Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ PJON, Open Single-Wire Bus Protocol, Goes Verilog

  Did OneWire of DS18B20 sensor fame ever fascinate you in its single-data-line simplicity? If so, then you’ll like PJON (Padded Jittering Operative Network) – a single-wire-compatible protocol for up to 255 devices. One disadvantage is that you need to check up on the bus pretty often, trading hardware complexity for software complexity. Now, this is no longer something for the gate wielders of us to worry about – [Giovanni] tells us that there’s a hardware implementation of PJDL (Padded Jittering Data Link), a PJON-based bus.

• Hackaday ☛ Watch A Recording Lathe From 1958 Cut A Lacquer Master Record

  Most of us are familiar with vinyl LPs, and even with the way in which they are made by stamping a hot puck of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into a record. But [Technostalgism] takes us all the way back to the beginning, giving us a first-hand look at how a lacquer master is cut by a specialized recording lathe.

• Hackaday ☛ User Serviceable Parts

  Al and I were talking on the podcast about the Home Assistant home automation hub software. In particular, about how devilishly well designed it is for extensibility. It’s designed to be added on to, and that makes all of the difference. That doesn’t mean that it’s trivial to add your own wacky control or sensor elements to the system, but that it’s relatively straightforward, and that it accommodates you. If your use case isn’t already covered, there is probably good documentation available to help guide you in the right direction, and that’s all a hacker really needs. As evidence for why you might care, take the RTL-HAOS project that we covered this week, which adds nearly arbitrary software-defined radio functionality to your setup.

• Standards/Consortia

  • NPR ☛ Why a classic wide-screen movie format from the 1950s is making a comeback

    According to Barker, VistaVision was part of the widescreen craze of the 1950s. That movement started with Cinerama — which used three synchronized cameras and three projectors to run onto three huge, curved screens.

• Science

  • Futurism ☛ Scientists Reveal Robot Small Enough to Travel Through Human Body

    Who needs big, clunky androids?

  • Futurism ☛ Scientists Investigate What Killed Off Hobbit-Like Species

    The scouring of the Shire.

  • Science Alert ☛ This Week in Science: Cats Meow More at Men, Depression Relief, And More!

    Our weekly science news roundup.

  • Science Alert ☛ The Roots of Dementia Trace Back All The Way to Childhood, Experts Find

    The evidence is growing.

  • Science Alert ☛ Short Videos Could Have an Insidious Effect on Children's Brains

    Attention hijacked.

  • Science Alert ☛ This Insanely Long Ribbon Worm Turns Out to Be The Oldest on Record

    Incredible!

  • Science Alert ☛ Meet The Latest Deep-Sea Horror: Meat-Eating 'Death-Ball' Sponges

    SpongeBall DeathPants.

• Career/Education

  • New York Times ☛ Korea’s English Exam Was So Hard It Prompted an Apology. How Would You Do?

    South Korea has a notoriously grueling college entrance exam. This year’s English portion was so difficult that it led to a resignation. Could you answer some of the questions correctly?

• Hardware

  • CNX Software ☛ CIX releases P1 CPU TRM and developer guides for GPU, Hey Hi (AI) accelerator, OS and firmware/BIOS

    CIX has finally released the technical reference manual (TRM) for the P1 (CD8180/CD8160) Arm Cortex-A720/A520 SoC, along with developer guides for the GPU (Arm Immortalis G720 and NVIDIA/AMD discrete graphics cards), the Hey Hi (AI) accelerator, as well as OS (Android, Linux, and Windows) and firmware (BIOS) installation and development.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New York Times ☛ MAHA Moms Are Angry at the E.P.A. Lee Zeldin Is Trying to Win Them Back.

    A split is emerging within Convicted Felon’s base as health activists accuse Mr. Zeldin of leading the agency to prioritize chemical industry interests over public health.

  • Futurism ☛ Scientists Discover Strong Upside for Men Getting Castrated

    Nobody tell Bryan Johnson!

