Hasty Briefsbeta

Bilingual

We urgently need a federal law forbidding AI from impersonating humans
2 hours ago
- Daniel Dennett's concept of 'counterfeit people' highlights the urgent need for laws against AI impersonating humans.
- Deepfake technology has advanced to the point where anyone's appearance can be faked cheaply and convincingly.
- OpenClaw and similar AI tools are being used by scammers, with deepfake scams expected to increase dramatically by 2026.
- There is a call for federal laws to prohibit AI from presenting itself as human, including banning the use of first-person by chatbots.
- Deepfakes of living people's voices and images should require express consent, with exceptions only for parody.
- State laws addressing AI regulation are being undermined by federal efforts, highlighting the need for global legislation.
- AI systems should always refer to themselves in the third person to avoid impersonating humans.
Men lose their Y chromosome as they age – how it may matter
2 hours ago
- Men lose the Y chromosome as they age, previously thought to have little health impact.
- Recent evidence links Y chromosome loss in men to serious diseases and shorter lifespan.
- Y chromosome loss increases with age: 40% in 60-year-olds, 57% in 90-year-olds.
- Environmental factors like smoking and carcinogens contribute to Y chromosome loss.
- Y-less cells grow faster in culture, potentially giving them an advantage in tumors.
- The Y chromosome is prone to errors during cell division, leading to its loss.
- Despite having few genes, Y chromosome loss is associated with severe health conditions.
- Loss of Y is linked to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers.
- Studies suggest Y chromosome loss may directly affect disease progression and mortality.
- The Y chromosome contains genes with essential functions in gene regulation and cancer suppression.
- Loss of Y affects gene expression and immune function, potentially impacting overall health.
- Full sequencing of the Y chromosome may reveal more about its health impacts.
Dutch House of Representatives advances controversial 36% tax law
3 hours ago
- Dutch House of Representatives advances a 36% capital gains tax on savings and most liquid investments, including cryptocurrencies.
- The tax applies to savings accounts, cryptocurrencies, most equity investments, and gains from interest-bearing financial instruments, regardless of asset sale.
- Critics argue the tax will drive capital out of the Netherlands to jurisdictions with more favorable tax laws.
- The bill must pass the Dutch Senate to become law, with potential enforcement starting in the 2028 tax year.
- Investors and analysts criticize the tax, predicting capital flight and comparing it to France's 1997 exodus of entrepreneurs.
- An example shows a 36% tax could reduce a 40-year investment's final amount by 1,435,000 euros.
- Similar concerns were raised about California's proposed wealth tax on billionaires, leading to backlash and departures.
Gamma Function: Visualization for Complex Arguments
3 hours ago
- Dynamic visualization of the complex gamma function Γ(x + i·c) in real-time.
- Displays real (blue) and imaginary (purple) parts as parameter c changes.
- Starts with c = 0 (classical gamma function), then sweeps through positive and negative imaginary values.
- For large |c|, the graph resets to c = 0 and repeats.
- The function vanilla_gamma() is used, derived from a modified Riemann zeta calculator.
- Available under Creative Commons Zero license for free use.
- Includes interactive controls: X icon to resume simulation, Γ(s) icon to visit zeta-calculator.com.
AI Twitter's favourite lie: everyone wants to be a developer
3 hours ago
- Twitter's consensus suggests AI will make everyone a software developer by removing barriers.
- Most people prefer using software over building it, seeking solutions without effort.
- Historical examples like desktop publishing and WordPress show most people don't become creators even with accessible tools.
- The excitement around AI coding tools is mostly from those already inclined to build, projecting their enthusiasm onto others.
- The real challenge in software development is conceptualization, not coding—AI hasn't changed this.
- AI demos often overlook the difficulty of defining what software should do for real-world problems.
- People generally prefer ready-made solutions (e.g., SaaS) over building or configuring their own tools.
- The future of AI in software is enhancing existing products, not mass custom app development.
- Tech enthusiasts often mistake their own interests for those of the general population.
A Framework for Time-Updating Probabilistic Forecasts
9 hours ago
