Hasty Briefsbeta

Bilingual

President Trump says he wants to drive housing prices up, not down
8 days ago
- President Trump aims to increase housing prices to benefit homeowners, not lower them.
- He suggests lower interest rates from his upcoming Federal Reserve pick will help more Americans buy homes despite rising prices.
- Trump's policies include banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes and purchasing mortgage-backed securities to lower mortgage rates.
- Housing prices rose 0.6% in November 2025, with the median home price reaching a record $433,000.
- Trump opposes using 401(k) savings for home down payments and plans to announce a new Federal Reserve chairman nominee soon.
US spy satellite agency declassifies high-flying Cold War listening post
8 days ago
- The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) declassified the Jumpseat program, a spy satellite initiative used to eavesdrop on Soviet military communications.
- Jumpseat was the US's first-generation highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite, operational from 1971 to 2006.
- Eight Jumpseat satellites were launched, focusing on monitoring adversarial weapon systems and collecting electronic emissions, communication intelligence, and foreign instrumentation intelligence.
- The intercepted data was shared with the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, and other national security elements.
- The Soviet Union was the primary target, with satellites in highly elliptical orbits providing persistent coverage over the Arctic and Soviet territories.
- The orbit, known as Molniya by the Soviets, allowed satellites to loiter over key areas for extended periods.
- The name Jumpseat was first revealed in a 1986 book by Seymour Hersh, detailing its capability to intercept various communications, including voice messages.
Google Settlement May Bring New Privacy Controls for Real-Time Bidding
8 days ago
- EFF warns about the dangers of real-time bidding (RTB) in online advertising.
- RTB auctions expose personal data to thousands of companies daily, including identifiers like GPS, IP address, and inferred interests.
- Data brokers exploit RTB to harvest sensitive data, enabling invasive tracking and surveillance.
- A proposed Google settlement introduces 'RTB Control' to limit data sharing, but requires user opt-out.
- RTB Control has limitations, such as requiring Google account sign-in or third-party cookies.
- EFF advocates for legislative bans on behavioral advertising and stronger privacy protections.
Employers, please use postmarked letters for job applications
8 days ago
- Employers should consider requiring job applications via physical letters to reduce digital spam.
- Handwritten cover letters could increase the cost for fraudulent applications while being less burdensome for genuine applicants.
- Physical letters raise the application cost, making it harder to automate submissions with LLMs.
- Handwriting uniqueness allows verification of applicant authenticity.
- Companies are unlikely to adopt this method and may instead rely on third-party systems with dubious 'AI protection'.
- Potential drawbacks include outsourcing letters, transcription of LLM text, and accessibility issues.
- The current trend of online applications is expected to worsen with easier access to LLMs.
The passive in English (2011)
12 days ago
- The passive voice in English is often misunderstood, with many people unable to correctly identify it.
- Passive clauses involve a reversal of the standard subject-verb-object roles, where the subject typically denotes the 'victim' rather than the 'wrecker'.
- Passive constructions require a participle (usually past participle) and often use auxiliary verbs like 'be', but can also use others like 'get', 'have', or 'see'.
- Prepositional passives involve stranded prepositions, where the subject corresponds to the object of a preposition in the active voice.
- The passive is not inherently vague about agency; it can explicitly mention the agent using a 'by'-phrase.
- Common misconceptions about the passive include that it always uses 'be', hides agency, or is bad writing—none of which are true.
- Notable critics of the passive, like George Orwell and E.B. White, ironically use it more frequently than average writers.
What the Success of Coding Agents Teaches Us about AI Systems in General
8 days ago
- AI coding agents significantly reduce the time required for software development tasks, from weeks to days or even hours.
- AI-native software systems are learned rather than designed, with code as policy, deployment as episodes, and bug reports as reward signals.
- Neural networks excel at tasks requiring judgment, while traditional software is better suited for executing explicit instructions.
