1. Boris Vallejo and the pixel art of the demoscene
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article discusses the impact of Boris Vallejo, an epic fantasy painter, on fantasy art from the 1980s to the 90s, particularly in book covers and computer game art. Vallejo’s work, characterized by realistic portrayals of heroic figures in fantastical settings, inspired pixel artists and demoscene groups, especially on platforms like the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST. The author recounts their personal journey with Vallejo’s art, expressing initial admiration that has evolved into a preference for rougher, more abstract styles as they’ve grown older. The article also mentions the influence of Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, known for his erotic robots, alongside Vallejo. The author talks about creating a new pixel art piece inspired by Vallejo and reflects on his significance in the demoscene. Despite changing tastes, the author acknowledges Vallejo’s lasting legacy in the fantasy art world.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses joy at seeing Boris’s name mentioned on their HN feed. They share their experience attending fantasy art conventions as the spouse of a fantasy illustrator and confirm that Boris is thriving, particularly at Illuxcon, a well-known fantasy and sci-fi art show in Reading, PA. They describe him as a likable and modest person who understands the challenges of breaking into the illustration market, having come from Peru with nothing. Overall, the author holds Boris in high regard and appreciates his humility and insights.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article reflects on the author’s experiences as a teenage demoscene graphics artist during the late Amiga and early Windows demo days. The focus of demoscene graphics was more on technical skill than artistic expression, with young participants mastering complex techniques like palette manipulations and antialiasing. The author reminisces about their old work, acknowledging inspiration from artists like Vallejo, particularly in a drawing featuring a sabretooth. They note that their last hand-pixeled image, completed in 1998, showcased improved skill but also marked a shift away from the pixel art style as it lost popularity. The author highlights the significant time investment required for each piece, ultimately moving on from this artistic pursuit.
2. Comedy Theory (2022)
Total comment counts : 41
Summary
The article presents a theory on how comedy functions, emphasizing a structured approach to creating jokes and comedy sketches. It explains that our brains recognize patterns and make predictions based on them. Jokes consist of a setup that leads to pattern recognition and a punchline that defies expectations by introducing an unexpected association. This unexpected connection relies on a “Common Aspect,” which links two unrelated patterns through a shared interpretation, creating an “absurd association.”
To craft a joke, one needs to identify two patterns connected by a common aspect and then construct a setup and punchline. The humor increases with the distance between the patterns (the more absurd the juxtaposition) and the strength of the connection through the common aspect. The article also illustrates the process of identifying aspects of a pattern and how to find surprising associations between unrelated ideas.
Finally, once a humorous concept is developed, it can be adapted into various formats, like stand-up or sketches. The author invites feedback and further engagement with readers.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article critiques the simplification of comedy as merely jokes, arguing that this viewpoint overlooks the diversity and depth of comedic expression. The author shares personal experiences from a clown workshop and various performances where laughter stemmed from playfulness and authenticity rather than traditional jokes. While acknowledging the value of formal theories about comedy, the author expresses disappointment that no comprehensive theory has adequately captured the full range of comedic experiences. Overall, the piece emphasizes that comedy encompasses much more than just jokes.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article posits that the concept of “search” underlies various complex processes across different fields. It suggests that processes like protein folding, DNA evolution, cognition, scientific progress, AI optimization, and even speech can be viewed as forms of search—whether for optimal states, behavior, or information. The author argues that search is a clearer and more structured concept than ambiguous ideas like understanding or consciousness.
Search exhibits properties such as being compositional, hierarchical, recurrent, and recursive, indicating a fundamental connection to the properties of space-time. The article emphasizes that search can be personal, interpersonal, physical, or information-based and presents cognition as involving two search loops: one that explores external behaviors for experience collection and another that processes and compresses that experience to refine behavior.
3. BorgBackup 2.0 supports Rclone – over 70 cloud providers in addition to SSH
Total comment counts : 29
Summary
The article discusses a major update (2.0) to the Borg backup software, which is not compatible with previous repository versions. The update introduces necessary breaking changes aimed at enhancing security, performance, and simplifying code maintenance. Users will need to transfer archives from older versions via the “borg transfer” command after upgrading to a patched version of Borg.
Key changes include:
- Removal of outdated command line syntaxes and options.
- Introduction of new syntax for archive management.
- Updated handling of archive names, which should now be identical within a series for efficiency.
- Enhanced pattern matching for archive selection.
