Comment Wordpress powers over 40% of the web (Score 1) 21
How Wordpress still powers over 40% of the web is beyond me. It is poorly-architected and maddening to work with IMHO.
Comment Re:Except smart phone owners have lost their minds (Score 4, Interesting) 136
I have pretty much all notifications disabled and I keep my phone in Do Not Disturb mode 24/7. That doesn't prevent me from spending too much time reading news while sitting on the can, but it does at least prevent the phone from breaking my concentration with some sort of alert message every 45 seconds. It's made a big difference.
Comment AI is like spray paint (Score 1) 54
Coding with AI is like using a spray can to paint a canvas. It covers a large area with amazing speed but isn't great for fine detail work. Sometimes you have to get in there with a small brush and do the detail work yourself. The trick is to know when to use which tool.
Comment Here is the full text of Weiss's statement on it (Score 2) 128
Hi all,
I’m writing with specific guidance on what I’d like for us to do to advance the CECOT story. I know you’d all like to see this run as soon as possible; I feel the same way. But if we run the piece as is, we’d be doing our viewers a disservice.
Last month many outlets, most notably The New York Times, exposed the horrific conditions at CECOT. Our story presents more of these powerful testimonies—and putting those accounts into the public record is valuable in and of itself. But if we’re going to run another story about a topic that has by now been much-covered we need to advance it. Among the ways to do so: does anyone in the administration or anyone prominent who defended the use of the Alien Enemies Act now regret it in light of what these Venezuelans endured at CECOT? That’s a question I’d like to see asked and answered.
At present, we do not present the administration’s argument for why it sent 252 Venezuelans to CECOT. What we have is Karoline Leavitt’s soundbite claiming they are evildoers in America (rapists, murderers, etc.). But isn’t there much more to ask in light of the torture that we are revealing? Tom Homan and Stephen Miller don’t tend to be shy. I realize we’ve emailed the DHS spox, but we need to push much harder to get these principals on the record.
The data we present paints an incongruent picture. Of the 252 Venezuelans sent to CECOT, we say nearly half have no criminal histories. In other words, more than half do have criminal histories. We should spend a beat explaining this. We then say that only 8 of the 252 have been sentenced in America for violent offenses. But what about charged? My point is that we should include as much as we can possibly know and understand about these individuals.
Secretary Noem’s trip to CECOT. We report that she took pictures and video there with MS-13 gang members, not TdA members, with no comment from her or her staff about what her goal on that trip was, or what she saw there, or if she had or has concerns about the treatment of detainees like the ones in our piece. I also think that the ensuing analysis from the Berkeley students is strange. The pictures are alarming; we should include them. But what does the analysis add?
We need to do a better job of explaining the legal rationale by which the administration detained and deported these 252 Venezuelans to CECOT. It’s not as simple as Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act and being able to deport them immediately. And that isn’t the administration’s argument. The admin has argued in court that detainees are due “judicial review”—and we should explain this, with a voice arguing that Trump is exceeding his authority under the relevant statute, and another arguing that he’s operating within the bounds of his authority. There’s a genuine debate here. If we cut down Kristi Noem analysis we’d have the time.
My general view here is that we do our viewers the best service by presenting them with the full context they need to assess the story. In other words, I believe we need to do more reporting here.
I am eager and available to help. I tracked down cell numbers for Homan and Miller and sent those along. Please let me know how I can support you.
Yours,
Bari
Comment Re:Yeah, while we're at it... (Score 1) 29
How about a network of underground tunnels with autonomous, electric train cars self-routing like IP packets to transport freight containers between cities? 24/7/365 operation through all weather, and it'd get most 18 wheelers off of the highways.
Submission + - Starship Super Heavy booster came within 1 second of aborting first "catch" land (spacenews.com)
schwit1 writes: Musk posted a three-minute video Oct. 25 on X, the social media network he also owns, showing action from a video game that he is playing. The audio, though, is not from the video game but of several people discussing the Starship Flight 5 test flight Oct. 13. That flight features the first return and successful catch of the Super Heavy booster using marchanical arms attached to the launch tower it lifted off from at Boca Chica, Texas.
In the audio, one person, not identified, described an issue with the Super Heavy landing burn where a âoemisconfiguredâ parameter meant that spin pressure, presuming in the Raptor engines in the booster, did not increase as expected.
