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2024-12-10

What we know about CEO shooting suspect

  • Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old from a notable Baltimore family, has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
  • Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania with a ghost gun and a document hinting at a motive related to anger towards corporate America.
  • Despite his academic achievements and career as a data engineer, Mangione's social media suggests recent isolation from family and friends.

Reactions

  • The CEO shooting suspect's case has generated numerous theories, ranging from a deliberate plan to spread a message to mere incompetence and luck.- The suspect's behavior, including carrying evidence and appearing in public during a manhunt, has intensified public speculation.- The incident has sparked discussions on societal issues, particularly public frustration with the healthcare system and disparities in crime treatment based on victim status.

This is not a joke, Funko just called my mom

Reactions

  • Funko issued a takedown request targeting a specific page on itch.io, but it resulted in the temporary removal of the entire site, leading to public backlash.
  • Funko clarified that their intention was to target only a specific page, not the entire itch.io platform.
  • The incident has sparked discussions about the responsibility of companies and their partners in managing takedown requests effectively.

Tree Calculus

  • Tree Calculus is a Turing-complete computational model with a single operator, allowing for program analysis, type checking, compilation, and optimization directly within the code.- It supports arbitrary type systems and gradual typing, enabling powerful Read-Eval-Print Loops (REPLs) and program deployment without external tools.- Its minimal syntax and semantics make it portable and easy to implement interpreters on any platform, suitable for modeling, formal specifications, and educational purposes.

Reactions

  • Tree Calculus is a programming language developed by Prof. Barry Jay, focusing on unlabeled trees and allowing introspection and manipulation of functions.
  • It is Turing complete, meaning it can perform any computation given enough time and resources, and offers unique features like function inversion, setting it apart from languages like Lisp or Forth.
  • The community is actively discussing its implications and potential applications, although there is some confusion regarding its presentation and purpose on the website treecalcul.us.

Trellis – 3D mesh generative model

  • The post introduces a new 3D generation method using a unified Structured LATent (SLAT) representation, enhancing the creation of versatile and high-quality 3D assets.
  • The model, named TRELLIS, utilizes rectified flow transformers and is trained on a large dataset, outperforming existing methods in 3D generation.
  • The approach supports flexible output formats and local 3D editing, with plans to release the code, model, and data to the public.

Reactions

  • Trellis, a 3D mesh generative model, has generated mixed reactions due to its ability to produce high-quality assets, potentially shifting game development focus from graphics to storytelling.
  • While some express concern over the diminishing role of handmade artistry, others see potential for artists to adapt and use AI to enhance their work.
  • Trellis is recognized for its potential in prototyping and democratizing 3D modeling, despite current limitations like poor wireframe quality and challenges with certain shapes.

Save Music, Save the Archive

  • Over 500 musicians are advocating for major labels to withdraw a $621 million lawsuit against the Internet Archive, a nonprofit cultural institution.
  • The musicians emphasize the need for fair compensation, protection of music legacies, and investment in living artists rather than supporting monopolistic practices.
  • They argue that the music industry's survival depends on prioritizing artists' futures and preserving their works, urging public support through an open letter.

Reactions

  • Open source projects, such as Relisten, utilize the Internet Archive to store legally recorded concerts, aiding music fans and preserving cultural history.
  • The Internet Archive is facing legal challenges from major labels, particularly concerning projects like the Great 78 Project, which seeks to preserve historical recordings.
  • There is ongoing debate in the music industry about fair artist compensation, with discussions on copyright, streaming revenues, and alternative revenue models like direct sales and platforms such as Patreon.

From where I left

Reactions

  • The controversy centers on Redis changing its open-source license, causing discontent among contributors who feel betrayed by the move.- The new license is seen by some as complicating legal use, while others view it as essential to prevent exploitation by large corporations.- The emergence of Valkey, a Redis fork supported by major tech companies, and the return of Redis founder Salvatore Sanfilippo, are significant developments in the ongoing debate about open-source licensing and corporate influence.

Developer wrote 25k lines of Neovim plugin code using phone and touchscreen

Reactions

  • A developer in Bangladesh wrote 25,000 lines of Neovim plugin code using only a phone and touchscreen, showcasing remarkable dedication and adaptability.
  • A fundraiser is being organized to provide him with a laptop, as laptops are costly in Bangladesh, highlighting the financial barriers faced by developers in developing countries.
  • The developer utilizes tools like Termius, tmux, and Vim on his phone, and his efforts have sparked discussions about the challenges of coding on a phone.

Debanking (and Debunking?)

  • Debanking, the involuntary closure of bank accounts, is a contentious issue, particularly affecting crypto businesses, with concerns it may be used as a political tool.
  • The debate involves complex interactions between private and state actors, with some viewing debanking as necessary for risk management, while others see it as unfair and lacking due process.
  • Historical regulatory actions like Operation Choke Point, which pressured banks to sever ties with certain industries, are cited by critics as similar to current actions against crypto businesses, termed "Choke Point 2.0."

Reactions

  • Debanking involves banks closing accounts or denying services, often due to regulatory pressures such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, which aim to prevent illegal financial activities.
  • Critics highlight the lack of transparency and due process in debanking, which can unjustly impact individuals and businesses, limiting their economic participation.
  • The debate centers on whether banks should be required to offer basic services to everyone, regardless of perceived risks, and how this issue intersects with broader political and social concerns.

Double (YC W24) – Index Investing with 0% Expense Ratios

  • Double is a financial platform that allows investment in over 50 stock market indexes with no expense ratios, charging a flat fee of $1/month for management, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.
  • The platform offers direct indexing by purchasing individual stocks from popular indexes, providing customization and daily portfolio optimization, distinguishing itself from other robo-advisors.
  • Double has achieved $10 million in assets under management (AUM) and aims to disrupt the $100 billion/year ETF and mutual fund market by offering low-fee investment strategies.

Reactions

  • Double is an investment platform offering index investing with a flat fee of $1/month and 0% expense ratios, aiming to disrupt traditional ETF and mutual fund markets.- Founded by JJ and Mark, the platform manages over 50 stock market indexes and handles tasks like rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting, with $10M in assets under management.- Despite its innovative fee structure, there are concerns about Double's sustainability, security, and how it compares to established financial institutions like Vanguard and Fidelity.