- Proposes a new method for evaluating probabilistic forecasts that change over time.
- Models are treated as Kelly bettors in an iterative betting contest.
- Bankroll growth or decline serves as the evaluation metric.
- Allows real-time updates of market consensus probabilities and model credibilities.
- More accurate than traditional methods like average log-loss and Brier score.
- Shows a direct mathematical and conceptual analogue to Bayesian inference.
Logic for Programmers
5 hours ago
- The book teaches logic basics and its application in software problems like testing, database design, and customer requirements.
- Over 50 exercises are provided to help readers master the material with no prior math background required.
- Current status is GAMMA, with final release expected mid-2026. Early buyers get future versions and input on development.
- New in v0.13: All chapters rewritten, new content added, exercises updated, and various improvements across the board.
- Table of Contents includes Introduction, Techniques (10 chapters), and Appendices (4 sections).
Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care
3 hours ago
- Dr. Mehmet Oz proposes AI avatars as a solution to the rural health care crisis, suggesting they could multiply doctors' reach without burnout.
- The Trump administration's $50 billion plan includes AI tools like digital avatars, robotic diagnostics, and drone medication delivery for rural areas.
- Oz suggests replacing in-person obstetric care with AI-guided devices, such as robots performing ultrasounds.
- CMS clarifies that AI tools should extend, not replace, licensed clinicians, emphasizing evidence-based and patient-centered use.
- Rural hospitals face financial pressures, with over 190 closures since 2005 due to budget shortfalls, leaving many without local medical care.
- Rural residents are more likely to die early from preventable causes due to limited access to providers and emergency services.
- Critics argue AI avatars lack human connection, trust, and cultural sensitivity, essential for effective health care.
- Concerns include testing unproven AI on underserved populations and logistical issues like unreliable broadband and transportation.
- Supporters believe AI can alleviate administrative burdens, freeing clinicians to focus on patient care and scaling rural clinics.
- Public backlash highlights skepticism about AI replacing human providers, with some defending it as better than no care at all.
- Henning-Smith warns of economic consequences, as AI tools could divert salaries away from rural communities to tech hubs.
- CMS has not confirmed if AI avatars will be part of its rural health strategy, and Oz has not provided a full implementation plan.
Interop 2026
17 hours ago
- Interop 2026 aims to improve cross-browser interoperability by focusing on 20 key features.
- Safari has already implemented many features like contrast-color(), Media pseudo-classes, and Scoped Custom Element Registries.
- New features include advanced attr(), getAllRecords() for IndexedDB, WebTransport, and JSPI for Wasm.
- Focus areas cover Anchor Positioning, Container Style Queries, Custom Highlights, and more.
- Interop 2026 also addresses long-standing inconsistencies in features like Scroll Snap and CSS Zoom.
- Investigation areas include Accessibility Testing, JPEG XL, Mobile Testing, and WebVTT for future focus.
Just 5 weeks of brain training may protect against dementia for 20 years
5 hours ago
- A 5-6 week brain training program for adults 65+ may reduce dementia risk by 25% over 20 years.
- Speed of processing training, focusing on visual information, showed significant long-term protective effects against dementia.
- Participants who received booster sessions after initial training had lower dementia incidence compared to the control group.
- The study is the first randomized clinical trial to track dementia outcomes over two decades in older adults undergoing cognitive training.
- Speed training's adaptive nature and reliance on implicit learning may explain its effectiveness in dementia prevention.
- Other cognitive training types (memory and reasoning) did not show the same long-term protective effects.
- The findings suggest potential for integrating speed training with other healthy aging strategies to delay dementia onset.
7zip.com Is Serving Malware
6 hours ago
- A fake 7-Zip website (7zip[.]com) has been distributing trojanized installers that turn victims' machines into residential proxy nodes.
- The malware installs alongside a functional 7-Zip File Manager, making it harder to detect, and includes components like Uphero.exe, hero.exe, and hero.dll.
- The malware establishes persistence via Windows services, manipulates firewall rules, and profiles the host system before enrolling it as a proxy node.
