2025-01-30
JavaScript Temporal is coming
JavaScript Temporal is a new feature in experimental browser releases aimed at improving date and time handling for web developers, addressing limitations of the old Date object. Temporal provides precise management of dates, times, durations, and calendars, with over 200 utility methods, supporting various calendars and time zones. While full cross-browser support is still in progress, Firefox leads with the most advanced implementation, and developers can experiment with Temporal using the @js-temporal/polyfill.
Reactions
JavaScript Temporal is a new API designed to overcome the limitations of the old Date() API, drawing inspiration from advanced time libraries like chrono in Rust and Joda Time in Java. It introduces a more complex but necessary structure by separating time into naive time, instant, and zoned time, effectively addressing issues like Daylight Saving Time (DST) bugs and serialization discrepancies. Temporal is anticipated to replace popular libraries such as Moment.js, Luxon, and date-fns by providing a standardized, built-in solution for date and time management in JavaScript, utilizing the IANA Time Zone Database.
Exposed DeepSeek database leaking sensitive information, including chat history
Wiz Research identified a security vulnerability in a publicly accessible ClickHouse database of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, which exposed over a million lines of sensitive data, including chat history and secret keys. The database was open and unauthenticated, presenting significant security risks, but was promptly secured after Wiz Research's responsible disclosure. This incident underscores the security challenges in the rapid adoption of AI technologies, highlighting the critical need for robust security measures to protect sensitive data as AI becomes increasingly integral to business operations.
Reactions
A DeepSeek database leak revealed sensitive information, such as chat history, but was responsibly disclosed and promptly patched. The discussion underscores the widespread use of English in coding globally, attributed to its dominance in programming languages and tools. The leak also sparked conversations about DeepSeek's impact on NVIDIA's stock and broader geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding China's technological influence.
Commercial jet collides with Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan airport
A midair collision occurred between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Airport, Virginia, causing flight disruptions. The passenger jet, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, had 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter carried three soldiers. At least 18 bodies have been recovered, and a significant search and rescue operation is ongoing in the Potomac River.
Reactions
A commercial jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan Airport, raising significant concerns about air traffic safety. Despite instructions for the helicopter to maintain visual separation, the collision occurred, prompting discussions on air traffic control procedures. The incident has intensified calls for policy changes to enhance safety and prevent future accidents in U.S. airspace.
Mistral Small 3
Mistral AI has released Mistral Small 3, a 24 billion-parameter model optimized for low latency, under the Apache 2.0 license, offering an open-source alternative to larger proprietary models. The model excels in generative AI tasks, achieving over 81% accuracy on MMLU with 150 tokens/s latency, and is suitable for local deployment on devices like an RTX 4090 or a Macbook with 32GB RAM. Mistral Small 3 is available on platforms such as Hugging Face, Ollama, and Kaggle, and is designed for fast-response conversational assistance and fine-tuning for domain-specific expertise.
Reactions
Mistral Small 3 is a new AI model optimized for efficient performance on laptops, rivaling models like Llama 3.3 70B, and can be run locally on devices such as the M2 MacBook Pro. The model is open-source under the Apache 2.0 license, with competitive API pricing, making it accessible for various applications, including finance and healthcare. Discussions highlight its strong performance in structured output and local applications, as well as the significance of open-source weights and learning from open-source projects.
Antiqua et Nova: Note on the relationship between AI and human intelligence
The document examines AI and human intelligence from a Christian viewpoint, focusing on ethical and anthropological challenges AI poses. It underscores the Church's belief in intelligence as a divine gift, essential to human dignity, and the need for responsible AI use to benefit society. The text calls for ethical guidelines to ensure AI respects human dignity, addressing concerns like privacy, misinformation, and its effects on labor and relationships.
Reactions
The Vatican's document "Antiqua et Nova" examines the interplay between artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence, emphasizing the responsible use of human intelligence as a divine gift. While acknowledging AI's benefits, the document warns of ethical challenges, such as AI's potential to mimic human creativity and make autonomous decisions, stressing the need for AI development to respect human dignity and serve the common good. The Church cautions against AI becoming a substitute for God, urging careful discernment and ethical use to prevent deifying technology and maintaining focus on human values.
Advice for a friend who wants to start a blog
Reactions
Aspiring bloggers are advised to own their content rather than relying on platforms like Medium or Substack, ensuring control and independence. Consistent writing and selecting a specific niche are recommended for achieving better results and attracting a dedicated audience. The POSSE strategy (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) is suggested for promoting work, while emphasizing the importance of writing for personal satisfaction over immediate engagement.
Younger cannabis users have reduced brain function, finds largest study yet
A study by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus indicates that cannabis use can impair brain function in young adults, particularly affecting working memory. The research, involving 1,003 participants and MRI scans, found that heavy and recent cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during memory tasks, impacting areas related to emotion, cognition, and social behavior. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study suggests abstaining from cannabis before cognitive tasks may enhance performance, but heavy users might face withdrawal symptoms, highlighting the need for further research on cannabis's long-term brain effects.
Reactions
A significant study suggests that younger cannabis users might experience diminished brain function, especially in working memory. The study cannot conclusively establish causation, as it acknowledges potential correlations with factors like self-medication for anxiety or ADHD. The ongoing debate questions whether cannabis directly causes reduced cognitive function or if it is associated with other lifestyle choices.