- Many agentic AI projects fail due to issues like agentic drift, opaque debugging, and brittle autonomy, whereas Claude Code succeeds by producing durable, version-controlled, and deterministic artifacts.
- A better architecture delegates judgment to neural networks and execution to traditional software, maintaining determinism, auditability, and precision.
- AI agents can accelerate buildtime by writing code, blurring the line between development and runtime, leading to adaptable software systems.
- Neural networks should be used for runtime judgment and buildtime acceleration, not to replace traditional software.
'I wouldn't dare take these': how China supplies untested peptides to the West
8 days ago
- JavaScript is disabled in the browser.
- A required part of the site couldn’t load due to possible issues like browser extensions, network problems, or browser settings.
- Suggested actions include checking the connection, disabling ad blockers, or trying a different browser.
Another Energy Transition Is Possible
8 days ago
- Jean-Baptiste Fressoz argues that no true energy transition has ever occurred, as each generation consumes more of past fuels.
- The concept of a 'just transition' is critiqued for assuming the transition is happening and only needs to be more equitable.
- Fressoz's book 'More and More and More' challenges the idea of historical energy transitions, showing increased use of all energy sources over time.
- Industrialization is presented as a historically specific process that expanded energy and material use, with both benefits and environmental costs.
- Fressoz's perspective leans towards degrowth, criticizing technological solutions and advocating for reduced consumption and redistribution.
- The socialist alternative emphasizes technological and social change to achieve ecological sustainability and human flourishing.
The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished
8 days ago
- Hoboken, New Jersey, has had zero traffic fatalities for nine years, defying the typical statistics for a city of its size.
- The Vision Zero movement, which believes traffic deaths are preventable, cites Hoboken and Helsinki as success stories.
- Mayor Ravi Bhalla led Hoboken's traffic safety initiatives, inspired by personal experiences and a pedestrian death during his time as a city council member.
- A five-year analysis revealed that 40% of serious or fatal crashes involved bikers or pedestrians, with 88% occurring at intersections.
- Hoboken implemented physical deterrents like plastic posts and repurposed spaces to improve visibility and safety at intersections.
- Public engagement and pilot programs were key to gaining community support and testing infrastructure changes.
- Hoboken saw an 18% reduction in injury crashes and a 62% drop in serious injuries after extensive road upgrades in 2022.
- Challenges remain, including fluctuating injury rates, limited funding, and reliance on delayed police crash data.
- Hoboken's multipronged approach offers lessons for other cities, emphasizing community involvement and layered safety strategies.
- New Mayor Emily Jabbour aims for zero traffic-related injuries or deaths by 2030, continuing Hoboken's innovative safety efforts.
Cutting Up Curved Things (With Math)
8 days ago
- GPUs render only triangles, not curved surfaces directly.
- Tessellation converts curved surfaces into triangle meshes for rendering.
- A triangle mesh consists of vertices (points in space) and indices (defining triangles).
- Mathematical representations of surfaces (like cylinders) are sampled to create these meshes.
- Sampling involves laying a grid in parameter space (u, v) and evaluating points on the surface.
- More samples result in smoother surfaces but require more triangles and computational power.
- Flat faces can be triangulated easily using fan triangulation for convex polygons.
- Cylinders and spheres require specific sampling strategies to handle their curvature.
- Holes in surfaces complicate triangulation and require merging boundaries before processing.
- Ear clipping is used to triangulate complex polygons with holes.
- The output is a triangle mesh format compatible with GPUs, STL files, and physics engines.
- The illusion of smooth surfaces is created by densely packed triangles that appear seamless.
Where to Sleep in LAX
14 days ago
- Flight delay at LAX forced an overnight stay with no luggage or spare clothes.
- Terminal B had the best spots for resting, with a quiet hallway near lounges being the top choice despite no benches.
- The 'hardware store' area was too loud and bright, with uncomfortable carpet making sleep impossible.
