Leftovers

• Science

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man's tariffs: Protectionism VS economic consequences with Francesco Saraceno

    Markets suffered a brutal blow as US President The Insurrectionist's broadest-ranging tariffs came into effect on Saturday, in a move many analysts say will heighten global trade tensions, stoke recessionary fears, and likely generate tit-for-tat punitive measures by trading allies. OFCE Deputy Director and Macroeconomics Professor at Sciences Po Paris, Francesco Saraceno, says, “The stock market will be affected because the economy will be in worse shape. The idea of the Convicted Felon administration is to hit hard and then walk back after getting concessions from other countries.”

  • New York Times ☛ An Endangered Galápagos Tortoise Is a First-Time Mother at 100

    Mommy, a Western Santa Cruz tortoise, recently welcomed four hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo, where she has lived since 1932.

  • Science Alert ☛ New NASA Space Telescope Unveils Its First-Ever Images

    "Our spacecraft has opened its eyes."

  • Science Alert ☛ A Week of Swimming in Cold Water Can Change You on a Cellular Level

    Amazing results!

  • Science Alert ☛ Does Added Protein Really Enhance The Nutrition of Your Food?

    Here's what we know.

  • Science Alert ☛ Dying Cells Play a Vital, Unexpected Role in Healing, Study Shows

    The circle of life.

  • Science Alert ☛ One Protein in Male Worm Brains Makes Them Risk Their Lives For Sex

    This could explain a lot.

• Career/Education

  • The Straits Times ☛ Inside South Korea’s empty classrooms and efforts to reimagine them

    Since 2015, Seoul has seen a total of nine schools close their doors due to a shortage of students.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ How A Tiny Relay Became A USB Swiss Army Knife

    Meet the little board that could: [alcor6502]’s tiny USB relay controller, now evolved into a multifunction marvel. Originally built as a simple USB relay to probe the boundaries of JLCPCB’s production chops, it has become a compact utility belt for any hacker’s desk drawer. Not only has [alcor6502] actually built the thing, he even provided intstructions. If you happened to be at Hackaday in Berlin, you now might even own one, as he handed out twenty of them during his visit. If not, read on and build it yourself.

  • Hackaday ☛ If You’re 3D Scanning, You’ll Want A Way To Work With Point Clouds

    3D scanning is becoming much more accessible, which means it’s more likely that the average hacker will use it to solve problems — possibly odd ones. That being the case, a handy tool to have in one’s repertoire is a way to work with point clouds. We’ll explain why in a moment, but that’s where CloudCompare comes in (GitHub).

  • Russell Coker ☛ Russell Coker: More About the HP ML110 Gen9 and z640

    In May 2021 I bought a ML110 Gen9 to use as a deskside workstation [1]. I started writing this post in April 2022 when it had been my main workstation for almost a year. While this post was in a draft state in Feb 2023 I upgraded it to an 18 core E5-2696 v3 CPU [2]. It’s now March 2025 and I have replaced it.

  • Russell Coker ☛ Russell Coker: HP z840

    Many PCs with DDR4 RAM have started going cheap on ebay recently. I don’t know how much of that is due to backdoored Windows 11 hardware requirements and how much is people replacing DDR4 systems with DDR5 systems.

    I recently bought a z840 system on ebay, it’s much like the z640 that I recently made my workstation [1] but is designed strictly as a 2 CPU system. The z640 can run with 2 CPUs if you have a special expansion board for a second CPU which is very expensive on eBay and and which doesn’t appear to have good airflow potential for cooling. The z840 also has a slightly larger case which supports more DIMM sockets and allows better cooling.

  • Hackaday ☛ How Shrinking Feature Size Made Modern Wireless Work

    If you’re living your life right, you probably know what as MOSFET is. But do you know the MESFET? They are like the faster, uninsulated, Schottky version of a MOSFET, and they used to rule the roost in radio-frequency (RF) silicon. But if you’re like us, and you have never heard of a MESFET, then give this phenomenal video by [Asianometry] a watch. In it, among other things, he explains how the shrinking feature size in CMOS made RF chips cheap, which brought you the modern cellphone as we know it.

