In early 2022, the author obtained several Sun SPARC servers for free and updated readers on their progress. These devices, like the SPARCstation 20 and the Ultra 1 Creator, face NVRAM issues due to battery degradation, resulting in configuration wipes. The author provides a detailed step-by-step guide on manually restoring the NVRAM values using the […]
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After 17 years, the blog ribbonfarm is officially retiring, marking the end of an era in the blogosphere. The decision has been brewing for years, not influenced by recent minor civil wars in the WordPress ecosystem. The emergence of the cozyweb era, replacing public social media, is seen as a product of higher interest rates […]
Santiago Horgan, known for pioneering robotically assisted gastric-bypass surgery, is now exploring Apple Vision Pro headsets for minimally invasive surgeries at UC San Diego. This new technology allows surgeons to view vital information without looking away from the patient, addressing the discomfort associated with minimal-access operations. Horgan is impressed by the headset’s capabilities and believes […]
In this paper, the authors delve into the complex world of tree ensembles, shedding light on their effectiveness and the factors that contribute to their success. They propose a new perspective that views tree ensembles as adaptive and self-regulating smoothers, offering a deeper understanding of how they make predictions. Surprisingly, they challenge the common belief […]
In the ongoing debate about the connection between language and thought, Evelina Fedorenko, a neuroscientist at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, argues that language and thought are distinct entities processed separately in the brain. She discovered this through studies of individuals with aphasia, severe language impairments, who perform well on nonverbal cognitive tasks. Using […]
In this guide, you will discover the wonders of the versatile 555 timer integrated circuit, which serves as the building block for a wide variety of electronic circuits. By understanding the functionality of the 555 timer, you will gain the skills to construct a range of exciting projects. From fun circuits to practical applications, these […]
The author demonstrates that LLM’s complexity must be $O(n)$ based on a necessary condition in complexity theories. If LLM is AGI, it should be capable of solving any problem a human can solve. For instance, determining if a string is a palindrome can be solved by humans easily in at least $O(n)$ time, while LLM […]
This article discusses how the directionality of friendship ties affects individuals’ ability to influence each other’s behavior. The research shows that people often misperceive the direction of their friendship ties, leading to limited engagement in cooperative efforts. The study reveals that only about half of reported friendships are reciprocal, challenging the common expectation of reciprocity. […]
Dan Davies discusses the concept of “accountability sinks,” structures within organizations that prevent individuals from being held accountable for their decisions. He provides examples such as a hospitality company reducing cleaning staff, leading to customer service issues with no clear person to blame. Davies emphasizes the importance of maintaining a feedback loop between decision-makers and […]
Scientific American commemorates Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday with a reprint from 1996 detailing Darwin’s war against professional psychics in Victorian England. Wallace, Darwin’s rival, backed spiritualism. Surprising allies emerged during a bizarre trial, including Arthur Conan Doyle, defending spiritualists. Darwin himself shunned belief in hauntings, advocating professional stage magicians over mediums. The trial showcased scientists’ […]