- Blue cushioned seats in the main hallway were comfortable but noisy due to nighttime airport activities.
- Gate 150 benches, when rearranged, provided the best sleep spot with comfort and darkness.
- Eating healthy was a challenge; salad vending machines and vegetable vendors were lifesavers.
- First-class upgrade on the rescheduled flight provided much-needed comfort and sleep.
- Overall, the experience was stressful but highlighted the importance of preparation and adaptability.
Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer
8 days ago
- Free, privacy-first digital fabrication tools for STEM learning with no installations or licenses required.
- All student work remains on their device with no data collection, ensuring COPPA and FERPA compliance.
- No per-seat licensing or subscription fees; tools are free forever and work on any modern browser.
- Supports offline use after initial load, allowing students to work at their own pace without internet dependency.
- Industry-standard workflows for 3D printing, CNC machining, and laser cutting with skills transferable to professional tools.
- Works on existing school computers and Chromebooks, eliminating IT headaches.
- Unified toolchain for various equipment, enabling students to learn once and work with multiple machines.
- Open-source and customizable for research, offering professional-grade CAM and slicing without enterprise costs.
- No admin access needed, making it suitable for public computers and home use on any device.
- Comprehensive features for model slicing, CAM toolpath generation, 2D design, mesh editing, and troubleshooting.
- Grid.Space outperforms commercial software in cost, installation, updates, platform support, privacy, and accessibility.
Create a Tiny Telephone Exchange with an Analog Telephone Adapter
8 days ago
- An analog telephone adapter (ATA) or FXS gateway connects analog phones to VoIP networks or creates local phone exchanges.
- The Grandstream HT802 ATA features two RJ11 FXS ports for POTS phones and one Ethernet port for configuration.
- ATAs can be configured to function as mini telephone exchanges, allowing direct calls between connected phones.
- Configuring an ATA involves setting up dial plans and using local loopback addresses for internal call routing.
- Some ATAs support auto-dialing when the handset is lifted, enhancing functionality for small exchanges.
- Grandstream ATAs are affordable and versatile, with models supporting more than two ports for expanded setups.
- ATAs can be combined with PBX systems like PBXware for advanced features such as voicemail and VoIP integration.
- FXS gateways are useful for emergency services, enabling direct VoIP connections to 911 or fire stations.
- ATAs can generate the necessary voltage to operate traditional ringers and accept dial pulses from old phones.
- Alternative solutions include Cisco V224 voice gateways, offering up to 24 lines with standalone capabilities.
- Asterisk and FreePBX are recommended software solutions for setting up PBX systems with VoIP and analog integrations.
- Older PBX systems can be repurposed with ATAs and VoIP services like Google Voice for home phone setups.
- Bluetooth-to-RJ-11 adapters can link cell phones to PBX systems, improving connectivity in areas with poor cellular service.
Show HN: Spar – Built a tool to help improve store conversion rates
9 days ago
- Spar analyzes your store to find revenue leaks and suggests fixes.
- Continuous monitoring alerts you to new issues 24/7.
- Identifies conversion gaps and ranks issues by impact.
- Provides ready-to-run A/B test ideas for each issue.
- Highlights missing trust signals like security seals and return policies.
- Impact analysis scores your store on key conversion benchmarks.
- Zero setup required—just paste your store URL.
- Delivers a prioritized report with actionable insights in minutes.
- Helps uncover blind spots faster than agencies or analytics.
Mozilla Slopaganda
8 days ago
- Mozilla's State of Mozilla report is criticized for its confusing and flashy presentation.
- The report emphasizes a 'double bottom line' economic model, despite Mozilla's heavy reliance on Google for revenue.
- Mozilla contrasts two futures: one dominated by Microsoft and another shaped by Mozilla, though it lacks concrete AI products.
- The report includes bizarre references to magic mushrooms and an edgy, youth-oriented rebranding attempt.
- Mozilla highlights its $1.4 billion reserves, funded largely by Google, while positioning itself against Big Tech.
- Firefox and Thunderbird are mentioned, but Mozilla lacks significant AI offerings, focusing instead on vague promises.
- The report concludes with a roadmap of empty AI promises, including an AI 'kill switch' in Firefox.
