1. Harvard gutted team examining Facebook Files following $500M Zuckerberg donation
Total comment counts : 3
Summary
Harvard University disbanded its team of online disinformation experts after receiving a $500 million donation from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, according to a whistleblower disclosure filed by Whistleblower Aid. Dr. Joan Donovan, a leading expert on social media disinformation, and her team were analyzing documents exposing Facebook’s knowledge of the harm caused by its platform when they faced resistance and were eventually terminated. Harvard’s dean and other leaders allegedly subjected Dr. Donovan and her team to restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles to stifle their research findings. The disclosure calls for an investigation into inappropriate influence at Harvard Kennedy School.
Top 1 Comment Summary
I apologize, but I am unable to access external websites or view content on the internet.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article suggests that due to the continuous damage being caused to the brand, it may be a good idea to collect the money and leave.
2. Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%
Total comment counts : 77
Summary
Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, has announced a significant reduction in the company’s workforce, amounting to approximately 17% of total headcount. This decision is aimed at aligning Spotify with its future goals and addressing the challenges posed by slowed economic growth and increased capital costs. Despite positive earnings reports and performance, Ek decided that a substantial cost reduction was necessary to achieve the company’s objectives. He acknowledged that this would be a painful process for the team but emphasized the importance of being both productive and efficient. Impacted employees will have one-on-one conversations with HR to discuss the next steps.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses their disappointment with a music streaming app they have been using for five years. They mention several negative aspects, such as the absence of daily updates that showcased new releases from their favorite artists. They also criticize the poor naming of classical song titles and the lack of playlist syncing between their phone and desktop app after 2022. Despite these grievances, the author states that they have no plans to switch to another streaming service due to the lack of significant differences.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Spotify’s decision to heavily invest in cloud infrastructure despite concerns from others in the tech industry. While many companies were hesitant to invest in cloud due to it not being their core competency and requiring additional resources, Spotify stood out by embracing cloud technology. However, the author points out that Spotify’s cloud costs are significantly higher than the expenses of employing 1,600 people, even after factoring in discounts and infrastructure requirements. The author suggests that buying into cloud may not always be the safest decision, as it can lead to financial strain if there is insufficient income to cover the expenses. Additionally, the author mentions that cloud technology often creates more reliance and dependence compared to employees.
3. Report Phone Spam – Shut down robocallers and text spammers
Total comment counts : 54
Summary
The article explains how to report abuse to a telecom carrier to have them terminate a spammer’s service. It advises reporting the phone number that the spam call or text instructs you to contact, rather than the number that appears on Caller ID, as it is often spoofed. The article recommends using free websites or carrier lookup APIs to find the name of the telecom carrier responsible for the number. It emphasizes the importance of being professional and respectful when contacting the carrier. The article also suggests reporting the abuse to your own wireless provider and recommends ensuring that the carrier investigates the abuse and not just remove your number from the abuser’s list. It distinguishes reporting abuse to the carrier from using “Report Junk” or “Block & report spam” buttons, noting that those reports go to your wireless provider or phone manufacturer, while reporting abuse to the carrier can lead to the spammer’s phone number being shut off. The article mentions that blocking the number is not very effective because the originating phone number is often spoofed or constantly changing for text messages. It suggests using Twilio or Plivo APIs to discover the carrier routing the abusive number. Finally, the article mentions that the abusive messages could be Apple iMessages.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article expresses discontent with the current phone system and suggests it is outdated and dangerous. The author compares it to the secure HTTPS system used for online business transactions and argues that the telephone system is in need of improvement, citing the STIR/SHAKEN security measure as insufficient.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article commends the effort to combat spam calls, but criticizes the difficulty and inefficiency of reporting a spammer number to their own carrier. They suggest that carriers should have an automated system to communicate with the originating carrier when users report spam.
4. MakeMake: Generate make files from C source code
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article discusses MakeMake, a tool for generating and running make files from C code. MakeMake parses the .c and .h files in a directory to determine what files are required to build a project. It can be built using a shell script and options can be passed through the command line or as pragmas in the code files. The article mentions available options such as specifying the name of the executable, make file, compiler flags, platform define, dynamic library building, library dependencies, and defines. MakeMake supports different platforms like Linux, MacOS, and Windows, with plans to add Android and iOS support. The article concludes by stating that MakeMake was designed to solve the author’s problem of maintaining up-to-date make files for portable C programs.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article explains that GCC has the ability to generate dependencies in the Makefile format using the command “gcc -MM”. This allows for a script or Make recipe to maintain up-to-date dependencies for each target. The code example provided demonstrates how to use this feature.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is suggesting that using the name “makemake” for a program or script is a bad idea because there have been many different versions of it over the last 25 years. They have seen at least five different programs with the same name, and there are also many similar programs on GitHub. The author questions what this particular version does that sets it apart from the existing versions.
