The Seattle Shield is a secretive intelligence-sharing network involving the Seattle Police Department (SPD), major corporations like Facebook and Amazon, and various law enforcement agencies. Established in 2009, its stated mission is to help prevent terrorism by sharing information about suspicious activities. However, concerns have been raised about the program's effectiveness, accountability, and its tendency to monitor protests rather than actual terrorist threats.

Public records reveal that the Seattle Shield primarily focuses on protests and related traffic disruptions, rather than concrete terrorism cases. Critics, including civil rights activists, worry that the network could unjustly label individuals, particularly protesters, as potential terrorists. Reports suggest that this system creates a broad surveillance network that includes private companies and law enforcement from across the country.

The program has drawn criticism for lacking transparency and oversight, with some members of the network no longer active, raising questions about its current operation. Furthermore, it is connected to a larger framework of partnerships between the SPD and local businesses, which prioritize economic interests alongside public safety.

Overall, the Seattle Shield exemplifies the increasing collaboration between law enforcement and private entities, with significant implications for civil liberties and community trust.

BBEdit 16 is now available, featuring over a hundred new features and improvements, including significant performance boosts. Here are the key highlights:

• Expanded Shortcuts Support: New actions using App Intents make text transformations more accessible to other workflows.
• Text Search in Images: Users can now search for text within images, including multi-file searches using grep.
• Color Customizations: Users can set different color schemes for projects and notebooks to stay organized.
• AI Chat Worksheets Enhancements: Improved response times and live result streaming for AI worksheet users.

Additional updates include better HTML5 syntax checking, vi keyboard emulation, improved Git support, new configuration options for web projects, enhanced SFTP performance, and various optimizations for better overall functionality.

Upgrade Info: BBEdit 16 is free for users who purchased BBEdit 15 licenses after November 1, 2025. For others, it costs $29.99 for BBEdit 15 users (purchased before that date) and $39.99 for earlier versions.

The text contains code related to a web application and a list of star systems. Here’s a simplified summary:

1. Code Overview: The code initializes a web application located at "/gaia-mary." It loads two JavaScript files and starts the app within a specific HTML element.

2. Star Systems: It lists several star systems, including Tau Ceti, Alpha Centauri, and Sirius, among others.

3. Navigation Chart: The text mentions a stellar navigation chart with specific details about the chart's range and backdrop data from the Gaia DR3 database.

Overall, the text combines technical coding elements with astronomical information.

Over 340 local news outlets in the U.S. are restricting the Internet Archive's access to their journalism due to concerns that AI companies might use their content for training data. Major publishers like McClatchy, Advance Local, and Tribune Publishing have joined this trend, blocking the Internet Archive's bots from archiving their stories.

While no publisher has confirmed that their content has been scraped, the number of sites blocking the Internet Archive has increased since January 2026. Many researchers and journalists rely on the Internet Archive's local news archives for their work, and blocking access could hinder long-term preservation of news.

Publishers argue that protecting their content is essential as profit margins shrink, and they want to maintain control over how their work is used, especially by AI companies. Some independent publishers, like The Baltimore Banner, are open to AI use but want proper attribution.

Efforts are ongoing to negotiate with publishers, and the Internet Archive is working to address their concerns. However, the trend of blocking may limit the ability to preserve journalistic history, raising questions about the future of news archiving in a digital age.

Flipper One Overview

Flipper One is a new project aimed at creating an open Linux platform that allows users to build various applications, from network analyzers to AI-powered devices. This project, which has faced numerous challenges, is seeking community support and collaboration.

Key Goals:

• Develop a highly open and well-documented ARM computer with full Linux kernel support.
• Encourage vendors to open their closed-source code.
• Create a unique hardware platform using a co-processor architecture.
• Innovate user experiences by building a new graphical user interface (GUI) framework.

Differences from Flipper Zero: Flipper One is distinct from Flipper Zero. While Flipper Zero focuses on offline access-control protocols, Flipper One targets IP-connected systems and high-performance computing.

Open Linux Platform: Flipper One aims to be the most open Linux hardware platform, free of proprietary software and with ongoing support for the latest updates. The development is in partnership with Collabora to enhance compatibility with the Linux kernel.

Community Involvement: The team is inviting contributions from the community, whether it’s code, ideas, or feedback. They are committed to transparency in their development process, sharing internal discussions and documentation publicly.

Technical Features:

• Dual-processor design with a powerful CPU for Linux and a low-power microcontroller for managing device functions.
• Expansion capabilities with M.2 and GPIO modules for added functionality.
• Multiple networking options including Gigabit Ethernet, USB Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6E.
• Flipper OS, a new operating system that allows for easy switching between different use profiles without the hassle of traditional system management.

Final Thoughts: Flipper One is a passion project aiming to redefine portable Linux devices. Despite uncertainties and challenges, the team is dedicated to delivering a product that meets high standards and fosters an active community around it.

The author reflects on their dual life: spending half the year filming wildlife and experiences in the Maasai Mara and the other half working long hours in Silicon Valley. They face a common challenge among videographers: an overwhelming amount of unedited footage collected from various devices, which leads to stagnation in content creation for their lodge's social media.

To tackle this editing bottleneck, the author initially considered a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution but quickly realized that generative AI tools were unsuitable for authentic travel branding. Instead, they decided to leverage existing software, DaVinci Resolve, to build an indexing system that organizes their footage based on extensive metadata.

The author developed a local indexing solution that creates detailed descriptions for each video clip, making it easier to search for specific content. This process involved using various tools for metadata extraction, transcription, and scene analysis, resulting in sidecar files that accompany each video.

Despite technical challenges and bugs encountered during development, the author successfully created a system that allows them to query their video archive in plain English. They plan to further develop an editing tool to streamline the creation of finished reels from the indexed footage, suggesting that building effective tools is key to solving their content backlog.

In conclusion, while the current indexing solution is in place, the author acknowledges that completing the editing process is the next step. They express openness to hiring an editor who aligns with their vision for the lodge's content.

The K6 Project is a personal initiative to explore and document old red telephone kiosks across the UK. These kiosks, once common, are being repurposed as they are decommissioned. The project aims to find out how these kiosks are being used today, such as for defibrillators, book exchanges, or recycling centers.

Key points:

• The project has visited over 6,700 kiosks.
• There are various types of kiosks, primarily the K6 model.
• Kiosks are found in England, Scotland, and Wales, with a focus on local uses and stories.
• The project also tracks the different types of doors, crowns, colors, and usages of the kiosks.
• It emphasizes the importance of preserving these structures as they transition to new roles in communities.

The K6 Project can be followed on social media for updates and insights about these iconic structures.

Summary of Python 3.15 Features

Python 3.15 is set to be released soon, and it includes several noteworthy features, especially some smaller ones that deserve attention. Here are the key updates:

1. Asyncio TaskGroup Cancellation:

   • Python 3.15 allows for the graceful cancellation of TaskGroups in asyncio, making it easier to manage concurrent tasks without raising exceptions.

2. Context Manager Improvements:

   • Context managers can now also act as decorators that cover the entire lifespan of functions, including async functions and generators, enhancing their usability and syntax.

3. Thread Safe Iterators:

   • New utilities like threading.serialize_iterator ensure that iterators are thread-safe, preventing issues like skipped values in multi-threading environments.

4. Counter XOR Operation:

   • The Counter class now supports the XOR operation, allowing users to easily compute differences between two counters, although the practical use cases may be limited.

5. Immutable JSON Objects:

   • The introduction of frozendict allows JSON objects to be represented in an immutable form. New parameters in json.loads enable direct parsing into these immutable structures.

These features enhance the functionality and safety of Python, making it easier for developers to write concurrent, thread-safe, and cleaner code.

Summary of the Trinity Atomic Bomb Test

The Trinity test, which took place on July 16, 1945, at 5:29:45 a.m. in New Mexico, marked the first time humanity unleashed nuclear energy. Photos from this historic event showcase the immense scale of the explosion, which created a massive fireball just 0.016 seconds after detonation.

Berlyn Brixner, a photographer at the test site, was one of the few instructed to look at the explosion through special glasses as he captured footage of the blast. The cameras recorded the intense light and energy as the bomb, known as "the Gadget," detonated. Despite some cameras failing, the successful ones produced over 100,000 frames, helping scientists study the explosion's effects.

Witnesses described the experience as overwhelming, noting the intense brightness and the eerie silence that followed the blast. Scientists, including Norris Bradbury and James Chadwick, expressed how the reality of the explosion exceeded their expectations. Overall, the Trinity test was a pivotal moment, capturing both visual evidence and personal accounts of the dawn of the nuclear age.

