No summary available.

GitHub is looking into reports of unauthorized access to their internal repositories. This situation has led to a discussion with a lot of comments online.

The text discusses local-LLM (Large Language Model) benchmarks that report how quickly tokens are processed, measured in tokens per second (tok/s) on different hardware.

Key Points:

1. Throughput Numbers: Different setups show varying speeds, like "47 tok/s on an M3" or "500 tok/s on Groq," but these numbers are hard to visualize without seeing them in action.

2. Streaming Modes: There are four modes for viewing the output:

   • Code: Displays syntax-highlighted pseudo-code.
   • Text: Shows regular text, like lorem ipsum.
   • Think: Mimics reasoning by showing thoughts and code alternately.
   • Agent: Simulates an AI performing tasks with pauses for processing.

3. Testing Speeds: Users can start at a default speed of 30 tok/s and then try different speeds to see how it feels:

   • 1 (5 tok/s) is like a Raspberry Pi model.
   • 5 (60 tok/s) is typical for hosted models.
   • 7 (200 tok/s) is faster, and 9 (800 tok/s) is very fast.

4. Token Definition: A token is based on a specific type of tokenization. Short words are usually one token, while longer words can be split into multiple tokens. Code tends to have more tokens compared to prose, affecting how the speed feels based on the content type.

5. Prose Tokenization: On average, English prose has about 1.3 tokens per word, meaning 30 tok/s equals approximately 23 words per second.

Overall, the text highlights the importance of understanding token throughput and its impact on user experience with local-LLMs.

Qwen3.7-Max is a new advanced AI model designed for various tasks, including coding, office automation, and long-term planning. It excels in:

1. Versatile Capabilities: It can write and debug code, automate workflows, and execute complex tasks autonomously over long periods.

2. Strong Performance: Qwen3.7-Max outperforms previous models in many benchmarks, including coding tasks and reasoning challenges. It shows notable improvements in areas like office productivity and kernel optimization.

3. Cross-Framework Compatibility: The model works well across different agent frameworks, making it adaptable for various applications.

4. Long-Horizon Execution: It can perform sustained, autonomous tasks, completing projects that typically require extensive human effort in a fraction of the time.

5. Integration with Tools: Qwen3.7-Max integrates easily with popular coding assistants and can automate tasks like document formatting.

6. Robust Learning and Adaptation: The model has the ability to learn and evolve in real-time, optimizing its performance based on feedback.

Overall, Qwen3.7-Max is positioned as a powerful tool for businesses and developers, enabling significant productivity gains and efficiency in task execution. It will soon be available via the Alibaba Cloud Model Studio.

Summary of Inkwell's Review Process

Inkwell, an iOS app, was submitted to Apple for review on April 21, 2026, but has faced multiple rejections and issues. Here are the main problems encountered:

1. User Safety Features: Apple required options for reporting objectionable content and blocking users, which were added despite the app being an RSS reader.

2. Sign In Issues: The "Sign in with Apple" button initially didn't work, but fixes were made, including hiding the button in certain scenarios.

3. Monetization Questions: Apple asked about how the app generates revenue, and all questions were answered.

4. In-App Purchase Requirement: Apple prefers apps to use in-app purchases, so the developer removed many features and limited the app's availability to comply with guidelines.

5. Design Concerns: The app was rejected for various design problems, including issues with the sign-in process, which have since been addressed.

6. Account Deletion: The app needed a feature to delete Micro.blog accounts, which has been added.

7. Trademark Issues: Apple's concerns about the app's name, "Inkwell," stem from its historical trademark, which has been inactive for years. This issue has persisted despite attempts to rename the app.

The developer is frustrated by Apple’s control over the review process, especially regarding the trademark issue, and is uncertain about how to proceed.

Summary of SBCL: The Ultimate Assembly Code Breadboard

The text discusses the development and optimization of a stack-based virtual machine (VM) using Steel Bank Common Lisp (SBCL). Key points include:

1. Instruction Optimization: The author identifies a mistake in encoding machine instructions that resulted in inefficient byte usage. This was corrected, reducing the instruction size from 14 bytes to 9 bytes.

2. Stack Design: The VM uses a small stack of 10 slots without overflow protection, promoting the idea that if more slots are needed, it indicates poor design. This approach aligns with experiences on other systems, emphasizing efficiency.

3. Pushing and Popping: Instead of moving data for stack operations, the VM uses a counter to track the top of the stack, simplifying operations and reducing overhead.

4. Instruction Dispatch: The VM's design allows for efficient instruction dispatch based on the stack's state, optimizing execution of stack operations.

5. Primitive Operations: The author defines several primitive operations (like swap, dup, add, etc.) and explores their implementation in assembly, focusing on minimizing data movement and enhancing performance.

6. Control Flow: The text outlines how to implement control flow in the VM with jumps and function calls, emphasizing the importance of efficient instruction execution.

7. Performance: The author benchmarks the VM's performance, noting that specialized operations can significantly speed up execution compared to less optimized bytecode.

8. Conclusion: The author concludes that specializing primitives based on the stack pointer is practical and that SBCL provides an excellent environment for generating and inspecting machine code interactively. The potential for translating high-level languages into this VM is also mentioned.

Overall, the text illustrates the design and implementation of an efficient stack-based VM within SBCL, highlighting optimizations that improve performance and usability.

An incident was reported where a railway was blocked due to an issue with Google Cloud. This problem has since been resolved. For more details, you can check the previous discussion on the topic.

Summary of Flipper One Technical Overview

The Flipper One is an actively developed device with changing technical specifications. Here are the key points:

1. Dimensions and Materials:

   • Size: 155 mm wide, 67 mm high, 40 mm deep.
   • Weight is still to be determined.
   • Made from materials like PC/ABS for the body and aluminum for the heatsink and brackets.

2. Display:

   • Monochrome LCD with a resolution of 256 x 144 pixels.

3. Connectivity:

   • Ports include USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, and a microSD/ SIM card slot.
   • Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

4. Power:

   • Battery capacity: 7000 mAh (final value pending).
   • Charging via USB-C up to 26V.

5. Processor:

   • Main CPU: Rockchip RK3576 with 8 cores (4 high-performance and 4 efficiency).
   • Additional low-power MCU: RP2350 with dual ARM Cortex M33 cores.

6. Memory and Storage:

   • RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5
   • Internal storage: 64 GB UFS.

7. Expansion:

   • M.2 expansion port for additional hardware.
   • GPIO ports for hardware control and customization.

8. User Interface:

   • Touchpad with haptic feedback and several app buttons for navigation.

For further details, users can refer to specific sections on hardware, software, and user interface within the full documentation.

Summary:

As of Firefox 148, the asm.js feature is no longer optimized by default and will be completely removed in the future. However, if your site uses asm.js, it will still function normally since it is a type of JavaScript.

asm.js was created by Mozilla to allow web applications to run at speeds similar to native code. It successfully enabled developers to bring C/C++ projects to the web. This innovation paved the way for WebAssembly, which provides even better performance.

The decision to disable asm.js is due to the widespread adoption of WebAssembly, which is more efficient and requires less maintenance. Users are encouraged to transition from asm.js to WebAssembly for improved speed and smaller file sizes.

The asm.js compiler, named OdinMonkey, will be phased out, but its successor, BaldrMonkey (the WebAssembly optimizing compiler), will continue to thrive. This marks a significant shift in web technology, honoring the contribution of asm.js while embracing the future with WebAssembly.

Sharla Boehm, a math teacher turned computer programmer, played a crucial role in developing a simulation that laid the groundwork for the modern Internet. While working at the RAND Corporation during the Cold War, she created a computer program to improve military communications, which was vulnerable to attacks.

In the early 1960s, there was a critical need for a resilient communication system that could withstand potential nuclear attacks. Paul Baran, a fellow researcher at RAND, proposed a decentralized network that could adapt to communication failures. Sharla was tasked with proving this concept through a simulation, which involved breaking messages into smaller packets that could be routed through multiple paths, ensuring they reached their destination even if some routes were disrupted.

Her innovative approach demonstrated that a network could self-organize and maintain communication even under damage, paving the way for what would eventually become packet-switching technology—an essential component of the Internet. Despite her significant contributions, Sharla's name was often overlooked in the history of the Internet, as she later left her programming career to focus on her family.

Sharla's work remained influential in the development of ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, which utilized her packet-switching concept. Throughout her life, she prioritized her family and community involvement over her early career, yet her legacy in technology persisted, impacting millions who use the Internet today. Sharla Boehm passed away in 2023, but her contributions continue to shape modern communication.

The text promotes a website called "Map of Metal," which offers an interactive overview of metal music history and its influential bands. It encourages users to support the site by purchasing prints online. A mobile version is coming soon, but for the best experience, users should view the site on a desktop or tablet. To access the site, users need to enable JavaScript. The website was created by Patrick Galbraith.

A recent BBC investigation revealed that AI chatbots, including those from Google, are being manipulated to spread misinformation. The author demonstrated this by tricking the AI into claiming he was a world champion hot-dog eater, highlighting how easily false information can be propagated. Experts warn that this manipulation can lead to serious consequences, such as poor health decisions or legal issues.

In response, Google has updated its policies to combat these manipulations, although they claim it’s just a clarification of existing efforts. Despite these updates, the issue persists, as recent examples show that the same tactics are still being used to influence AI responses.

The investigation emphasizes the need for users to be cautious with AI-generated information, as it often pulls from unreliable sources. There are indications that Google is experimenting with new methods to prevent manipulation, like removing biased sources from AI responses. However, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these changes, suggesting that manipulators may simply adapt their strategies to evade detection. Users are advised to critically evaluate AI responses, as they may not always be accurate or trustworthy.

No summary available.

No summary available.

