1. Is My Blue Your Blue?
Total comment counts : 152
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a test that may not only assess color perception but also the quality and calibration of a monitor. It mentions that the test may appear different on displays with different color gamuts. Additionally, the article notes that displaying the colors in full-screen may affect the results due to the optical illusion caused by the auto white balance mechanism in our eyes. The author suggests that either the color display area should be smaller or users should be asked to position a cut-off point for all hues at once.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article suggests that the method used to determine color perception through clicking buttons is flawed. It states that people are unlikely to click the same button repeatedly, admitting that maybe the color is different than initially thought. The article also suggests possible improvements such as changing the wording and randomizing the order of the buttons. Additionally, it mentions that factors such as color calibration and eye fatigue should be taken into consideration.
2. Greppability is an underrated code metric
Total comment counts : 95
Summary
The article discusses the importance of keeping code bases easily searchable through the use of grep, a command-line tool for searching text. The author highlights the disadvantages of dynamically constructing identifiers, such as table names, column names, object fields, and function names, as it makes it difficult to find them when searching the code base. The author also suggests flattening folder/object structures when dealing with namespaces, as it improves searchability. The overall message is to prioritize code maintainability by implementing practices that make the code base more grep-friendly.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author argues that tools with a syntactic understanding of code, such as “go to definition” and “find usages,” are more effective than simply searching for symbols like function and class names. They mention that they have mostly only searched for user facing strings in the past, as they are longer and easier to search. Additionally, the author suggests that the post they are referring to indicates a need for the author to learn about better tools for their programming language, as a good IDE alone can save a significant amount of time.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author suggests that it would be useful for a grep tool to have a “super case insensitive” mode. This mode would expand searches to include variations of capitalization, such as camel case, snake case, pascal case, kebab case, etc. The author believes that this would be a great default feature for the tool.
3. IPMI
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
This article discusses the history and evolution of servers in the context of enterprise computing. The author mentions the consolidation of the server market around Intel specifications and the increasing similarity between major options. The article explains that servers originated from time-sharing computing and were often different from client machines in terms of architecture and operating systems. However, with the rise of the PC architecture and horizontal scaling, the distinction between server and client machines has blurred. The article also introduces the concept of out-of-band management, which allows for remote access to servers even when they are powered off. This capability is provided by dedicated hardware and software, separate from the operating system. The author concludes by highlighting the usefulness of out-of-band management, particularly the remote console and virtual media features.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses various aspects of Intel’s products and a recommendation for server purchases. It states that Intel is behind AMD in terms of CPU and GPU technology, except for low-power applications. Intel NICs (network interface cards) are generally good, although there have been issues with certain models. Supermicro is suggested as a good option for server purchases due to being cheaper and flexible, but with potentially less reliable support. The article also mentions the replacement of the IPMI specification with Redfish, which is considered more complete and secure. Finally, it acknowledges recent research exposing questionable practices by Supermicro but still recommends their hardware.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits and limitations of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) in enterprise servers and its rarity in other contexts. The author highlights the challenge of finding compact or low-power computers with IPMI capabilities. They suggest using an Atom-based Supermicro MicroATX board with a Noctua fan in a short-depth 1U chassis as an alternative. The author prefers this option due to its quietness, small size, server features like IPMI and ECC RAM, and reliability compared to other models. They also mention not connecting the IPMI port to the main LAN but finding it useful in isolation.
