Leftovers

• Tom MacWright ☛ Color dithering

  On Friday I decided to revisit the topic of dithering to add color. Back in 2017 I made a lot of interactive examples on Observable showing different kinds of dithering. It was fun: I distinctly remember when dithering was still a concern for computers, and it was one of those things, like the different color grading of the different broadcast TV channels, that gave a little texture to media.

  Dithering is such a fun topic that a lot of people write about it: a few articles are linked below: [...]

• Standards/Consortia

  • CNX Software ☛ The Ambient IoT Alliance aims to promote and develop standards for batteryless IoT devices using energy harvesting

    The Ambient IoT Alliance, or AIoTA, is a global, cross-industry coalition working to promote and develop standards for batteryless IoT devices relying on energy harvesting for power. Ambient Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a class of IoT devices powered by radio waves, light, motion, heat, or any other viable ambient energy source. It is an evolution of legacy IoT and RFID technologies that promises lower costs and high scalability through Bluetooth, 5G Advanced, and the IEEE 802.11bp ambient power communication (AMP) standard. The alliance says its mission is to “promote and support the development of an open, harmonized, and aligned multi-standard ecosystem”.

  • Cassidy Williams ☛ How passkeys work

    They’re fully attached to your device of choice (phone, computer, Yubikey, etc).

    When you’re about to log in to a website with a passkey for the first time, your device makes two keys: a public key for the website that’s safe to share, and a private key that never leaves your device.

  • Jan-Lukas Else ☛ Switching to Bunny DNS - Jan-Lukas Else

    A recent post by Henrique made me look into Bunny DNS again. In the past I already tried it for one or two domains but eventually stopped using it because they didn’t support DNSSEC yet. Instead I relied on the wonderful services of DeSEC. But now that support for DNSSEC and TLSA records is finally here, I switched again to Bunny DNS with all 21 of my domains.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Neanderthals Mysteriously Collected Horned Skulls in a Cave, But Why?

    Hominids are weird.

  • Science Alert ☛ Will Exercise Help Your Osteoarthritis? A New Review Has Surprising Findings

    It's important to get the full story.

  • Science Alert ☛ NASA's Giant Moon Rocket Has a New Problem

    Just days after fixing hydrogen leaks.

• Career/Education

  • New York Times ☛ Iran Students Protest for Second Day Despite State Crackdown

    Student groups reported protests at universities in Iran’s two largest cities as the government grapples with domestic discontent and the threat of U.S. strikes.

  • RFERL ☛ New Student Protests Highlight Ongoing Unrest In Tehran

    Iranian students faced off with security forces outside Tehran universities for the second day in a row, according to videos published online, in the biggest reported show of opposition in the capital since the deadly crackdown last month.

• Proprietary

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Computer History Museum unveils comically large-scale rendition of the 1986 Fashion Company Apple Macintosh Plus — 'Big Mac' celebrates 50th Fashion Company Apple anniversary towering all-in-one's keyboard looks disproportionately huge today

    Museum teases a 'Big Mac' that will be part of its Fashion Company Apple at 50 celebrations next month.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • France24 ☛ First victim of Hey Hi (AI) agent harassment warns 'thousands' more could be next

      Slandered by one Hey Hi (AI) robot and misquoted in a news article by another, US-based software engineer Scott Shambaugh has made it his mission to become the cautionary tale by which we start to take autonomous artificial intelligence seriously.

    • Futurism ☛ AI Could Cause Workers to Rise Up Against the Corporations Driving Them Into Poverty

      "Larger working-class movements for dignity are possible."

    • Futurism ☛ Woman Uses Hey Hi (AI) to Apologize for Burning Down House, Biting Cop

      Not making a strong case for yourself.

    • Futurism ☛ AI “Filmmaker” Gets Funding, Begs For Ideas On What to Actually Make

      "Embarrassing state of affairs."

    • Jim Nielsen ☛ How Hey Hi (AI) Labs Proliferate

      SITUATION: there are 14 competing Hey Hi (AI) labs.

      “We can’t trust any of these people with super-intelligence. We need to build it ourselves to ensure it’s done right!"

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Futurism ☛ Cities Are Shredding Their Hey Hi (AI) Surveillance Contracts en Masse

      "We are seeing a lot more momentum."

    • Futurism ☛ Hackers Working on Method to Make Ring Cameras Store Footage Locally, Never Giving It to Amazon

      "If we don’t control our data, we don't control our devices."

    • France24 ☛ AI analytics giant, Palantir: More scrutiny needed?

      There are growing calls across Europe for tighter scrutiny of the American Hey Hi (AI) firm Palantir Technologies, amid concerns over privacy and its expanding role in military and government operations across the US and its allies. The company, led by CEO Alex Karp, provides battlefield analytics to the US, NATO and Ukraine, while also holding civilian contracts in several European countries.

