1. Paper Apps
Total comment counts : 30
Summary
The article describes Paper Apps™, which are presented as enjoyable and intelligent alternatives to digital screen time. They offer:
- Solo Games: Such as DUNGEON, GALAXY, and GOLF.
- Gamified Tools: Including TO•DO and NUTRI•TRACK.
The company encourages buying their Pencil Dice to enhance the experience. They are currently promoting free U.S. shipping for orders over $30 and have 8 products available, with an emphasis on customer appreciation for their support.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the Sidekick Notepad by CGP Grey and Cortex, highlighting its connection to the concept of ‘Paper Apps.’ CGP Grey has previously explored this idea in his videos, with a recent update discussing new designs for the Sidekick. The Sidekick Notepad and the broader notion of ‘Paper Apps’ aim to integrate traditional note-taking with innovative design solutions.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience with a game called “Dungeon Notebook,” which they found fun but quickly lost interest in. They highlight the enjoyment derived from giving the game away to others. The author expresses a desire for more games where passing the game to someone else is integrated into the gameplay itself, drawing a comparison to “Chain World,” a collaborative, pass-along version of Minecraft on a USB stick.
2. Programming SDF animations of Rick and Morty
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article discusses how to create animations like the character Rick from the show “Rick and Morty” using GPU shaders and signed distance fields (SDFs). Here’s a summary:
Technical Setup: The post includes an interactive editor where users can modify code in real-time using OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL). This editor was used to create an animation of Rick with 240 lines of code, without relying on external libraries or images.
Core Concept: The animation process involves defining how each pixel should be colored at any given time through a function that considers time, pixel position, and shape distances. This function runs on the GPU, allowing for real-time rendering.
Building Shapes with SDF: The tutorial starts with basic shapes like circles, expanding into more complex forms like rectangles with rounded corners, which are used to construct Rick’s facial features. The use of SDFs allows for smooth blending and precise control over shapes’ outlines and intersections.
Animation Techniques: Techniques include:
- Using
length()for distance calculation to form basic shapes. - Manipulating these distances to create outlines or combine shapes.
- Demonstrating how to mirror elements for symmetry (like eyes).
- Using
Interactive Learning: The article encourages experimentation by allowing users to tweak parameters like color or shape in real-time, showing immediate results. It also provides challenges to understand the effect of changes like setting color values to time.
Challenges and Tips: It highlights the trial-and-error process of replicating an image accurately through code, using tricks like overlaying the reference image for comparison. It also mentions the use of image editing tools for extracting color values.
Conclusion: The post emphasizes that while these techniques are powerful for certain effects, they do not aim to replace traditional vector drawing tools but rather offer an alternative method for animation creation, particularly suited for dynamic, real-time applications in video or games.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses enhancing the visual quality of edges in graphics by using a technique called anti-aliasing. Specifically, it suggests using standard derivatives within Signed Distance Fields (SDFs) to achieve smooth, anti-aliased edges without needing a second super-sampling pass. This can be done by substituting the usual step functions with aastep functions, which are designed for anti-aliasing purposes. A link to a GitHub repository providing more details on aastep is included for further reference.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions a YouTube playlist by Inigo Quilez, focusing on a specific topic. It includes a link to the playlist, but does not provide further details on the content or the topic itself.
3. I believe 6502 instruction set is a good first assembly language
Total comment counts : 80
Summary
The article argues in favor of using the 6502 microprocessor as a starting point for learning assembly language programming due to several key advantages:
Simplicity: The 6502 has only 6 registers and 56 instructions, making it less complex compared to modern CPUs like x86-x64 or ARM, which have numerous registers and instructions. This simplicity aids in understanding fundamental assembly concepts.
Educational Value: The straightforward architecture of the 6502 allows learners to quickly grasp how registers and instructions work in assembly programming, despite not being particularly useful for real-world applications today.
Historical and Practical Resources: The 6502 was used in popular early microcomputers (e.g., Apple II, Commodore 64), leading to an abundance of learning materials, emulators, and a community still active around retro computing. Websites like 6502.org offer extensive resources, including an interactive eBook with an integrated assembler and simulator.
