Hasty Briefsbeta

Germany: Amazon is not allowed to force customers to watch ads on Prime Video
7 hours ago
- Amazon cannot unilaterally change Prime Video's contract terms in Germany to show ads, per Munich Regional Court.
- The court ruled Amazon's actions violated fair competition, misleading customers about unilateral contract changes.
- Amazon must send a 'correction letter' to customers and cannot enforce the ad changes without consent.
- The verdict is not yet final; Amazon is reviewing the decision and may appeal.
- Consumer advocates hailed the ruling, emphasizing customers' right to ad-free Prime Video without extra costs.
Notepad++ v8.8.9 release: Vulnerability-fix
11 hours ago
- Security vulnerability in Notepad++ v8.8.9 updater (WinGUp) allowed traffic hijacking, leading to malicious downloads.
- New security enhancement: Notepad++ & WinGUp now verify signatures & certificates of downloaded installers during updates.
- Ongoing investigation into the exact method of traffic hijacking; users will be updated with findings.
- Notepad++ binaries (since v8.8.7) are digitally signed by GlobalSign; root certificate installation is no longer needed.
- This release includes bug-fixes and additional enhancements alongside the security update.
Opencoil – appropriating inductive charging pads in the wild (2020) [video]
3 days ago
- OPENCOIL exhibition uses micro-mobility infrastructure as a decentralized art space.
- 11 artists present works on WiFi controllers attached to randomly selected e-scooters.
- The exhibition moves through the city unnoticed by regular scooter users.
- Addresses urban space, ownership, agency, production, ecology, and late capitalism.
- Aims to combine online independence with offline materiality in a pandemic-proof way.
- Features works on public vs. private space, greenwashing, risk capitalism, and vandalism.
- Participating artists include Aram Bartholl, JODI, Rosa Menkman, and others.
Don MacKinnon: Why Simplicity Beats Cleverness in Software Design [audio]
3 days ago
- Unnecessary complexity is the biggest barrier to software maintainability.
- Clever abstractions can make systems harder to maintain without delivering value.
- Searchcraft's engineering team structure grew from recurring pain points in client projects.
- Limiting configuration in SDK and infrastructure design keeps setup fast and predictable.
- Consulting and product work shape developers differently.
- Abandoned dependencies in ecosystems like React Native create problems.
- Evaluate third-party libraries based on adoption, update cadence, and issue activity.
- Clear project structure and idiomatic naming are more important than cleverness.
- RFCs help teams align on significant changes and avoid decision churn.
- Documentation should explain why, not just echo code.
- Type systems improve maintainability by providing structure and clear communication.
- Stable type contracts make tests cleaner and less ambiguous.
- AI tools like MCP help ground LLM behavior and improve trust.
- The Strangler pattern is a practical way to replace legacy systems incrementally.
- Deep work and uninterrupted thinking time are essential for developers.
- Track progress with build times, test speeds, and coverage metrics.
- Industry trends like SPAs and server rendering often follow pendulum swings.
- Experimentation and side projects can surface organically within teams.
- Set learning targets in 1:1s to support long-term developer growth.
The Breachies 2025: The Worst, Weirdest, Most Impactful Data Breaches of 2025
15 hours ago
- Thousands of data breaches occurred in the past year, affecting millions of people.
- The 'Breachies' awards highlight the most egregious data breaches of the year.
- Companies often collect excessive data, making breaches more harmful.
- Stolen personal data can be used for identity theft, ransomware, and spam.
- Tips to protect yourself include using unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and freezing your credit.
- Notable breaches include Mixpanel, Discord, Tea Dating Advice, Blue Shield of California, PowerSchool, and Microsoft.
- Stalkerware apps like Catwatchful also suffered breaches, exposing sensitive victim data.
- Troy Hunt's mailing list was compromised, showing even experts can be vulnerable.
- The U.S. needs stronger privacy laws and better corporate data practices.