The article emphasizes the need for users to adjust scripts and configurations accordingly. New features include support for various cloud storage services via rclone URLs and parallel operations in the same repository. The update is labeled as beta, intended for new repositories only, and users are encouraged to read additional upgrade notes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The user expresses satisfaction with BorgBackup, highlighting its reliability and effectiveness over seven years of use. They appreciate the deduplication feature and recommend using borgmatic to simplify the backup process. A link to the borgmatic GitHub page is provided for further reference.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is currently using rclone for backing up data to remote machines but feels it’s not a professional solution. They are considering adding Backblaze B2 but question rclone’s effectiveness as a backup tool. They argue that a proper backup solution should handle data more efficiently, such as by dividing it into blocks and using tar for encoding directories, as well as providing deduplication. The author has explored alternatives like restic and duplicati but finds them complicated and not user-friendly, particularly wanting a configuration that can be easily managed and transferred. They express concern over the reliability of these tools, citing instances where data became non-restorable, which they consider a critical failure for any backup system. They seek recommendations for more reliable backup solutions.
4. ESO telescope captures the most detailed infrared map of the Milky Way
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
Astronomers have created the largest and most detailed infrared map of the Milky Way, featuring over 1.5 billion objects. This project, led by astrophysicist Dante Minniti from Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile, utilized the European Southern Observatory’s VISTA telescope over 13 years, accumulating 500 terabytes of data from 200,000 images. The map provides insights into obscured areas of the galaxy, revealing newborn stars, globular clusters, and even cold objects like brown dwarfs. Observations spanned from 2010 to mid-2023 and included tracking star movements and brightness variations, enhancing our 3D understanding of the galactic center. The findings have already contributed to over 300 scientific articles and promise ongoing exploration as new instruments are developed for future observations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the significant impact of the VVV and VVVX astronomical surveys, which have resulted in over 300 scientific articles. While it acknowledges the broad discoveries made, it lacks specific examples of these findings. The piece prompts readers to share what they consider the greatest discoveries and highlights from these surveys.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions an interactive exploration of part of the VVV dataset, providing a link for users to access the VISTA VVV DR4 ColorJYZ data.
5. PyTorch Native Architecture Optimization: Torchao
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The article announces the launch of torchao, a new PyTorch library designed to enhance the efficiency of models by utilizing low bit data types, quantization, and sparsity for both inference and training. It provides a toolkit with user-friendly PyTorch code for optimizing models, yielding minimal accuracy loss based on benchmarks with popular GenAI models like LLama 3 and various diffusion models.
Key features include:
- Quantization Algorithms: They can optimize arbitrary PyTorch models, offering options for weight and dynamic activation quantization.
- Performance Improvements: The library has demonstrated significant speedups for certain models (e.g., 53.88% for Flux.1-Dev).
- Quantization Aware Training (QAT): This technique helps recover accuracy loss from post-training quantization.
- Composability: Users can combine different techniques, such as sparsity and quantization, for further optimization.
The article encourages users to install torchao and explore its capabilities while providing links to documentation and community resources for support and collaboration. Future developments may include support for even lower bit types and broader hardware compatibility.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author praises the PyTorch team for effectively making complex optimization techniques accessible through a simple API. They express satisfaction with their transition from TensorFlow/Keras to PyTorch around 2018-2019 and show enthusiasm for trying out new features.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Mark from the PyTorch team at Meta is available to answer questions about the torchao library and performance-related topics.
6. Essential node in global semiconductor supply chain hit by Hurricane Helene
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
Hurricane Helene severely impacted Spruce Pine, North Carolina, dropping over 2 feet of rain and causing extensive damage to the town, known for being the largest source of high-purity quartz essential for semiconductor and solar panel manufacturing. The storm flooded downtown areas, disrupted power and water supply, and damaged infrastructure, leaving the community isolated. Quartz is critical in producing silicon wafers; without it, semiconductor production could be jeopardized. Although some companies have stockpiled quartz, prolonged disruptions could significantly affect global supply chains as Spruce Pine’s quartz is irreplaceable in quality. The economic repercussions of the hurricane may extend well beyond the local area, similar to past supply chain disruptions.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the critical role of a single quartz factory located in North Carolina in the global semiconductor industry. It highlights how this factory is essential for the production of quartz, which is a vital material used in semiconductor manufacturing. The dependency on this facility raises concerns about the sustainability and security of the semiconductor supply chain, emphasizing the risks associated with relying on a single source for such a crucial component.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the availability of high-purity quartz from various companies, noting that while Spruce Pine offers exceptionally pure quartz due to its established industry, other vendors may provide similar quality at a higher price. It suggests that these other companies could capitalize on the market while Quartz Corp and others are in the process of rebuilding. Specific companies mentioned are Hereus Conamic and WACKER Chemie.
7. Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
Total comment counts : 60
Summary
The article discusses a user’s frustration with receiving verification SMS for a service due to an old “STOP” command sent to a shared phone number. To resolve this, they had to send “UNSTOP.” The text highlights the prevalent issue of phone number repurposing, noting that numbers can be reassigned after a period, which can lead to confusion over communication preferences. It also touches on complacency regarding phishing, where even knowledgeable individuals can fall prey to sophisticated attacks. Additionally, the article mentions difficulties with unsolicited political messages and campaign finance, indicating that once a number is associated with political donations, it can lead to ongoing solicitation. Lastly, the user reflects on the challenges posed by unwanted marketing and spam texts, suggesting that while registries exist to curb unsolicited communications, they are largely ineffective against phishing attempts.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses an issue the author faced after responding with “STOP” to an SMS from a money transmission app years ago. This action prevented them from receiving verification messages needed to claim funds sent by a friend. After extensive troubleshooting, they discovered that the “STOP” message, sent from a different device, had blocked communications. To resolve the issue, the author had to send “UNSTOP” to the same number to regain access to the SMS service. The number was shared among multiple apps, complicating matters further.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how to opt-out of bulk messages depending on the platform used to send them. If messages are sent through Twilio, replying with “STOP” will successfully opt you out, as Twilio handles this automatically. However, if the messages come from other carriers or custom setups, there’s no guarantee that “STOP” will work. The article suggests replying with “STOP” for messages you opted into but reporting unsolicited messages as spam instead.
8. Pro bettors disguising themselves as gambling addicts
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article asks users to confirm they are not robots by clicking a box. It advises users to ensure their browser supports JavaScript and cookies, and that these are not blocked. For further details, users can review the Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. For any related inquiries, contact support and provide the reference ID.
Top 1 Comment Summary
I’m unable to access external content, including links. However, if you provide text or key points from the article, I’d be happy to help summarize it for you!
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses concern about the normalization of sports betting, particularly highlighted by ESPN’s sports betting app. The author suggests that while they can accept legalized sports betting, there should be strict regulations on its marketing and advertising. They argue that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices regarding gambling, but the pervasive influence of advertising in society is troubling.
9. Ryujinx (Nintendo Switch emulator) has been removed from GitHub
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of customer feedback, stating that all input is carefully considered. It also invites readers to explore available qualifiers in the documentation and offers tips, technical guides, and best practices that will be sent twice a month via email.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article reports that the GitHub repository for the Ryujinx emulator is currently down. An update reveals that the developer, gdkchan, was contacted by Nintendo, who proposed an agreement to cease work on the emulator project. While the agreement has not yet been confirmed, the organization has been completely disbanded.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author reflects on the removal of the yuzu emulator and shares that they created a script to automatically download the latest releases of various emulators, including Ryujinx. They express regret for not setting up a Gitea mirror, despite knowing they wouldn’t build it themselves. The script, which is low impact and runs daily, is shared for others to use in preserving the software they depend on. The author expresses disappointment over Nintendo’s actions that hinder enjoyment of games on better hardware and indicates a shift in focus towards PC gaming, mentioning their enjoyment of indie games like “Dredge.”
10. Show HN: Venator – Open-source threat detection
Total comment counts : 2
Summary
The article discusses Venator, a flexible detection platform designed to simplify rule management and deployment primarily using Kubernetes (K8s) CronJob and Helm. It is capable of running both standalone and with other job schedulers like Nomad. Venator features an adaptable detection engine that emphasizes simplicity, extensibility, and ease of maintenance.
Key highlights include:
- Independent Rule Execution: Each detection rule runs as a separate job, allowing for flexible query execution without affecting others.
- YAML Configuration: Detection rules are defined in YAML, allowing customization of query engines and result publishing to various platforms.
- Modular Job Scheduling: Venator schedules jobs to run at specific intervals or on-demand, leveraging Kubernetes’ capabilities for job lifecycle management.
- Exclusion Lists: To minimize false positives, rules can reference exclusion lists, which filter out known benign events.
- LLM Integration: The platform integrates with Large Language Models for improved analysis of lower-confidence signals.
- Automated Deployment: Helm is used for managing configurations and automating deployments through a CI/CD pipeline.
Overall, Venator aims to address common challenges in threat detection by providing a streamlined, flexible, and efficient operational framework.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges of finding an effective alert manager that works with multiple databases. At the author’s workplace, they are using a tool called ElastAlert2, which allows for custom rules but is specifically designed for Elastic/Opensearch.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes that the true value of a threat detection platform lies in its ability to provide effective detections. Merely having the platform is insufficient; the real work begins with the detections themselves. For larger organizations that require such platforms, investing in a product supported by security engineers who consistently develop new detections for emerging vulnerabilities is crucial.