5. Paper vs. devices: Brain activation differences during memory retrieval (2021)
Total comment counts : 23
Summary
In this study, researchers investigated how different methods of encoding memory, such as using paper notebooks or mobile devices, affect retrieval processes. Three groups of participants were compared: one group used paper notebooks, another used electronic tablets, and the third used smartphones. After a retention period, participants were tested on their recognition memory using visually presented questions while their brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results showed that the Note group, which used paper notebooks, had shorter writing durations, higher accuracy in easier questions, and higher brain activations compared to the Tablet and Phone groups. These findings suggest that the use of paper notebooks promotes deeper and more solid cognitive processes during encoding, leading to better retrieval performance and increased activation in specific brain regions. The study also discussed previous research highlighting the benefits of longhand note-taking and the use of paper for conceptual understanding and reading comprehension. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that the utilization of paper notebooks enhances memory encoding and retrieval processes, particularly in the hippocampus for associating episodic and spatial information.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights that there is currently no control group of individuals who have solely used electronic devices throughout their lives. Despite the increasing use of tablets in schools, note taking and exams are still done on paper. This means that any future studies comparing paper and electronic methods will focus on individuals who have spent their formative years writing on paper. The article emphasizes that the ability to write on paper is important for entry into society, and any conclusion favoring paper over electronic methods should be considered with this caveat.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author appreciates the reMarkable tablet because it allows them to have the advantages of manual handwriting and sketches while also offering digital features such as copy/paste, resizing, undo/redo, tags/metadata, search, retrieval, PKB integration, and interoperability.
6. Ask HN: What side projects landed you a job?
Total comment counts : 232
Summary
The article discusses how working on a side project called Syncany helped the author land a job. A developer from a company in Connecticut reached out to the author through the project’s IRC channel and offered an interview, which eventually led to getting the job. The author moved to the UK and then to the US with their spouse and stayed with the company for 8 years, getting promoted along the way. The author reflects on how much their side project and the person who reached out changed their life. The article also mentions a fun fact that Dropbox CEO, Drew Houston, had emailed the author in the past but did not respond when the author replied. Despite later applying to work at Dropbox, they were not hired. The author emphasizes the impact that their side project and the person who reached out had on their life.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author discusses their experience with a file sync and share application they developed called Syncany. Despite never leaving the alpha stage, the application gained some attention. One day, a developer from a company in Connecticut reached out to the author and offered them a job. The author accepted and moved to the UK and then to the US. They stayed with the company for 8 years, gaining promotions along the way. The author reflects on how their project and the person who reached out to them changed their life, highlighting the impact of small decisions. The author also mentions that Drew Houston, the CEO of Dropbox, had shown interest in hiring them but did not respond.
Top 2 Comment Summary
In 2002, the author lost their job during a financial crisis in Uruguay. They were working on a project related to MySQL at the time and continued to work on it after losing their job. Someone from Israel reached out with questions about the project, and when the author explained their situation, the person offered them a job and a permanent internet connection. The author is grateful for this opportunity. Interestingly, during a job interview last year, the author discovered that the hiring manager had been a user of their project in 2003. The project was originally called mysql-ha but was later renamed to highbase due to a copyright infringement notice. The author abandoned the project in 2008 as better alternatives became available.
7. Tyrian purple: Ancient pigment that was more valuable than gold
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
This article explores the history of Tyrian purple, a precious dye that was highly prized in the ancient world. Tyrian purple was made from the secretions of sea snails and was valued for its intense color and resistance to fading. The dye was used by the privileged class and was associated with strength, sovereignty, and wealth. However, the knowledge of how to produce Tyrian purple was lost by the 15th century, and no one today knows the exact process of making it. The article highlights the efforts of a man in Tunisia who has been experimenting with extracting the dye from sea snails in an attempt to resurrect Tyrian purple.