- Criticism is directed at Mozilla's leadership for Firefox's declining market share and lack of innovation.
MAME 0.285
8 days ago
- MAME 0.285 released with new emulation support for Atari's Relief Pitcher and Nichibutsu's Moon Raker.
- New plugin introduced for lightgun games, allowing reload functionality with any input device.
- Significant improvements to Hanimex Pencil II computer and BBC Micro peripherals.
- Apple IIgs periodic interrupt emulation and Grid Compass hardware configurations enhanced.
- Multiple bug fixes and new working systems/clones added, including Waku Waku Jumbo and Apple Lisa.
- New software list items and updates across various platforms, including Apple II and PSX.
- Merged pull requests include updates to n64.xml, barcrest systems, and casio_rompack.xml.
School is worse for kids than social media
8 days ago
- Governments worldwide are debating or implementing bans on social media for teenagers due to alleged mental health impacts, despite most scholars finding little to no negative effects.
- School is identified as a significant source of stress and mental health issues for children, with data showing increased suicide rates during school periods and drops during breaks.
- The implementation of Common Core around 2012 coincided with a spike in school-related stress and youth mental health issues, suggesting a possible link.
- Social media's impact on mental health is ambiguous, with studies showing mixed results depending on how it's used (e.g., social interaction vs. doomscrolling).
- Proposed changes to improve school mental health impacts include later start times, less homework, and more recess and lunch breaks.
- The modern education system is criticized for being overly stressful and not aligned with children's natural need for unstructured play and socialization.
- The debate around social media bans highlights a tendency to seek simple solutions to complex problems, while ignoring more systemic issues like school stress.
Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley can't be neutral any longer
8 days ago
- Silicon Valley leaders have avoided speaking out against Trump administration's excesses, citing the need to work with those in power and avoid alienating people.
- Recent tragic events in Minneapolis, including deaths and assaults by federal immigration agents, highlight the consequences of Trump's policies.
- Trump's second term has led to increased deaths at government hands, more fear, and a belief that force is used as a first resort.
- Public support for ICE has plummeted, with a majority disapproving of the Trump regime's brutality.
- Americans desire stability, safety, affordable necessities, and a hopeful future, not federal troops causing havoc in communities.
- Silicon Valley leaders are beginning to condemn the Minneapolis killings and the policies behind them, signaling a needed shift.
- The article calls for action against Trump's authoritarian tendencies, urging leaders and citizens to speak out and resist.
- The founders' legacy of self-government structures empowers current generations to fight for freedoms and democracy.
- Individuals are encouraged to contact political leaders, donate, organize, and protest to prevent America from becoming less democratic and free under Trump.
Apple acquires Israeli AI startup q.ai in second deal with PrimeSense founder
8 days ago
- Apple acquired Israeli AI startup q.ai, founded by Aviad Maizels, who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013.
- q.ai specializes in advanced machine learning for audio and communication, including silent speech and facial movement interpretation.
- The startup's investors include Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Aleph, Matter, Exor, and Corner Ventures.
- q.ai's technology could enhance Apple's AirPods, Vision Pro headset, and Siri interactions.
- Apple's Johny Srouji praised q.ai's innovative use of imaging and machine learning.
- Aviad Maizels expressed excitement about scaling q.ai's technology globally under Apple.
Clear skies and autonomous Waymo rides at SFO
8 days ago
- Waymo launches fully autonomous rides to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
- Initial service is available to select riders, with plans to expand to all riders in the coming months.
- Pickups and dropoffs start at the SFO Rental Car Center, with future expansion to terminal locations.
- SFO is a major U.S. airport and key transportation hub, supporting the Bay Area's economy and tourism.
- Waymo's service includes freeway access, making airport rides more efficient and convenient.
- The service addresses rider demand and enhances road safety in San Francisco.
- SFO officials highlight the service as a safe, sustainable, and reliable transportation option.