Real-World Application: Although less relevant for modern applications, the 6502 is still used in some new devices, providing a tangible connection to hardware.
The author contrasts the 6502 with other learning platforms like imaginary CPUs designed for teaching, which lack practical application and community support, and modern CPUs like ARM or x86-x64, which are more complex and less intuitive for beginners. The recommendation is that for someone looking to understand the basics of assembly programming, the 6502 offers a clearer and more accessible entry point than other alternatives.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article argues that the 6502 microprocessor, despite its historical significance, is not ideal for learning assembly language due to its architectural limitations and quirks which do not translate well to modern ISAs (Instruction Set Architectures). Instead, the author recommends:
ARM v6M: A more contemporary choice for learning assembly. It’s small, powerful, still in production, and well-supported by modern toolchains. It avoids many of the complexities of the 6502, like self-modifying code or the need for zero-page memory access. ARM v6M’s 32-bit architecture simplifies learning as it aligns the register width with the address space.
RISC-V: Suggested for those interested in open architecture, although it’s noted that its platform support might not be as mature as ARM’s by early 2025.
The author concludes by highlighting that while ARMv6M might seem less challenging or “boring,” it still offers enough complexity for those interested in optimizing or “code golfing.”
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the comparative merits of two microprocessors, the 6502 and the 68000. The author argues against the notion that the 6502’s simplicity makes it superior for programming:
Registers and Data Types: The 68000 offers more registers and wider data types, but these are uniform, allowing for straightforward manipulation across different registers (D0-D7 and A0-A7), with some registers like A7 reserved for specific purposes like stack management.
Programming Simplicity: While the 6502 might seem simpler due to fewer registers and simpler instructions, this simplicity can become a limitation in more complex software development, making it less efficient for seasoned programmers.
Learning and Skill Development: The author suggests that to truly master programming, one should not focus on the limitations of small systems like the 6502. Instead, beginners should use more complex systems like the 68000, which offer multiple addressing modes, more registers, and can handle larger data structures more easily, thereby fostering better programming skills.
Conclusion: The argument concludes that while the 6502 might be simpler, the 68000’s architecture better supports the development of programming skills by providing more versatile and less restrictive programming environments.
4. The Language Construction Kit (1996, 2012)
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
Summary:
Mark Rosenfelder’s “Language Construction Kit” (LCK) is a guide for constructing artificial languages, suitable for use in fantasy or alien settings, as a hobby, or for interlanguages. The kit is available in multiple languages and formats, including a detailed print edition by Yonagu Books on Amazon, which is four times the length of the online version. The LCK outlines a systematic approach to language creation, starting with sounds, lexicon, grammar, and writing systems, emphasizing the importance of a logical sequence in development to avoid inconsistencies.
For those who find the LCK basic, Rosenfelder offers advanced resources:
Advanced Language Construction - Covers complex topics like morphosyntax, logographic languages, and predicate logic.
The Conlanger’s Lexipedia - Focuses on lexicon creation, providing methods to develop words that aren’t mere translations from English.
The Syntax Construction Kit - Explores modern syntax theories and the computational generation of languages.
Additionally, Rosenfelder provides a sample of his own constructed language, Verdurian, and discusses the pitfalls of inconsistent language construction with the example of Hergé’s Syldavian from Tintin. The guide is structured into three main files covering basics, grammar, and writing, with supplementary web resources and a recommendation to explore world-building with the “Planet Construction Kit.”
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a creative project by an author who has designed a new script called “yingzi,” which translates to “English writing” in Chinese. This script is inspired by but not directly copied from Chinese hanzi characters, and is intended to represent English words in a visual style similar to Chinese characters. The purpose of this script isn’t to replace or create a new writing system for English but to illustrate how Chinese characters might look if adapted for English, and to explore the cultural and linguistic effects of such a writing system on the perception of language by its users. The article encourages readers to visit the provided link to experience this unique representation of English.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the significant impact a particular document had on the author, sparking their interest in linguistics and related fields like math and computer science. The author mentions that their username includes “kisone,” derived from a constructed language (conlang) they created during childhood. They express joy in revisiting the document and hope that others continue to appreciate it.
