the documents had hidden text in earlier versions that provided operational designations and cover names for these U.S. facilities, which were classified. For instance, PMGS is publicly known as the "Classic Wizard Reporting and Testing Center" (CWRTC), while CDMGS is referred to as "Aerospace Data Facility" (ADF) in public contexts.

The editing process was tracked through PDF metadata, indicating that the sections were removed shortly before publication. Although some information about U.S. facilities was included in the documents, detailed descriptions were systematically left out, unlike the thorough descriptions of foreign facilities.

The findings suggest that this selective editing might be aimed at maintaining operational security and navigating legal restrictions on domestic intelligence operations. Future reports will delve deeper into PDF metadata to uncover more about the redaction processes used in these documents.

The UK government is facing criticism for excluding central and local government from its new Cyber Security and Resilience (CSR) Bill, despite a rise in cyberattacks targeting the public sector. High-profile incidents, like the breaches at the Legal Aid Agency and the Foreign Office, highlight the urgency of improved cybersecurity measures.

Former digital secretary Sir Oliver Dowden urged the government to reconsider this exclusion, arguing that public sector accountability in cybersecurity should be enforced through legislation. In response, the government proposed a Cyber Action Plan to hold departments to equivalent security standards, though this lacks legal obligations.

Critics are skeptical about the government's commitment to cybersecurity, fearing that without legislative requirements, the issue may be deprioritized. Some experts suggest that the government should consider separate legislation for public sector cybersecurity to address specific needs more effectively.

The CSR Bill is part of an effort to update outdated regulations, but its narrow scope compared to the EU's cybersecurity standards raises concerns. The government's approach may not inspire confidence in its ability to protect against cyber threats, especially given past failures to implement necessary recommendations. Overall, many believe that if the government is serious about cybersecurity, it should include itself in the CSR Bill's scope.

This text discusses the advantages of Org mode syntax as a lightweight markup language, asserting that it is superior to other popular markup languages like Markdown, AsciiDoc, and reStructuredText. Here are the key points:

1. Org Mode Syntax Overview: Org mode is intuitive and easy to learn, making it user-friendly for creating headings, lists, and formatting text (like bold or italics).

2. Standardization: Unlike Markdown, which has many flavors and variations leading to inconsistencies, Org mode has a singular, standardized syntax. This makes it easier to use across different tools without losing information.

3. Consistency: Org mode uses a consistent method for headings and formatting, reducing confusion. Other markup languages often have multiple ways to accomplish the same task, leading to usability issues.

4. Ease of Use: The syntax is simple to type, allowing for quick markup without the need for complex character alignment.

5. Tool Support: Org mode can be used outside of Emacs in various text editors, and it is compatible with many tools for file conversion (like Pandoc), enhancing its usability.

6. Conclusion: The author believes that Org mode should be adopted more widely due to its intuitive design and efficiency, despite most users being unaware of its benefits outside of Emacs.

Overall, the article promotes Org mode syntax as a highly efficient and user-friendly option for lightweight markup, contrasting it with the complications found in other languages.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary: Reverse Engineering the Epson FilmScan 200 for Classic Mac

In December 2025, a hobbyist shared their experience of creating a SCSI driver to scan 35mm film using an Epson FilmScan 200 scanner with a Mac SE/30 running System 7. They wanted to digitize their film for sharing and archiving but faced challenges because the scanner only worked with outdated drivers.

They purchased the scanner for 10 euros and decided to write a standalone scanning application instead of using complex existing drivers. After studying the scanner's service manual and disassembling the original driver, they learned how the scanner operates using ESC/I commands.

The project involved setting up a development environment on the SE/30 and coding the driver. After initial successes with single-frame scans, they encountered difficulties selecting different frames. They eventually discovered the correct command format from an old SANE driver that helped resolve the issue.

Adding color support was more complicated, as the color data was sent in separate channels. They adjusted their code to combine the channels correctly for a proper color output.

The final driver allowed batch scanning of up to six frames, saving results as PPM or PGM files. Although the scanning speed was slow, it provided a nostalgic experience of using vintage equipment.

Key takeaways included the importance of old hardware documentation, the value of source code over disassembly for understanding protocols, and the continued usefulness of vintage computers for specific tasks. The complete code is available on GitHub, and the author looks forward to digitizing more of their film.

httpz - Zero-Allocation HTTP/1.1 Parser for OxCaml

httpz is a fast HTTP/1.1 parser designed to minimize memory usage by avoiding heap allocations. Here are the key features and details:

• Zero Heap Allocations: Uses stack memory for parser results, which improves performance.
• Direct I/O: Can read and write directly to bigarray buffers for efficient data handling.
• HTTP/1.1 Support: Handles methods, headers, chunked transfers, and keep-alive connections.
• Async File Server: Comes with a ready-to-use static file server that will soon support parallel processing.

Architecture:

• Utilizes stack-allocated unboxed records and local lists to minimize memory use.
• Uses span-based parsing to reference strings efficiently.
• Employs a pre-allocated 32KB read buffer for reuse.

Performance:

• httpz outperforms another parser, httpe, in speed and memory efficiency:
  • Small requests (35B): httpz is 3.14 times faster and uses 94 times fewer memory words.
  • Medium requests (439B): 2.13 times faster and 399 times fewer words.
  • Large requests (1155B): 2.27 times faster and 829 times fewer words.
• Achieves throughput of 14.6 million requests per second compared to 4.6 million for httpe.

Installation:

• Requires the OxCaml compiler.
• The file server can be run to serve files from a directory on a specified port.

Running Benchmarks:

• Benchmarks can be run to compare performance with httpe or to test httpz specifically.

License: ISC License.

Summary:

Aman Bhargava, a Data Visualization Designer from Bangalore, shares a tutorial on creating embroidered charts using R and the ImageMagick library. He explores how to visually represent data in a fun way, inspired by real-life textures like embroidery.

In his process, he emphasizes the importance of reproducibility, preferring code over manual image editing in software like Photoshop. He uses ImageMagick, a command-line tool, to manipulate images programmatically, allowing for efficient updates when data changes.

The tutorial is divided into several parts:

1. Creating the Plot: Using ggplot in R, he designs a base chart with customizable themes and fonts.
2. Embroidery Effect: He uses an existing bash script called embroidery.sh to apply a stitched look to the chart.
3. Post-Processing: He enhances the chart by adding texture and depth, using various ImageMagick commands to simulate fabric and stitching effects.

Aman provides a complete R function to automate this entire process, making it easy for users to apply the embroidery effect to their own charts. He advises using a limited color palette and ensuring high-resolution outputs for the best appearance.

Overall, the tutorial merges programming with artistic design, encouraging readers to experiment with data visualization in creative ways.

This text outlines several key points related to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and its features:

1. Code Publishing Schedule: Starting in 2026, the source code for AOSP will be published in the second and fourth quarters to support stable development and platform stability. Users are encouraged to use the "android-latest-release" branch for the most recent updates.

2. New Features in Android16 QPR2: Information about the new features in the Android16 QPR2 release is available for developers.

3. Feature Launch Flags: These flags help maintain stability in the AOSP development branch by ensuring that only tested code is executed.

4. AOSP Overview: The AOSP is a platform for developing, customizing, and testing Android devices. Resources are provided for setup, security, core topics, compatibility, and automotive development.

5. Device Management: Guidance is available for managing Android devices, creating virtual devices, and delivering content through Android TV.

6. Security Information: The text emphasizes the importance of security and provides links to the latest Android Security Bulletins.