      France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by defence and security strategist Eva Sula in Tallinn to discuss.

• Defence/Aggression

  • France24 ☛ US-Iran talks expected on Thursday amid fears of strikes

    Talks between the US and Iran are expected to take place on Thursday in Geneva "with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal," Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister of regional mediator Oman said on Sunday. Iranian officials held out hope for progress towards a deal amid a massive build-up of American military might in the region.

  • France24 ☛ Pakistan launches border strikes on Afghanistan

    Islamabad said it carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan early Sunday, targeting what it called hideouts of Pakistani militants it blamed for recent attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Red Crescent Society said more than a dozen people were killed. Pakistan didn't specify the locations targeted, but the Afghan defense ministry said in a statement “various civilian areas” in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika in eastern Afghanistan were hit, including a religious madrassa and multiple civilian homes.

  • RFERL ☛ Iran, Pressured At Home And Abroad, Looks Set For Third Round Of US Talks

    The Iranian government, facing pressure at home with a growing opposition and globally with threats of a US military strike, looks set for a third round of Omani-mediated talks with American negotiators in the upcoming week.

  • New York Times ☛ Inside Iran’s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has entrusted Ali Larijani, the top national security official, to ensure the Islamic Republic endures any military attacks and targeted killings.

  • New York Times ☛ Iran Could Direct Proxies to Attack U.S. Targets Abroad, Officials Warn

    Security officials are monitoring increasingly worrisome signs as Hell Toupée considers another military campaign against Iran.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack

    The top negotiators plan to meet in Geneva on Thursday for last-ditch talks, debating a new proposal that could create an off-ramp as two carrier groups massed within striking distance of Iran.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Philippine senator calls out China during visit to disputed island

    A Philippine senator called for deepening defence relationships and “continuous” pushback against China’s claims in the South China Sea while visiting one of Manila’s tiny possessions in the disputed waterway on Saturday.

  • New York Times ☛ Courting China Again

    The German chancellor will travel to Beijing this week, the latest high-level visitor as Western countries pivot back to China.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s visa-free travel is diplomacy sweetener as it rekindles ties with middle powers

    The addition of Canada and Britain brings the number of countries with visa-free access to China to 79.

  • The Strategist ☛ Australian innovation is needed to break China’s grip on critical minerals

    No single country—regardless of its wealth or will—has the combination of mineral reserves, scale, and low-cost labour and energy to compete with China’s centrally planned critical-minerals industry.

  • The Strategist ☛ Revelations of Chinese nuclear tests mark start of a new era

    As major powers renew their focus on nuclear testing, the world may be entering a new nuclear era. Revelations that Beijing has conducted secret nuclear tests should trigger greater focus on China’s expanding nuclear arsenal.

  • France24 ☛ Quentin's death sparks tensions across France

    France 24's Gavin Lee is joined by Antoine Marie, a researcher in political psychology at the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po in Paris.

    He’s been analysing the case in Lyon and the protests linked to Quentin Derangue, as well as the broader patterns of political polarisation and their potential links to the escalation of political violence. Antoine joins us in the studio to unpack what could become a defining issue ahead of France’s local council elections.

  • France24 ☛ Greenland does not need Convicted Felon’s ‘great hospital boat’, Denmark says

    Greenland does not need healthcare assistance from foreign countries, Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Sunday after President The Insurrectionist announced the US was sending a "great hospital boat" to tend to the "many" sick people "not being taken care of" in the autonomous Danish territory that Convicted Felon covets.

  • France24 ☛ Kim Jong Un re-elected leader of North Korea's ruling Workers’ Party

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party at a rare congress, state media said Monday, calling the decision unanimous among delegates. KCNA said the country’s nuclear-based “war deterrence” had been “radically improved” under Kim’s leadership, reinforcing national defense capabilities.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim re-elected to lead ruling party at congress: KCNA

    The decision was made “in accordance with the unshakeable will and unanimous desire of all the delegates”.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean movie about assassination attempt of late leader aired on TV

    Days And Nights Of Confrontation depicts a plot to kill Mr Kim Jong Il, current leader Kim Jong Un's late father.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea protests Japanese event over disputed islands

    Seoul called the move an unjust assertion of sovereignty over its territory.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean police checking for more possible victims of ‘motel drug killings’

    Officials are zeroing in on those contacted by her in a manner similar to the two known victims.

