1. Lean4 helped Terence Tao discover a small bug in his recent paper
Total comment counts : 23
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a person who recently started learning Lean4 with the assistance of GPT4. The individual has been sharing their progress on Mastodon throughout the month. This case study highlights how LLMs (large language models) can expedite the learning process even for highly accomplished individuals.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article provides two links for people interested in learning about Lean4, a programming language. The first link is to the Natural Number Game, which is a great introduction to Lean4. The second link is for those who prefer reading rather than playing a game.
2. WebSDR – Internet-connected Software-Defined Radios
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article is about someone who is interested in decoding radio signals and wants to know if it is easy to understand the process for different types of signals like AM, FM, and NTSC. They also ask if the Python code used for decoding is clear and if it requires advanced math skills. Finally, they provide a link to a resource that explains FM demodulation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses two recent discussions related to software-defined radio (SDR). The first discussion focuses on signals identification and can be found at [1]. The second discussion highlights NXP’s new LA9310 ADC chip for radio applications and can be found at [2].
3. Interactive intro to shaders
Total comment counts : 17
Summary
This article is about shaders, which are small programs that run on your GPU to create graphics. The author wanted to learn about shaders and decided to replace a simple CSS animation on their website with a shader-based animation. Shaders are powerful because they can work on multiple pixels at the same time, making them very efficient. Shaders have to be low-level and compact, and they transform pixel coordinates into colors. The article explains how to create simple shaders, such as gradients and shapes, using functions like step() and smoothstep(). It also introduces Signed Distance Functions (SDFs) and explains how to create shapes using SDFs and boolean operations. The article concludes with an example of how to add interactivity to a shader by allowing the user to control the position of a ball within the animation using their mouse. Overall, the article provides a beginner-friendly introduction to shaders and offers resources for further learning.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article has decided to share their journey of learning shaders with others on the internet, despite their initial hesitation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article points out a minor mistake in spelling the term “cel shading” as “cell shading.” The term “cel shading” actually originated from the use of “cels” in hand-drawn animations and the quantized tones used in shading.
4. Takkyu-bin: Luggage forwarding in Japan
Total comment counts : 32
Summary
The article discusses the use of takkyu-bin, a luggage delivery service in Japan, as a convenient way to travel without having to carry large suitcases. The author explains that every hotel in Japan offers takkyu-bin services, allowing travelers to send their luggage ahead to their next destination for around $13 USD. The author also suggests using AirTags to track the location of their luggage. The article emphasizes the benefits of using takkyu-bin, such as avoiding the need to carry heavy bags and allowing for easier travel within the country.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article shares their experience of consistently leaving their luggage at the airport and having it magically appear at their doorstep the next day for several years. However, they eventually discover that a person who worked in lost luggage lived near them and had been bringing the luggage home to them each time.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author recounts their experience in Japan during the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown that occurred on March 11, 2011. They were traveling with their fiancée on a train to Tokyo when the earthquake struck. They witnessed small quakes before the big one and saw the train stop randomly and become crowded. Once they arrived in Tokyo, they witnessed the effects of the earthquake, including the cancellation of all trains. They struggled to find accommodation but eventually ended up sleeping in the lobby of a 5-star hotel. The next day, they were able to catch a train to Osaka, where they received a call from their accommodation, informing them that their luggage had arrived.
5. Finding that lead emissions from aircraft engines contribute to air pollution
Total comment counts : 27
Summary
The article explains that due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, access to these sites is restricted to their developer APIs. However, human users can request access by completing a CAPTCHA (bot test) and clicking “Request Access.” This process needs to be done for each IP address, and the access is valid for about three months. If users want access for a wider IP range, they should first request access for their current IP and then make a request using the “Site Feedback” button.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges faced in transitioning to unleaded aviation gasoline (avgas). It suggests that both industry players and regulators have been unsuccessful in making progress. The author recommends watching a series of videos on YouTube that provide an insightful summary of the issue.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article questions why the legalization of unleaded avgas took a long time and now becomes the only option.
6. Now add a walrus: Prompt engineering in DALL-E 3
Total comment counts : 18
Summary
The article discusses the author’s experiences with DALL-E 3, OpenAI’s image generation model. They explore the capabilities of the model by using prompts through ChatGPT to generate different images. The author discovers that they can maintain consistency between images by adding extra details to the prompt and using the same seed. They also uncover a leaked prompt that reveals some of the prompt engineering strategies used by OpenAI. Overall, the article provides insights into the capabilities and prompt engineering techniques of DALL-E 3.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses observations about the behavior of ChatGPT and Dall-E, two AI models developed by OpenAI. One point of interest is that ChatGPT seems to prompt Dall-E via the client instead of keeping the interaction server-side, which could potentially lead to information leakage and tampering. The article also notes that the issue with Dall-E 3 seeds has been fixed recently, as they were not working properly before. The author speculates that the lack of consistency in generated images given the same seed and slightly altered prompt could be due to the poor prompt adherence of another model called Midjourney. The article provides an example showing how the images generated by Dall-E are not dramatically different using a specific prompt.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article explains that people have been trying to find ways to create consistent characters using Midjourney. The author suggests that DALL-E 3 has the ability to do this as an undocumented feature, by reusing the seed. However, using a constant seed to generate similar images has limitations, as it cannot maintain character consistency across different poses.