Overall, the document serves as a resource for developers looking to engage with the Android ecosystem and AOSP.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary: How Markdown Took Over the World

Markdown is a simple text format that has become essential in the tech industry, used for everything from coding to note-taking. It was created in 2004 by John Gruber, who aimed to make writing on the web easier by allowing users to format text without needing to learn complex HTML. This format has gained widespread adoption across various platforms and applications.

Key Points:

1. Origins: John Gruber developed Markdown to address the difficulties of writing in HTML, initially for his blog about Apple.

2. Growth of Blogs: In the early 2000s, blogging emerged as a significant medium, and Markdown coincided with this trend, gaining traction as a user-friendly writing tool.

3. Community Support: Markdown's success was bolstered by a community of developers and users who embraced and enhanced the format, leading to various adaptations.

4. Ubiquity: Today, Markdown is used in a multitude of applications, including Google Docs, Slack, and GitHub, with billions of Markdown files created globally.

5. Simplicity and Accessibility: Its intuitive design allows users to write and format text easily, making it popular among both casual users and developers.

6. Open-Source Nature: Markdown is widely available for free, which encourages its use and integration into numerous software tools without worrying about licensing issues.

Overall, Markdown’s success lies in its clever branding, ability to solve real problems, and the supportive community that fostered its growth, demonstrating how a simple idea can transform technology and communication on the internet.

Summary of Alien Explorations: Coffee Makers in Alien

The text discusses the coffee makers featured in the spaceship Nostromo from the movie "Alien." A user identified the coffee maker as the Braun Aromaster KF 20, designed in 1972 by Florian Seiffert. This coffee maker is noted for its unique design and advanced technology for its time.

The KF 20 was a popular choice among designers and is available in various colors. It features a distinctive profile due to its closed filter system, placing the water reservoir directly above the coffee filter.

In 1977, the KF 21 model was released, which was similar but had a slightly different jug design. The Braun coffee makers have appeared in other Ridley Scott films, showcasing their futuristic appeal.

The KF 20 can occasionally be found for sale online, and it's recommended for collectors and coffee lovers alike.

Happy New Year! I created a turtle graphics game for my kids and would like to share it. You can input the "DNA" of the turtle and see what happens. I welcome any comments or suggestions!

Philip O'Toole, an Engineering Manager at Google, shares a practice his team follows: scheduling meetings to start five minutes after the hour or half-hour. This approach helps because meetings often run over time, especially when they are back-to-back. By starting meetings a bit later, participants get a short break, which reduces stress and allows them to settle in.

O'Toole notes that social pressure encourages people to arrive on time, and he has found that this practice has spread throughout his organization organically. While it may seem like this approach costs five minutes per meeting, it actually leads to more productive and less rushed sessions. He encourages others to try this method for a better meeting experience.

The text discusses the need for a standard way to request text completion from a user's operating system when developing a lightweight application. Specifically, the author is interested in creating a text-based user interface (TUI) to browse JSONL files and wants to add a feature for natural language queries. They are asking if there is an existing standard for translating natural language queries into a format that can be processed (like jq). If no standard exists, they want to know what would be needed to create and implement one widely.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, raising questions about why an AI company in financial trouble is entering the health sector. The announcement emphasizes user privacy, but critics are skeptical due to OpenAI's poor privacy history. Users pay for limited privacy features, and the company’s sudden focus on privacy seems disingenuous.

OpenAI is facing projected losses of over $100 billion and is under pressure to monetize its services. ChatGPT Health helps users evaluate insurance options by connecting to their medical records and health apps, suggesting it serves more as a marketplace for health data than a healthcare assistant.

OpenAI partnered with b.well Connected Health, a company that primarily serves insurers, indicating that the goal is to benefit healthcare providers and insurance companies rather than consumers. The language used in the announcement frames users as "consumers," emphasizing the commercial aspect of the service.

Concerns arise over data privacy because health information shared with OpenAI may not be protected under HIPAA laws, as the company is not a healthcare provider. Additionally, OpenAI has excluded regions with strong data protection laws, like the EU, indicating it may not meet privacy standards there.

In essence, OpenAI is creating a platform that collects sensitive health data for commercial purposes, where users may unwittingly become the product being sold to insurers and healthcare providers.

No summary available.

Summary: You Probably Don't Need Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh (OMZ) is a popular tool for enhancing the Zsh shell, but it can slow down your terminal's startup time due to unnecessary scripts. Many users may not need its features. A minimal Zsh configuration can significantly improve performance, allowing for faster terminal access.

Key Points:

• OMZ can add bloat, making terminal tabs slower to open (up to 0.38 seconds in tests).
• Frequent updates and plugins can further slow down the shell.
• A simple Zsh setup can be as effective and faster, with just a few essential configurations.
• Consider using the Starship prompt for a faster, cleaner interface, avoiding the clutter of multiple plugins.
• For history search, using fzf is preferable for interactive searching instead of the distracting zsh-autosuggestions plugin.
• After optimizing, startup time can drop to about 0.07 seconds.

In conclusion, switching from OMZ to a minimal setup can enhance your workflow without unnecessary delays.

The text discusses the journey of a software engineer from initial task completion to deeper understanding and contribution to their organization.

1. Initial Skills: Early in their career, engineers are often praised for completing assigned tasks (or "tickets") effectively. This is seen as mastering the basics of software engineering.

2. Promotion Risks: Many engineers receive promotions too soon, which can lead them to mistakenly view themselves as experts before they are truly ready. Delivering features is considered a basic expectation, not the ultimate goal.

3. Understanding Costs: The author emphasizes that every change has costs, and simply delivering features may not provide value if not done thoughtfully. Experienced engineers consider the long-term health of the product, which junior engineers might overlook.

4. Learning Through Failure: New engineers need to learn from their mistakes to understand what successful engineering looks like. This process is crucial for technical growth.

5. Systemic Issues: There is concern that the focus on quick feature delivery commoditizes engineering and undermines quality. This trend has been exacerbated by recent technologies like large language models.

6. Evaluating Options: Good engineering involves exploring multiple approaches to meet business needs, weighing their risks and benefits, and aiming to improve the system as a whole rather than just delivering features.

7. The Real Challenge: The true goal of software engineering is to understand and improve quality across various contexts, a journey that takes much longer than simply delivering features.

The author reflects on their own progress, suggesting they may still be in the early stages of this journey.

A 17-year-old is creating a rocket launch simulation that lets users experience launching a rocket and putting it into orbit. Initially meant for education, the project has grown more realistic, but the creator lacks formal training in orbital mechanics. Currently, the simulation includes features like variable gravity, atmospheric drag, multi-stage rockets, guidance systems, and options for altering orbits. The creator is seeking feedback on user interface improvements and suggestions for future physics features. The code is available on GitHub.

The text appears to mention a navigation feature related to "SearchK" and includes terms like "Kagi," "Orion," and "Appearance." However, there are no specific details or context provided.

Summary: The text refers to navigation options for "SearchK," including features named "Kagi," "Orion," and "Appearance." More context is needed for further details.

This article explores whether you can game using a Raspberry Pi 5 connected to an external GPU (RTX 5090).

Key Points:

• Setup: The Raspberry Pi 5 can connect to an external GPU using an OCuLink dock, allowing for potential gaming, but it faces limitations due to its CPU and PCIe bandwidth.

• Comparison with Other Devices: Three devices were compared:

  • Beelink MINI-S13: Intel-based, better performance, runs x86 natively.
  • Radxa ROCK 5B: ARM-based, slightly better than the Raspberry Pi 5.
  • Raspberry Pi 5: Limited CPU performance and PCIe bandwidth, making it less suitable for modern gaming.