Why Consciousness Evolved
14 hours ago
- New research explores the evolutionary purpose of consciousness, identifying three distinct forms: basic arousal, general alertness, and reflexive self-awareness.
- Basic arousal acts as an emergency alarm system, helping organisms detect and respond to threats, while general alertness enables selective focus and learning.
- Reflexive self-awareness allows for self-reflection, planning, and social coordination, aiding in long-term survival and complex interactions.
- Birds demonstrate that consciousness can arise from different brain structures, suggesting it is an older and more widespread evolutionary phenomenon than previously thought.
- Pain and pleasure serve as early reinforcement systems, improving survival by signaling danger and rewarding beneficial behaviors.
- Studies on birds reveal sensory consciousness, neurobiological parallels to mammals, and potential forms of self-consciousness, challenging traditional views on consciousness.
Canada reports the biggest population decline in recent memory
15 hours ago
- Canada's population declined by 76,000 in Q3 2025, the largest drop since the 1940s.
- The decline was driven by fewer international students due to federal caps on study permits.
- Population fell by 0.2%, with current numbers at 41,575,585, marking a shift in immigration policy impact.
- Federal goal to reduce non-permanent residents to 5% of the population by 2027, down from 6.8%.
- Temporary residents peaked at 3.15 million in Oct 2024, up from 1.36 million in July 2021.
- Policy changes aimed at curbing immigration have led to economic concerns, including potential sector slowdowns.
- Alberta and Nunavut were the only regions with population growth (0.2% each) in Q3 2025.
- Economists predict the drop in non-permanent residents may boost GDP per capita but slow broader economic growth.
Linux Patches Begin Adapting Raid Code to Use Folios
12 hours ago
- Linux kernel patches are adapting RAID code to use folios for better performance.
- Folios, introduced in Linux 5.16, manage contiguous memory pages more efficiently.
- Huawei engineer Li Nan proposed using folios for sync I/O in RAID1 and RAID10.
- Previously, RAID used 16 x 4K pages for 64K sync I/O; now consolidated into a single 64K folio.
- This is the first step towards full folio support in Linux RAID code.
- The patches were tested with mdadm and additional fault injection stress tests.
CA threatens Tesla with suspension of sales for deceptive self-driving claims
13 hours ago
- California regulators threaten Tesla with a 30-day suspension of its sales license due to deceptive marketing of self-driving features.
- Tesla must clarify the limitations of its 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving' technology within 90 days to avoid the suspension.
- Judge Juliet Cox found Tesla engaged in deceptive practices by overstating the capabilities of its autonomous technology.
- Tesla dismisses the ruling as regulatory overkill, stating no customers complained and sales will continue uninterrupted.
- Tesla faces declining sales globally, partly due to backlash against Elon Musk's political involvement and increased competition.
- Despite sales challenges, Tesla's stock price recently hit an all-time high, reflecting investor focus on AI and robotaxi developments.
- Tesla has begun testing robotaxis without human supervisors, despite ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny over its self-driving claims.
- The company has faced lawsuits and a $240 million jury verdict over accidents linked to its Autopilot system.
Show HN: Largest Public Dataset of Electronic Circuit Files
8 hours ago
- Dataset contains electronic schematic files with visual representations, component information, and metadata.
- Each record includes schematic content, image, components used, JSON/YAML representations, name, description, and type.
- Data is sourced from publicly available hardware repositories and processed for AI training.
- Use cases include circuit design AI, component recognition, design assistance, and educational tools.
- Dataset is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) license.
Tucker claims Trump will declare war on Venezuela tonight address to nation
9 hours ago
- Tucker Carlson claims Donald Trump will announce war with Venezuela in a televised address.
- Trump ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, escalating tensions.
- Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro denounced the blockade as 'warmongering' and accused the US of trying to steal oil.
- Financial markets reacted with oil prices spiking and energy stocks soaring.
- US has targeted alleged narco-terror vessels, killing 95 people since September.
- Trump accuses Maduro of using oil profits to fund terrorism and drug trafficking.
- Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro warns the naval blockade is an 'act of war'.
- Venezuelan military claims it is 'not intimidated' by US threats.
- China supports Venezuela, condemning US 'bullying' and defending sovereignty.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calls for UN intervention to prevent bloodshed.
- Venezuela's oil production has dropped significantly due to US embargo since 2019.
- Analysts predict the blockade will severely impact Venezuela's economy in the short term.
OpenAI Is Maneuvering for a Government Bailout
11 hours ago
- OpenAI is losing money at an unprecedented rate, with losses totaling $30.5 billion from 2024 to mid-2025.
- To sustain its business model, OpenAI is considering government subsidies, loan guarantees, and financial innovations like revenue-sharing deals.
- AI has potential in certain applications but is currently associated with negative outcomes like spam, scams, and legal risks.
- Venture capitalists are investing heavily in AI, hoping for breakthroughs like 'robot slaves,' though this is unlikely in the near future.
- AI differs from traditional software models with high capital costs, marginal costs, and vulnerability to competition.
- OpenAI may pivot to government contracts, following companies like Palantir and Boeing, to secure funding.
- The feasibility of reaching $2 trillion in AI revenue by 2030 is highly questionable, raising concerns about future bailout requests.
A look back: LANPAR, the first spreadsheet
12 hours ago
- LANPAR was the first spreadsheet, predating VisiCalc by ten years.
- Developed by Rene Pardo and Remy Landau at Bell Canada to allow managers to create their own budget forms.
- LANPAR used a grid of cells (boxes) referenced by row and column numbers (e.g., box 101 for row 1, column 01).
- Supported up to 999 rows and 99 columns, with cells containing INPUT values, constants (K), or calculations.
- Calculations could include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation.
- Introduced forward references, allowing calculations to reference unresolved cells in a loop.
- Patent filed in 1970, granted in 1983, now expired.
- Forward references became a standard feature in spreadsheets like Lotus 1-2-3 in the 1980s.
My payment agent is named George, not stripe-agent
4 days ago
- The author names AI sub-agents after inspiring figures (e.g., George, Agatha, Ray, Helen) to maintain focus on human-centric problem-solving.
- George is named after George Washington Carver, symbolizing transforming simple inputs into sustainable value, akin to a good payment system.
- Ray is named after Ray Eames, emphasizing design that serves human needs, not just aesthetics.
- Agatha is named after Agatha Christie, focusing on security audits to find overlooked vulnerabilities.
- Helen is named after Helen Keller, dedicated to accessibility, ensuring software is usable by all.
- Naming agents after real people shapes intent and keeps the focus on serving human needs rather than abstract goals.
- The practice helps the author avoid industry abstractions that dehumanize users (e.g., 'MAUs,' 'pain points').
- Invoking multiple agents (e.g., Helen and Ada) ensures balanced perspectives, such as performance vs. accessibility.
- The author views software as a medium for solving human problems, not an end in itself.
- This naming ritual reinforces the purpose of the work: serving people, not just writing code.
X wins appeal to lift block on Australians seeing Charlie Kirk footage
17 hours ago
- The Australian classification review board overturned a decision to block footage of Charlie Kirk's shooting on social media after X's appeal.
- X successfully argued the Kirk video was not excessively violent or offensive, comparing it to historical footage like JFK's assassination.
- The board reclassified the videos to R18+, stating they weren't gratuitous or exploitative enough to be refused classification.
- A minority disagreed, arguing the video was shared for entertainment or personal gain and shouldn't be compared to historical events.
- X welcomed the decision, stating it upholds free speech and access to public information.
- eSafety commissioner noted the R18+ rating means platforms must prevent under-18s from accessing the content.
- eSafety did not block Bondi beach terror attack footage, advising platforms to use content warnings instead.
Caught on video: "The wave that shouldn't exist"
17 hours ago
- A team of Australian bodyboarders captured footage of a rare oceanic phenomenon where four 12-ft waves converge into an oval dip, creating explosive results.