- The campaign exploits trust in third-party distribution channels, such as YouTube tutorials, to spread malicious installers.
- The malware uses encrypted communication, DNS-over-HTTPS, and anti-analysis techniques to evade detection.
- Researchers have linked this campaign to a broader operation distributing similar proxyware under different software names.
- Defensive measures include verifying software sources, monitoring for unauthorized services, and blocking known command-and-control domains.
- Malwarebytes and other security tools can detect and remove the malware, though a full OS reinstall may be preferred for high-risk systems.
A Review of M Disc Archival Capability. With long term testing results
5 hours ago
- Digital storage mediums like computer drives and flash cards have short lifespans, making long-term archival difficult.
- Filmmakers and archivists face challenges in preserving large files, with RAID technology being a common but not perfect solution.
- DVDs and Blue-Ray discs are fragile and prone to data corruption over time, despite common beliefs in their durability.
- The M-Disc is presented as a more durable alternative, with claims of lasting up to 1000 years due to its inert, glassy carbon layer.
- Testing showed M-Discs withstand extreme conditions better than conventional discs, with the M-Disc surviving outdoor exposure while a standard Blue-Ray disc was destroyed.
- M-Discs are compatible with conventional drives but require specific writers, available from brands like LG, ASUS, and Lite-On.
- Despite higher costs, M-Discs offer a promising solution for long-term data preservation, as demonstrated by real-world testing.
Vim 9.2 Released
6 hours ago
- Vim 9.2 has been released with significant enhancements.
- New features include comprehensive completion with fuzzy matching and register completion.
- Modern platform support includes Wayland UI and XDG Base Directory Specification compliance.
- UI enhancements feature a vertical tabpanel and native dark mode for Windows.
- A new built-in interactive tutor plugin (:Tutor) is introduced.
- Vim9 scripting language now supports Enums, Generic functions, and Tuple data types.
- AI integration showcased through projects like Battleship in Vim9 and Number Puzzle.
- Diff mode improvements include the linematch algorithm and inline highlighting.
- Default values updated for modern hardware and workflows.
- Vim remains Charityware, now partnered with Kuwasha for supporting children in Uganda.
Platforms bend over backward to help DHS censor ICE critics, advocates say
5 hours ago
- Tech companies face pressure to protect users from unlawful government requests regarding ICE-related content.
- Trump officials have targeted users and platforms with demands to censor content, alleging ICE officers are endangered.
- FIRE lawsuit accuses officials of coercing tech companies to remove content about ICE operations.
- Second lawsuit claims regulatory power is being used to suppress First Amendment-protected speech.
- ICEBlock app was removed from the App Store, with officials delaying their response to the case.
- Communities monitoring ICE face uncertainty as resources may disappear without warning.
- FIRE argues sharing ICE-related information is protected unless it incites violence or poses a true threat.
My smart sleep mask broadcasts users' brainwaves to an open MQTT broker
6 hours ago
- A smart sleep mask from a Chinese company was reverse-engineered to reveal security flaws.
- The mask includes EEG brain monitoring, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), and other features.
- Claude reverse-engineered the Bluetooth protocol and decompiled the app to find hardcoded credentials.
- The app's MQTT broker credentials were shared across all devices, exposing live EEG data from multiple users.
- The flaw allowed not only reading brainwaves but also sending electric impulses to users.
- The issue was disclosed to the company, highlighting serious security concerns in IoT devices.
From 3 Minutes to 7.8 Seconds: Improving on RocksDB performance
2 days ago
- SereneDB improved RocksDB ingestion speed from 180 seconds to 7.8 seconds.
- Used flamegraphs to identify performance bottlenecks in RocksDB.
- Switched from rocksdb::Transaction Put to SST Writer for better performance.
- Optimized RocksDB settings by disabling filter computation and compression.
- Replaced sscanf with fast_float library for faster parsing.
- Changed std::string to std::vector<char> to reduce character writes.
- Removed redundant runtime checks and virtual function calls in hot paths.
- Pre-created keys for columns to eliminate redundant allocations.