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The article is about a documentary called “Fall of Civilizations 17 - Carthage: Empire of the Phoenecians.” The author finds the documentary amazing and mentions watching almost all the episodes of the channel over the past three months. The author also discusses other civilizations that they weren’t aware of, such as medieval civilizations in Cambodia, Burma, and Jordan. They note that Carthage was founded by people from what is now Syria and was located in present-day Tunisia, which was something they didn’t know until their 40s. The author attributes their lack of knowledge to having a fuzzy understanding of that part of the world as an American.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the rediscovery of a process for dyeing with Tyrian purple in 1998. This process was based on historical reports and the exploration of woad fermentation in biotechnology. The researcher hypothesized that an alkaline fermenting vat was required and consulted an ancient recipe recorded by Pliny the Elder. By adjusting the sea salt percentage and adding potash, the researcher was able to dye wool a deep purple color. However, the article points out that Wikipedia’s statement about this topic may not be entirely accurate.
8. A Vacuum Tube Single Board 1-Bit Computer [video]
Total comment counts : 3
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article briefly mentions a memory that is referred to as a delay line for traditional reasons.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the idea of creating a vacuum tube computer where the main computation is performed by a couple of vacuum tubes acting as a single NAND gate. The intermediate results would still be handled by a regular microprocessor, but the vacuum tubes would be used for the computation. The author suggests that this setup would not only be functional but also visually interesting.
9. A whale that’s known only by the sound of its voice
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
The article discusses the discovery of an unknown species of beaked whale known as the Cross Seamount beaked whale. Scientists have been recording the sounds of this mysterious whale for 18 years, but its true identity remains uncertain. Some believe it could be a known species, while others think it may be a previously undiscovered species. Researchers recently analyzed nearly 20 years of recordings and have determined that the Cross Seamount beaked whale is a type of beaked whale, but its behavior differs from known species. Beaked whales are known for their stealthy nature and deep dives, often reaching depths of 3,000 meters. To further understand this whale, scientists rely on its calls, as beaked whales use echolocation to find prey. The researchers have discovered that the Cross Seamount beaked whale ranges from Guam to Mexico and predominantly echolocates at night. The study provides valuable insights into the behavior and habitat of this mysterious species.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Erden Eruç, a 62-year-old resident of Wauna, embarked on an incredible journey rowing across the Pacific Ocean from North America to Asia. After 239 days and covering over 7,800 miles, Eruç successfully reached the Philippines on March 24, 2022, becoming the first person to achieve this feat. This venture also earned him two additional Guinness world records, adding to his existing collection of 16. The article highlights the reflections of both Eruç and his wife on the mental and physical preparation required for such an extraordinary endeavor.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article titled “52 Blue” discusses the concept of a specific whale, known as the 52-hertz whale, that emits unique low-frequency vocalizations at a frequency of 52 hertz. The link provided leads to the Wikipedia page for more information.
10. Lack of sunlight during the day is worse than electric lighting at night
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
Geneticist and chronobiologist Michael Rosbash, who recently won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on circadian rhythms, discussed his research in a recent interview. Rosbash explained that circadian rhythms are the 24-hour changes in our physiology that synchronize with the day-night cycle. He mentioned that not only humans, but also bacteria, plants, and insects like fruit flies have biological clocks. Rosbash also mentioned that recent research shows that at least 70% of our genes are regulated by circadian rhythms, compared to the previous estimate of 50%. He emphasized the importance of basic research and encouraged young researchers to pursue interesting projects. Rosbash also discussed the similarities between the circadian rhythms of fruit flies and humans and explained that studying flies helps understand general questions about brain science and behavior. When asked about the purpose of sleep, he admitted that it is still not fully understood but speculated it could be related to metabolic processes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article shares their experience living in a region with limited sunlight during the winter. They initially used a SAD lamp, which helped to some extent but didn’t fully address their lack of light exposure. They then decided to try using two 100W LED corn bulbs, as recommended by an article they came across. The corn bulbs made a significant difference in their energy levels, sleep quality, and overall well-being. The author also mentions using construction string lights to create a pleasing ambiance. Their goal is to create a living/office space that closely resembles being outdoors on a sunny day. They emphasize the importance of light exposure in regulating the body’s circadian rhythm and how it positively impacts various aspects of life. The article and product links provided in the text offer additional information on the subject.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the primitive and inadequate work conditions faced by employees, even in privileged office jobs. Employees endure long hours of sitting, poor lighting, and poor air quality. The constant staring at screens is damaging to their eyes, and they face high levels of stress with few breaks. Despite these challenges, employees are expected to ignore their basic human needs and continue working. The responsibility to improve work conditions falls solely on the employees, with employers offering little support. The article also criticizes the lack of genuine concern for mental health in the workplace, with employers providing superficial solutions such as directing employees to an e-course instead of addressing the root causes of mental health issues.