âoeWe were one second away from that tripping and telling the rocket to abort and try to crash into the ground next to the tower,â that person said. That scenario would âoeerroneously tell a healthy rocket to not try that catch.â
âoeWe had a whole bunch of new aborts and commit criteria that we tried to doublecheck really well, but, I mean, I think our concern was well-placed, and one of these came very close to biting us,â the person continued
In the audio, one person, not identified, described an issue with the Super Heavy landing burn where a âoemisconfiguredâ parameter meant that spin pressure, presuming in the Raptor engines in the booster, did not increase as expected.
âoeWe were one second away from that tripping and telling the rocket to abort and try to crash into the ground next to the tower,â that person said. That scenario would âoeerroneously tell a healthy rocket to not try that catch.â
âoeWe had a whole bunch of new aborts and commit criteria that we tried to doublecheck really well, but, I mean, I think our concern was well-placed, and one of these came very close to biting us,â the person continued
Submission + - Marines testing real-life aimbot (twz.com)
timeOday writes: The U.S. Marines are testing a system for standard service rifles that automatically fine-tunes the point of aim with the help of a powered buttstock as a new option to help shoot down drones. The service is in the midst of a broad push to acquire new capabilities to help every Marine better protect themselves from ever-growing uncrewed aerial threats...
ZeroMark’s system is not the first automated small arms targeting system the Marines have looked into in recent years with a particular eye toward helping engage drones. The service has also at least been evaluating SMASH 2000-series computerized optical sights from Israeli firm Smart Shooter. SMASH-series sights have the ability to detect and lock onto targets of interest, even ones on the move, and calculate an optimal aim point for the shooter. Depending on how the system is configured on a particular gun, it can even prevent the trigger from being pulled until the weapon is properly aimed at the target...
The targeting system in ZeroMark’s FCS is similar, in some very broad strokes, to that of the SMASH family. It uses an array of sensors, including electro-optical cameras and LIDAR, coupled with machine vision and advanced software algorithms, to acquire targets, according to the company. Where ZeroMark’s offering differs most substantially is in its motorized articulating buttstock, which uses the data from the sensors to help physically move the gun’s point of aim. This, in turn, helps the shooter engage the target with greater precision and speed...
“[The mechanized buttstock] doesn’t move the soldier’s arm, it creates a virtual pivot between shoulder pad and handheld positions that creates angular change of the bore axis (ultimately where the gun’s pointed),” ZeroMark CEO Joel Anderson said in an interview earlier this year, according to TechCrunch. “The control systems for it are modeled to compensate for all the human factors (proprioception, noise, movement, torque, etc.) as well as the drone’s movement. So if you point in the general direction of the drone such that you’d be in the vicinity of a drone, the system does the rest.”
Zeromark says it is also easy to install and uninstall as required on a wide variety of different rifle types. A promotional video seen earlier in this story shows prototypes or mock-ups of the system installed on rifles in the AK-47/AKM, AR-15/M16, and Tavor families...
Overall, ZeroMark says its FCS “makes hitting a small drone at 200 yards as easy as hitting a 60-foot-diameter circle” at the same range, per TechCrunch. At least for now, the company has said work on its targeting system is focused on the counter-drone role, but has acknowledged that its system could be adapted for use against a wider array of target types in the future.
ZeroMark’s system is not the first automated small arms targeting system the Marines have looked into in recent years with a particular eye toward helping engage drones. The service has also at least been evaluating SMASH 2000-series computerized optical sights from Israeli firm Smart Shooter. SMASH-series sights have the ability to detect and lock onto targets of interest, even ones on the move, and calculate an optimal aim point for the shooter. Depending on how the system is configured on a particular gun, it can even prevent the trigger from being pulled until the weapon is properly aimed at the target...
The targeting system in ZeroMark’s FCS is similar, in some very broad strokes, to that of the SMASH family. It uses an array of sensors, including electro-optical cameras and LIDAR, coupled with machine vision and advanced software algorithms, to acquire targets, according to the company. Where ZeroMark’s offering differs most substantially is in its motorized articulating buttstock, which uses the data from the sensors to help physically move the gun’s point of aim. This, in turn, helps the shooter engage the target with greater precision and speed...
