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Links 27/08/2022: A Look Ahead at Linux 6.1 and Calamare as Community Work



  • GNU/Linux

    • Chromebooks/Laptop

      • CNETHow to Turn an Old Laptop Into a Chromebook With ChromeOS Flex for Free

        Google's ChromeOS isn't available to install on a laptop or desktop like Windows or Linux, but the next best thing is Google's ChromeOS Flex. Formerly called Neverware CloudReady, the OS is mainly built for businesses and education, but Flex is free for personal use, and it's so lightweight that it's great for breathing new life into a computer that's struggling from the demands of Windows, MacOS or Linux.

      • EngadgetThe best Chromebooks you can buy

        Chromebooks once had a reputation for being cheap and limited, but that hasn’t been true for a while now. The combination of years worth of software updates and laptop manufacturers making more powerful and better-built Chromebooks means there are a ton of good Chrome OS machines that work well as everyday drivers. Of course, there are an unnecessary number of Chromebooks on the market, so choosing the right one is easier said than done. Fortunately, I’ve tried enough of them at this point to know what to look for and what to avoid.

    • Web Servers

      • NetcraftAugust 2022 Web Server Survey

        In the August 2022 survey we received responses from 1,135,075,578 sites across 271,740,771 unique domains and 12,365,527 web-facing computers. This reflects a loss of 4.4 million sites, but a gain of 12,212 domains and 24,355 computers.

        OpenResty saw the most significant change in web-facing computers, with a gain of 10,138 (6.1%). Furthermore, 2.8 million (3.1%) extra sites were seen since July, with a small loss of 466,322 domains (1.2%). This continues the trend of OpenResty’s fast growth in web-facing computers (46% since August 2021) while the number of domains and sites has not grown in tandem, remaining roughly static over the period.

        nginx continues to be the most commonly used web server and saw modest gains of 25,053 domains (0.03%) and 13,481 computers (0.3%). However, we experienced a significant reduction in the number of nginx-hosted sites responding to our requests this month, with a loss of over 15 million. This represents around 4% of sites hosted using nginx in July.

        Continuing the trend of strong growth over the past two months, Cloudflare gained an additional 4.4 million sites (6%) and 1.1 million domains (4.7%). This gives Cloudflare a total market share of 6.8% of sites and 9% of domains, an increase of 0.4pp on both metrics since July. Cloudflare also had the strongest growth amongst the top million busiest sites, gaining 0.25pp, thereby holding a 20.51% market share.

        Apache’s position as the most commonly used web server for the top million busiest sites continues to erode, with a loss of 0.19pp this month. nginx continues to gain market share, up 0.07pp. If this trend continues, nginx will overtake Apache in the short term, and in the long term, Cloudflare will overtake both of its rivals.

    • Audiocasts/Shows

      • Linux in the Ham ShackLHS Episode #478: The Weekender XCV

        It's time once again for The Weekender. This is our departure into the world of hedonism, random topic excursions, whimsy and (hopefully) knowledge. Thanks for listening and, if you happen to get a chance, feel free to call us or e-mail and send us some feedback. Tell us how we're doing. We'd love to hear from you.

      • VideoGet into Linux Now!! @Women In Linux - Invidious
      • HackadayHackaday Podcast 183: Stowaway Science, Cold Basements, And Warm Beers

        This week, Editor-in-Chief Elliot Williams and Assignments Editor Kristina Panos met up on a secret server to discuss the cream of this week’s crop of hacks. After gushing about the first-ever Kansas City Keyboard Meetup coming up tomorrow — Saturday the 27th, we start off by considering the considerable engineering challenge of building a knife-throwing machine, the logistics of live-streaming on the go, and the thermodynamics of split-level homes.

      • DragonFly BSD DigestBSD Now 469: Ctrl-C Reset

        The highlight of this week’s BSD Now for me is the Ctrl-C / signal deep dive.

    • Kernel Space

      • Tom's HardwareLinux Kernel 6.1 Introduces Faulty CPU Core Detection Logging Feature | Tom's Hardware

        This isn't a fully automated system, and it's only for logging; it won't stress the CPU to check for faults. As a result, Rik Van Riel — who is responsible for authorizing the CPU logging system for 6.1, says system admins will want to run commonly run kernel code known to cause faults with a known faulty system with the logger enabled to see which cores are bad.

        The logger isn't perfect, since the kernel tasks might get rescheduled toward another CPU or CPU core, but he finds this strategy to be good enough to find bad CPUs or cores. Often times, CPU faults can be "oddly specific" where specific programs or pieces of code will crash the core only.

        This program isn't really designed for consumers, but is aimed primarily at system admins running a host of Linux-based servers. For these admins, this new tool can be really useful for hunting down mysterious hardware faults when full blown CPU stress testers such as Prime95 or Aida64 are perfectly stable.

      • TechRadarLinux 6.1 will tell you when your CPU is crocked | TechRadar

        Linux users are set to get a new way to identify faulty CPUs, with Linux kernel version 6.1.

        The new feature will allow users to print the socket and core which are likely responsible when a segmentation fault occurs, which should allow users to spot if a particular CPU/core is routinely causing problems.

        This might not mean much to the armchair Linux enthusiasts, but sysadmins running a fleet of Linux servers stand to benefit.

      • FudzillaChipzilla goes all open saucy

        Apparently, there is upstream, open-source support for Intel Arc Graphics on Linux albeit not enabled by default as of Linux 6.0. While you will not have Arc Graphics working on H2'2022 Linux distributions, aside from any distros that may decide to back-port, the i915 DRM kernel changes and ship with a bleeding-edge Mesa.

      • WCCF TechIntel Readies New Linux Patches For Optimized Hybrid CPU Performance Including Alder Lake, Raptor Lake & Beyond

        Ricardo Neri, an engineer at Intel, submitted four sets of patches to the Linux kernel yesterday to better adjust the Linux kernel scheduler code for the company's hybrid CPUs, including avoiding excessive mitigations within the statistical machine translation (SMT) domains.

    • Applications

      • 9to5LinuxNetworkManager 1.40 Released with Multipath TCP Support, Improved Carrier Detection - 9to5Linux

        NetworkManager 1.40 has been released today as the latest stable version of this popular network connection management utility that’s built into most of today’s GNU/Linux distributions.

        NetworkManager 1.40 comes more than three months after NetworkManager 1.38 and it packs lots of changes, starting with the removal of the internal systemd DHCPv4 client, which has been replaced by the n-dhcp4 implementation from nettools, expanded log messages for invalid DHCP options, improved carrier detection, as well as many other internal improvements.

      • Adriaan de GrootCommunity Calamares | [bobulate]

        It’s been nearly three months since Calamares transitioned to a community-maintainence model. That’s when I left Blue Systems as the paid maintainer, and so it’s been all-volunteer work since then. “Volunteer” can still mean “an 8 hour day hacking at issues”, but in terms of regularly available time, there’s been a sharp drop off.

        [...]

        On purpose, I wrapped up the 3.2 series as I wound up my paid maintainership. Calamares 3.2 ships on a lot of distro’s, it’s largely stable even though it has never promised any ABI stability. Ongoing, there will be only bugfix and some translation update releases.

      • Converseen Image Converter is Available on Snapcraft - Fasterland

        Linux, is now available on Snapcraft as a Snap package in order to be easily installed on Ubuntu and any Linux distribution that supports Snap.

        What’s Converseen

        Converseen is an open source and cross-platform batch image processor that allows you to convert, resize, rotate and flip an infinite number of images with a mouse click.

    • Instructionals/Technical

      • LinuxOpSysHow to Install lftp - A Simple Command line FTP Program

        This guide is about Lftp and how we can install Lftp in our Linux Operating System. Lftp is a command-line based File Transfer Software also known as FTP Client which was developed by Alexander Lukyanov and was distributed as GNU General Public License. Besides FTP, it also supports FTPS, HTTP, HTTPS, HFTP, FISH, and SFTP. The program also supports FXP, allowing for data transfers between two FTP servers bypassing the client machine.