- The phenomenon launches water and fish up to 130 ft (40 m) into the air, resembling a natural water cannon.
- Chris White and Ben Allen filmed the event for 'Tension 11,' an independent boogie-boarding film, after White initially photographed it for his book 'Dark Light.'
- The wave phenomenon occurs regularly when large swells collide with backwashed waves near a reef, creating a massive water explosion.
- The 'Tension' films, known for their scrappy, prank-heavy content, have a cult following and showcase Australia's adventurous spirit.
- The team plans to keep the location secret to prevent potential dangers but intends to return for a future 'Tension 12' project.
Drivers struggle to multitask when using dashboard touch screens, study finds
a day ago
- Drivers struggle to multitask when using dashboard touch screens, leading to decreased driving performance and touch screen accuracy.
- A study by the University of Washington and Toyota Research Institute found that using touch screens while driving increases lane drifting by 42%.
- Touch screen accuracy and speed decreased by 58% when driving, with an additional 17% decline under high cognitive load.
- Participants' glances at the touch screen were 26.3% shorter under high cognitive load.
- The 'hand-before-eye' phenomenon increased from 63% to 71% when memory tasks were introduced.
- Increasing the size of touch screen target areas did not improve performance, suggesting visual search is the bottleneck.
- Researchers recommend future in-car systems use sensors to monitor drivers' attention and adjust interfaces accordingly.
- The study was presented at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology in Busan, Korea.
TikTok unlawfully tracks your shopping habits – and your use of dating apps
10 hours ago
- TikTok tracks users across other apps and websites, including Grindr, revealing sensitive data like sexual orientation.
- TikTok, AppsFlyer, and Grindr lack a valid legal basis under GDPR for sharing and processing user data.
- TikTok's download tool for user data is incomplete, violating GDPR Articles 12 and 15 on access requests.
- noyb filed two complaints in Austria against TikTok, AppsFlyer, and Grindr for GDPR violations.
- The complaints demand full data disclosure, cessation of unlawful processing, and GDPR-compliant fines.
The Number That Turned Sideways
5 days ago
- Complex numbers are pairs of real numbers with a real part (a) and an imaginary part (bi), where i is the square root of -1.
- The magnitude of a complex number is given by |z| = √(a² + b²).
- Complex numbers can be represented in polar form as z = |z|(cosθ + i sinθ), where θ is the angle.
- Multiplying a complex number by a real scalar stretches or shrinks it, while multiplying by i rotates it by π/2.
- Rafael Bombelli in 1572 defined arithmetic rules for complex numbers, treating them as valid entities despite initial skepticism.
- Leonhard Euler in 1748 connected complex numbers to exponential functions, showing e^(ix) = cos(x) + i sin(x).
- Between 1799 and 1831, Caspar Wessel, Jean-Robert Argand, and Carl Friedrich Gauss gave geometric meaning to complex numbers, placing them on a plane.
- Bombelli's rules, Euler's formula, and the geometric interpretation together explain why imaginary exponents rotate numbers.
- Euler's formula also revealed the roots of unity, showing how complex numbers divide the circle into equal parts.
- The development of complex numbers spanned three centuries, evolving from arithmetic rules to analytic connections and finally geometric meaning.
Gut Bacteria from Amphibians and Reptiles Achieve Complete Tumor Elimination
11 hours ago
- Natural bacteria from amphibian and reptile intestines completely eliminate tumors with a single administration.
- Ewingella americana, isolated from Japanese tree frogs, shows potent anticancer activity.
- The bacteria combine direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells with immune system activation.
- Achieves 100% complete response in mouse colorectal cancer models, outperforming current therapies.
- Selectively accumulates in tumors without colonizing normal organs, ensuring safety.
- Future research will explore applications in other cancer types and combination therapies.

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About Login

Germany: Amazon is not allowed to force customers to watch ads on Prime Video
7 hours ago
- Amazon cannot unilaterally change Prime Video's contract terms in Germany to show ads, per Munich Regional Court.