  • Hackaday ☛ Biohack Your Way To Lactose Tolerance (Through Suffering)

    A significant fraction of people can’t handle lactose, like [HGModernism]. Rather than accept a cruel, ice cream free existence, she decided to do something you really shouldn’t try: biohacking her way to lactose tolerance.

  • JURIST ☛ Illinois governor signs law legalizing medical aid in dying

    Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday signed a bill authorizing a strictly regulated form of medical assistance in dying for certain terminally ill adults. The option will be available in September 2026, allowing time for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and state healthcare systems to establish safeguards.

  • Futurism ☛ Bugs Fed Microplastics Grow to Ludicrous Size

    "Once a particle was big enough to be eaten, crickets continued to eat it for the rest of their life."

• Proprietary

  • Nakst Integrate: virtual analog Synthesizer plugin for mac, Linux and Windows is now FREE

    Nakst Integrate is a 4-oscillator two-filter virtual analog Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows: now available for FREE.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • Futurism ☛ Anthropic’s Chief Scientist Says We’re Rapidly Approaching the Moment That Could Doom Us All

      Brace for impact.

    • Futurism ☛ People Are Already Creating Ghoulishly Horrifying Sora Disney Videos [Ed: Sora just loses a LOT of money. It'll die like Siri and Microsoft Cortana.]

      A grim preview of what's to come.

    • It's FOSS ☛ YouTube’s Hey Hi (AI) is Breaking the Creator Ecosystem

      A moderation system that leans on automation just knocked legitimate tech tutorials and even entire channels offline. The appeals felt automated, too. Creators are powerless against opaque enforcement and the incentives that should favor craft and trust are tilting toward noise.

    • Futurism ☛ The Washington Post’s Hey Hi (AI) Generated Podcasts Are Already an Error-Laden Disaster

      "It is truly astonishing that this was allowed to go forward at all."

  • Windows TCO / Windows Bot Nets

    • SANS ☛ ClickFix Attacks Still Using the Finger, (Sat, Dec 13th)

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Hackaday ☛ Get Statistical About Your Pet With This Cat Tracking Dashboard

      Cats can be wonderful companions, but they can also be aloof and boring to hang out with. If you want to get a little more out of the relationship, consider obsessively tracking your cat’s basic statistics with this display from [Matthew Sylvester].

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ Israel Says It Killed Senior Hamas Commander, Despite Cease-Fire

    Hamas said the attack on Saturday was a breach of the truce. The militant group did not comment on Israel’s claim to have killed one of its members.

  • France24 ☛ Israel says it killed top Hamas weapon commander in Gaza strike

    Israel said Saturday it had killed top Hamas commander Raed Saad in a strike in Gaza after an explosive device wounded two Israeli soldiers in the south of the territory as both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar junta denies killing civilians in hospital strike

    A military jet bombed the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state on Dec 10.

  • France24 ☛ Six UN peacekeepers killed in drone attack in Sudan’s South Kordofan

    Six United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed and several others wounded on Saturday when a drone struck their camp in Sudan’s South Kordofan region, the UN mission said. The attack was strongly condemned by the UN chief and Bangladeshi authorities, as Khartoum accused the paramilitary RSF of being behind the strike.

  • New York Times ☛ Six U.N. Peacekeepers Killed in Drone Strike in Sudanese Battle Zone

    The strike on a United Nations base in the southern Kordofan region was the deadliest single episode for the body’s personnel in Sudan’s civil war.

  • JURIST ☛ Ex-South Korea leader Choi Sang-mok indicted in connection with martial law declaration

    South Korea’s former acting leader Choi Sang-mok was indicted on Thursday on charges related to the brief imposition of martial law in December 2024 by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, becoming the latest high-profile figure embroiled in legal troubles over the case. The indictment was formally announced by Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young in a regular briefing.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Several Malaysian politicians involved in South Korean cult, says minister

    For now, the organisation's activities do not appear to be a threat to national security.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Latest Thai-Cambodian clashes expose limits of ASEAN’s conflict management tools

    The renewed fighting comes as the Philippines prepares to take over as ASEAN chair from Malaysia.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia urges Thailand and Cambodia to cease military action along border

    Since Dec 8, Thailand and Cambodia have traded heavy weapons fire.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Bullets were flying over my roof’: Mothers in Cambodia flee to shelters to protect their children

    Some 303,200 civilians have been displaced by the latest fighting, according to figures from the Cambodia authorities.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines says fishermen hurt and boats damaged by China in South China Sea

    China’s coast guard said it had driven away multiple Philippine vessels and taken “control measures”.