- Achieved a 23x speedup through careful measurements and targeted changes.
Show HN: Long Mem code agent cut 95% costs for Claude with small model reading
13 hours ago
- CoSave is a VSCode extension that reduces AI coding costs by up to 95% using dual-model optimization.
- It intelligently uses small models for reading/analysis and large models for code writing to cut costs.
- Features long-term memory, auto-accumulating project experience in mem.md for continuous improvement.
- Enables sequential task execution—set tasks once and let them run unattended, even overnight.
- Allows remote task management from a phone, supporting work from anywhere.
- Supports multi-task parallel processing to minimize wait times.
- Default 'dual model mode' requires no extra setup for immediate use.
xAI Datacenters Disregard Clean Air Act
7 hours ago
- Elon Musk's xAI continues to use unpermitted gas turbines in Mississippi despite EPA regulations.
- Mississippi regulators claim the mobile turbines don't need permits, conflicting with EPA's Clean Air Act stance.
- Thermal images show over a dozen turbines emitting pollutants post-EPA ruling, deemed illegal by former EPA officials.
- xAI plans expansion with more turbines, raising health concerns in nearby communities with schools.
- The EPA has taken minimal enforcement action, deferring to state authorities despite federal policy violations.
- Residents report increased noise, pollution, and health risks, with some forced to relocate.
- xAI's operations span Tennessee-Mississippi, with plans for more data centers, exacerbating environmental impacts.
- AI's energy demand leads to increased fossil fuel use, with renewables delayed until at least 2028.
- Local opposition grows, with petitions demanding shutdowns over health and environmental concerns.
Homeland Security has sent out subpoenas to identify ICE critics
6 hours ago
- DHS sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to tech companies (Google, Reddit, Discord, Meta) seeking details on accounts criticizing ICE.
- Subpoenas requested names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information of anti-ICE accounts.
- Administrative subpoenas, historically used for serious crimes like child trafficking, have seen increased usage recently.
- Companies like Google and Meta review subpoenas but may comply if not legally contested within a set timeframe.
- Meta was subpoenaed for details on users posting ICE activity in Montgomery County, PA, in English and Spanish.
- ACLU argues DHS is using subpoenas to suppress speech, filing motions to protect targeted users.
- Meta blocked links to ICE List, a site listing ICE and Border Patrol agents' names.
- House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin requested Apple and Google provide communications regarding ICE-tracking app removals.
Taste for Makers
11 hours ago
- The concept of taste is essential in design, distinguishing between mere technical skill and the ability to create beautiful things.
- Beauty is a common language across fields like mathematics, science, engineering, and art, suggesting a universal principle of good design.
- Good design principles include simplicity, timelessness, solving the right problem, being suggestive, often slightly funny, hard yet looks easy, uses symmetry, resembles nature, involves redesign, can copy, is often strange, happens in chunks, and is daring.
- Simplicity in design forces facing the real problem, leading to substance over ornament.
- Timeless design aims for solutions that surpass current fashions, appealing across generations.
- Solving the right problem involves understanding the user's needs beyond superficial solutions.
- Suggestive design engages the audience by allowing them to envision or interact with the work in their own way.
- Humor in design reflects strength and confidence, making the work more relatable and engaging.
- The appearance of ease in design is achieved through hard work and practice, masking the underlying effort.
- Symmetry and resemblance to nature are indicators of good design, leveraging patterns and solutions refined over time.
- Redesign is a natural part of the creative process, with experts expecting and embracing iterations.
- Copying, when done consciously and selectively, can lead to original and right solutions in design.
- Strange or uncanny qualities in design often emerge from pursuing truth or functionality, not from aiming for strangeness.
- Great design often emerges from communities of talented individuals working on related problems, highlighting the importance of environment.
- Daring to challenge conventional wisdom and tolerating ugliness can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and designs.