first prev37next

About Login

Bilingual

President Trump says he wants to drive housing prices up, not down
8 days ago
- President Trump aims to increase housing prices to benefit homeowners, not lower them.
- He suggests lower interest rates from his upcoming Federal Reserve pick will help more Americans buy homes despite rising prices.
- Trump's policies include banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes and purchasing mortgage-backed securities to lower mortgage rates.
- Housing prices rose 0.6% in November 2025, with the median home price reaching a record $433,000.
- Trump opposes using 401(k) savings for home down payments and plans to announce a new Federal Reserve chairman nominee soon.
US spy satellite agency declassifies high-flying Cold War listening post
8 days ago
- The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) declassified the Jumpseat program, a spy satellite initiative used to eavesdrop on Soviet military communications.
- Jumpseat was the US's first-generation highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite, operational from 1971 to 2006.
- Eight Jumpseat satellites were launched, focusing on monitoring adversarial weapon systems and collecting electronic emissions, communication intelligence, and foreign instrumentation intelligence.
- The intercepted data was shared with the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, and other national security elements.
- The Soviet Union was the primary target, with satellites in highly elliptical orbits providing persistent coverage over the Arctic and Soviet territories.
- The orbit, known as Molniya by the Soviets, allowed satellites to loiter over key areas for extended periods.
- The name Jumpseat was first revealed in a 1986 book by Seymour Hersh, detailing its capability to intercept various communications, including voice messages.
Google Settlement May Bring New Privacy Controls for Real-Time Bidding
8 days ago
- EFF warns about the dangers of real-time bidding (RTB) in online advertising.
- RTB auctions expose personal data to thousands of companies daily, including identifiers like GPS, IP address, and inferred interests.
- Data brokers exploit RTB to harvest sensitive data, enabling invasive tracking and surveillance.
- A proposed Google settlement introduces 'RTB Control' to limit data sharing, but requires user opt-out.
- RTB Control has limitations, such as requiring Google account sign-in or third-party cookies.
- EFF advocates for legislative bans on behavioral advertising and stronger privacy protections.
Employers, please use postmarked letters for job applications
8 days ago
- Employers should consider requiring job applications via physical letters to reduce digital spam.
- Handwritten cover letters could increase the cost for fraudulent applications while being less burdensome for genuine applicants.
- Physical letters raise the application cost, making it harder to automate submissions with LLMs.
- Handwriting uniqueness allows verification of applicant authenticity.
- Companies are unlikely to adopt this method and may instead rely on third-party systems with dubious 'AI protection'.
- Potential drawbacks include outsourcing letters, transcription of LLM text, and accessibility issues.
- The current trend of online applications is expected to worsen with easier access to LLMs.
The passive in English (2011)
12 days ago
- The passive voice in English is often misunderstood, with many people unable to correctly identify it.
- Passive clauses involve a reversal of the standard subject-verb-object roles, where the subject typically denotes the 'victim' rather than the 'wrecker'.
- Passive constructions require a participle (usually past participle) and often use auxiliary verbs like 'be', but can also use others like 'get', 'have', or 'see'.
- Prepositional passives involve stranded prepositions, where the subject corresponds to the object of a preposition in the active voice.
- The passive is not inherently vague about agency; it can explicitly mention the agent using a 'by'-phrase.
- Common misconceptions about the passive include that it always uses 'be', hides agency, or is bad writing—none of which are true.
- Notable critics of the passive, like George Orwell and E.B. White, ironically use it more frequently than average writers.
What the Success of Coding Agents Teaches Us about AI Systems in General
8 days ago
- AI coding agents significantly reduce the time required for software development tasks, from weeks to days or even hours.
- AI-native software systems are learned rather than designed, with code as policy, deployment as episodes, and bug reports as reward signals.
- Neural networks excel at tasks requiring judgment, while traditional software is better suited for executing explicit instructions.
- Many agentic AI projects fail due to issues like agentic drift, opaque debugging, and brittle autonomy, whereas Claude Code succeeds by producing durable, version-controlled, and deterministic artifacts.
- A better architecture delegates judgment to neural networks and execution to traditional software, maintaining determinism, auditability, and precision.
- AI agents can accelerate buildtime by writing code, blurring the line between development and runtime, leading to adaptable software systems.
- Neural networks should be used for runtime judgment and buildtime acceleration, not to replace traditional software.
'I wouldn't dare take these': how China supplies untested peptides to the West
8 days ago
- JavaScript is disabled in the browser.
- A required part of the site couldn’t load due to possible issues like browser extensions, network problems, or browser settings.
- Suggested actions include checking the connection, disabling ad blockers, or trying a different browser.
Another Energy Transition Is Possible
8 days ago
- Jean-Baptiste Fressoz argues that no true energy transition has ever occurred, as each generation consumes more of past fuels.
- The concept of a 'just transition' is critiqued for assuming the transition is happening and only needs to be more equitable.
- Fressoz's book 'More and More and More' challenges the idea of historical energy transitions, showing increased use of all energy sources over time.
- Industrialization is presented as a historically specific process that expanded energy and material use, with both benefits and environmental costs.