- The court ruled Amazon's actions violated fair competition, misleading customers about unilateral contract changes.
- Amazon must send a 'correction letter' to customers and cannot enforce the ad changes without consent.
- The verdict is not yet final; Amazon is reviewing the decision and may appeal.
- Consumer advocates hailed the ruling, emphasizing customers' right to ad-free Prime Video without extra costs.
Notepad++ v8.8.9 release: Vulnerability-fix
11 hours ago
- Security vulnerability in Notepad++ v8.8.9 updater (WinGUp) allowed traffic hijacking, leading to malicious downloads.
- New security enhancement: Notepad++ & WinGUp now verify signatures & certificates of downloaded installers during updates.
- Ongoing investigation into the exact method of traffic hijacking; users will be updated with findings.
- Notepad++ binaries (since v8.8.7) are digitally signed by GlobalSign; root certificate installation is no longer needed.
- This release includes bug-fixes and additional enhancements alongside the security update.
Opencoil – appropriating inductive charging pads in the wild (2020) [video]
3 days ago
- OPENCOIL exhibition uses micro-mobility infrastructure as a decentralized art space.
- 11 artists present works on WiFi controllers attached to randomly selected e-scooters.
- The exhibition moves through the city unnoticed by regular scooter users.
- Addresses urban space, ownership, agency, production, ecology, and late capitalism.
- Aims to combine online independence with offline materiality in a pandemic-proof way.
- Features works on public vs. private space, greenwashing, risk capitalism, and vandalism.
- Participating artists include Aram Bartholl, JODI, Rosa Menkman, and others.
Don MacKinnon: Why Simplicity Beats Cleverness in Software Design [audio]
3 days ago
- Unnecessary complexity is the biggest barrier to software maintainability.
- Clever abstractions can make systems harder to maintain without delivering value.
- Searchcraft's engineering team structure grew from recurring pain points in client projects.
- Limiting configuration in SDK and infrastructure design keeps setup fast and predictable.
- Consulting and product work shape developers differently.
- Abandoned dependencies in ecosystems like React Native create problems.
- Evaluate third-party libraries based on adoption, update cadence, and issue activity.
- Clear project structure and idiomatic naming are more important than cleverness.
- RFCs help teams align on significant changes and avoid decision churn.
- Documentation should explain why, not just echo code.
- Type systems improve maintainability by providing structure and clear communication.
- Stable type contracts make tests cleaner and less ambiguous.
- AI tools like MCP help ground LLM behavior and improve trust.
- The Strangler pattern is a practical way to replace legacy systems incrementally.
- Deep work and uninterrupted thinking time are essential for developers.
- Track progress with build times, test speeds, and coverage metrics.
- Industry trends like SPAs and server rendering often follow pendulum swings.
- Experimentation and side projects can surface organically within teams.
- Set learning targets in 1:1s to support long-term developer growth.
The Breachies 2025: The Worst, Weirdest, Most Impactful Data Breaches of 2025
15 hours ago
- Thousands of data breaches occurred in the past year, affecting millions of people.
- The 'Breachies' awards highlight the most egregious data breaches of the year.
- Companies often collect excessive data, making breaches more harmful.
- Stolen personal data can be used for identity theft, ransomware, and spam.
- Tips to protect yourself include using unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and freezing your credit.
- Notable breaches include Mixpanel, Discord, Tea Dating Advice, Blue Shield of California, PowerSchool, and Microsoft.
- Stalkerware apps like Catwatchful also suffered breaches, exposing sensitive victim data.
- Troy Hunt's mailing list was compromised, showing even experts can be vulnerable.
- The U.S. needs stronger privacy laws and better corporate data practices.
Why Consciousness Evolved
14 hours ago
- New research explores the evolutionary purpose of consciousness, identifying three distinct forms: basic arousal, general alertness, and reflexive self-awareness.
- Basic arousal acts as an emergency alarm system, helping organisms detect and respond to threats, while general alertness enables selective focus and learning.