On May 20, 2026, various organizations criticized Meta for limiting the reach of Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to independent NGOs, researchers, and civil society members in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This action is seen as part of a trend where tech companies support oppressive governments in the Gulf. Since April 30, 2026, several accounts have been made inaccessible at the request of the Saudi government, including those of human rights advocates.

Meta has reported over 100 restrictions on accounts since March 2026, claiming compliance with local laws, specifically cybercrime laws in these countries. Critics argue that these measures violate freedom of expression and access to information, as they often target dissenting voices and activists.

The organizations involved are calling on Meta to be transparent about their decision-making process regarding these restrictions, restore affected accounts, and provide details on what content was restricted and why. They emphasize that Meta has a responsibility to protect human rights and freedom of expression, especially in such repressive environments.

A recent investigation by Beyond Plastics found that Starbucks' claims about its cold beverage cups being "widely recyclable" are misleading. The study tracked 53 of Starbucks’ polypropylene cups using Bluetooth trackers for three months, and none made it to recycling facilities. Instead, the cups ended up in landfills, incinerators, or waste-transfer stations.

Key findings include:

• Out of 36 tracked cups, none reached a recycling facility.
• 16 cups went to landfills, 9 to incinerators, and 8 were last detected at waste-transfer stations.
• Some cups traveled long distances, with one going from New York City to an Ohio landfill.

Additionally, many Starbucks locations did not offer any recycling options, despite the company promoting the recyclability of its cups. The investigation highlights that while Starbucks claims over 60% of U.S. households can recycle their cups, the actual recycling rate for plastics is under 6%.

Beyond Plastics argues that Starbucks should stop making misleading claims and focus on more sustainable, reusable options.

The author of the blog discusses the pervasive issue of undefined behavior (UB) in C and C++ programming. They emphasize that no programmer can write completely correct code in these languages, given the many ways UB can occur.

Key points include:

1. Undefined Behavior is Common: Many common programming mistakes in C and C++ lead to UB, which can cause unpredictable outcomes in code execution.

2. Compiler Misconceptions: Some programmers believe that not using optimization settings will prevent UB from affecting their code. However, UB means the compiler can assume code is valid, which can lead to issues regardless of optimizations.

3. Examples of UB: The author provides several examples, such as:

   • Accessing misaligned pointers.
   • Casting types incorrectly (like from float to int).
   • Misusing functions like isxdigit() with inappropriate inputs.
   • Issues with null pointers and variable arguments in functions.

4. Security Implications: UB can lead to security vulnerabilities, especially when untrusted input is involved or when assumptions about memory locations are incorrect.

5. The Role of AI: The author suggests that using language models (LLMs) to identify and fix UB in code could be a solution, arguing that it's necessary for modern C and C++ development.

6. Call to Action: There is an urgent need for better methods to address UB in existing codebases without overwhelming human reviewers.

In summary, the blog stresses the challenges of working with C and C++, the frequent occurrence of UB, and the potential of AI tools to help mitigate these issues in modern programming practices.

The text discusses a new approach to software development called Shen-Backpressure, which aims to improve the reliability of AI-generated code by using structural backpressure instead of relying solely on smarter AI models. Here are the key points:

1. Access Control Issues: Software often has serious bugs related to access control, where users can access data they shouldn't. These issues arise because rules are placed in the wrong system parts and depend on human memory.

2. Behavioral vs. Structural Gates: Traditional methods (behavioral gates) rely on AI models remembering rules, which can lead to failures. Structural gates, like compilers and type checkers, provide concrete checks that enforce rules directly in the code, reducing reliance on human oversight.

3. Shen-Backpressure Tool: This tool uses a statically-typed programming language called Shen to define rules that can be enforced in the target programming language (like Go or TypeScript). It generates guard types that prevent incorrect code from compiling.

4. Proof Chains: The method allows for creating proof chains that ensure only authenticated users can access resources. This is achieved through specific data types that require certain conditions to be met before allowing access.

5. Simplifying Authorization: Instead of repeating authorization checks in multiple places within the code, Shen-Backpressure centralizes these checks, making it harder for developers to forget them.

6. Installation and Use: Developers can implement Shen-Backpressure in their projects by using a command-line interface to set up specifications and automation scripts.

7. Limitations: Writing specifications and maintaining the generated code is necessary but can be resource-intensive. While these methods greatly reduce the chances of errors, they do not eliminate the possibility entirely.

8. Conclusion: The author argues that having strong backpressure mechanisms is more critical for reliable AI-generated code than merely improving the AI models themselves. This approach provides clearer assurances about the integrity of the code, which is valuable for compliance and auditing.

Summary of Distributed Systems Testing Skills

The Distributed Systems Testing Skills consist of two key abilities for AI coding agents that create and execute tests for complex systems. They generate a structured Markdown test plan and a detailed findings report that helps reviewers decide if a product is ready for release without needing to re-run tests.

Key Components:

1. Two Skills:

   • Design Skill: Creates a test plan based on product claims, generating hypotheses and scenarios for testing.
   • Execute Skill: Runs the tests, collects evidence, and produces a findings report.

2. Testing Approach:

   • Claim-driven Testing: Focuses on verifying specific claims made by the product rather than just running generic tests.
   • Coverage Adequacy: Ends with an argument that the selected scenarios are sufficient for release, including a list of unverified claims.

3. Structured Output:

   • The testing process results in clearly organized documents that include:
     • An architectural summary
     • Claims and hypotheses
     • Existing test inventory
     • Coverage matrix
     • Scenarios with detailed testing criteria
     • A confidence statement for the reviewer.

4. Execution Process:

   • The execution skill identifies existing tests and utilizes them effectively.
   • It ensures that every test result is backed by evidence, categorizing failures to aid in troubleshooting.

5. Installation and Usage:

   • The skills can be easily installed on various AI coding agents using a simple command.
   • Users can ask agents to design or execute test plans using natural language.

6. Technique Catalog:

   • A reference guide detailing various testing approaches for different failure modes, ensuring comprehensive coverage of potential issues.

These skills represent a systematic approach to testing distributed systems, aiming to uncover more bugs than traditional methods by focusing on specific claims and scenarios.

Node.js 26.0.0 has been released with several key updates and features:

1. Temporal API: This new date/time API is now enabled by default, offering a more advanced alternative to the old Date object.

2. V8 Engine Update: The V8 JavaScript engine has been upgraded to version 14.6, which includes new features like Upsert and Iterator sequencing.

3. Undici Update: The HTTP client library, Undici, has been updated to version 8.0.2, improving its functionality.

4. Deprecations and Removals: Several legacy features have been deprecated or removed to modernize the platform, including:

   • Removal of http.Server.prototype.writeHeader().
   • Removal of several old stream modules.
   • Deprecation of various crypto and module functionalities.

5. Long-Term Support: Node.js 26 will transition to long-term support (LTS) in October 2026, but will be the "Current" release for the next six months.

Users are encouraged to explore these new features and assess their impact on applications. For installation, binaries for various platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) and source code are available for download.

Summary of LoRA and Weight Decay

LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) is a method for fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) that uses small adapter matrices instead of adjusting all the weights in the model. This approach reduces the number of parameters to tune, making it more memory-efficient.

Unlike full fine-tuning, which aims to minimize the model weights towards zero, LoRA regularizes the weights towards the original frozen model. This means that as more resources are used, LoRA does not necessarily improve its approximation of full fine-tuning, which can be seen as either a disadvantage or a beneficial feature, depending on the situation.

In full fine-tuning, the weights of the model are adjusted to improve performance on specific tasks by making the training data more likely to be predicted correctly. This involves optimizing all parameters and usually includes a weight decay term to prevent overfitting.

LoRA's unique optimization objective causes its solutions to remain closer to the original model weights, which can limit performance with large datasets. However, this behavior can be modified by adjusting the regularization terms to push the adapted weights towards zero, similar to full fine-tuning.

Overall, while LoRA provides a more efficient way to fine-tune models, it has different implications for performance based on the amount of data available. Adapting its framework can help achieve results closer to traditional fine-tuning when needed.

Stable Audio 3 is a set of models designed for quick audio generation and editing. These models can create audio of varying lengths, which is useful for producing short sounds without needing to generate full-length tracks. They also allow for targeted audio editing, like continuing short recordings. The technology uses a special autoencoder to efficiently transform audio into a simpler format for better generation quality and sound accuracy. After training, the models are improved further to speed up their performance and enhance sound quality. Stable Audio 3 can generate music and sounds in under 2 seconds on specific hardware. The small and medium models are available for public use, making them accessible for everyday computers.

The text discusses the growing fragmentation in the developer community, particularly concerning GitHub, as some users, including Mitchell Hashimoto, are considering moving to alternative platforms like Codeberg, Forgejo, and GitLab. Key points include:

1. Developer Fragmentation: Many developers are leaving GitHub, leading to increased use of various code hosting platforms.

2. Tracking Contributions: The author wants a way to track contributions across different platforms. They've created a tool using Go and Hugo to generate a unified Git contribution heatmap from multiple sources.

3. Need for a Trust System: There’s a rising concern about the quality of contributions due to AI-generated pull requests (PRs) flooding repositories. Hashimoto is developing a tool called Vouch to help maintainers manage contributor trust levels.

4. Username Consistency: As a trust-based system develops, it’s important for developers to secure a consistent username across platforms to prevent impersonation.

5. Self-Hosting Considerations: Self-hosting on platforms like Forgejo may help limit spam and low-quality contributions, as it usually requires admin approval for account creation.

6. Mirroring Repositories: The author mirrors their repositories on GitHub for community engagement while maintaining control over contributions.

In conclusion, the author encourages developers to create a unified Git activity map and establish their online identity across major platforms, while expressing uncertainty about the future of GitHub amidst these changes.