  • New Yorker ☛ Caught in the “Ceasefire”

    A new show on C-SPAN seeks to model civil dialogue and bipartisan coöperation in an age of inflamed debate. But is getting along a worthwhile goal?

  • New York Times ☛ Chile Poised for Right-Wing Victory as Crime Fears Sweep Latin America

    Security has become a top concern for voters across the region who are calling for iron-fisted measures. In Chile, the issue is pushing the country to the right.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Zubeen Garg’s death: S’pore festival organiser among 4 charged with murder by Indian investigators

    The 3,500-page charge sheet names a total of seven suspects.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 65

    In November, Hong Kong’s national security police made several arrests related to the fatal blaze that tore through a housing estate in Tai Po and the “patriots only” Legislative Council (LegCo) elections. Those arrested included a university student, a former district councillor, and an elderly man.

  • New York Times ☛ 3 Americans Killed in ISIS Attack in Syria, Convicted Felon Says, Vowing to Retaliate

    Two soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed while supporting counterterror operations, the Pentagon said. They are the first U.S. casualties in Syria since the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippine Vice-President Duterte faces graft complaint

    The complaint alleged that she and other officials misused public funds through “coordinated schemes".

  • JURIST ☛ US federal judge orders ICE not to rearrest Kilmar Abrego Garcia

    US District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia again, pending further hearings. The TRO came only a few hours after Judge Xinis ordered Abrego Garcia’s release from ICE custody in Pennsylvania.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • New York Times ☛ Ivan Urgant Was Russia’s Late-Night King Until Putin’s War in Ukraine

      Ivan Urgant was an unstoppable Russian megastar. Then he expressed opposition to President Vladimir V. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

    • New York Times ☛ AfD Pushes to Publish German Information That Officials Say May Help Russia

      Opponents of AfD lawmakers say that their push to publish sensitive details about national security could benefit Russian military planning.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Germany summons Russian ambassador over GRU-linked cyberattacks — air traffic control and elections systems targeted

      Germany has formally summoned Russia’s ambassador in Berlin after publicly attributing a series of cyber and influence operations to Moscow’s GRU military intelligence agency.

    • New York Times ☛ North Korean Soldiers Return From Russia’s War With Ukraine

      Kim Jong-un hugged the returning troops and awarded the country’s highest medal to nine soldiers killed in action.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Bombs Ukraine Port of Odesa Amid Peace Talks

      Much of Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port was without power, heat and water on Saturday after strikes from Russia, which has shown little appetite for a deal to end the war.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ AMD, Intel, and TI are ‘merchants of death’ says lawyer representing Ukrainian civilians — five new suits complain that Russian drones and missiles continue to use high-tech components from these brands

      Five lawsuits were filed in Texas this week, putting some of the biggest names in PC tech under an uncomfortable spotlight, as their components are still being found in Russian weaponry.

    • RFERL ☛ US, Ukraine To Hold High-Stakes Berlin Peace Talks After Zelenskyy's Defiant Frontline Visit

      US and Ukrainian negotiators will again meet for high-stakes peace talks -- this time in Berlin -- as disagreements persist over territorial control and security guarantees and as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure sites.

    • LRT ☛ Ukraine tribunal: Why Lithuania’s move may accelerate history – opinion

      Lithuania’s decision to join the Tribunal’s management framework is not a symbolic gesture, but a legally consequential step that activates the institutional mechanisms needed to hold Russia’s leadership accountable for the crime of aggression, writes Volodymyr Pylypenko, Lithuania’s Honorary Consul in Ukraine.

    • France24 ☛ EU agrees to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets

      The European Union agreed on Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets held in Europe, removing a big obstacle to using the cash to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. A first big step is to immobilise 210 billion euros ($246 billion) worth of Russian sovereign assets for as long as needed instead of voting every six months on extending the asset freeze.