“[The mechanized buttstock] doesn’t move the soldier’s arm, it creates a virtual pivot between shoulder pad and handheld positions that creates angular change of the bore axis (ultimately where the gun’s pointed),” ZeroMark CEO Joel Anderson said in an interview earlier this year, according to TechCrunch. “The control systems for it are modeled to compensate for all the human factors (proprioception, noise, movement, torque, etc.) as well as the drone’s movement. So if you point in the general direction of the drone such that you’d be in the vicinity of a drone, the system does the rest.”
Zeromark says it is also easy to install and uninstall as required on a wide variety of different rifle types. A promotional video seen earlier in this story shows prototypes or mock-ups of the system installed on rifles in the AK-47/AKM, AR-15/M16, and Tavor families...
Overall, ZeroMark says its FCS “makes hitting a small drone at 200 yards as easy as hitting a 60-foot-diameter circle” at the same range, per TechCrunch. At least for now, the company has said work on its targeting system is focused on the counter-drone role, but has acknowledged that its system could be adapted for use against a wider array of target types in the future.
Submission + - Privacy nightmare as Google plans to publish your home address (dev.to) 1
npax writes: I've been affected by this, and it was surprising to see my address in the 'App Support' section of my free app!
From the article:
"In recent months, Google Play has rolled out a new account verification process that applies to all developers. These policies require developers to provide verified information to continue distributing their apps on the platform. The objective, according to Google, is to ensure that the apps available on Google Play meet high standards of quality and reduce the risk of malicious software being distributed."
From the article:
"In recent months, Google Play has rolled out a new account verification process that applies to all developers. These policies require developers to provide verified information to continue distributing their apps on the platform. The objective, according to Google, is to ensure that the apps available on Google Play meet high standards of quality and reduce the risk of malicious software being distributed."
Comment Re:How do you get the money? (Score 1) 167
Yeah sorry, I was being sarcastic. Bitcoin was promising to be a secure way to pay transactions, but it just seems like it is now mostly used for buying illegal things or gambling on what the price will be tomorrow.
Comment Re:How do you get the money? (Score 1) 167
You don't get how cryptocoins work. You pay for a $600 prostitute to service you 1 million times. Then you buy $47 million dollars worth of drugs with the remainder. Easy peasy nice and sleazy.
Submission + - Chinese Scientists Report Using Quantum Computer To Hack Military-Grade Encrypti (thequantuminsider.com)
schwit1 writes: Chinese researchers, using a D-Wave quantum computer, claim to have executed what they are calling the first successful quantum attack on widely used encryption algorithms, posing a “real and substantial threat” to sectors like banking and the military, as reported by SCMP.
The D-Wave Advantage, initially designed for non-cryptographic applications, was used to breach SPN-structured algorithms but has not yet cracked specific passcodes, highlighting the early-stage nature of this threat.
Despite the advance, the researchers acknowledge limitations such as environmental interference, underdeveloped hardware and the inability to develop a single attack method for multiple encryption systems still hinder quantum computing’s full cryptographic potential.
The D-Wave Advantage, initially designed for non-cryptographic applications, was used to breach SPN-structured algorithms but has not yet cracked specific passcodes, highlighting the early-stage nature of this threat.
Despite the advance, the researchers acknowledge limitations such as environmental interference, underdeveloped hardware and the inability to develop a single attack method for multiple encryption systems still hinder quantum computing’s full cryptographic potential.
Submission + - Solar-powered low-cost drinking water desalination system without batteries (knowridge.com) 1
schwit1 writes: Engineers from MIT have developed a groundbreaking desalination system that runs entirely on solar power without needing extra batteries.
This innovative system can remove salt from water by adapting its energy use to the amount of sunlight available, offering a more efficient, low-cost way to produce clean drinking water.
The research, published in Nature Water, highlights the potential of this technology to provide much-needed drinking water, especially in areas with limited access to electricity or seawater.
Unlike traditional desalination systems that rely on fossil fuels or need constant energy supplies, this solar-powered system adjusts its operations based on sunlight levels.
As the sun rises during the day, the system increases its desalination rate, and when clouds block the sun, the system quickly reduces its energy consumption.