5. OpenWrt 24.10.0 – First Stable Release
Total comment counts : 18
Summary
The OpenWrt community has released the first stable version of OpenWrt 24.10, which includes over 5400 commits and supports more than 1970 devices, with an addition of support for over 100 new devices. This release supports an upgrade from OpenWrt 23.05 using the sysupgrade utility, which generally preserves configurations, although a backup is recommended.
Key points include:
- Upgrades: Upgrades from OpenWrt 22.03 to 24.10 are not supported, and some devices require specific procedures for upgrading due to hardware changes or layout reorganizations.
- New Features: Introduction of OpenWrt One, and various core components have been updated.
- Special Considerations: Certain devices like the Linksys E8450, Xiaomi AX3200, and Zyxel GS1900 series require specific upgrade paths or new installations to avoid issues.
- Support and Contributions: The community thanks all contributors and has disabled self-registration for the wiki, directing potential contributors to forum posts or IRC for access.
This release continues OpenWrt’s tradition of being a comprehensive, community-driven operating system for embedded devices, particularly routers, providing users with enhanced control and flexibility over their hardware.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the user’s experience with OpenWRT, an open-source firmware for routers, highlighting its benefits like enhanced features and security for consumer devices. However, the user faced challenges with configuration management over time, making it difficult to diagnose issues or predict the impact of changes. Eventually, the user switched to NixOS for better configuration tracking, which allowed for easier management of around 250 configuration lines tailored for their specific ISP and LAN setup. Despite this, the user would still recommend OpenWRT for tech-savvy individuals due to its ease of initial setup.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the user’s experience with upgrading their home internet to 10 Gbit and transitioning from a Ubiquiti USG3 to running OpenWrt on a Lenovo Tiny PC. Here are the key points:
OpenWrt Advantages: The user finds OpenWrt easy to set up and efficient for their new high-speed internet setup.
New Features: OpenWrt 24 introduces support for configuring an ISP’s IPIP6 tunnel, which is necessary for accessing IPv4 over an IPv6-native connection. Previously, the user was manually installing newer packages from the OpenWrt 24 release candidates into their OpenWrt 23 setup.
Comparison with Other Systems: The user also experimented with pfSense/opnSense but found that the FreeBSD kernel, which these systems run on, has issues handling 10 Gbit network connections without very specific hardware, unlike Linux which works well for this purpose. They mention a similar issue when comparing TrueNAS CORE (FreeBSD-based) to SCALE (Linux-based).
The user seems satisfied with the performance of OpenWrt for their needs and is considering upgrading their entire OpenWrt installation to version 24.
6. Mystery brain disease patients in New Brunswick say they welcome investigation
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
The article is an advertisement from the Shopping Trends team at CTV News, published on January 19, 2025. It mentions that the Shopping Trends team operates independently from CTV News journalists and might earn a commission from purchases made through their links. The copyright for the content is held by BellMedia for the year 2025.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions that the US Army conducted tests with Agent Orange near Gagetown, Canada, in 1967. There is speculation that some of the Agent Orange might still be present in the area, potentially leaking into the water table from drums left in the woods.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Moncton, New Brunswick, highlighting its environmental and economic conditions:
- Moncton is built on a swamp, leading to an abundance of mosquitoes in the summer and significant snowfall (3 to 5 feet) in the winter.
- Due to these harsh conditions, Moncton has some of the lowest home prices in Canada.
- New Brunswick (NB) has one of the lowest incomes per family in Canada, potentially only surpassed by Nunavut.
- Although Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is more common in northern climates, it does not appear to be higher than average in New Brunswick.
The information is based on personal experience of someone who has spent considerable time in Moncton.
7. Deep Reinforcement Learning: Pong from Pixels (2016)
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The article discusses the recent surge in popularity and advancements in Reinforcement Learning (RL), highlighting its application in various domains like playing ATARI games, mastering Go, and robotics. The author, who has been actively involved in RL for about a year, shares insights from personal experiences including working at DeepMind, contributing to OpenAI Gym, and studying key RL resources.