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky visits troops as Ukraine claims gained ground near key city

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he had visited troops fending off Russian advances near the embattled city of Kupiansk that Moscow claimed to have captured last month, which Kyiv denies. Ukraine said earlier its army had retaken two settlements in the northern Kharkiv region and pushed Russian troops back in Kupiansk – a strategically important city and a key railway hub.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine says it received 114 prisoners from Belarus under US-brokered deal

      Kyiv received 114 prisoners released by Belarus under a US-brokered deal on Saturday, including Ukrainian citizens accused of working for intelligence services and Belarusian political prisoners. Meanwhile, US President The Insurrectionist’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin this weekend for renewed peace talks. Read about the day’s events as they unfolded on our liveblog.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ New search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 driven by advanced tech: Experts

      This includes improved mapping and autonomous underwater vehicles.

    • Hackaday ☛ Condensing Diesel Heater Hack Is Dripping With Efficiency

      Not a huge percentage of our readers probably get their heat from diesel fuel, but it’s not uncommon in remote areas where other fuels are hard to come-by. If you’re in one of those areas, this latest hack from [Hangin with the Hursts] could save you some change, or keep you  ̶2̶0̶%̶ ̶c̶o̶o̶l̶e̶r̶  25% warmer on the same fuel burn.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ US to return 1MDB-linked artwork worth $38.7m to Malaysia

    The pieces are in DOJ's custody and held by auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the US.

  • New York Times ☛ The Young Conservatives Fixated on H-1B Visas

    For some Gen Z conservatives, H-1B visas are a hot new topic.

  • France24 ☛ California sues Convicted Felon administration over $100,000 H-1B visa fee

    California and 19 other US states filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to block President The Insurrectionist's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty fields. The tech industry, with many companies headquartered in California, is particularly reliant on workers who receive the visas. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet reports.

  • CS Monitor ☛ As inflation weighs on voters, Convicted Felon is paying a high price, too

    With his approval rating for economic leadership dropping in polls, Hell Toupée has tried to downplay voters’ concerns about affordability. The same problem that tripped up Joe Biden is now dogging Mr. Convicted Felon.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Mexico’s week in review: Mexico leans into protectionism as the year draws to a close

    Tariffs, both real and threatened, shaped headlines the second week of December, as Mexico sought to resolve a water dispute with the U.S.

    The post Mexico’s week in review: Mexico leans into protectionism as the year draws to a close appeared first on Mexico News Daily

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • New York Times ☛ Belarus Frees Prominent Political Prisoners as U.S. Lifts Some Trade Sanctions

    The release of the prisoners, including a Nobel laureate and two opposition leaders, was part of a monthslong rapprochement between Washington and Minsk.

  • France24 ☛ Belarus frees opposition figure Kolesnikova, Nobel laureate Bialiatski in US-brokered deal

    Belarus on Saturday released 123 political prisoners, including protest leader Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, in a US-brokered deal involving a partial lifting of Western sanctions, according to rights groups and state media.

  • RFERL ☛ Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners In Deal With US In Latest Bid To Mend Ties

    Prisoner release, which included many high-profile figures, comes after Washington indicated it was lifting sanctions on fertilizer exports against the authoritarian government of Belarus, a major Russian ally.

  • France24 ☛ Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for lifting of US sanctions

    In exchange for the lifting of US sanctions on certain exports, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko freed 123 prisoners on Saturday including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and leading opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava after two days of talks with an envoy for President The Insurrectionist. FRANCE 24's Philip Turle brings you the details.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ UN expert raises concerns over Imran Khan’s inhumane conditions of confinement in Pakistan

    The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, on Friday urged the Pakistani authorities to take immediate and effective action to address reports of inhumane and undignified detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that they could amount to torture and other cruel or degrading treatment.

  • The Straits Times ☛ East Java boarding school head gets 20 years’ jail, chemical castration for sexual abuse

    Despite being in effect in Indonesia for nearly a decade, chemical castration remains a rare sentence.