Distributions and Operating Systems

• Open Hardware/Modding

Leftovers

• James G ☛ Immersed in words

  A young woman paused, while standing, to read a book in the centre of the city. The castle atop the high hill and the people around were the background: the main character in this story was the book. I was in awe, and elated to see someone so immersed in literature that she would read the book while standing in the street. Indeed, they don't call it the first UNESCO City of Literature for nothing.

  Earlier today, I was in a local charity shop searching for books. On my last trip to the charity shop, I found a book on backdoored Windows 95 that brought hours of joy. I was hoping to find more books, particularly on topics that I may not necessarily seek out. I wanted to be lost amid the bookshelves.

• Science

  • New York Times ☛ China Lands Spacecraft on Far Side of the Moon

    The landing brings the Chang’e-6 mission a step closer to being the first to return a sample from the part of the moon that’s never seen from Earth.

  • France24 ☛ China lunar probe successfully lands on far side of Moon to collect samples

    China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe successfully landed Sunday on the far side of the Moon to collect samples, state media reported -- the latest leap for Beijing's decades-old space programme.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ Building And Testing A 1912-style Radio

    A glimpse at a high-end radio set, for 1912. (Credit: [glasslinger], YouTube)Doing electronics in the 1910s was rather rough, with the radio probably the pinnacle of hi-tech. Despite this, with some know-how and basic wood- and metal-working skills you could get pretty far with DIY-ing a radio set. As [glasslinger] demonstrates in a YouTube video, you can even build your own set with your own crafted tube-amplifier. With items like a hand-crafted resistor and capacitor – as well as tuning elements and period-correct point-to-point wiring – it definitely has that retro vibe to it.

  • CNX Software ☛ TOOCAA L2 Review – A fully enclosed 20W laser engraver & cutter with a focus on safety

    TOOCAA L2 is a fully enclosed laser engraver and cutter with a 10W or 20W laser module using orange acrylic covers and various sensors for additional safety. The laser module complies with Class 1 Laser Safety certification and the engraving and cutting machine works with a range of materials suitable for creators who want to cut or/and carve workpieces or manufacture high-resolution parts.

  • Hackaday ☛ Give Your Thinkpad X1 Nano An Internal USB Port

    How hard could it be to add an extra USB port inside your laptop? As [Joshua Stein] shows, it can be decently hard, but you will have fun along the way. His journey involves a Thinkpad X1 Nano, and his tech setup means it’d be most comfortable for him to have a USB port inside its case, for a Logitech mouse’s USB receiver. It wasn’t smooth sailing all throughout, but the end result is no doubt beautifully executed.

  • Hackaday ☛ Make A Super Cute LiDAR Measurement Module

    This ultra-cute tiny LiDAR rangefinder project by [gokux] can be thought of as a love letter to the incredible resources and components hobbyists and hackers of all types have access to nowadays. In fact, it all stemmed from coming across a miniscule half-inch 64×32 OLED display module that was simply too slick to pass up.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Science Alert ☛ Fatherhood Poses a Serious Hidden Health Risk Other Men Don't Face

    Does being a dad harm your health?

  • Science Alert ☛ Why Did Primates Evolve Big Brains? It Might Not Be The Reason You Think

  • Science Alert ☛ These Tiny Fish 'Unlocked' Ancient Genes to Survive Months-Long Droughts

    Surviving the extremes in suspended animation.

  • Science Alert ☛ Largest Genome on Earth Revealed, And It's a Big Surprise

    "We're really pushing at the extremes of biology."

  • TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Mary C. White: Most older Americans who need hearing aids don’t use them. Here’s how to change that

    One analysis found that most Americans with a serious hearing disability can't afford the typical price of hearing aids.

• Defence/Aggression

  • TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ DFL delegates condemn antisemitism and call for ceasefire in Gaza war

    Delegates this weekend voted on 113 different resolutions to add to the party platform, endorsed Klobuchar for reelection to the Senate, nominated national delegates and heard speeches from prominent Minnesota DFLers including Gov. Tim Walz.

  • The Strategist ☛ US versus China in Asian security at Shangri-La dialogue

    The annual Singapore sound-off between the defence ministers of China and the US had a little less roar-roar and a fraction more jaw-jaw.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China defence minister says Beijing ready to ‘forcefully’ stop Taiwan independence

    Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned Sunday his military is ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan independence but called for greater exchanges with the United States. The remarks at an annual security forum in Singapore followed the first substantive face-to-face talks in 18 months between the two countries’ defence chiefs.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 47

    More than three years after they were arrested, 16 democrats who pleaded not guilty in a landmark national security case finally heard their verdicts from Hong Kong’s High Court. They are among 47 defendants in the case, of whom 31 pleaded guilty. Most of the 47 have been held in custody since February 28, 2021.