The piece points out that the progress in RL, much like in computer vision, isn’t primarily due to groundbreaking new algorithms but rather due to the scaling up of existing methods with better computational power, data, and infrastructure. It specifically mentions that techniques like Deep Q-Learning and AlphaGo’s use of policy gradients and Monte Carlo Tree Search are essentially older algorithms refined with modern tweaks.
The author expresses enthusiasm about demystifying RL, particularly focusing on Policy Gradients (PG), which he considers more robust than Q-Learning for current RL problems. The article then sets up to demonstrate how to implement RL to play the game of Pong using Policy Gradients, emphasizing the simplicity of the underlying concepts despite the complexity of the tasks they solve. This hands-on example aims to illustrate how RL can learn directly from raw pixel inputs to make decisions in an end-to-end manner.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article reflects on the author’s experience with deep learning and reinforcement learning projects during the 2010-2020 period. As a student, the author found the field approachable and engaging, particularly recalling a project where they used a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to navigate through randomly generated 64x64 maze images. Although the author acknowledges that there are now more advanced methods to solve such problems, the project was still educational and provided valuable learning experiences in technology.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article provides a list of resources for those interested in reinforcement learning (RL):
Discord Community: A link to a Discord server where discussions on reinforcement learning take place.
Reddit Community: A subreddit dedicated to reinforcement learning for community discussions and sharing resources.
Educational Course: Information about CS285, a Deep Reinforcement Learning course offered at UC Berkeley.
Practical Example: A fun example of reinforcement learning in action with an RL agent playing Gran Turismo.
Blog for Beginners: A blog named “Decisions and Dragons” which offers practical advice for beginners in reinforcement learning.
The article also mentions that the Gran Turismo example might have been shared before but is included for its interest value.
8. Microplastics in the human brain
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article criticizes a pre-print study for making potentially misleading extrapolations from microplastic measurements in biological samples. Here are the key points:
Methodology: The study uses gas chromatography to measure microplastics in very small samples (1-2mg), then extrapolates these measurements to estimate microplastic content in entire organs, leading to alarmingly high figures.
Measurement Uncertainty: There is a significant variation (about 25%) in measurements within the same sample, which casts doubt on the precision and reliability of the data. The study acknowledges this but dismisses it as not affecting their broader conclusions.
Extrapolation Concerns: The critique argues that extrapolating from such tiny, variable measurements to estimate microplastic quantities in whole organs is scientifically unsound, leading to potentially exaggerated and misleading results.
Visual Evidence: The microplastics in the samples were not visible under light microscopy, suggesting their size or concentration might be too low for conventional detection, which further questions the validity of the study’s conclusions.
In summary, the critique suggests that the study’s methodology and the subsequent extrapolations are flawed, resulting in unreliable and potentially sensationalized claims about microplastic accumulation in human organs.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the environmental impact of car tire degradation, noting that it contributes significantly to microplastic pollution. It suggests that investing in mass transit is crucial, drawing a comparison to the historical shift away from leaded gasoline for environmental health reasons.
9. The FAA’s Hiring Scandal
Total comment counts : 41
Summary
The article discusses a significant change in the FAA’s hiring practices for air traffic controllers, which was abruptly announced on New Year’s Eve, 2013. Here are the key points:
Background: The FAA had previously established the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) to prepare college-educated air traffic controllers. Aspiring controllers like Moranda Reilly and Andrew Brigida had dedicated significant time and resources to meet the FAA’s requirements, including earning CTI degrees and passing the AT-SAT aptitude test, under the understanding that this would give them priority in hiring.
Sudden Policy Change: An unexpected email from the FAA’s vice president for safety and technical training announced that:
- All previous aptitude test scores were voided.
- Applicants now needed to pass a new “biographical questionnaire.”
- CTI graduates lost their hiring priority, and the process was opened to all applicants equally, nullifying the advantage of their specialized training.
Reaction and Organization: Following the announcement, Moranda Reilly started a supportive Facebook group for CTI students and instructors to navigate the changes, emphasizing positive support for the CTI program’s value. This group quickly grew, with key figures like Andrew Brigida and Sam Fischer helping to organize and provide updates.