        It has some awesome advanced features such as recursively mirroring entire directory trees and resuming downloads. Transfers can be scheduled for execution at a later time, bandwidth can be throttled, transfer queues can be created, and Unix shell-like job control is supported. The client can also be used interactively or automated with scripts.

      • LinuxOpSysHow to Setup FTP Server with VSFTPD on Ubuntu 22.04

        Vsftpd (i.e. very secure FTP daemon) is an FTP server software for Linux and other Unix-like systems. An FTP server software facilitates the transfer of files from a client computer to the server and vice versa.

        In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up FTP Server with Vsftpd on Ubuntu 22.04 and enable secure file transfer (FTPS) via TLS.

      • LinuxOpSysSCP command in Linux with Examples

        As a system administrator or Linux power user, you will regularly need to securely transfer data and backup files between local and remote systems or between two remote systems. The SCP command line utility will assist you in accomplishing this.

      • LinuxOpSysWhat is Linux Operating system? Complete Answer

        Linux powers many devices such as Android smartphones, and smart home devices such as TVs, smart refrigerators, and Roku Devices, It also powers the world's top supercomputers and a majority of web servers.

        Let's understand in detail what is Linux Operating system. What it contains and why it is used for.

      • Visualize ClamAV Scan Logs on ELK Stack Kibana - kifarunix.com

        In this tutorial, you will learn how to visualize ClamAV scan logs on ELK stack Kibana. ClamAV is an opensource antivirus engine for detecting trojans, viruses, malware & other malicious threats. ELK on the other hand is a combination of opensource tools that can be used to collect, parse and visualize various system logs.

      • LinuxOpSyswc command in Linux – Options + Examples

        In UNIX-like operating systems, we predominantly use the shell to execute various Linux commands to accomplish common tasks. The WC command is one of the prevalent commands utilized to retrieve information related to the contents of a text file.

        In this tutorial, we learn about wc command and its options with examples.

      • LinuxOpSysHow to Use DNF History – Manage Transactions

        For modern versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux ( RHEL 8 and later ), DNF is the default package manager which replaces YUM. DNF creates a transaction history for every operation you undertake be it installing or upgrading a package. This transaction history enables you to keep track of all the operations and this comes in handy when pinpointing a problem that occurred during one of those operations.

        The dnf history command provides a detailed history of all the commands carried out by the dnf command and actions according to that. In earlier versions of RHEL, yum history command would be used instead of dnf history.

      • Hacky – Restart Network Interface On OpenWRT – Jon's FOSS Blog

        So on OpenWRT for example, a WAN interface can be set get an IP address via DHCP, however, this will launch a separate independent process on Linux to act as the client. On the web interface, there is a button on each network interface which allows you to restart that individual interface (and in addition, it will be smart enough to kill the previous client process and launch a new one as well as re-initialize the firewall and other stuff). I could not find the equivalent command line option to this as a simple ifdown/sleep/ifup would not capture all of these sub-actions as per the extra configurations set on the interface. So I searched and read a helpful hint that can give a similar workaround using the network init startup script.

      • Managing Helm CRDs with Terraform

        Helm is a remarkable piece of technology to manage your Kubernetes deployments, and used along Terraform is perfect for deploying following the GitOps strategy.

      • LinuxOpSysHow to Install Xibo CMS on Ubuntu 20.04

        Xibo is open-source digital signage (public display signs) solution that is comprised of a web-based content management system (CMS). The best way to capture the attention of people for your very important announcements can be done with digital signs using Xibo. It lets us turn PCs and TVs into a distinctive way of getting the word out, transforming them into information desks that you can place in strategic locations to draw people's attention.

      • Network World24 ways to check the status of files using if commands on Linux | Network World

        There are a lot more ways to check files using if commands than many of us realize. Although this information is included in the bash man page, that man page has thousands of lines and you could easily find yourself paging down more than 100 times to reach it.

        This post, provides information on each option and examples for some of the most useful ones.

      • ID RootHow To Install FFmpeg on Linux Mint 21 - idroot

        In this tutorial, we will show you how to install FFmpeg on Linux Mint 21. For those of you who didn’t know, FFmpeg is a very popular software project, which is a collection of programs and libraries that are used to handle the audio and video file conversion, and streams, as well as record other multimedia files. With its ability to transcode almost all media files created on different platforms, it’s no wonder why this program has become so popular among those looking for versatility in their video editing app.

        This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of FFmpeg on Linux Mint 21 (Vanessa).

      • H2S MediaHow to Install Foxit PDF Reader on Ubuntu 20.04 Linux

        Learn the steps to install Foxit PDF Reader on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa to replace the default open source Evince Document Viewer.

        If you want to read PDF documents, you have to install a PDF reader if it is not already available on your computer. However, when it comes to Ubuntu we already have Evince Document Viewer, yet if someone wants to use Foxit PDF Reader from Foxit Software specially developed to read PDF files then that is possible as well. It is often used as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

        With the Foxit PDF Reader, this category leader Adobe Reader gets high-quality competition. The big advantage of the alternative PDF reader: Even larger PDF files can be opened in a few seconds. The program can display PDF files of any format and even allows annotation, filling, and signing and is free for private use.

        For mobile use, there is Foxit PDF Reader Mobile, if you are looking for a full-fledged PDF editor, you should take a look at Foxit PDF Editor. Tools such as the comment function or the marking, under-, and cross-out of text passages can also be used in the free version of the “Foxit PDF Reader” for some time.

      • Trend OceansHow to Install PipeWire on Debian 11 - TREND OCEANS

        A couple of days back, I received an email from one of my readers, and he asked me to help him because he was not able to install PipeWire on his Debian distribution by following the steps which were specifically written for Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based distributions and not for Debian because the installation steps are slightly different in both distributions.

        And that’s the reason he was not able to install PipeWire on his system.

        If you are also facing some problems during installation or you want to ditch PulseAudio and experience PipeWire, then your favourite search engine has redirected you to the right place where you will learn how to install PipeWire on Debian along with steps to revert. So, without wasting your time, open your terminal and execute the command as per the given sequence.

      • UNIX CopHow to install WaterFox on Debian 11

        Although the market of web browsers is quite marked with Google Chrome, Firefox and Edge, the truth is that there are other alternatives focused on security and privacy as standard. So, today we are going to talk about WaterFox on Debian 11.

      • AddictiveTipsHow to install OpenSUSE Leap 15.4

        OpenSUSE Leap 15.4 is the latest release of the LEAP branch for OpenSUSE. Leap is designed to be highly stable, much like Debian. Follow this guide if you’d like to install OpenSUSE Leap 15.4 on your PC.

        Please note that you will need a USB flash drive of at least 8 GB, as the offline ISO is massive. You will also need a capable computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores.

      • The New StackDeploy a Kubernetes Cluster on Ubuntu Server Using Containerd - The New Stack

        Ever since Docker support was removed from Kubernetes, deploying a cluster on Ubuntu Server has been, shall we say, somewhat of a challenge. I’ve had many a session where I wasn’t certain if my hair would make it through the deployment or not… that’s how convoluted and problematic it can be.

        But it’s not impossible.

        To get Kubernetes successfully deployed on Ubuntu, you have to go with the containerd runtime engine (where you once would have depended on Docker). And that’s what I’m going to show you today.

      • TecAdminHow to Run Multiple Commands in One Cron Job - TecAdmin

        According to the official documentation, you will find that PipeWire is installed on your system, especially on Debian 10, 11, and 12, but it will not be in an active state to be used on your system.

      • Make Use OfHow to Fix the "add-apt-repository: command not found" Error on Ubuntu

        Installing software on Linux systems is usually easy—often requiring no more than a single terminal command. But when you try to add a new repository for the first time, you may encounter the error, "add-apt-repository: command not found". Here's what that means and what you can do about it.

      • Ubuntu HandbookHow to Set Different Wallpaper for Each Workspace in Ubuntu 22.04 | UbuntuHandbook

        Want to set different wallpaper for each desktop workspace? You can now do this in Ubuntu and Fedora via a GNOME extension.