Larry Bushart, a retired law enforcement officer from Tennessee, spent 37 days in jail for posting a meme on Facebook. He was arrested after Sheriff Nick Weems claimed the meme, which quoted Donald Trump, could be interpreted as a threat against a school. Bushart did not create or alter the meme and argued that it was protected speech under the First Amendment. After filing a federal lawsuit, he has now received an $835,000 settlement for the wrongful arrest. Bushart expressed relief at the vindication of his free speech rights and highlighted the importance of civil discourse in democracy. His case is part of a larger trend of censorship related to online speech following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which represented him, aims to uphold free speech rights and hold officials accountable for violations.

Summary:

The paper titled "When Fast Fourier Transform Meets Transformer for Image Restoration" was accepted at ECCV 2024 and presents a new image restoration framework called SFHformer. This framework combines Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) with Transformer architecture to effectively address various image degradation issues, such as deraining, dehazing, and super-resolution.

Key points include:

• Unique Approach: Instead of just modifying network designs for specific tasks, SFHformer leverages frequency analysis to improve restoration processes.
• Hybrid Structure: It uses a dual domain structure that models both spatial and frequency domains, allowing for better local and global feature extraction.
• Innovative Features: The framework includes special positional coding and frequency dynamic convolution tailored for different frequency components.
• Extensive Testing: SFHformer was tested on 31 datasets across 10 restoration tasks, showing superior performance compared to existing methods while balancing efficiency and computational cost.

Recent updates include the release of pre-training weights, dataset visualizations, and code implementations, with ongoing optimization efforts. For further details and resources, links to the paper, code, and datasets are provided.

The model has 3 billion active parameters. Here are some important links related to the project:

• Code: GitHub Repository
• Homepage: Project Homepage
• Research Paper: Read the Paper
• Model: Hugging Face Model

Note: Lance is a research project and not a finished product, and it was trained using fewer than 128 GPUs.

Philip, a founder of Tiptap, introduces Hocuspocus, a tool developed to facilitate real-time collaboration in web editors. Hocuspocus is built on Yjs, a library that allows multiple users to edit documents simultaneously without conflicts. It serves as a WebSocket server that ensures real-time synchronization and scaling.

Recently, Hocuspocus v4 was released under the MIT license, featuring significant updates:

1. It now runs on various platforms, including Node, Bun, Deno, and Cloudflare Workers, using a new websocket adapter.
2. Core classes and hooks are updated for better type safety.
3. Document updates are processed in order to prevent errors under heavy loads.
4. Transaction origins are now clearer and easier to work with.
5. The communication protocol is backward compatible.

You can test Hocuspocus by installing it via npm. More information and documentation can be found on their website and GitHub. The team is particularly interested in feedback about using Hocuspocus on new platforms.

Japan is facing a severe allergy crisis primarily due to a reforestation project from the 1950s that involved planting only two tree species: the Japanese cedar and the Japanese cypress. This has led to significant pollen production each spring, causing hay fever in about 43% of the population. The issue is compounded by climate change, which has caused the pollen season to start earlier.

After World War II, Japan's deforestation led to a government initiative to quickly reforest areas with fast-growing trees to prevent soil erosion. However, these monoculture plantations now produce excessive pollen, particularly as the trees mature over 30 years. The economic impact of pollen-related illnesses is estimated at $1.6 billion per day during peak seasons.

In response, Japan has declared pollen allergies a national social problem and aims to reduce high-pollen tree areas by 20% over the next decade. Local projects are underway to restore biodiversity by replacing these plantations with diverse ecosystems. For example, Kobe is transforming its plantation forests into natural broadleaf forests, successfully attracting more wildlife.

Japan is also exploring other solutions, such as developing new allergy medications and using pollen forecasts to manage tree cutting. The government is implementing a forest tax to support sustainable forestry practices. However, challenges remain, including ensuring proper management of newly harvested areas to prevent environmental degradation.

Overall, Japan is working towards balancing the reduction of pollen production with the need for sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Europe is taking a significant step towards financial independence by creating a new payment system that will operate entirely within the continent. Starting in 2026, 130 million Europeans will be able to make transactions without relying on American companies like Visa and Mastercard.

Five major mobile payment providers from different countries—Bizum (Spain), Bancomat (Italy), MB WAY (Portugal), and Vipps MobilePay (Nordic countries)—are joining France's Wero in a historic alliance. This partnership aims to connect their payment systems, allowing users to send money across borders easily while keeping data within Europe.

A central platform will be established to ensure that these different systems can work together seamlessly. By 2026, person-to-person transfers will be available to users in 13 countries, with online and in-store payments following in 2027. This initiative is part of Europe's broader goal to secure its payment sovereignty and reduce reliance on outside entities.

A coalition of thirteen major publishers has won a $19.5 million judgment against the shadow library Anna's Archive. A federal judge in New York approved their request to shut down the site and disable its domains. The publishers, including Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, argued that Anna's Archive was sharing pirated books and providing data for AI companies.

Since the operators of Anna's Archive did not show up in court, the judge granted the publishers a default judgment, which includes a large damages award and an injunction targeting over twenty companies that help keep the site online. This injunction orders these companies to disable access to Anna's Archive’s domains and includes well-known firms like Cloudflare.

Despite the judgment, the operators remain anonymous, and there is skepticism about whether they will comply with the court's request to reveal their identities. The publishers are hopeful the injunction will effectively shut down the site, but Anna's Archive has a history of evading enforcement and may soon find new ways to operate. Currently, the site’s three domains are still active.

The author discusses the challenges of parsing integers from strings in C programming. They express frustration that the standard library functions for this task—atol(), strtol(), strtoul(), and sscanf()—are flawed and often lead to incorrect results or hidden errors.

Key points include:

1. Common Issues: All mentioned functions can produce incorrect or unpredictable outputs, especially when encountering invalid input, such as non-numeric characters or overly large numbers.

2. Error Handling: Many functions do not provide adequate mechanisms for error detection. For example, atol() can return random values without indication of an error, while strtoul() has confusing behavior with negative values.

3. Strtol() as a Partial Solution: The author finds that strtol() can be used correctly if errors are handled carefully, but strtoul() is problematic.

4. Sscanf() Limitations: The sscanf() function also fails to handle all edge cases properly, making it unreliable for parsing integers.

5. C++ Alternatives: The author notes that C++'s std::stoul() and other string parsing methods also exhibit similar issues with error reporting.

6. Conclusion: The author emphasizes the need for reliable integer parsing methods in C and suggests that developers may need to create custom solutions. They mention a potential improvement with std::from_chars(), which provides better error handling.

Overall, the blog post highlights significant shortcomings in string-to-integer parsing functions in C and C++, emphasizing the need for improved standards.

Infomaniak, founded in 1994, has committed to privacy, environmental responsibility, and local roots. On May 13, 2026, the founder, Boris Siegenthaler, transferred most voting rights to the Infomaniak Foundation, a Swiss public-interest foundation. This move secures the company's independence and mission, ensuring that it remains Swiss and aligned with its values forever.

Key Points:

• Foundation's Role: The Infomaniak Foundation will oversee the company's direction and uphold its values without operational control. Its mission includes supporting digital sovereignty, ethical technology, environmental initiatives, and energy transition.

• Shareholding Structure: The Foundation holds special shares that prevent any takeover without its approval. This guarantees that the company cannot be sold or altered against its mission.

• Commitments: Infomaniak has established nine guiding principles in its Shareholding Charter, focusing on independence, privacy, environmental responsibility, and local benefits. Each year, Infomaniak must report on its adherence to these principles.

• Management: The management team remains unchanged, ensuring continuity in operations while the Foundation safeguards the company’s ethos.

• Future Plans: Infomaniak aims to grow and attract investors aligned with its values while maintaining its commitments. Up to 5% of annual profits will support independent projects through the Foundation.

In essence, Infomaniak's new structure is designed to secure its mission and values for the long term, ensuring it remains a trusted and responsible cloud provider in Europe.

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The text is a list of articles and updates by Nate Silver, dated between March 1, 2008, and March 15, 2008. It includes topics such as pollster ratings, analysis of political situations in various states, and the impact of primary campaigns on candidates. The articles cover a range of subjects related to the political landscape and polling data during that time. Additionally, it features contributions from various authors alongside Nate Silver.

The author expresses concern about cloud providers, particularly Google, after reading about an incident involving a major customer's account being suspended. They feel that, given the importance of this customer, Google should provide an explanation for the account suspension.

Summary of the Virtual OS Museum

The Virtual OS Museum is an online repository showcasing a wide range of operating systems and applications that can be run using emulation software like QEMU, VirtualBox, or UTM. It simplifies the process of exploring historical operating systems by providing all necessary tools pre-installed and configured, allowing users to easily run various OSes without complex setups.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Collection: Over 570 distinct operating systems from 1948 to today, including well-known and obscure platforms. This includes early mainframes, Unix variants, home computers, personal computers, and mobile systems.
• User-Friendly Launcher: A custom launcher allows users to run OSes with a snapshot feature to restore broken installations quickly. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Download Options: Users can choose between a full version that works offline and a lite version that downloads images as needed.

Purpose: The museum aims to make historical software easily accessible, addressing the challenges of software preservation by providing a straightforward way to run various systems.

Project Background: This initiative is the result of over 20 years of collecting and curating operating systems, with ongoing efforts to add more OSes and improve emulators.

Support: The project is maintained by a single individual and welcomes support through platforms like Patreon, donations, and community engagement.

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WordPress 7.0 "Armstrong" Overview

Released on May 20, 2026, WordPress 7.0, named after jazz legend Louis Armstrong, introduces significant updates and features aimed at enhancing user experience.