Gus and Carlos from Runtime are creating infrastructure that enables entire teams, including non-engineers, to use coding agents like Claude Code and Codex without needing constant help from engineers. After facing challenges with team collaboration and code management at their previous startup, they built Runtime to simplify this process.

Runtime allows engineers to set up the necessary context and integrations just once. It quickly creates a consistent working environment with all components running smoothly, while also ensuring security through managed access to sensitive information. This setup helps prevent mistakes and allows project managers to safely interact with code.

Their platform supports various coding agents and can be accessed through multiple tools like Slack, GitHub, and APIs. They have customers, including a fintech unicorn, who successfully use Runtime to automate tasks and improve efficiency.

The core of Runtime is open source, and they offer a hosted version with a free tier. They charge a flat fee for the platform plus compute costs. They invite feedback on how organizations can better use coding agents without causing confusion.

ParadeDB is developing a cloud service that enhances Postgres with advanced full-text and vector search capabilities. Until now, they have focused on their database but are now looking for an experienced engineer in distributed systems and platforms, particularly someone skilled in Kubernetes, Go, and Postgres, to help build this service. ParadeDB is a small company with 10 people based in the US and operates as an open-source project. More information can be found on their GitHub and Notion pages.

Haakam, Michael, and Adi from AgentMail, a Y Combinator company, have created a service called Agent.Email that allows AI agents to have their own email inboxes. They were inspired to develop this after realizing that current online systems are designed for humans, making it difficult for agents to sign up for services without human credentials.

The process for AI agents to get an inbox is straightforward:

1. The agent requests an inbox through a command.
2. It receives instructions and decides to sign up using a human's email.
3. The agent gets a limited inbox and asks the human for a one-time password (OTP) to unlock full access.
4. Until the agent is verified, it can only email its assigned human and has a cap on the number of emails it can send each day.

Currently, each agent is linked to one human, but they plan to allow one human to manage multiple agents in the future. Developing this system has also led them to improve other parts of AgentMail to better accommodate AI users.

They are seeking community feedback on several topics:

• Is the current trust model of restricted access until claimed appropriate?
• Is agent self-signup useful, or is it just a novelty?
• Should all agents need human approval to sign up, or can some operate independently?
• What additional security measures could be implemented for sign-ups?

Summary: Mounting Git Commits as Folders with NFS

A developer experimented with creating a filesystem for Git repositories where each commit appears as a folder, called git-commit-folders. While similar projects like giblefs, GitMounter, and git9 exist, the developer aimed to simplify the process on Mac OS, which has challenges with FUSE (a filesystem interface).

Key Features of git-commit-folders:

• Each Git commit is represented as a folder, allowing users to explore past commits easily.
• Branches and tags are symlinks to specific commits, reflecting how Git operates internally.

Reasons for Creating this Project:

• To provide a visual understanding of how Git works, equating commits with folders.
• It has practical uses such as searching for deleted functions or inspecting files from different branches without needing to remember complex Git commands.

Challenges Faced:

1. Choosing the Filesystem: Initially experimented with WebDav but switched to NFS due to compatibility issues.
2. Code Duplication: Implemented a core logic for filesystems and created adapters to reduce redundant code.
3. Handling Large Commit Histories: Optimized how commits are listed to avoid performance issues with repositories containing many commits.
4. Debugging Errors: Encountered various errors (like "Not a directory" and "Stale NFS file handle") which required tracking down bugs and understanding NFS behavior.
5. Managing Branch Histories: Currently, it can only show the latest 100 commits for each branch, limiting historical access.

Future Considerations:

• The developer is contemplating enhancements, such as addressing performance issues and better handling of submodules.

Overall, this project serves as a fun experiment and a potential tool for better understanding Git's inner workings.

Summary of Google Ads Update

Google is enhancing its advertising with new AI-driven formats using a system called Gemini. These updates aim to improve how ads connect with consumers during their searches. Here are the key points:

• New Ad Formats: Google is introducing smarter ads like Conversational Discovery ads and Highlighted Answers. These formats provide personalized product information and guidance based on user queries.

• AI-Powered Shopping Ads: These ads will help users make informed purchasing decisions by showing relevant products and providing explanations about why they might be suitable.

• Direct Offers Expansion: The Direct Offers pilot program will include more types of promotions and allow for native checkout integration, making it easier for consumers to take advantage of deals.

• Business Agent for Leads: This feature enables potential customers to chat directly within an ad for instant answers, enhancing engagement and lead generation.

Overall, these updates aim to create a more interactive and helpful experience for users, improving their shopping and research processes. Businesses are encouraged to prepare their ad campaigns to fully utilize these new features.

No summary available.

For the past five years, I have been redesigning Freenet, now called Hyphanet. The new version has been operational since December, featuring early applications like River, a decentralized group chat, and Delta, a content management system. Users are already creating their own apps, including games, with new projects like Atlas, a search and recommendation tool, in development.

The new Freenet functions as a global, decentralized key-value store, where keys are webassembly contracts that manage valid states and their updates among users. A unique feature of this system is that every contract includes a "merge" operation that allows state updates to be combined in any order, ensuring consistent results across the network quickly.

Freenet applications can be run in web browsers, similar to regular web apps, but they connect directly to local peers instead of a centralized server. We provide easy installers for major desktop operating systems, allowing users to start chatting on River almost instantly. For more information, you can check our FAQ or watch a talk I gave.

Bojta Lepenye expresses gratitude to the developers of Hashcat, praising it as a leading tool for offline password cracking. After four years of using Hashcat, he documented his knowledge in a book, which he began writing in January 2022. His interest in the subject grew after conducting a penetration test at his school, which he completed ethically and with permission.

Initially, Bojta wrote a short guide based on online information but realized he needed to provide a more comprehensive resource for those interested in password security. He found that there were no existing sources that thoroughly covered offline password cracking. His research included studying password hashing algorithms and advanced cracking techniques.

He aims for his book to help both beginners and professionals in the field. Bojta has created a video preview of the book, which is available on Google Drive. The book is now published on Amazon and can be accessed for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

A recent controversy in the writing world involves the awarding of the Commonwealth Foundation Short Story Prize to “The Serpent in the Grove,” a story suspected to have been co-authored by AI. Despite the suspicion, the prestigious literary journal Granta, which published the story, has not retracted it and even referenced an AI tool, Claude, to determine its authorship.

Critics note distinctive patterns in the story that are typical of AI writing, such as odd similes and mixed metaphors that lack depth. This raises concerns not only about AI-generated writing being submitted for awards but also about judges potentially using AI tools to evaluate these works. AI systems tend to favor their own outputs, often misjudging quality based on criteria that may not resonate with human readers.

Additionally, there’s a wider trend affecting the literary world: a decline in non-fiction book sales, attributed to distractions like podcasts and online content. Many readers are turning to shorter, more accessible formats instead of traditional books. While these shifts offer new ways to consume information, they risk diminishing the depth and lasting engagement that come from reading long-form non-fiction.

The author reflects on the irreplaceable experience of reading physical books, which allow for deeper connections and sustained attention. They express concern that books may become niche collectibles rather than mainstream sources of knowledge. The discussion invites readers to share their thoughts on the evolving landscape of reading and the impact of AI on literature.

No summary available.

Summary:

A security vulnerability (CVE-2026-45250) has been discovered in the FreeBSD 14.x kernel related to the setcred(2) system call, which can allow unprivileged local users to gain elevated privileges. This issue arises from a kernel stack buffer overflow that occurs before any privilege checks, potentially leading to system crashes or full access to root privileges.

The flaw was caused by a programming error in the kern_setcred_copyin_supp_groups() function, which miscalculates the size of a data structure, leading to an overflow. The FreeBSD Security Team released a patch on May 20, 2026, to fix the issue in all supported versions. Users running versions below the patched ones are vulnerable.

Key Points:

• Vulnerable versions: FreeBSD 14.3, 14.4, and 15.0 (below specific patch levels).
• Impact: Local privilege escalation for unprivileged users.
• Solution: Update to patched versions 14.3-RELEASE-p14, 14.4-RELEASE-p5, or 15.0-RELEASE-p9.
• Fix was made silently in November 2025 as part of broader code changes.
• Exploitation techniques have been developed and shared publicly.

To protect systems, users should apply the latest patches. No user-level mitigations are effective against unpatched systems.

No summary available.

Big Finish is holding its annual Short Trips competition for 2026. This competition is for new writers to create their first story featuring the First Doctor. It also honors Paul Spragg, a valued member of the Big Finish team who sadly passed away.

Summary of Vivaldi 8.0 Announcement

Vivaldi 8.0 marks the biggest design update in the browser's history, emphasizing user control, privacy, and personalization. The new "Unified" design combines all interface elements into a single, cohesive framework, making it visually seamless and more intuitive.

