2023-04-11
Microsoft fixes 5-year-old Defender bug, reducing Firefox-related CPU use by 75%
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Discussion Service. Microsoft fixed a 5-year-old Defender bug reducing Firefox CPU use. Anti-virus products caused similar but less severe CPU impact. Optimizing small things vs. CO2 footprint discussed. Discussion Service users discuss energy efficiency of web browsers, ad-blockers, browser compatibility on Windows. Turning off YouTube's "ambient mode" on Firefox saves 30% CPU on a Mac. Mac vs. Linux for troubleshooting discussed. Criticisms and suggestions for Firefox generating high CPU usage compared to Chrome. ETW bug and Defender performance drop in PowerShell operations noted.
Ever-expanding animation of the life of the 796th floor of a space station
Original. An ever-expanding animation showcasing the life of a space station's 796th floor has been created. The project, named Floor796, was made by an artist and programmer and is a fictional overview of a space station's daily routine. The animation covers areas such as farming, recreational activities, and scientific experiments. The creators hope that the project will inspire and encourage future generations to explore space and promote a more optimistic and positive view of the future.
Discussion Service. A hand-animated, open-source space station animation has gained viral attention for its pop culture references. An Discussion Service user notes the historical Russian allusions. The animation project is an indie endeavor that avoids excessive use of frameworks and dependencies. Users suggest improvements, but some defend the artist's creativity. The animation editor used is recommended as a useful tool.
Night of the living brain fog dead or how I hacked myself better via open source
Original. A blogger shares their journey of using open source software to manage severe sleep apnea after trying various sleep hygiene "hacks" and being prescribed CPAP. They discover an online community using open source OSCAR software to gain deeper insights into sleep metrics and buys a unit that exports data in the right format. Another blogger recommends an adaptive servo-ventilator (ASV) as a more effective treatment for central sleep apnea, with positive results seen through restored breathing patterns and healthy blood oxygenation. The author encourages others to seek treatment for undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Discussion Service. An individual's journey to tackling health issues highlights need to take charge of health instead of relying solely on traditional medical systems. Discussion Service users discuss issues and barriers around medical system's adherence to proven treatments and reluctance to adopt new methods. Patients should not solely rely on unproven treatments and should incorporate traditional care. Users discuss acceptable degree of risk among different industries and importance of open medical equipment and data accessibility. Some users report mixed results with various sleep remedies and methods. Post discusses potential causes of "brain fog" and importance of open medical devices and knowledge. Personal account of positive experience with CPAP treatment and alternatives to CPAP discussed. YouTube channel reviewing health tracking devices and difficulty obtaining medical care and sleep studies also discussed. Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea can be lengthy and costly process. Tongue posture exercises and personal recovery methods may aid in managing symptoms.
RePalm
Original. Dmitry.GR's rePalm project is a new emulator for PalmOS, covering topics such as virtual SD card support, ARM instruction translation, and more. The developers share insights on hardware limitations and overcoming them, and provide a preview image of PalmOS 5.2.8 running on a discovery board. Future plans include implementing BT, WiFi, USB, and debugging NVFS. Updates to rePalm include fixes and mic/Zodiac support for reSpring hardware v1.3.0.0. A technical read for those interested in hardware limitations of past devices.
Discussion Service. A new post on Hacker News discusses RePalm and Palm devices with users quoting specific ways they use them and some questioning their continued use. Some users recommend using brain dumps in coding to stay focused, while others reminisce about the unique features of non-smartphone PDAs. Experts analyze the factors that led to the demise of PalmOS, including design mistakes and technical weaknesses, while discussing the slow progress and value of incremental achievements in tech projects. Users express nostalgia for retro tech devices like Palm and continue to use them despite new technology's availability. A user is developing a modern version of PalmOS with some users suggesting developing similar technology is more challenging than average coding jobs.
Effective Spaced Repetition
Original. A post on the effectiveness of spaced repetition in remembering anything emphasizes the importance of following rules for writing flashcards, including understanding first, being honest, repeating, organizing by source, writing atomic flashcards, and asking questions in multiple ways. Limiting factors include habit formation and writing skills. To retain information, one should ask questions in a top-down and bottom-up direction and break down larger flashcards into smaller ones. The post provides flashcards and scripts for memorization and encourages automation. Anki notetypes and Mochi's lack of this feature are the main focus, with emphasis on clear concepts, atomicity, simplicity, and redundancy in flashcards. The writer invites work offers for writing compilers.
