1. My 71 TiB ZFS NAS After 10 Years and Zero Drive Failures
Total comment counts : 50
Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience with a 10-year-old 4U NAS (Network Attached Storage) built from twenty-four 4 TB HGST drives, which has not experienced any drive failures. The author attributes this longevity to regularly powering down the NAS when not in use, resulting in about 6000 hours of runtime over the decade—equivalent to just 250 days. The NAS operates on a script and IoT power bar for remote management, allowing it to conserve energy, which is a primary motivation, along with potential benefits for hard drive longevity.
Despite this impressive track record, the author acknowledges that having no drive failures in a 24-drive system might not be as rare as they initially thought, possibly due to chance. Previous systems also showed zero drive failures. The author highlights their positive experience with ZFS (Zettabyte File System), emphasizing its reliability, low error rates, and efficient handling of data. Regular maintenance, including zpool scrubs, reveals no checksum errors.
Additionally, the article touches on challenges with motherboards, including an instance of failure that was easily resolved by finding a replacement online. It concludes by reflecting on the setup’s cooling system, which has been modified for quieter operation without sacrificing airflow, demonstrating the author’s technical involvement and care in maintaining the NAS.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the importance of having a drive rotation schedule for storage devices. It highlights concerns about a scenario where multiple drives of the same model and batch could fail simultaneously due to similar wear levels. This situation could lead to further failures during the rebuilding process, which places additional strain on the remaining drives. The overall message emphasizes that achieving reliable storage can be challenging.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the quiet operation of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system, highlighting the advantage of using larger fans that efficiently move air at lower RPMs, which also makes them more energy-efficient. Oxide Computer’s presentation points out that using 80mm fans significantly reduces power consumption, with their fans using about 1% of power compared to other servers where fans can consume up to 25%. The article includes links to videos demonstrating this concept.
2. The Legend of Holy Sword: An Immersive Experience for Concentration Enhancement
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
The article discusses the arXiv Accessibility Forum and the arXivLabs framework, which allows collaboration in developing new features for the arXiv website. It emphasizes values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy, stating that arXiv partners must share these values. The piece encourages readers to propose project ideas that could benefit the arXiv community and mentions options for receiving status notifications via email or Slack.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how Arthurian legend often portrays King Arthur as “the chosen one” who can pull the sword from the stone. However, in the original stories, his worthiness is tied to his understanding of applying the right amount of force rather than merely overpowering the sword. The author reflects that they only grasped this distinction after being informed about it, noting that the trial requires keen concentration on the stone’s reactions to one’s movements.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses disappointment in a study related to a game, stating it simply highlights the game’s appeal rather than presenting rigorous scientific research. The author was expecting a double-blind study that would assess concentration levels in comparison to a placebo intervention, emphasizing a desire for more substantial evidence rather than just an interesting game.
3. Billiards is a good game (1975)
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
The Quadrangle Club at the University of Chicago reached its “golden age” in the 1920s and 1930s, where men enjoyed leisurely activities like reading, playing cards, and billiards. By the 1950s, part of the billiards room transitioned into a cocktail lounge. The article reflects on the university’s impact and the prominence of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Albert Abraham Michelson, who became notable for measuring the speed of light. His work set a foundational understanding of light, which was once thought to be instantaneous. Michelson’s achievements, such as his precision measurements, elevated his status, making him a memorable figure in both national and local contexts due to his groundbreaking contributions. He was the first American awarded a Nobel Prize in science, which bolstered his legacy. The article also highlights the University of Chicago’s history of firsts in higher education under President Harper, underscoring its innovative spirit.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses Albert A. Michelson, renowned for measuring the speed of light and winner of the Nobel Prize. In 1928, shortly before his death, he was widely recognized, and the author humorously reflects on how, despite having a bachelor’s degree in physics, he isn’t confident about recalling Michelson’s Nobel Prize win. The commentary suggests that Michelson’s fame may have declined over the years, questioning the author’s assertion that “nearly all educated people can name” him.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses snooker, a challenging variant of billiards played on a 12ft x 6ft table with tighter pockets and smaller balls. While it can be frustrating, mastering the game is rewarding and provides a significant mental challenge. Ronnie O’Sullivan is highlighted as the greatest player, with a suggestion to watch his YouTube highlights, which showcase the game’s elegance and complexity.