  • JURIST ☛ Mexico election authority cancels elections in two municipalities due to violence and insecurity

    The Institute of Elections and Citizen Participation (IEPC) of the Mexican state of Chiapas decided not to hold the elections in the municipalities of Pantelhó and Chicomuselo due to acts of violence and the lack of security.

  • JURIST ☛ UN votes to briefly extend and then end Iraq mission after 20 years following request from government

    The UN Security Council (UNSC) voted Friday to briefly extend and then end the United Nations Assistance to Iraq Mission (UNAMI). The mission’s mandate was extended until December 31, 2025, in order to wrap up the mission’s final phase and withdraw.

  • New York Times ☛ Why Is North Korea Launching Balloons Carrying Trash?

    The unusual offensive, across the world’s most heavily fortified border, is a revival of a Cold War era tactic. The South has threatened to respond by blasting K-pop.

  • France24 ☛ North Korea says it will stop sending 'trash balloons' into South

    North Korea said Sunday it would stop sending trash-filled balloons across the border into the South, saying the "disgusting" missives had been an effective countermeasure against propaganda sent by anti-regime activists.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwanese fans call out local celebs for their pro-China statements, accuse them of ‘selling out’

    Politicians in Taiwan slammed Beijing for seeming to coerce performers into making pronouncements.

  • RFERL ☛ Iran Summons Chinese Ambassador Over Gulf Islands

    Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador in Tehran to protest about a China-U.A.E. statement related to Iran's sovereignty over three Islands also claimed by the U.A.E., Iranian state media reported on June 2.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ On Taiwan’s Kinmen Island, oyster farmers find themselves on the frontline of Chinese war games

    By Sébastien Ricci On an island separated from China by a narrow strip of sea, oyster farmer Li Kai-chen collects molluscs on a shore known for its bloody battle over control of Taiwan.

  • RFA ☛ Chinese defense minister denounces ‘outside forces’ at security forum

    Dong Jun warns that there are limits to Beijing's restraint in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

  • New York Times ☛ Intense Security at Peaceful Parade for Israel in Manhattan

    The annual parade focused this year on the hostages in Gaza. Thousands marched, and with many streets blocked off, there were few protesters.

  • RFERL ☛ Iran Summons Swedish Diplomat Over Accusation It's Organizing Attacks On Israeli Embassies

    Iran summoned the Swedish acting charge d'affaires in Tehran over what it alleges were "baseless and malicious" remarks, Tehran said on June 2, after Sweden's Sapo intelligence service accused Iran of "using criminal networks" in Sweden to attack Israeli embassies in Europe.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • New York Times ☛ 46 Children Were Taken From Ukraine. Many Are Up for Adoption in Russia.

      The New York Times traced how a web of officials and politicians aligned with President Vladimir V. Putin’s party carried out a campaign to permanently transfer Ukrainian children from Kherson.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Energy shutdowns hit Ukraine after Russian attacks target infrastructure

      Ukraine has imposed emergency power shutdowns in most of the country a day after Russia unleashed large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure and claimed it made gains in the eastern Donetsk province. Attacks on Ukraine’s power grid in recent weeks have forced the government to institute rolling blackouts.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says 100 Countries Join Swiss Peace Effort, Despite China Interference

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with foreign leaders in Singapore on the final day of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit on June 2, where he sought to rally international support ahead of a Swiss peace conference despite what he said were Chinese efforts to undermine it.

    • New York Times ☛ In Singapore, China Warns U.S. While Zelensky Seeks Support

      The annual Shangri-La Dialogue became a stage for competing demands on U.S. global power, including the war in Ukraine and tensions over Taiwan.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Ukraine's Zelensky in the Philippines to meet with Marcos

      Volodymyr Zelensky will have a bilateral meeting with the Philippine president.

    • JURIST ☛ Russia court extends detention of Russian-American journalist charged as a foreign agent

      A Russian court on Friday ordered to extend the detention of an American-Russian journalist by two months until August 5, after she was charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. Alsu Kurmasheva’s hearing was held on May 31 when the decision was made.

    • RFERL ☛ Scholz: We Will Defend 'Every Square Inch' Of NATO Territory

      German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on June 2 that it should be clear to Moscow that NATO will be ready to defend itself if necessary.