Discussion Service. An article on effective spaced repetition prompts users on Hacker News to share their experiences and provide alternative tools. Users offer tips for using Anki effectively and discuss methods for utilizing spaced repetition in different fields. Some users seek advice for memorizing specific subjects using SRS and flashcards. While some consider pre-made flashcards less effective, others develop automation tools. The importance of recall rate in Anki stats is emphasized, and the risk of including too much information in flashcards is raised. The effectiveness of shared decks for med students is noted, and a typeface that doesn't get in the way of reading is recommended. Dyslexia and partial dyslexia are also discussed.
The biggest EV battery recycling plant in the US is open for business
Original. Ascend Elements has opened the largest electric-vehicle (EV) battery recycling plant in North America in Covington, Georgia, which has the capacity to process 30,000 metric tons of used lithium-ion batteries annually. Recycling facilities could be used to cost-effectively recycle and repurpose EV batteries, which can deliver new battery materials without the expense and environmental impact of new mining. The US government seeks to make the country more capable of supplying itself with the batteries that will be integral to electrifying transportation and decarbonizing the grid. Other recycling start-ups, such as Redwood Materials and Li-Cycle, have joined this effort.
Discussion Service. The US's largest EV battery recycling plant is operational, creating a more sustainable alternative to producing new materials. Discussion Service users inquire about recycling processes, labor costs, and the possibility of battery replacement in second-life stationary storage systems. Comments discuss the feasibility of running 20-car trains, economic benefits of transit systems, and the current state of lithium recycling. Experts reflect on the longevity of EV batteries and advancements in battery technology, while Li-Cycle's unique recycling process raises questions over scalability and byproduct value.
FTX stored private keys to crypto assets in plaintext, without access controls
Original. Crypto exchange FTX has been keeping private keys of users in plaintext, without access controls, according to a report by ZenGo. This means attackers who gain access to FTX databases can easily steal users' private keys and access their funds. ZenGo notified FTX about the issue and the exchange has since fixed the problem. The incident underscores the importance of properly securing private keys, which are needed to access and manage crypto assets. It is also a reminder that even well-established exchanges can have vulnerabilities that leave users' assets at risk.
Discussion Service. Crypto exchange FTX stored private keys in plaintext, causing concerns over security. Discussion Service users suggest FTX use asymmetric encryption and fault traditional banking systems. Debate over using crypto outside government control and equal application of laws. FTX's security protocols criticized; experts suggest hot and cold wallets. FTX executives' confiscated laptops reveal plaintext private keys in shared Google Drive. Incident raises questions about risk management and licensing requirements for software engineers. Accusations of FTX stealing customer funds.
I fixed a parasitic drain on my car in 408 days
Original. A car owner shares their experience of fixing a persistent parasitic battery drain on their 2013 Mazda3 hatchback, which took them 408 days to diagnose and fix. The issue caused the battery to drain itself in a matter of hours or days, and was diagnosed by measuring voltages across fuses in the car to find components drawing power when the car was off. The owner disconnected the key fob computer system to stop the battery from draining, which was likely malfunctioning and keeping systems, such as the transmission computer, switched on endlessly by mistake. The owner warns that the problem was intermittent and occurred even after replacing the battery twice, and advises against running any experiments to look for parasitic draws without first ensuring the car is locked with the doors closed.
Discussion Service. A Hacker News user resolved a parasitic car battery drain caused by a half-closed door, with others sharing similar experiences. Specialization in fixing electronic problems could be beneficial for mechanics, but it's a low business value. Discussions involve maintaining car batteries during periods of non-use, troubleshooting electrical issues, and practical tips and experiences related to car maintenance. Some users express frustrations with modern cars' complexity and electronic components that can be challenging and expensive to repair. Users provide practical solutions, long-term sustainability, and alternative transportation in walkable cities.
How To Get Started In Soldering
Original. Soldering is an affordable hobby and useful skill, with the best tip being to get the iron hot while avoiding melting components. The process, tinning, involves adding solder to both the wire and pad being soldered. Practice is key, but mistakes are not detrimental to the electronics being soldered.