Key Features:

1. AI Integration: WordPress 7.0 includes built-in AI capabilities, allowing users to manage AI features directly from a centralized dashboard. This includes tools for generating and editing content like images and text.

2. Modern Dashboard: The new dashboard has a sleek design with improved navigation, including a Command Palette for quick access to tools and enhanced font management.

3. Creative Tools: New blocks and design tools enable users to customize their sites more easily. Features like a gallery block, Breadcrumbs block, and responsive controls improve design flexibility.

4. Developer Enhancements: The update provides advanced APIs and tools for developers, facilitating faster and more efficient site building.

5. Community Contribution: More than 769 contributors from around the world participated in this release, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the WordPress community.

WordPress 7.0 aims to empower creators, business owners, and developers by providing innovative tools and a more personalized experience. Users can download it now to start building with enhanced capabilities.

Summary of Copy Fail Vulnerability (CVE-2026-31431)

Copy Fail is a serious Linux vulnerability that allows attackers to escape containers and gain root access on Kubernetes systems. It exploits a kernel memory flaw, enabling a 4-byte modification of files in the Linux page cache without injecting new code. This can be particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to alter the contents of shared files across containers.

Key Points:

1. Vulnerability Overview:

   • Copy Fail targets the Linux kernel, allowing attackers to overwrite files in the page cache.
   • It can escalate privileges, enabling access to root by modifying the su command typically used to switch users.

2. Attack Scenarios:

   • Cross-Container Poisoning: An attacker can backdoor other containers sharing the same underlying file. This can happen even if the attacker does not have direct access to those containers.
   • Container Escape: An attacker inside a compromised container can manipulate the kernel to gain shell access on the host.

3. Mechanism:

   • The vulnerability works by misleading the kernel into thinking it is dealing with temporary memory when it is actually modifying shared cached data.
   • The page cache is shared among containers, meaning changes in one container can affect others.

4. Detection and Mitigation:

   • Standard image scanning and integrity checks won’t detect this vulnerability since the on-disk files remain unchanged.
   • Effective mitigation strategies include patching the host kernel, using security profiles to block certain socket types, and considering virtualization for better isolation.

5. Community Resources:

   • Proof-of-concept exploits and further technical details are available in community repositories online.

Overall, organizations using Kubernetes should be aware of this vulnerability, take measures to secure their environments, and stay updated with the latest patches and security practices.

The city council of Bandera, Texas, voted 3-2 to end its contract with Flock, a surveillance company, after residents expressed strong opposition to the use of surveillance cameras in their town. The decision followed months of protests, including vandalism of the cameras.

Councilmember Jeff Flowers, who supported Flock, reacted by suggesting extreme measures to preserve privacy, including banning cell phones, internet, and cameras in the town. He plans to propose a “Bandera Declaration of Digital Independence” at the next council meeting, which would revert the town’s technology back to 1880, using only paper records and cash. Flowers criticized the residents' concerns about surveillance, comparing them to historical totalitarianism, and emphasized the need for community safety.

The author recently felt burnt out from their writing projects and decided to take a break with a simple programming task using PICO-8, a game development platform. They ended up creating a port of "Simulated Evolution," which involved adapting existing code from C and assembly to Lua, the programming language used by PICO-8.

Key Points:

1. Simulation Challenges:

   • The main challenge was implementing the simulation in Lua, which required adapting previous code that had bugs.
   • The author created a new way to handle the bugs in the simulation using tables to track births and deaths, which differed from earlier methods.

2. Screen Memory and Graphics:

   • The author used a spritesheet creatively to manage memory and display elements without needing a large array.
   • They implemented scrolling features to navigate a larger game world within the constraints of PICO-8’s screen size.

3. Limitations and Solutions:

   • PICO-8 has limitations with number ranges, but the author found ways to adapt their code to work within these constraints.
   • They added a "Garden of Eden" feature to enhance gameplay, allowing users to toggle it through a menu.

4. Development Tools:

   • The author used Python to generate map data for the game and utilized PICO-8’s import features for graphics.
   • They also created cartridge art for the game, incorporating custom visuals.

5. Missing Features:

   • The simulation doesn’t have custom random seed options, as it relies on PICO-8’s built-in random number generator.
   • The game runs efficiently, but the author noted that it could handle more complexity without lag.

The project concluded with the intention of starting a new project next. The game and its source code are available online for others to explore.

RISC-V, an open standard for computer architecture, does not include floating-point instructions in its base ISA (RV32I or RV64I). Instead, it offers extensions for floating-point arithmetic, primarily through the F extension for single precision and the D extension for double precision. These extensions utilize dedicated floating-point registers, allowing for efficient operations without competing with general-purpose registers.

The F extension adheres to the IEEE 754 standard, which is the main standard for floating-point arithmetic in CPUs, enabling operations like addition and multiplication. Additional extensions like Zfa provide more operations, while Zfinx allows floating-point operations using general-purpose registers to reduce hardware costs.

RISC-V also supports various formats beyond standard IEEE 754, including half precision (binary16) and BFloat16, which is designed for machine learning tasks. The vector extensions for RISC-V, such as RVV 1.0, offer extensive floating-point capabilities, including operations for both single and double precision.

Future developments in RISC-V floating-point support include standardized smaller formats for machine learning applications and further enhancements to existing extensions. RISC-V aims to balance rapid specification for immediate needs with long-term support for evolving technology.

Summary:

In the 1980s, a recording mistake led to a groundbreaking sound called "gated reverb," which became iconic in popular music. The technique was accidentally discovered by engineer Hugh Padgham while working on Peter Gabriel's album in 1979. He used a noise gate on a reverb return, which cut off the reverb's decay, creating a punchy drum sound. This sound was famously used by Phil Collins in his song "In the Air Tonight," and later by artists like Prince.

Gated reverb contrasted with the drier drum sounds of the 1970s, becoming a defining feature of '80s music. The technique evolved with the introduction of digital reverb units like the AMS RMX16, which offered new presets that enhanced this sound. Many songs from that era, including tracks by Kate Bush and Duran Duran, featured gated reverb.

Though the sound fell out of favor in the 1990s, it has recently made a comeback in modern pop music, proving its lasting influence. Today, artists can easily recreate this classic sound using digital tools.

No summary available.

Antoine Zambelli, AI Director at Texas Instruments, has created Forge, an open-source reliability tool for self-hosted large language models (LLMs). Here are the key points about Forge:

• Purpose: Forge enhances local LLMs by adding reliability features such as error recovery, context management, and more, without changing the underlying models.
• Performance Improvement: It significantly boosts the accuracy of an 8 billion parameter model from about 53% to nearly 99% in multi-step tasks.
• Evaluation: The tool comes with an evaluation harness and dashboard to verify results, showing that local models with Forge can outperform some leading cloud models.
• Unique Features: It introduces a new error type that helps handle cases where tools return no useful data, allowing the model to retry instead of passing incorrect information.
• Technical Findings: The performance of models varies greatly depending on the backend infrastructure used, highlighting the importance of serving setup.
• How to Use: Users can clone the repository to test Forge on different models and can use it transparently with existing OpenAI-compatible clients.

For more details, you can check the provided links to the demo, paper, and repository.

C++26 introduces two new callable wrappers: std::copyable_function and std::function_ref, addressing gaps in the existing options.

1. Issues with std::function: While std::function has been useful, it has two main problems: it can increase binary size and has a const-correctness issue that cannot be fixed without breaking compatibility.

2. std::copyable_function: This new wrapper is designed to be both copyable and const-correct, improving upon std::move_only_function, which is not copyable. It allows for better control over const qualifications and supports various qualifiers (const, noexcept, etc.).

3. std::function_ref: This is a lightweight, non-owning reference to callable objects, similar to std::string_view for strings. It avoids the overhead of memory allocation and is ideal for callback parameters.

4. Choosing the Right Wrapper:

   • Use std::function_ref for callback parameters (no ownership, zero overhead).
   • Use std::move_only_function when you don’t need to copy callables.
   • Use std::copyable_function when you need copyable callables, serving as a modern replacement for std::function.
   • Avoid std::function in new code as it is now considered legacy.

In summary, C++26 enhances type-erased callable wrappers, making it easier to choose the right option for different needs in programming.

Summary of Mercury Programming Language

Mercury is a logic and functional programming language that focuses on clear and expressive declarative programming. It features advanced tools for static analysis and error detection.

Key points include:

• Documentation: More details can be found on the website, in README files, and in the documentation section. Sample programs are available in the source code repository.

• Compiler and Backends: The Mercury compiler has two backends: a low-level one that works with GCC and Clang, and a high-level one that targets C, C#, and Java.

• Supported Operating Systems: Mercury runs on various systems including Linux (various architectures), macOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, and Windows.

• Additional Information: For installation help, check the Bootstrapping document. The release notes contain updates on the latest stable version, while the limitations file outlines areas where the implementation may fall short.

• Developer Contributions: If you're interested in contributing, the website has documents on coding styles and general contribution guidelines.

• Contact: For inquiries, visit the contact page on the website.

A union is a group of workers who collectively negotiate for better wages and conditions, which can increase their bargaining power compared to negotiating individually. While unionized workers typically earn higher wages—around 7-15% more than non-unionized workers—this can sometimes lead to inefficiencies, such as wage compression where highly skilled workers earn less than they might otherwise.

In the U.S., a workplace becomes unionized when over half the employees vote for it, but those who do not want union representation must still accept the union's terms. This can lead to situations where individuals vote for a union to benefit themselves at the expense of others. Research suggests that while unions raise wages for their members, they may have negative effects on overall employment and firm productivity.

Understanding the real impact of unions is complicated. Studies show varying results, with some finding that unionization does not significantly change wages or employment levels. For instance, research using regression-discontinuity methods has found no wage increases following close union elections.