4. Void captures over a million Android TV boxes
Total comment counts : 13
Summary
Doctor Web experts have identified a significant malware infection affecting Android-based TV boxes, named Android.Vo1d, which has compromised approximately 1.3 million devices across 197 countries. This malware acts as a backdoor, allowing attackers to secretly download and install unauthorized software. It modifies essential system files, ensuring its persistence through various techniques such as altering the install-recovery.sh and daemonsu files. The most affected regions include Brazil, Morocco, and Pakistan. The malware exploits outdated Android versions typically found on budget TV boxes, which often do not receive security updates, making them more vulnerable. Users may mistakenly believe these devices are safer than smartphones, but they are actually susceptible to significant security threats.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights a growing economic divide due to widespread use of outdated Android versions, particularly in South America, where the median version is 8. Many users, referred to as “real people,” possess phones that haven’t received updates in years. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that phones have become essential for participation in digital government and money transfer systems in various countries.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses concerns about certain TV boxes running outdated versions of Android that have unpatched vulnerabilities and lack updates. Many of these devices, produced by less reputable companies, have never received any updates. The author recommends sticking to well-known brands like Chromecast, Roku, or Apple TV for reliable performance and security.
5. Show HN: Meet.hn – Meet the Hacker News community in your city
Total comment counts : 85
Summary
The article discusses the launch of “meet.hn,” a website designed to connect members of the Hacker News (HN) community in various cities. The process involves signing up by providing a username, city, and country, then adding generated text to the user’s HN profile to appear on the map. The creator, motivated by a desire to connect with like-minded individuals in Toulouse, France, emphasized the importance of fostering a local tech and entrepreneurship community, especially in areas focused more on industry. Additional features include social media links, an open-source codebase, and an integration with another platform. The creator invites feedback and mentions gratitude towards contributors.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses interest in creating a “meet” tab on Hacker News (HN) to facilitate real-life connections, noting the positive impact HN has had on many lives, including their own. They seek ways to encourage more real-world interactions among community members and are keen to hear how these initiatives progress. The author suggests the possibility of sponsoring a dedicated thread for discussing meetups if they gain traction.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the undocumented requirements for romanizing Japanese city names, specifically referencing the city of 船橋市. While the official romanization according to the Kunrei-shiki and ISO 3602 standards is “funabasi,” this version is often rejected in practice, with “funabashi” being the accepted form. The author suggests that it might be helpful to clearly outline these requirements to avoid confusion.
6. How America’s universities became debt factories
Total comment counts : 47
Summary
The article examines the severe issues within the U.S. student loan system, highlighting how making student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy has created a massive debt bubble, currently exceeding $1.7 trillion. This situation perpetuates a cycle of misaligned incentives where educational institutions and lenders profit at the expense of students, who face skyrocketing tuition and poor job prospects. Proposed solutions include making loans dischargeable, linking lending to degree value, and holding institutions accountable, but these solutions are complicated by entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo.
The system punishes success and rewards failure, as institutions lacking incentives to improve can raise tuition indefinitely while producing graduates struggling with underemployment. Notably, lenders are guaranteed repayment, leading to a predatory system where debt can follow borrowers into retirement, even garnishing Social Security benefits. The article traces the evolution of this crisis back to the 1976 Education Amendments and highlights how subsequent legislative changes solidified the non-dischargeability of student loans, transforming a protective measure into a trap for borrowers. Ultimately, the student loan crisis threatens the financial security of multiple generations, hindering American competitiveness and curtailing risk-taking among graduates.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article outlines a critique of the educational and economic system in the U.S. by highlighting four main points:
- Outsourcing Jobs: Good careers that don’t require a college degree are being moved overseas for shareholder profit.
- Education Pressure: Young people (born between 1980 and 1995) are pressured into pursuing post-high school education, with the implication that simply having a degree is enough, rather than depending on the type of degree.
- Lax Funding Standards: There are minimal standards for public funds related to college grants and loans, allowing individuals to finance degrees from various institutions without sufficient oversight.
- Harsh Loan Conditions: Student loan debt is treated differently than other debts, making it difficult for borrowers to discharge or renegotiate loans, with strict limits on loan forgiveness.
Overall, the piece argues that the current system places undue burdens on individuals while benefiting institutional shareholders.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article argues for the need to be more open to dismantling multi-billion dollar industries, as many modern problems cannot be effectively addressed without doing so. It suggests that these industries, along with their competitors, often exacerbate issues rather than solve them. While the author appreciates market mechanisms, they emphasize that certain problems are beyond the market’s capability to resolve.
7. Terence Tao on O1
Total comment counts : 48
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article reflects on the significant progress made in artificial intelligence over a span of five years, comparing past interactions with AI, like Alexa, to advising a mediocre graduate student in 2019. It highlights the advancements in AI capabilities, emphasizing how much more sophisticated and effective these technologies have become.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author discusses the potential of GPT, particularly when fine-tuned on Lean (a proof assistant), to enhance research-level mathematics. They work in operations research (OR) and have found that ChatGPT can generate effective Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) formulations for various problems, significantly reducing the time spent on formulation tasks. While the model requires some prior understanding of MIP optimization and breaking problems into smaller parts, the investment in ChatGPT is deemed worthwhile. The author suggests that criticisms of language models often stem from users not maximizing their potential or having unrealistic expectations. In contrast, users who have learned to leverage these tools effectively experience substantial benefits in their work.