Discussion Service. Hacker News users debate whether it's better to start with cheap or expensive tools when soldering, with some suggesting Adam Savage's 'buy cheap first' rule, while professionals suggest treating some tools as consumables. Experts advise buying the cheapest tool that does the job and investing in quality tools as needed. They caution against using cheap alternatives and suggest trusted brands instead. Tips include using flux and avoiding lead-free solder, and good ventilation and waste disposal are essential. Users recommend investing in high-quality soldering iron, chipquik flux, and plated tips. There is a need for practical skills and promoting better-built products.
Teaching ChatGPT to speak my son's invented language
Original. A father and son teach a computer the unique Kłeti language through chatbot technology, demonstrating technology's progress in making science fiction a reality. The language has its own alphabet and an SOV word order, making copula and particle usage crucial in refining the chatbot's understanding. An experiment using ChatGPT to translate from English to Kłeti resulted in partially correct translations and a score of 6.5 out of 12, showcasing the potential of AI language translation in the future. The author hopes for advancements in AI language translation technology to offer substantial benefits.
Discussion Service. Discussion Service users discuss ChatGPT's in-context learning and flexibility, while highlighting limitations and capabilities; Microsoft may be able to capitalize on the human-feedback loop. Experts question ChatGPT's understanding of language and limitations regarding emotions and games. GPT-4 shows potential in language learning and symbolic processing. Users report mixed results with ChatGPT and GPT-4 in various tasks.
Al Jaffee, king of the Mad Magazine fold-in, has died
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Discussion Service. Al Jaffee, Mad Magazine legend and creator of the fold-in, passed away at 99. Many mourned, remembering his impact on critical thinking and humor. Some noted the issue of destroying magazines to do the fold-in. Fans reminisced about understanding the instructions and Donald Knuth's publication in Mad Magazine. Jaffee's impact on popular culture was widespread and appreciated globally.
Hell Never Ends on x86: The Hyperspace Story, Continued, Sort Of
Original. HP replaced their instant-on Linux QuickWeb with a new version based on Hyperspace. QuickWeb was available across all their machines for several years. HP laptops have a separate button, QuickLook, that launches an email and calendar app. However, the app relies on an Outlook plugin and does not directly access the Outlook data file. HP leveraged SMM to achieve something that should be impossible. Dell and motherboard vendors cannot offer features beyond standardized components. HP struggled to differentiate its products and offer "Features for Executives." A tech support worker created a shell using Linux's efibootmgr command for easy access in case of system failure. Most PC motherboards have something unique, but these features may only apply to niche users. The article highlights users' frustrating experiences with technology, including HP's faulty GPU fans, among other things.
Discussion Service. The article discusses complexities in writing UEFI applications and BIOSes' handling of sleep behavior. Some users push back on the author's assertions. Laptop OEMs expose valuable functionality via pre-defined WMI ACPI callouts. Some see Windows as bloated, and the EFI environment has a vague resemblance to a 32/64-bit MS-DOS. The boot process of x86 PCs is still slow. Capacitive buttons on laptops are missed. HP has designed an OS without its own scheduler that is loaded into the TE at runtime. Some Discussion Service users debate whether this is a hypervisor or an interrupt handler. The post generated diverse reactions.
We Need To Talk About Vercel
Original. Recent discussion around Vercel has highlighted its heavy markup over AWS Lambda, surprise runaway costs, and technical deficiencies with its Content Delivery Network product. While Vercel's value-add may be worth it for some, its lack of support and response to technical issues is concerning. Vercel's CDN mangles the Cache-Control header and does not respect the configured values as advertised. Frontline support responses have been dismissive of issues, and Vercel's CEO defends the behavior as necessary to protect users. AWS invests heavily in customer success, in contrast to Vercel. Consequently, the author will be moving on from Vercel.
Discussion Service. An investigation into Vercel raised concerns over their customer service, pricing, and scaling issues, with alternative providers like GitHub Actions, DigitalOcean, and Cloudflare suggested. Criticisms of deceptive messaging, inadequate documentation, and poor response times were made. Some Next.js users debate server-side rendering versus static site generation, with criticisms over Vercel's design and not providing a specification. Criticisms of Vercel's pricing, business practices, and billing practices were also made, with suggestions for cheaper alternatives like BunnyCDN or R2. Vercel's support is criticized, despite their marketing efforts. Some praise their developer experience and per-branch deployments.