This flexibility allows the system to maximize the use of solar energy without needing a battery or a backup power source.
The system was tested on groundwater wells in New Mexico over six months, where it produced up to 5,000 liters of clean water per day, even with changing weather conditions. On average, the system converted over 94% of the solar energy into desalination power, outperforming other solar-powered desalination systems.
“Conventional desalination systems need steady power, often provided by batteries, to handle variable solar energy,” said Winter. “Our system, by varying its energy use in sync with the sun, eliminates the need for extra power storage while efficiently producing water.”
This innovative system can remove salt from water by adapting its energy use to the amount of sunlight available, offering a more efficient, low-cost way to produce clean drinking water.
The research, published in Nature Water, highlights the potential of this technology to provide much-needed drinking water, especially in areas with limited access to electricity or seawater.
Unlike traditional desalination systems that rely on fossil fuels or need constant energy supplies, this solar-powered system adjusts its operations based on sunlight levels.
As the sun rises during the day, the system increases its desalination rate, and when clouds block the sun, the system quickly reduces its energy consumption.
This flexibility allows the system to maximize the use of solar energy without needing a battery or a backup power source.
The system was tested on groundwater wells in New Mexico over six months, where it produced up to 5,000 liters of clean water per day, even with changing weather conditions. On average, the system converted over 94% of the solar energy into desalination power, outperforming other solar-powered desalination systems.
“Conventional desalination systems need steady power, often provided by batteries, to handle variable solar energy,” said Winter. “Our system, by varying its energy use in sync with the sun, eliminates the need for extra power storage while efficiently producing water.”
Submission + - FBI secretly created a coin to investigate crypto pump-and-dump schemes (theverge.com) 1
SonicSpike writes: The FBI created a cryptocurrency as part of an investigation into price manipulation in crypto markets, the government revealed on Wednesday. The FBI’s Ethereum-based token, NexFundAI, was created with the help of “cooperating witnesses.”
As a result of the investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged three “market makers” and nine people for allegedly engaging in schemes to boost the prices of certain crypto assets. The Department of Justice charged 18 people and entities for “widespread fraud and manipulation” in crypto markets.
The defendants allegedly made false claims about their tokens and executed so-called “wash trades” to create the impression of an active trading market, prosecutors claim. The three market makers — ZMQuant, CLS Global, and MyTrade — allegedly wash traded or conspired to wash trade on behalf of NexFundAI, an Ethereum-based token they didn’t realize was created by the FBI.
As a result of the investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged three “market makers” and nine people for allegedly engaging in schemes to boost the prices of certain crypto assets. The Department of Justice charged 18 people and entities for “widespread fraud and manipulation” in crypto markets.
The defendants allegedly made false claims about their tokens and executed so-called “wash trades” to create the impression of an active trading market, prosecutors claim. The three market makers — ZMQuant, CLS Global, and MyTrade — allegedly wash traded or conspired to wash trade on behalf of NexFundAI, an Ethereum-based token they didn’t realize was created by the FBI.
Submission + - Europeans Spend 575 Million Hours Clicking Cookie Banners Every Year (legiscope.com) 1
exodude writes: A recent study reveals that Europeans spend over 575 million hours each year clicking through cookie consent banners, resulting in an economic loss of €14.35 billion. Consent banners are mandated by the outdated ePrivacy Directive from 2002, that was originally intended to protect user privacy. However, in a lot of cases today, banners are used by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to understand website usage and providing minimal actual privacy benefits.
The cumulated time loss is equivalent to 287,500 full-time employees dedicating their workdays accepting cookie banners every year...
Experts are urging an urgent revision of the ePrivacy Directive to exempt SMBs, thereby alleviating the €14.35 billion burden and reclaiming valuable time for both businesses and users.
The cumulated time loss is equivalent to 287,500 full-time employees dedicating their workdays accepting cookie banners every year...
Experts are urging an urgent revision of the ePrivacy Directive to exempt SMBs, thereby alleviating the €14.35 billion burden and reclaiming valuable time for both businesses and users.
Comment Re:Guess I'll have to start to read the fineprint (Score 2) 122
More like visiting Walmart.com may cause you to be bound by an arbitration clause. These ToS clickwrap licenses are absurd.
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