  • Hackaday ☛ Inside An Edison Phonograph

    If you think of records as platters, you are of a certain age. If you don’t remember records at all, you are even younger. But there was a time when audio records were not flat — they were drums, which was how the original Edison phonograph worked. [Our Own Devices] did a video earlier showing one of these devices, but since it was in a museum, he didn’t get to open it up. Lucky for us, he now has one of his own, and we get to see inside in the video below.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • NYPost ☛ Hot sauces recalled in 10 states due to undisclosed ingredient that could cause life-threatening allergic reaction

    Two types of Texas Pete hot sauces are recalled in 10 states.

  • France24 ☛ Reunion Island launches emergency health plan amid chikungunya epidemic

    Health authorities in France's Reunion Island on Friday launched an emergency plan to boost staff in hospitals to deal with the spread of the chikungunya virus. This comes as the Indian Ocean territory reported over 6,000 new cases of the mosquito-borne disease last month. Matthew-Mary Caruchet reports.

  • NYPost ☛ Women may hear better than men, new study suggests

    The old adage is that moms have eyes in the back of their heads, but a new study shows that women in general may also have more sensitive hearing.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years

    About 200 travellers entered Pyongyang on April 4 and 5.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China retaliation on US farm goods hits soya beans, bolstering Brazil

    This move accelerates Beijing’s move towards alternative suppliers for agricultural goods, including Brazil.

• Proprietary

  • Hackaday ☛ A Look Inside MacPaint

    Usually when we talk about retrocomputing, we want to look at — and in — some old hardware. But [Z→Z] has a different approach: dissecting MacPaint, the Apple drawing program from the 1980s.

• Security

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • Neowin ☛ 20 times computers embarrassed themselves with public BSODs and goof-ups

      We have seen them time and again: BSODs, error screens, and other embarrassing stuff computers have done in public.

• Defence/Aggression

  • JURIST ☛ Iran to executive amputation sentences for robbery convictions amidst unfair trial concerns

    The Iranian authorities are set to carry out finger amputation sentences against three prisoners as early as April 11, 2025. Amnesty International warned Friday that amputation sentences, amounting to torture, and the denial of legal representation are violations of international law.

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-03-29 [Older] Afghanistan: American detained by Taliban is freed

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-03-30 [Older] US will never 'get' Greenland, new PM says

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-03-30 [Older] US: Ties to Japanese 'crucial' to countering China

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-03-30 [Older] Sudan's paramilitary forces admit withdrawal from Khartoum

  • France24 ☛ Hell Toupée gives Fentanylware (TikTok) 75 more days to find non-Chinese buyer [Ed: He said he'd have peace with Russia within 24 hours and also, defying Congress and SCOTUS, acts like a king]

    US President The Insurrectionist signed an executive Friday giving video-sharing app Fentanylware (TikTok) 75 more days to find a non-Chinese buyer, extending the deadline for a potential ban in the US for the second time since coming to office. The app owned by Chinese company ByteDance has more than 170 million American users. Associate professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, Jonathon Penney, explains.

  • The Straits Times ☛ How ​South Korea’s democracy prevailed over a reckless leader

    The rise and fall of Yoon Suk Yeol exposed a vulnerability in South Korean democracy, but also a resilience.

  • New York Times ☛ How ​South Korea’s Democracy Prevailed Over a Reckless Leader

    The rise and fall of Yoon Suk Yeol exposed a vulnerability in South Korean democracy, but also a resilience. Its people were always ready to fight for it.

  • New York Times ☛ The South Korean President’s Ouster Won’t Heal a Fractured Nation

    The country’s martial law fiasco is a stark warning for democracies everywhere about what happens when political polarization spirals out of control.

  • France24 ☛ Yoon Suk Yeol removed as South Korea’s president over short-lived martial law

    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office after the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment. Yoon was suspended in December following his failed attempt to impose martial law. The court's ruling on Friday brought tears of both joy and sadness to his supporters and critics, who gathered in Seoul to watch the live verdict. A snap election must be held by June 3 to elect a new president. Camille Knight tells us more.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines alarmed over China arrest of alleged Filipino spies

    The Philippines said the Filipinos were former recipients of a government scholarship programme.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Robots and fraught consumers star in China Hey Hi (AI) videos mocking tariffs

    One video shows a robot choosing to self-destruct rather than follow orders for high tariffs.