Dashcam footage shows driverless cars clogging San Francisco
Original. Autonomous vehicle companies including Waymo and General Motors' Cruise have caused delays and potential danger for buses, trains, and passengers in San Francisco since September 2022, with 92 unplanned stops causing significant transit delays. Despite attempts to add more robotaxis to San Francisco's streets, city officials express concern about the uptick in chaos caused by autonomous vehicles and urge the necessity of progress in addressing failures before authorizing operations. San Francisco transit advocates are proposing measures, such as creating transit-only lanes and fining companies that cause delays, to lessen the impact of autonomous vehicles. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is in discussions with autonomous vehicle companies to minimize disruptions.
Discussion Service. Dashcam footage shows driverless cars causing traffic congestion in San Francisco. Some fear congestion pricing, while others see potential for new infrastructure and mass transit. Concerns over unforeseen situations and excessive empty cars clogging streets exist; however, autonomous vehicles could reduce parking fees and costs, and eliminate car ownership. Solutions such as charging stations and limiting congestion through pricing and regulations exist. Self-driving cars' potential impact on public transportation, urban density, housing, parking, and labor markets are debated. Skepticism exists, but possibilities are intriguing. Self-driving cars may lead to fleets instead of individual ownerships, optimizing usage and becoming cost-effective. Self-driving technology may improve public transportation and reduce emissions, but potential downsides exist. Real-time traffic management, reduced pollution, and cheaper transportation seem promising, with a need for safer and more efficient transportation systems. San Francisco officials blame driverless cars for congestion, but experts claim otherwise. The article highlights issues with bus rules as much as driverless technology.
OpenBSD 7.3
Original. OpenBSD 7.3 release features kernel improvements, system updates, unlocked mmap, and hardware support. OpenBSD also introduces various mitigation techniques and changes to the network stack to prevent crashes and improve performance. The release includes various userland features, bugfixes, and security improvements such as preventing memory reading and execute-only binaries. Additionally, new drivers have been added, improved, or reworked. The update also includes improvements for nc, LibreSSL version 3.7.2, and OpenSSH 9.3 and 9.2. The release offers support for dynamic remote port forwarding and pre-built packages for different architectures. The mailing listports@openbsd.org provides more information for users.
Discussion Service. OpenBSD 7.3 released with better bug detection, can be used as NAS/router/home server; fix to Unix editor. OpenBSD possibly outperforms Linux, according to Discussion Service user. OpenBSD lacks .NET, Mono seeks BSD support. OpenBSD's packet filtering is threaded, with modest hardware able to do 1G routing+PF+VLAN. No Bluetooth support, ENA driver missing, OpenBSD's release process discussed by Theo DeRaat.
Personal Concierge Using OpenAI's ChatGPT via Telegram and Voice Messages
Original. A new Telegram bot, utilizing OpenAI's ChatGPT, LangchainJS, OpenAI's Whisper API, and Play.ht, allows for personalized concierge services through both voice and chat. To use, users must acquire a Telegram bot token and an OpenAI API key, then follow the steps listed on GitHub. The bot is a new and exciting development for those looking for hands-free assistant services, and has garnered attention on social media sites such as Twitter and Hacker News.
Discussion Service. A personal concierge using ChatGPT has gained attention on Hacker News, leading to discussions about effectiveness, pricing, and potential uses. Users are interested in improving productivity with AI, but there are concerns about data storage and high costs. ChatGPT and similar technology are being integrated into more projects, but there are privacy concerns. OpenAI clarifies its data retention policies and seeks to protect data when using consumer products.
EditAnything: Segment Anything + ControlNet + BLIP2 + Stable Diffusion
Original. The ongoing project, Edit Anything, utilizes Segment Anything, ControlNet, BLIP2, Stable Diffusion and more to "Edit and Generate Anything" in images, with a focus on fun contributions and suggestions. Features include fine-grained control with pre-trained ControlNet and category-unrelated SAM masks, and BLIP2 text guidance-free control. Ongoing goals include the addition of interactive control for image editing and chatGPT guided image editing. Interested individuals can create an environment by following the provided setup instructions and train their own models, or utilize the pretrained models available. The project is based on several other incredible projects, for which the creators express gratitude.