        This is one of my favorite features when Ubuntu was using Unity as default desktop. After switched back to GNOME, I didn’t find an alternative method to re-implement this feature until I met this extension.

        However, this method does not display different wallpapers in overview. Wallpaper applies only when you switched to that desktop (workspace). So, it may be called change wallpaper automatically when switching desktop.

      • Make Use OfHow to Get Started With Software-Defined Radio on Linux

        ​​​​​​Software-defined radio is a hobby enjoyed by millions worldwide. With it, you can receive radio signals on your Linux PC using only software and a cheap USB dongle. You will be able to listen to commercial radio stations, as well as frequencies that are outside the range of normal FM radios, and you even receive complex data such as pictures over the radio.

      • AddictiveTipsHow to upgrade to LibreOffice 7.4 on Linux

        LibreOffice 7.4 is out, with new and exciting features and fixes. This is the guide if you want to upgrade to the latest version of LibreOffice on Linux. Follow along as we show you how to upgrade to LibreOffice 7.4 on Linux.

      • Tom's HardwareHow to Create Custom Grub Menu Backgrounds for Linux Boots | Tom's Hardware

        On most Linux systems the boot process sees the usual BIOS screen, followed by Grub. The Grand Unified Bootloader (Grub) takes over from our BIOS and offers the user a choice of OS options and kernel choices. Typically we just press Enter or wait for Grub to disappear. Grub is utilitarian, it does the job and doesn’t care how it looks. But what if we could add a little flair to our boot process?

      • Linux Made SimpleHow to install Synfig Studio on a Chromebook

        Today we are looking at how to install Synfig Studio on a Chromebook. Please follow the video/audio guide as a tutorial where we explain the process step by step and use the commands below.

      • FOSSLinuxHow to install Ubuntu on external hard drive

        What would you do if you were a Windows or macOS user with no room on your laptop for another operating system? You could consider upgrading your internal hard drive or purchasing a new laptop. But hold on! Is it possible to install and use Linux on an external hard drive?

      • FOSSLinuxHow to fix shell script permission denied error in Linux | FOSS Linux

        When attempting to run applications in Linux, one of the most typical issues that arise is the "bash:./program name: permission denied error." This issue happens most frequently when the script you are attempting to run does not have the appropriate execute permissions.

    • Games

    • Desktop Environments/WMs

      • K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt

        • Nate GrahamThis week in KDE: Re-bindable mouse buttons – Adventures in Linux and KDE

          This week we merged support for re-binding the buttons of your multi-button mouse! You can assign buttons to keystrokes or keyboard shortcuts. Thanks to David Redondo, who implemented this for Plasma 5.26!

          But that’s not all: we have much more, including a ton of work on Discover!

          [...]

          If you’re a developer, check out our 15-Minute Bug Initiative. Working on these issues makes a big difference quickly!

  • Distributions and Operating Systems

    • Absolute64-20220825 released

      Also updated the LIVE release

    • Full transparency on the Grub issue

      Full transparency on the GRUB issue

      Since the recent grub issue has impacted a lot of people, we wanted to provide full transparency based on the information we have so far. The situation with this package is still evolving and we will update this post with more information as it becomes available.

      The issue

      After updating to grub 2.06.r322 many users reported that their machines could fail to boot or booted directly into the BIOS or another OS.

      What caused the issue?

      Starting with this commit, grub introduced a call to fwsetup --is-supported in /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware. If the version of grub you have installed via the grub-install command didn’t support that command, it caused grub to fail.

  • Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

    • Web Browsers

      • Mozilla

        • MozillaMozilla Accessibility: Cache the World Opt In Preview

          Early last year, the Firefox accessibility team began work on a major project to re-design the browser’s accessibility engine. The accessibility engine is responsible for providing assistive technologies like screen readers with the information they need to properly and efficiently announce web page content.

          Firefox’s accessibility engine dates back many, many years, having received a hurried but less than ideal update with Firefox’s move to a multi-process architecture about 5 years ago. The current Firefox multi-process accessibility architecture suffers from considerable, sometimes catastrophic performance issues and it is more costly and difficult to maintain than we’d like. These deficiencies prompted the team to design and build a newer, faster and more maintainable accessibility engine and the team has dubbed that project “Cache the World“. It’s called that because the new engine automatically sends information from web content processes to a cache in the browser’s main process for consumption by assistive technologies.

          This week, the Cache the World project has reached sufficient completeness in the Firefox Nightly build for the Windows operating system that we are ready for some of you to try it out and let us know how it’s working.

        • Volunteer Responsibility Amnesty Day: 06-2022 | Will's Blog

          As people leave Mozilla, the libraries, processes, services, and other responsibilities (hidden and visible) all suddenly become unowned. In some cases, these things get passed to teams and individuals and there's a clear handoff. In a lot of cases, stuff just gets dropped on the floor.

    • Openness/Sharing/Collaboration

      • Open Access/Content

        • Creative CommonsA Big Win for Open Access: United States Mandates All Publicly Funded Research Be Freely Available with No Embargo

          Creative Commons celebrates this big news along with the wider open community that we have worked with for so long to ensure publicly funded resources are freely available and openly licensed (or dedicated to the public domain) by default. The public deserves to have uninhibited, equitable and immediate access to use and re-use the research, data, educational resources, software and other content it funds. Our collective ability to create and share digital public goods to create a better world requires it. This new OSTP guidance realizes essential elements of that vision.

        • TechdirtHuge News: Biden Administration Announces All Publicly Funded Research Should Be Available For Free To The Public

          Here’s some amazingly good news amidst all of the nonsense of late. On Thursday, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the White House announced that they were updating policy guidance to mandate that all taxpayer-supported research should be immediately available to the public at no cost. According to the actual policy guidelines, US departments and agencies have until the end of 2025 to make this change (though, it’s not clear that there’s any remedy if they don’t). This is really huge — and it seems to have come out of nowhere.

    • Programming/Development

      • SSHd now uses socket-based activation (Ubuntu 22.10 and later)

        As of version 1:9.0p1-1ubuntu1 of openssh-server in Kinetic Kudu (Ubuntu 22.10), OpenSSH in Ubuntu is configured by default to use systemd socket activation. This means that sshd will not be started until an incoming connection request is received. This has been done to reduce the memory consumed by Ubuntu Server instances by default, which is of particular interest with Ubuntu running in VMs or LXD containers: by not running sshd when it is not used, we save at least 3MiB of memory in each instance, representing a savings of roughly 5% on an idle, pristine kinetic container.

        At Canonical we care about making Ubuntu as efficient as possible on your hardware and in the cloud, which is why this change has been landed as part of a larger effort to reduce the default memory footprint of our images. A default Ubuntu 22.04 LXD image at release time used 65MiB of RAM, which in kinetic now uses 58MiB after this OpenSSH change; and more improvements are in progress, with the intention of backporting the safer changes to our Ubuntu 22.04 images to improve memory usage for the greatest number of users.

      • Ubuntu PitC vs Python: The Key Differences You Must Know

        One of the most common dilemmas that beginners face is choosing the programming language they should learn first. And even if you aren’t a beginner, you could be wondering which language to try next – so there’s a chance that you might look up the difference: C vs Python.

        Why – you ask? Well, they are the easiest and two of the most useful programming languages to learn out there. Either can set fundamental concepts in your mind like concrete and make you career-ready with proper implementation in a short time. But there are many differences we must take note of before that. So, for now, keep reading!

      • We need more sub-languages

        For related (and already implemented or prototyped) work on making deep-seated languages safer, I recommend to look at the papers written by Stephen Kell.

        Specifically for the GNOME community, Kell writes about GObject and its introspection system (GIR) in Towards a dynamic object model within Unix processes, with liballocs. I didn't try testing it in practice against codebases I work on, but it would be valuable.

        [...]

        So, why not the exactly same basic syntax of Java (for instance), with a very small subset of its standard library and some classes specific to the build system. Running that kind of build instructions would work with a compliant Java runtime environment (JRE), but alternative implementations would be entirely feasible too, if a sufficiently small subset of the language is carefully chosen. Most developers would at least feel at home.

