Confiks

Beware of overly optimistic university press releases. It's hopeful, but certainly not a panacea. In fact, it's not clear if it will work at all.

From your link: "The new study (...) was conducted on prions in solution in the laboratory". "The next step (...) is to mix the mineral with contaminated soil to see if it has the same effect". "I expect that its efficacy would be somewhat diminished in soil".

TIL: "There is no need to dissolve the yeast in warm water or feed it sugar. 'Proofing' the yeast was probably required decades ago, but I've never had yeast that didn't activate. The yeast feeds on the flour so you don't need to put in sugar. The proofing step that you see in many recipes is really an old wives tale at this point."

Do note that Magtor is currently only claiming to be able to compress air, not air conditioning fluids / refrigerants. They add that "[a]lthough air compression is a first milestone for Magtor, the medium-term goal is to bring Magtor efficiencies to climate control engineering allowing products such as fridges, heat pumps and air conditioning units to become 30+% more efficient" [1].

It's hard to verify more on the design. They offer a lot of explanation and tests, but no independent review is given. Main question on YouTube about scrolling compressors (used in newer fridges) is anwered a bit vaguely [2].

The patent portfolio page is very grandiose [3] but doesn't care to link anything. A quick search doesn't turn up much to do with air or fluid compression, only "Magnet device comprising stators and translators" [4] and similar, which don't mention compression at all.

[1] https://www.magtor.tech/who-we-are/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TFiL5BM3ss&lc=UgxHEJkjlZ9fZ...

[3] https://www.magtor.tech/intellectual-property/

[4] https://patents.google.com/patent/US10943721B2

Thanks for the links! Mostly scams and very bad science journalism indeed.

However, he completely misses the mark in his video about the Science paper "Water harvesting from air with metal-organic frameworks powered by natural sunlight" [1]. He declares it a hoax, but ignores pretty much everything from the paper.

Surprisingly, far down the comment section, there is a comment explaining that [2].

[1] http://globalscience.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/waterh...

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGTRX6pZSns&lc=UgzJoHtYGBwXk...

I'm also having a weird issue related to the screen on a M1 Macbook Pro. Every other month, the screen randomly turns blank. The backlight still works, and every time the laptop opens it flickers for a couple of seconds with a bit of the image visible, so it seems that the screen itself is still working.

After a few days, it randomly works again after a reboot. But never immediately. I suspect something with the GPU, as a Shadertoy visit once triggered it.

The issue is irreparable. Once it gets into repair, and I've lost my laptop for a few weeks, it will randomly work again after a few days and they'll say there's nothing wrong.

If you want to try yourself if you can identify drowning, there's this great educational 'game':

http://spotthedrowningchild.com

It's pretty hard to spot it before your hear the lifeguard blowing their whistle. Turns out [1] that the game was actually inspired by a HN thread on the same article in 2015 [2].

[1] https://github.com/FrankSalad/spot-the-drowning-child

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9947237

Reminds me of the incredible engineering done by Makani, as told in this 2 hours long autodocumentary [1]. They shut down in 2020 because they didn't see a path towards commercializing their airborne wind turbine. They made a non-assertion pledge on their patents, and open sourced much of their code (simulations, firmware) [2].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_hEja6bzE

[2] https://github.com/google/makani

tl;dr: The test can only be spoofed if it isn't conducted properly, by not doing the step with the buffer solution [1] [2]. You may even be able to unspoof the test by applying the buffer solution after the fact.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMcUzvrn75E

[2] https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-coca-cola-posit...

You mean like the guy who in 2018 claimed to have cured himself of lactose intolerance for a while by ingesting a gene-modifying Adenolike virus? [1] No fancy lipid-bubble-riding mRNA necessary.

The rest of the channel is pure biohacking gold. The yeast spider silk video is much recommended.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3FcbFqSoQY

Note that this encoding isn't of the same efficiency as QR binary mode, as it converts 3 bytes into 2 base45 characters. So it's more like 'base41 using the base45' charset.

I'm still a bit sad that with this standard and the packages available now, the namespace of 'base45' is clobbered with this suboptimal implementation. It can best just be renamed to 'base41'. It's a good tradeoff for the DCC, but not for the rest of possible implementations.

For the Dutch variant of the green pass using unlinkable signatures [1], we need all the space we can get, so we use a base45 encoding that uses the exact same method as base58 [2][3], and which has the exact same efficiency as QR binary mode.

[1] https://github.com/minvws/nl-covid19-coronacheck-app-coordin...

[2] https://gist.github.com/confiks/8fcb480d87a50cf1bb5e40e2f093...

[3] https://github.com/confiks/base45-go/tree/main/base45

In case you were wondering, here are some people who are either slightly amused or just as confused [1].

[1] https://twitter.com/search?q=a%20command%20line%20shell%20fo...

Might have come in handy while I was struggling to type out

    ffmpeg -i part0.mp4 -i part1.mp4 -filter_complex "[1:v]scale=1280:720:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1280:720:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2[v1]; [0:v] [0:a] [v1] [1:a] concat=n=2:v=1:a=1 [v] [a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" out.mp4

to concatenate two videos with different sizes today.

