Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ 2025 Component Abuse Challenge: Relay Used As Guitar Pickup

  We’ve all built projects that are a rats’ nest of wiring and feature creep, but the best projects in the end are usually those that use a simple solution to elegantly solve a problem. [Kauz] had been thinking about a unique type of electric guitar pickup for a while and rather than purchase an expensive option or build a complex microcontroller-based system he found his elegant solution in the form of a common electronic component.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ These Five Simple Habits Are Key to Slowing Aging, Experts Reveal

    It doesn't have to be complicated.

  • Science Alert ☛ Don't Panic! 3I/ATLAS Isn't an Alien Death Probe, But It Is Wildly Unusual

    Like how COOL is this.

  • Science Alert ☛ Woman Born Missing Most of Her Brain Just Turned 20, Defying Odds

    Incredible.

  • Science Alert ☛ Viagra Reverses Damage Behind One Type of Deafness, Scientists Discover

    "We have a therapeutic target that can actually mitigate this condition."

  • Science Alert ☛ Magnetic Fields Could Explain 'Impossible' Black Hole Merger

    A mass range that shouldn't exist.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ 3D Printing A Piano Action

    Part of the reason there are always free pianos on your digital classifieds listing of choice is that, at least economically speaking, a piano is less of a musical instrument and more of a complicated machine that can and will wear out (not to mention the physical difficulty of actually moving one). Once a piano reaches that point, whether through age, use, or neglect, at that point it’s to intents and purposes worthless. But still, they’re essentially just machines. [Toast] figured that, since 3D printers not only can print all kinds of other machines and musical instruments alike, he would take a stab at combining these two and made his own 3D printed piano.

  • Hackaday ☛ What Do You Call An Ekranoplan With An Outboard Motor?

    If there’s one thing [rctestflight] likes, it’s… probably radio controlled test flights. If there are two things [rctestflights] likes, the second one is probably ground-effect vehicles, AKA Ekranoplans. Tired of having them flip over and crash, he’s trying an an innovative solution: stick a planing hull on it.

  • Hackaday ☛ An Improbable, Doomed Star System In A Clockwork Coffee Table

    The major objects in our solar system orbit along the plane of the ecliptic, plus or minus few degrees, and it turns out most exoplanet systems are the same — pretty flat, with maybe one highly-inclined outlier. But at [The 5439 Workshop], they don’t care about these details: [5439] has come up with a mechanism to drive inclined orbits in an orrery, and he’s going to use it. The star is exploding, too, because why wouldn’t it be?

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan PM Takaichi says she sleeps only 2-4 hours a night

    Japan has long struggled to strike a healthy work-life balance, with many workers facing heavy pressure at the office.

  • Science Alert ☛ There's a Hidden Danger in Swallowing Pills, Expert Warns

    Here's how to avoid it.

  • Science Alert ☛ There's One Simple Strategy to Reduce Alcohol Intake, Experts Say, And It Works

    Just knowing it's 'bad for you' is not enough.

• Proprietary

  • Crystal Dynamics’ Staff is Getting Raided With More Layoffs For 2025

    Crystal Dynamics is, unfortunately, laying off employees for the third time this year, impacting nearly thirty people. The studio describes these layoffs as a difficult but necessary reorganization to position itself for future projects. Furthermore, various departments have been impacted by these cuts. As the company restructures for its next chapter, one question remains: How many times can they reorganize before it just becomes disorganized?

  • Games ☛ Crystal Dynamics announces third round of layoffs this year, 30 workers affected

    Crystal Dynamics has announced a third round of layoffs this year, affecting 30 employees "across various departments and projects."

    In a post shared on LinkedIn, the developer said it needed to "optimise the continued development of [its] flagship Tomb Raider game" and future projects "as the realities of the industry continue to evolve."

  • In 72% Of Layoffs In India, Employees Given 48 Hours Notice

    Amazon, Target, and Freshworks had especially high rates, exceeding 90% according to a Blind survey.

    Only 18% of employees received any advance notice of one to three months, as required by law.

    Many multinational companies (MNCs) in India’s tech and service sectors exploit a gap in labor law that excludes IT and managerial staff from the “workmen” category.