      • Daniel StenbergThe Travis separation a year later | daniel.haxx.se [Ed: Curl keeps moving to Microsoft proprietary software, which cannot be trusted]

        A little over a year ago, we ditched Travis CI as a service to use for the curl project.

        Up until that day, it had been our preferred and favored CI service for many years. At most, we ran 34 CI jobs on it, for every pull-request and commit. It was the service that we leaned on when we transitioned the curl project into a CI-heavy user. Our use of CI really took off 2017 and has been increasing ever since.

      • GCCOpenMP: Support reverse offload (middle end part)
      • RlangR-Ladies Taipei Hopes to Host Hybrid Events in the Future

        We have two R communities here in Taiwan: R-Ladies Taipei, which I host, and the Taiwan R User Group. For the Taiwan R User Group, we meet every Monday and the R Ladies Taipei meetups are on the last Monday of every month. In our group, we not only talk about R but also about Machine Learning and Data Analysis. We are open to any topics that someone wants to discuss.

      • Björn BorudPlease do not use Python for tooling

        If you use a language that can produce binaries the job of ensuring you have all the dependencies in all the right versions is a one-time job: it happens at build time. It does not happen every time you are running the program. What’s more: it can be automated so that the result can be distributed. You can produce a statically linked binary that merely has to be downloaded and put in the appropriate location.

        This ought to be the job of the party making the software. Not the user.

      • RlangPython API deployment with RStudio Connect: Flask

        One of the Python applications you can deploy to RStudio Connect is Flask. Flask is a WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface) web application framework and provides a Python interface to enable the building of web APIs. It is useful to data scientists, for example for building interactive web dashboards and visualisations of data, as well as APIs for machine learning models. Deploying a Flask app to a publishing platform such as RStudio Connect means it can then be used from anywhere and can be easily shared with clients.

    • Standards/Consortia

      • Med City NewsInteroperability is the secret to effective healthcare

        According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 32% of individuals who went to the doctor in 2018 reported a gap in information exchange. This gap included anything from needing to redo a test because their prior data was unavailable, provide medical history because their chart could not be found, bring results to an appointment, or waiting longer than expected for lab results. This lack of data stewardship causes a loss of patient data, which forgoes interoperability that the health IT industry has been working toward for 20+ years. Below we will discuss the move to interoperability, key takeaways from the April 2022 ONC annual meeting, and the importance of archiving data.

  • Leftovers

    • Counter PunchAngels Music

      No film epitomizes this transformation more enduringly than Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi neo-noir, Blade Runner. A steady stream of different versions have been released since the premiere. There was the San Diego Sneak Peak early in 1982 the results of which meant that the theatrical release accrued Harrison Ford’s voice-over, added with the aim of explaining the plot to a supposedly befuddled audience; the producers mercilessly tacked on a happy ending to boot. Soon after that, a somewhat more violent version made the rounds in Europe, and then one trimmed of the most brutal scenes appeared on America television.

    • Counter PunchThe Rise and Rise of Homo Tempus: An Interview with Richard Yonck

      We communicated recently.

    • Counter PunchAcquiescence – Buying the Hype

      The tip-off was the denial of dialogue, including withholding of evidence, the suppression of testimony, reports about the invention of data, and the endless talking-head-experts. Censorship says, believe or you will be silenced and ostracized.

    • Education

    • Hardware

      • CNX SoftwareBeware of fake ELM327 OBD-II Bluetooth adapters

        Cheap ELM327 compatible OBD-II Bluetooth adapters that connect to your car for diagnostics and retrieve engine and other data are available all over the Internet. But today, we were reminded that many are fake with a partial implementation or not working at all.

      • Linux GizmosAaeon releases autonomous robot controller with hardware-integrated time synchronization

        Aaeon unveiled yesterday their first outdoor autonomous robot controller based on 11th Gen Core/Celeron processors from Intel. The company claims that the latency of the RBX-I2000 has been reduced to ~20 nanoseconds compared to the 100 – 200 microseconds found in other similar devices.

        The processors supported by RBX-I2000 are shown below. These Intel Core processors are also found on the COM modules that Aaeon released a couple of months ago.€ € 

      • HackadayDead EEPROM Dumped With Help Of Body Diodes

        [Jason P], evidently an enjoyer of old reliable laser printing tech, spilled a drink (nitter) onto his Panasonic KX-P5400 SideWriter. After cleanup, everything worked fine — except that the PSU’s 5 V became 6.5 V during the accident, and the EEPROM with LocalTalk interface firmware died, connection between VCC and GND seemingly interrupted inside the chip. Understandably, [Jason] went on Twitter, admitted the error of his ways, and sheepishly asked around for EEPROM dumps.

      • HackadayDIY Video Transmitter Turned WiFi Jammer

        The proliferation of FPV drones has brought a flood of cheap wireless video tech. After flying and crashing a cheap FPV drone for a bit, [GreatScott] decided to try his hand at building his own video transmitter, which turned out to be a lot harder than expected.

      • HackadayA Guide To 3D Printing Model Aircraft Wings

        The exact airfoil shape of a wing has a massive effect on the performance and efficiency of an aircraft and will be selected based on the intended flight envelope. If you’re moving beyond foam board wings, 3D printing is an excellent way to create an accurate airfoil, and [Tom Stanton] provides us with an excellent guide to modeling wing sections for easy printing.

      • TechTargetKioxia looks back at 35 years of NAND -- and at what's ahead
    • Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

      • ABCEPA to designate 'forever chemicals' as hazardous substances

        The designation means that releases of long-lasting chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed a certain quantity would have to be reported to federal, state or tribal officials. The requirement would increase understanding of the extent and locations of the contamination and help communities avoid or reduce contact with the potentially dangerous chemicals, the EPA said.

        PFOA and PFOS have been voluntarily phased out by U.S. manufacturers but are still in limited use and remain in the environment because they do not degrade over time. The compounds are part of a larger cluster of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS that have been used in consumer products and industry since the 1940s.

      • Common DreamsIn 'Historic' Step, Biden EPA Moves to Designate Two Forever Chemicals as Hazardous

        The EPA said in a press release that it has proposed a rule to formally classify perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)—part of a long list of chemical compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—"as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as 'Superfund.'"

      • The NationOn Our Last Legs

        It costs me around $1,000 a month to urinate. That’s more than $30 a day. My catheters are just one of the essential medical devices that I need to survive. Since having a spinal cord injury in 2016, I have what’s called a neurogenic bladder. I can’t relieve myself without the use of an intermittent catheter, which means I have to make sure I have enough of them to get me through to the next shipment from my medical supply company.

      • HackadayMake Your Own Vinegar

        Making fermentation work for us is one of the original hacks that allowed humans to make food last longer, and festivities more interesting. [Mike G] has been experimenting with making his own vinegar, and found the end product to be a delicious addition to his cooking.

      • HackadayWater Monitor Measures The Cost Of Your Shower Thinking Time

        The shower is one of the top thinking places for many of us, but can get a bit out of hand with water wastage and utility bills if you go down a deep rabbit hole. To be more mindful of his water usage in the shower, [GreatScott!] created a power sipping water monitor that lives there.

    • Proprietary

    • Security

      • Privacy/Surveillance

        • Digital Music NewsTikTok Is Testing a ‘Nearby’ Location Feed for Local Content

          It’s impossible to tell when the ‘Nearby’ feed feature could make it out of testing for the general public. But it’s likely TikTok wants to expedite this feature to continue cutting into Meta’s market share with Gen Z and younger.

        • Internet Freedom FoundationDelhi HC allows CCI to investigate WhatsApp Privacy Policy

          Remember when WhatsApp rolled out its revised Privacy Policy in January 2021 and tried to force users to accept it? In response, the Competition Commission of India (‘CCI’) directed an investigation on whether WhatsApp was abusing its dominant position. WhatsApp and Facebook filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against CCI’s decision to investigate. On April 22, 2021, a single judge of the Delhi High Court dismissed the petition. Now another bench of the Delhi High Court comprising of two judges has upheld the order of the single judge. Because of the decision, the CCI can now continue investigating WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy and since we are one of the parties before the CCI, we will provide assistance at every step of the investigation.