Discussion Service. 'EditAnything' uses Segment Anything, ControlNet, BLIP2, and Stable Diffusion. Discussion Service users want an ELI5 explanation. Segment Anything is impressive due to its accuracy. The image segmentation is impressive. ControlNet provides new conditions, datasets, without catastrophic forgetting. The dataset was generated by humans and automated. Examples don't impress some individuals. Segment Anything works accurately on abstract images. Users praise the technology. There is a discussion on the training/fine-tuning code.
Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior
Original. Researchers have introduced "generative agents," computational software agents that simulate believable human behavior using an architecture that extends large language models to store a complete record of the agent's experiences using natural language, synthesize those memories over time into higher-level reflections, and retrieve them dynamically to plan behavior. In an evaluation, these generative agents produce believable individual and emergent social behaviors in an interactive sandbox environment inspired by The Sims. The research introduces architectural and interaction patterns for enabling believable simulations of human behavior.
Discussion Service. 'Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior' paper gains Discussion Service attention on behavior reduction and bot programming. Discussion includes 'inner voice' and the dependence of deep intelligence on environment. Limitations of language models cited, with focus on higher-level algorithms for control. Google's 'Dreamer' AI sparks debate on ethical decision-making. AI experiment simulates LLM-powered agents in a small town, focusing on memory and personality development, requiring costly simulation.
Dancing Plague of 1518
Original. In 1518, a group of 50-400 people in Strasbourg, Alsace began dancing for weeks after one woman started dancing in the street, but the cause of the phenomenon is unknown. Historical sources describe the event as a case of dancing mania, while modern theories suggest stress-induced mass hysteria or food poisoning caused by ergot fungi. There is controversy over whether the plague led to deaths, with some sources claiming it killed around 15 people per day during the outbreak. The Dancing Plague has inspired works of pop culture, including a song by Florence and the Machine.
Discussion Service. The Dancing Plague of 1518 involved uncontrollable dancing with possible medical and social factors. Similar uncontrolled dancing throughout history may have been due to mass psychogenic illness. Modern medicine struggles to explain such phenomena. Comments discuss historical references to "dance" and speculate on disease causes. The article offers a link to intellectually stimulating historical events.
American IQ scores have rapidly dropped, proving the 'Reverse Flynn effect'
Original. New Northwestern University research suggests that American IQ scores are on the decline after decades of steady increases known as the 'Flynn effect.' The study examined intelligence data from 2006 to 2018 and found that scores in three out of four "cognitive domains" — verbal reasoning, matrix reasoning, and letter and number series — were falling. However, scores in spatial reasoning (known as 3D rotation) showed an upward trend. Researchers aren't sure of the reasons behind this trend but suggest that it could be a shift in societal values, the influence of STEM education, or decreased interest in certain areas of the survey.
Discussion Service. American IQ scores are decreasing, indicating the "Reverse Flynn effect." Yearly variations in IQ scores may point to issues with measurement validity. Discussion Service users debate whether raw scores on IQ tests can be compared across time and tests. Academics in humanities struggle to define critical thinking, with a shift away from teaching it in schools. The heritability of IQ is being discussed in the comments section, with some users pointing out that heritability does not necessarily mean genetic or biological factors are at play. Experts debate the role of IQ in society and AI research. IQ scores in developed countries have decreased since the 1970s, with possible factors including video games and income inequality. There is no clear central topic or significant new information in the post's comments.
Using RP2040 PIO to drive a poorly-designed displa
Original. Dmitry.GR has developed a CPU-free driver with RP2040 PIO for a display supporting multiple modes and touch screen. However, the display is poorly designed and the sample code is challenging. Despite some limitations, touch data can be copied to memory for further use. An article discusses different modes using a display controller, DMA and PIO machinery, and DMA chaining issues. Touch display poses challenges due to noise and improper sampling and sharing an SPI bus with an SD card. The setup involves bit-banging SPI using GPIO with API for display functions, with BSD 2-clause licensed code available for download and modification.
Discussion Service. An Discussion Service user shared how to use RP2040 PIO to drive a poorly-designed display with touch on the same SPI bus. Others discussed temporal resolution, oversampling, and DMA. The post offers unique tech details and a new solution to an old problem. PIOs can creatively manage various peripheral hardware resources by efficiently utilizing the CPU. The comments discuss the RP2040's overclocking and suggest alternative screens and MCUs.