4. Diffusion Is Spectral Autoregression
Total comment counts : 13
Summary
The article explores the connection between diffusion models and autoregressive models in generative modeling. It explains that both models break down the task of generating complex data into smaller subtasks. Autoregressive models predict one sequence element at a time, while diffusion models gradually destroy the structure of the data and learn to invert this process step by step. The article frames diffusion models as an approximate special case of autoregressive models and highlights that autoregressive models are commonly used for language, while diffusion models are used for images and videos. It also discusses the observation that diffusion models tend to generate images in a coarse-to-fine manner, with large-scale structure decided in earlier denoising steps and finer details added in later steps.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the comparison between audio spectra and image spectra. It highlights that image spectra have a strong power law effect, while audio spectra have more power in middle bands. One reason for this is that the visual spectrum is narrower compared to audio. Another factor not mentioned in the article is that images can be zoomed in or out arbitrarily, resulting in changes in pixel width, whereas in audio, the width of a pixel (the time between two audio samples) is fixed. The article suggests that rescaling all images to a standard size, similar to resampling audio to a standard sample rate, could be an interesting approach.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article explains that speech consists of both high and low frequency components, which are produced and perceived differently. The lower frequencies, below 4KHz, are created by the vocal chords opening and closing at the fundamental frequency, along with its harmonics. These frequencies are then modulated by the changes in the resonances of the vocal tract during pronunciation. The higher frequencies in speech come from the turbulence of air forced out through closed teeth, creating “white noise.” Our perception of these higher frequencies is based on the onset and offset of energy in the 4-8KHz range. Frequencies above 8KHz are not very relevant for perception and may be filtered out in certain situations, such as analog telephone speech.
5. Open Mathematics Depository
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
This article describes a project that aims to provide open access to mathematical texts in PDF format. The project aims to create a selective depository of texts that mathematicians find useful and helpful. Contributions of texts in PDF form, which are in the public domain or under open license, are welcome. The article also addresses copyright concerns and provides instructions for claiming the removal of copyrighted material. The project currently focuses on English texts, but there is an invitation for curators of other languages to participate.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article recommends Soviet era Mathematics and other science books as supplementary resources for students. The books are concise but dense, providing good content for students seeking additional knowledge in addition to their prescribed textbooks. The books can be accessed at the link provided.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is wondering if someone can crawl and archive a certain set of content. They express a desire to obtain the entire set and believe that others might also be interested.
6. Wizardry Co-Creator Andrew Greenberg Has Passed Away
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
Andrew Greenberg, co-creator of the iconic RPG Wizardry, has passed away. Released in 1981, Wizardry was one of the first RPGs for personal computers and had a major influence on the genre. The game was also successful in Japan and has received new installments there. Greenberg, who lent his name to an antagonist in the game, later worked as a patent attorney. The original game was recently remastered for modern systems.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their experience working at Sir Tech Canada in the mid-1990s. They got the job at a young age and worked on Wizardry as a 3D graphics developer. The studio used Windows NT 4 machines with Voodoo 3DFX graphics cards and 3DS Max for content creation. Although the author felt inexperienced and disconnected, they had fun and created working demos. They mention meeting the original Sir Tech team and seeing Brenda Romero in the office. However, they regret not having any pictures from their time at Sir Tech.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions a person who was a member of the Squeak Smalltalk mailing list in the early 2000s. This person developed a set of bindings for the pcre regular expression library, which was not included in Squeak due to portability issues. In addition, this person provided advice to the Squeak community during their process of transitioning from the original Squeak License to the MIT license, although they were not an official source of advice.
7. The occult technology of the rollercoaster
Total comment counts : 17
Summary
The article discusses the purpose and significance of machines, specifically focusing on rollercoasters. It argues that machines typically have a clear purpose, such as producing goods or providing transportation, but rollercoasters are different because they serve no practical function. Instead, the rollercoaster is seen as a machine designed to automate magickal rituals and provide a transcendent experience for riders. The article also explores the classification and design of rollercoasters, highlighting the height requirements for different types of rides. It then delves into the Wicker Man rollercoaster at Alton Towers, which is made of wood and incorporates elements related to fire and pagan rituals. Overall, the article suggests that the rollercoaster serves as a symbol of human connection to nature and the sacred.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article argues that rollercoasters are often seen as having no purpose, but then goes on to explain the emotional and physical experiences they can provide. The author compares the sensations of riding a rollercoaster to those of using psychoactive substances, and suggests that both can offer a range of intense emotions in a short amount of time. The author also mentions that rollercoasters and psychedelics can complement each other, although individual experiences may differ.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article criticizes a writer who discusses rollercoasters without mentioning the mathematical concepts of Euler spirals and clothoids that guide and protect riders. The author expresses disappointment at the lack of curiosity displayed by the writer.