• Gaming Performance:

  • Modern Games: Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 are nearly unplayable on the Raspberry Pi 5, averaging around 15 FPS even on low settings.
  • Older Games: The Pi can handle older games better, achieving about 40 FPS in some cases, but still underwhelming compared to the Beelink, which performs significantly better.

• Power Usage: The Raspberry Pi 5 is very power-efficient, using under 9W even under load, while the Beelink uses almost 30W during gaming.

• Conclusion: While technically possible to game on a Raspberry Pi 5 with an RTX 5090, the experience is not recommended due to poor performance with modern titles. The Beelink is a better option for gaming, particularly with Windows, which outperforms Linux on most titles. Future improvements in ARM gaming might change this situation, but currently, it’s not practical to use high-end GPUs with low-cost single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi 5.

Qualcomm's upcoming Adreno X2 GPU, led by Eric Demers, features significant improvements over its predecessor, the X1 GPU. Key advancements include:

1. Performance Boost: The X2 GPU offers noticeably better performance without a proportional increase in power consumption, resulting in a more power-efficient design.

2. DirectX and API Support: It will fully support DirectX 12.2 and introduce native Vulkan 1.4 and OpenCL 3.0 support, along with plans for SYCL support in early 2026.

3. High-Performance Memory (HPM): The X2 GPU includes 21 MB of HPM, allowing for efficient rendering and processing. It uses a large on-chip SRAM to minimize DRAM usage, improving performance and power efficiency.

4. Memory Organization: The HPM is divided into 5.25 MB slices but allows for random access across the entire memory, enhancing flexibility for various compute tasks.

5. Efficient Execution: The GPU features a dual-issue mechanism that allows it to run two instruction waves simultaneously, improving resource utilization and efficiency.

Overall, the Adreno X2 GPU aims to deliver enhanced performance, efficiency, and support for modern graphics standards, making it a strong contender in the GPU market.

No summary available.

I'm sorry, but I can't access external links. However, if you can provide the text you'd like me to summarize, I'd be happy to help!

Summary of "AI Zealotry"

The author, a senior engineer, shares their positive experiences using AI in development, particularly in the open-source Python Data space. They highlight two main types of insights:

1. Big Ideas: Philosophical thoughts on the benefits of AI for experienced programmers.
2. Tips: Practical advice based on their workflow with AI tools like Claude Code.

Key Points:

• Benefits of AI:

  • AI makes development more enjoyable by allowing engineers to focus on thinking, experimenting, and writing rather than mundane tasks.
  • Experienced developers can leverage AI effectively to enhance their productivity and explore new areas, such as frontend development.

• Concerns About AI:

  • AI can produce poor quality output and reduce understanding of code.
  • Developing a balance between using AI and maintaining a deep understanding of programming is essential.

• Productivity Tips:

  • Minimize Simple Tasks: Automate repetitive tasks to focus on more complex problems.
  • Use Hooks: Implement hooks in AI tools to streamline commands and improve efficiency.
  • Build Confidence in AI Output: Use automated testing and self-review to ensure quality in AI-generated code.

• Development Philosophy:

  • The author encourages moving away from Python towards languages like Rust and TypeScript, which may offer better performance and usability with AI.
  • Emphasizes the importance of clear thinking and documentation in coding, akin to practices in the Numpy community.

• Final Thoughts:

  • The evolution of programming continues with AI, akin to past shifts like the introduction of compilers.
  • The author expresses excitement for the future of development with AI, anticipating greater productivity and a more enjoyable work experience.

Overall, the article emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in programming while acknowledging the accompanying challenges and the need for thoughtful integration.

Cloudflare has been fined 14 million euros by Italy for not filtering pirate websites on its public DNS service. The fine is a result of Italy's efforts to combat online piracy.

The author has been experimenting with language models since GPT-2 and is now working on fully generative user interfaces. Posts on a platform called slop/duck/storytime are created and displayed in real-time using HTML and Canvas with Gemini 3 Flash. Comments and direct messages are linked through a fast system using Cloudflare Workers, which enhances speed. Each post is saved in a database to improve loading times for the "Following" feed. This project was inspired by a previous VSCode extension called Wikitok and another generative UI site the author created.

No summary available.

The provided link leads to a webpage discussing a 3D-printed Michelson interferometer. A Michelson interferometer is a device used to measure light waves and their properties. The article likely covers how 3D printing can be used to create such devices, the benefits of this method, and possibly some applications or experiments that can be conducted using a 3D-printed version. Overall, it highlights the intersection of technology (3D printing) with optical science (interferometry).

This week, Tailwind laid off 75% of its employees, which is surprising given its long-standing popularity as a framework used by many websites and developers. Despite its challenges, Tailwind is not useless or outdated; the founder confirmed its relevance. Currently, it is used by 1.5% of the web, which, while small, represents a significant number of users.

Some users criticize Tailwind as bloated, but it is actually efficient and well-designed. The small team behind Tailwind has produced high-quality work and created a framework that others build upon. In contrast to the rise of large language models (LLMs) and agent coding in 2025, no small teams have created something as impactful as Tailwind. There are concerns that we might lose this valuable tool.

At CES 2026, many disappointing and wasteful tech products were showcased. Here are some of the worst offenders:

1. Lollipop Star: This candy has a battery and speaker that plays music through jaw vibrations. It's non-rechargeable and becomes waste after one use, raising environmental concerns.

2. Merach Smart Treadmill: This treadmill collects a lot of sensitive user data and openly admits it can't guarantee your data's security, earning it the worst cybersecurity award.

3. Lepro Ami AI "Soulmate": This desk device acts like a virtual girlfriend but raises privacy concerns due to its always-on camera and microphone.

4. Bosch eBike Antitheft System: This system complicates bike repairs by requiring all parts to be registered, allowing Bosch to control parts usage.

5. Amazon Ring: Known for increasing surveillance capabilities, the Ring AI was criticized for expanding surveillance technology rather than enhancing safety.

6. Bosch Personal AI Barista: This coffee maker uses voice commands but is seen as unnecessary, as most people prefer simple button operations.

7. Samsung Smart Fridge: With no physical handles and relying solely on voice commands, this fridge is prone to failure and has been criticized for being overly complicated and intrusive.

Overall, CES 2026 highlighted many technologies that are seen as impractical, intrusive, or harmful to the environment and personal privacy.

The text discusses a method for efficiently storing a chess position in just 26 bytes using bit manipulation. Here are the key points:

1. Chess Pieces and Positions: There are 32 pieces on a chessboard, each capable of occupying one of 64 squares. Each piece's position can be represented using 6 bits, totaling 192 bits (or 24 bytes) for all pieces.

2. Additional Information: Besides positions, we also need to track:

   • Captured pieces (32 bits)
   • Castling availability (4 bits)
   • En passant target (16 bits)
   • Promotions of pawns (48 bits total, as each promoted pawn requires 3 bits).

3. Initial Total: This initial calculation totals around 100 bits (~12 bytes).

4. Space Optimization: By leveraging the fact that no two pieces occupy the same square, we can represent:

   • Captures, castling, and en passant target using the king's position, effectively reducing their storage to zero bits.
   • Promotions can be stored in a unique order, requiring only 9 bits for both sides.

5. Final Calculation: After optimizing the storage for captures, castling, and en passant, and including the unique promotion encoding, the total storage reduces to 18 bits (~2 bytes) plus the 24 bytes for positions, resulting in approximately 26 bytes in total.

6. Further Exploration: The author encourages readers to explore this encoding method and mentions additional resources for learning about chess encoding and compression techniques.