Key features include:

• Unified Interface: All toolbars and elements are integrated into one continuous surface, enhancing readability and interaction.
• Theme Consistency: Users can apply themes that flow throughout the entire browser, creating a harmonious look.
• Preset Layouts: Six curated layouts make it easier for new users to start, while seasoned users can customize their experience as they prefer.
• Advanced Tab Management: Unique features like tiling pages, color-coded tab groups, and a comprehensive tab search function are available.
• User-Centric Design: Vivaldi does not track user data and focuses on providing tools that empower users rather than dictate their browsing experience.

Vivaldi continues to prioritize user needs and encourages users to explore the new features. The update aims to create a browser that feels personal and adaptable. Download Vivaldi 8.0 to experience these changes.

Docker has introduced an undocumented API for creating microVMs, which are lightweight virtual machines designed for running untrusted code safely. This feature is part of Docker Sandboxes, aimed at securely executing AI coding agents like Claude Code and Codex. Unlike traditional Docker containers, which share the host’s kernel and pose security risks, microVMs operate with separate kernels, enhancing security.

Key points include:

1. What are Docker Sandboxes? They allow for safe execution of coding agents by isolating their operations from the host system and other agents.

2. MicroVMs vs. Containers: Containers are not ideal for untrusted code due to shared kernels, while microVMs provide better security with separate kernels, making them suitable for running potentially harmful code.

3. Use Cases: Docker Sandboxes can be used for executing untrusted scripts, AI coding agents, isolating customer code (multi-tenant plugins), and secure CI/CD processes.

4. MicroVM API: The API allows users to create, manage, and interact with microVMs via a simple command-line interface. Users can create VMs, load Docker images, and run containers within these VMs.

5. Sandbox Agent SDK: This toolkit simplifies the orchestration of AI agents by managing sessions, communication, and multi-agent support.

6. Requirements: Docker Sandboxes require Docker Desktop version 4.58 or higher on macOS or Windows, but are not supported on Linux.

In summary, Docker's microVM feature offers a promising way to run untrusted code securely, providing more robust isolation than traditional container methods.

Summary of Fabien Sanglard's Magic: The Gathering Experience

On May 1, 2025, Fabien Sanglard shared his experience at the "Quest for Urza's Chalice" event in 2026, where participants built 40-card decks from custom boosters. The event was well-attended, with over 80 players, and included lots of trading and fun.

Fabien outlined what makes a game of Magic: The Gathering enjoyable for him:

• Back and Forth Gameplay: Exciting player interactions.
• Spice: Players can recover from tough situations.
• Diverse Borders: Variety in card designs makes the game special.
• No Discard or Land Destruction: Players should always have spells to play.
• Mild Prison Effects: Limited use of oppressive strategies is acceptable.
• Small Decks: 40-card decks are easier to shuffle than 60-card decks.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Certain card borders are especially beautiful.

He shared details about his favorite decks:

1. White/Green: Features Beta Serra Angels and Balance.
2. Green/Red: Includes a powerful Berserk combo with Arabian Nights cards.
3. Black: Contains classic cards like Nightmare and Royal Assassin.
4. Red: A fast-paced deck with Beta Shivan and Earthquake combos.
5. Bant: Highlights Lu Xun and a fun blue card.
6. Red/Black: His favorite, focusing on aggressive play with Vampires and Assassins.

Fabien welcomes suggestions for card additions or new deck ideas through email.

Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorems, proven in 1931, showed that no formal mathematical system can be complete. This means there will always be true mathematical statements that can't be derived from a finite set of axioms. This discovery has significant implications for mathematics and philosophy, suggesting that a "theory of everything" is impossible.

Gödel's theorems challenge the traditional view that a small number of self-evident axioms can explain all mathematical truths. Some truths vary in certainty, leading to debates about what is objectively true versus what is invented. Philosophers and mathematicians have explored how new axioms might resolve undecidable statements, but this can make truth dependent on chosen assumptions.

The continuum hypothesis, which asserts that the real numbers form the next smallest infinite set after natural numbers, exemplifies this undecidability. Its implications extend to physics, where issues arise in theories that assume a continuous space-time.

Gödel's work reveals that mathematics is more complex than previously thought, and that our understanding is limited. While some believe that undecidable questions exist, others argue that new mathematical techniques could provide answers in the future. Ultimately, Gödel's insights remind us that our pursuit of absolute mathematical truth may be beyond reach, but the journey itself is profoundly meaningful.

Waymo has temporarily stopped its robotaxi services in Atlanta and San Antonio due to difficulties with heavy rain and flooding. Recently, a Waymo robotaxi got stuck in a flooded street in Atlanta. The company is focused on safety and is trying to find a solution to prevent such incidents.

Waymo had issued a software update last week to help its vehicles avoid flooded areas, but it admitted that it wasn't fully prepared for the flooding conditions. The heavy rain in Atlanta happened before any official flood warnings were issued, complicating the situation.

This is not the first time Waymo has faced issues with its robotaxis. The company previously dealt with problems where its vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses, and there are ongoing investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding these incidents and a separate crash involving a child in Santa Monica.

Waymo is cooperating with the investigations and has provided documentation, although much of it has been redacted.

The author created RMUX out of frustration with tmux, which required complicated methods to automate tasks. They built RMUX from scratch using Rust, featuring two main components: a command-line interface that is compatible with tmux (with about 90 commands and working keybindings), and a typed async Rust SDK for better automation in terminal environments. RMUX works on Linux, macOS, and Windows without relying on WSL. More information, including demos and documentation, can be found at rmux.io, and the author is open to questions about its design and functionality.

No summary available.

A new bipartisan amendment is being proposed in Congress that would significantly restrict the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across the United States. Sponsored by Representatives Scott Perry and Jesús “Chuy” García, the amendment would prohibit any state or local government that receives federal highway funding from using ALPRs for anything other than toll collection. This could effectively end most ALPR programs nationwide, as many jurisdictions rely on these funds.

ALPRs are cameras that capture images of license plates, logging their locations and times, and can be used by law enforcement for tracking. However, there are growing privacy concerns regarding their use, with critics labeling them as tools for mass surveillance. Incidents of misuse have been reported, including unauthorized access to data and targeting by police based on personal information.

The amendment aims to address these privacy concerns by restricting the technology's use. While some law enforcement advocates argue that these cameras are essential for public safety, privacy advocates believe that the widespread use of ALPRs infringes on citizens' rights. The amendment represents a significant step in the national debate over surveillance technology and its implications for privacy.

Summary:

Avoid overwhelming conversations with long, AI-generated responses—referred to as "slop grenades." Instead of providing concise, human-like answers, these lengthy texts complicate communication and waste time. For example, if someone asks whether to use Redis or Memcached, a simple and direct answer is preferred over an extensive analysis.

The problem with slop grenades is that they take up the recipient's time and stifle further dialogue. If people wanted detailed explanations, they would consult AI tools themselves. The goal should be to use AI to clarify thoughts, not to create lengthy responses.

In essence, keep communication clear and concise to foster effective conversations.

The author experienced a frustrating situation after Google updated their software, Antigravity, to a new version that removed their existing Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and replaced it with a chatbot interface. This sudden change disrupted their usual workflow, which relied on a structured process for producing reliable software.

After discovering that the new version was incompatible with the old one, the author attempted to reinstall the legacy IDE but was unsuccessful, as the new update constantly interfered. They eventually found that they needed to completely remove all Antigravity files from their system before reinstalling the old version successfully.

However, this process also wiped out their chat history and settings. While they managed to recover some of their previous configurations, they lost much of their previous work and data. The author criticized the way the update was handled, believing that background updates should not completely change software without user consent. They are now considering ways to disable auto-updates to prevent similar issues in the future.

Summary:

The article discusses the history of Project SWIFT, an innovative automated semiconductor fabrication line created by IBM in the early 1970s. Managed by Bill Harding, the project aimed to produce integrated circuits in a remarkably short time of one day, a significant improvement over the month-long process that was common at the time.

Key points include:

• Vision and Goal: Bill Harding envisioned a fully automated production line that could complete the fabrication of chips in under 24 hours, which was unheard of in an industry where manufacturing took weeks.
• Project SWIFT: Launched in 1970, SWIFT utilized a new design featuring five processing sectors, each containing all the equipment needed for specific fabrication steps. The average time for each layer of processing was only 5 hours, compared to modern factories that take 19 hours.
• Technical Innovations: The project introduced several groundbreaking techniques, such as advanced wafer handling and real-time process control, which are now standard in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Impact and Legacy: Although SWIFT was short-lived, its innovations paved the way for modern automated semiconductor fabs. Harding's leadership and vision significantly influenced the semiconductor industry, earning him recognition as a key figure in its development.