Contextual Importance: The article notes that this hiring scandal has resurfaced in relevance following a tragic plane crash, with President Trump referencing it in a memorandum post-crash, highlighting the need to understand these hiring practices in light of recent events.
The story underscores the personal and professional upheaval caused by the sudden policy shift and its implications on the lives of those aspiring to become air traffic controllers.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a past scandal initially viewed as a case of cheating and recruitment issues, which has recently been reframed as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) concern. The author expresses concern over the trend of revisiting old, resolved issues and rebranding them to fit current cultural or political narratives, suggesting this tactic is reminiscent of state-sponsored propaganda. The piece urges caution in accepting such reframed stories at face value.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how certain traits associated with neurodivergence can be advantageous in specific professions like Air Traffic Control (ATC), where a love for detail and predictable systems is beneficial. It argues that neurodiversity should not be viewed on a spectrum of good or bad, but rather as a form of diversity akin to physical diversity, where different physical attributes suit people to different types of work. The piece emphasizes that being good at one type of job due to one’s neurodiverse traits does not imply superiority or inferiority in other areas of life or work. It calls for recognition of neurodiversity as just another aspect of human variability, without value judgments attached.
10. Discord client that works on Win95*, Win98 and above
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
Summary of Discord Messenger Article:
Purpose and Compatibility: Discord Messenger is a free, open-source messaging client designed to work with Discord on Windows systems as old as Windows 2000, with attempted support for even older versions.
Licensing and Risks: The software operates under the MIT license. Users are cautioned that using third-party clients might violate Discord’s Terms of Service (ToS), with a potential but low risk of account bans.
Development Status: The software is in beta, indicating there could be bugs or issues. It’s not fully compatible with all features of Discord, such as embeds and some anti-spam measures.
Building the Software:
- Prerequisites: Requires at least a Pentium 4 CPU, 64 MB of RAM, and specific versions of Windows (XP SP2 or newer for MSVC version).
- Environment Setup: Users need to set up OpenSSL and other dependencies, adjusting environment variables and using specific libraries like libwebp.
- Compilation: Offers two main build methods - one simpler method for Windows XP SP2 and above using Visual Studio, and another more complex method for older systems using MinGW. Detailed instructions are provided for setting up and compiling with OpenSSL, including potential issues with newer instruction sets like SSE2.
Additional Notes:
- The project includes a TODO list for future enhancements and issues to resolve, particularly regarding the use of newer CPU instruction sets.
- There’s an active Discord server for community support and updates.
- The article mentions the use of a synchronous HTTP library to simulate asynchronous behavior, indicating room for improvement in the networking aspect.
Security and Updates: Users are advised to be aware of potential security vulnerabilities in the provided OpenSSL distribution, with the author planning to seek alternatives.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article warns users about the risks of using alternative Discord clients like Ripcord, which hasn’t been updated since 2021. The author experienced an automatic ban from Discord after using Ripcord alongside the official client, which likely triggered Discord’s security measures. Despite the inconvenience of losing access to important course servers during a semester, initial support was unhelpful, forcing the author to reach out to Discord’s head of security via Twitter to resolve the issue. The author suggests testing alternative clients with a non-essential account first.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses frustration with Discord as a communication platform, particularly highlighting several issues:
Character Limit: The author mentions encountering a paywall when trying to share more than 2000 characters, which is inconvenient for sharing detailed logs like those from
strace.Login Problems: The login process on Discord is described as cumbersome, requiring multiple steps including human verification, email checks, and re-logins, which the author finds unnecessarily complex and frustrating.
Comparison with IRC: The author questions why many groups have moved from IRC (Internet Relay Chat) to Discord, implying that IRC was simpler and more straightforward for their needs.
General Dissatisfaction: Despite trying Discord, the author has not found any redeeming features and feels that there’s nothing inherently better about Discord compared to IRC or mailing lists for community or technical discussions.
Overall, the piece reflects a longing for simpler, less intrusive communication tools like IRC, and criticizes Discord for its user experience issues.