7. Ceasing print publication of ACM journals and transactions
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article explains that the website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It states that the user’s action triggered the security solution, which could have been caused by submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command, or malformed data. The user is advised to email the site owner, providing information about what they were doing when the page was blocked, along with the Cloudflare Ray ID and their IP address. The website is protected by Cloudflare for performance and security purposes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses sadness about the change from print to digital versions of journals and transactions. They believe that this change will reduce the number of people reading these publications. The author joined the ACM specifically for the print versions of Communications and Transactions and has a dedicated bookshelf for them. They argue that reading technical material on screens is still not as good as reading on paper, even with devices like the Remarkable. They feel that flipping pages, browsing multiple documents side by side, and the overall experience are inferior on screens. The author concludes that they are not happy about this change and may consider ending their ACM membership.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author contemplates how future archaeologists will uncover knowledge from our time, given the decline in printed materials. They believe that physical writing may be more enduring than electronic storage after a global catastrophe.
8. How to draw software architecture diagrams (2022)
Total comment counts : 40
Summary
The article discusses the properties of beautiful diagrams and how they can effectively communicate ideas. It emphasizes the importance of correctness and clarity in diagram content. The article highlights the challenges of maintaining distance between nodes and the benefits of planning ahead when drawing diagrams. It also discusses the aesthetic aspect of diagrams, including symmetry, alignment, and the use of containers to enhance understanding. The article suggests that neat and aligned diagrams make concepts clearer and provides tips for using diagrams in system design interviews.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s positive experience using D2 lang for creating diagrams. They compare it to mermaid.js, noting that D2 lang offers more formatting options and better syntax. The author also provides a link to their blog post where they explain the benefits of using D2 lang for building diagrams as code.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article is about the upcoming launch of version 1.0 of VisualFlows.io, a tool for designing animated architectural maps. The tool includes features such as smart sections, smart edges, smart node deletion, dark/light modes, embeddable functionality, drag and drop for images/svgs/gifs, and support for AWS/Windows/Google icons. Markdown support will be added in the next week.
9. My Left Kidney
Total comment counts : 44
Summary
The article is about the author’s consideration of donating a kidney after reading an article on Vox. The author discusses the risks and benefits of kidney donation, including the low risk of death in surgery but potential long-term risks such as kidney failure. They also explore the idea of effective altruism and the moral implications of donating a kidney. Ultimately, the author decides to donate but is rejected due to a childhood OCD diagnosis.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article states that increased deaths resulting from kidney donation are mostly due to autoimmune diseases that are not directly related to the donation. The article also explains that donating a kidney may lead to deficiencies in important substances such as calcitriol, erythropoietin, and bicarbonate, which could potentially result in autoimmune diseases, anemia, and other negative health effects. However, it emphasizes that kidney donation is still a kind act and individuals should be aware of these potential health risks and take measures to maintain their well-being if they choose to donate a kidney.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses two potential solutions to the problem of kidney failure: financial compensation for kidney donors and addressing type 2 diabetes. It highlights that a large number of kidney failures are caused by type 2 diabetes, which puts a third of Americans at risk. The article also mentions the possibility of cheaper continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) becoming available, which could help people with diabetes manage their blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of kidney disease.
10. How to catch a wild triangle
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
The article explains the process that Kaspersky went through to investigate and analyze an ongoing attack targeting iPhones and iPads. They noticed suspicious network activity and initiated a digital forensics and incident response protocol to locate and extract the malware. They inspected the devices, used iTunes backups as a substitute for complete device images, and built a timeline of events using the Mobile Verification Toolkit. They discovered indicators of compromise, attempted to intercept iMessages, and decrypted HTTPS communications with the command-and-control servers. Through various methods, they were able to obtain the payload, decrypt the data, and extract the implant and its modules, including four zero-day exploits. The investigation involved multiple techniques and extensive research on iOS internals.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a devlog detailing a security exploit that involves a .watchface file sent over iMessage. This file is used to gain power and delete all records of the iMessage, enabling two-way encrypted communications with a local binary. The discovery of this exploit led to multiple zero-day reports to Apple, as well as the creation of a MITM proxy poisoner to compromise encryption used by the exploit server’s communications channel. The article mentions the potential paranoia of Kaspersky, implying that there may be threats targeting them.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article suggests that there has been a recent attack on the cybersecurity company Kaspersky. It is believed that the attack involved the use of four previously unknown vulnerabilities, known as zero-day exploits, which were reported to Apple. The article speculates that the National Security Agency (NSA) may be behind the attack, possibly in response to Kaspersky’s exposure of the STUXNET malware in the past. Another possibility mentioned is that Israel and Unit 8200 may be involved. Overall, the attack is considered to be costly for Kaspersky due to the loss of the zero-day exploits.