Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ Polygons On A Lathe

  Most professionals would put a polygon on the end of a turned part using a milling machine. But many a hobbyist doesn’t have a mill. And if the polygon needs to be accurately centered, remounting the stock costs accuracy.

• Tom MacWright ☛ Recently: Cycling and Autumn

  I haven’t been posting much to the ‘main blog’ recently, but I have been keeping the micro blog updates humming. If you want more content in your RSS reader, you can subscribe to those posts, which are shorter, more scattered, and even less copyedited. It feels bad to have multiple “Recently” headings in the blog listing, so I’ll give them short subtitles from now on.

  Anyway, what’s up? October was all right. At Val Town, we spent a lot of time interviewing job candidates and improving the Hey Hi (AI) assistant, Townie. I also got some time to tackle long-awaited technical debt cleanups: I conquered the ‘big scary function’ that did the actual ‘running’ of val code.

• Career/Education

  • The Straits Times ☛ Will South Korea go back to banning phones in classrooms?

    A Bill proposed by the ruling party aims to prohibit the use of personal digital devices in class.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ Oscillator Needs Fine-Tuning

    Since their invention more than a century ago, crystal oscillators have been foundational to electronic design. They allow for precise timekeeping for the clocks in computers as well as on our wrists, and can do it extremely accurately and inexpensively to boot. They aren’t without their downsides though; a quartz watch might lose or gain a few seconds a month due to variations in temperature and other non-ideal environmental situations, but for working in the world of high-frequency circuits this error is unacceptable. For that you might reach for something like an oven oscillator, a circuit with a temperature controlled chamber able to keep incredibly precise time.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Intel reportedly scaling back R&D teams in Israel — several hundred talented staff will be laid off

    Intel is reportedly laying off and letting go Israeli R&D personnel responsible for some of its most successful microarchitectures.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • JURIST ☛ Texas Governor orders public hospitals to report healthcare costs of undocumented immigrants

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order No. GA-46 takes effect on Friday, requiring Texas public hospitals to collect information on and report healthcare costs of undocumented immigrants.

  • France24 ☛ Thousands call for protection of abortion rights at US Women's March

    Thousands of women descended on Washington on Saturday, three days before Election Day, in a passionate show of support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her calls for access to reproductive health care. The vice president has made abortion rights a central plank of her White House bid against Republican Donald Trump, and the issue came up constantly among demonstrators at the annual Women's March.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 18-year-old dies from electrocution while charging phone on Malaysia express bus

    The victim was seen foaming at the mouth.

  • Science Alert ☛ Vitamin D Deficiency Can Trigger Autoimmune Conditions. Here's Why.

    It might be especially crucial at one stage of life.

  • Science Alert ☛ Light Has The Power to Shift Your Mental Health. Here's How.

    Ancient rhythms.

  • Science Alert ☛ There's a Curious Link Between Depression And Body Temperature, Study Finds

    But why?

  • Science Alert ☛ Common Plastic Chemical Can Wreak Havoc on The Sex Cells of Worms

    What if it's doing the same to us?

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ What’s polluting Mexico’s groundwater?

    The county's drinking water supply is rife with contaminants which affect the health of millions, with little prospect of easy treatment.

• Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Alibaba Joins Big Tech Metaverse Exodus — What’s Next for the E-Commerce Giant?

    China’s Alibaba has become the latest technology giant to scale back its metaverse operations as the industry continues its sharp shift to AI development.

    Interest and investment in the metaverse, once technology’s favorite buzzword, has significantly declined after Big Tech failed to find real success chasing its grand vision.

  • Digit.in ☛ Microsoft Copilot update draws criticism for downgraded performance and features, check details

    Earlier this month, Microsoft introduced a significant update to its consumer Copilot tool, marking the first major release by the company’s new AI group led by Mustafa Suleyman, a former DeepMind cofounder who joined Microsoft earlier this year. The update aimed to reshape Copilot from a simple tool into a more interactive AI companion that could “support you, teach you, and help you.” However, the revamped Copilot has received mixed feedback, with many users and employees expressing disappointment in its performance and features.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ India denies minister plotted anti-Sikh attacks in Canada

    New Delhi also accused Ottawa of surveillance of some Indian consular staff.

  • France24 ☛ Lightning strike kills more than a dozen people at Uganda refugee camp

    More than a dozen people, most of them children, have died after lightning struck a refugee camp in northern Uganda on Saturday. The refugees were sheltering in a makeshift church when lightning hit the metal roof and killed them.

  • France24 ☛ School year starts in Lebanon amid Israeli strikes

    The new school year is starting in Lebanon despite ongoing strikes from Israel. With some schools partially transformed into shelters for those displaced by the fight between Israel and Hezbollah, administrators and teachers are doing what they can to prepare for the arrival of the new pupils.