From C++ to Clojure: Jank language promises best of both
Jeaye Wilkerson, a former engineer at Electronic Arts (EA), is creating "jank," a new programming language that merges Clojure's interactive features with native compilation, leveraging LLVM (Low-Level Virtual Machine). Jank incorporates aspects of C++, Clojure, and Rust, targeting enhanced performance and usability, and is intended for applications in gaming, graphical user interface (GUI) development, and data science. The language has attracted community interest, with a development roadmap that includes improved error reporting, interoperability with C++, and distribution on Linux, with potential applications in game engines and web services.
Reactions
Jank is a new programming language designed to merge the strengths of C++ and Clojure, emphasizing seamless interoperability with C++ and interactive development. It utilizes Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation with LLVM (Low-Level Virtual Machine) to produce native binaries, enhancing performance and C++ integration. The language is still under development, with future plans to support multiple platforms and improve memory management, sparking interest for its potential in game development and native GUI applications.
Making the video that made Gorillaz
Reactions
Gorillaz, a virtual band, gained popularity through their innovative combination of music and animation, notably with the "Clint Eastwood" video. Fans fondly recall the band's creative projects, such as the interactive Flash Kong Studios site and Jamie Hewlett's distinctive artwork. The band, led by Damon Albarn, continues to be influential in the music industry, maintaining a timeless appeal despite evolving over the years.
PCBs, copper pours, ground planes, and you
Reactions
The article explores the evolution of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design, particularly focusing on copper pours and ground planes, which have become more efficient with modern manufacturing techniques. Copper pours are now used to enhance production speed, consistency, and reduce side-etching, while ground planes are essential for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), electrical performance, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM). The article highlights the importance of precise technical writing and critiques the mixing of concepts in PCB design discussions.
Airflow – Stream media files directly from macOS to AirPlay devices
Airflow is a video streaming application compatible with Chromecast, Apple TV, and AirPlay 2 TVs, featuring HEVC streaming, adaptive audio, and real-time subtitle OCR (Optical Character Recognition). It supports 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range) and various audio formats, providing high-quality playback with minimal CPU usage. Airflow is available for a one-time purchase of $19.99 and includes a free remote control app for Android and iPhone, compatible with macOS 10.12+, 64-bit Windows 10+, and 32-bit Windows 10+.
Reactions
Airflow is a media streaming application that allows users to stream content from macOS to AirPlay and Chromecast devices, known for its speed and reliability. Users appreciate Airflow for its video scrubbing capabilities, handling of large files, subtitle support, and compatibility with both macOS and Windows. Despite some concerns about its development status and UI criticisms, recent updates indicate active development, and many users find it a valuable purchase compared to alternatives like Beamer and AirParrot.
Mathesar – an intutive spreadsheet-like interface to Postgres data
Mathesar is a web application that provides a spreadsheet-like interface for PostgreSQL databases, enabling users to manage data without needing to code. It is open source, self-hosted, and integrates directly with PostgreSQL, ensuring data security through native access control. Mathesar is currently in public beta, encouraging community contributions, and is maintained by the nonprofit Mathesar Foundation.
Reactions
Mathesar provides a spreadsheet-like interface for Postgres, designed to be user-friendly for non-technical users, enabling data editing, querying, and relationship management directly within Postgres. It is a web-based, open-source, and self-hosted tool, distinct from others like DBeaver or Metabase, with a focus on ease of use and deep integration with Postgres. Currently, Mathesar lacks UI customization and a SQL editor but plans to incorporate these features; it is GPLv3 licensed and funded through donations, exploring sustainable revenue options.
LibreOffice 400M Downloads, and Counting
LibreOffice has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 400 million downloads as of January 30, 2025, highlighting its sustained popularity and utility. After initial rapid growth from 2011 to 2014, interest in LibreOffice revived post-stagnation, as users appreciated the value of desktop office suites alongside cloud-based solutions. Despite facing attacks on its download counter in 2019, LibreOffice continued to grow, achieving over 35 million downloads annually by 2024, demonstrating its resilience and ongoing relevance.
Reactions
LibreOffice has achieved a significant milestone with 400 million downloads, underscoring its widespread use despite competition from other office suites like OnlyOffice. Users express varied preferences, with some favoring OnlyOffice for its compatibility with Microsoft Office and modern interface, while others value LibreOffice for its open-source nature and ability to handle large files. The discussion highlights LibreOffice's integration in Linux distributions, its utility in both personal and professional contexts, and its ongoing development, alongside challenges in transitioning from cloud-based solutions to local software.
Parsing PDFs (and more) in Elixir using Rust
Parsing PDFs in Elixir is challenging due to the lack of simple solutions, but integrating Rust through NIFs (Native Implemented Functions) offers a robust alternative. The combination of Rust's speed and efficiency with Elixir's capabilities allows for the creation of a LiveView Elixir application for PDF uploads, using the Extractous library in Rust and Rustler for integration. This approach emphasizes the strengths of both languages, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for PDF parsing, with the full implementation available on GitHub.
Reactions
Parsing PDFs in Elixir using Rust provides a stable solution by utilizing Rust's reliability to avoid crashes in the BEAM (Bogdan/Björn's Erlang Abstract Machine) virtual machine. The main challenge is extracting complex data, such as tables, from PDFs, which goes beyond simple text extraction. Tools like Unstructured and Marker in Rust are being explored to improve model inference speed and incorporate vision capabilities, with interest in a dockerized API for local development.