My relation with it is almost identical to my relation with any bash scripting more than a one-liner: I have to relearn it every time I want to engage with it.

Note that there are various older forks [1] [2] available that allow to verify that the project isn't in fact "preconfigured to find and provide infringing copies of our Members’ film and tv content". The most 'incriminating' file is "api_uploader_v2.py", which lists categories such as "6_2 - Software - Games". Which is not infringing at all.

While unrealistic, it's technically possible that some of the files have changed (significantly) since June 12 2019, the last commit of [1]. However, it's very unlikely that the database migration file, 2bceb2cb4d7c_add_comment_count_to_torrent.py, would have been changed.

[1] https://github.com/marwanpro/nyaa

[2] https://github.com/crf444/nyaa

This robot might qualify, but I'm not sure that will put your concerns aside [1].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86MkG4aYDrc

Another interesting alternative: the pill camera. You fast, swallow a pill containing a camera, a bright LED and a battery, a video is transmitted through your body recorded by a sensor outside, and someone qualified can glance if anything is wrong.

Pill teardown here [1], images here [2] (without fasting).

The upside is quite clear, especially if you are already used to fasting. The downsides are that you can't control the speed of the pill going through your digestive system, and if a polyp is found, you still need a colonoscopy to remove it (and need to fast again).

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH6i3bfie_E

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ufESc1bK78

I think the more charitable explanation is that mainstream reporting often contains many misquotes, factual errors and omissions that you will only notice when you are knowledgeable about the subject at hand.

To be forgetful or ignore this when turning the page regarding another subject on which you are less knowledgeable is known as the Gell-Mann amnesia effect [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Crichton#GellMannAmnes...

> Honestly I don't see how this argument pops up in every single discussion on plastic bag reduction every time...

Well, it wasn't an argument about plastic bag reduction. It was an example in an argument about omissions in reporting about plastic reduction efforts. The example is clearly valid, even if you consider other metrics to be more important in the example. It probably didn't help that I initially put "environmentally friendly" in there mindlessly.

I also clearly stated my opinion about the solution to this, which doesn't involve lifting the ban.

> The parent commenter said that plastic bags were banned, not that they were taxed.

I said free plastic bags are banned. So they are 'taxed' by the store instead.

I mostly agree, but burning / pyrolysing plastic is not a bad outcome for 'recycling' oil into energy if properly done at scale (including emissions filtering) for electricity / district heating.

What I often fail to see mentioned in these kind of articles, is if the removal of plastic introduces some other method of packaging that is even less environmentally friendly (edit: with more carbon emissions).

For example in The Netherlands they banned free plastic bags, so now gift and clothes stores give a free paper bag. Paper bags need to be a lot heavier to offer the same strength.

They calculated that such a paper bags needs to see 15+ reuses to become more environmentally friendly, which is unrealistic seeing how fast they break. Recycling also favors plastic bags. The only upside is that paper bags are better biodegradable in the environment and don't spread microplastics around.

The solution for this particular problem is, of course, that free paper bags should also be banned.

It indeed is trying to solve a real problem, but also conveniently breaks effective ad blocking. Doing that is a choice; there are other measures they could've taken to improve privacy to the same level while keeping granular blocking intact.

For example, they could have chosen a system where privacy-sensitive information like visited URLs are fed into a part of the extension which is a side-effect free function returning limited information. As they already have capability-based extension permissions, this would not be terribly hard to add if they would set their mind to it.

More manual reviewing of valuable extensions would also be a path. They don't need to allow all extensions this permissions, and there doesn't need to be a level playing field for extensions here. It's just that Google doesn't see effective ad blocking as valuable, but rather the opposite.

> but sometimes I wonder about Brian Kendall

No need to wonder; you can read his reflection on it here [1], although it's unclear when exactly it was written.

[1] http://briankendall.net/animation/tdcm.htm

There's an enormous cache of historic SWFs hosted here [1] and it would be awesome if the Internet Archive could archive them, so they won't get lost. However, there are far too many to individually add.

My personal favorites would be the Demented Cartoon Movie [2], Weebl and Bob's transdimensional portal [3] (which is located under the stairs) and of course The End of the World [4]. They all load perfectly in Ruffle [5].

[1] https://locker.phinugamma.org/swf/

[2] SWF: https://locker.phinugamma.org/swf/albinoblacksheep/demented%... | Video: https://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/demented

[3] http://www.venue.nu/infusions/the_kroax/uploads/movies/Weebl...

[4] SWF: https://locker.phinugamma.org/swf/albinoblacksheep/end%28www... | Video: https://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/end

[5] https://ruffle.rs/demo/

You wouldn't burn the ammonia, but use a process to 'crack' ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen gas, for example [1]. No oxygen is involved.

Edit: Upon rereading, I found that the article actually states: "There are challenges. Burning ammonia can create polluting nitrous oxides, therefore the exhaust needs cleaning up", which would indicate they're burning it. So either the reporter misunderstood or it's really a non-innovation then.

[1] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja5042836

Thanks for noticing. Fixed.