8. Intel Solidifies $3.5B Deal to Make Chips for Military
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
The article is a notification asking users to confirm they are not a robot by clicking a box. It also advises ensuring that their browser supports JavaScript and cookies, and that these are not blocked. Additionally, it offers guidance on reviewing the Terms of Service and Cookie Policy, and provides contact information for support, including a reference ID for inquiries.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Intel exited the military business in 1997 due to several challenges, including low volume and the risk of abrupt cancellations, such as those seen with the F-22 and Comanche programs. Additionally, the military’s requirement for long-term supply of parts often involved producing outdated components using obsolete technology. For these reasons, Intel deemed continuing in the military sector unfeasible.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of competition in the chip manufacturing industry, noting that even if some companies, like Intel, face criticism, having multiple chipmakers benefits everyone, particularly in the US. It recognizes that the support of the military industrial complex can play a role in this competition.
9. OpenAI o1 Results on ARC-AGI-Pub
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
OpenAI has released two new models, o1-preview and o1-mini, designed to improve reasoning capabilities by incorporating a “chain-of-thought” (CoT) approach during both training and inference. These models utilize reinforcement learning (RL) and a significant amount of synthetic data to enhance their reasoning skills. Testing against other models revealed that o1 performs well on multiple benchmarks, though its scores on the ARC-AGI were only modest compared to its overall performance.
The unique feature of o1 is its ability to apply CoT reasoning on informal language tasks, which distinguishes it from previous models that primarily focused on formal domains like math and code. The model demonstrates improved generalization and adaptation to new tasks through iterative re-prompting and reasoning token generation.
However, the model’s accuracy depends on the amount of computational resources allocated during inference, prompting concerns about benchmarking and efficiency. While o1’s results are promising, they come at a significant time cost—taking around 70 hours for testing compared to 30 minutes for competitors like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. This highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing accuracy and efficiency in AI development. Future evaluations may increasingly focus on comparing accuracy against computational efficiency as a standard for assessing progress toward AGI.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author critiques a blog post that misrepresents the capabilities of the o1 model compared to earlier versions. After testing various powerful models on ARC tasks months ago, the author found that they struggled significantly, failing to solve even simple puzzles. However, upon testing the o1-preview model, it successfully solved a straightforward puzzle without requiring advanced prompting techniques. The author notes that while they are not making sweeping claims about AGI or ARC-AGI, the o1 model represents a significant advancement towards using LLMs to address ARC challenges.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the performance of “Greenblatt,” represented as 42% in a bar chart, referring to GPT-4o that utilizes a specific investment strategy devised by Joel Greenblatt. It raises a question about the effectiveness of another model, o1, when applying Greenblatt’s investment strategy. For further details, a link to a Substack article is provided.
10. Grounding AI in reality with a little help from Data Commons
Total comment counts : 5
Summary
The article discusses Google’s commitment to fostering diverse research in computer science through fundamental and applied projects that impact technology used globally. The organization promotes open collaboration by sharing tools, datasets, and participating in academic research.
A significant focus is on developing trustworthy AI systems, particularly addressing issues related to Large Language Models (LLMs) and their tendency to produce misleading information or “hallucinations.” To tackle this, Google has introduced DataGemma, which enhances LLMs by utilizing the extensive knowledge graph of Google’s Data Commons—a repository of over 250 billion data points from reliable sources like the UN and WHO.
DataGemma employs natural language interfaces for querying this data, allowing users to access information without complex database queries. Its structure helps LLMs ground their responses in verifiable data, improving factual accuracy and reliability. The model uses two techniques—Retrieval Interleaved Generation (RIG) and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)—to incorporate authoritative statistics and mitigate risks of hallucinations. Overall, these initiatives aim to make data AI-ready, contributing to the development of responsible AI systems.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their experience working as a contractor on an internal Google Knowledge Graph application for 11 years. They express appreciation for the Semantic Web concepts proposed by Tim Berners-Lee, although they feel that publicly accessible knowledge graphs have not gained significant traction. However, they highlight that Google’s Data Commons is available for free for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the public and non-government sectors’ longstanding interest in open data and related technologies, particularly in Europe. However, the adoption and usability of these technologies have been slow. A new project from a significant private sector player supports the broader open data movement and connects with current large language model (LLM) technologies. The design of this project, while refreshing, raises concerns regarding the integration of diverse information sources, reflecting the challenges noted in the “bitter lesson” of AI research, which emphasizes that attempts to embed structured knowledge in AI systems often face inherent difficulties.