  • RFERL ☛ Iranian President Says Cease-Fire Could Affect Tehran's Response To Israeli Strike

    Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said that if a cease-fire were reached by Israel and Tehran-allied groups in the region, the action "could affect the intensity" of any retaliatory strike by Iran’s military, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Eleven injured in militant attack in India's Kashmir

    NEW DELHI - At least 11 people were injured when militants threw a grenade at Indian security forces on Sunday in a crowded flea market in Srinagar, capital of India-administered Kashmir, a police official said.

  • The Strategist ☛ China’s fishy behaviour demands a rethink on Southern Ocean

    A new element of strategic competition is emerging in the Southern Ocean—in Australia’s backyard—in the form of Beijing’s push to control and exploit fisheries.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Vietnam pursues ties with Beijing while steadily fortifying South China Sea positions

    But analysts note that Vietnam’s installations pale in comparison to what China has built.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese space station crew returns after six months in orbit

    China has ramped up plans to achieve its “space dream” under President Pooh-tin Jinping.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 37 Chinese aircraft detected near Taiwan as Beijing carries out ‘long-distance’ training flights

    Taiwan said it detected 37 Chinese fighter jets, drones and other aircraft near the self-ruled island on Sunday as Beijing carried out “long-distance” training flights. China has ramped up military activity around Taiwan in recent years as Beijing pressures Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty over the island.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • JURIST ☛ Ukraine strengthens anti-corruption efforts with first whistleblower rewards and new reporting guide

      Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) unveiled a new guide for its corruption notification channel on Thursday, giving whistleblowers a clear path to report misconduct. This follows the recent completion of payments for Ukraine’s first two whistleblower award cases, which were finalized in 2023 but only recently saw payouts.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian volunteers in Brussels construct drones for Ukrainian soldiers

      Lithuanians living in Belgium and Luxembourg have come up with a way to help the Ukrainians at war – by buying and constructing drones to go to the front. Volunteers say they have received positive feedback from the Ukrainian soldiers and could expand production if they had more money.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Reports 'Hottest Situation' In East As Russia Claims It's Taken Key Village

      The Ukrainian military reported fierce battles near the industrial town of Kurakhove and acknowledged that Russian forces carried out over 100 assaults around a key Donbas village, though it did not comment on Moscow's claim to have captured it.

    • New York Times ☛ Trump or Harris Victories Offer Different Futures for Ukraine

      The presidential candidates have expressed starkly contrasting visions for America’s role in the war, as well as the NATO alliance that serves as a shield against Russian aggression.

    • France24 ☛ Moldova pro-EU leader Sandu wins re-election despite Russian meddling allegations

      Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu has secured a second term, defeating a Russia-aligned rival amid allegations of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation. The win bolsters the pro-Western government’s EU integration agenda.

    • RFERL ☛ Pro-West Sandu Declares Victory In Moldova’s Tight Presidential Runoff

      Pro-Europe incumbent President Maia Sandu has declared victory over Russia-friendly challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo, in balloting marred by accusations of of Russian interference and voter fraud.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Moldova’s pro-West president, reelected, slams external ‘hostile forces’

      President Maia Sandu won a second term in a runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, Alexandr Stoianoglo, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate country.

    • New York Times ☛ Pro-West Leader Wins High-Stakes Vote in Former Soviet Republic

      The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, won re-election on Sunday against a rival candidate she had denounced as “Moscow’s man.”

    • France24 ☛ Moldova votes in tense presidential runoff amid fears of foreign interference

      Moldovans went to the polls on Sunday in a tense presidential election runoff that could play a key role in the country's European future amid fears of Russian interference. Pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu scored 42.5 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential election two weeks ago. Alexandr Stoianoglo, supported by the pro-Russian Socialists and who was fired as prosecutor general by Sandu last year, received 26 percent. FRANCE 24's Maris Gerth-Niculescu reports.

    • Meduza ☛ Russian Security Council deputy chairman says U.S. presidential election ‘changes nothing’ for Moscow — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ A friend of Putin’s Secret Service chief bought Russia’s biggest car dealership for a third of its pre-war value — Meduza

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Electric train service that will link Johor Bahru to north Malaysia hits another roadblock

      The most recent delay is due to issues with the electricity supply for running the trains.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia road transport dept recalls almost 4,000 units of Perodua Alza, Aruz and Honda motorcycles

      Malaysia’s Road Transport Department said certain models did not meet regulatory standards.

    • RFERL ☛ Led By Russia, Saudi Arabia, OPEC+ To Extend Output Cuts To Help Bolster Oil Prices

      OPEC+ members led by Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to extend voluntary oil output cuts through the end of the year, the group said on its website on November 3.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • The Straits Times ☛ Experts call for measures to curb wild boar population in China

      There has been increased occurrence of human-wildlife conflicts.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea man hides father’s body in freezer for over a year ‘because of inheritance’

    The man turned himself in to local police on Nov 1.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China's Premier Li Qiang to speak at import expo in Shanghai

    China's Premier Li Qiang will deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of this week's China International Import Expo, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Sunday, as Beijing seeks to show the faltering economy is open for business.

  • Dropbox Cuts 20% of Workforce As Layoffs Continue

    The surge in layoffs seen in 2023 has continued deep into 2024.