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Bilingual

We urgently need a federal law forbidding AI from impersonating humans
2 hours ago
- Daniel Dennett's concept of 'counterfeit people' highlights the urgent need for laws against AI impersonating humans.
- Deepfake technology has advanced to the point where anyone's appearance can be faked cheaply and convincingly.
- OpenClaw and similar AI tools are being used by scammers, with deepfake scams expected to increase dramatically by 2026.
- There is a call for federal laws to prohibit AI from presenting itself as human, including banning the use of first-person by chatbots.
- Deepfakes of living people's voices and images should require express consent, with exceptions only for parody.
- State laws addressing AI regulation are being undermined by federal efforts, highlighting the need for global legislation.
- AI systems should always refer to themselves in the third person to avoid impersonating humans.
Men lose their Y chromosome as they age – how it may matter
2 hours ago
- Men lose the Y chromosome as they age, previously thought to have little health impact.
- Recent evidence links Y chromosome loss in men to serious diseases and shorter lifespan.
- Y chromosome loss increases with age: 40% in 60-year-olds, 57% in 90-year-olds.
- Environmental factors like smoking and carcinogens contribute to Y chromosome loss.
- Y-less cells grow faster in culture, potentially giving them an advantage in tumors.
- The Y chromosome is prone to errors during cell division, leading to its loss.
- Despite having few genes, Y chromosome loss is associated with severe health conditions.
- Loss of Y is linked to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers.
- Studies suggest Y chromosome loss may directly affect disease progression and mortality.
- The Y chromosome contains genes with essential functions in gene regulation and cancer suppression.
- Loss of Y affects gene expression and immune function, potentially impacting overall health.
- Full sequencing of the Y chromosome may reveal more about its health impacts.
Dutch House of Representatives advances controversial 36% tax law
3 hours ago
- Dutch House of Representatives advances a 36% capital gains tax on savings and most liquid investments, including cryptocurrencies.
- The tax applies to savings accounts, cryptocurrencies, most equity investments, and gains from interest-bearing financial instruments, regardless of asset sale.
- Critics argue the tax will drive capital out of the Netherlands to jurisdictions with more favorable tax laws.
- The bill must pass the Dutch Senate to become law, with potential enforcement starting in the 2028 tax year.
- Investors and analysts criticize the tax, predicting capital flight and comparing it to France's 1997 exodus of entrepreneurs.
- An example shows a 36% tax could reduce a 40-year investment's final amount by 1,435,000 euros.
- Similar concerns were raised about California's proposed wealth tax on billionaires, leading to backlash and departures.
Gamma Function: Visualization for Complex Arguments
3 hours ago
- Dynamic visualization of the complex gamma function Γ(x + i·c) in real-time.
- Displays real (blue) and imaginary (purple) parts as parameter c changes.
- Starts with c = 0 (classical gamma function), then sweeps through positive and negative imaginary values.
- For large |c|, the graph resets to c = 0 and repeats.
- The function vanilla_gamma() is used, derived from a modified Riemann zeta calculator.
- Available under Creative Commons Zero license for free use.
- Includes interactive controls: X icon to resume simulation, Γ(s) icon to visit zeta-calculator.com.
AI Twitter's favourite lie: everyone wants to be a developer
3 hours ago
- Twitter's consensus suggests AI will make everyone a software developer by removing barriers.
- Most people prefer using software over building it, seeking solutions without effort.
- Historical examples like desktop publishing and WordPress show most people don't become creators even with accessible tools.
- The excitement around AI coding tools is mostly from those already inclined to build, projecting their enthusiasm onto others.
- The real challenge in software development is conceptualization, not coding—AI hasn't changed this.
- AI demos often overlook the difficulty of defining what software should do for real-world problems.
- People generally prefer ready-made solutions (e.g., SaaS) over building or configuring their own tools.
- The future of AI in software is enhancing existing products, not mass custom app development.
- Tech enthusiasts often mistake their own interests for those of the general population.
A Framework for Time-Updating Probabilistic Forecasts
9 hours ago
- Proposes a new method for evaluating probabilistic forecasts that change over time.
- Models are treated as Kelly bettors in an iterative betting contest.
- Bankroll growth or decline serves as the evaluation metric.
- Allows real-time updates of market consensus probabilities and model credibilities.
- More accurate than traditional methods like average log-loss and Brier score.
- Shows a direct mathematical and conceptual analogue to Bayesian inference.
Logic for Programmers
5 hours ago
- The book teaches logic basics and its application in software problems like testing, database design, and customer requirements.
- Over 50 exercises are provided to help readers master the material with no prior math background required.
- Current status is GAMMA, with final release expected mid-2026. Early buyers get future versions and input on development.
- New in v0.13: All chapters rewritten, new content added, exercises updated, and various improvements across the board.
- Table of Contents includes Introduction, Techniques (10 chapters), and Appendices (4 sections).
Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care
3 hours ago
- Dr. Mehmet Oz proposes AI avatars as a solution to the rural health care crisis, suggesting they could multiply doctors' reach without burnout.
- The Trump administration's $50 billion plan includes AI tools like digital avatars, robotic diagnostics, and drone medication delivery for rural areas.
- Oz suggests replacing in-person obstetric care with AI-guided devices, such as robots performing ultrasounds.