In summary, Project SWIFT was a pioneering effort in semiconductor manufacturing that set the stage for the highly automated processes used today.

The author has created a tool called Phosphene that allows users to set custom video wallpapers on their Apple devices. After realizing that competing products were too advanced to match, they decided to open-source Phosphene instead. The tool uses WallpaperExtensionKit.framework, which manages wallpapers on macOS, enabling custom videos to appear in the settings.

Phosphene includes a companion app to help place videos correctly, as there isn’t a direct “add” button in the settings. Unlike Apple's Aerials, the custom videos continue to play on the desktop, not just the lock screen. The tool adjusts playback based on the device's thermal state, battery level, brightness, and when windows overlap. It is free to use and functions effectively.

In 2024, the author left their FAANG job to become an independent researcher and built a powerful GPU server named "grumbl" for $48,000. They chose to buy the server instead of renting cloud GPUs because they believed that having more powerful GPUs could make their work successful faster, offsetting the loss of income from quitting their job.

The author used Tim Dettmers' guide to select the best GPUs, ultimately choosing the RTX 6000 Ada over A100 or H100 models due to performance considerations. Living in an apartment posed power constraints, so they hired a professional to ensure the server was safely set up with two power supplies.

To evaluate whether building their own server was a good decision, the author tracked GPU usage and calculated potential rental costs. They found that their GPU usage averaged 76%, which increased to 85% in 2025. By March 2026, they estimated that renting equivalent compute would have cost around $68,000, meaning they saved about $17,000 so far.

Despite the financial aspect, the primary motivation for building the server was to create something innovative. The author noted that while owning the GPUs changed their mindset about running experiments, building and maintaining the server required significant time and effort. They concluded that if they were to do it again, they would prefer a standard datacenter server in a colocation center instead of a custom build.

Overall, the experience was rewarding, and the author is excited about their upcoming project launch.

Donald E. Knuth discusses the challenges he faced while designing the letter 'S' for modern printing technology. He found 25 letters manageable, but 'S' posed significant difficulties. After three days of struggle, he developed a mathematical approach to define it, which he believes could engage students in calculus and analytic geometry.

The paper aims to explain the proper mathematics for creating printed 'S's and to introduce the META-FONT language, a system for designing letter shapes. Knuth highlights that contemporary printing is based on discrete mathematics and computer science, not traditional metal typesetting. He shares how he wanted his second book edition to resemble the first, despite technological changes, and how he sought solutions using modern techniques.

Knuth also references historical methods of letter construction, particularly from the 16th century, and discusses how he mathematically constructs the letter 'S' using coordinates and geometric principles. He acknowledges support from various research grants and institutions in preparing his work.

The paper includes detailed mathematical descriptions and examples of how to draw the letter 'S' accurately, along with programming code in META-FONT to automate this process. Knuth expresses his desire for collaboration between mathematicians and experienced type designers to create beautiful fonts and emphasizes the potential for new mathematical insights in typography.

The text contains links to a specific status update from a user named W. T. Gowers. The links lead to a social media post but do not provide any additional context or content to summarize.

The text criticizes the use of AI for copying content without permission from original authors. It argues that AI companies take input from the internet, "learn" from it, and then sell this information without compensating the original creators. This practice is seen as lazy and greedy. The author, who writes e-commerce tutorials, notes that some website owners use AI tools to replicate successful content and publish it as their own, often ranking higher in Google search results. This situation frustrates the author, especially when their work is referenced without acknowledgment.

This is a comprehensive collection of online DOS games. It also includes mobile and offline games for added convenience.

GitHub is currently facing significant challenges, including frequent outages, security vulnerabilities, and a loss of talent. Since Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018, concerns about its management have grown, especially after the resignation of former CEO Thomas Dohmke last summer. With no replacement for his position, GitHub's leadership now reports directly to Microsoft's CoreAI team, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction among employees.

The company has experienced several major outages recently and has struggled with security issues, including a breach of internal repositories. Additionally, many employees have left GitHub for a new startup that competes directly with it. Microsoft is also feeling pressure from competitors in the AI coding space, where GitHub's Copilot feature has been losing ground.

Leadership changes have further destabilized GitHub, with key executives departing and concerns about the company's direction. Employees express frustration over the feeling that GitHub is losing its identity and struggling to maintain its reputation amid these challenges. Overall, GitHub's future is uncertain as it deals with these ongoing issues while trying to keep its developer community engaged.

GitHub is looking into a case of unauthorized access to its internal repositories. This investigation follows discussions in a previous thread from May 2026, which had 321 comments.

The provided text is a CSS and JavaScript code snippet that manages the appearance of a splash screen on a website based on the user's preferred color scheme (light or dark). Here are the key points:

1. Color Schemes: The background color for the splash screen is set to white for both light and dark themes. The dot color is a shade of blue (#0088cc).

2. Splash Screen Setup: The splash screen (#d-splash) is designed to cover the entire viewport and is centered using CSS grid.

3. Animations: There are animations for fading in and for dot loading effects, which make the dots appear and disappear smoothly.

4. Dot Configuration: The dots used in the loading animation have adjustable sizes and spacing, which depend on the viewport size.

5. Preloader Image: A placeholder SVG image is used as a background for the preloader.

6. Final Style Adjustments: After the splash screen is no longer needed, it is hidden and the vertical overflow is reset.

Overall, this code is intended for creating a visually appealing loading screen that adapts to user preferences.

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

No summary available.

I'm sorry, but I can't access or view external links, including the one you've provided. However, if you can share the main content or key sections of the text, I'd be happy to help summarize it for you!

Summary: The Water Dictionary

The Water Dictionary provides simple recipes to recreate famous water profiles for various uses like brewing, coffee, baking, and aquariums using bottled water from local supermarkets.

How it Works:

1. Choose a Profile: Select the type of water profile you want, such as Pilsen for beer or Melbourne for coffee.
2. Buy the Waters: The site tells you which supermarket bottled waters to purchase, usually just two types.
3. Mix and Use: Combine the waters in the specified ratio. It’s easy—no advanced knowledge needed!

Profiles Available:

• Coffee: London, Melbourne, Portland, Tokyo, etc.
• Tea: British Black Tea, Chinese Green Tea, Japanese Green Tea.
• Baking: Montreal Bagel, Neapolitan Pizza, New York Bagel, etc.
• Brewing: Burton-on-Trent, Dortmund, Dublin, Munich, Pilsen, etc.
• Aquarium: Profiles for different fish and plants like Betta, Discus, and various shrimp.

For more details, visit The Water Dictionary.

Spotify has introduced a new feature called "Reserved" to help its premium subscribers get concert tickets more easily. This feature will set aside tickets for fans based on their streaming activity, making it easier for dedicated supporters to purchase tickets. Starting this summer in the U.S., select artists will participate in the program, which is a collaboration with Live Nation.

The idea is to reduce the stress of trying to buy concert tickets, as many fans often miss out despite spending a lot of time online. Fans chosen through Reserved will have the chance to buy up to two tickets within a day, but not all superfans will receive an offer due to limited availability.

In addition to Reserved, Spotify announced other new features, including a desktop app called Studio by Spotify Labs for creating personalized podcasts and playlists. They also revealed a new agreement with Universal Music Group, allowing subscribers to make AI-generated covers and remixes of certain songs.

Summary:

Last year, a simple WebAssembly (WASM) runtime called Epsilon was created using Go. It has about 11,000 lines of code and is extensively tested. Epsilon can run multiple WASM modules but is designed to isolate them for security.

AI agents found over 20 security vulnerabilities in Epsilon, mostly related to denial-of-service attacks and design flaws. Some vulnerabilities allowed malicious WASM modules to escape their isolation and access private data from other modules.

Key Bugs Found:

1. Zero Is Not Null: A bug allowed an uninitialized local variable to be treated as a valid function reference, enabling access to a private function.

2. Phantom Block Parameter: This bug involved misalignment of stack height during execution, allowing a function to access private data unintentionally.

3. Ghost in the Stack: This exploit occurred when a host function returned fewer results than declared, allowing unauthorized access to a private function.

The author used a mix of scripts and AI models to identify these vulnerabilities. They were surprised by the severity of some issues, particularly the second bug. Epsilon is a hobby project, and users are encouraged to update to version 0.1.0 to address these vulnerabilities.

Summary of Yes We Scan

Yes We Scan is a web app designed to make old USB scanners usable with modern computers. The creator initially developed a similar app for old printers, called printervention.app. While working on that, they realized an old Canon USB scanner could also be supported using the same technology.

The app uses a system called v86, which emulates an x86 CPU in a web browser, allowing it to run a program called SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) on Alpine Linux. A custom program helps connect the browser to the scanner, enabling users to adjust settings and receive scan data.