A recent study from Canada found that unionized jobs pay significantly more, with part of that increase attributed to the ability of unions to extract rents from employers. However, unions also compress wages, limiting the earnings potential of more skilled workers.

Concerns have been raised about how unionization affects productivity and overall economic health. Evidence shows that unionization can lead to reduced employment, lower productivity, and negative impacts on innovation and quality in some cases. Additionally, public sector unions are questioned for their necessity, as they may not address inefficiencies in government labor markets.

Overall, while unions can enhance wages for their members, they may not be the most effective means of supporting the broader working class or improving economic efficiency. There are calls for limiting union bargaining powers to prevent negative outcomes, particularly in the public sector.

Summary: Lisp in Web-Based Applications by Paul Graham

Paul Graham discusses the advantages of using Lisp for web applications, emphasizing that developers have more flexibility in their language choices when creating server-based software compared to traditional desktop applications, which were often limited to languages like C.

Key points include:

1. Freedom of Language Choice: With control over servers, developers can choose any programming language, allowing for more innovation. Unlike the past, where language choices were limited, today's environment encourages experimentation.

2. Incremental Development: Lisp supports a development style where programmers start with a simple program and gradually add features, ensuring that there is always working code. This approach leads to faster and better software development.

3. Interactive Debugging: Lisp's interactive toplevel helps quickly identify and fix bugs. Developers can reproduce issues in real-time and deploy fixes immediately, enhancing user experience.

4. Macros for HTML Generation: Lisp macros allow for efficient generation of HTML, making it easier to manage complex web pages. The Viaweb editor heavily utilized macros, enabling dynamic and flexible page creation.

5. Embedded Languages: Graham introduced Rtml, an embedded language for creating web pages. While initially aimed at web consultants, it proved more useful for end-users who preferred easy-to-use templates. Rtml allowed for customization while maintaining simplicity.

6. Closure for User Interaction: To address web sessions' statelessness, Graham used lexical closures to simulate subroutine-like behavior, enabling smoother and more intuitive user interactions. This technique allowed for dynamic updates without cumbersome page reloads.

Overall, Graham highlights how Lisp's features facilitate rapid development and user-friendly web applications, providing a competitive edge in the software market.

Raúl Castro remains a significant figure in Cuba, even though Miguel Diaz-Canel is the current president. Castro is seen as a "symbol of security" for the country, especially regarding relations with the United States. In 2015, he helped improve US-Cuba relations, ending years of hostility, but this progress was undone by Donald Trump. The recent indictment of Castro is part of a larger US effort to pressure Cuba for political change, which includes a strict oil blockade. This move is also supported by many conservative Cuban Americans.

Google is introducing significant changes to its search function by integrating advanced AI technology called Gemini. This update aims to transform how users interact with the search bar, making it more intuitive and efficient. The new features will allow users to ask questions and receive more tailored answers, moving beyond traditional keyword searches. This marks a major shift in the way Google delivers search results, focusing on user experience and personalized information.

The text discusses the often-overlooked challenges of retirement, emphasizing that it's more about loss than the promised freedom and joy. People enter retirement unprepared for the emotional and identity shifts they will face, such as losing their work identity, status, mastery, social connections, structure, purpose, and even physical capability. Many retirees feel lost and guilty for not enjoying their newfound freedom because society expects them to be happy.

The author identifies three reasons why these losses are not acknowledged: survivor bias (only seeing successful retirees), the inability to grieve what one hasn't yet lost, and societal pressure to appear content. The losses include not just personal identity and social circles but also financial shifts, as retirees must transition from earning to spending.

Despite these challenges, the author provides hope that the second half of life can be fulfilling if individuals actively address their losses. To thrive in retirement, one should:

1. Acknowledge and grieve losses: Recognize and express feelings about what has been lost.
2. Build a new identity: Engage in new interests and activities to redefine oneself beyond work.
3. Create new social connections: Form new friendships and community ties intentionally.
4. Learn to spend wisely: Shift focus from accumulating wealth to using it for enriching life experiences.
5. Invent personal goals: Create your own "nexts" or future plans that bring excitement and purpose.

By addressing these points, retirees can navigate their losses and shape a rich and meaningful second half of life.

Summary of Transition from Gemini CLI to Antigravity CLI

On May 19, 2026, Dmitry Lyalin and Taylor Mullen announced the transition from Gemini CLI to Antigravity CLI. The goal is to enhance the terminal experience by integrating a unified platform that meets the evolving needs of users who require multiple agents for complex tasks.

Key points include:

• Unified Platform: Antigravity CLI will replace Gemini CLI, providing a better backend for multi-agent tasks.
• Key Features: While not all features will transfer directly, important capabilities like Agent Skills and Extensions (now called Antigravity plugins) will be available.
• Performance Improvements: Antigravity CLI is faster, supports asynchronous workflows, and shares architecture with the new Antigravity desktop application.
• Transition Timeline: Antigravity CLI is available now. Gemini CLI and its extensions will stop functioning on June 18, 2026, for most users, although enterprise customers will retain access.
• Support and Feedback: Users can access technical documentation and will receive video guides soon. Feedback is welcomed in the Antigravity community forum.

Overall, this transition aims to offer a more efficient and modern tool for developers.

Summary of Key Learnings from AI-Assisted Rust Development

In recent months, I have explored the capabilities of AI coding tools while building a modern multi-Paxos consensus engine in Rust, which enhances Azure's outdated Replicated State Library (RSL). This project took about three months, where I wrote 100K lines of Rust code in just four weeks and improved performance from 23,000 to 300,000 operations per second.

Key Motivations for Modernizing RSL:

1. Latency Issues: Current design lacks pipelining, causing delays.
2. Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Support: New tech can reduce commit times significantly.
3. Hardware Utilization: The old system does not leverage modern technologies like RDMA.

Productivity Gains:

I used various AI coding assistants, including Claude Code and Codex, which significantly boosted my productivity. By using AI to automate parts of coding and testing, I was able to implement features quickly.

Ensuring Code Correctness:

I developed over 1,300 tests and utilized AI-driven code contracts that help define conditions for critical functions. This approach improved testing and helped catch potential errors early.

Lightweight Development Process:

I shifted to a flexible Spec-Driven Development (SDD) approach, using AI to create and critique user stories and acceptance criteria, making the process more adaptable.

Performance Optimization:

AI played a crucial role in optimizing performance. Through iterative testing and tuning, I enhanced throughput substantially by identifying and fixing bottlenecks with AI's assistance.

Future AI Capabilities Wish List:

• End-to-End User Story Execution: I want AI to handle more of the coding process automatically.
• Automated Contract Workflows: I hope for AI to manage generating and testing contracts with minimal manual input.
• Autonomous Performance Optimization: I envision AI autonomously improving performance without needing constant guidance.

Project Status:

The project has successfully addressed two of RSL's limitations and currently consists of over 130K lines of code and extensive testing. The third limitation, RDMA support, is still in progress.

Summary of Remove-AI-Watermarks Tool

The Remove-AI-Watermarks tool can eliminate both visible and invisible watermarks from images created by various AI models, including Google Gemini, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and more. It also strips away associated metadata that identifies images as AI-generated.

Key Features:

• Visible Watermark Removal: Quickly removes visible logos from images.
• Invisible Watermark Removal: Uses advanced methods to eliminate hidden watermarks that are not easily detectable.
• Metadata Stripping: Cleans metadata that labels images as AI-generated on social media platforms.
• Batch Processing: Can handle multiple images at once.
• Face Protection: Safeguards human faces during processing to prevent distortion.
• Online Use: Available as a free web service at raiw.cc, requiring no installation.

Supported Models: The tool is compatible with various AI models, each having different watermarking methods. It effectively addresses both visible and invisible watermarks as well as metadata for most of them.

Installation Options:

• Users can install the tool via command line tools like pipx or uv.
• A GPU is recommended for faster processing of invisible watermarks.

Usage:

• The tool can be used to remove all watermarks from a single image or an entire directory.
• Specific commands are available for visible, invisible, or metadata-only processing.

Legal Considerations: The use of this tool must comply with relevant laws, as removing watermarks or metadata to misrepresent AI-generated content could be illegal in some jurisdictions.

Conclusion: The Remove-AI-Watermarks tool provides a comprehensive solution for cleaning AI-generated images, making it useful for privacy protection, art preservation, and research, while emphasizing the importance of legal and ethical use.

At Google I/O 2026, the company's presentation fell flat, failing to impress even its own fans. The event, typically positioned just before Apple's WWDC, lacked engaging content and enthusiasm, leaving attendees and viewers feeling disappointed. Presenters often paused for applause that never came, highlighting a disconnect between the company and its audience.

While some fans expressed optimism about future announcements, many criticized the heavy focus on AI without clear, relatable applications. CEO Sundar Pichai's boasts about AI token usage felt meaningless to users. In contrast, Apple's WWDC emphasizes user experience and practical features, making their presentations more relatable and engaging.

Google's attempts at an impressive show, including an outdoor stage, were overshadowed by an unpolished execution and a lack of clear communication about what users could expect. The event seemed more focused on technical jargon rather than user-friendly innovations, leaving many attendees confused and unimpressed. Overall, Google I/O struggled to leave a positive impact, especially with Apple poised to announce more user-centric features soon.

Summary of Apple's New Accessibility Features (May 19, 2026)

Apple has introduced several new accessibility features powered by Apple Intelligence to enhance the experience for users with disabilities. Key updates include:

1. VoiceOver and Magnifier Enhancements: These tools will now provide detailed descriptions of images and surroundings, helping users who are blind or have low vision navigate more effectively.

2. Voice Control Improvements: Users can now navigate their iPhone and iPad using natural language commands, making it easier for those with physical disabilities to use these devices.