- CMS clarifies that AI tools should extend, not replace, licensed clinicians, emphasizing evidence-based and patient-centered use.
- Rural hospitals face financial pressures, with over 190 closures since 2005 due to budget shortfalls, leaving many without local medical care.
- Rural residents are more likely to die early from preventable causes due to limited access to providers and emergency services.
- Critics argue AI avatars lack human connection, trust, and cultural sensitivity, essential for effective health care.
- Concerns include testing unproven AI on underserved populations and logistical issues like unreliable broadband and transportation.
- Supporters believe AI can alleviate administrative burdens, freeing clinicians to focus on patient care and scaling rural clinics.
- Public backlash highlights skepticism about AI replacing human providers, with some defending it as better than no care at all.
- Henning-Smith warns of economic consequences, as AI tools could divert salaries away from rural communities to tech hubs.
- CMS has not confirmed if AI avatars will be part of its rural health strategy, and Oz has not provided a full implementation plan.
Interop 2026
17 hours ago
- Interop 2026 aims to improve cross-browser interoperability by focusing on 20 key features.
- Safari has already implemented many features like contrast-color(), Media pseudo-classes, and Scoped Custom Element Registries.
- New features include advanced attr(), getAllRecords() for IndexedDB, WebTransport, and JSPI for Wasm.
- Focus areas cover Anchor Positioning, Container Style Queries, Custom Highlights, and more.
- Interop 2026 also addresses long-standing inconsistencies in features like Scroll Snap and CSS Zoom.
- Investigation areas include Accessibility Testing, JPEG XL, Mobile Testing, and WebVTT for future focus.
Just 5 weeks of brain training may protect against dementia for 20 years
5 hours ago
- A 5-6 week brain training program for adults 65+ may reduce dementia risk by 25% over 20 years.
- Speed of processing training, focusing on visual information, showed significant long-term protective effects against dementia.
- Participants who received booster sessions after initial training had lower dementia incidence compared to the control group.
- The study is the first randomized clinical trial to track dementia outcomes over two decades in older adults undergoing cognitive training.
- Speed training's adaptive nature and reliance on implicit learning may explain its effectiveness in dementia prevention.
- Other cognitive training types (memory and reasoning) did not show the same long-term protective effects.
- The findings suggest potential for integrating speed training with other healthy aging strategies to delay dementia onset.
7zip.com Is Serving Malware
6 hours ago
- A fake 7-Zip website (7zip[.]com) has been distributing trojanized installers that turn victims' machines into residential proxy nodes.
- The malware installs alongside a functional 7-Zip File Manager, making it harder to detect, and includes components like Uphero.exe, hero.exe, and hero.dll.
- The malware establishes persistence via Windows services, manipulates firewall rules, and profiles the host system before enrolling it as a proxy node.
- The campaign exploits trust in third-party distribution channels, such as YouTube tutorials, to spread malicious installers.
- The malware uses encrypted communication, DNS-over-HTTPS, and anti-analysis techniques to evade detection.
- Researchers have linked this campaign to a broader operation distributing similar proxyware under different software names.
- Defensive measures include verifying software sources, monitoring for unauthorized services, and blocking known command-and-control domains.
- Malwarebytes and other security tools can detect and remove the malware, though a full OS reinstall may be preferred for high-risk systems.
A Review of M Disc Archival Capability. With long term testing results
5 hours ago
- Digital storage mediums like computer drives and flash cards have short lifespans, making long-term archival difficult.
- Filmmakers and archivists face challenges in preserving large files, with RAID technology being a common but not perfect solution.
- DVDs and Blue-Ray discs are fragile and prone to data corruption over time, despite common beliefs in their durability.
- The M-Disc is presented as a more durable alternative, with claims of lasting up to 1000 years due to its inert, glassy carbon layer.
- Testing showed M-Discs withstand extreme conditions better than conventional discs, with the M-Disc surviving outdoor exposure while a standard Blue-Ray disc was destroyed.
- M-Discs are compatible with conventional drives but require specific writers, available from brands like LG, ASUS, and Lite-On.
- Despite higher costs, M-Discs offer a promising solution for long-term data preservation, as demonstrated by real-world testing.
Vim 9.2 Released
6 hours ago
- Vim 9.2 has been released with significant enhancements.
- New features include comprehensive completion with fuzzy matching and register completion.
- Modern platform support includes Wayland UI and XDG Base Directory Specification compliance.
- UI enhancements feature a vertical tabpanel and native dark mode for Windows.
- A new built-in interactive tutor plugin (:Tutor) is introduced.
- Vim9 scripting language now supports Enums, Generic functions, and Tuple data types.
- AI integration showcased through projects like Battleship in Vim9 and Number Puzzle.
- Diff mode improvements include the linematch algorithm and inline highlighting.
- Default values updated for modern hardware and workflows.
- Vim remains Charityware, now partnered with Kuwasha for supporting children in Uganda.
Platforms bend over backward to help DHS censor ICE critics, advocates say
5 hours ago
- Tech companies face pressure to protect users from unlawful government requests regarding ICE-related content.
- Trump officials have targeted users and platforms with demands to censor content, alleging ICE officers are endangered.
- FIRE lawsuit accuses officials of coercing tech companies to remove content about ICE operations.
- Second lawsuit claims regulatory power is being used to suppress First Amendment-protected speech.
- ICEBlock app was removed from the App Store, with officials delaying their response to the case.