- Fressoz's perspective leans towards degrowth, criticizing technological solutions and advocating for reduced consumption and redistribution.
- The socialist alternative emphasizes technological and social change to achieve ecological sustainability and human flourishing.
The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished
8 days ago
- Hoboken, New Jersey, has had zero traffic fatalities for nine years, defying the typical statistics for a city of its size.
- The Vision Zero movement, which believes traffic deaths are preventable, cites Hoboken and Helsinki as success stories.
- Mayor Ravi Bhalla led Hoboken's traffic safety initiatives, inspired by personal experiences and a pedestrian death during his time as a city council member.
- A five-year analysis revealed that 40% of serious or fatal crashes involved bikers or pedestrians, with 88% occurring at intersections.
- Hoboken implemented physical deterrents like plastic posts and repurposed spaces to improve visibility and safety at intersections.
- Public engagement and pilot programs were key to gaining community support and testing infrastructure changes.
- Hoboken saw an 18% reduction in injury crashes and a 62% drop in serious injuries after extensive road upgrades in 2022.
- Challenges remain, including fluctuating injury rates, limited funding, and reliance on delayed police crash data.
- Hoboken's multipronged approach offers lessons for other cities, emphasizing community involvement and layered safety strategies.
- New Mayor Emily Jabbour aims for zero traffic-related injuries or deaths by 2030, continuing Hoboken's innovative safety efforts.
Cutting Up Curved Things (With Math)
8 days ago
- GPUs render only triangles, not curved surfaces directly.
- Tessellation converts curved surfaces into triangle meshes for rendering.
- A triangle mesh consists of vertices (points in space) and indices (defining triangles).
- Mathematical representations of surfaces (like cylinders) are sampled to create these meshes.
- Sampling involves laying a grid in parameter space (u, v) and evaluating points on the surface.
- More samples result in smoother surfaces but require more triangles and computational power.
- Flat faces can be triangulated easily using fan triangulation for convex polygons.
- Cylinders and spheres require specific sampling strategies to handle their curvature.
- Holes in surfaces complicate triangulation and require merging boundaries before processing.
- Ear clipping is used to triangulate complex polygons with holes.
- The output is a triangle mesh format compatible with GPUs, STL files, and physics engines.
- The illusion of smooth surfaces is created by densely packed triangles that appear seamless.
Where to Sleep in LAX
14 days ago
- Flight delay at LAX forced an overnight stay with no luggage or spare clothes.
- Terminal B had the best spots for resting, with a quiet hallway near lounges being the top choice despite no benches.
- The 'hardware store' area was too loud and bright, with uncomfortable carpet making sleep impossible.
- Blue cushioned seats in the main hallway were comfortable but noisy due to nighttime airport activities.
- Gate 150 benches, when rearranged, provided the best sleep spot with comfort and darkness.
- Eating healthy was a challenge; salad vending machines and vegetable vendors were lifesavers.
- First-class upgrade on the rescheduled flight provided much-needed comfort and sleep.
- Overall, the experience was stressful but highlighted the importance of preparation and adaptability.
Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer
8 days ago
- Free, privacy-first digital fabrication tools for STEM learning with no installations or licenses required.
- All student work remains on their device with no data collection, ensuring COPPA and FERPA compliance.
- No per-seat licensing or subscription fees; tools are free forever and work on any modern browser.
- Supports offline use after initial load, allowing students to work at their own pace without internet dependency.
- Industry-standard workflows for 3D printing, CNC machining, and laser cutting with skills transferable to professional tools.
- Works on existing school computers and Chromebooks, eliminating IT headaches.
- Unified toolchain for various equipment, enabling students to learn once and work with multiple machines.
- Open-source and customizable for research, offering professional-grade CAM and slicing without enterprise costs.
- No admin access needed, making it suitable for public computers and home use on any device.
- Comprehensive features for model slicing, CAM toolpath generation, 2D design, mesh editing, and troubleshooting.
- Grid.Space outperforms commercial software in cost, installation, updates, platform support, privacy, and accessibility.
Create a Tiny Telephone Exchange with an Analog Telephone Adapter
8 days ago
- An analog telephone adapter (ATA) or FXS gateway connects analog phones to VoIP networks or creates local phone exchanges.
- The Grandstream HT802 ATA features two RJ11 FXS ports for POTS phones and one Ethernet port for configuration.
- ATAs can be configured to function as mini telephone exchanges, allowing direct calls between connected phones.
- Configuring an ATA involves setting up dial plans and using local loopback addresses for internal call routing.
- Some ATAs support auto-dialing when the handset is lifted, enhancing functionality for small exchanges.
- Grandstream ATAs are affordable and versatile, with models supporting more than two ports for expanded setups.
- ATAs can be combined with PBX systems like PBXware for advanced features such as voicemail and VoIP integration.
- FXS gateways are useful for emergency services, enabling direct VoIP connections to 911 or fire stations.
- ATAs can generate the necessary voltage to operate traditional ringers and accept dial pulses from old phones.
- Alternative solutions include Cisco V224 voice gateways, offering up to 24 lines with standalone capabilities.
- Asterisk and FreePBX are recommended software solutions for setting up PBX systems with VoIP and analog integrations.
- Older PBX systems can be repurposed with ATAs and VoIP services like Google Voice for home phone setups.