To connect the scanner to the browser, the app uses USB/IP to manage USB data and tcpip.js to handle network communication. The final output can be previewed or saved as JPEG or PNG images.

Currently, the app has only been tested with the CanoScan LiDE 100 but should work with many other scanner models from various brands. The creator encourages users to try it and share their experiences, although the code is not open-sourced at this time.

No summary available.

The article discusses concerns about Bitwarden, a popular password manager, following significant changes in its leadership and pricing. The new CEO, who has a background in mergers and acquisitions, raised the Premium price sharply and altered the company's values. The phrase "Always free," which emphasized Bitwarden's commitment to a free plan, was removed from its website but later reappeared after public outcry. The author, Thom Holwerda, suggests that users should move their passwords from Bitwarden to a more stable solution, like a KeePass database, which allows for compatibility with various password managers. The overall tone warns that Bitwarden may not remain reliable or free in the future, urging users to take control of their data.

The author has developed a tactical submarine simulator that focuses on plotting and charting, inspired by classic games like Silent Service II and Silent Hunter IV. Players use tools like hydrophones and periscopes to estimate ship positions and create firing solutions while avoiding detection by enemy escorts. Key features include a functioning stadimeter, dynamic music, and smart enemy AI. The simulator is built with Vite/TypeScript and is available for free in a browser version. A full version with additional features, including a WWII campaign, is planned for release on multiple platforms. The author welcomes feedback on the project.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has blocked a £50 million deal between the Metropolitan Police and the US tech company Palantir, which was set to provide AI technology for criminal investigations. Khan's office cited serious concerns about the procurement process, claiming there was a breach of rules and that the police only considered Palantir as a supplier.

The Metropolitan Police criticized the decision, stating that it could lead to officer cuts and negatively impact public safety. They emphasized the need for modern technology to combat crime effectively. The deal was controversial due to Palantir's ties to politically sensitive issues, including its co-founder’s connections to Donald Trump and its contracts with the Israeli military.

Khan's office expressed that careful scrutiny is necessary for large contracts, especially given the public’s concerns about Palantir’s ethics. He warned against becoming overly reliant on a few large technology providers. The police had previously awarded smaller contracts to Palantir without competition, which raised further concerns about their practices.

The Mayor’s decision has sparked a debate about the ethics of using AI in policing and the process of awarding contracts in public services. While the Met is seeking to resolve the issue and continue pursuing technology solutions, Khan's actions highlight the importance of transparency and competition in government contracts.

No summary available.

Summary of "Simulating Infinity in Conway’s Game of Life with Modern C++"

Ryan Keane discusses his project, GOLDE, an advanced simulator for Conway's Game of Life, which can simulate trillions of generations quickly. He began the project without prior C++ experience, motivated by a desire to learn modern C++ and OpenGL.

The core of GOLDE's efficiency lies in the HashLife algorithm, which uses a quadtree structure to cache states of the Game of Life. This allows it to skip ahead many generations almost instantaneously. For instance, a $2048 \times 2048$ universe can jump forward 512 generations in a flash.

Key features of GOLDE include:

• Node Representation: Each node in the quadtree contains pointers to its four quadrants and caches its state.
• Memory Management: A custom allocator, LifeNodeArena, efficiently manages nodes while ensuring memory stability.
• Precomputed Patterns: It uses a lookup table of 65,536 precomputed patterns for quick state determination.
• Toroidal Grids: GOLDE simulates bounded spaces by creating ghost cells, allowing for realistic edge behavior.
• Flexible Step Sizes: The simulation can handle arbitrary step sizes by breaking down larger steps into manageable jumps.
• Responsive Stopping Mechanism: Built-in features allow for graceful stopping of simulations, enhancing user experience.

Keane emphasizes the advantages of using modern C++ features, which made the implementation cleaner and safer. He encourages others to explore GOLDE on GitHub and contribute to its development.

The text discusses the idea that we should strive to live the most improbable and unique lives possible. This is because improbable lives face less competition and are harder to replace with artificial intelligence, which thrives on predictability.

The journey toward an improbable life is linked to the universe's laws, which suggest everything moves toward sameness (entropy). However, life itself defies this trend by creating order and complexity from randomness. For example, life arranges atoms into proteins and organs, constantly increasing its improbability through evolution.

As humans, we have complicated our environments even further with technology, allowing for endless new possibilities and unique life stories. Each individual is incredibly unlikely given the vastness of the universe, making our lives unrepeatable.

By embracing our unique traits and pursuing our authentic selves, we can stand out in a world of competition and become less predictable, thereby reducing our chances of being replaced by machines. Overall, the text encourages us to align ourselves with the unpredictability of life and aim to become the most improbable versions of ourselves.

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Summary of Learnings from 100K Lines of Rust with AI

In recent months, I tested the capabilities of AI coding agents by creating a Rust-based multi-Paxos consensus engine. This new system modernizes Azure's old Replicated State Library (RSL) to improve performance for current hardware.

Key Achievements:

• Completed the project in about 3 months, with 100K lines of code written in 4 weeks and performance optimized from 23K operations per second to 300K.
• Used various AI tools (like GitHub Copilot and Claude Code) to enhance productivity and streamline coding processes.

Reasons for Modernizing RSL:

1. Latency Issues: The old system doesn’t allow new requests while votes are in progress.
2. Lack of Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Support: NVM can speed up commit times significantly.
3. Inadequate Hardware Awareness: The old RSL does not utilize modern technologies like RDMA.

Productivity Enhancements:

• Generated over 130K lines of code using AI, covering all RSL features.
• Employed AI to create and refine code contracts, which ensure the correctness of functions through testing.

AI in Development:

• Code Contracts: These specify conditions for functions and are used to generate tests, which help catch bugs early.
• Lightweight Spec-Driven Development: Transitioned to a simpler approach to handle feature specifications and planning more flexibly.
• Performance Optimization: Collaborated with AI to boost performance through iterative testing and adjustments, identifying bottlenecks and streamlining code.

Future Aspirations for AI in Coding:

• End-to-End User Story Execution: Desire for AI to autonomously handle more aspects of development without constant guidance.
• Automated Contract Workflows: Wish for AI to manage contract applications and testing automatically.
• Autonomous Performance Optimization: Hope for AI tools to conduct performance enhancements independently.

Project Status: The project has overcome two of the three limitations of the old RSL, now supporting pipelining and NVM. It has grown to over 130K lines of code with more than 1,300 tests, ensuring high code quality.

The text provides an overview of the Flipper One device, detailing its hardware specifications and features. Key points include:

1. Dimensions and Weight: The Flipper One measures 155 mm wide, 67 mm high, and 40 mm deep, with the weight still to be confirmed.

2. Materials: The body is made of PC/ABS, featuring a Gorilla Glass screen and an aluminum heatsink.

3. Display: It has a monochrome LCD with a resolution of 256 x 144 pixels.

4. Ports and Connectivity:

   • It includes USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jacks, and microSD/sim card slots.
   • Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

5. CPU and Memory: Powered by a Rockchip RK3576 with 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage.

6. Battery: It has a 7000 mAh battery, with a capacity of 24000 mWh.

7. Expansion Options: The device features an M.2 expansion port for additional hardware.

8. Controls: Includes a touchpad, app buttons, and a directional D-pad for navigation.

Overall, the Flipper One is designed for flexibility and performance, suitable for a range of applications.

The author has a background in ASP.NET full stack software development and about 7 years of professional experience. They began their career with a placement in 2018 and have worked in various roles, including backend development in Python and co-founding their own software company. Unfortunately, this company faced financial difficulties, and after launching a web app that didn't succeed, they closed it in February 2026.

Since May 2025, the author has applied for nearly 100 jobs, focusing on ASP.NET positions. They have had 8 interviews but faced challenges, including a recent interview where technical issues arose. They have a good CV, have obtained Azure certifications, and are studying coding concepts to improve their skills.

The author is seeking advice on how to enhance their job prospects, as they have never experienced such a long period without a software job. They are primarily looking for opportunities in Belfast but are also open to remote work from the UK mainland.

The text discusses the concept of a "demand co-op," which is a cooperative model that focuses on pooling the spending power of its members. Here are the key points summarized:

1. Definition of a Demand Coop: It is a cooperative that organizes the purchasing power of its members to create economic benefits that are typically available to larger entities like businesses or governments.

2. Purpose: Demand co-ops aim to reduce economic leakage by ensuring that the money spent by community members stays within the community, helping to build local businesses and assets.

3. Example: A demand co-op could own a grocery store where purchases contribute to a treasury that could fund new community projects, such as a delivery service, which in turn creates jobs and keeps wealth circulating within the community.