- Communities monitoring ICE face uncertainty as resources may disappear without warning.
- FIRE argues sharing ICE-related information is protected unless it incites violence or poses a true threat.
My smart sleep mask broadcasts users' brainwaves to an open MQTT broker
6 hours ago
- A smart sleep mask from a Chinese company was reverse-engineered to reveal security flaws.
- The mask includes EEG brain monitoring, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), and other features.
- Claude reverse-engineered the Bluetooth protocol and decompiled the app to find hardcoded credentials.
- The app's MQTT broker credentials were shared across all devices, exposing live EEG data from multiple users.
- The flaw allowed not only reading brainwaves but also sending electric impulses to users.
- The issue was disclosed to the company, highlighting serious security concerns in IoT devices.
From 3 Minutes to 7.8 Seconds: Improving on RocksDB performance
2 days ago
- SereneDB improved RocksDB ingestion speed from 180 seconds to 7.8 seconds.
- Used flamegraphs to identify performance bottlenecks in RocksDB.
- Switched from rocksdb::Transaction Put to SST Writer for better performance.
- Optimized RocksDB settings by disabling filter computation and compression.
- Replaced sscanf with fast_float library for faster parsing.
- Changed std::string to std::vector<char> to reduce character writes.
- Removed redundant runtime checks and virtual function calls in hot paths.
- Pre-created keys for columns to eliminate redundant allocations.
- Achieved a 23x speedup through careful measurements and targeted changes.
Show HN: Long Mem code agent cut 95% costs for Claude with small model reading
13 hours ago
- CoSave is a VSCode extension that reduces AI coding costs by up to 95% using dual-model optimization.
- It intelligently uses small models for reading/analysis and large models for code writing to cut costs.
- Features long-term memory, auto-accumulating project experience in mem.md for continuous improvement.
- Enables sequential task execution—set tasks once and let them run unattended, even overnight.
- Allows remote task management from a phone, supporting work from anywhere.
- Supports multi-task parallel processing to minimize wait times.
- Default 'dual model mode' requires no extra setup for immediate use.
xAI Datacenters Disregard Clean Air Act
7 hours ago
- Elon Musk's xAI continues to use unpermitted gas turbines in Mississippi despite EPA regulations.
- Mississippi regulators claim the mobile turbines don't need permits, conflicting with EPA's Clean Air Act stance.
- Thermal images show over a dozen turbines emitting pollutants post-EPA ruling, deemed illegal by former EPA officials.
- xAI plans expansion with more turbines, raising health concerns in nearby communities with schools.
- The EPA has taken minimal enforcement action, deferring to state authorities despite federal policy violations.
- Residents report increased noise, pollution, and health risks, with some forced to relocate.
- xAI's operations span Tennessee-Mississippi, with plans for more data centers, exacerbating environmental impacts.
- AI's energy demand leads to increased fossil fuel use, with renewables delayed until at least 2028.
- Local opposition grows, with petitions demanding shutdowns over health and environmental concerns.
Homeland Security has sent out subpoenas to identify ICE critics
6 hours ago
- DHS sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to tech companies (Google, Reddit, Discord, Meta) seeking details on accounts criticizing ICE.
- Subpoenas requested names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information of anti-ICE accounts.
- Administrative subpoenas, historically used for serious crimes like child trafficking, have seen increased usage recently.
- Companies like Google and Meta review subpoenas but may comply if not legally contested within a set timeframe.
- Meta was subpoenaed for details on users posting ICE activity in Montgomery County, PA, in English and Spanish.
- ACLU argues DHS is using subpoenas to suppress speech, filing motions to protect targeted users.
- Meta blocked links to ICE List, a site listing ICE and Border Patrol agents' names.
- House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin requested Apple and Google provide communications regarding ICE-tracking app removals.
Taste for Makers
11 hours ago
- The concept of taste is essential in design, distinguishing between mere technical skill and the ability to create beautiful things.
- Beauty is a common language across fields like mathematics, science, engineering, and art, suggesting a universal principle of good design.
- Good design principles include simplicity, timelessness, solving the right problem, being suggestive, often slightly funny, hard yet looks easy, uses symmetry, resembles nature, involves redesign, can copy, is often strange, happens in chunks, and is daring.
- Simplicity in design forces facing the real problem, leading to substance over ornament.
- Timeless design aims for solutions that surpass current fashions, appealing across generations.
- Solving the right problem involves understanding the user's needs beyond superficial solutions.
- Suggestive design engages the audience by allowing them to envision or interact with the work in their own way.
- Humor in design reflects strength and confidence, making the work more relatable and engaging.
- The appearance of ease in design is achieved through hard work and practice, masking the underlying effort.
- Symmetry and resemblance to nature are indicators of good design, leveraging patterns and solutions refined over time.
- Redesign is a natural part of the creative process, with experts expecting and embracing iterations.
- Copying, when done consciously and selectively, can lead to original and right solutions in design.
- Strange or uncanny qualities in design often emerge from pursuing truth or functionality, not from aiming for strangeness.
- Great design often emerges from communities of talented individuals working on related problems, highlighting the importance of environment.
- Daring to challenge conventional wisdom and tolerating ugliness can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and designs.