    This legal gap allows companies to bypass mandatory notice periods and government approval under the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA).

    Tens of millions of white-collar professionals in India

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • Qt ☛ Convert from Qt to Qt for MCU – Qt Hey Hi (AI) Assistant 0.9.7 released [Ed: Qt being a slop pusher again]

      Stretching your Qt UI to devices powered by microcontrollers (MCU) is now even easier! The Qt Quick Ultralite Converter of the Qt Hey Hi (AI) Assistant translates a QML to Ultralite-compliant code. It brings core Qt graphical features to resource-constrained embedded systems, streamlining application development and deployment.

    • Futurism ☛ AI-Powered Toys Caught Telling 5-Year-Olds How to Find Knives and Start Fires With Matches

      Just in time for Christmas.

    • Futurism ☛ Dark Clouds Suddenly Gathering Over Hey Hi (AI) Industry

      There still isn't a "clear financial model for profitable AI."

    • Futurism ☛ Founder Admits His “AI Transcription” Startup Was Just Him Joining People’s Meetings and Taking Notes by Hand

      "We'd sit there silently, take detailed notes, and send them 10 minutes later."

    • Futurism ☛ Sora Is Being Used to Brutally Mock Fat People

      Sora's most eager users? Horrible bullies.

    • Futurism ☛ Disney+ Will Allow Users to Generate Their Own “Frozen 3” Using AI

      What could possibly go wrong?

    • Futurism ☛ After Attempting to Short the Hey Hi (AI) Bubble, the “Big Short” Guy Suddenly Closes Up Shop

      "My estimation of value in securities is not now, and has not been for some time, in sync with the markets."

    • Futurism ☛ Terrifying-Looking Robot Powers Up, Immediately Declares Humanity Is a “Resource” to Be “Manipulated or Eliminated”

      "To be a philosopher is to live in a constant reflection of existence."

• Security

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • The Straits Times ☛ US ‘strike force’ to combat scam centres in South-east Asia

      It will go after US-based infrastructure that facilitates the scams, including social control media accounts.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Google sues China-based hackers it says stole $1 billion — 'Lighthouse' platform offers phishing services to crooks for a monthly fee, hit over a million victims in 121 countries

      The Lighthouse Enterprise is a group of Chinese hackers that offers a complete service to scammers, from phishing websites all the way to sending millions of spam messages.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Riau police foil attempt to smuggle undocumented workers to Malaysia

      This comes amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal Indonesian labourers in the country.

    • Bruce Schneier ☛ Book Review: The Business of Secrets

      The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004)

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • European Commission ☛ Commission opens investigation into potential Digital Markets Act breach by Surveillance Giant Google in demoting media publishers' content in search results

      European Commission Press release Brussels, 13 Nov 2025 Today, the European Commission has formally launched proceedings to assess whether Surveillance Giant Google applies fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions of access to publishers' websites on Surveillance Giant Google Search, which is an obligation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

    • CNX Software ☛ Kyocera triple lens Hey Hi (AI) depth camera enable recognition of thin and semi-transparent objects, wires

      Kyocera has unveiled a triple lens Hey Hi (AI) depth camera capable of recognizing semi-transparent, thin, and fine line-shaped objects that are difficult to detect with the human eye and traditional stereo cameras. The camera can accurately measure the distance to and size of objects which are between 0.3 and 1mm thick, and is expected to be useful in robots for manufacturing, medical applications, and Smart Agriculture.

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ Family of Fisherman Killed in U.S. Military Strike Says It Wants Justice

    Colombia was a top U.S. ally in Latin America until the Convicted Felon administration began deadly strikes in international waters. Now, one family wants justice.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Strike Kills 4 on Boat Convicted Felon Says Was Smuggling Drugs

    The strike in the Caribbean brings the death toll in the Convicted Felon administration’s lethal campaign to 80 since early September.

  • New York Times ☛ Justice Dept. Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Convicted Felon’s Claims About Cartels

    Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.