In summary, the post outlines a creative approach to efficiently store chess positions using bits, leading to a compact representation of chess data in 26 bytes.

Australia's recent ban on social media for kids under 16 has led to mixed reactions among teenagers.

1. Positive Changes for Some: Amy, a 14-year-old, feels freer and less dependent on her phone after the ban. Initially, she struggled with cravings for Snapchat but has since found new routines, like running instead of scrolling through social media. She uses her phone less and focuses more on activities like reading and exercising.

2. Mixed Reactions: Not all teens are experiencing positive changes. Aahil, 13, hasn’t altered his habits much and continues to spend about two and a half hours on social media daily, mainly through platforms that bypass the ban, like Roblox and Discord.

3. Social Connection: Many teens are turning to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger to stay connected with friends. The social aspect of these platforms is crucial for them, and without it, they may feel disconnected.

4. Compensatory Behavior: Some teens downloaded alternative apps before the ban, seeking similar social engagement, although interest has since waned.

5. Impact on Moods: Experts note that removing social media can lead to irritability and mood changes for teens, as they lose a familiar way to manage emotions and connect with peers.

6. Future Assessments: The Australian government plans to assess the ban's impact, including how many accounts have been deactivated. While some parents are pleased with the reduced social media usage, others worry about the communication difficulties it creates.

Overall, while some teens are embracing the change, others are finding ways around the ban, suggesting that the impact of the policy may vary widely among individuals.

GitHub Profile Analysis Summary

• Create an embedding based on the projects you have starred.
• Find and connect with popular users who have similar interests.
• Generate a visual Skill Radar to show your skills.
• Get recommendations for repositories you may enjoy.

Summary of miditui

Miditui is a terminal application for composing, mixing, and playing MIDI music, built with Rust. It offers a unique experience similar to a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) right in the terminal.

Key Features:

• Mouse Support: Full terminal mouse functionality for easy navigation and interaction.
• Piano Roll View: Visual representation of notes being played.
• Insert Mode: Create music in real-time using your keyboard or by clicking on the piano roll.
• Project Timeline: View all MIDI tracks and their active notes.
• Audio Playback: Low-latency audio at 44.1kHz.
• Unlimited Tracks: Supports multiple MIDI tracks with controls for volume and mute/solo.
• Autosave: Automatically saves your projects and reloads them.
• Import/Export: Works with MIDI and JSON files, and can export music as a WAV file.

Installation: You can download binaries for macOS, Linux, or Windows from the Releases page or install it via Rust using cargo install miditui. A SoundFont file is also needed for sound playback.

Usage: Run the app in the terminal, and it will guide you to select a SoundFont. You can insert notes, play compositions, and save projects using keyboard shortcuts. Press ? in the app for a list of shortcuts.

Note: The app may have limitations based on terminal support, and some features rely on specific terminal settings.

License: MIT License.

A researcher discovered that Flock Safety, a company managing surveillance technology in the U.S., had a serious security flaw: a default API key was hardcoded into their publicly accessible code. This exposed access to their ArcGIS mapping system, which includes sensitive information from around 12,000 law enforcement agencies, community deployments, and private businesses. The key was found in 53 instances across various public-facing platforms, allowing anyone to access vital data, including police patrol locations, license plate detections, and surveillance camera feeds.

Flock Safety operates a large network of cameras and sensors, recording movements of millions of people daily. The exposed API key was unrestricted, meaning no controls were in place to limit who could use it. This vulnerability was reported to Flock Safety, but it remained unaddressed for over 55 days, indicating a pattern of poor security management.

The implications of this incident are significant, as unauthorized access to such data poses risks to national security and personal privacy. Surveillance data could be misused for coercion or blackmail, and past incidents have shown that police can misuse these technologies for personal reasons.

In summary, Flock Safety's failure to secure their API key highlights serious concerns about the security of surveillance data and the potential for misuse, raising alarm among lawmakers and privacy advocates.

The author switched from an iMac to a Mac mini and initially chose an ASUS ProArt 5K monitor, which failed after 14 months. Facing long warranty delays and the risk of receiving a replacement with defects, they decided to try a new monitor. They purchased a Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor, but after a few days, they noticed issues with text clarity and fringing, which is common in OLED displays.

To compare, they borrowed a Dell UltraSharp LCD monitor and found it provided better image quality, particularly for text and fine lines. The OLED’s pixel arrangement caused color fringes on edges, which were particularly noticeable on light text against dark backgrounds.

Despite OLEDs being great for TV and gaming, the author concluded they are not suitable for productivity tasks like text editing. They returned the OLED monitor after just four days and are now considering returning to an LCD monitor while waiting for better OLED options to become available in the future.

No summary available.

The text includes instructions for starting a piano metronome application. It mentions that users need to press "Start" to begin and that audio requires interaction to play sounds. There is also a description of a visual effect for a help button that pulses to draw attention. The pulsing effect changes when the mouse hovers over the button.

NASA has announced that the Crew-11 team aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will return early due to a medical issue affecting one unnamed astronaut. Although the astronaut’s condition is stable, NASA has decided to cancel a planned spacewalk and is evaluating options for the crew's early return. Crew-11, which includes astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov, had arrived at the ISS on August 2, 2025, for a six-month mission. Their early return may impact the usual crew rotation, as Crew-12 is scheduled to launch in mid-February. NASA will announce a specific return date soon.

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A user named ldeveraux shared their experience dealing with issues related to the Play Store on their device. They tried clearing the cache and data for the Play Store and Google Services, but it didn't resolve the problem. They managed to check for updates after rebooting and adjusting some settings but still encountered an error about not having enough storage. They were unsure what else to try. Another user, J. Michael, inquired about which spoofing method ldeveraux was using (either PI Fork or PI Fix Inject).

The author works with geometry in computer vision and photogrammetry, often dealing with messy real-world data that needs to be cleaned up. They explore shape regularization, a technique to improve geometric data, using methods from CGAL and seeking a pure Python solution. The author faced challenges creating a version of a quadratic program (QP) to minimize a cost function that balances geometric accuracy (A) and "niceness" or constraints (B). They aimed to find the right balance between these costs using a hyper-parameter (H). To achieve this, they started with existing CGAL examples and added their own regularization methods for better results.

The person was recently laid off from a relaxed remote job and is looking for a new one. They have 5 years of experience in JavaScript Fullstack and Python, and they are located in San Francisco on a student visa. They want a quick way to find a similar remote job that offers responsibilities and independence.

No summary available.

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Summary of rqlite

What is rqlite? rqlite is a simple, lightweight, distributed relational database based on SQLite. It is designed to be easy to use and operate, making it suitable for both cloud and edge applications. It prioritizes data availability and consistency over write speed, ensuring data is safe even in case of failures.

Key Features:

• Relational Database: Supports SQL for data manipulation, including advanced features like full-text search and JSON support.
• Extensibility: Allows loading of SQLite extensions for added functionality.
• Atomic Writes: Ensures all statements in a request are executed together or not at all.
• Change Data Capture: Streams changes to external systems for updates and audits.

Easy Operations:

• Simple Deployment: A single binary with no complex setup; can quickly create a cluster.
• High Availability: Data is replicated across nodes, so the database remains online even if some nodes fail.
• Dynamic Clustering: Nodes can easily discover and join each other, enabling straightforward scaling.
• Effortless Backups: Supports hot backups and automated cloud storage backups.

Developer Experience:

• Convenient APIs: Simple HTTP API for database operations; client libraries are available in various languages.
• Secure by Design: Supports encryption and access control for secure data handling.
• Tunable Consistency: Users can choose the level of consistency required for reads and writes.