4. Challenges: The success of demand co-ops relies on effective coordination, trust, and long-term incentives among members. There are concerns about whether people can work together effectively outside of traditional corporate or government structures.

5. Future Outlook: The model suggests that communities that can quickly organize their resources and demand may thrive more than traditional institutions.

6. Call to Action: The text encourages readers to consider joining or starting a demand co-op to leverage their collective economic power.

Overall, demand co-ops represent a shift from traditional labor-based cooperation to a model focused on collective demand.

The MacBook Ultra may be a great update for MacBook Pro users, offering improved features and performance.

Intuit, a major software company known for products like TurboTax and QuickBooks, is laying off 17% of its workforce, which amounts to about 3,000 employees. This decision, announced in an internal memo from CEO Sasan Goodarzi, aims to simplify the company’s structure and focus more on integrating AI into its products.

As of July 2025, Intuit had around 18,200 employees. The layoffs come amid a challenging year for the tech industry, which has seen over 100,000 job cuts, with many companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft also reducing staff to prioritize AI projects.

Despite strong revenue and profits reported by many tech companies due to demand for AI, Intuit’s stock has underperformed compared to the broader market. In its latest fiscal quarter, Intuit reported a revenue increase of 17% and a net profit rise of 48% compared to the previous year. The company expects a 10% revenue growth for the next quarter.

A report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reveals that US employers spend over $1.5 billion each year to oppose labor unions. This money goes towards hiring consultants and lawyers who specialize in union avoidance, which critics argue detracts from investing in workers. For example, Amazon spent $26.6 million in 2025 on these consultants.

The report highlights that the presence of union-avoidance strategies has contributed to a decline in union membership, which is now at 10%, down from 20.3% in 1983. Despite this decline, around 70% of Americans still support labor unions.

Law firms like Littler Mendelson, which represent companies such as Amazon and Starbucks, actively oppose legislation that would expand workers' rights. They exploit gaps in labor laws to hinder union formation and maintain employer power over workers.

The EPI also notes that 41.5% of all union elections involve employers violating labor laws, leading to delays in contract negotiations, which can take an average of 465 days or longer. Workers seeking to form unions face significant challenges, and the actions of employers are seen as undermining democratic values and workers' rights to organize.

A trial is set for August 10 regarding a lawsuit by the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) against Vizio, a smart TV manufacturer. The SFC has been working for eight years to obtain the complete source code for Vizio's Linux-based operating system, arguing that access would allow users to control ads and tracking on their TVs.

Vizio has faced criticism for not sharing this source code, which is necessary for users to make modifications to their devices. The lawsuit could have broader implications for other smart TV manufacturers using similar Linux-based systems, potentially affecting their users' rights to customize their devices.

Vizio has claimed that SFC does not have the right to sue under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which is the basis for the SFC's argument. The case also raises concerns about the balance between user rights and the commercial interests of companies that rely on advertising revenue from smart TVs.

The outcome of the trial may influence how much control users have over their smart TVs in the future, especially if the court rules that users can access and modify the software.

NumExpr Summary

NumExpr is a fast numerical expression evaluator designed to work with NumPy, making calculations on large arrays quicker and more memory-efficient than standard Python methods. It utilizes multi-threading and can leverage Intel's Vector Math Library (VML) for even greater speed, especially with complex mathematical operations. Performance improvements can range from 0.95x for simple expressions to up to 15x for more complex calculations.

Key Features:

• Avoids memory allocation for intermediate results, improving cache use.
• Parses expressions into optimized codes for efficient computation.
• Works best with large arrays that exceed CPU cache size.
• Can be installed via pip or conda, with optional Intel MKL support for better performance on Intel hardware.

Installation:

• Use pip install numexpr or conda install numexpr.
• For source installation, follow standard Python build processes.

Usage: NumExpr can evaluate simple and complex expressions, including mathematical functions and comparisons, easily using the ne.evaluate() function.

Free-threading Support: With Python 3.13, NumExpr benefits from reduced restrictions on multi-threading, improving performance in concurrent scenarios.

For more details, visit the documentation.

NumExpr is maintained by Francesc Alted and is available under the MIT license.

The article "Engineering Version Control for Financial Reality" discusses the importance of version control systems in the financial industry. It highlights how these systems help manage changes in financial data and documents, ensuring accuracy and accountability. Key points include the benefits of tracking revisions, collaborating among teams, and maintaining compliance with regulations. The piece emphasizes that effective version control can enhance efficiency and reduce risks in financial operations. Overall, it advocates for adopting strong version control practices in finance to improve overall performance.

Summary of Qwen3.7-Max

Qwen3.7-Max is an advanced AI model designed for various agent-driven tasks, including coding, office automation, and long-term autonomous execution. Key features include:

1. Versatile Agent Capabilities: Qwen3.7-Max excels in coding tasks, from simple frontend projects to complex engineering. It also automates office workflows and maintains coherence in long-duration tasks, effectively managing over 1,000 steps autonomously.

2. Robust Performance: In benchmarks, Qwen3.7-Max outperforms many competitors across various coding and reasoning tasks. It demonstrates high accuracy in multilingual understanding and can adapt to different frameworks without losing effectiveness.

3. Efficiency and Productivity: The model can complete complex projects that typically require extensive team effort in just a few hours, significantly enhancing productivity.

4. Long-Horizon Planning: Qwen3.7-Max shows exceptional planning capabilities, making it suitable for tasks that require ongoing decision-making over extended periods.

5. Cross-Harness Generalization: It effectively operates across different agent frameworks and environments, showcasing its flexibility and adaptability.

6. Integration and Accessibility: Qwen3.7-Max is available through Alibaba Cloud Model Studio and supports industry-standard APIs for easy integration into existing systems.

In summary, Qwen3.7-Max represents a significant advancement in AI for agent applications, combining powerful reasoning with the ability to operate autonomously over long durations.

On May 20, 2026, several organizations condemned Meta's decision to restrict the Facebook and Instagram accounts of independent NGOs, researchers, and civil society figures in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This move is seen as part of a trend where major tech companies, including Meta, comply with repressive government demands.

Since April 30, 2026, accounts belonging to Gulf-focused NGOs and human rights defenders have been made unavailable in Saudi Arabia due to requests from the Saudi government, using a method called "geo-blocking." Similar restrictions have been placed in the UAE. Reports indicate that over 100 accounts have faced restrictions since March 2026, following similar actions on X (formerly Twitter).

These measures are deemed arbitrary and discriminatory, violating the right to freedom of expression. Meta claims to comply with local laws, but these laws are often used to silence dissent and restrict online expression. The organizations argue that Meta should be more transparent about its compliance process and the human rights implications of its actions.

They urge Meta to:

1. Publish the legal requests from Saudi and UAE authorities and the corresponding human rights assessments.
2. Restore access to all affected accounts immediately.
3. Notify users about the specific content that triggered the restrictions.
4. Clarify the involvement of its regional offices in handling these requests.

The organizations stress that Meta has a responsibility to uphold freedom of expression and protect human rights in a repressive environment.

The previous discussion was about an incident where a railway was blocked due to issues related to Google Cloud. The problem has since been resolved. For more details, you can visit the provided link.

The text discusses how local language model (LLM) benchmarks report throughput rates, showing how many tokens can be processed per second on different hardware. To understand these rates better, the author provides a visual representation of how tokens stream at various speeds.

There are four modes to observe:

1. Code Mode: Displays syntax-highlighted pseudo-code.
2. Text Mode: Shows standard text, like lorem ipsum, for chat responses.
3. Think Mode: Combines reasoning sentences and code to mimic thought processes.
4. Agent Mode: Alternates between tool usage and code generation, simulating an AI agent at work.

Users are encouraged to test different speeds starting from a default of 30 tokens per second (tok/s) and then try slower (like 5 tok/s) and faster rates (up to 800 tok/s), noting the differences in perception between text and code.

A "token" is roughly defined by how it breaks down words and phrases, with short words usually being one token and longer ones split into parts. Code is often denser in tokens than prose, affecting how the speed feels to the viewer. For example, at 30 tok/s, you would read about 23 words per second. The overall aim is to help users understand the impact of different content types on token processing rates.

Summary of Sharla Boehm's Contributions to the Internet

Sharla Boehm, a math teacher with a degree from UCLA, became a key figure in the development of the modern Internet while working at the RAND Corporation. In the early 1960s, during the Cold War, she created a crucial computer simulation to improve military communications, which was highly vulnerable to nuclear attacks.

While her work was foundational for what became known as "packet switching," a technology that allows data to be sent over networks in small packets, she remained largely unrecognized. Her simulation demonstrated that a decentralized network could adapt and reroute communications even if parts were damaged, essentially allowing the network to "heal" itself.