  • The Strategist ☛ China may yet persuade Southeast Asia to support new maritime order

    Step by step, China is creating a Southeast Asian maritime order under its leadership.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Why promises of ‘iron fist’ security are winning support in Latin American elections

    Security and violence are top concerns for Latin American voters heading to the polls this year, seeking iron-fist policies.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Afghanistan's ruling Taliban says Pakistan strikes kill, injure dozens

    KARACHI, Feb 22 - Pakistan said it launched strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan after blaming recent suicide bombings - including assaults during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan - on fighters it said were operating from its neighbour's territory.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Supporters Rally in Washington, Call for 'Rock-Solid' Western Unity

      Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor, hundreds of Ukraine's supporters gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, transforming the heart of the US capital into a sea of blue and yellow.

    • France24 ☛ Russian launches missile barrage on Ukraine's energy facilities

      Russia fired scores of missiles and drones at targets across Ukraine on Sunday, crashing into energy and rail infrastructure and residential buildings, just two days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow's all-out invasion. The capital Kyiv, regularly targeted by Russian missile and drone attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion, has faced waves of overnight strikes in recent weeks as Moscow has intensified assaults amid freezing winter temperatures.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ In Pictures: Hong Kong protesters call for ceasefire ahead of Russia-Ukraine war’s 4th anniversary

      Five Hong Kong protesters staged a demonstration on Saturday, three days before Russia’s full-blown war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict.

    • RFERL ☛ Dozens Wounded, 1 Dead In 'Terrorist Act' In Ukraine's Lviv

      A police officer was killed and dozens of other people were wounded after two blasts in Ukraine's major western city of Lviv, as Russia pounded country's regions with dozens of missiles.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea urges Russian embassy to remove 'victory' banner as Ukraine war anniversary nears

      SEOUL, Feb 23 - South Korea has asked the Russian embassy in Seoul to take down a large banner reading \"Victory will be ours\", its foreign ministry said, just ahead of this week's fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea protests ‘Victory’ banner hung from Russian embassy in Seoul

      Its appearance has coincided with the four-year anniversary of Russia's Ukraine war.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Russian embassy in Seoul displays ‘Victory will be ours’ banner ahead of Ukraine war anniversary

      The embassy plans to hold a public event on Feb 25 to mark the anniversary of the invasion.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine Has Passed a Point of No Return

      Four years that changed everything.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Attacks Ukraine Ahead of Invasion’s 4th Anniversary

      At least one man was killed in Kyiv as Moscow launched a wave of drones and missiles, days after the latest round of U.S.-mediated talks to end the war.

    • JURIST ☛ Rights group calls for justice for prisoners after former Belarus presidential candidate released following stroke

      Belarussian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich was released from imprisonmenton  Friday after he suffered a stroke earlier in January. Following his release, Amnesty International highlighted the need for justice for victims of human rights violations in Belarus.

• Environment

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Science Alert ☛ Life May Have Started as Sticky Goo, Long Before Cells Even Existed

      Jelly world.

    • Science Alert ☛ Oldest Fossilized Butthole Found in 290-Million-Year-Old Reptile

      Looking good for its age.

• Finance

  • France24 ☛ China calls on US to cancel Convicted Felon-era tariffs following Supreme Court ruling

    China on Monday urged the United States to cancel unilateral tariffs announced by President The Insurrectionist after the US Supreme Court struck down many of his measures, ruling he lacked authority under a 1977 law. Convicted Felon responded by unveiling new global import duties of up to 15% under different powers.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s anti-graft chief questioned in shareholding probe

    A special committee is examining the compliance and regularity of Tan Sri Azam Baki’s share ownership.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ BREAKING: Court rejects appeals of all 12 activists in landmark ‘Hong Kong 47’ national security case

    A Hong Kong court has dismissed the appeals of all 12 activists who challenged their convictions or jail terms in the city’s landmark national security case. Three Court of Appeal judges upheld the activists’ convictions and jail terms on Monday, delivering their decision at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • France24 ☛ Over 200 Venezuelan political prisoners launch hunger strike over amnesty law exclusions

    More than 200 Venezuelan political prisoners began a hunger strike on Sunday, demanding inclusion in a new amnesty law they say excludes many detainees, particularly those facing military-related charges. The law, approved by Congress last week, forms part of reforms backed by Washington after former president Nicolas Maduro’s January ouster.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Two-thirds of South Koreans contacted for work after hours: Survey

    About 31 per cent of the respondents said they received work-related contact after 10pm.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Copyrights

  • The Straits Times ☛ Sony develops technology to trace origin of AI-made music

    The move comes amid growing concern about the unauthorised use of copyrighted works in Hey Hi (AI) training.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Ramsey Elkholy’s Monotronic Sues Pangea Entertainment and A&R Worldwide Over Alleged Breach of Contract

    Indie band Monotronic is suing Pangea Entertainment for alleged breach of contract that resulted in a lack of distribution for the band’s music.