  • France24 ☛ Hamas releases video of two Israeli hostages alive after alleged strike

    Hamas's armed wing released a two-minute clip of two Israeli hostages alive in Gaza, speaking to the camera and describing how they had survived an alleged Israeli strike. Hamas's said on Friday that Israel's offensive was putting hostages' lives at risk.

  • JURIST ☛ Nicaragua withdraws application to intervene in alleged genocide case against Israel

    Nicaragua withdrew its application to intervene in the proceedings of South Africa v Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday without citing any reason behind its decision. The initial application was made under Article 36, paragraph 1 and Article 62 of the Statute of the Court.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s National Security Firings Come as He Weakens U.S. Cyberdefenses

    The firing of the head of the National Security Agency was only the latest move that has eroded the country’s fortifications against cyberattacks, especially those targeting elections.

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group urges US to halt deportation of pro-Palestine student activists

    Human Rights Watch urged the US government Thursday to end arrests and deportations of student activists who advocate for Palestine, part of the Convicted Felon administration’s effort to crack down on noncitizen students. Human Rights Watch reported that the Department of Homeland Security has revoked hundreds of student visas.

  • JURIST ☛ Argentina security forces’ response to pensioner-led protests spurs international concern

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged Argentine authorities to investigate security forces’ “excessive” use of force in quelling a protest led by pensioners advocating for greater access to pensions, medical care, and other social safety nets.

  • France24 ☛ Netanyahu faces backlash over dismassal of Internal Security Chief

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced renewed criticism on Friday over his controversial decision to dismiss internal security chief Ronen Bar. The country’s attorney general accused Netanyahu of having a “conflict of interest” in the matter. Netanyahu announced Bar's dismissal two weeks ago, a move that sparked widespread protests. The controversy escalated, prompting the Supreme Court to swiftly suspend the decision, with a ruling on the matter now expected by April 8. Matthew-Mary Caruchet has the details.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskyy Hails ‘Progress’ With European Military Chiefs After Criticizing US Response

      A Russian missile attack that hit in a residential area of the industrial Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on April 4 killed at least 19 people, including nine children, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

    • New York Times ☛ Russian Strike Kills 18, including 9 Children, Ukraine Says

      The missile strike was the latest in a series of attacks that have caused civilian casualties, despite continuing cease-fire talks.

    • New York Times ☛ ‘I Hope Convicted Felon Won’t Deceive Us’: Ukrainians Are Wary of U.S. Minerals Deal

      In a major mining region of Ukraine, Hell Toupée’s proposal to collect profits from mineral wealth is meeting with a mix of skepticism and weary acceptance.

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskyy Calls Out 'Weak' US Response To Russian Playground Strike That Killed 9 Children

      A Russian missile attack that hit in a residential area of the industrial Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on April 4 killed at least 19 people, including nine children, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

    • France24 ☛ Russian strike on Zelensky’s home city kills 19 people, including 9 children

      Ukrainian officials have reported that at least 19 people, including nine children, were killed in a Russian strike on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown. Emergency services also confirmed that around 50 people were injured in the attack, with regional governor Serhiy Lysak stating that more than 30, including a three-month-old baby, are currently in hospital. France24 correspondent in Kyiv, Gulliver Cragg, has the latest.