Another option which I don't see mentioned often is using formic acid to solve the volumetric capacity problem of storing hydrogen.

Compared to ammonia and methanol, formic acid is less energy dense, but due to recent advances in catalysts it has the potential for simpler and smaller systems in less demanding circumstances (heat, pressure) [1].

The only party I know of that is trying to bring this to market is Dens [2], formed out of a student group at the University of Eindhoven [3]. Their website is a bit high on the rhetoric (including trying to coin "hydrozine"), and their mockups looks like, well, mockups, but there are real technology advances behind this, for example their trial with a city bus [4] (Dutch).

[1] https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110536423-002

[2] https://dens.one/products/

[3] https://teamfast.nl/technology/

[4] https://web.archive.org/web/20200808210727/https://www.volks...

Here's an excellent talk that addresses your question: Open Source is Insufficient to Solve Trust Problems in Hardware [1].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzb37RyagCQ

If this evolves further I might make a tiny website about the progress. In that case I'll put a link in my profile.

So the other day Spotify decided to block API access to SongShift [1], which used their API to transfer playlists to other services. By doing that, they removed a method which was valid under GDPR article 20 subsection 2 to transfer personal data directly from one controller to another. FreeYouMusic is using another process without cooperation or consent from Spotify, and doesn't include all personal data.

I've been exchanging emails with Spotify to demand that they re-enable the API or allow for some other method to transfer my personal data directly to another controller. So far they've just sent me boilerplate back telling me about their GDPR article 20 subsection 1 process. You can read the full conversation here [2].

I fully intend to file a complaint with the Dutch civil court if they don't allow me to exercise my rights under the law. It would be good to have some precedent here. As they've already shown it to be technically feasible (a requirement of the law), and enabling the process is literally a boolean away, I think such a complaint would have a high chance of success.

Additionally, in my opinion their GDPR article 20 subsection 1 process is currently also in violation, because they take up to 30 days (counting 2 now) before emailing you the ZIP with your personal data. This is arguably "undue delay" (which is prohibited under the GDPR). If it comes to a case, removing this delay will certainly be part of the demands.

[1] https://songshift.com/blog/spotify_transfers

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24764371

They replied with:

  Thank you for getting back in touch.

  I get that you've come to rely on SongShift to transfer your playlists to other services, thus I understand how you feel when the service was removed. However, please know that the service they offer goes against our T&Cs and due to this violation, the app has been taken down. 

  If you want to transmit your personal data to another service, we can help you request to receive a copy of that data and give it the other service.

  Due to the large size and complexity of the data retrieval, you will receive your personal data in three separate packages. 

  First, you will receive a ZIP file with a copy of most of your personal data via our Download your data function, after you verify your request in the confirmation email sent to your registered email account to ensure secure delivery. 

  This download will include information about your playlists, streaming history, searches, a list of items saved in Your Library, the number of followers you have, the number of accounts you follow, the names of the artists you follow, and your payment and subscription data. For more detailed information about what is included in each file of your download, please see Understanding My Data. 

  The second data package will include the technical log information of your account that we collect to provide and troubleshoot the Spotify service. The data description is provided in the Read Me file together with the data.  

  Finally, the third data package will include your entire listening history for the life of your account. Each of the above data packages will be made available to you as soon as they become ready in the coming weeks.

  You can request for the first data package via the Privacy Settings section of your account page. If you want the 2nd and 3rd data package, please let me know your username so we can help you request for these data. 

  I hope this email clarifies. Let me know if we can help you with anything else.

And I replied with:

  Regrettably, your answer didn't clarify anything at all. In fact, it seems that you are ignoring the substance of my previous two messages.

  If you have not already done so, I strongly advise you to forward this email conversation to your legal department. I will not hesitate to file a complaint (verzoekschriftprocedure) at the Dutch civil court (Rechtbank Midden-Nederland) if you do not allow me to exercise my rights under the law.

  The process you are describing would fall under GDPR article 20 subsection 1. However, my previous demand isn't about those rights. Instead, I want to exercise my rights under GDPR article 20 subsection 2 to transfer my data directly from controller to controller, for example (but not limited) to SongShift, when you have specifically shown that it is technically possible.

  GDPR article 20 subsection 2 is Dutch and European law. You cannot overrule the law with your terms and conditions. You have an obligation to me, a Dutch citizen, to allow me to transfer my data to another controller when technically feasible. Your message tells me that you are refusing to do so.

  I demand, again, that you re-enable the API or allow for some other method to allow me to exercise my rights under the GDPR, so I can transfer my personal data directly from Spotify to another controller such as (but not limited to) SongShift.

  Seeing how you responded the previous two times with unsubstantive answers, I'm giving you 3 days to respond substantively. If you promise to provide me a timeline about when and how I can exercise my rights under the GDPR or otherwise want a delay, I will give you an additional 10 days.

  If you do not respond or offer no solution, I will send a registered letter (aangetekende brief) to your Dutch offices in Amsterdam with a last warning before starting the verzoekschriftprocedure. Note that I will be hiring a lawyer to draft this letter, and will thus be incurring costs, which I will recover from you as damages.