Common Use Cases:

• Edge and IoT Deployments: Ideal for local reliable databases on edge devices due to its lightweight nature.
• Simplified Cloud Services: Suitable for cloud applications needing high availability without complex management.
• Read-Intensive Applications: Can scale read traffic by adding read-only nodes, making it great for globally distributed apps where data is accessed frequently but changed infrequently.

In summary, rqlite offers a user-friendly, reliable database solution that simplifies deployment and management, making it a great choice for various applications.

A user on Hacker News created a side project that runs an English auction on the Solana blockchain, starting with a reserve price of 0.1 SOL. The winner of the auction gains control of a Codex editor, while the losers receive a refund minus a small processing fee of less than $0.01. The Codex editor can only output HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. The project is open-source and can be found on GitHub at the provided link.

I created a personal open-source project to understand how the EU AI Act can be applied through specific technical checks. The main focus is on local-first compliance, which includes:

• Classifying risks according to the Act
• Evaluating bias with a method called CrowS-Pairs
• Generating automatic PDF reports based on Annex IV requirements
• Ensuring no use of cloud services or external APIs (it's browser-based with Ollama)

I am looking for feedback on whether this approach to AI regulation is practical for real-world projects.

No summary available.

This text introduces a simpler version of the official FFmpeg 8.0 documentation for filters. It is designed to be more readable and easier to navigate. FFmpeg 8.0 was released on August 21, 2025.

In May, teachers used to send students home with educational CD-ROMs to keep them learning over the summer. Abigail Cain recalls spending hot Texas days playing games like Reader Rabbit and Cluefinders, unaware of the larger story behind these programs. The Learning Company (TLC) was a major player in educational software in the 1980s and 90s, known for iconic titles like Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego. However, by 2000, TLC faced severe financial issues, leading to a disastrous sale to SoftKey Software, which used aggressive business strategies that harmed the industry.

TLC was founded by Ann McCormick, who aimed to improve education with technology after witnessing reading struggles in her students. She recruited talented individuals to create innovative educational games. Reader Rabbit, created by Leslie Grimm, became a flagship product, selling millions of copies. The company initially thrived but struggled with leadership changes and a focus on profits over quality.

In the late 90s, SoftKey acquired TLC and other companies, but their lack of investment in new products led to a decline in quality. Mattel later bought TLC but sold it at a huge loss, marking one of the worst business deals ever. The rise of the internet further diminished the educational software market, leading to a significant drop in sales. Today, while TLC's games are nostalgic for many, the educational software industry has not fully recovered, shifting towards mobile apps with lower price points and profit margins.

No summary available.

Summary:

QtNat is a simple C++ library that uses Qt 6 to manage NAT port mapping with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). It helps developers automatically set up port forwarding, making it easier to connect local services to external networks without needing manual router configurations. This is particularly useful for applications like peer-to-peer software, multiplayer games, and remote access tools.

The library features a straightforward API that automates the entire process of discovering devices and creating port mappings. When using QtNat:

1. You create an instance of the UpnpNat object.
2. You connect to its statusChanged signal to handle different states of the NAT process.
3. The library automatically discovers compatible routers and requests port mapping when ready.
4. If successful, it confirms the mapping has been added; if there's an error, it displays the error message.

The library also includes code examples for discovery, requesting device descriptions, and sending port mapping requests. Users are encouraged to test it and provide feedback or improvements via GitHub.

A recent phishing attack is targeting users of SendGrid, a popular email service. Hackers have been sending emails that appear to come from SendGrid but are actually from compromised accounts, using political themes to provoke emotional responses and trick recipients into clicking links.

Here's how it works:

• Hackers gain access to SendGrid customer accounts through methods like password reuse.
• They send emails that pass spam filters because they appear to be legitimate SendGrid emails.
• The emails often reference sensitive political topics, such as ICE or BLM, to lure users into clicking on links or buttons.

To protect yourself:

• If you use SendGrid, enable two-factor authentication and use unique passwords.
• If you receive suspicious emails, do not click any links as they may lead to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials.

Gmail users can create filters to automatically delete these impersonation emails. The issue persists because SendGrid has not fully implemented necessary security measures, allowing these attacks to continue.

No summary available.

The text is a table of contents for a book titled "Mathematics for Computer Science," authored by Eric Lehman, F. Thomson Leighton, and Albert R. Meyer. It outlines various topics covered in the book, which includes:

1. Proofs - Basics of proofs, types of proofs (like contradiction and by cases), and concepts like the Well Ordering Principle.
2. Logical Formulas - Propositional logic, equivalence, validity, and related problems.
3. Mathematical Data Types - Introduction to sets, sequences, functions, and relations.
4. Induction - Ordinary and strong induction methods.
5. State Machines - Concepts of states, transitions, and correctness.
6. Recursive Data Types - Definitions and examples related to recursion.
7. Infinite Sets - Discussions on infinite cardinality and related logical problems.
8. Structures - Topics in number theory, directed graphs, and communication networks.
9. Counting - Techniques for counting, including combinatorial proofs and the Pigeonhole Principle.
10. Probability - Foundations of probability, random variables, and related theories.
11. Recurrences - Various types of recurrences and their applications.

The book appears to be a comprehensive resource aimed at understanding mathematics within the context of computer science.

No summary available.

The paper "Cloudspecs: Cloud Hardware Evolution Through the Looking Glass" analyzes cloud hardware trends from 2015 to 2025, particularly focusing on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Here are the key points:

1. Performance Gains: Network bandwidth per dollar has improved significantly, increasing by 10 times. However, improvements in CPU and DRAM performance have been modest.

2. CPU Trends: The number of cores in cloud instances has greatly increased, with AWS now offering instances with up to 448 cores. Cost-performance has improved by about 3 times over ten years, largely due to AWS's Graviton processors. However, gains in in-memory database performance have been less impressive.

3. Memory Trends: The cost-effectiveness of DRAM has plateaued, with only a brief improvement due to specific instance types. Recent increases in AI demand have driven up memory prices.

4. Network Trends: There have been significant advancements in network speeds, growing from 10 Gbit/s to 600 Gbit/s. These improvements are primarily seen in specialized network-optimized instances.

5. NVMe Storage Trends: Surprisingly, NVMe storage performance has stagnated since 2016, with no significant improvements in I/O throughput or SSD capacity in the cloud, while on-premises hardware has seen substantial gains.

6. Future Directions: The paper suggests a shift towards specialized hardware solutions in cloud computing, as general performance improvements have slowed. It raises questions about the inefficiencies in utilizing high core counts and highlights the importance of better software optimization.

The findings emphasize the need for tighter integration between hardware and software to enhance performance in future cloud databases. An interactive tool, Cloudspecs, is available for users to explore these trends through SQL queries.

The London to Calcutta bus service was an international bus route that ran from London, England, to Calcutta, India. It started in 1957 and was known as the longest bus route in the world, covering about 10,000 miles (16,000 km) one way. The journey took around 50 days and passed through several countries, including Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Operated by Albert Travel, the service offered comprehensive packages that included travel, food, and accommodation. A one-way ticket cost £85 in 1957 (about £2,589 today) and increased to £145 by 1973 (around £2,215 today). The service was discontinued in 1976 due to increasing dangers from geopolitical instability in the Middle East.

The bus was equipped with various facilities like sleeping bunks, a kitchen, and a lounge area. It allowed stops at tourist locations and included shopping opportunities in cities like Salzburg and Istanbul.

