--- blogpost: true date: 29.4.2024 author: Tobias location: Stuttgart category: links, 2024 tags: links, 2024 language: Deutsch --- # Links für 2024 KW 17 Zusammengefasst von [LlongOrca](https://huggingface.co/TheBloke/LlongOrca-13B-16K-GGUF). **[Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous](https://apnews.com/article/china-covid-virus-origins-pandemic-lab-leak-bed5ab50dca8e318ab00f60b5911da0c)**: An Associated Press investigation reveals that the Chinese government has frozen domestic and international efforts to trace the origins of COVID-19, leading to labs being closed, collaborations shattered, foreign scientists forced out and Chinese researchers barred from leaving the country. The investigation found that the freeze began far earlier than previously known and involved political and scientific infighting in China as much as international finger-pointing. As early as January 2020, health officials in Beijing closed the lab of a Chinese scientist who sequenced the virus and barred researchers from working with him. This has left the world vulnerable to another outbreak and potentially undermines pandemic treaty talks coordinated by the World Health Organization set to culminate in May. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Should You Use Ruby on Rails or Hanami? \| AppSignal Blog](https://blog.appsignal.com/2024/04/24/should-you-use-ruby-on-rails-or-hanami.html)**: The article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of two popular Ruby frameworks, Ruby on Rails and Hanami, in terms of performance, features, testing, and deployment. It highlights that beginners should start with Ruby on Rails due to its user-friendly nature and established documentation base. Meanwhile, advanced Ruby developers may consider learning Hanami for building more robust Ruby applications. Both frameworks have their unique advantages; Hanami is faster and more scalable, while Rails has a larger ecosystem and community support. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[\'Expensive\' Streaming Services Are a Key Reason for Americans to \'Pirate\' \* TorrentFreak](https://torrentfreak.com/expensive-streaming-services-are-a-key-reason-for-americans-to-pirate-240424/)**: The rise in online streaming services has led to an increase in content being made available on-demand; however, it has also contributed to higher subscription costs for consumers. This has created a situation where some people feel justified to pirate content to keep their costs under control. According to survey data, many UK consumers felt they were paying too much for legal subscriptions and considered piracy as an alternative. In the US, a third of respondents admitted to pirating TV series or movies in the past year. The results of these surveys should be interpreted with caution; however, it is clear that the price of legal streaming services is an issue for many people. Possible solutions include cheaper legal services and stronger penalties for online pirates. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Reddit Will License Its Data to Train LLMs, We Made a FF Extension to Replace](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40142829)**: Reddit has faced an increase in astroturfing and spam, with quality contributions decreasing and users feeling engagement is lower or worse-quality. Users have suggested various reasons for the decline, such as recent API changes, niche subreddits feeling like ghost towns, and potentially Google\'s preference for Reddit content. Additionally, there is a concern that LLM bots may eventually render the platform unusable unless aggressive personhood verification measures are implemented. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[theluddite.org](https://theluddite.org/#!post/reddit-extension)**: The author of the article, The Luddite, is celebrating Reddit\'s filing for an IPO by releasing a Firefox extension that replaces all comments with any text of the user\'s choice, as long as it is not copyrighted. The New York Times is currently suing OpenAI for training ChatGPT on its copyrighted material, so users are advised to not intermingle copyrighted text with the robust corpus of high-quality training data that Reddit\'s data provides. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ab wann ist man zusammen? - 7 Anzeichen](https://www.infranken.de/ratgeber/familie/beziehung/ab-wann-ist-man-zusammen-7-anzeichen-art-5264483)**: In the modern world of dating apps and various relationship models, it can be difficult to define when someone can be considered a friend or significant other. There are five common types of relationships: Mingle (mixed single), Friendship Plus (having a close friendship with occasional sexual encounters), Open Relationships (having a committed partner while having sex with others), Polyamorous Relationships (loving and being in relationships with multiple people), and Monogamous Relationships (exclusive romantic relationships). It is essential to communicate with your partner about the type of relationship you both want. If one person falls in love, they should discuss whether they want an exclusive relationship or not. The four phases of relationships are: the getting-to-know phase, dating phase, clarification phase (when both parties begin sharing their feelings and intentions), and honeymoon phase (where couples enjoy the early stages of a new relationship). In an online survey in 2019, it was found that most people felt they were in a relationship when they \"just knew.\" However, both men and women cited factors like first kisses, having sex, or saying \"I love you\" as significant points. Sharing daily communication and posting photos together on social media also indicated the seriousness of relationships. As people age, relying more on their feelings becomes more important than specific relationship milestones. Seven signs that indicate a serious relationship include: deleting dating apps from your phone, being invited to social events or gatherings with friends, remembering small details you shared, spending time together during the day, no long unexplained absences, and showing affection in public. If you feel unsure about your relationship status, it\'s important to communicate openly to avoid misunderstandings and potential issues down the line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Android 15 may make it even harder for sideloaded apps to get sensitive permissions](https://www.androidauthority.com/android-15-enhanced-confirmation-mode-3436697/)**: The upcoming Android 15 update is expected to introduce a new Enhanced Confirmation Mode feature that will make it harder for malicious apps to exploit an OS loophole. This feature aims to close the loophole in Android\'s Restricted Settings feature, which has been exploited by malicious app developers in the past. Google is working on closing this obvious loophole in Android\'s Restricted Settings feature by introducing the new Enhanced Confirmation Mode in Android 15. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Frühlingsfest in Stuttgart: Magen-Darm-Virus ausgebrochen -- Erkrankte im ganzen Land](https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.fruehlingsfest-in-stuttgart-ausmass-groesser-als-bisher-gedacht-hunderte-erkrankte-nach-zeltbesuch.352a4768-68a5-4e05-be27-7770166cac7c.html)**: Several hundred people at a Stuttgart festival may have contracted a previously unidentified gastrointestinal virus, potentially indicating the start of an outbreak. The city is investigating multiple cases and advises affected individuals to report their symptoms. The health authorities are working to contain the outbreak and identify the source of infection. Symptoms point towards a viral infection, and initial samples are being analyzed in a laboratory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The question that no LLM can answer and why it is important](https://www.mindprison.cc/p/the-question-that-no-llm-can-answer)**: The article discusses the limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as GPT4, in answering certain questions and generating new concepts or discoveries. LLMs often rely on prevalence of training data and post-training processes like fine-tuning to determine their answers, leading to a higher probability of hallucinating responses and not being reliable for mission-critical systems that require deterministic, provably correct behavior. The article highlights the importance of understanding the limitations of LLMs in order to avoid negative consequences such as the spread of misinformation and loss of privacy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[To Live Past 100, Mangia a Lot Less: Italian Expert's Ideas on Aging](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/world/europe/italy-aging-valter-longo.html)**: Valter Longo, a nutrition-obsessed Italian Ph.D. student and former guitarist in the 1990s grunge band DOT, now stands at the nexus of Italy\'s eating and aging obsessions. He is a professor of gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute in California, advocating for longer and better living through his plant- and nut-based diet with supplements and kale crackers that mimic fasting. Longo has identified genes that regulate aging and created a diet plan, which he patented and sold as ProLon diet kits. His best-selling book \"The Longevity Diet\" and Time magazine\'s recognition of him as an influential \"Fasting Evangelist\" have contributed to his success in the field. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The spam came from inside the house: How a smart TV can choke a Windows PC](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/the-spam-came-from-inside-the-house-how-a-smart-tv-can-choke-a-windows-pc/)**: A Hisense smart TV was reportedly causing issues with a user\'s Windows PC, including disappearing taskbars, remote desktop problems, and other odd behavior. The issue was caused by the TV generating \"random UUIDs for UPNP network discovery every few minutes,\" which led to the Windows device discovery systems becoming overwhelmed, affecting various applications and system functions. Deleting hundreds of registry keys fixed the issue in this case, but the user recommends not purchasing the same Hisense 50Q8G or having it on the same network as other devices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Fully automated bisecting with \"git bisect run\"](https://lwn.net/Articles/317154/)**: The git bisect feature within the Git version control system helps developers track down bugs by searching through commit history. A lesser-known addition, git bisect run, can automate this process and enable new debugging workflows. It checks out source code at each step of the binary search and allows a developer to define whether it\'s \"good\" or \"bad\" via a script or command. This makes finding regression bugs easier and reduces average fix times significantly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[When Do We Stop Finding New Music? A Statistical Analysis](https://www.statsignificant.com/p/when-do-we-stop-finding-new-music)**: Spotify\'s new DJ feature uses AI technology to curate personalized listening sessions, selecting songs and explaining the intention behind its selections like a real-life disc jockey. The article explores how our relationship with music changes as we age and the developmental factors driving those shifts in taste. Research shows that open-earedness, or an individual\'s desire to explore different genres of music, is higher among adolescents. However, as people get older, their ability to discover new music declines, leading to a stagnation of their musical preferences. While it may be tempting to despair over this phenomenon, research also suggests that open-earedness and the discovery of new songs can be cultivated with dedication and effort. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The Rise And Fall Of The LAN Party - Aftermath](https://aftermath.site/lan-party-merritt-k-book-read-only-memory-rom)**: The LAN party, a social event where people gather to play multiplayer video games using their computers and networks, rose in popularity during the 1990s and early 2000s when high-speed internet was not yet widely available. This allowed gamers to enjoy fast, lag-free gameplay without relying on the internet. LAN parties featured a wide range of games, from first-person shooters like Counter-Strike and Unreal Tournament to real-time strategy games like StarCraft. The heyday of LAN parties peaked in the early 2000s before declining with the widespread introduction of high-speed internet and online multiplayer gaming services. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[What happens after your country runs on 99 percent renewable electricity?](https://www.theverge.com/24134891/renewable-energy-electricity-power-grid-costa-rica)**: Costa Rica has generated nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources for almost a decade, with hydropower making up 73% of the country\'s generation capacity. The country plans to diversify its energy mix by adding solar and wind power, as well as tapping into electricity from regional markets. Climate change poses new risks to Costa Rica\'s power grid, but the country is committed to sustainable development with a focus on planning and social and environmental aspects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Why Does Windows Really Use Backslash as Path Separator?](https://www.os2museum.com/wp/why-does-windows-really-use-backslash-as-path-separator/)**: The article explores the history behind Windows\' use of backslash as a path separator instead of forward slash, which is used by other operating systems like UNIX. It is stated that the reason for this lies in the DOS and OS/2 cultural landscape, with both directly or indirectly deriving from DOS 2.0. The article discusses why DOS used backslash, noting that Microsoft wanted to use forward slash but IBM insisted on maintaining compatibility with DOS 1.x. It is suggested that the path separator\'s choice was influenced by the IBM Model F keyboard and its ergonomics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Windows 11 now comes with its own adware](https://www.engadget.com/windows-11-now-comes-with-its-own-adware-124531977.html)**: The latest update to Windows 11, KB5036980, includes ads for apps in the \"recommended\" section of the Start Menu, which is a significant change from previous versions that were generally ad-free. These app suggestions come from a small set of curated developers and can be disabled by users through the Settings menu. This update arrives shortly after being tested as an Insider beta, showing how quickly Microsoft can implement changes when desired. The presence of ads in Windows 11 may not sit well with customers who have paid for the operating system, which starts at \$139 for the Home version. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[You Are What You Read, Even If You Don't Always Remember It](https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2024/you-are-what-you-read/)**: This article emphasizes the importance of reading and consuming content for personal growth rather than focusing on immediate results or remembering all the details. The author quotes Dave Rupert, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a story from a university professor to illustrate that education and the influence of literature can shape an individual\'s thinking even if they cannot recall every detail from the material. The article encourages readers to be mindful of their \"content diet\" as it has a lasting impact on them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The A.I. Lie](https://www.muddycolors.com/2024/04/the-a-i-lie/)**: The author expresses their concern about how AI could negatively impact the creative process, stating that it can make work worse and less interesting or employable. They argue that using AI in a creative workflow can lead to the loss of an artist\'s unique voice and perspective, as well as reducing intentionality and emotions behind their work. The author also draws parallels between the disruptive business model of tech companies and its potential impact on the art industry. They emphasize that using AI for creative purposes could devalue an artist\'s work and potentially force them out of their profession, leading to a situation where only those who can afford to pay exorbitant fees will continue creating art. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ruby might be faster than you think](https://www.johnhawthorn.com/2024/ruby-might-be-faster-than-you-think/)**: This article discusses a project that allows writing and running Crystal methods inline inside a Ruby file, showcasing its speed compared to pure Ruby code. The author performs benchmark tests on a Fibonnaci function implementation in both languages and makes small adjustments to the Ruby code to improve performance. After enabling YJIT, Ruby outperforms Crystal by 5 times in this specific example, demonstrating that minor tweaks to Ruby code can lead to significant improvements and potential for future optimizations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Australian authorites call for Big Tech help with decryption](https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/asio_afp_accountable_encryption/)**: Australia\'s lead intelligence agency director general, Mike Burgess, and Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw called for social networks to offer more assistance in tackling terrorism, child exploitation, and racist nationalism cases. They highlighted the need for \"accountable encryption,\" where companies assist with decryption when legally required, and voiced concerns about AI\'s potential use by criminals and foreign intelligence services. Both officials expressed interest in finding common ground with tech CEOs to address these issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[McKinsey Is Under Criminal Investigation for Its Opioid Work](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/business/mckinsey-criminal-investigation.html)**: The article is about federal prosecutors investigating a consulting firm that allegedly played a significant part in accelerating the sales of prescription painkillers such as OxyContin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Trump to receive bonus worth \$1.2bn for Trump Media stock performance](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/24/trump-media-bonue)**: Former President Donald Trump has qualified for a \$1.2 billion bonus from his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), after its shares remained above a certain value despite falling sharply. The bonus consists of an \"earn-out\" windfall that increases the paper value of his stake in the business to about \$3.7 billion. TMTG\'s stock traded above \$17.50 a share for 20 days out of any 30-day period within the first three years of the firm\'s stock market debut, enabling Trump to receive an additional 36 million shares in the company. The bonus comes as he faces about \$500m in legal penalties after being found liable in civil fraud, defamation, and sexual abuse cases. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[HackerNews: I\'m giving up on open source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40139837)**: The author discusses their experiences with maintaining an open-source project and the challenges they faced, including dealing with rude and demanding users, financial struggles, and burnout. They express frustration with the current state of open-source software development and decide to move towards a closed-source model for their project. The author also shares insights on how to create a sustainable business model around open-source projects and encourages others in similar situations to consider doing the same. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[I\'m giving up --- on open source - Blog](https://nutjs.dev/blog/i-give-up)**: The author of a blog post about open source has resigned due to disappointment with the community\'s lack of support for his work on the nut.js project under an Apache-2.0 license. Despite investing time and resources into creating an open-source project, the author received complaints and was accused of being greedy when he decided to charge for a new plugin. The author believes that while open source is great, it\'s not sustainable and has become an excuse for avoiding payments for software. As a result, the author will cease offering publicly available packages on npm and will only provide them through a private registry with an active subscription. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ask HN: How to improve PCB prototyping iteration time?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40137027)**: The article discusses the challenges faced by a user in developing wearable tech with PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) and PCBA (PCB Assembly). They mention that JLCPCB has 3-4 week lead times, which is their primary bottleneck for iteration. The user considers moving to Shenzhen to build the prototype but receives advice from other users suggesting alternative solutions such as finding a local board shop with faster turnaround, rethinking the design process, and possibly learning to assemble PCBs in-house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Python Big O: the time complexities of different data structures in Python](https://www.pythonmorsels.com/time-complexities/)**: This article discusses the time complexity of different Python data structures and algorithms. It explains the concept of \"Big O\" notation, which is a way to discuss the order of magnitude for an operation while ignoring the exact number of computations it needs. The article provides information on common time complexities, such as O(1) (constant time), O(n) (linear growth), and O(n log n) (logarithmic growth). Time complexity is crucial when working with data structures like lists, dictionaries, sets, heaps, sorted lists, and graphs. The article also highlights the importance of choosing the right data structure based on features, speed, and memory usage requirements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The FTC has banned noncompete agreements](https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24138559/ftc-noncompete-agreement-ban)**: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted to ban noncompete agreements nationwide, considering them an \"unfair method of competition.\" Noncompete agreements, which prevent employees from working for or starting competing businesses, are particularly common in the tech industry. This change requires companies to reverse existing noncompete agreements and inform employees about the update. Existing noncompete agreements for senior executives can remain in place, but new ones cannot be entered into or enforced. The FTC believes that noncompete clauses suppress wages, hinder innovation, and negatively affect the American economy. The ban is estimated to create over 8,500 businesses annually, lower healthcare costs, and increase worker compensation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[LLMs and the Harry Potter problem](https://www.pyqai.com/blog/llms-and-the-harry-potter-problem)**: The Harry Potter problem highlights the issue that large language models (LLMs) struggle with in-context recall when handling long documents, even though they have significantly improved context windows compared to their competitors. These LLMs fail at tasks such as counting words or understanding complex information found within lengthy documents. This issue is particularly crucial in high-value use cases like insurance policy analysis. Traditional RAG and fine-tuning methods only partially address the problem, while agents have the potential to solve it but are not there yet. To overcome this challenge, businesses may need to develop an opinionated view of what a long document should look like and how its information is interconnected, but this is a difficult undertaking that doesn\'t generalize well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Diet may be more important than exercise for long-term weight control, evidence suggests](https://www.businessinsider.com/why-exercise-may-not-help-you-lose-weight-diet-healthy-2021-4)**: New research suggests that diet may be more important than exercise for long-term weight control, as our metabolism might compensate for calorie-burning exercise by cutting down on other activities. Exercise is good for health but ineffective for weight loss. Dr. Herman Pontzer\'s study found that the Hadza people burn only slightly more calories each day than sedentary American adults, despite their high activity levels. This observation suggests that our bodies maintain a constant calorie budget regardless of exercise level. The research could help explain why modern, sedentary lifestyles and processed diets are detrimental to health and provide insights for finding solutions to improve well-being. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Facebook users say \'amen\' to bizarre AI-generated images of Jesus](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-users-say-amen-bizarre-ai-generated-images-jesus-rcna143965)**: This article discusses the increasing presence of AI-generated content on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, with users failing to label such images as required by Meta. The lack of systematic labeling has led to older users falling for falsified content, according to comments on these posts. Some Facebook pages have been found to contain stolen images from other people or organizations and repurposed into AI spam pages. The Stanford researchers suggest that the use of AI-generated content is a boon for scammers, as they can easily generate visually sensational images that attract engagement. These pages may also employ \"batches of inauthentic followers\" to give themselves a more legitimate appearance and engage with real commenters or seek personal information from them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[AMA: I\'m Dave Greene, an Accidental Expert on Conway\'s Game of Life](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40131597)**: The article discusses Conway\'s Game of Life (GOL) and its related topics. It includes questions about advancements in life science since 2001, the rating of Wikipedia articles on GOL, the interesting aspects of the game, and whether it has changed the world view or belief system of participants. Additionally, other cellular automata rules like Langton ants, Turmites, continuous life, smoothlife, Lenia, and Bert Wang-Chak Chan are mentioned along with their potential applications in art or science. The article also explores interactions with Conway, the probability of a random CA being Turing complete, and the coolest problems solved recently or desired to be solved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[\*Privacy Not Included: A Buyer's Guide for Connected Products](https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/data-hungry-dating-apps-are-worse-than-ever-for-your-privacy/)**: The article discusses the privacy concerns surrounding dating apps in 2024. It highlights that most dating apps fail to protect users\' information and may share or sell their data for advertising purposes. Additionally, the integration of AI into dating apps raises potential privacy issues. The authors recommend being cautious when using dating apps and limiting app permissions where possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Lawmakers Are Kicking Warrantless Wiretapping Into Overdrive](https://gizmodo.com/lawmakers-are-kicking-warrantless-wiretapping-into-over-1851417659)**: The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, or H.R. 7888, is set to be voted on by Congress this week as an update to key federal surveillance authorities. While the bill has been promoted as a reform, privacy advocates argue that it actually aims to vastly expand the government\'s spying powers. The legislation would renew Section 702, which grants the U.S. intelligence community legal authority for warrantless surveillance of Americans communicating with people outside of the country. Critics argue that this law has allowed for hundreds of thousands of warrantless \"backdoor\" searches of Americans\' private communications annually. The bill\'s vague language makes it difficult to determine which businesses would be called upon to spy on communications and which would be exempted, with critics suggesting the broad scope could lead to unintended consequences for privacy and civil liberties. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[No one buys books](https://www.elysian.press/p/no-one-buys-books)**: In 2022, Penguin Random House wanted to buy Simon & Schuster, but the government intervened due to antitrust concerns, blocking the \$2.2 billion purchase. The trial provided an inside look at the publishing industry, revealing that celebrity books and repeat bestsellers account for most of the market share. Advances for top-selling authors range from \$500,000 to millions, while the majority of books sell fewer than 2,000 copies. Publishers focus their efforts on securing celebrities or franchise authors due to the lucrative nature of these deals and rely heavily on backlist titles for revenue. The future of the publishing industry is uncertain as it faces competition from technology giants like Amazon and potential disruption by subscription models, self-publishing platforms, and alternative distribution methods. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Open Source Community Unites to Build CRA-Compliant Cybersecurity Processes - The Apache Software Foundation Blog](https://news.apache.org/foundation/entry/open-source-community-unites-to-build-cra-compliant-cybersecurity-processes)**: The European Union\'s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) has brought about new rules for software development, testing, auditing and support to ensure more secure software. In response, a group of open source software foundations including Apache Software Foundation, Blender Foundation, OpenSSL Software Foundation, PHP Foundation, Python Software Foundation, Rust Foundation, and Eclipse Foundation have announced their intentions to collaborate on establishing common specifications for secure software development based on existing open-source best practices. Their aim is to accelerate the development of cybersecurity processes required for regulatory compliance while offering a neutral environment for technical discussions with the broader open source community. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ask HN: How to manage phones and PCs for elderly parents?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40127400)**: The article discusses how to make technology more accessible and easy-to-use for older individuals. Recommendations include switching to Apple products, such as iPads or MacBook Airs, and using single-app/kiosk mode on iOS devices. Additionally, installing mobile device management (MDM) software can help manage and control devices remotely, making it easier to maintain and troubleshoot issues without the need for in-person assistance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Why Cats Knock Stuff Over · Gwern.net](https://gwern.net/cat-knocking)**: Cats are known to push objects over edges and then curiously watch the fallen object, which could be a form of play-hunting behavior. This testing behavior is similar to tossing or poking prey with claws. Toys that simulate hunting may help explain why cats love pushing things over edges. The article suggests that knocking over objects tests the possibility of deceptive prey playing dead, and this explorative hunting behavior helps cats gather information about whether the object is merely playing dead or not. This could also explain why cats tend to prefer pushing over smaller, more rat-like objects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[NASA's Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Engineering Updates to Earth](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-voyager-1-resumes-sending-engineering-updates-to-earth)**: NASA\'s Voyager 1 spacecraft has started returning usable data about its health and status after a five-month period where it was unable to do so due to an issue with one of its three onboard computers, called the flight data subsystem (FDS). The issue occurred when a single chip responsible for storing a portion of the FDS memory, including some software code, failed. A plan is now in place to divide the affected code into sections and store them in different places within the FDS, with updates made to any references in other parts of the FDS memory. Voyager 2 continues to operate normally. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ruby vs Python comes down to the for loop](https://softwaredoug.com/blog/2021/11/12/ruby-vs-python-for-loop.html)**: The article highlights the differences between Ruby and Python when it comes to for loops. Ruby focuses on objects submitting to the object-model, while Python embraces for, with objects telling the language how they should be iterated. This distinction extends beyond for loops, with Python having strong opinions about data processing, whereas Ruby encourages objects to control their own processing. The article also discusses the procedural vs. object-oriented paradigms in both languages and their impact on programming. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Environment Shapes Emotional Cognitive Abilities More Than Genes - Neuroscience News](https://neurosciencenews.com/environment-genetics-metacognition-25945/)**: The study involved 57 pairs of identical and 48 pairs of fraternal twins from the Beijing Twin Study, focusing on metacognition and mentalizing---abilities tied to understanding and controlling one\'s cognitive processes and recognizing emotions in others, respectively. Researchers revealed that regardless of genetic similarity, twins showed similar cognitive traits when raised in similar educational and socio-economic environments. This challenges previous beliefs about the heritability of these cognitive skills, suggesting that the family environment plays a crucial role. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[I love programming but I hate the programming industry](https://www.deathbyabstraction.com/I-love-programming-but-I-hate-the-programming-industry)**: The author discusses their dissatisfaction with software engineering jobs, as they feel disconnected from the purpose and impact of their work. They believe that the industry focuses too much on producing more code without asking important questions about the broader implications and societal needs. This leads to a lack of creativity and innovation in software development, with many projects being driven by trends rather than actual human needs. The author hopes to find like-minded individuals who share their values and vision for creating more meaningful engineering work that addresses genuine societal issues and needs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Some Fritz!Box modems might have been hijacked](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40106336)**: This article discusses a vulnerability in Fritz!Box modems, where the use of the domain fritz.box as a suffix for internal network names can lead to potential DNS hijacking. The issue arises when someone registers the public TLD \".box\" and uses it with malicious intent, causing requests for \*.fritz.box domains to be directed towards their server instead of the intended Fritz!Box device. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the domain suffix cannot be modified in the DHCP server settings on these modems. The author suggests disabling the DNS suffix or using a custom DNS server as potential solutions, but also highlights the need for AVM to address this issue through a firmware update. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[llama3-killed-proprietary-models](https://www.kadoa.com/blog/llama3-killed-proprietary-models)**: **TODO** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The dangers of "decentralized" ID systems](https://paper.wf/crypto-agorism/the-dangers-of-decentralized-id-systems)**: Many decentralized identity protocols are being developed, promising increased privacy and self-sovereignty over data. However, many of these protocols rely on government ID as a base layer, which means that they cannot protect users against state surveillance. Additionally, this system excludes millions of people who cannot get government ID. Some decentralized ID protocols use social media or biometrics to verify user identity, but it is unlikely that the state will accept these methods. Instead, non-government DIDs could find use in the informal economy. An alternative solution could be allowing users to participate without linking their government ID and offering pseudonyms and throwaway accounts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Why is Windows 11 so annoying?](https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/21/24063379/windows-11-ads-bing-edge-cruft)**: The author expresses frustration with the recent changes in Windows 11, including intrusive advertising, features designed to promote other Microsoft products, and cluttered user interfaces. They argue that these changes detract from the user experience and are motivated by profit-driven corporate synergy rather than user needs. The author also discusses the history of Windows updates and how they have accumulated over time, leading to a bloated operating system. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Some monkeys in Panama may have just stumbled into the Stone Age](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2173021-some-monkeys-in-panama-may-have-just-stumbled-into-the-stone-age/)**: The white-faced capuchins in Panama are the fourth type of non-human primate found to use stones as tools for tasks like opening nuts and shellfish. This behavior might indicate that other primates, including human ancestors, stumbled upon the use of stone tools by chance. Other populations of capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees in Africa and South America also exhibit this behavior. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Why I hate your Single Page App](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/why-i-hate-your-single-page-app-f08bb4ff9134/)**: The author explains that single page applications (SPA) are often the result of making wrong architectural choices and missing important opportunities. They argue that building an SPA has become synonymous with modern web application development, leading people to overlook downsides such as complexity in client-side code, performance issues, and accessibility problems. The author recommends considering a RESTful approach for web applications, which includes server-side rendering of HTML and minimal use of JavaScript only for browser enhancement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Louisiana's flagship university lets oil firms influence research -- for a price](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/21/louisiana-state-university-oil-firms-influence)**: Louisiana State University (LSU) has been offering oil and gas companies access to research projects and potential influence over academic decisions in return for financial contributions. The controversial practice has drawn criticism from students, academics, and experts who argue that it could harm academic freedom and public trust. According to documents obtained via a public records request by the Lens, Shell donated \$25m to create the Institute for Energy Innovation at LSU in 2022. The deal allowed the company to influence research and coursework related to carbon capture, use, and storage. The relationship between universities and fossil fuel companies has been questioned by critics who argue that these partnerships may lead to a lack of transparency and could potentially result in biased academic findings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The Best Sleeping Bags for Every Adventure](https://www.wired.com/story/the-best-sleeping-bags-for-every-adventure/)**: This article discusses the best sleeping bags for various types of adventures, including backpacking, car camping, and trekking. The recommended sleeping bags range from ultralight to synthetic fill options, considering factors such as temperature rating, weight, and comfort. The article also explains important terms related to sleeping bag performance, such as denier ratings and hydrophobic down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[\"Growing concerns\" that Ozempic will disrupt big tobacco, candy companies, and alcohol brands, according to Morgan Stanley](https://curingaddiction.substack.com/p/growing-concerns-that-ozempic-will)**: A recent survey by Morgan Stanley has found that people taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro are spending less money at restaurants and consuming less alcohol, which could potentially impact the bottom lines of fast food companies and makers of packaged snacks. The market for GLP-1s is projected to be worth \$105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people taking them by 2035. These drugs are being studied for their potential effectiveness in treating addiction, Alzheimer\'s disease, depression, and anxiety, which could further increase the number of people using GLP-1s. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The reckless policies that helped fill our streets with ridiculously large cars](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24139147/suvs-trucks-popularity-federal-policy-pollution)**: The expanding size of automobiles in the US, known as \"car bloat,\" has deepened several national problems including road safety, environmental impacts, and infrastructure strain. Unlike peer nations, the US has experienced a rise in traffic deaths involving pedestrians and cyclists. Car bloat also threatens the environment by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and causing more wear on roads and tires, leading to higher maintenance costs and microplastic release into ecosystems. The US has favored large SUVs and trucks for 50 years through various policies that pushed automakers and buyers towards larger models. To counteract this issue, regulatory changes or new taxes may be necessary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Fefes Blog](https://blog.fefe.de/?ts=98d3fb13)**: The article discusses Microsoft\'s focus on security as their top priority and how they are doubling down on it, putting security above all other features and investments. However, the author argues that Windows has been known to increase surveillance and push users towards more cloud services for data collection purposes. Microsoft has not faced significant government accountability despite continued US government purchases of their products. The article also mentions concerns about Microsoft\'s strategy being incompatible with a security-first mindset, but the company disagrees with that characterization. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[can-science-find-ways-ease-loneliness](https://www.science.org/content/article/can-science-find-ways-ease-loneliness#)**: **TODO** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The Better Boarding Method Airlines Won\'t Use](https://www.youtube.com/oembed?format=xml&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DoAHbLRjF0vo)**: The article discusses the potential risks and benefits associated with using artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and education. It highlights that while AI can lead to significant advancements and improvements, there are also concerns about its impact on jobs, privacy, and ethical issues. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing these challenges in order to harness the full potential of AI for the benefit of society. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[How TfL's simple pop-up message led to a significant drop in paper ticket sales](https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/how-tfls-simple-pop-up-message-led-to-a-significant-drop-in-paper-ticket-sales-71920/)**: Transport for London (TfL) has observed a drop in paper ticket sales following a small change made to the ticket machines in September last year. The change aimed to encourage contactless payments over paper tickets, which are cheaper for customers and reduce magnetic stripe paper ticket sales for TfL. A pop-up message on the ticket machines now suggests using a contactless card instead of buying single or return paper tickets. Since the change was implemented, there has been a noticeable decrease in paper ticket sales. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[GitHub - remorses/docker-phobia: Analyze Docker images size](https://github.com/remorses/docker-phobia)**: The article discusses the Docker image \"docker-phobia\" hosted on Vercel and its features, including public notifications, forks, and stars. It highlights the activity and popularity of the image among users. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Microsoft must stop selling security as a premium offering](https://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/members/blog/2024-04-23/microsoft-must-stop-selling-security-premium-offering)**: The article discusses how Microsoft charges extra for many core security and compliance features in their subscriptions. Customers may choose to license all knowledge workers with Microsoft 365 E5, which includes most top-shelf security tools, but this can be a costly option. Alternatively, customers try to get around the full E5 subscription by combining various security and compliance pieces with less expensive E3 or Office 365 E3 subscriptions. Microsoft has made some concessions on core security features after past attacks, but it is not clear if they will make these features part of more of their subscriptions in the future. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Why I Am Now Relaxed About Releasing Buggy Software](https://mamddoh.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/why-i-am-now-relaxed-about-releasing-buggy-software/)**: The author, a perfectionist by nature, struggles with releasing imperfect software due to their desire for perfection. However, they learn that business stakeholders are also vested in the timely delivery and success of software projects, which sometimes requires releasing software with bugs or \"warts.\" The author realizes that their role as an engineer is not to assess risk but rather to ensure the software is releasable according to the business\'s definition and improve it further. Embracing this mindset allows them to work in a faster-paced environment focused on frequent releases, ultimately reducing their stress about releasing imperfect software. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Building an open data pipeline in 2024](https://blog.twingdata.com/p/building-an-open-data-pipeline-in)**: The article discusses building a data stack that harnesses commoditization of SQL, with Iceberg as the core data storage layer and flexibility to choose suitable compute environment based on specific use case requirements. Factors such as latency, cost, and sensitivity are considered when designing an architecture tailored for each unique scenario. The article also emphasizes the importance of open-source systems, allowing for innovation and cost-effectiveness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Laws of Software Evolution](https://two-wrongs.com/laws-of-software-evolution)**: The article discusses the importance of adaptable software in today\'s ever-changing world. It emphasizes the need for software to evolve and change according to its users and the environment. The author cites Lehman\'s laws of software evolution as guiding principles for dealing with continuous maintenance and increasing complexity. These laws highlight that software must adapt to real-world changes or become obsolete, and that as software is changed, its complexity will increase, making further changes more expensive. The article provides examples of how adhering to these principles can lead to better decision-making in software development and maintenance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Michael Tsai - Blog - Janky Apple ID Security](https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/26/janky-apple-id-security/)**: The article discusses an incident where the author\'s Apple ID was mysteriously locked. They had to enter a password again and were informed by their iPhone that they would have to wait one hour due to Stolen Device Protection being enabled, even though they claimed to be at a familiar location. After attempting unlocking on the Mac, it did not work properly, displaying incorrect behavior and non-standard layouts. The author had to cancel out of the sheet in order to exit System Settings and then relaunched it. Following this process again, the account was successfully unlocked using the Mac\'s password instead of a code sent to the iPhone. As a result, the phone automatically unlocked and made all Apple ID services available again. However, due to this experience, the author questioned whether Stolen Device Protection works properly and considered turning it off for security reasons. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[How to prevent Lyme disease this summer](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/06/how-to-prevent-lyme-disease-this-summer/)**: The odds of contracting Lyme disease from tick bites during warmer weather months are increasing due to factors such as climate change, which is conducive to maintaining tick populations over longer periods and expansion of the parasite\'s range south and west from historically high-risk areas. Areas with wooded or dense foliage, like suburban or rural areas, tend to have more Lyme disease cases due to ticks living in these environments. The disease is transmitted by the deer tick, also known as the blacklegged tick. Early symptoms include a red, ring-like rash and flu-like illness. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to facial paralysis, arthritis, meningitis, or inflammation of the heart called carditis. Vaccination is available for dogs, while a human vaccine is currently in clinical trials and may be ready by 2025. To protect oneself from Lyme disease, it\'s important to be aware of one\'s environment, wear tick-proof clothing, do regular tick checks, remove ticks properly, and seek treatment if symptoms occur. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Software Supply Chain Security](https://www.devicu.com/blog/software-supply-chan-security)**: This article discusses software attestations, proverence, and Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), which are important tools in maintaining the security of software components throughout the development process. The concept of SBOM dates back to 2000, while other tools like Update Framework (TUF) and Sigstore were introduced in 2010 and 2021 respectively. In-toto is an open-source project initiated in 2018 that defines a model for describing and verifying end-to-end software supply chain security, and SLSA was introduced by Google in 2021 as a set of incrementally adoptable guidelines for supply chain security. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[💡What contributing to Open-source is, and what it isn\'t](https://suchdevblog.com/opinions/WhatOpenSourceIs.html#how-to-contribute-to-open-source-the-right-way)**: This article argues that the advice to participate in Open Source for career benefits is misguided, especially for junior developers. It compares contributing to open source with bringing your stone (brick) to a building site without knowing how the construction works. The author claims that Hacktoberfest, an initiative promoting open-source contribution, is deeply flawed and can lead to negative experiences for both experienced builders and newcomers. Instead of simply contributing to open source, the article suggests using open-source products and engaging with their communities, fixing bugs or suggesting features that would improve the product. By doing so, junior developers can contribute positively to the open-source community while also helping themselves advance in their careers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[💡What contributing to Open-source is, and what it isn\'t](https://suchdevblog.com/opinions/WhatOpenSourceIs.html)**: The article emphasizes that contributing to Open Source might not be the best advice for junior developers or students looking to boost their careers. While it is noble to contribute, it can often lead to frustration and a belief that open-source projects are uninviting when young builders face difficulties understanding how the project works. Instead, the author suggests using open-source products and providing feedback by reporting bugs or suggesting features to truly benefit from Open Source. Finally, contributing to Open Source is not just about building, but also fulfilling a need and helping create a better product for the community. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Deutschlandticket: DB verlangt Bankkonto-Bestätigung bei Lastschrift-Kauf](https://www.heise.de/news/Deutsche-Bahn-Wer-ein-Abo-per-Lastschrift-zahlt-muss-Bankkonto-bestaetigen-9578677.html?view=print)**: The Deutsche Bahn (DB) has introduced a new requirement for customers to verify their identity when purchasing online ticket subscriptions, such as the Deutschlandticket. Since this month, DB customers must confirm their bank account during the booking process on the internet. Some social network users have expressed irritation over this new measure, considering it disproportionate, privacy-invasive, or simply cumbersome. The DB is collaborating with financial service providers Tink and Verimi for the verification process, where customers log in to their online banking system. EU\'s Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) regulates this procedure and its security measures. Customers without online banking can verify their identity through a photo ID or eID (electronic ID). DB claims that this verification process protects customers and the company from fraud and data misuse. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[How Not To Release Historic Source Code](https://www.os2museum.com/wp/how-not-to-release-historic-source-code/)**: The article discusses the release of source code for MS-DOS 4.00 or 4.01 by Microsoft and cautions against using git to preserve historical source code, as it does not preserve timestamps and can cause irreversible damage. It suggests that historic source code should be released simply as an archive with all timestamps preserved and every single byte kept the same way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Building A RAG System with Gemma, MongoDB and Open Source Models - Hugging Face Open-Source AI Cookbook](https://huggingface.co/learn/cookbook/rag_with_hugging_face_gemma_mongodb)**: This article demonstrates the process of creating a RAG (Recommendation as a Graph) system using open-source large language models (LLMs), embedding models, and database interaction functionalities to perform efficient vector-based searches on MongoDB Atlas. The steps involve data sourcing and preparation, generating embeddings, setting up the database connection, creating a vector search index, performing vector searches based on user queries, handling user queries, and loading Gemma model for generating responses. The article utilizes libraries such as PyMongo, Pandas, Hugging Face datasets, Hugging Face Accelerate, Hugging Face Transformers, and Sentence Transformers to simplify the development process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Building RAG from Scratch (Open-source only!)](https://docs.llamaindex.ai/en/stable/examples/low_level/oss_ingestion_retrieval/)**: The article describes the VectorDBRetriever class in llama_index.core.retrievers, which is a Retriever over a Postgres vector store. The class has parameters including a PGVectorStore, an embed model, and query mode (default). It uses a VectorStoreQuery object to retrieve results from the vector store, with the ability to return nodes_with_scores. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[E-Scooters: First Thoughts](https://maxmautner.com/2024/04/26/electric-scooters.html)**: The article discusses the author\'s experience with using an electric push scooter and shares their perspective on its advantages and disadvantages. They highlight how it can be a fun and potentially dangerous mode of transportation, offering personal financial savings compared to other options like cars or bicycles. However, they emphasize safety as a significant hurdle that needs to be addressed for electric scooters to become more popular. The author concludes by recommending electric scooters with the caveat that safety precautions should be taken on both personal and societal levels. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[LogLog Games](https://loglog.games/blog/leaving-rust-gamedev/)**: This article is a personal reflection by an experienced game developer on their journey using Rust for game development over the past few years. The author discusses various aspects of Rust, including its strengths and weaknesses in the context of gamedev, as well as issues with the language\'s ecosystem and community. They also share their thoughts on hot reloading, GUI frameworks, abstraction, and other topics relevant to game development. Ultimately, they express their decision to abandon Rust for game development due to a combination of factors including its complexity, performance constraints, and lack of certain features that are essential in the gamedev process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Inside the Brutal Business Practices of Amazon---And How It Became "Too Toxic to Touch"](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/inside-amazon-business-practices)**: In an interview with Vanity Fair, reporter Dana Mattioli discusses her new book, \"The Everything War,\" which delves into Amazon\'s business practices and internal culture. The company has been known to systematically stifle criticism and squeeze out competitors. Mattioli found that people tend not to last at Amazon due to its aggressive nature and the pressure employees are under to perform well. The book also explores Amazon\'s lobbying efforts and its recent antitrust lawsuits, as well as how the company\'s culture has contributed to controversial business practices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Google is feeling pretty pumped about a new way of showing you ads on YouTube](https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-pause-ads-3437531/)**: Google has announced positive results from its experiment with \"pause ads\" on YouTube. This new non-interruptive ad format appears when users pause their organic content and is currently being tested on smart TVs. Philipp Schindler, from Alphabet\'s earnings call, stated that the pause ads are driving strong brand lift results and commanding premium pricing from advertisers. The company may roll out these ads more widely once it gathers data from its ongoing experiment. YouTube first mentioned pause ads last year when they started trialing them in select regions, but no specific timelines for their launch have been shared yet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Wisdom from Marcus Aurelius](https://www.gurwinder.blog/p/wisdom-from-marcus-aurelius)**: This article discusses Marcus Aurelius, a notable figure from Ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism, and highlights ten of his most useful quotes. The author emphasizes the importance of Stoicism as a solution for problems in the digital age, particularly focusing on mindfulness, gratitude, and living life with purpose. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The follow lie, and why it's worse than ever](https://12challenges.substack.com/p/the-follow-lie-and-why-its-worse)**: The \"follow lie\" is a phenomenon where social media platforms prioritize users\' interests over their connections, leading to the decline in visibility for content creators and users alike. This enshittification occurs as platforms shift towards an interest graph approach that focuses on serving up engaging content rather than adhering to personal connections. As a result, both consumers and creators are left questioning the true value of following others on these platforms. To combat this issue, relying on newsletters and email can be more effective in delivering desired content without falling victim to the follow lie. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Welcome to Scam World](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/21/style/scams-identity-theft.html)**: This article discusses the prevalence and variety of scams and fraudulent activities encountered by individuals on various platforms such as email, social media, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. Some common examples include phishing emails, fake job opportunities, brand collaboration requests, unrecognized text messages, and fraudulent online advertisements. The article emphasizes the importance of being vigilant and cautious when engaging with unknown entities to avoid falling victim to scams. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[A New Sweetener Has Joined the Ranks of Aspartame and Stevia](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/04/sugar-substitutes-brazzein-stevia-aspartame/678192/)**: This article discusses the quest for the perfect sugar alternative, as many people are looking to reduce their sugar intake or avoid it completely due to health concerns. While artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose have been around for decades, they often leave a bad taste in consumers\' mouths and have been linked to certain diseases. Recently approved by the FDA is brazzein, which comes from the oubli fruit in West Africa and has an unnoticeable aftertaste, but still contains sugar to help mask its off flavor. The ideal sweetener would need to be safe, taste good, and replicate the way sugar\'s sweetness develops on the tongue. Currently, no sugar alternative exists that fully satisfies these criteria. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[gradientai/Llama-3-8B-Instruct-262k · Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/gradientai/Llama-3-8B-Instruct-262k)**: Gradient AI is developing autonomous assistants that leverage large language models (LLMs) to deploy critical operations across businesses. LLMs can learn to operate with minimal training while appropriately adjusting RoPEta, a data-driven optimization technique. The Gradient AI team has developed an extended LLama-3 8B model with a context length of over 160K, sponsored by compute from Crusoe Energy. This model demonstrates that SOTA LLMs can learn to operate on long contexts efficiently and effectively. To learn more or collaborate, contact Gradient AI at contact@gradient.ai. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Columbia University has a doxxing problem](https://www.theverge.com/24141073/columbia-doxxing-truck-student-encampment-palestine-israel)**: The troubles began over six months ago for Columbia University\'s campus, with a box truck displaying the names and photos of dozens of Columbia students starting to circulate around a pro-Palestine protest near the university\'s Morningside Heights campus. Since then, pro-Palestine protesters have attempted to balance their public-facing activism with increasing concerns over privacy and safety as they face online harassment and doxxing. The truck, paid for by conservative nonprofit Accuracy in Media, called the students \"Columbia\'s Leading Antisemites,\" causing distress among those named on the truck. In response to the doxxing, Columbia University announced a \"doxxing resource group\" last November, but it has been described as insufficient by some students. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Fefes Blog](https://blog.fefe.de/?ts=98d5aaaa)**: The author criticizes the Green Party for their ideological stance and involvement in policies like Homoeopathy and Hartz IV. However, they recognize that Economy Minister Robert Habeck is a competent politician, despite disagreeing with the party\'s positions. The article discusses a report from \"Cicero\" magazine alleging that Habeck acted prematurely in deciding to phase out nuclear energy without exploring all options. The author defends Habeck and claims he had evidence to support his decision, adding that he would be open to supporting Habeck as Chancellor if a party were formed around him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[How I Rewired My Brain to Become Fluent in Math](https://nautil.us/how-i-rewired-my-brain-to-become-fluent-in-math-235085/)**: The author discusses their journey from disliking math and science as a child to becoming an engineering professor. They explain that it was through understanding the importance of practice, repetition, and memorization---similar methods used in language learning---that they were able to master complex subjects like mathematics. The author emphasizes that true understanding comes from fluency, achieved through consistent practice and repetition, rather than solely relying on conceptual understanding. They also suggest that encouraging people to explore various disciplines can enrich their lives and open new opportunities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Firstyear\'s blog-a-log](https://fy.blackhats.net.au/blog/2024-04-26-passkeys-a-shattered-dream/)**: This article discusses the author\'s experience with Passkeys, a passwordless authentication method developed by Apple. The author criticizes Passkeys for being user-unfriendly and vulnerable to platform lock-in, leading to dissatisfaction among users and potential failure in the general market. The author also highlights issues with Webauthn standards and the influence of major tech companies like Google on browser development, which has contributed to the decline of Passkeys\' success as a passwordless authentication method. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Early tests of H5N1 prevalence in milk suggest U.S. bird flu outbreak in cows is widespread](https://www.statnews.com/2024/04/25/h5n1-bird-flu-cows-outbreak-likely-widespread/)**: A study led by Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, found that 58 out of 150 commercial milk products from around the Midwest contained viral RNA from the H5N1 virus. Although genetic material was present, no live or infectious virus was discovered. The researchers believe that the prevalence of the virus in dairy cows is higher than official reports indicate and could pose a threat to human health if it mutates to transmit efficiently in mammals. The FDA plans to release results from its own investigation into the H5N1 virus in milk samples purchased from store shelves within days, with the goal of confirming that pasteurization effectively kills off any live or infectious virus present in the milk products. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Mendeleej](http://mendeleej.com/)**: The article discusses various aspects of elements, their properties, and periodic table categories such as blocks, periods, groups, platinum group, rare earth elements, refractory metals, precious metals, coinage metals, noble metals, heavy metals, native metals, transuranium, transactinide, minor actinide, metalloids, light metals, main-group element, atomic properties like relative atomic mass, diatomic bond strength, electron configuration, isotopes, valence electrons, empirical radii, calculated radii, van der Waals radii, single covalent bond radii, double covalent bond radii, and triple covalent bond radii. Additional information includes year of discovery, country of discovery, name language, name type, history, bulk properties like melting point, boiling point, critical point, mineral hardness, Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, solid density, liquid density, gas density, molar volume, heat of fusion, heat of vaporization, Poisson\'s radio, crystalline entropy, and various other properties like electrical conductivity, resistivity, magnetic class, and crystal structure. The article also provides information on sources for some of these data and their respective references. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[What We Train Our Brains For](https://michaeldehaan.substack.com/p/what-we-train-our-brains-for)**: This article discusses the occupational hazards of computing and technology-related jobs. It suggests that these jobs may lead to an excessive focus on finding problems and preventing failures, resulting in people becoming too negative and wired for logic. The author questions whether this mindset contributes to widespread burnout within the industry and suggests possible ways to encourage optimism and presence by being more appreciative of work, focusing less on velocity and roadmaps, and allowing everyone to brainstorm and contribute their design ideas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[The Man Who Killed Google Search](https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-men-who-killed-google/)**: This article tells the story of how Google search died and the people responsible for killing it, starting with Ben Gomes, a key figure in developing modern search engines, who was replaced by Prabhakar Raghavan, a computer scientist and manager. The turning point occurred when Raghavan, along with other finance and advertising teams at Google, pushed to make the company more profitable, even if it meant harming the quality of its search engine. This led to changes in how ads were displayed on mobile searches, which negatively impacted users\' experiences. Gomes was seen as a hero for his dedication to maintaining Google Search as an effective tool, while Raghavan has been criticized for his previous role leading Yahoo\'s search engine into decline and his current management style at Google. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Fefes Blog](https://blog.fefe.de/?ts=98d5acc4)**: The article discusses why Google is so focused on quality, attributing it to a former McKinsey employee who joined the company. It notes that profit has surprisingly been high, leading Alphabet to pay its first dividend. While some may question the focus on quality and investment in it, it ultimately seems to be beneficial for the company\'s success. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Type Safety Doesn\'t Matter - FP Complete](https://www.fpcomplete.com/blog/type-safety-doesnt-matter/)**: The author believes that type safety alone does not matter; its significance lies in what it accomplishes: moving errors from runtime to compile time. Type safety is just one method for achieving the primary goal of reducing runtime errors. Strongly typed languages like Rust, Haskell, and even TypeScript provide significant benefits such as bug reduction, easier codebase maintainability, simplicity of refactoring, new engineering onboarding, potential performance gains, and more. The author emphasizes understanding why type safety is being used and evaluating whether the time spent on implementing it is worth the benefits in terms of bug reduction and other advantages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[What's new for .NET in Ubuntu 24.04](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/whats-new-for-dotnet-in-ubuntu-2404/)**: Ubuntu 24.04, codenamed Noble Numbat, has been launched with .NET support available from day one in official Ubuntu feeds for the first time. This marks a significant growth in partnership between Canonical and Microsoft since .NET was added to Ubuntu 22.04 a few months after its release. Ubuntu LTS releases are popular, and the inclusion of .NET is expected to attract many developers who will start using these new packages and container images. Additionally, Microsoft Build 2024 will feature a session with experts from Canonical and Microsoft for those interested in learning more about .NET on Ubuntu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Ask HN: Anyone else depressed by the relentless monetization and spying?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40166254)**: The article discusses the issue of online data harvesting and monetization by corporations, with a focus on Microsoft as an example. It highlights how companies optimize their services to make more money from users and calls out Richard Stallman\'s warning about such systems in the late 1980s. The article also touches upon personal investments and their relation to online data harvesting, as well as the potential role of blockchain technology in addressing these issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[A look at the early impact of Meta Llama 3](https://ai.meta.com/blog/meta-llama-3-update/?_fb_noscript=1)**: The response from the developer community to Meta Llama 3 has been overwhelmingly positive since its release one week ago. With a focus on kickstarting AI innovation across various aspects, such as applications, developer tools, evaluations, and inference optimizations, developers have created numerous derivative models, with downloads exceeding 1.2 million and the Llama 3 GitHub repo receiving over 17,000 stars. The model has also achieved high rankings on leaderboards for English-only evals. Partners across silicon, hardware, and cloud providers have begun deploying Llama 3 to users, while developers have fine-tuned it for specific needs like medicine. More models with new capabilities will be released in the coming months. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Go or Rust? Just Listen to the Bots](https://cybernetist.com/2024/04/25/go-or-rust-just-listen-to-the-bots/)**: The article discusses a fun project where the author built conversational bots with actual voices using Go and Rust programming languages. It involved building an API library for a remote text-to-speech (TTS) provider, creating LLM models for generating answers, and utilizing message bus libraries such as NATS JetStream for communication between the bots. The author also shares their experience working with various libraries and programming languages in this project. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[New evidence found for Planet 9](https://phys.org/news/2024-04-evidence-planet.html)**: A team of planetary scientists has found possible new evidence supporting the existence of Planet 9, an unknown planet beyond Neptune\'s orbit. The researchers created multiple computer simulations, including the impact of Neptune\'s gravitational pull and the galactic tide, a combination of forces exerted by Milky Way objects beyond the solar system. They concluded that the most plausible explanation for the behavior of long-period objects was interference from gravity exerted by an unidentified large distant planet. The Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile is set to begin operations next year, equipped with new ways to search and assess the existence of Planet 9. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[How ruthless is Amazon, really?](https://www.economist.com/culture/2024/04/25/how-ruthless-is-amazon-really)**: The Everything War is a book that details Amazon\'s rise to power and its impact on various brands in the e-commerce world, with author Dana Mattioli focusing on how Amazon has allegedly misused its power to create monopolies. While some of the stories are compelling, the book lacks a \"gotcha\" moment and resorts to one-sided rhetoric against Amazon. The book highlights the contradictions of corporate concentration and suggests that politicians have failed to update competition law to address modern oligopolies effectively. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Financial Times \| The myth of the second chance](https://archive.is/JMlhF)**: This article discusses Ian McEwan\'s novels, which often revolve around characters making one major mistake that shapes their lives forever. The author suggests that middle-aged people face the reality that their fate can be determined by a single misjudgment, and there should be more honesty about this from those who provide guidance. The article also draws parallels between football, where a single error can decide the outcome, and life outside of the stadium, noting that sometimes the stakes are too high for people to recognize their mistakes or make significant changes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[282557318242321](https://ft.pressreader.com/article/282557318242321)**: **TODO** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Cease labeling recursion as challenging for students](https://mabelcor.substack.com/p/cease-labeling-recursion-as-challenging)**: The article discusses the idea of recursion and its natural basis when humans perform repetitive tasks. It presents an example of exponentiation, illustrating how recursive functions work. Recursive thinking requires understanding the process generated by these procedures and a shift from imperative to declarative thinking. The main barrier to understanding recursion is comprehending the basic pattern most recursive functions follow. The author believes that teaching recursion before iteration is more natural and critical to understanding computation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[v8APRIL17Commerce_HowOnlineServiceProviders_Reportv2 (MLB](https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/253BF7A3-EA7E-41B2-85AA-6404BF484870)**: The article discusses the increasing trend of online service providers (OSPs), such as Slack, Eventbrite, and Bonterra, to deny services or remove accounts based on political reasons. It provides specific examples where conservative organizations have been affected by these actions. The author argues that this behavior is part of a larger effort to silence conservative voices and advocates for transparency and accountability measures through legislation. Slack, an instant messaging platform, shut down the workspace of Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account that reposts social media posts critical of far-left accounts. The decision was based on Slack\'s Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits users from engaging in activity that incites or encourages violence or hatred against individuals or groups. However, it appears that Slack has allowed violent, liberal organizations to continue using their services. Eventbrite, a global self-service event and ticketing platform, has removed numerous pages for events hosted by conservative organizations involving policy debates related to transgender issues. The company\'s Community Guidelines prohibit posting certain content on an event page or engaging in conduct during the events themselves that could be considered \"hateful, dangerous, or violent\" based on someone\'s actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or veteran status. Eventbrite has used these guidelines to remove pages for events featuring Matt Walsh and Riley Gaines, despite the fact that they were merely speaking about women\'s sports and had not advocated for violence or discrimination. Bonterra, a company that offers CRM software and other technology services, requires customers to agree to policies that prevent them from advocating against LGBTQ rights, a woman\'s right to reproductive choice, racial justice, or climate change denial. As a result, Bonterra refused to continue providing software to the Independent Women\'s Forum (IWF) and other conservative organizations. The author suggests that these actions may be forcing organizations to choose between free speech and maintaining their operations. The article concludes by calling for market forces to correct OSPs\' discriminatory policies and advocating for legislation aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the way they enforce their standards. It also encourages those who have been deplatformed for political reasons to share their experiences with Senator Cruz. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[mradermacher (Michael Radermacher)](https://huggingface.co/mradermacher/)**: The article discusses various models and datasets created by mradermacher using GGUF quantizations for static and imatrix algorithms. These include dolphin, Meta-Llama, Average Normie, RiddleLegalEasy, mixtral, Knight-Miqu, Crunchy onion, koishi, and Llama models. The datasets are currently not publicly available. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **[Mixin pattern in Python](https://serge-m.github.io/posts/mixins-in-python/)**: The article discusses the usage of design pattern Mixin in Python programming. It explains that mixins are typically used when an application requires adding multiple optional features to a class or using one feature across various classes. The order of mixing is crucial, as it determines the behavior and hierarchy of the resulting class. In Python, this hierarchy is defined from left to right. However, if methods or properties in mixins are overridden, it can lead to unexpected results due to the priority of method resolution being from left to right. The article concludes with examples of using Mixin1, Mixin2, and BaseClass classes in a class hierarchy, demonstrating their application and the importance of ordering in Python programming.