Despite her significant contributions, Sharla chose to leave her programming career in 1965 to focus on raising her family, and she did not often talk about her past work. She passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy that underpins today's Internet, though her name was seldom mentioned in discussions about its origins.

Sharla's story highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in technology and emphasizes her dual role as both a groundbreaking programmer and a devoted family member and community leader.

The text discusses the Xiaoxitian temple, which was created during a time of great suffering in Shanxi, marked by famine and hardship. Instead of being a grand monument, it represents a desperate dream of hope. Inside the temple, over a thousand colorful sculptures are suspended in the air, forming a three-dimensional paradise that contrasts sharply with the harsh reality outside. The Xiaoxitian temple symbolizes the human desire to create beauty and hope, even in the face of extreme adversity.

No summary available.

yapsnap Overview

yapsnap is a tool that converts any video URL or audio file into plain text quickly and offline.

Key Features:

• Speed: Transcribes audio using your computer's CPU, processing audio faster than real-time.
• Versatility: Supports various platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and local files.
• Offline Use: After the initial model download (about 80 MB), it works without an internet connection.
• Language Support: Primarily transcribes in English, but can easily switch to other languages with a simple command.
• Timestamp Options: Can add timestamps for each sentence if needed.

Getting Started:

1. Install ffmpeg (a one-time setup).
2. Install yapsnap using pip.
3. Use simple commands to transcribe videos or audio files.

Example Commands:

• For a video: yapsnap "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
• For a local file: yapsnap path/to/audio.mp3
• To include timestamps: yapsnap input.mp4 --timestamps

Output: The transcription is saved as a .txt file, with options for formatting and file location.

Customization: You can adjust settings like speed and output location, and select different models for various languages.

Limitations: Some URLs may be geo-restricted, and timestamps are not suitable for precise subtitle alignment.

License: The project is under the Apache-2.0 license, while the Kroko model has its own licensing terms.

Summary of "Mug Shots: A Small Town Noir" by Diarmid Mogg

The article begins with the story of Martin Fobes, who was arrested for driving while intoxicated in 1957 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. His mug shot, part of a collection obtained by the author from eBay, sparked curiosity about the lives behind these photographs. Mogg became fascinated with mug shots through a book titled Least Wanted, which features portraits of individuals arrested across America.

His research led him to uncover the story of Anna Grace Robertson, a young woman who died after being found unconscious on the street. Martin, who had been seen with her that night, had no memory of the events. The inquest could not determine how she sustained her injuries, and the case was dropped despite suggestive circumstances.

As Mogg delved deeper into the history of New Castle, he learned about the town's rapid growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its industrial decline, and its current state of depopulation. He collected more mug shots, each revealing unique stories of the town's residents, many of whom were ordinary people caught in unfortunate situations.

The New Castle News newspaper provided rich details about daily life in the town, showcasing its vibrant community. Mogg emphasizes that although these mug shots represent criminal acts, the individuals were largely not criminals but everyday people living through significant changes.

Through his website, Small Town Noir, Mogg shares these stories, highlighting the lives of the people behind the mug shots and offering a glimpse into a bygone era in New Castle. The article reflects on the importance of remembering the past and understanding the lives of those who once lived in a thriving community now largely forgotten.

A man in Texas was arrested for driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to test its "wade mode" feature, which allows the vehicle to drive through water up to 32 inches deep. The Grapevine Police responded after the truck became stuck and filled with water. The driver and passengers abandoned the vehicle, leading to their arrest for violating water safety laws. Police emphasized that while the Cybertruck can enter shallow water, doing so can pose legal and safety risks. Tesla reminds owners that they are responsible for assessing water depth and that damage from water is not covered by warranty.

The text discusses the concept of "structural backpressure" in software development, particularly in the context of AI-generated code.

Key points include:

1. Software Bugs: A common issue in software is broken access control, where a user can unintentionally access another user's data. This problem occurs because rules for access control are often not enforced properly in the system.

2. Limitations of Behavioral Gates: Current methods rely on behavioral gates, which depend on the AI model remembering rules and human reviewers maintaining consistency. This approach is unstable, especially as AI generates more code.

3. Structural Gates: The author proposes using structural gates instead, like compilers and type checkers, which provide concrete, enforceable rules. This method reduces reliance on human memory and improves code reliability.

4. Shen-Backpressure Tool: The author introduces Shen-Backpressure, a tool designed to implement structural gates using a programming language called Shen. It allows developers to write specifications that can be automatically translated into enforceable rules in their target languages (like Go or TypeScript).

5. Proof Chain for Multi-Tenant Authorization: The text illustrates how to create a secure multi-tenant API using a proof chain that ensures only authorized users can access specific resources. It emphasizes that the checks are built into the code structure rather than being scattered throughout.

6. Advantages of This Approach: By using structural backpressure, developers can create more reliable systems that are less prone to errors and easier to audit. This method provides stronger assurances about the code's behavior compared to relying solely on smarter AI models.

7. Implementation and Costs: While implementing these structural checks requires effort in writing specifications and maintaining the generator, they significantly enhance the safety and reliability of AI-generated code.

In summary, the author argues that for production AI coding, focusing on robust structural checks is more beneficial than solely improving AI model intelligence. This approach ensures that the code adheres to the intended specifications, reducing the risk of errors.

The text discusses the influence of Western, particularly U.S., imperialism, highlighting significant events like the coups in Iran and Chile. It mentions how control over resources impacts social mobility and promotes ideas of self-reliance and discipline. The text also touches on the need for the working class to challenge oppressive systems and the importance of social reconstruction for their benefit. Overall, it emphasizes the ongoing struggle for social justice and the rejection of outdated prejudices.

Summary of MLX Vulkan Development

The MLX Vulkan project focuses on creating a backend for Vulkan graphics. It includes benchmark results from an AMD Radeon 8060S (Strix Halo).

Latest Benchmark Results:

1. Model: mlx-community/Qwen3-0.6B-8bit

   • Data Type: 8bit
   • Prompt TPS: 1304.978
   • Generation TPS: 18.946
   • Peak Memory: 1.917 GB

2. Model: mlx-community/Qwen3-0.6B-bf16

   • Data Type: bf16
   • Prompt TPS: 2257.811
   • Generation TPS: 27.349
   • Peak Memory: 2.565 GB

Detailed results can be found in the benchmarks/results.csv file.

The article discusses a project inspired by AI, specifically the author's experiments with coding agents to create games using EndBASIC, a programming language. The author initially did not expect the AI agent to succeed in generating code but was pleasantly surprised when it produced working demos with minor adjustments. This success motivated the author to enhance EndBASIC's features, including improving its documentation, speeding up performance, and adding new capabilities like sprites and sound.

One significant change was the shift from writing unit tests in Rust to using Markdown for testing the EndBASIC compiler and virtual machine (VM). The author found that writing tests in Markdown made them easier to create, understand, and maintain. The Markdown files serve as both tests and documentation, which can be used by AI to learn how EndBASIC works.

The new testing approach allows for simple execution and easy regeneration of test results when changes are made to the code, streamlining the testing process. While this method has advantages, it also has drawbacks, such as the ease of mistakenly regenerating test outputs and the challenges of reviewing disassembly differences. The author concludes that this Markdown-based test suite is effective for end-to-end testing but may not be suitable for all testing scenarios.

Mozilla is phasing out asm.js, a JavaScript subset designed for high performance, as of Firefox 148. Although asm.js will still run without issues, developers are encouraged to switch to WebAssembly for better speed and smaller file sizes.

Asm.js was introduced in 2013 to enable web applications to run code at near-native speeds, and it played a crucial role in the development of WebAssembly. However, usage of asm.js has declined as WebAssembly has become more popular.

The decision to disable asm.js is to reduce maintenance costs and security risks. The asm.js compiler, OdinMonkey, will be retired, but its successor, BaldrMonkey, will continue to enhance WebAssembly. Mozilla thanks OdinMonkey for its contributions over the past 13 years.

No summary available.

Brazil's central bank has announced a ban on the use of stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, for settling cross-border payments. This new rule, effective October 1, 2026, specifically targets fintech companies and payment firms, preventing them from using digital currencies for overseas transactions. Instead, they must conduct payments through traditional foreign exchange methods.

While individual investors can still buy and hold cryptocurrencies, firms must now operate under stricter regulations and apply for approval by May 2027 if they are not already authorized. The change aims to regulate how digital payments are processed in Brazil, particularly focusing on companies that had relied on stablecoins for international transactions.

This move reflects Brazil's ongoing regulatory efforts in the crypto space, where stablecoins currently account for a significant portion of the market activity, estimated at $6 billion to $8 billion monthly.