After the service ended, the bus was converted into a mobile home, and later operated on a route from London to Sydney. The bus completed around 15 trips before the service ended permanently due to political issues in the region.

The text lists various countries and regions organized by continent. It includes:

• Africa: Countries like Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.
• Asia: Countries such as Japan, India, and Vietnam.
• Europe: Nations including Germany, France, and Italy.
• Middle East: Countries like Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
• North and South America: The U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.

Overall, it's a comprehensive enumeration of countries across different continents.

The text describes a new open-source tool that allows users to run markdown files like shell scripts using a special command called a shebang. This tool uses Claude Code to support standard input and output operations.

Key features include:

• Markdown Execution: You can create markdown files that contain commands, which can be executed like scripts. For example, a file called task.md can summarize a codebase when run.

• Tool Capabilities: These markdown files can perform various tasks, such as running shell commands, reading files, and making API calls.

• Chaining Commands: You can combine markdown scripts with traditional shell commands using Unix piping, making it easier to manage workflows.

• Auditable and Shareable: Markdown scripts are easier to read and verify than traditional shell scripts, which improves security and transparency.

• Flexibility: The tool can work with different AI coding tools and can route scripts through various cloud providers for automated jobs.

The author emphasizes the potential for using markdown as a powerful tool in programming workflows, inspired by ideas from Pete Koomen.

For more information, the tool is available on GitHub.

Barry Webb, a photographer, has captured stunning close-up images of slime mould, a unique organism that isn’t a plant, fungus, or animal but is related to amoebas. His award-winning macro photography reveals tiny structures of slime mould, often found in various environments like forests and deserts. Using a high-powered macro lens and a technique called focus bracketing, Barry takes many photos to create a detailed composite image.

He discovered slime mould in 2019 and has since focused on its colorful fruiting bodies, which release spores and play a vital role in the ecosystem by feeding on bacteria, algae, and fungi. His work has gained recognition, including a recent people's choice award at the British Photography Awards. Barry's photography process has become easier with technology, allowing him to produce intricate images that highlight the beauty of these often-overlooked organisms.

The text outlines a login and registration process for a Member Portal, which is intended for people working with a member organization. Key points include:

• Login Section: Users can enter their email and password to access the portal. There is a feature for those who forgot their password.
• Registration Section: New users can register for a Member Portal account using their official email address.
• Technical Details: There are scripts included for managing the login form's functionality, ensuring the submit button works correctly when the form is displayed.
• Additional Resources: The portal includes sections for news, research, events, publications, and job opportunities related to the Media Lab and its programs.

Overall, it is designed to support members in accessing various resources and information related to their work.

Kurt Mackey argues that traditional ephemeral sandboxes for running code are outdated and unnecessary. Instead, he introduces a new concept called "Sprites," which are quick-to-create, durable virtual machines that can be used like actual computers. Unlike sandboxes that disappear after use, Sprites retain their state and allow for easy installation of software without the need for rebuilding environments.

Sprites can be created in seconds, have automatic idle time management to save costs, and are connected to a network for easy access. They support fast checkpointing and restoration, making them highly efficient for development tasks. Mackey emphasizes the need for a more flexible environment for both professional developers and advanced AI agents, who require persistent storage and less restrictive setups.

He believes that the future of software development will move away from traditional sandboxes, enabling users to create and modify applications more freely without the limitations imposed by ephemeral systems. Ultimately, he encourages developers to consider using Sprites as a better alternative for their coding needs.

Contact Information

For inquiries, you can reach the Public Relations Division at Tokyo University of Science by email at [email protected]. The address is 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan.

This blog post discusses Sorted String Tables (SSTs), which are essential for efficient data storage in online database systems, particularly on SSDs (Solid State Drives). Here are the key points:

1. Data Access Speed: Accessing data in memory is significantly faster than fetching it from disk. Effective database design aims to minimize the amount of data read from storage.

2. Page Size: Data is read in fixed-size pages (usually 4KB) from SSDs, which can lead to "read amplification," where more data is read than necessary. For example, if you only need 256 bytes of data, you still read the entire 4KB page.

3. Spatial and Temporal Locality: Databases optimize data layout by keeping frequently accessed data close together on disk, improving access times.

4. Immutable Structures: SSDs benefit from immutable data structures because they handle large batches of data more effectively, reducing write amplification.

5. SST Basics: SSTs store key-value pairs sorted by key. This organization allows for efficient searching and retrieval of data.

6. Indexing: To improve search efficiency, SSTs use indexes that point to data locations, minimizing the need to read entire data blocks.

7. Filters: Filter structures, like Bloom filters, help quickly determine if a key exists in an SST, saving unnecessary reads.

8. Trade-offs: Designing SSTs involves balancing read efficiency and memory usage, as indexes and filters require memory to function optimally.

9. General Use Cases: SSTs are versatile and can be adapted for various database systems, including key-value stores and SQL engines.

10. Future Topics: The next discussion will cover how multiple SSTs can be combined to create Log-Structured Merge Trees (LSM trees), enhancing data storage further.

This overview emphasizes how understanding SSTs can improve database performance by aligning data structures with SSD technology.

A recent study found that exercising can help reduce depression symptoms as effectively as therapy, and possibly even as well as antidepressants. Researchers reviewed data from 73 trials with nearly 5,000 adults and discovered that light to moderate exercise over multiple sessions was most beneficial, with few side effects. While exercise is not a cure-all, it is a safe and accessible option for many people.

The study showed that exercise led to moderate improvements in depression compared to no treatment and similar benefits to therapy. However, the evidence for its effectiveness compared to antidepressants was less certain. Most participants reported minimal side effects, mainly related to physical activity, unlike the common side effects of antidepressant medications.

The review suggests that light to moderate exercise is preferable, and combining different types of activities may enhance results. However, many studies were small, and further high-quality research is needed to determine the best exercise methods and their long-term effects on depression.

At CES 2026, Dell's presentation stood out for not focusing on AI, which has dominated tech discussions in recent years. Dell's COO, Jeff Clarke, emphasized the company's commitment to consumer needs, introducing new products like the XPS laptops and affordable Alienware models. The presentation acknowledged a memory shortage and mentioned AI briefly, but it was clear that Dell is shifting away from an AI-first marketing approach. Kevin Terwilliger, Dell's head of product, noted that consumers are not buying based on AI features, as many find it confusing. This refreshing stance marks a potential change in how tech companies communicate their products, prioritizing consumer understanding over buzzwords.

Summary of WebAssembly Overview

WebAssembly (Wasm) is a language that allows developers to run code in web browsers at near-native speeds. It has real-world applications, including:

• Game Development: Godot uses Wasm for web games.
• Image Processing: Squoosh.app utilizes Wasm for image libraries.
• Plugin Ecosystems: Zellij and Figma use Wasm for plugins and code conversion.
• Flash Emulation: Ruffle runs a Flash emulator using Wasm.

Wasm is not yet the foundation for major websites, but it is valuable for specific features and products.

Key Features of WebAssembly:

1. Speed: Wasm's speed depends on the engine running it, similar to JavaScript. It's not inherently fast but can be optimized for hardware.
2. Efficient Mapping: Wasm closely resembles assembly language, allowing efficient compilation from high-level languages like Rust, C, and Go.
3. Security: Wasm has a minimal attack surface and strong security features, enabling safe execution of untrusted code.
4. Portability: It can run on different platforms without requiring specific hardware, making it a versatile choice for various applications.
5. Embeddability: Many tools and environments support Wasm, enhancing their functionality with minimal changes.

Performance Considerations: Wasm applications may face performance limits similar to JavaScript, but the architecture can yield efficient results. However, crossing the host-program boundary can introduce overhead.