  • JURIST ☛ Venezuela nationals deported to El Salvador were tortured, rights groups say

    Venezuelan nationals deported to El Salvador in the spring by the US government were tortured and ill-treated, advocacy groups reported Wednesday.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 2 Hong Kong men jailed for over 16 years for 2020 bomb plots lodge appeal

    Two Hong Kong men jailed for more than 16 years over a conspiracy to carry out bomb plot attacks have applied to appeal against their conviction and sentence. Lee Ka-pan and Cheung Ka-chun submitted their appeal bid on Monday, court news outlet The Witness reported.

  • New York Times ☛ China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ Diplomacy Returns With Threat Against Japan’s Leader

    A Chinese diplomat’s call to cut off the prime minister’s “filthy head” signaled a revival of a combative style Beijing had tried to dial back.

  • France24 ☛ Online jihadism: 'I don't see the necessary level of attentiveness from policymakers', analyst says

    As Paris commemorates ten years since the November 13 attacks that left 132 people dead, terrorism analyst Michael S Smith II says that 'there still remains a great deal that can be done by social control media companies and internet companies to help blunt the influence capacities of groups like ISIS'.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Officials Raise Concerns About Saudi Arabia’s Bid for F-35 Jets

    A Pentagon intelligence report says China could try to acquire advanced F-35 technology in Saudi Arabia if the Convicted Felon administration sells jets to the kingdom.

  • France24 ☛ US intel revealed Israeli officials discussing use of human shields in Gaza, sources say

    Reuters reports that the U.S. gathered intelligence last year of Israeli officials discussing how their soldiers had sent Palestinians into Gaza tunnels the Israelis believed were potentially lined with explosives, according to two former U.S. officials familiar with the matter. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis reports.

  • JURIST ☛ HRW raises alarm over Cameroon use of lethal force following disputed elections

    Human Rights Watch raised concern on Tuesday over the authorities in Cameroon responding to widespread opposition-led protests following the October 12 elections with lethal force and mass arrests of protesters and other citizens.

  • JURIST ☛ UN chief urges increased global action to promote Africa’s development

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the world on Wednesday to prioritize Africa and promote peace, security, and sustainable development on the continent.

  • Illicit weapons fuel conflicts worldwide, UN hears

    The world faces what senior United Nations (UN) officials call a cross-border chain of violence driven by small arms [...]

  • The Strategist ☛ Old words, new realities: what the Australia–Indonesia security treaty means

    Wednesday’s announcement of a new security treaty between Australia and Indonesia marks a meaningful shift in regional diplomacy.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Sheinbaum decries revictimization by opposition leaders after her sexual assault: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

    The president also presented an initiative to support native corn production and addressed ex-President Calderón's role in the security problems Mexico faces today.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian lawmakers raise alarm over security ‘risks’ of growing migrant workforce

      Members of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK) say Lithuania should tighten rules for incoming migrant workers, both on language requirements and security screening, as this year’s work permit quota is set to be exhausted by the end of November.

    • LRT ☛ Several MPs propose limiting Lithuania’s defence spending to 5%, fund domestic security

      A group of Lithuanian lawmakers has proposed reducing next year’s planned defence spending from 5.38 percent of GDP to 5 percent and redirecting the difference to domestic security and road maintenance.

    • Latvia ☛ NATO flexes its 'digital backbone' in Latvia

      NATO’s annual Digital Backbone Experimentation (DiBaX 2025) concluded on November 7 in Latvia after two weeks of field experiments that focused on how communication networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and unmanned systems can work together in complex operational environments.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Latvia ☛ 'Roboshuttle' plan from Rīga Airport to city centre

      Carguru, a Latvian car-sharing service, has announced a partnership with Imagry, a provider of real-time artificial intelligence that drives machines in the physical world. Together, the companies intend to use Imagry’s AI-based autonomous-driving technology in passenger vehicles to create 'roboshuttles', reports Labs of Latvia.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • JURIST ☛ DOJ joins California race-based redistricting lawsuit

    The US Department of Justice (DOJ) joined a lawsuit on Thursday over the redrawing of California’s congressional districts, requesting that the state be enjoined from using it in the 2026 election.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Historic’ Indonesia-Australia security treaty boosts ties, highlights concerns over China

    But the treaty does not commit the countries to defend each other.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Hell Toupée signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption

    The disruption caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded travelers at airports and generated long lines at food banks.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Federal workers question whether the longest government shutdown was worth their sacrifice

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong woman, 19, jailed for 1 year over filming ‘seditious’ videos for Canada-based group

    A Hong Kong woman has been jailed for one year for sedition, under the city’s domestic security law, after appearing in promotional videos for a “shadow legislature” seeking to overthrow the government.