3. Accessibility Reader Updates: This feature now supports complex texts like scientific articles and offers on-demand summaries and translation options.

4. Generated Subtitles: Automatic subtitles for uncaptioned videos will be available, helping users who are deaf or hard of hearing access more content.

5. Wheelchair Control with Apple Vision Pro: Users can control compatible power wheelchairs using eye-tracking technology, improving independence for those unable to use traditional controls.

6. Hikawa Grip & Stand: An adaptive accessory for iPhone designed to help users with grip or mobility challenges is now available in new colors.

7. Additional Features: New updates include larger text support for TV, name recognition for deaf users, and enhanced gaming controller options for those with disabilities.

These features reflect Apple's commitment to accessibility while ensuring user privacy. All updates will be available later this year.

Buses, though commonplace today, were a surprising invention given that wheeled vehicles had existed for thousands of years without them. The first true bus service was created by Blaise Pascal in 1662 in Paris, with fixed routes and fares, but it failed due to regulation issues that limited its use to certain social classes. The concept of buses was largely forgotten until Stanislas Baudry unintentionally created a successful bus service in Nantes, France, in 1826 while trying to attract customers to his bathhouse. His service quickly expanded to other cities, including Paris, and became profitable.

Baudry's innovation led to the rapid spread of bus services worldwide by the late 1820s, with cities like London and New York establishing their own bus networks soon after. The rise of buses contributed to a decline in private carriage ownership as public transport became more popular. The history of buses highlights that sometimes, ideas that seem obvious only emerge after significant innovation, and that successful inventions can be more about the business model than the technology itself.

Summary of Kernel Vulnerabilities and Security Measures

On May 19, 2026, several new vulnerabilities were discovered in the Linux kernel, including Copy Fail, Dirty Frag, and Fragnesia. These vulnerabilities allow unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges and are part of a trend where security issues are being identified and reported more quickly.

The Gentoo Linux teams are actively working to secure their kernels by quickly updating to the latest versions and applying necessary fixes. For instance, while the upstream kernels still have vulnerabilities, Gentoo has already implemented fixes for the Fragnesia issue.

Users are encouraged to automate kernel upgrades to stay secure. It's important to note that only specific Gentoo kernel packages (gentoo-kernel, gentoo-kernel-bin, and gentoo-sources) receive security support, while the vanilla kernel packages remain vulnerable. Users should also use the latest kernel versions since older versions may not receive timely security updates.

Awesome HTML-in-Canvas Summary

This resource is designed to help developers work with HTML-in-Canvas. You can find the HTML-in-Canvas at chrome.dev and access the source code.

Demos: There is a collection of exciting demos created by various developers, which are not maintained by Google. Some examples include:

• Duck Hunt TODO: A form that doubles as a shooting game by Wes Bos.
• Wobble Buttons: Interactive buttons with ripple effects by Wes Bos.
• Compiz Web: A demo showcasing shader-driven transitions by Max Leiter.
• HTML Cloth: A customizable form on a hanging cloth in a game by Thomas Richter-Trummer.

Framework Support: Several frameworks now support HTML-in-Canvas, including:

• Three.js: For creating 3D graphics using WebGL & WebGPU.
• PlayCanvas: An open-source engine for building 3D experiences.

Disclaimer: The demos are created by third-party developers, and Google does not endorse them or take responsibility for their content or functionality.

Summary:

In this article, A. Jesse Jiryu Davis discusses how TLA+ (Temporal Logic of Actions) can be leveraged in engineering, especially with the help of advanced language models (LLMs).

Key points include:

1. TLA+ Syntax: Engineers often find TLA+ syntax challenging, likening it to LaTeX rather than traditional code. However, LLMs can now generate TLA+ specifications easily.

2. Understanding Your System: Even with LLM assistance, it's crucial for engineers to understand their systems and define what "correctness" means. A basic grasp of temporal logic is necessary.

3. Model Checking: The article introduces a toy problem involving a can of beans, where engineers can use TLA+ to automatically verify system behaviors, avoiding the need for extensive manual reasoning.

4. TLA+ Basics: TLA+ combines basic logic with temporal operators, defining a state machine through variables and states, and specifying rules for transitions between states.

5. Example Specification: The author provides a full TLA+ specification for the bean problem, explaining the rules for valid state transitions and how to model-check using TLC (the TLA+ model checker).

6. Behavior Analysis: By using model-checking, engineers can determine properties like whether the number of beans can ever reach zero and what conditions must exist for the algorithm to terminate with a specific state.

7. Temporal Logic Operators: The article explains key temporal operators (eventually and always) and how they can be combined to express complex properties.

8. LLMs and TLA+: While LLMs have made TLA+ more accessible by simplifying its syntax, engineers still need to articulate properties and understand their systems thoroughly, as LLMs are not yet capable of fully automating this process.

Overall, the integration of LLMs has made TLA+ a more approachable tool for engineers, enhancing the process of system verification and reasoning.

On May 19, 2026, Mistral AI, a leading European AI company, announced its acquisition of Emmi AI, another prominent AI firm focused on industrial engineering. Founded in Linz, Emmi AI specializes in Physics AI models that enhance industrial simulations and workflows in sectors like energy, automotive, semiconductors, and aerospace. This acquisition aims to create a top-tier AI platform for industrial engineering and strengthen Mistral's role as a key partner for manufacturers.

Emmi AI's team of over 30 experts will join Mistral, which plans to expand its presence in Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany, and Lithuania, where Emmi is located. Linz will become an official office for Mistral, adding to its existing locations in cities like Paris and San Francisco.

Mistral's leaders emphasized that this move will enhance their capabilities to assist manufacturers in solving complex challenges and driving innovation. The collaboration is expected to lead to significant advancements in industrial engineering and contribute to the development of the next generation of aircraft, vehicles, and semiconductors.

The Bia hơi beer served at the Ba Đình Sports Center in Hanoi is notable for being fresher and better than the typical beer found throughout the city. Brewed daily without preservatives, it must be consumed within 24 hours, making the experience unique. Regulars, mostly retired government officials, appreciate the beer's affordability and refreshing qualities.

The Bia hơi cốc (glass) has remained unchanged for over 50 years despite the influx of mass-produced glassware. Handmade by artisans in the Xôi Trì village, these blue-green glasses symbolize Vietnam’s past and community drinking culture. They are cheap, simple, and serve as a reminder of earlier socialist values.

The story of Bia hơi and its cốc reflects Vietnam's evolution from a war-torn nation to a growing economy. While beer production and consumption have changed, the cốc has endured as a cultural artifact. However, future changes, such as rising alcohol taxes, could impact both the beer and the glasses. The cốc, designed for everyday use and sociability, carries a significance that transcends its physical form.

In summary, the Bia hơi cốc represents a unique blend of tradition, practicality, and community in Vietnam's drinking culture, enduring through economic changes and the passage of time.

No summary available.

Scientists have developed a new cooling technology using 3D-printed copper plates that could reduce energy use in data centers by over 90%. In 2025, data centers consumed 485 TWh of electricity, with about 30% going to cooling. Traditional cooling methods, which use air and metal heat sinks, are becoming less effective for modern AI hardware that generates a lot of heat.

The new technology uses a mathematical algorithm to design complex internal structures in copper plates, improving heat transfer and reducing energy needed to pump coolant. This method could lower cooling-related electricity consumption in data centers from around 30% to just 1.1%.

If successful, this approach could make data centers much more energy-efficient, potentially achieving a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) close to 1.01, meaning almost all energy used would go directly to computing rather than cooling. While these results are based on models and not yet tested in real-world settings, the technology could significantly cut down energy costs associated with cooling in data centers.

The article discusses the TTY (teletypewriter) subsystem in Linux and UNIX systems, highlighting its historical significance and current relevance to developers and advanced users. Here are the key points:

1. Historical Background: The concept of TTY originated with the stock ticker and evolved into teletypes, which were used for real-time communication before computers could interact with users directly.

2. TTY Subsystem Importance: TTY is crucial for user input and output in UNIX-like systems, enabling features like line editing, session management, and process control. Despite being functional, the TTY subsystem is complex and often not well understood.

3. Functionality: The TTY subsystem manages user inputs by providing line editing capabilities and session controls, allowing multiple programs to run and interact with the user efficiently.

4. Processes and Signals: The article explains how processes in Linux can be in various states (running, sleeping, etc.) and how signals like SIGINT and SIGHUP communicate with these processes, managing their behavior in relation to TTY devices.

5. Configuration: Users can configure TTY devices using commands like stty, which allows them to change settings such as baud rate and line discipline, affecting the behavior of terminal inputs and outputs.

6. Blocking I/O and Flow Control: The article describes how TTY handles data flow, ensuring that processes can communicate without overwhelming the system, using mechanisms like blocking I/O and flow control characters.

7. Practical Examples: Various examples illustrate how TTY devices and signals function in real scenarios, such as suspending and resuming processes, and how to manipulate terminal settings.

In summary, understanding the TTY subsystem is essential for anyone working with Linux and UNIX, as it underpins many interactions between users and the operating system. The article serves as a comprehensive guide to grasping the intricacies of TTY and its role in modern computing.

No summary available.

The printing workshop is very busy, producing 1,250 sheets of paper each day with the help of over 50 workers. It looks much like it did in the 16th century, as the building has stayed mostly unchanged. Notably, it also contains the two oldest wooden printing presses in the world.

No summary available.

Summary of Nostalgic Kits Central

Nostalgic Kits Central is a website dedicated to the history and information about electronic kits, particularly those produced after World War II. The first significant kit was offered by Heath in 1947, which quickly became a leader in the industry. Many people built these kits, fostering a love for electronics, either as a career or a hobby. The site aims to celebrate this era and provide resources for enthusiasts.