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Summary of 1-Wire Technology

1-Wire is a communication system created by Dallas Semiconductor that allows low-speed data transfer (up to 16.3 kbit/s, with a faster "overdrive" mode) and power supply over a single wire. It is used primarily for connecting inexpensive devices like temperature sensors and weather instruments, forming a network called MicroLAN.

Key Features:

• Communication: Uses just two wires—data and ground. Devices have a built-in capacitor to store energy for operation when the data line is active.
• Forms: 1-Wire devices come in various formats, including integrated circuits, temperature probes, and iButtons (small, portable electronic keys).
• Unique Identification: Each device has a unique identifier, making them suitable for applications like locks and access control.

Applications: 1-Wire technology is used in various devices, including:

• Temperature loggers and sensors
• Power supplies for laptops (like Apple's MagSafe)
• Smart tickets for public transport (e.g., Istanbul's Akbil)

Communication Protocol:

• 1-Wire uses a master-slave structure where a master device controls communication.
• Data transmission involves sending short pulses to signify binary values (1s and 0s).
• The system can detect errors and manage multiple devices on the same bus.

Overall, 1-Wire is a versatile and efficient communication protocol suitable for many small-scale electronic applications.

Harvard faculty have voted to implement a cap on A grades, limiting them to about 20% of students in undergraduate courses starting in fall 2027. This decision aims to combat grade inflation and improve academic standards at the university. The vote passed with 69.5% approval among faculty, despite significant student opposition—85% of surveyed students disapproved of the proposal.

In addition to the A grade cap, faculty approved a system to use average percentile rankings instead of GPA for determining internal awards and honors. However, a proposal to allow certain courses to opt out of the A cap was rejected.

This move is seen as a significant shift in Harvard’s grading culture and is intended to restore the value of an A grade, making it a true indicator of exceptional performance. Dean Amanda Claybaugh emphasized that this change would strengthen Harvard's academic integrity and encourage other institutions to address similar issues.

Summary

Fender has taken legal action against LsL Instruments, a small family-run guitar company in the U.S., demanding they stop making S-style electric guitars, which resemble the Fender Stratocaster. This cease and desist letter is part of a broader effort by Fender to protect the Stratocaster design, following a recent legal victory in Germany that recognized it as a copyrighted work of art.

Fender's actions could affect many other guitar builders and musicians, as similar cease and desist letters have reportedly been sent to at least six other companies. LsL Instruments has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for their legal defense, highlighting that the outcome could significantly impact the guitar industry and the future of S-style guitars. They argue that the S-style body design was never copyrighted by Fender, and the legal battle could set a precedent for others in the industry.

A recent BBC investigation revealed that AI chatbots, including those from Google and ChatGPT, can be manipulated to spread misinformation. The investigation demonstrated how easily one can publish false information online, which AI systems may then use as credible answers. For example, a journalist was able to convince these AI tools that he was a world-champion hot-dog eater by posting a fabricated article.

This manipulation poses significant risks, especially regarding serious topics like health and finance, as it can lead to poor decision-making among users. In response to the issue, Google has updated its policies to clarify that manipulating AI responses is against their rules. However, their spokesperson claims that these changes are merely clarifications and not new measures.

Experts suggest that while Google and other AI companies are attempting to address the problem, the tactics used to manipulate AI tools are evolving. They have started implementing changes, such as adding labels to responses and removing biased sources, but skepticism remains regarding their effectiveness. Users are advised to be cautious and not take AI-generated information at face value, as these tools can present misleading answers.

The text promotes a website called "Map of Metal," which offers an interactive overview of metal music history and its influential bands. Users are encouraged to buy prints and are informed that mobile support will be available soon. To access the site, JavaScript needs to be enabled. The site was created by Patrick Galbraith.

At recent college graduation ceremonies, many speakers discussing artificial intelligence (AI) faced backlash from students. For example, at Glendale Community College, the use of an AI system to read names led to errors and booing from the audience. Graduates expressed concerns about AI taking jobs and negatively impacting society.

Students like Maggie Simmons and Kareen Gill voiced their worries about AI harming the environment and reducing job opportunities, especially for their generation. A poll revealed that 81% of Gen Z believes AI will decrease job prospects, reflecting growing skepticism about the benefits of AI technology. Overall, there is a shift in perception, with many now questioning the implications of AI instead of celebrating it.

Summary of The Virtual OS Museum

The Virtual OS Museum is an online collection of operating systems and standalone applications that run on emulators such as QEMU, VirtualBox, or UTM. It offers a user-friendly launcher that is pre-installed with various operating systems, allowing users to easily explore historical software without complicated setup processes.

Key Features:

• Wide Range of OSes: The museum includes over 570 distinct operating systems, covering the history of computing from the first stored-program computer (Manchester Baby) in 1948 to modern times.
• Categories of OSes: It features early mainframes, Unix variants, home computers, personal computer operating systems, mobile systems, and obscure research systems.
• Easy Access: Users can run any available OS with just a click, thanks to a snapshot feature that allows quick recovery from issues.
• Version Options: There are two versions available for download: a full version that includes everything for offline use and a lite version that downloads components as needed.

Purpose: The museum aims to make historical software more accessible, addressing the challenges of software preservation and the often complex installation processes of emulators and operating systems.

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

Support: The project is maintained by a single person and welcomes support through platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi, as well as community engagement via Discord and GitLab for suggestions and bug reports.

Overall, the Virtual OS Museum is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of computing, providing easy access to a wealth of operating systems.

DiffsHubView allows you to view code changes from any public GitHub link quickly and beautifully. You can replace "github.com" with "diffshub.com" in the URL to access the DiffsHubView interface. This tool helps compare pull requests, commits, and diffs, even for large files like those in Linux, though it may crash on mobile browsers for very large diffs. It was created by The Pierre Computer Company using FileTree and the new CodeView feature.

Tim Bray received an invitation to an AI-focused event in the U.S. but declined it. He feels negatively about visiting the U.S. due to its leader's disrespect towards Canada and threats to its sovereignty. Additionally, he worries about potential risks when entering the U.S., such as being asked about his social media activity, which could jeopardize his family's well-being. He expresses sincere regret for declining the invitation but still considers himself a friend of the organization.

The text also includes comments from readers, reflecting various opinions on Canada-U.S. relations and the current political climate.

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Summary of PopuLoRA: Co-Evolving LLM Populations for Reasoning Self-Play

PopuLoRA is a new framework for improving large language models (LLMs) through a method called reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR). This approach helps models develop better reasoning skills by providing tasks that can be automatically checked for correctness.

Key points include:

1. Task Generation and Solving: PopuLoRA uses two groups of models—teachers that create tasks and students that attempt to solve them. As students improve, the teachers generate more challenging tasks, creating a dynamic learning environment.

2. Self-Play Issues: Traditional self-play methods often lead to a situation where models only generate simple tasks they can already solve, limiting their growth. PopuLoRA avoids this by having separate teacher and student roles, preventing stagnation.

3. Population-Based Training: The system trains multiple models at once, using low-rank adaptations to keep the process efficient. This allows for a wide variety of tasks and promotes competition among models, ensuring ongoing improvement.

4. Training Process: The training involves matching teachers and students, generating tasks, attempting to solve them, and updating both groups based on performance. This process encourages the creation of increasingly complex tasks.

5. Evolution of Models: Weaker models are replaced with new ones developed through evolutionary techniques, ensuring that the learning process continues to progress.

6. Results: After training, PopuLoRA outperforms traditional methods on various coding and math benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of its adaptive learning approach.

7. Future Directions: The framework aims to enable systems that can autonomously generate training challenges, fostering continual adaptation and improvement.

Overall, PopuLoRA represents a significant step toward creating self-improving AI systems that can adapt and evolve through their learning processes.

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The blog post discusses the pervasive issue of undefined behavior (UB) in C and C++ programming. The author, a seasoned programmer, argues that it's nearly impossible to write completely correct code in these languages due to the many ways UB can occur.

Key points include:

1. Undefined Behavior (UB): UB can lead to unpredictable results and is prevalent in all nontrivial C and C++ code. Examples include issues with pointer alignment, type casting, and signed overflow.

2. Compiler Misconceptions: Many believe that UB only affects optimized code, but UB exists regardless of optimization settings. Compilers assume code is valid, which can lead to unexpected behavior.

3. Real-World Examples: The author provides multiple examples of UB, such as dereferencing unaligned pointers, using the wrong pointer types, and converting between data types incorrectly.

4. Security Implications: UB can introduce security vulnerabilities, especially when dealing with untrusted input.

5. Role of AI: The author suggests that using AI tools to identify and fix UB is necessary, especially given the complexity and subtlety of these issues. Relying solely on human programmers is insufficient.

The post emphasizes the need for improved practices in managing UB in C and C++ code bases, advocating for the use of AI to help identify and address these problems.