  • NYPost ☛ President Xi’s freedom-stomping thugs are targeting speech in NYC

    Chinese director Zhu Rikun was forced to cancel the NYC-based IndieChina Film Festival after the CCP harassed participants and their families over the inclusion of films that had not been sanctioned by the Chinese government.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • New York Times ☛ Jim Avila, Former ABC News Correspondent, Dies at 70

    He spent almost two decades at the network, covering a wide range of court cases and the White House. He was also at the center of a defamation lawsuit over “pink slime.”

  • Press Gazette ☛ Country Life editor Mark Hedges crosses 1,000 issues: We’re ‘the great print triumph’

    Hedges says Country Life avoided "malaise" of other magazines by not jumping online and sacrificing print.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Keyword search dying, video search is future says Sky News boss

    Press Gazette interviewed heads of Sky News, ITN and Euronews at Web Summit.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Richard Tice wins British Steel IPSO complaints against Reach titles

    Mirror, Sunday People and Daily Record titles all published corrections over British Steel stories.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • EDRI ☛ EDRi-gram, 13 November 2025

    What has the EDRi network been up to over the past few weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: Halloween is over… but digital rights horrors remain

  • Saudi Arabia ☛ Julian Assange seeks 20-year jail term for Spaniard who spied on him for the US

    Julian Assange has asked Spain to hand a 20-year jail sentence to the head of a security firm who spied on the Wikileaks founder for the United States.

    Assange’s lawyers suggested the jail term for David Morales, accused of discovery and disclosure of secrets, bribery, money laundering and illegal possession of weapons, in a statement seen by AFP on Saturday.

  • ABC ☛ Julian Assange seeks 20-year jail term for David Morales, the Spaniard who spied on him

    Julian Assange has asked Spain to hand a 20-year jail sentence to the head of a security firm who spied on him whilst he was holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London.

    His lawyers suggested the jail term for David Morales, accused of discovery and disclosure of secrets, bribery, money laundering and illegal possession of weapons, in a statement seen by AFP on Saturday, local time.

  • ‘It Just Feels Like the Right Moment’: M.I.A. Says Julian Assange’s Release Inspired Her Return to Australia

    When M.I.A. returns to Australia this month for Harvest Rock Festival and a string of headline shows, she’s doing it with renewed clarity — and a very specific intention.

    “I want people to feel a celebration,” she says. “That’s what I want them to feel. I want them to feel good.”

    For Maya Arulpragasam, the Sri Lankan-born, British-raised rapper, singer, and producer who turned global politics into pop anthems, this tour represents more than another run of festival dates — it’s a homecoming of sorts. Not to a physical place, but to an energy she’s been cultivating quietly since her last album and documentary cycle.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ How we measure: IPv6

    Breaking down APNIC Labs IPv6 measurement and its caveats.

  • APNIC ☛ Is diversity critical infrastructure for the Internet networking community?

    In a panel discussion at #APNIC60, a cross-section of the Internet community provided perspectives on what prevents diversity in our community, and what we can do about it.

• Digital Restrictions (DRM)

  • Digital Music News ☛ Spotify Is Tinkering with a Lyrics Translation Feature—Rosalía’s New Album Is the Guinea Pig

    Spotify prepares to launch its own lyric translation tool, which the company has reportedly been testing for years. Locked in seemingly eternal competition, Spotify and Fashion Company Apple Music are constantly trying to outdo one another as the top music streaming service.

  • Variety ☛ Julian Assange Documentary ‘The Six Billion Dollar Man’ Sells to Watermelon Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)

    Watermelon Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” a comprehensive look at WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange that debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• iRobot’s Downfall: A Cautionary Tale of How Merger Overdeterrence Can Stifle Business and Cost American Jobs

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Power and Limits of Judicial Claim Correction

    Courts can correct obvious claim drafting mistakes—but only when the error is clear and the fix uncontested. Canatex shows how far judicial correction can go after Chef America.