Heathkit, which operated from 1947 until the early 1990s, was the most prominent kit producer, offering a wide range of products. Although they are no longer in business, their legacy remains significant. Other companies, like Allied Radio, EICO, and Dynaco, also contributed to the kit market, each with their unique offerings. The site includes product descriptions, specifications, and links to further resources for various kit manufacturers.

The author encourages contributions of information to enhance the site's content and aims to keep the spirit of building electronic kits alive. The website serves as an informational resource rather than a marketplace for kits or parts.

The author welcomes newcomers to the Bear blogging platform and encourages them not to feel discouraged about sharing their everyday lives, even if they think "nobody cares." While popular content is often focused on catchy topics and trends, the author believes that writing should be for personal expression and enjoyment, rather than trying to gain popularity. They urge writers to share their interests and daily experiences, emphasizing that even if their posts don’t go viral, it doesn’t diminish their value. The message is clear: write for yourself and embrace the mundane aspects of life, as they can still resonate with others.

The text describes a "Co-Packaged Optics supply map" that serves as a field guide for 2026. It highlights the components involved in the supply chain, including InP lasers, hybrid bonds, silicon photonics (SiPh), and switch ASICs, along with connections to fiber optics. Users can interact with the map to explore companies, layers, and raw materials, learning about their production and dependencies. Additionally, the author offers weekly analyses on AI semiconductor supply chains and related topics through a Substack newsletter, which is available for free.

The author expresses their skepticism about "vibe coding" and the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in software development, detailing several reasons for their stance.

1. Personal Experience: The author feels that LLMs have not worked well for them. They have tried using AI tools for simple tasks but ultimately stopped due to issues like running out of credits and a reluctance to pay for continuous services.

2. Experience vs. AI: With years of coding experience, the author believes that while AI can assist with some tasks, it cannot handle the essential complexities of software design and architecture, which require deep understanding and experience.

3. Importance of Friction: The author values the learning and understanding that come from struggling with coding tasks, arguing that friction helps them think critically about their work. They believe that relying on LLMs could hinder this learning process.

4. Ownership and Responsibility: The author loves programming as a creative outlet and feels that using LLMs diminishes personal ownership and accountability for the code. They emphasize that LLMs cannot care about the work or its consequences.

5. Concerns About Quality: The author is wary that using AI might lead to poor-quality products due to a lack of thorough understanding and collaboration in the software development process.

6. Ethical Considerations: They also mention ethical concerns surrounding the use of LLMs, particularly in light of their potential negative societal impacts.

7. Personal Connection to Coding: Lastly, the author finds solace in programming and values the creative process, suggesting that using AI would take away from this personal satisfaction.

In conclusion, the author appreciates the challenges of software development, sees value in the learning process, and is cautious about the implications of relying on AI tools.

Nico and Arseniy, co-founders of Superlog, are developing an observability tool designed to simplify logging and error management without manual setup. Their tool uses a wizard to automatically set up logs and an agent to investigate errors, generating helpful pull requests (PRs) for engineers.

They created Superlog after struggling with existing tools like Sentry and Datadog, which required extensive setup and often led to alert fatigue due to excessive notifications. Superlog aims to address these issues by automatically instrumenting code with structured logs, traces, and metrics, ensuring relevant data is always available for debugging.

Key features include:

1. Automatic Setup: The tool automatically configures logging and alerting, reducing the need for manual intervention.
2. Continuous Updates: The system updates daily to add logs and alerts as new features are developed, ensuring that data remains relevant.
3. Reduced Alert Fatigue: Superlog combines similar errors into a single notification, providing clear summaries with severity and impact, which helps prevent overwhelm from redundant alerts.

Superlog is vendor-neutral, meaning users retain ownership of their telemetry data. The service is currently in early development, and user feedback is encouraged to improve the tool. You can try it out at their website, superlog.sh.

The article discusses the decline and eventual disappearance of FiveThirtyEight, a data journalism site founded by Nate Silver, under Disney's management. Here are the key points:

1. FiveThirtyEight's History: Founded in 2008, it gained popularity for its analytical approach to politics and sports. It was acquired by the New York Times in 2010 and later by ESPN/Disney in 2014.

2. Mismanagement by Disney: During its decade under Disney, FiveThirtyEight faced neglect and mismanagement. Despite producing a large volume of quality content, there was little effort to monetize or promote the site effectively.

3. Loss of Content: By 2025, Disney shut down the site, erasing a significant amount of work—estimated at around 200,000 hours. Many links and articles became inaccessible, highlighting the phenomenon of "link rot" on the internet.

4. Failed Business Strategies: Attempts to establish a sustainable business model, including implementing a paywall, were ignored by Disney. The company treated FiveThirtyEight as a low-priority asset, which contributed to its decline.

5. Impact of External Events: The COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions during the Trump administration further complicated operations, leading to layoffs and a lack of direction.

6. Aftermath and Future Plans: Following its shutdown, Silver attempted to negotiate for the rights to the remaining content but was rebuffed by Disney. He is now focused on his new venture, Silver Bulletin, which aims to recreate elements of FiveThirtyEight.

In summary, the article reflects on the lost potential of FiveThirtyEight under Disney, emphasizing how poor management decisions led to the erasure of valuable content and a once-prominent brand.

Wi-Wi STAMP is a new wireless time synchronization technology developed in Japan that offers highly accurate time and distance measurements. It operates on the 900 MHz band and is currently the size of a smartphone. The existing prototypes can synchronize time to within 30 nanoseconds, with future versions aiming for 5 nanoseconds.

At the NAB 2026 event, demonstrations showed its applications, such as synchronizing time for remote video cameras and tracking the position of objects with great accuracy. The system has a wireless range of 0.2 to 5 kilometers and provides better signal penetration indoors compared to traditional GPS.

This technology is becoming increasingly important in the broadcast industry, with many companies adopting it alongside other time synchronization protocols. The demo was presented by Nobu, one of the co-founders of Wi-Wi STAMP, and was recorded for viewers interested in advanced timing technology.

Polypad is a free online platform offering a variety of virtual tools for exploring mathematics. It features manipulatives like fraction bars, balance scales, and 3D polyhedra that help students learn in an interactive way. The platform is easy to use, requires no login, and works on all devices and browsers, making it accessible for any curriculum.

Currently, the 2026 Polypad Art and Music Contest is underway, encouraging creativity in math. Polypad is customizable to fit specific teaching needs and is supported by free resources like webinars and lesson plans.

Teachers and students have praised Polypad for enhancing learning experiences and providing exciting ways to engage with math, including through music and visualizations. Overall, Polypad is recognized as a valuable tool for teaching and learning mathematics.

A contractor for the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) accidentally exposed sensitive data in a public GitHub repository called "Private-CISA." This leak included credentials for privileged AWS GovCloud accounts and internal CISA systems, along with files detailing CISA's software development processes.

Security expert Guillaume Valadon flagged the issue after his company, GitGuardian, found the exposed information. He described the leak as one of the worst he has seen, highlighting poor security practices, like storing passwords in plain text. One file contained administrative credentials for AWS servers, while another had usernames and passwords for various internal systems.

Philippe Caturegli, another security expert, confirmed that the exposed credentials were still valid after the repository was taken offline, posing a significant risk for potential attacks. CISA is investigating the situation but claims there is no evidence that any sensitive data was compromised. The contractor responsible for the repository is Nightwing, a government contractor, which has not commented on the incident.

The leak is particularly concerning given that CISA has been operating with reduced budget and staff, raising questions about their security practices.

The text provides links to images that likely depict a specific setup, but it does not include any additional information or context about what the setup is for or its purpose. There are no key points or complex sentences to simplify, as the content primarily consists of image links.

No summary available.

Summary of kv4p HT

The kv4p HT is a DIY 1-watt ham radio that connects to your Android phone via USB-C, turning it into a handheld transceiver. It's designed for enthusiasts who enjoy building their own devices and requires a Technician class amateur radio license to operate.

Key Features:

• Affordable Build: Easy to assemble with only a few components needed.
• Android Compatibility: Utilizes your phone's display, GPS, and battery.
• Full APRS Functionality: Includes a modem for text messaging and position tracking.
• Open Source: All designs and software are freely available under GPL3 license.
• Power Efficient: Draws power from your phone, making it portable.
• User-Friendly Design: Features like live captions and haptic feedback enhance usability.

Building Process:

1. Get the Parts: Purchase a kit or individual components.
2. Solder the Board: Assemble the radio module and other components.
3. Print the Case: Use 3D printing for a custom housing.
4. Assemble the Device: Put everything together and attach it to your phone.
5. Flash Firmware: Install the necessary software on the device.
6. Install the App: Available on Google Play for Android 8 and newer.

For those interested, you can find the complete build instructions on YouTube.

The article discusses how American schools have started collecting a lot of data about students, using tools like biometric lunch lines and constant monitoring software. This shift has turned education into a focus on gathering data rather than effectively teaching students.

Here are the key points:

• GitHub Repository: You can find the code for the project at this link.
• Live Demos: There are live demonstrations available at this link.

These links lead to resources related to the "agent-qa" project.

Summary of OpenBSD 7.9 Release Notes

OpenBSD 7.9 introduces various new features and improvements across different platforms and systems. Here are the key highlights:

Platform-Specific Improvements:

• arm64: Support for new hardware like RK3588 SoCs and SDHC controllers.
• amd64: Enhanced power management, increased CPU limits, and various bug fixes.
• luna88k: Updated to use GCC4 and switched to Position Independent Executables (PIE) by default.
• riscv64: Added support for SpacemiT K1 SoC with new drivers and features.
• Other Architectures: Fixes and improvements for big-endian systems and performance enhancements for various CPU architectures.