    • France24 ☛ Russian strike kills 19 people in Zelensky's hometown, half of them children

      Ukraine is reeling from one of the deadliest Russian strikes in recent weeks. On Friday, a ballistic missile hit Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing 19 people, half of them children, and wounding 6 others. In response, Ukraine has declared three days of national mourning to begin on Monday. Camille Knight reports.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Lithuanians pay tribute to US soldiers who died in training exercise tragedy

      Thousands of Lithuanians paid tribute this week to four United States soldiers who died during a training exercise in the Baltic nation, writes Agnia Grigas.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • New York Times ☛ Former Aides to Ken Paxton Win $6.6 Million in Whistle-Blower Case

    A judge found that four whistle-blowers who accused Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, of corruption and reported him to the F.B.I. were unjustly fired.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ India, UAE to develop Sri Lanka energy hub as Delhi competes with China for influence

      India and the United Arab Emirates agreed to develop an energy hub in Sri Lanka, India's foreign ministry said on Saturday, as New Delhi's competition with China grows in the Indian Ocean island nation.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ US soybeans, energy: Who is hit by China’s tariff retaliation?

      US agricultural exports, fuels and manufactured goods are set to take a hit from China’s blanket retaliation against President The Insurrectionist’s sharp tariffs, with both sets of measures due to take effect next week.

    • Hackaday ☛ Disney’s Bipedal, BDX-Series Droid Gets The DIY Treatment

      [Antoine Pirrone] and [Grégoire Passault] are making a DIY miniature re-imagining of Disney’s BDX droid design, and while it’s still early, there is definitely a lot of progress to see. Known as the Open Duck Mini v2 and coming in at a little over 40 cm tall, the project is expected to have a total cost of around 400 USD.

    • New York Times ☛ Scenes From States Devastated by a Powerful Storm System

      The severe weather stretched from Texas to Ohio, causing tornadoes and flooding across the central United States.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • New Yorker ☛ Capturing the Spirit of a City on Fire

      The photographer Andrew Friendly watched Los Angeles burn, and then come together.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says ‘market has spoken’ after US tariffs spark sell-off

    Several Chinese commerce associations called for unity in exploring alternative markets.

  • France24 ☛ US-China trade war intensifies as Convicted Felon's tariffs take effect

    US President The Insurrectionist's new tariffs, effective Saturday, target countries like Australia, the UK, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia, sending shockwaves through global markets. In response, China imposed 34% tariffs on U.S. imports, along with export controls and trade restrictions. Experts warn that the escalating trade war could lead to a recession, as tensions between the U.S. and China continue to rise. This report explores the potential economic fallout of this global conflict.

  • New York Times ☛ After Convicted Felon’s Tariffs, Stocks Plunged but Penguin Memes Ticked Up

    The internet poked fun at the Convicted Felon administration’s decision to impose new tariffs on Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Australian territories near Antarctica where many penguins but no people live.

  • New Yorker ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Finally Gets His Way on Tariffs

    With a single act, the President has upended the entire global economic order.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • France24 ☛ Thousands demonstrate against Convicted Felon and MElon in 'Hands Off!' rallies across the US

    Thousands of people gathered across the US on Saturday to rally for what's expected to be the largest single day of protest against President The Insurrectionist and his billionaire ally MElon. The demonstrations were organised in response to Dihydroxyacetone Man's raft of executive orders on tariffs, immigration, education, free speech and more.

  • JURIST ☛ Massachusetts state and local officials, Tufts University call for immediate release of immigrant student

    Massachusetts state and local elected officials, including Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, joined Tufts University on Thursday in calls for the immediate release of doctoral student, Rumeysa Ozturk. The university maintains that Ozturk did not violate any Tufts’ policy while Massachusetts officials have accused the federal government of violating Ozturk’s free speech and due process rights.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ UK AG: Attacks on judges threaten rule of law and judicial independence

    UK Attorney General Richard Hermer on Wednesday expressed concerns over personal attacks on judges, stating such actions pose a threat to the rule of law and judicial independence.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ The UPC Takes the Offensive: Anti-Anti-Suit Injunctions on the Rise [Ed: The UPC is illegal and an offensive on many constitutions and laws; it must be buried ASAP for the Rule of Law to be restored, and the people who plotted this kangaroo court where judges are industry operatives must be brought to justice]

      “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” U2’s iconic lyric might capture how patent monopoly holders feel when an anti-suit injunction (ASI) from a foreign court threatens to derail enforcement in Europe. Rather than yielding, European courts often respond with a swift countermeasure: the anti-anti-suit injunction (AASI).