- Bluetooth-to-RJ-11 adapters can link cell phones to PBX systems, improving connectivity in areas with poor cellular service.
Show HN: Spar – Built a tool to help improve store conversion rates
9 days ago
- Spar analyzes your store to find revenue leaks and suggests fixes.
- Continuous monitoring alerts you to new issues 24/7.
- Identifies conversion gaps and ranks issues by impact.
- Provides ready-to-run A/B test ideas for each issue.
- Highlights missing trust signals like security seals and return policies.
- Impact analysis scores your store on key conversion benchmarks.
- Zero setup required—just paste your store URL.
- Delivers a prioritized report with actionable insights in minutes.
- Helps uncover blind spots faster than agencies or analytics.
Mozilla Slopaganda
8 days ago
- Mozilla's State of Mozilla report is criticized for its confusing and flashy presentation.
- The report emphasizes a 'double bottom line' economic model, despite Mozilla's heavy reliance on Google for revenue.
- Mozilla contrasts two futures: one dominated by Microsoft and another shaped by Mozilla, though it lacks concrete AI products.
- The report includes bizarre references to magic mushrooms and an edgy, youth-oriented rebranding attempt.
- Mozilla highlights its $1.4 billion reserves, funded largely by Google, while positioning itself against Big Tech.
- Firefox and Thunderbird are mentioned, but Mozilla lacks significant AI offerings, focusing instead on vague promises.
- The report concludes with a roadmap of empty AI promises, including an AI 'kill switch' in Firefox.
- Criticism is directed at Mozilla's leadership for Firefox's declining market share and lack of innovation.
MAME 0.285
8 days ago
- MAME 0.285 released with new emulation support for Atari's Relief Pitcher and Nichibutsu's Moon Raker.
- New plugin introduced for lightgun games, allowing reload functionality with any input device.
- Significant improvements to Hanimex Pencil II computer and BBC Micro peripherals.
- Apple IIgs periodic interrupt emulation and Grid Compass hardware configurations enhanced.
- Multiple bug fixes and new working systems/clones added, including Waku Waku Jumbo and Apple Lisa.
- New software list items and updates across various platforms, including Apple II and PSX.
- Merged pull requests include updates to n64.xml, barcrest systems, and casio_rompack.xml.
School is worse for kids than social media
8 days ago
- Governments worldwide are debating or implementing bans on social media for teenagers due to alleged mental health impacts, despite most scholars finding little to no negative effects.
- School is identified as a significant source of stress and mental health issues for children, with data showing increased suicide rates during school periods and drops during breaks.
- The implementation of Common Core around 2012 coincided with a spike in school-related stress and youth mental health issues, suggesting a possible link.
- Social media's impact on mental health is ambiguous, with studies showing mixed results depending on how it's used (e.g., social interaction vs. doomscrolling).
- Proposed changes to improve school mental health impacts include later start times, less homework, and more recess and lunch breaks.
- The modern education system is criticized for being overly stressful and not aligned with children's natural need for unstructured play and socialization.
- The debate around social media bans highlights a tendency to seek simple solutions to complex problems, while ignoring more systemic issues like school stress.
Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley can't be neutral any longer
8 days ago
- Silicon Valley leaders have avoided speaking out against Trump administration's excesses, citing the need to work with those in power and avoid alienating people.
- Recent tragic events in Minneapolis, including deaths and assaults by federal immigration agents, highlight the consequences of Trump's policies.
- Trump's second term has led to increased deaths at government hands, more fear, and a belief that force is used as a first resort.
- Public support for ICE has plummeted, with a majority disapproving of the Trump regime's brutality.
- Americans desire stability, safety, affordable necessities, and a hopeful future, not federal troops causing havoc in communities.
- Silicon Valley leaders are beginning to condemn the Minneapolis killings and the policies behind them, signaling a needed shift.
- The article calls for action against Trump's authoritarian tendencies, urging leaders and citizens to speak out and resist.
- The founders' legacy of self-government structures empowers current generations to fight for freedoms and democracy.
- Individuals are encouraged to contact political leaders, donate, organize, and protest to prevent America from becoming less democratic and free under Trump.
Apple acquires Israeli AI startup q.ai in second deal with PrimeSense founder
8 days ago
- Apple acquired Israeli AI startup q.ai, founded by Aviad Maizels, who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013.
- q.ai specializes in advanced machine learning for audio and communication, including silent speech and facial movement interpretation.
- The startup's investors include Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Aleph, Matter, Exor, and Corner Ventures.
- q.ai's technology could enhance Apple's AirPods, Vision Pro headset, and Siri interactions.
- Apple's Johny Srouji praised q.ai's innovative use of imaging and machine learning.
- Aviad Maizels expressed excitement about scaling q.ai's technology globally under Apple.
Clear skies and autonomous Waymo rides at SFO
8 days ago
- Waymo launches fully autonomous rides to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
- Initial service is available to select riders, with plans to expand to all riders in the coming months.
- Pickups and dropoffs start at the SFO Rental Car Center, with future expansion to terminal locations.
- SFO is a major U.S. airport and key transportation hub, supporting the Bay Area's economy and tourism.
- Waymo's service includes freeway access, making airport rides more efficient and convenient.
- The service addresses rider demand and enhances road safety in San Francisco.
- SFO officials highlight the service as a safe, sustainable, and reliable transportation option.