        • ScheerpostDefund the Police Algorithms

          Law enforcement is increasingly turning to software to surveil and anticipate crime. But a grassroots movement is emerging to resist algorithmic policing.

        • TechdirtUK Privacy Group Says Police Are Abusing Stop And Search Powers To Hassle Protesters

          Most protest activity targets government entities. So, it’s really no surprise that government entities prefer to target protesters. While most “free” nations won’t go so far as to introduce life sentences for protesting and/or fire a majority of local officials and replace them with handpicked loyalists, the general understanding is that protests targeting government entities are part of the natural state of things and, as such, should largely be tolerated if not actually protected.

        • EFFTechCrunch Launches Lookup Tool to Help Android Users Know if Their Device Was Compromised by a Family of Stalkerware Apps

          The tool will tell users if their device identification numbers match, likely match, or don’t match the devices on the TechCrunch list. Users may then check the suspected phone for signs that a malicious stalkerware app is present—TechCrunch has a guide for finding evidence that your phone was compromised. The Clinic to End Tech Abuse (CETA), part of Cornell Tech, also has a guide. Once found, stalkerware apps can be removed from users’ devices.Users whose phones are found to be compromised should put together a safety plan before removing stalkerware from their phones—removing the spyware likely triggers an alert to the person who planted it, which can create an unsafe situation. The Coalition Against Stalkerware has for victims of stalkerware.The tool is the result TechCrunch investigation earlier this year revealing that at least nine € consumer-grade stalkerware apps, part of a massive, mostly-hidden stalkerware operation, € shared a common security flaw that is exposing the personal data of hundreds of thousands of Android device users.The investigation found victims in virtually every country, with large groups in the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Indonesia, and India. TechCrunch contacted the company that appeared to be behind the operation to warn them about the security flaw, and received no answer. TechCrunch decided not to reveal the flaw for fear that it would be exploited, exposing even more data.A break came June when a source provided TechCrunch with a cache of files dumped from the internal servers of one of the spying apps. The files included a list of every Android device that was compromised by any of the nine spyware apps. The list didn’t contain enough information for TechCrunch to identify or notify each device owner. But, after verifying the authenticity of the list, TechCrunch used the list to create the tool.€  The tool isn’t perfect—if users’ phones were infected with stalkerware after April, it won’t be on the list the tool uses. It will only tell users if their phones were infected with this class of stalkerware before April. The group is made of nine specific apps—if your device is infected with a stalkerware app other than those nine, the tool won’t have any matches.Stalkerware is always adapting and changing, so survivors of domestic abuse and others for whom stalkerware is a concern face an ever-shifting threat landscape. TechCrunch’s research and newly-launched tool may help to provide peace of mind to a significant number of Android users. We hope that researchers continue to monitor the stalkerware ecosystem and raise the cost and difficulty of spying on Android devices with impunity.

        • EFFTrans Youths Need Data Sanctuary

          To address this problem, California State Sen. Scott Wiener authored S.B. 107. EFF is proud to support this bill. In three ways, it would protect families coming to California for gender-affirming care for transgender youths, by limiting disclosure of their personal data to out-of-state entities seeking to punish this care.

        • TechdirtLAPD Adopts Some (Weak) Surveillance Tech Reforms That Will Finally Allow Public Input

          The Los Angeles Police Department is one of the largest in the United States. To say it’s resistant to change would be an understatement. It — like the NYPD — is also resistant to oversight, transparency, and accountability.

    • Defence/Aggression

      • The Telegraph UKRussians are torturing us so we don't talk to UN, Ukraine nuclear plant workers say

        Russian security forces are torturing personnel at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to prevent them from telling UN inspectors about safety risks, workers there have told The Telegraph.

        The claims by serving and recently escaped workers come amid mounting fears that fighting near the facility, which Russian troops seized in March, could lead to a Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster.

        Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are expected to arrive at the power plant to check safety there in the coming days.

      • DNA IndiaIslamic State suicide bomber planning attack on Indian leader detained in Russia: Report

        The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Monday said that its officers had detained a suicide bomber, a member of the Islamic State terrorist group, who was plotting a terrorist attack against one of India's leadership elite, Russia news agency Sputnik reported.

        Reports suggest that the suspected suicide bomber wanted to kill a leader of the ruling party (BJP) to avenge the insult to Prophet Muhammad.

      • Union Of Catholic Asian NewsEthnic man dies in mob attack on Bangladeshi village

        His death came after about 200 Muslims surrounded the village of 27 Munda families and attacked villagers with the alleged intent to grab their land and drive out the mostly Hindu indigenous community, they said.

        The mob, armed with homemade weapons, attacked Narendra Munda and other villagers as they attempted to resist.

      • MedforthAustrian integration expert reveals: Syrians are not fleeing from war, but from conscription

        At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Interior Minister Karner presented the new online “counter-campaign” to combat traffickers. In the campaign, people are warned on various channels such as Telegram, Facebook, but also through advertisements in their mother tongue not to make their way to Europe.

      • ME ForumErdoÄŸan Forms Alliance with Turkish Hizbullah, Releasing its Prisoners

        Convicted members of Turkish Hizbullah turned out to have been quietly released from prison in stages as part of a secret deal the group struck with the Islamist government of President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan.

        Turkish Hizbullah, a notoriously deadly group that is backed by Iran and seeks to establish an Iranian-style mullah regime in Turkey, secured the release of members who were serving prison time including life sentences over a series of murders in the 1990s and early 2000s in Turkey.

      • Express'You're blaming the weather?' Sadiq Khan squirms as he blames killing surge on heatwave

        Former Conservative Leader Iain Duncan Smith hit out at the London Mayor as he said: “London is inundated with crime at the moment and, apart from putting out statements, Sadiq Khan has done next to nothing on this.”

      • Common DreamsOpinion | As Millions Suffer, the US Needs to End the Collective Punishment of the Afghan People

        A year has now passed since the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from decades of war and occupation in Afghanistan.

      • MeduzaSecurity Service of Ukraine accuses Ramzan Kadyrov of war crimes — Meduza

        The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that it had gathered “unequivocal evidence of war crimes” by Chechnya’s Head Ramzan Kadyrov and two of his subordinates: Daniil Martynov, deputy head of the Federal Guard Service of Chechnya, and Khusein Mezhidov, a commander in the Federal Guard Service.

      • MeduzaBelarusian president says nation’s warplanes have been retrofitted to carry nukes — Meduza

        Alexander Lukashenko declared on Friday that Belarusian warplanes have been retrofitted to be able to carry nuclear weapons. “[The West] must understand that no helicopters or planes will save them if they escalate. Putin and I once said in St. Petersburg that we’d convert Su-24 aircraft, too, so they could carry nuclear weapons. Did you think it was just talk? Everything is ready!” the Belarusian president declared on Friday, according to the state media.

      • MeduzaKremlin reportedly will push ahead with annexation ‘referendums’ in Luhansk and Donetsk, despite stalled invasion — Meduza

        Russia is reportedly planning to hold annexation “referendums” in eastern Ukraine, after all. Previously, it was thought that the stalled invasion would also force the Kremlin to postpone staging plebiscites in occupied Ukraine to formalize Moscow’s control over lands there, but sources tied to the Kremlin told the independent news outlet Verstka Media that Russia now plans to hold votes in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics” on September 14, despite not being in full military control of the territories those entities claim.

      • MeduzaRussian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev says the invasion of Ukraine is meant to prevent WWIII — Meduza

        Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev wants you to know that the invasion of Ukraine is designed to prevent a Third World War. In an interview with the French television network La Chaîne Info, Russia’s former president (and former prime minister) explained that WWIII could have started if Ukraine had been allowed to join NATO, paving the way for a supposed Western military operation against Russia.