8. Why bother with argv[0]?
Total comment counts : 45
Summary
This article argues against the convention of assigning arbitrary values to the first argument of a program’s command line, known as argv[0]. It explains how manipulating argv[0] can deceive security analysts, bypass detections, and exploit defensive software on different operating systems. The article analyzes the design decision behind treating argv[0] as the process name and questions its relevance in modern software development. It also discusses the potential drawbacks and security vulnerabilities associated with relying on argv[0] in program execution. The article proposes separating argv[0] into its own feature for better consistency and tracking.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author criticizes the claim that there is no good reason for a process to read argv[0], stating that it demonstrates ignorance or requires a stronger defense. They suggest that while restricting the ability to write the value could be considered, it could still be manipulated by an attacker. However, they acknowledge that sometimes we implement security measures that are not perfect in order to make certain trade-offs.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the use of symlinks to redirect multiple commands to a single binary in order to save space. This is commonly done in Android for shell commands, and there are implementations such as Toybox and Busybox. It provides links to the GitHub repository for Toybox and the Wikipedia page for BusyBox.
9. Feds killed 2014 plan to curb Medicare Advantage overbilling
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
Federal officials drafted a plan in 2014 to discourage Medicare Advantage health insurers from overcharging the government by billions of dollars but abandoned it due to industry pressure, according to newly released court filings. The plan would have required health plans to identify overpayments by Medicare and refund them. The decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and events related to it are now part of a multibillion-dollar civil fraud case against UnitedHealth Group, which is accused of cheating Medicare out of over $2 billion. UnitedHealth Group denies wrongdoing and argues that it should not be penalized for not following a rule that CMS considered but declined to adopt. The court filings shed light on CMS’s struggle to prevent private health plans from taking advantage of taxpayers. Medicare Advantage plans have grown rapidly in recent years, and the industry has faced numerous investigations and lawsuits alleging exaggeration of patient illness to secure higher Medicare payments. The 2014 plan would have prohibited chart reviews aimed at finding additional diagnoses for payment purposes and restricted reviews to only supported diagnoses. CMS officials withdrew the plan due to stakeholder concern and pushback, and the decision reflects a pattern of timid oversight by CMS, according to experts. The fraud case against UnitedHealth Group, the largest Medicare Advantage plan provider, was filed in 2011 and alleges that the company received over $7.2 billion from 2009 to 2016 based on chart reviews but would have obtained $2.1 billion less if unsupported billing codes were deleted.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article expresses support for a potential Department of Justice (DoJ) antitrust remedy against United Healthcare, suggesting that a breakup or dissolution may be appropriate. The article highlights a 2014 decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and subsequent events that have led to a multibillion-dollar civil fraud case against UnitedHealth Group filed by the DoJ. The author commends the DoJ for pursuing the case and expresses hope for a successful outcome.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses an incident that occurred in 2014, where someone was killed instead of being intended to be killed. This incident has recently become known due to a legal case involving the Department of Justice and United Healthcare.
10. Jennifer in paradise: the story of the first Photoshopped image (2014)
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
This article discusses the significance of a photograph called “Jennifer in Paradise,” taken in 1987 by John Knoll. The photograph features Knoll’s then-girlfriend Jennifer topless on a beach in Bora Bora. The article explains that Knoll was working at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a special-effects company, at the time and had encountered a groundbreaking piece of hardware called the Pixar Image Computer, which could manipulate images. Knoll’s brother had also developed similar software that could run on a cheaper computer. Eventually, this software became known as Photoshop. To demonstrate the capabilities of Photoshop, Knoll used the photograph of Jennifer as an example. The article discusses the cultural significance of the photograph and how it has been reconstructed and appropriated by artist Constant Dullaart. The article also highlights Photoshop’s impact on visual culture and the democratization of the ability to alter photos.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the impact of Photoshop on the perception of truth in images and videos. The author emphasizes that Photoshop has democratized the ability to alter photos, leading to a world where nothing is taken at face value anymore. The article suggests that we now live in a reality where people question the authenticity of what they see, hear, and speak. The author regards this photo as the last representation of a world where the camera never lied, reflecting on the profound changes brought about by the manipulation of images.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The writer of the article is surprised by a demo video showcasing the early version of Photoshop. They learned new techniques involving the lasso and magic wand tools that they were unaware of despite having used them for a long time.