    Dropbox is set to cut about 20% of its workforce – 528 layoffs – making it the second round of layoffs for the company just this year.

    CEO Drew Houston announced the newest round of job cuts, saying they are a part of the a transitional period for the company as it seeks to centre itself around its AI tool, Dash for Business, among other products.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • France24 ☛ US presidential election: Voter turnout crucial in battleground states, expert says

    Voter turnout is crucial in battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia in the US presidential election as the country relies on an electoral college to determine the winner of the presidential race, said Brian Smith, professor of Political Science at St. Edward’s University in Austin. “You just need to win that state by a single vote” to get all the electoral votes, Smith explained, adding that there is no proportional representation nor a second round.

  • EXPLAINED: What is China’s United Front and how does it operate?

    Praising it as a ‘magic weapon,’ Pooh-tin Jinping has expanded the murky influence operations.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit China

    Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will visit China next week, Beijing said Friday. The visit will take place from Monday to Thursday, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.

  • France24 ☛ Harris slams Trump in final Georgia rally, urges voters to vote

    For her final speech in front of Georgia voters, Kamala Harris had a message for her supporters by reminding them of the alternative in the race – Donald Trump – who she called increasingly unstable, FRANCE 24’s Kethevane Gorjestani said. Harris also urged those who have not yet voted to cast their ballots, she said.

  • France24 ☛ Rivals target separate swing states as US election heads to photo finish

    Frantic campaigning in the most critical swing states marks the final 48 hours of the US presidential campaign before voters head to the polls. While Kamala Harris is due in Michigan on Sunday,  Donald Trump is expected in the three battleground states where the most Electoral College votes are at stake: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

  • JURIST ☛ Georgia judge denies GOP bid to shut down Fulton County ballot drop-off sites

    A Georgia judge dismissed a Republican-led lawsuit on Saturday aimed at stopping counties from opening election offices over the weekend and letting voters hand in their mail ballots in person on Saturday and Sunday. The lawsuit specifically targeted Fulton County—a Democratic hub covering most of Atlanta and representing 11% of the state’s electorate.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 52

    Little more than six months since Hong Kong passed new security legislation, known locally as Article 23, the courts heard the first legal challenge brought against it by an inmate who was denied early release from prison under its provisions.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Rights group calls for release of sick Vietnamese journalist

    Le Huu Minh Tuan's health is failing following his detention for anti-state propaganda, campaigners, family say.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • The Straits Times ☛ Marriage registrations in China drop for the first nine months of 2024

    Growing economic uncertainty and rising living costs have forced many couples to delay marriage.

  • New Yorker ☛ A Forgotten Eyewitness to Civil-Rights-Era Mississippi

    As resistance to integration mounted, Florence Mars bought a camera and began to photograph thousands of subjects, including the trial of the killers of Emmett Till.

  • JURIST ☛ Belarus HR group reports political prisoner Dmitriy Schlethauer’s death amid nationwide deterioration of human rights

    Viasna Human Rights Centre, one of the oldest human rights groups in Belarus, reported on Friday that political prisoner Dmitriy Schlethauer died on 11 October 2024, less than one month after being transferred to the penal colony in Mogilev in eastern Belarus. The cause of death is unknown.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Unified Patents ☛ $2,000 for Adeia Technologies optimization patent monopoly prior art

    Unified Patents added a new PATROLL contest, with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent 9,208,155, owned by Adeia Technologies Inc, an NPE. The ‘155 patent monopoly discloses a content recommendation system focusing on enhancing user experience by observing and adapting to user interactions with various list presentations.

  • Unified Patents ☛ $10,000 for EagleView Tech estimating patents prior art

    Unified has added 5 new PATROLL contests, each with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on the list below. The patents are owned by EagleView Technologies Inc., an NPE. The patents generally relate to systems and methods for estimating construction projects.

  • Unified Patents ☛ $6,000 awarded for ASSIA networking patents prior art

    Unified is pleased to announce PATROLL crowdsourcing contest winners below totaling $6,000 in cash prizes. The patents are owned by Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Incorporated (ASSIA), an NPE. The patents generally related to DSL and other wireline technology. The patents have all been asserted against AT&T and Charter Communications.

    We would also like to thank the dozens of other high-quality submissions that were made on this patent.

  • Unified Patents ☛ Estech System VoIP patent monopoly prior art found

    Unified is pleased to announce prior art has been found on U.S. Patent 7,068,684, owned and asserted by Estech Systems IP LLC, an NPE. The ‘684 patent monopoly relates to information processing systems for the use of Voice over IP technology to transmit voice conversations.

  • Unified Patents ☛ $2,000 for Texas Secure Authentication network patent monopoly prior art

    Unified Patents added a new PATROLL contest, with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent 7,873,682, owned and asserted by Texas Secure Authentication LLC, an NPE. The ‘682 patent monopoly relates to a system and method to enhance information utility and intelligence on digital networks. It features the creation and manipulation of information containers with dynamic registers.