Hasty Briefsbeta

President Trump says he wants to drive housing prices up, not down

US spy satellite agency declassifies high-flying Cold War listening post

Google Settlement May Bring New Privacy Controls for Real-Time Bidding

Employers, please use postmarked letters for job applications

The passive in English (2011)

What the Success of Coding Agents Teaches Us about AI Systems in General

'I wouldn't dare take these': how China supplies untested peptides to the West

Another Energy Transition Is Possible

The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished

Cutting Up Curved Things (With Math)

Where to Sleep in LAX

Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer

Create a Tiny Telephone Exchange with an Analog Telephone Adapter

Show HN: Spar – Built a tool to help improve store conversion rates

Mozilla Slopaganda

MAME 0.285

School is worse for kids than social media

Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley can't be neutral any longer

Apple acquires Israeli AI startup q.ai in second deal with PrimeSense founder

Clear skies and autonomous Waymo rides at SFO

President Trump says he wants to drive housing prices up, not down

US spy satellite agency declassifies high-flying Cold War listening post

Google Settlement May Bring New Privacy Controls for Real-Time Bidding

Employers, please use postmarked letters for job applications

The passive in English (2011)

What the Success of Coding Agents Teaches Us about AI Systems in General

'I wouldn't dare take these': how China supplies untested peptides to the West

Another Energy Transition Is Possible

The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished

Cutting Up Curved Things (With Math)

Where to Sleep in LAX

Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer

Create a Tiny Telephone Exchange with an Analog Telephone Adapter

Show HN: Spar – Built a tool to help improve store conversion rates

Mozilla Slopaganda

MAME 0.285

School is worse for kids than social media

Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley can't be neutral any longer

Apple acquires Israeli AI startup q.ai in second deal with PrimeSense founder

Clear skies and autonomous Waymo rides at SFO