      • MeduzaReturning lost territories Is Kyiv preparing to retake Russian-annexed Crimea by force? — Meduza

        On the eve of Ukraine’s Independence Day, Kyiv hosted the Crimea Platform — an international summit devoted to the deoccupation of the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia forcibly annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Although it was held online, this year’s summit included high-profile guests such as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and many other Western leaders. It also came on the heels of a string of explosions at Russian military facilities in Crimea. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for these attacks, but the change in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s strategy is apparent. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky’s priority was reclaiming the peninsula through diplomacy. Now, six months of all-out war have led the Ukrainian president to adopt tougher rhetoric — and even hint at the possibility of retaking Crimea by force.

      • MeduzaNizhny Novgorod police department reportedly fires officer who attacked human rights activist — Meduza

        The police officer who attacked human rights activist Igor Kalyapin has been fired, according to Kalyapin’s colleague, Eva Merkacheva. Major Sergey Chernikovsky, who reportedly served in Nizhny Novgorod’s criminal investigations department, has problems controlling his behavior when intoxicated, other officers told Merkacheva, who says he is now under criminal investigation (though she didn’t specify the charges).

      • MeduzaCatering tycoon and mercenary-group-owner Evgeny Prigozhin demands felony ‘disinformation’ charges against another pair of journalists — Meduza

        Evgeny Prigozhin’s battle with independent journalists continues. On Friday, his “Concord” catering company filed a complaint with Russia’s Federal Investigative Committee against Fontanka reporter Ksenia Klochkova and her editor-in-chief, Alexander Gorshkov. Prigozhin wants felony the authorities to charge the two journalists with felony “disinformation.”

      • Meduza‘True patriots are willing to defend the Motherland with arms in hand’ Russia’s ‘patriotic’ curriculum for the upcoming school year — Meduza

        It's back-to-school season, and for Russian students, this semester will be a bit different from previous ones. As part of the government's mission to “protect Russian society from destructive informational and psychological influence,” the country’s Education Ministry has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop curriculum for a new weekly class called “Conversations About What’s Important.” Students in grades one through four will be taught about “patriotism” and “love for Russia,” while students in the fifth grade and above will be fed pro-Kremlin narratives about Russia's war against Ukraine. Meduza summarizes the ministry's new lesson plans.

      • Site36End of Berlin model project: Politicians and police dispute about tasers

        Since the turn of the millennium, German special forces have been equipped with „distance electric pulse devices“, and more and more states now allow them in patrol duty. Within three years, six people died in Germany after being shot. The use of this weapon is contested in Berlin.

      • Counter PunchBiden Pelosi Postmortem on Taiwan Trip

        The purpose of this meeting is… by gosh what is the purpose of this meeting.

      • Democracy NowAs Afghanistan Faces Economic Crisis, U.S. Could Help Prevent Mass Starvation by Unfreezing Funds

        One year after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of the government, the country is in a humanitarian crisis that includes widespread hunger and poverty. Meanwhile, the U.S. refuses to release $7 billion in foreign assets that belong to Afghanistan’s central bank. “At least preventing starvation in Afghanistan is still our duty,” says Anatol Lieven, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, which held a recent symposium on Afghanistan.

      • Democracy NowAnatol Lieven: Ukraine Has Become a Bloody Stalemate. We Need a Settlement to End the Fighting.

        Six months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war has reached a stalemate. We speak with Anatol Lieven, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, who says a possible path to a general ceasefire can begin with securing the safety of the region around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

    • Environment

      • ABCDrought forces earliest harvest ever in French wine country

        Vines that are several years old have deep roots that allow them to draw water from far underground and endure drought without suffering too much.

        But this year, estates had authorization to water adult vines, a practice usually banned in Bordeaux.

        “Some plots were heavily suffering with leaves falling,” Lecouffe said.

        Another step vintners may take is to reduce the density of their plots to require less water or to work the soil to better conserve moisture deep down.

        Experts are also considering whether planting new grape varieties could be helpful.

      • The NationA Day at the Beach
      • Common DreamsPakistan Declares National Emergency as Climate-Intensified Floods Devastate 33 Million

        Since mid-June, flash floods and landslides across the South Asian nation have killed least at 937 people, injured more than 1,300, and destroyed well over half a million homes, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. In addition, nearly 800,000 livestock have died and at least 1,900 miles of roads and 145 bridges have been wiped out, disrupting the supply of food and further driving up prices.

      • Common DreamsDOJ Releases 38-Page Redacted Affidavit Related to Search of Trump's Mar-A-Lago

        The affidavit was heavily redacted, but revealed that the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach was prompted by the agency's review of 15 boxes of materials that Trump turned over to the National Archives in January, a year after leaving office.

      • Common DreamsOpinion | The Violence at the Heart of Trumpism

        Among the many ironies and hypocrisies leading up to the 2022 midterms, one deserving special mention is Trump's and the GOP's unremitting claim that America has become more violent and dangerous under Biden and the Democrats.

      • The NationAdam Schiff Weighs In on What Trump May Do Next
      • Common DreamsOpinion | Earth Day 8 Walk Away With a Win

        We planned for the direct action, then we planned for the trial. The first came off great, the second didn't come off at all. Which was also great—all charges were dismissed. We won, twice.€ 

      • Energy

        • ScheerpostAlan Robock: The Terrifying Research Nuclear Powers Don’t Want You to See

          On this week's "Scheer Intelligence," climate scientist Alan Robock, one of the authors of a groundbreaking Nature Food paper on the little-discussed impacts of nuclear war, talks to Robert Scheer about his work.

        • DaemonFC (Ryan Farmer)I was reading a blog in Geminispace yesterday. The guy was talking about natural gas prices in the UK being so high that almost 50% risk being cut off this winter. | BaronHK's Rants

          The guy was talking about natural gas prices in the UK being so high that almost 50% risk being cut off this winter.

          He said that it happened a few times when he was a kid, but they were in the lowest 5% income bracket in the country.

          Then I thought about what kind of a society lets that happen to anyone and how many times I’ve gone without heat.

          And then I realized in a way, 50% having their heat shut off for a winter because they can’t pay it might be a good thing from a certain point of view.

          They didn’t care when it was 5%. What’s different now? They’ll have it happen to them as well?

          If that’s what it takes to make people give a damn because the society is so morally bankrupt, then maybe they deserve it.

          Roy on TechRights lives in the UK and is always in a feud with me over whether the UK or the US is falling apart faster. They’re ahead of us in many ways, with less violent crime perhaps.

          In the US, there are utility assistance programs, but they’re very stingy. Like, the poorest of the poor (<125% of FPL) qualify for this thing called LIHEAP which is a grant to the states, but they have a set amount and it’s a race to apply for it, and then the deadline hits, and the LIHEAP program closes until next year, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

        • ABCCalifornia phasing out gas vehicles in climate change fight

          The move by the California Air Resources Board to have all new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs be electric or hydrogen by 2035 is likely to reshape the U.S. auto market, which gets 10% of its sales from the nation's most populous state.

          But such a radical transformation in what people drive will also require at least 15 times more vehicle chargers statewide, a more robust energy grid and vehicles that people of all income levels can afford.

        • Helsinki TimesLintilä: Norway restricting electricity exports would play into Putin’s hands

          A plan by Norway to curb electricity exports would, if carried out, be a major setback for co-operation in Europe, views Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Centre).

          Lintilä on Tuesday told Helsingin Sanomat that reducing electricity exports would be a jarring decision particularly in the current circumstance and would not align with market principles in the Nordics and in Europe.

          It would also dent common trust in energy market mechanisms.

        • ABCBritain to see 80% spike in energy bills as crisis deepens

          And things are getting worse. U.K. residents will see an 80% increase in their annual household energy bills, the country’s energy regulator announced Friday, following a record 54% spike in April. That will bring costs for the average customer from 1,971 pounds ($2,332) a year to 3,549 pounds.

          The latest price cap — the maximum amount that gas suppliers can charge customers per unit of energy — will take effect Oct. 1, just as the cold months set in. And bills are expected to rise again in January to 4,000 pounds.

