What is the origin of the lake tank image that has become a meme? (2021)
The "Panzer of the Lake" meme features a German soldier observing a submerged Panzer IV tank, taken on May 13, 1940, and gained popularity online starting in 2017.
How good are American roads?
The US has the largest road network globally, with 4.3 million miles. While interstate roads are mostly rated good, urban non-interstate roads require significant improvement compared to international standards.
AAA – Analytical Anti-Aliasing
The article examines anti-aliasing techniques, especially Analytical Anti-Aliasing, discussing historical methods, practical implementations using WebGL, and the importance of clarity in rendering for high-quality visuals.
FireDucks: Pandas but Faster
FireDucks, launched by NEC Corporation in October 2023, enhances data manipulation in Python, claiming to be 50 times faster than Pandas and outperforming Polars, requiring no code changes for integration.
Discarded delights: The joy of ex-library books (2021)
Ex-library books, discarded by libraries, are often sold cheaply and may include rare titles. While not collectible, they serve as useful resources and their presence will continue as libraries exist.
Yi Peng 3 crossed both cables C-Lion 1 and BSC at times matching when they broke
A Chinese-flagged cargo ship, Yi Peng 3, crossed the locations of two broken submarine cables and was monitored by the Danish navy while departing the Baltic Sea for the Danish Straits.
Lush: My favorite small programming language
Scott Locklin reflects on Lush, a historically significant programming language for machine learning, praising its ergonomic design and ease of use, while advocating for its revival amidst the popularity of R and Python.
Ensō: design constraints of a focussed writing tool
Ensō software emphasizes a minimalist, user-friendly design prioritizing privacy and personalization while avoiding cognitive overload. Future updates will simplify the interface, enhancing accessibility and visual appeal.
The Political Afterlife of Paradise Lost
Orlando Reade's book examines the political implications of Milton's "Paradise Lost," highlighting its appropriation by various ideologies and its enduring relevance in discussions of oppression and rebellion throughout history.
Understanding the BM25 full text search algorithm
BM25 is a widely used algorithm for full-text search that ranks documents based on relevance using query terms, IDF, term frequency, and document length normalization, enhancing hybrid search systems.
Chemist Identifies Mystery 'Blobs' Washing Up in Newfoundland
A chemist identified mysterious blobs on Placentia Bay as likely synthetic rubber and PVA. Investigations are ongoing, raising concerns about their impact on marine life and origins related to ocean pollution.
99 Bottles of OOP now available in Python
99 Bottles of OOP by Sandi Metz is a comprehensive guide to object-oriented programming, now in its expanded 2nd Edition, suitable for all skill levels, emphasizing practical coding techniques.
The tragedy of running an old Node project
Abdisalan Mohamud faced challenges running an old Node.js project after four years, including installation errors and compatibility issues. Reverting to Node version 12.2 resolved the problems, taking two hours.
Shift Left Is the Tip of the Iceberg
The semiconductor industry is transforming through the shift left methodology, focusing on system-level metrics, 3D-ICs, and software integration, while addressing predictive uncertainties in design optimization and testing.
A joke in approximating numbers raised to irrational powers
The blog post explores approximating irrational powers without calculators, emphasizing Padé approximations over Taylor Series. It provides rational functions for key mathematical functions and includes Python code for visualization.
Researchers have built server prototypes that re-use old components
Researchers developed GreenSKUs, prototype servers using recycled components to reduce carbon emissions in data centers. They achieved an 8% reduction in emissions, emphasizing backward compatibility for environmental benefits.
When did estimates turn into deadlines?
The article emphasizes treating software modernization estimates as flexible guidelines rather than fixed deadlines, highlighting the unpredictability of projects and the need for effective leadership and adaptive practices.
OpenStreetMap's New Vector Tiles
OpenStreetMap has shifted to vector tiles in MVT format, improving customization and image quality. The article offers guidance on visualizing these tiles with QGIS and Python, highlighting data analysis near the Burj Khalifa.
1-Bit AI Infrastructure
Recent advancements in 1-bit Large Language Models, particularly BitNet b1.58, improve efficiency with speed enhancements of 2.37x to 6.17x on x86 CPUs and broader device deployment.
Nominal for Storing, Structural for Manipulating
The article compares nominal and structural type systems in programming, advocating for Polaris, which combines both types to enhance flexibility and usability while maintaining data abstraction and type safety.