    • RFERL ☛ Refinery Fire In Russia's Komi Region Kills 2; Drones Not Suspected

      Two workers were killed in a fire at a LUKoil-owned refinery in the city of Ukhta, in the Komi region, during what Russia's Emergencies Ministry said on June 2 was scheduled technical work.

    • Marcy Wheeler ☛ “Swept Up!” The Russian Payments that Led to Trump’s Felony Conviction

      Michael Cohen was investigated because he lied to his bank and then, even as he was making public comments about entertaining a "peace deal" with Russian involvement, used the bank account associated with the Stormy Daniels hush payment to accept big payments from a prominent Russian oligarch.

    • New York Times ☛ As Challenges Pile Up, a Spate of Summitry Spotlights Western Resolve

      Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, along with Donald J. Trump’s candidacy, are testing the Western alliance. But starting with the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, leaders have a rare opportunity to showcase unity.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Official Said Killed By 'Detonation' In Belgorod

      The governor of Russia's southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine said on June 2 that a deputy district leader and Security Council secretary was killed and three other local officials suffered minor injuries when ammunition "detonated" in the Korochansky district, without elaborating.

    • RFERL ☛ Hundreds Honor Ukrainian Medic Killed In Kharkiv Days Before 26th Birthday

      Hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv on June 2 to honor the memory of Ukrainian journalist Iryna Tsybukh, who was killed in action while serving as a volunteer combat medic just days before her birthday.

    • JURIST ☛ US and Germany authorize Ukraine to target Russian soil with long-range weapons

      Germany and the US authorized Ukraine on Friday to target specific locations within Russia using the long-range weaponry they are providing. This major shift in policy occurs as Ukrainian forces, who are facing shortages, continue to lose territory in the conflict.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Zelensky says China working hard to ‘prevent’ countries from attending peace summit

      By Jing Xuan Teng and Martin Abbugao Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China on Sunday of working hard to stop countries from going to a peace summit, which Beijing has publicly criticised because Russia is not invited.

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky says China 'working hard' to stop countries from attending peace summit

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China on Sunday of working hard to stop countries from going to a peace summit, which Beijing has publicly criticised because Russia is not invited.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • New York Times ☛ Elon Musk’s Starlink Connects and Divides Brazil’s Marubo People

    Elon Musk’s Starlink has connected an isolated tribe to the outside world — and divided it from within.

  • France24 ☛ Businesswoman Tomasdottir becomes Iceland's next president

    Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir was on Sunday declared the winner of Iceland's presidential election, final results showed, beating former prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir whom critics said was too political for the post.

  • JURIST ☛ Kansas Supreme Court finds no fundamental right to vote in state constitution

    The Kansas Supreme Court held Friday that there is no fundamental right to vote in the state’s constitution in a complex ruling related three 2021 election laws concerning false representation of election officials, verification of advance ballots and limitations on their collection.

  • New York Times ☛ After Trump’s Conviction, a National Enquirer Editor Sends His Regrets

    For Barry Levine, a former top journalist at the supermarket tabloid, the former president’s trial was its own kind of tear-jerker.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • RFA ☛ INTERVIEW: Photographer covered Tiananmen protests just weeks into new job

    Catherine Henriette recalls the challenge of learning a new role as the world watched the demonstrations unfold.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong Christian newspaper runs blank front page ahead of Tiananmen crackdown anniversary

    A Hong Kong Christian newspaper has left its front page mostly blank ahead of the 35th anniversary of China’s 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square, as concerns mount about dwindling freedoms in the city.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ Paris-based Morocco journalist to appeal France prohibition against hijab ID card photos

    A Paris-based Moroccan journalist Manal Fkihi stated Friday she will appeal the French regulation which prohibits Muslim women from taking press ID card photos in hijabs. Fkihi moved to France five years ago for her journalism studies.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Reason ☛ The Mirage of China's I.P. Theft [Ed: The words "IP" and "theft" are highly misleading, loaded narratives do not help]

  As allegations of intellectual property theft swirl, a deeper look reveals a tale of phony numbers and twisted data.

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Goodbye Rosen references, hello Jennings references?

    Guest Post by Sarah Burstein, Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School

    LKQ Corp. v. GM Global Tech., 21-2348 (Fed. Cir. 2024) (en banc).

    In its decision in LKQ v. GM, the en banc Federal Circuit may have raised as many questions as it answered. For now, I’d like to focus on one:  What counts as a proper primary reference under LKQ?

• Copyrights

  • Heather J Meeker ☛ Bungie Wins Against Cheat Providers for Destiny 2

    Recently, Bungie, the developer of the Halo and Destiny video game series, won a judgment of just over $60,000 against AimJunkies, a cheat and mod site.