Language Development: Wasm is evolving rapidly, with multiple organizations contributing to its standards. While some developers feel that Wasm has not made a significant impact, it is increasingly used behind the scenes, particularly by library authors rather than direct application developers.

Overall, Wasm is a promising technology that enhances web development but may not replace JavaScript in the foreseeable future.

Summary of "When Kitty Litter Caused a Nuclear Catastrophe"

On February 14, 2014, a nuclear waste facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico, experienced a radiation leak after a waste drum burst, releasing radioactive materials into the environment. This incident led to the evacuation of the site and a lengthy investigation into its cause, which was eventually traced back to a mistake made during the repackaging of nuclear waste.

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) was designed for safe long-term storage of nuclear waste, utilizing a stable salt formation underground to prevent contamination. However, a drum containing waste was improperly prepared using organic cat litter instead of the required inorganic material. This mistake led to a chemical reaction that caused the drum to overheat and burst.

The incident resulted in some workers being exposed to low levels of radiation, but no serious health effects were reported. The investigation revealed systemic issues at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the waste was originally processed. The cleanup and repairs at WIPP took nearly three years and cost around half a billion dollars.

Today, the facility remains controversial due to its long-term waste management challenges and the risks associated with nuclear waste, which will remain hazardous for thousands of years. The story highlights the importance of careful handling and clear communication in managing nuclear materials.

Over the past few years, there's been a significant change in how JavaScript developer tools are created. Many of these tools are now being built using systems programming languages like Rust, Go, and Zig, leading to better performance and efficiency for developers.

Key Reasons for the Shift:

1. Performance Needs: Modern JavaScript applications are complex, with large codebases and numerous dependencies. Existing JavaScript tools struggle with speed and efficiency.
2. Systems Languages Advantages: Rust and Go provide faster performance, better memory management, and improved concurrency, which result in more reliable tools.
3. Community Growth: The popularity of tools written in these languages has fostered a new generation of developers focused on speed and user experience.

Notable Tools Leading the Change:

1. SWC: A Rust-based tool that offers fast JavaScript/TypeScript transpilation, up to 20 times faster than Babel.
2. ESBuild: Created in Go, it replaces older bundlers with a tool that performs 10-100 times faster, gaining over 50 million downloads weekly.
3. BiomeJS: A Rust tool that combines formatting and linting, achieving significant speed improvements.
4. Oxc: Another Rust-based tool focused on linting and transforming JavaScript/TypeScript code, showing impressive performance gains.
5. FNM/Volta: These tools manage Node.js versions faster and more efficiently than older alternatives.
6. TypeScript in Go: Microsoft is porting TypeScript's compiler to Go, promising major improvements in build times and performance.

Future Implications:

• As more tools rely on different programming languages, contributing to these projects may become harder for many JavaScript developers.
• Developers may need to learn systems programming languages to keep up, which could influence the skills they pursue.
• There’s a concern about losing the connection between tool creators and their tools, as they shift away from using JavaScript for development.

Conclusion:

The move towards using Rust, Go, and Zig for JavaScript tooling represents a significant evolution in the ecosystem. This change is not only about improving performance but also about expanding the possibilities for future development in JavaScript.

The Napoleon Technique is a productivity method that suggests postponing responses to non-urgent matters if they are likely to resolve themselves without your input. For instance, you might wait a day to reply to emails that don't require immediate attention, hoping the sender will find a solution on their own.

This technique is inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte's practice of leaving letters unopened for weeks, allowing many issues to resolve without his intervention. It can save time and energy, encouraging others to be more independent in seeking solutions.

To use the technique effectively, consider where and when it might apply, focusing on minor, routine issues. Be cautious to avoid pitfalls like procrastination or ignoring important information. Setting clear deadlines can help prevent unnecessary delays.

In summary, the Napoleon Technique helps you manage your time better by allowing some issues to resolve themselves, while also teaching others to take initiative.

The creators of Tailwind have laid off 75% of their engineering team. This news has sparked a lot of discussion, with 810 comments on the topic.

In 2025, a rare copy of UNIX v4 was discovered and successfully run on a PDP-11 simulator. While exploring the system, a bug was found in the su(1) program, which allows users to elevate privileges by entering the root password. This program, despite being over 50 years old, functions similarly to modern versions but has a critical flaw: it does not check the size of the password input, which can lead to a buffer overflow.

The su program retrieves the root user's password from the system and prompts the user for input without ensuring it fits within the allocated buffer size. This vulnerability can be exploited by entering more than 100 characters, causing the program to crash.

To fix the issue, the source code was edited using the basic text editor 'ed' available in UNIX v4, adding a check for the input length to prevent overflow. After modifying the code, it was compiled and deployed, ensuring the updated binary had the correct permissions to function.

Overall, this exercise illustrates the historical significance of UNIX v4, the ability to modify and fix systems directly, and the evolution of security concerns in computing.

A web developer has launched a free Chrome extension called Yellopages that improves browsing by organizing tabs. Key features include:

• Grouping tabs by the same website, making it easy to manage multiple Gmail tabs.
• Grouping audio tabs to control sound from each one.
• A single search for open tabs, bookmarks, and history.
• Grouping tabs with new notifications like emails and social media updates.
• One-click option to close all tabs while sharing screens in Zoom, with a second click to restore them.

The developer hopes to gain an audience for their work.

Some cookies and software tools are essential for the website to work properly. They help with security, prevent fraud, and allow you to make purchases. You can block these cookies in your browser, but this might cause some features of the site to not work correctly.

Summary: Why I Left iNaturalist

On January 6, 2026, I announced my departure from iNaturalist after nearly 18 years of involvement, citing a disagreement with the current leadership's direction and management style. I feel the leadership team is not effectively guiding the product or valuing their talented staff.

Background: I co-founded iNaturalist in 2007 while studying at UC Berkeley. Over the years, we transitioned from an informal project to a non-profit organization, initially partnering with the California Academy of Sciences before becoming independent in 2023. However, we struggled with organization and decision-making, leading to a hierarchy that I found unfulfilling.

Issues Faced: The development of a new mobile app, "iNat Next," faced constant changes in priorities and unrealistic goals set by leadership, causing frustration among the team. I proposed a new product leadership structure to improve communication and decision-making, but leadership rejected my idea and instead appointed someone who lacked the independence I suggested.

Leadership's failure to listen to team feedback and their poor handling of staff concerns led to a significant loss of personnel, with 30% of the staff leaving. Additionally, the organization faced backlash from a controversial grant related to AI, which staff had warned against.

Product Philosophy: I believe that different products should serve varying user needs—"iNaturalist" for enthusiasts and "Seek" for casual users. However, leadership insists that one product can meet all needs, which I see as unrealistic.

Management Failures: Leadership has made several mistakes, including ignoring team input, failing to address staff concerns, and mishandling the announcement of the AI grant. While there have been some improvements, leadership has not acknowledged their errors, which undermines trust.

Next Steps: I have decided to leave iNaturalist and focus on developing natural history software independently. I encourage users to continue using iNaturalist but advocate for more user involvement in the organization. I also suggest exploring alternatives and decentralized models to ensure the community's needs are met.

In summary, my departure stems from a fundamental disagreement with the leadership's vision for iNaturalist and their management practices. I hope for positive changes in the organization but felt I couldn't be part of it anymore.

No summary available.

Bose has announced that it will make the API documentation for its SoundTouch speakers open-source as the devices approach their end-of-life (EoL) on February 18, 2026. After this date, the speakers will lose their smart features, relying only on AUX, HDMI, or Bluetooth connections. Users will miss out on software updates and cloud services, which means they won't be able to use music services like Spotify or access saved presets anymore. This decision frustrated many customers who invested in SoundTouch products.