- Reflexive self-awareness allows for self-reflection, planning, and social coordination, aiding in long-term survival and complex interactions.
- Birds demonstrate that consciousness can arise from different brain structures, suggesting it is an older and more widespread evolutionary phenomenon than previously thought.
- Pain and pleasure serve as early reinforcement systems, improving survival by signaling danger and rewarding beneficial behaviors.
- Studies on birds reveal sensory consciousness, neurobiological parallels to mammals, and potential forms of self-consciousness, challenging traditional views on consciousness.
Canada reports the biggest population decline in recent memory
15 hours ago
- Canada's population declined by 76,000 in Q3 2025, the largest drop since the 1940s.
- The decline was driven by fewer international students due to federal caps on study permits.
- Population fell by 0.2%, with current numbers at 41,575,585, marking a shift in immigration policy impact.
- Federal goal to reduce non-permanent residents to 5% of the population by 2027, down from 6.8%.
- Temporary residents peaked at 3.15 million in Oct 2024, up from 1.36 million in July 2021.
- Policy changes aimed at curbing immigration have led to economic concerns, including potential sector slowdowns.
- Alberta and Nunavut were the only regions with population growth (0.2% each) in Q3 2025.
- Economists predict the drop in non-permanent residents may boost GDP per capita but slow broader economic growth.
Linux Patches Begin Adapting Raid Code to Use Folios
12 hours ago
- Linux kernel patches are adapting RAID code to use folios for better performance.
- Folios, introduced in Linux 5.16, manage contiguous memory pages more efficiently.
- Huawei engineer Li Nan proposed using folios for sync I/O in RAID1 and RAID10.
- Previously, RAID used 16 x 4K pages for 64K sync I/O; now consolidated into a single 64K folio.
- This is the first step towards full folio support in Linux RAID code.
- The patches were tested with mdadm and additional fault injection stress tests.
CA threatens Tesla with suspension of sales for deceptive self-driving claims
13 hours ago
- California regulators threaten Tesla with a 30-day suspension of its sales license due to deceptive marketing of self-driving features.
- Tesla must clarify the limitations of its 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving' technology within 90 days to avoid the suspension.
- Judge Juliet Cox found Tesla engaged in deceptive practices by overstating the capabilities of its autonomous technology.
- Tesla dismisses the ruling as regulatory overkill, stating no customers complained and sales will continue uninterrupted.
- Tesla faces declining sales globally, partly due to backlash against Elon Musk's political involvement and increased competition.
- Despite sales challenges, Tesla's stock price recently hit an all-time high, reflecting investor focus on AI and robotaxi developments.
- Tesla has begun testing robotaxis without human supervisors, despite ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny over its self-driving claims.
- The company has faced lawsuits and a $240 million jury verdict over accidents linked to its Autopilot system.
Show HN: Largest Public Dataset of Electronic Circuit Files
8 hours ago
- Dataset contains electronic schematic files with visual representations, component information, and metadata.
- Each record includes schematic content, image, components used, JSON/YAML representations, name, description, and type.
- Data is sourced from publicly available hardware repositories and processed for AI training.
- Use cases include circuit design AI, component recognition, design assistance, and educational tools.
- Dataset is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) license.
Tucker claims Trump will declare war on Venezuela tonight address to nation
9 hours ago
- Tucker Carlson claims Donald Trump will announce war with Venezuela in a televised address.
- Trump ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, escalating tensions.
- Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro denounced the blockade as 'warmongering' and accused the US of trying to steal oil.
- Financial markets reacted with oil prices spiking and energy stocks soaring.
- US has targeted alleged narco-terror vessels, killing 95 people since September.
- Trump accuses Maduro of using oil profits to fund terrorism and drug trafficking.
- Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro warns the naval blockade is an 'act of war'.
- Venezuelan military claims it is 'not intimidated' by US threats.
- China supports Venezuela, condemning US 'bullying' and defending sovereignty.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calls for UN intervention to prevent bloodshed.