Kernel Improvements:

• New features for managing CPU cores of different speeds.
• Improvements to memory management and scheduler efficiency.

Suspend/Hibernate Support:

• Introduced delayed hibernation to save battery life.

Virtualization Enhancements:

• Updated support for virtual machines, enabling better integration with Apple Virtualization and fixing various bugs.

Userland Features:

• New commands and enhancements in user applications, including improved audio support and command-line utilities.

Security Updates:

• Various security improvements to firewall rules and user authentication methods.

Networking Enhancements:

• Improved support for wireless networks, bug fixes in routing daemons, and new features in the network stack.

Installer and Upgrade Improvements:

• Enhanced installation process with better detection and handling of filesystem space and support for various boot options.

LibreSSL and OpenSSH Updates:

• New features and bug fixes in both libraries, improving security and functionality.

Package Updates:

• Numerous updates to popular software packages, including Asterisk, Chromium, LibreOffice, and many more.

Installation Instructions:

• Detailed instructions available in the INSTALL files for different architectures, guiding users on how to set up OpenBSD 7.9.

This release continues OpenBSD's commitment to security, stability, and user-friendly enhancements across its systems. For a full list of changes and improvements, users are encouraged to consult the detailed changelog.

The text discusses the foundations of a provably secure operating system (PSOS) developed by Richard J. Feiertag and Peter G. Neumann. Here are the key points:

1. Design Methodology: PSOS is built using a formal technique called the Hierarchical Development Methodology (HDM), which outlines how to structure and verify the design of the system.

2. Formal Verification: The design includes formal requirements and specifications for each module, ensuring that the system's implementation aligns with its intended security features.

3. Capabilities: PSOS introduces a capability mechanism, which is a way to manage access to different objects within the system. Each object can only be accessed with the correct capability, improving security.

4. Modularity: The system is designed to be modular, allowing different parts (modules) to be implemented in software, firmware, or hardware based on efficiency needs. This modularity aids in creating a flexible protection mechanism.

5. Hierarchy of Abstractions: PSOS organizes data and procedures in a hierarchical manner, with each level of the hierarchy representing different types of abstractions. This helps in managing system resources effectively.

6. Comparison to Kernel Systems: The paper contrasts PSOS with kernel-based operating systems, highlighting the simplicity and extensibility of PSOS, which can support various security constraints without complicating the system design.

7. Security and Reliability: The structured design and formal verification methods make PSOS potentially more secure and reliable than other contemporary operating systems.

8. Contributions: The authors acknowledge the collaborative efforts of various individuals in developing the PSOS design and methodologies.

In summary, PSOS offers a robust framework for constructing secure operating systems through formal verification, modular design, and a unique capability-based access control system.

The text discusses various reasons why popular open-source projects may become inactive or "die." Here are the key points:

1. Maintainer Issues:

   • Ghost Maintainer: The original maintainer has left without handing over the project, leading to unanswered issues.
   • Corporate Orphan: A project created by a company becomes neglected after a team change or layoffs.
   • Thesis Orphan: Projects made for academic purposes often become abandoned after the creator graduates.
   • Funding Cliff: Projects lose funding and cannot continue without financial support.
   • Hired Away: Maintainers get jobs that prevent them from working on their open-source projects.
   • Succession Deadlock: New maintainers can't take over due to access issues.

2. Active Maintainers, But Ineffective:

   • Burnout Plateau: Maintainers are still active but lack the energy to address major issues.
   • Benevolent Zombie: Automated tools keep the project alive, but no human oversight is present.
   • Custody Battle: Conflicts between co-maintainers freeze project development.
   • Tribal Knowledge Gone: Key knowledge is lost when knowledgeable maintainers leave.

3. Malicious Actions:

   • Captured Maintainer: A hostile individual takes control of a project, potentially introducing harmful changes.
   • Protestware: Maintainers sabotage their own projects for various reasons.

4. Release Issues:

   • Maintained-Not-Shipping: Development occurs, but releases are not made due to access issues.
   • Unreleasable Main: The main branch becomes too outdated to release without breaking changes.

5. External Factors:

   • Sanctions-Stranded: Maintainers are blocked from publishing due to legal or jurisdictional issues.
   • Takedown Casualty: Projects removed from registries due to disputes may not return.

6. Obsolescence:

   • Platform-Stranded: Projects depend on outdated platforms or languages.
   • Superseded: The project's purpose is no longer necessary due to advancements in technology.

7. Project Splits:

   • Fork Limbo: A disagreement leads to multiple forks, causing fragmentation.
   • License Changes: Projects may change licenses, leading to community forks that don't consolidate.

The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining open-source projects and highlights the various challenges they face, leading to many becoming inactive or abandoned.

In a recent talk at PyCon US 2026, the speaker summarized six months of advancements in large language models (LLMs), highlighting key developments since November 2025.

1. Model Competition: The title of the "best" LLM changed hands multiple times among major companies, with notable models including Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-5.1, and Gemini 3. By early 2026, Claude Opus 4.5 was recognized as the leading model.

2. Improved Coding Agents: Significant improvements were seen in coding agents from OpenAI and Anthropic, making them reliable for real coding tasks.

3. Emerging Projects: During the holiday season, many developers tested these models, leading to ambitious but sometimes impractical projects.

4. OpenClaw: A new personal AI assistant called OpenClaw gained popularity, likened to digital pets, as people purchased hardware to run them.

5. New Model Releases: February saw the launch of Gemini 3.1 Pro and other models, with Google releasing the capable Gemma 4 series. Chinese model GLM-5.1 also emerged as a powerful option.

6. Model Performance: While the most advanced models are still powerful, more accessible models available for personal use have begun to exceed expectations.

Overall, the last six months showcased rapid advancements in AI capabilities, particularly in coding and the accessibility of robust models.

Today, Grok is introducing "Skills," a feature that remembers your preferences and workflows, so you don't have to repeat them in every conversation.

Key Points:

• Built-in Skills: Every Grok account comes with pre-installed skills from xAI that work right away. You can customize these skills if you want.
• Document Generation: Grok can create various types of documents, including:
  • Word Documents: Generate invoices, contracts, resumes, etc.
  • Presentations: Build slide decks with visual aids and notes.
  • Spreadsheets: Create organized budgets and data analysis tools.
  • PDFs: Produce polished reports and research papers.
• Custom Skills: You can create your own skills easily by describing them or uploading files. Grok will remember these for future use.
• Availability: Skills are now live on Grok 4.3 and can be accessed on the web, iOS, and Android.

You can start using these features right away by trying out the built-in skills or creating your own.

The provided text includes an image and placeholders for content such as an introduction, title, and lead, but it does not contain any specific information or key points to summarize. Please provide the actual content you would like me to summarize, and I'll be happy to help!

The King's AI Summit will take place on May 19 and 20, 2026. This event will focus on the future of AI and its impact on the workforce.

No summary available.

Summary: Fixing the Most Dangerous Dam in the World

Mosul Dam, located in northern Iraq, is one of the tallest dams in the Middle East, built in the 1980s. Since its construction, it has faced a critical issue: the ground beneath it is dissolving due to the gypsum rock foundation, causing significant water seepage, estimated at 200 gallons per second. This ongoing problem has led experts to label it as "the most dangerous dam in the world," highlighting the catastrophic consequences a failure could have, potentially affecting millions downstream, including cities like Baghdad.

The dam was designed to generate hydropower and supply water for irrigation, but its foundation is fundamentally flawed, as gypsum dissolves easily in water, leading to internal erosion. Engineers tried various solutions to address the seepage, including a grout curtain that would allow for continuous grouting to fill voids created by the dissolving rock.

Over the years, especially after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the dam's safety became a priority due to concerns of sabotage and its potential failure. Although initial efforts to improve the dam's condition faced many challenges, including political instability and ISIS occupation, a significant rehabilitation project began in 2016. This project involved international cooperation and innovative engineering to strengthen the foundation through extensive grouting operations.

By 2019, the project had injected over 41,000 cubic meters of grout into the dam’s foundation, greatly improving its stability. While the dam is now in a safer condition, the issue of the dissolving gypsum remains, and ongoing maintenance is necessary. Future plans for a more permanent solution, like constructing a new dam downstream or building a cutoff wall, will require significant funding and resources. Until then, the Iraqi government continues to manage the dam with increased confidence but acknowledges that the risk is not entirely eliminated.

The text discusses an incident report from May 19, 2026, regarding the suspension of a GCP (Google Cloud Platform) account. For more details, you can visit the provided link.

Minnesota has become the first state to ban prediction market sites, which allow people to bet on future events like sports and elections. Governor Tim Walz signed the law, making it illegal to host or advertise these markets. This law targets companies like Kalshi and Polymarket, forcing them to leave the state or face felony charges. The ban starts in August, but the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against it, arguing that prediction markets should be regulated federally.

The law does allow for some exceptions, such as for weather-related contracts, responding to concerns from the agricultural sector that uses these markets for risk management. Other states, including Hawaii and North Carolina, are also considering similar bans.

Experts believe that despite the legal challenges and state regulations, prediction markets are continuing to grow in popularity. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) claims it has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets, leading to multiple lawsuits over state vs. federal regulation. Companies argue that the ban could harm users by reducing competition and pushing activity to less regulated areas.

The Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) is a state-managed fund established in 1976 that collects revenue from oil and mining. As of 2019, it was worth about $64 billion and provides an annual payment of around $1,600 to each resident, known as the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). This PFD is considered a form of basic income and is credited with promoting economic equality in Alaska. Interestingly, despite its conservative reputation, Alaska's program has offered unconditional cash support to residents, even as many other states have reduced aid.

To create effective prompts, use our guide to ensure your requests are realistic, clear, and imaginative. This will help you get better and more interesting responses.

No summary available.