        • Common DreamsOpinion | Big Oil Goes All in on Toxic Plastic

          Oil companies are high on the hog again, with record high gas prices fueling record profits–profits so high they're even catching the attention of Democrats in Congress. And of course, they're using the profits to buy back shares so their shareholders will benefit from higher stock prices.

        • MeduzaRussian media reports Ukrainian strike near radioactive infrastructure at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — Meduza

          According to Russian media, Ukrainian artillery forces launched a strike on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Friday. “Four strikes were recorded in the area of the radioactive isotope storage facility,” the Enerhodar occupation authorities reported.

        • MeduzaElectricity from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station is again disrupted to non-occupied Ukraine (story updated) — Meduza

          The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, which accounts for roughly 20 percent of Ukraine’s total electricity production, is reportedly no longer feeding power to the parts of the country still under Ukrainian control. On Friday, the head of the collaborationist administration in the Zaporizhzhia region, Vladimir Rogov, accused the Ukrainian military of severing the fourth and final power line that physically delivered the nuclear plant’s energy across the Dnipro River. The power station’s electricity is now reaching only Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, Rogov said, adding that the safety situation at the plant is “under control.”

        • DeSmogHouse Committee Poised for Potential Subpoena of PR Firm for Climate Disinformation

          FTI Consulting, a billion-dollar firm that has a global presence, is not a household name. But it has been instrumental in an array of oil industry campaigns meant to sow doubt about climate change, attack climate scientists, and play up the benefits of fossil fuels.€ € 

      • Wildlife/Nature

        • Live ScienceGiant 'kraken' carcass with dinner plate-size eyes washes ashore in South Africa | Live Science

          The massive, sucker-covered carcass of a giant squid washed onto the rocky shore of Scarborough Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday (Aug. 16). The beast, which measured nearly 14 feet (4.3 meters) long, was the second giant squid to crop up on a beach in the region this year, according to the South African news site news24 (opens in new tab).

          The last known giant squid (Architeuthis dux) to wash ashore near Cape Town showed up about 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of Scarborough Beach, on Long Beach in Kommetjie, on April 30, Live Science previously reported. That cephalopod measured roughly 11.5 feet (3.5 m) long. For comparison, the largest giant squid ever seen measured a whopping 43 feet (13 m) long, and some studies suggest that the creatures could potentially reach 66 feet (20 m) long, although no squid of such size has ever been spotted.

      • Overpopulation

    • Finance

    • AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

    • Censorship/Free Speech

      • Splice TodayCensorship by a Thousand and One Cuts

        Even a libertarian or two, to my horror, cautioned after that early-2015 attack that we should take care not to sound too pro-Hebdo—which was about the time it became apparent there are new political fault lines appearing, dividing people over issues of free speech and etiquette more than economics, for good or ill.

        My advice, transcending political factions: be offensive if it best serves your artistic or philosophical aims, and know that any idiots who physically attack you as a result were too stupid, inarticulate, irrational, and/or uncivilized to come up with a more productive response. No apologies for savages—and no kicking their victims when they’re down (this holds true from New York State woods to backward authoritarian cultures around the world and even in gym class).

      • Literary HubFascism Past and Present: Anthony Marra on What the Censorship of 1940s Hollywood and Italy Can Teach Us

        Fiction writer Anthony Marra joins Fiction/Non/Fiction hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss how his new historical novel, Mercury Pictures Presents, echoes the right’s current embrace of authoritarianism in the U.S. and globally. By looking at censorship in 1940s Hollywood and the fascist regime of Italy during that same period, Marra teases out truths about conservatives’ current interest in controlling popular opinion.

      • Book RiotHere Are The Most Challenged Comics And Most Banned Comics Since 2000

        Comics censorship is an American pastime. While censorship has been raging for the last 15 months, book and comic censorship is nothing new. It’s just found new legs with the help of right-wing, white Christian nationalism led by groups like Moms For Liberty, among others. Comics, which have been long-subject to censorship in America, beginning in part with citizens seeking to hide any comics with nudity or sex–Tijuana Bibles, published from the 1920s until the 1960s, were one common form of very sexually-forward comics, often uncredited, that became an early target of censors. The Comics Code Authority took this a step further in the 1950s, better codifying and pursing comics which did not meet their standards.

      • Star TribuneFree speech under fire in school censorship battles

        The Becker Public Schools board is considering an ill-advised and likely unconstitutional policy that would prohibit "political indoctrination or the teaching of inherently divisive concepts."

        The policy would further mandate that classrooms be free of "any personal bias or non-school materials favoring any particular group, political ideology, favored class or promoting controversial issues."

      • NetblocksYouTube disrupted in Pakistan as former PM Khan streams speech

        NetBlocks metrics confirm the disruption of YouTube on multiple internet providers in Pakistan on Sunday 21 August 2022. The disruption comes as former Prime Minister Imran Khan makes a live broadcast to the public, despite a ban issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

      • The Washington PostTesla demands removal of video of cars hitting child-size mannequins

        In a cease-and-desist letter obtained by The Post, Tesla objects to a video commercial by anti-“Full Self-Driving” group the Dawn Project that appears to show the electric vehicles running over mannequins at speeds over 20 mph while allegedly using the technology. The commercial urges banning the Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta software, which enables cars on city and residential streets to automatically lane-keep, change lanes and steer.

      • Colorado(Opinion) Bruce Edward Walker: Salman Rushdie and the new censorship

        The fatwa issued against author Salman Rushdie happened in the waning months of the often-fraught 1980s. Shocking, my coworkers and I told each other, that an author’s life would be jeopardized for writing a piece of fiction that may or may not contain sacrilegious themes and outright blasphemy.

        Rushdie has been on the run ever since 1989 but has relaxed his reticence to appear in public on many occasions. This past week, he was stabbed. Repeatedly. With a knife. His injuries required surgery, and I pray he’ll be fine. But, man, these darned fatwa clingers have a memory longer than some of my former girlfriends of Irish descent.

        Talk about playing the long game.

      • ABCTurkish pop star jailed over joke about religious schools

        The charges were based on a joke Gulsen made during a concert in Istanbul back in April when she quipped that one of her musicians’ “perversion” stemmed from the fact that he went to a religious school. A video of the singer making the comments began circulating on social media recently, with a hashtag calling for her arrest.

        Gulsen — who had already been the target of Islamic circles for her revealing stage outfits — issued an apology for the offense caused but said her comments were seized on by those wanting to deepen polarization in the country.

      • RAIR FoundationHordes of Muslim Migrants and their Children Attack Islam Critic, Police Did Nothing (Video)

        For hours hordes of Muslims threw “eggs, lighters, and various kinds of hard objects” at him and those attending his presentation. A woman attending his talk was also injured by a Muslim violently throwing objects. The woman had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.

        Thankfully, he captured part of the attacks and some of the hundreds of violent Islamic migrants on film. Instead of police arresting the jihadis who were throwing objects and shouting threats, they stood by and watched, and some even laughed. He explains: [...]

      • FirstpostSar tan se juda: Origin of the anti-Hindu war cry after Nupur Sharma’s controversial Prophet Muhammad remark

        According to a report by DNA, the slogan was first raised in Pakistan. In 2011, governor of the Punjab province of Pakistan, Salman Taseer was murdered by his own guard Mumtaz Qadri who disagreed with Taseer's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law.

      • Frontpage Magazine‘Death to Blasphemers!’ Islam’s Ancient War on Critics of Muhammad

        And yet, those most charged with explaining events to the rest of us, the so-called “mainstream media,” are still and rather predictably searching for a “motive”—not least since reporting the full truth may make Islam look “bad.”

        Back in the real world, Muslim attacks on those perceived to “blaspheme” against Islam’s prophet have a long and unvaried history that stretches straight back to Muhammad himself. Yes, the prophet of Islam was the first Muslim to call for and therefore legitimize the assassination of those who mocked him, saying doing so was “God’s work.”

      • Middle East EyeIsrael-Palestine: How French media censored my views

        In the meantime, the ceasefire in Gaza had been announced. I asked the BFM editor why my first interview had disappeared and why the second one had been cancelled, but I received only vague answers.