However, Bose has reassured users that AirPlay and Spotify Connect will still function after EoL, allowing some wireless capabilities to remain. The SoundTouch app will also continue to operate but with reduced functionality.

The move to open-source the API is seen as a positive step, enabling independent developers to enhance the devices and prevent them from becoming e-waste. This approach contrasts with the common practice of companies bricking devices to focus on newer products. While Bose's changes provide some relief, many users will still find their devices less functional after the updates.

Microsoft has stopped the metadata service for Windows Media Player, which means users can no longer access CD album information like track listings and cover art. This change occurred just before Christmas, leaving many CDs unrecognized by the software. Users attempting to retrieve album data on Windows 10 or 11 found that the service is no longer operational.

Despite inquiries to Microsoft about this discontinuation, the company has not provided a clear response. A suggestion from a Microsoft support chat indicated that users may need to find third-party alternatives or manually input data.

This decision comes at a time when many people are returning to physical media, frustrated by disappearing content on streaming services. Notably, while Windows Media Player is still included in Windows 11, it is now considered "Legacy" as Microsoft shifts users to a new media player app. In contrast, Apple's iTunes continues to recognize CDs without issues.

No summary available.

I created a macOS menu bar app that tracks Claude usage in real time through an API, as I often hit limits while using it. The app is signed and notarized by Apple, and it's open source. You can find it on GitHub here and follow me on X here.

repogen is a simple tool for creating package repositories. It turns your package files (.deb, .rpm, .apk) into a static structure that you can easily host online, like on S3. This makes it cheap—just $0.02 per month to host packages for your team. It works with various package formats, including Debian and Homebrew, and allows for easy updates without needing to download everything again. While it's still in early development, it functions well and the creator is seeking feedback.

Mike Duxbury, who lost his sight at six due to glaucoma, has a lifelong passion for farming. Despite being told a career in agriculture was impossible, he earned a degree in animal nutrition and established a farm in Bedfordshire. Now 57, he is creating a new farm in Aberdeenshire designed for young people with disabilities to engage in agriculture.

Using Lego, Mike designed a farm building that includes a classroom and workshop, and the actual construction reflects his design. The farm will feature livestock, a polytunnel for horticulture, and accessible equipment for users of all abilities. Mike emphasizes safety and accessibility to help people with disabilities navigate the farm confidently.

The farm aims to provide opportunities for individuals, like 17-year-old William, who is visually impaired and is already gaining hands-on farming experience. Mike believes in fostering communication and teamwork among all participants. He hopes the farm will be a supportive space for those interested in agriculture, promoting independence and inclusivity. The project is still fundraising to reach its goal of £70,000.

No summary available.

Summary of Jeff Dean Facts

The "Jeff Dean facts" are humorous jokes that highlight the exceptional programming skills of Jeff Dean, a well-known Google engineer. These jokes are similar to Chuck Norris jokes and exaggerate Dean's abilities in a funny way.

The repository contains a collection of these jokes, some sourced from a Quora page and expanded with additional contributions. Here are a few notable examples:

• Jeff Dean can solve complex problems instantly, like proving P=NP on a whiteboard.
• He once manually answered user queries when servers went down, improving quality.
• Jeff Dean's code runs so efficiently that it causes production services to fail when he vacations.
• He has a mythical ability to optimize anything, from algorithms to even physics.

The collection emphasizes Dean's legendary status in programming, with humorous claims about his skills, such as writing a web server in a single line of code and having a calendar that skips April Fool's Day.

This repository preserves these jokes for fans of programming humor and highlights the unique culture surrounding Jeff Dean's contributions to technology.

No summary available.

Summary: AI Coding Assistants Are Getting Worse

Jamie Twiss discusses how newer AI coding assistants are increasingly experiencing significant failures that are not immediately obvious. Despite advancements, these models may not perform as well as expected. Twiss, who has experience in data science and consumer lending, emphasizes the need for caution in relying on these tools for coding tasks.

Summary of Qwen3-VL-Embedding & Qwen3-VL-Reranker

Qwen3-VL-Embedding and Qwen3-VL-Reranker are advanced models designed for processing and retrieving information from multiple types of inputs, such as text, images, screenshots, and videos. They are part of the Qwen family of models, which utilize a powerful foundation called Qwen3-VL.

Key Features:

• Multimodal Support: The models can handle various input types simultaneously, improving tasks like image-text retrieval and visual question answering.
• Unified Representation: They create a shared space for both visual and textual data, making it easier to find similar content across different formats.
• High Precision: The reranking model evaluates and scores the relevance of retrieval results, enhancing accuracy.

Model Architecture:

• Qwen3-VL-Embedding: It uses a dual-tower setup to create detailed semantic representations from inputs.
• Qwen3-VL-Reranker: This employs a single-tower structure to refine the relevance scoring of retrieved items.

Installation and Usage:

• Users can clone the models from GitHub and follow setup instructions to install necessary dependencies. The models can be accessed from platforms like Hugging Face and ModelScope.
• Quick start guides are provided for both embedding and reranking models, showing how to input data and retrieve results.

Performance:

• The models have demonstrated strong performance on various benchmark tasks, outperforming previous models in several categories, particularly in retrieval accuracy across different modalities.

Conclusion: Qwen3-VL-Embedding and Qwen3-VL-Reranker represent significant advancements in multimodal information retrieval, offering versatile and efficient tools for users working with complex data types.

Josh and Jack Viertel wrote a mystery novel titled “The Glass Eel,” which was released on September 9. The story revolves around the black market for elvers (young eels) in Maine. Joshua Viertel became interested in this topic after reading about illegal elver fishing, realizing that the eels used in sushi could come from Maine, where they are commercially harvested under strict regulations.

As the elver fishery became highly profitable, a black market emerged, leading to illegal activities. The novel features a character named Jeannette King, who gets entangled in this criminal world after discovering her ex-husband's illegal catch. The book reflects current trends in literature exploring fishing-related crimes and offers a deeper look at Maine's culture and challenges, moving beyond the typical romanticized portrayals of its fishing industry.

The authors believe there is a growing interest in nuanced stories about Maine, as readers seek more complex narratives beyond the usual themes.

The text discusses a research project involving a competitive programming game called Core War, where assembly programs, known as "warriors," battle for control of a virtual computer. The study uses a method called Digital Red Queen (DRQ), driven by large language models (LLMs), to evolve these warriors through continual adaptation in response to each other.

Key points include:

1. Core War Game: In this game, warriors are written in a specialized assembly language (Redcode) and compete by crashing opponents while keeping themselves running.

2. Digital Red Queen (DRQ): This method evolves warriors by continuously introducing new ones that must adapt to defeat their predecessors. This mirrors biological evolution, where species must constantly evolve to survive against changing competitors.

3. Emergence of Strategies: As DRQ runs, the warriors develop increasingly effective and diverse strategies, such as self-replication and targeted attacks. Over time, independent runs of DRQ lead to similar high-performing behaviors, akin to convergent evolution in nature.

4. Safe Research Environment: Core War provides a contained environment to study these dynamics safely, allowing for exploration of adversarial interactions without real-world risks.

5. Future Implications: The insights gained could inform the development of AI systems in competitive scenarios, such as cybersecurity. The study also hints at broader applications in various fields, including biology and drug design.

Overall, the research offers a unique perspective on how AI can evolve in competitive settings, potentially impacting future developments in artificial intelligence.

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