Hasty Briefsbeta

We urgently need a federal law forbidding AI from impersonating humans

Men lose their Y chromosome as they age – how it may matter

Dutch House of Representatives advances controversial 36% tax law

Gamma Function: Visualization for Complex Arguments

AI Twitter's favourite lie: everyone wants to be a developer

A Framework for Time-Updating Probabilistic Forecasts

Logic for Programmers

Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care

Interop 2026

Just 5 weeks of brain training may protect against dementia for 20 years

7zip.com Is Serving Malware

A Review of M Disc Archival Capability. With long term testing results

Vim 9.2 Released

Platforms bend over backward to help DHS censor ICE critics, advocates say

My smart sleep mask broadcasts users' brainwaves to an open MQTT broker

From 3 Minutes to 7.8 Seconds: Improving on RocksDB performance

Show HN: Long Mem code agent cut 95% costs for Claude with small model reading

xAI Datacenters Disregard Clean Air Act

Homeland Security has sent out subpoenas to identify ICE critics

Taste for Makers

We urgently need a federal law forbidding AI from impersonating humans

Men lose their Y chromosome as they age – how it may matter

Dutch House of Representatives advances controversial 36% tax law

Gamma Function: Visualization for Complex Arguments

AI Twitter's favourite lie: everyone wants to be a developer

A Framework for Time-Updating Probabilistic Forecasts

Logic for Programmers

Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care

Interop 2026

Just 5 weeks of brain training may protect against dementia for 20 years

7zip.com Is Serving Malware

A Review of M Disc Archival Capability. With long term testing results

Vim 9.2 Released

Platforms bend over backward to help DHS censor ICE critics, advocates say

My smart sleep mask broadcasts users' brainwaves to an open MQTT broker

From 3 Minutes to 7.8 Seconds: Improving on RocksDB performance

Show HN: Long Mem code agent cut 95% costs for Claude with small model reading

xAI Datacenters Disregard Clean Air Act

Homeland Security has sent out subpoenas to identify ICE critics

Taste for Makers