      • FAIR‘Bizarre Decisions From Facebook Call Into Question Moderation Systems’

        € 

      • EFFVictory! South Carolina Will Not Advance Bill That Banned Speaking About Abortions Online

        “Everyone has a constitutional right of the First Amendment to say things, to speak,” McMaster said, according to The State (Columbia, SC).

    • Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

      • ABCVietnam court upholds 9-year prison sentence for journalist

        “Trang’s continued detention is the latest instance in an alarming pattern of arrests and sentencing of individuals in Vietnam for peacefully expressing their opinions,” said Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S State Department.

        “We call for the Vietnamese government to release Trang and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to exercise their right to freedom of expression, without fear of retaliation, consistent with the human rights provisions in Vietnam’s constitution and Vietnam’s international obligations and commitments,” Price said in a statement.

      • Don't Extradite AssangePRESS RELEASE: Julian Assange Files his Perfected Grounds of Appeal
    • Civil Rights/Policing

    • Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

      • Techdirt5G Wireless Nibbles Away At Cable Industry’s Broadband Dominance

        Thanks to their dominance over broadband access in the U.S., cable companies had spent the last decade seeing significant broadband subscriber growth each and every quarter, since, well, there weren’t any other options. That ended during the second quarter of 2022, when companies like Comcast failed to add any new broadband subscribers for the first time in history.

      • TechdirtWho Would Benefit From California’s Age Appropriate Design Code? Apparently Porn Companies, Privacy Lawyers, And Medical Disinfo Peddlers. But Not Kids

        This week we’ve been writing about California bill AB 2273, a dangerous bill that has effectively sailed through the California legislature with little pushback, because it’s wrapped up in “protect the children” language and no one wants to be seen as not wanting to “protect the children.” But, like so many bills that frame themselves as “protecting the children,” this one does no such thing, and likely puts everyone’s (not just children, but them too) privacy at much greater risk. Eric Goldman posted a long, detailed breakdown of just how bad the bill is. I highlighted how it’s literally impossible to comply with, using Techdirt as an example. And, then I also covered how the bill came into being, because a UK baroness/Hollywood filmmaker pushed it on California lawmakers who took it and ran with it (she has already gotten a similar law passed in the UK, and is pushing for it elsewhere).

    • Digital Restrictions (DRM) and MoviePass

    • Monopolies

      • Patents

        • CoryDoctorowTrump gave Moderna all the patent-waivers it needed to make a vaccine: And then Moderna fought against patent-waivers for that vaccine.

          They had a real shot at it, too! But then, the Gates Foundation (yes, that Gates Foundation) sent its operatives to Geneva to argue against any such thing, insisting sovereign countries should beg rich foreigners to donate medicine to them, and if the rich foreigners didn't want to, they should just let their people die and their nation fail:

          https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/13/public-interest-pharma/#gates-foundation

          Gates and his Foundation epitomize the idea that the only way to organize public health issues is through the whims of unaccountable billionaires, rather than democratically elected governments. When Oxford University announced plans to make its vaccine patent-free, Gates changed their mind, talking them into an exclusive deal with Astrazeneca instead: [...]

          https://khn.org/news/rather-than-give-away-its-covid-vaccine-oxford-makes-a-deal-with-drugmaker/

        • Common DreamsModerna Slammed for 'Grotesque' Lawsuit Against Pfizer Over Covid-19 Vaccine Patents

          The two companies released some of the most effective vaccines against the disease in late 2020, using Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that Moderna says it developed in trials in 2015.

      • Copyrights

        • Digital Music NewsHuman Voice of FN Meka Says He Wasn’t Paid a Dime After Creators Ghosted Him

          “Basically, it’s like, they came to me with this AI shit and was like, ‘Would you like to be the voice of it?’ I thought it was gonna be some collaboration. They promised me equity in the company, percentages, all this stuff. So I’m thinking, ‘Okay, this is about to be some collab, something different for me, so where I can do my music and be on some AI stuff with this FN Meka character.”

          “So, everything is going good. Next thing I know, n***as just ghosted me. Used my voice, used my sound, used the culture and just literally just left me high and dry,” Kyle continues in the video. “I ain’t getting a dime off of nothing. And they got record deals, all this stuff. I wasn’t involved with no meetings or none of that, which is fucked up. So, honestly, I’m glad they ass got canceled. That’s karma for they ass.”

        • Torrent FreakEgypt Continues Sports Piracy Crackdown, But The Main Target Remains

          Following an anti-piracy crackdown in early June, Egyptian authorities have shut down nine additional sports streaming portals. Local police received support from anti-piracy coalition ACE and broadcaster beIN. While the results are significant, the largest Egyptian sports piracy portal remains online.

        • Torrent FreakMetadata Ruling Gives YouTube a Timely Boost in Content ID Lawsuit

          Digital creators may choose to distribute their files along with additional data identifying them as the owner. The DMCA prohibits the removal of this metadata but according to a lawsuit filed against YouTube, the platform removed metadata from MP3 uploads. A recent opinion from the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit appears to tip the scales in YouTube's favor.

  • Gemini* and Gopher

    • Personal

      • Cells Everywhere

        I've gotten into the habit of pulling small berries off the branches of overhanging trees while I walk my dog and throwing them onto random lawns. A tiny part of me hopes that one of these berries grow into a big, healthy tree in the middle of the swaths of grass, but I know its for naught. Regardless, I was walking my dog today and continued picking berries and throwing them about, when something occurred to me. We're surrounded by so many damn cells.

        It sounds very dumb, I know. But hear me out. Yes, it's obvious that we're surrounded by living things and these living things have cells and chromosomes, but it's wild to me that that's even the case!

      • EGIKNRY Wordo: RACES
      • Status Updates: A retrospective

        For almost ten months, advancing Free Software was my 'main project'. I never put any effort toward monetizing these pursuits, so its inevitable I would eventually engage in a time-for-money exchange.

    • Technical

      • HN: tool beeps when data is sent to Google. Spoiler: constant beeping.

        I have done something a tad different.

        I am running my custom made proxy (dns blocking like pihole is a joke, you can circumvent it as simply as https://2899908462 ) with interesting features like ASN ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_system_(Internet) ) blocking and for fun I have blocked all google ASNs.

      • Science

        • TediumTape Hiss: The Underlying Noise Quietly Driving Modern Music

          Audiophiles—especailly those that just sued a label for using digital masters instead of the promised analog—may hate to hear this, but I love noisy recordings, particularly those with background noise and tape hiss. It’s such a perfect way to accentuate a rawness in the way something is recorded and performed, that adds an extra layer of static to the musical output. Some of my favorite music is loaded with noise and hiss—and I wouldn’t want it any other way. But I must admit that the battle against tape hiss was a necessary creative tension for the recording industry, one that helped to force innovations big and small in recording processes for nearly 50 years. Today’s Tedium leans into the noise. Sometimes it fades in, sometimes it fades out.


* Gemini (Primer) links can be opened using Gemini software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter.



Recent Techrights' Posts

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Nadella has bet the farm on a Ponzi scheme
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Apathy towards this is part of the problem
Underpaid and Inexperienced Workers Overwhelm the EPO, Granting Many Invalid Patents and Placing Pressure on Veteran Examiners
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Over at Tux Machines...
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Playing Social Control Media 'Games' Instead of Writing Articles
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Today we relay an EPO publications dated just 4 days ago (this past Tuesday)
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second-largest institution in Europe
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What's happening here is, they rip off people using their "stolen" (GPL-violating) product
No, Mr. "Journalist", You Might be Corrupt (But Denying It to Yourself and to Others to Pacify Your Consciousness)
"Journalists" like the label because it makes the job sound like an honourable profession and they're presumed objective
Stop Glorifying Murderers, They Aren't Helping Anybody
Murder isn't the solution. Murder is a problem.
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Links 14/12/2024: Adobe's Shares Collapse, Apple Publishes Fake News With LLMs
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Links 14/12/2024: ChatGPT Down, Microsofter Bracing for Layoffs
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Gemini Links 13/12/2024: Firing at Work, jujutsu, and Gemini Mode
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