- Venezuela's oil production has dropped significantly due to US embargo since 2019.
- Analysts predict the blockade will severely impact Venezuela's economy in the short term.
OpenAI Is Maneuvering for a Government Bailout
11 hours ago
- OpenAI is losing money at an unprecedented rate, with losses totaling $30.5 billion from 2024 to mid-2025.
- To sustain its business model, OpenAI is considering government subsidies, loan guarantees, and financial innovations like revenue-sharing deals.
- AI has potential in certain applications but is currently associated with negative outcomes like spam, scams, and legal risks.
- Venture capitalists are investing heavily in AI, hoping for breakthroughs like 'robot slaves,' though this is unlikely in the near future.
- AI differs from traditional software models with high capital costs, marginal costs, and vulnerability to competition.
- OpenAI may pivot to government contracts, following companies like Palantir and Boeing, to secure funding.
- The feasibility of reaching $2 trillion in AI revenue by 2030 is highly questionable, raising concerns about future bailout requests.
A look back: LANPAR, the first spreadsheet
12 hours ago
- LANPAR was the first spreadsheet, predating VisiCalc by ten years.
- Developed by Rene Pardo and Remy Landau at Bell Canada to allow managers to create their own budget forms.
- LANPAR used a grid of cells (boxes) referenced by row and column numbers (e.g., box 101 for row 1, column 01).
- Supported up to 999 rows and 99 columns, with cells containing INPUT values, constants (K), or calculations.
- Calculations could include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation.
- Introduced forward references, allowing calculations to reference unresolved cells in a loop.
- Patent filed in 1970, granted in 1983, now expired.
- Forward references became a standard feature in spreadsheets like Lotus 1-2-3 in the 1980s.
My payment agent is named George, not stripe-agent
4 days ago
- The author names AI sub-agents after inspiring figures (e.g., George, Agatha, Ray, Helen) to maintain focus on human-centric problem-solving.
- George is named after George Washington Carver, symbolizing transforming simple inputs into sustainable value, akin to a good payment system.
- Ray is named after Ray Eames, emphasizing design that serves human needs, not just aesthetics.
- Agatha is named after Agatha Christie, focusing on security audits to find overlooked vulnerabilities.
- Helen is named after Helen Keller, dedicated to accessibility, ensuring software is usable by all.
- Naming agents after real people shapes intent and keeps the focus on serving human needs rather than abstract goals.
- The practice helps the author avoid industry abstractions that dehumanize users (e.g., 'MAUs,' 'pain points').
- Invoking multiple agents (e.g., Helen and Ada) ensures balanced perspectives, such as performance vs. accessibility.
- The author views software as a medium for solving human problems, not an end in itself.
- This naming ritual reinforces the purpose of the work: serving people, not just writing code.
X wins appeal to lift block on Australians seeing Charlie Kirk footage
17 hours ago
- The Australian classification review board overturned a decision to block footage of Charlie Kirk's shooting on social media after X's appeal.
- X successfully argued the Kirk video was not excessively violent or offensive, comparing it to historical footage like JFK's assassination.
- The board reclassified the videos to R18+, stating they weren't gratuitous or exploitative enough to be refused classification.
- A minority disagreed, arguing the video was shared for entertainment or personal gain and shouldn't be compared to historical events.
- X welcomed the decision, stating it upholds free speech and access to public information.
- eSafety commissioner noted the R18+ rating means platforms must prevent under-18s from accessing the content.
- eSafety did not block Bondi beach terror attack footage, advising platforms to use content warnings instead.
Caught on video: "The wave that shouldn't exist"
17 hours ago
- A team of Australian bodyboarders captured footage of a rare oceanic phenomenon where four 12-ft waves converge into an oval dip, creating explosive results.
- The phenomenon launches water and fish up to 130 ft (40 m) into the air, resembling a natural water cannon.
- Chris White and Ben Allen filmed the event for 'Tension 11,' an independent boogie-boarding film, after White initially photographed it for his book 'Dark Light.'
- The wave phenomenon occurs regularly when large swells collide with backwashed waves near a reef, creating a massive water explosion.
- The 'Tension' films, known for their scrappy, prank-heavy content, have a cult following and showcase Australia's adventurous spirit.
- The team plans to keep the location secret to prevent potential dangers but intends to return for a future 'Tension 12' project.
Drivers struggle to multitask when using dashboard touch screens, study finds
a day ago
- Drivers struggle to multitask when using dashboard touch screens, leading to decreased driving performance and touch screen accuracy.
- A study by the University of Washington and Toyota Research Institute found that using touch screens while driving increases lane drifting by 42%.
- Touch screen accuracy and speed decreased by 58% when driving, with an additional 17% decline under high cognitive load.
- Participants' glances at the touch screen were 26.3% shorter under high cognitive load.
- The 'hand-before-eye' phenomenon increased from 63% to 71% when memory tasks were introduced.
- Increasing the size of touch screen target areas did not improve performance, suggesting visual search is the bottleneck.
- Researchers recommend future in-car systems use sensors to monitor drivers' attention and adjust interfaces accordingly.
- The study was presented at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology in Busan, Korea.
TikTok unlawfully tracks your shopping habits – and your use of dating apps
10 hours ago
- TikTok tracks users across other apps and websites, including Grindr, revealing sensitive data like sexual orientation.
- TikTok, AppsFlyer, and Grindr lack a valid legal basis under GDPR for sharing and processing user data.
- TikTok's download tool for user data is incomplete, violating GDPR Articles 12 and 15 on access requests.
- noyb filed two complaints in Austria against TikTok, AppsFlyer, and Grindr for GDPR violations.
- The complaints demand full data disclosure, cessation of unlawful processing, and GDPR-compliant fines.
The Number That Turned Sideways
5 days ago
- Complex numbers are pairs of real numbers with a real part (a) and an imaginary part (bi), where i is the square root of -1.
- The magnitude of a complex number is given by |z| = √(a² + b²).
- Complex numbers can be represented in polar form as z = |z|(cosθ + i sinθ), where θ is the angle.
- Multiplying a complex number by a real scalar stretches or shrinks it, while multiplying by i rotates it by π/2.
- Rafael Bombelli in 1572 defined arithmetic rules for complex numbers, treating them as valid entities despite initial skepticism.
- Leonhard Euler in 1748 connected complex numbers to exponential functions, showing e^(ix) = cos(x) + i sin(x).
- Between 1799 and 1831, Caspar Wessel, Jean-Robert Argand, and Carl Friedrich Gauss gave geometric meaning to complex numbers, placing them on a plane.
- Bombelli's rules, Euler's formula, and the geometric interpretation together explain why imaginary exponents rotate numbers.
- Euler's formula also revealed the roots of unity, showing how complex numbers divide the circle into equal parts.
- The development of complex numbers spanned three centuries, evolving from arithmetic rules to analytic connections and finally geometric meaning.
Gut Bacteria from Amphibians and Reptiles Achieve Complete Tumor Elimination
11 hours ago
- Natural bacteria from amphibian and reptile intestines completely eliminate tumors with a single administration.
- Ewingella americana, isolated from Japanese tree frogs, shows potent anticancer activity.
- The bacteria combine direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells with immune system activation.
- Achieves 100% complete response in mouse colorectal cancer models, outperforming current therapies.
- Selectively accumulates in tumors without colonizing normal organs, ensuring safety.
- Future research will explore applications in other cancer types and combination therapies.

Hasty Briefsbeta

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Why Consciousness Evolved

Canada reports the biggest population decline in recent memory

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CA threatens Tesla with suspension of sales for deceptive self-driving claims

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Tucker claims Trump will declare war on Venezuela tonight address to nation

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My payment agent is named George, not stripe-agent

X wins appeal to lift block on Australians seeing Charlie Kirk footage

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