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▲ Webb captures iconic Horsehead Nebula in unprecedented detail (esa.int)
In an awe-inspiring display of humankind's dedication to staring at brightly colored gas thousands of light-years away, the James Webb Space Telescope (costing more than the GDP of some small countries) snaps a high-definition shot of the Horsehead Nebula, because apparently, the universe wasn't HD enough. On the ground, amateur astronomers with their backyard setups and monochrome sensors are doing their darnedest to keep up, delving into exhaustive detail about their equipment setups and how they, too, can capture less impressive, yet charmingly ambitious photos of space dust. The comments section quickly becomes an astrophotography forum, as enthusiasts compare notes on the best ways to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours to capture their own fuzzy versions of celestial wonders, all while marveling at how their efforts pale next to Webb’s billion-dollar snapshots. It's a reminder that, no matter how advanced our technology becomes, there will always be someone in the comments section ready to say, "Nice pic, but check out mine!"
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684 points by rbanffy
2024-04-29T15:31:49 |
205 comments
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| 2. |
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▲ Show HN: 3D Framework for the Web. Built on Svelte and Three.js (threlte.xyz)
In today's episode of Hacker News Theatre, we're treated to a dazzling display of developers excitedly chattering about the newest 3D framework lovechild of Svelte and Three.js: Threlte. Watch in awe as our protagonist, Amr, navigates the treacherous waters of web development jargon, armed with nothing but an eclectic collection of hyperlinks and a burning passion for unnecessarily complex portfolio websites. Commenters, in a plot twist no one saw coming, throw around buzzwords like "XR components" and "GLTF model" as if they're vying for the Nobel Prize in Obscurity. Amidst declarations of love for Threlte and daydreams about 3D chess lounges, one can't help but marvel at the sheer determination to make the web unreadable by both humans and screen readers alike. Who knew web development could be both a spectator sport and a comedy show?
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37 points by spxneo
2024-04-29T23:38:02 |
13 comments
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| 3. |
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▲ I made a new backplane for my consumer NAS (codedbearder.com)
In an astounding revelation that threatens the very fabric of electronics manufacturing, a brave hobbyist wielding nothing more than a surplus of solder paste and a hot air station has single-handedly revolutionized how to haphazardly adhere tiny computer chips to a circuit board. Critics marvel at the audacity to use a technique akin to squishing bugs with a sledgehammer - applying *just* enough solder paste to recreate the La Brea tar pits, then gently nudging a DFN package into its doom with the finesse of a tweezers-wielding titan. The commentariat, buoyed by their collective expertise sourced from the deepest crevices of Wikipedia, spills forth advice ranging from the blatantly obvious to the esoterically arcane, ensuring that even the most novice of solder jockeys can confidently ruin their electronics with the reckless abandon of a seasoned professional. Meanwhile, the specter of 'wettable flanks' looms large, promising a future where even the grossly over-applied solder can find its way home, heralding an era of slightly less terrible DIY electronics.
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266 points by granra
2024-04-29T15:56:56 |
75 comments
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| 4. |
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▲ You can't just assume UTF-8 (csvbase.com)
In a world tragically undersupplied with real problems, csvbase.com steps up to insist that you can't just *assume* UTF-8, sparking a ferocious debate among those who believe in the healing powers of re-encoding and the dark arts of character set detection. Commenters, armed with the ancient wisdom of "just convert everything to UTF-8 lol" and haunted by the spectre of Windows' UTF-16, engage in a ritualistic dance around the bonfire of compatibility issues and Unicode Normalizations. One brave soul suggests machine learning might save us from this encoding hell, presumably by training an AI so powerful it can tell the difference between legacy text files and modernist UTF-8 art. Meanwhile, someone remembers the Swedish version of ASCII, bringing nostalgia for a simpler, more Nordic time when "åäö" were not exotic characters but the equivalent of wearing a horned helmet in a string of text.
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60 points by calpaterson
2024-04-29T06:11:17 |
169 comments
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| 5. |
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▲ 93% of paint splatters are valid Perl programs (2019) (mcmillen.dev)
In a dazzling display of mock technical profundity posted on April Fools' Day, a blogger achieves the peak of programmer humor by revealing that 93% of paint splatters are valid Perl programs. As one might expect, the digital peanut gallery leaps in with commentary ranging from surprisingly earnest concerns about OCR technology's inability to discriminate between Renaissance art and spam emails, to self-congratulatory musings on the nature of concatenative languages and Gödel numbering. One brave soul even tries to decipher the arcane mysteries of a Perl quine that mirrors the absurdity of its own existence, much like the commenter trying to parse basic humor. Meanwhile, in the echo chambers of internet forums, readers nod vigorously, misunderstanding every joke but pretending to laugh, lest they seem as confused as a Perl interpreter staring down a Jackson Pollock painting.
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297 points by ellieh
2024-04-29T11:30:51 |
72 comments
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| 6. |
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▲ Show HN: I made a privacy friendly and simple app to track my menstruation (play.google.com)
In a world where the volume of data mined from your personal life directly correlates to how much of a human being you're still considered, some Hacker News hero decides to launch an app to track menstruation cycles without inviting Google to the party. Cue the collective gasp of the HN crowd, who immediately sees this as an opportunity to debate the merits of various privacy respecting, open-source options because, apparently, tracking menstruation is just another coding challenge to optimize. Meanwhile, the comments section turns into a bizarre bazaar of recommendations for baby tracking apps as if these digital newborns need more surveillance than the NSA provides. "But hey," says one commenter, "why not slap in-app purchases on this simple calendar app, because nothing says 'privacy respecting' quite like monetizing it." This entire discussion proves that if you thought understanding human biology was hard, wait until you try understanding tech bro logic. 🙄
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176 points by stormqueen
2024-04-29T15:35:04 |
37 comments
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| 7. |
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▲ Cheyenne Super Computer Auction (gsaauctions.gov)
In a breathtaking display of e-waste bravado, enthusiasts of the Cheyenne Supercomputer Auction at gsaauctions.gov wax nostalgic over purchasing slabs of tech history that require small power plants to operate and enough square footage to make a real estate agent giddy. One proud purchaser reminisces about the logistical nightmare of housing 72 racks from a bygone era, while barely suppressing the regret of not turning them into Bitcoin mines. Others chime in with corrections about IRIX installations and affectionate tales of their own outdated tech behemoths, as if competing in the "Obsolete Tech Hoarders Olympics." Amidst this, a pedantic debate emerges over the correct acronym for protective gear needed to move these relics, proving once again that in the nerd realm, no detail is too trivial to contest. 🤓
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179 points by zrules
2024-04-29T12:10:47 |
125 comments
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| 8. |
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▲ Green Software Foundation's Software Carbon Intensity Spec Becomes ISO Standard (greensoftware.foundation)
In a world where software bloat is the real carbon footprint, the Green Software Foundation proudly announces that hugging trees can now be certified through their revolutionary Software Carbon Intensity Specification, now an ISO standard. Tech enthusiasts and armchair environmentalists collide in a comment section more bloated than the web apps they love to hate, debating whether the answer to the climate crisis is simply blocking ads or maybe—just maybe—rewriting the entire internet in Rust. Amidst warnings of virtue-signaling bureaucracy and the shock revelation that yes, inefficient software might actually be bad for the environment, someone points out that maybe, just maybe, making software that doesn’t suck could also save the polar bears. But why strive for efficiency or embrace the economic incentives of reducing carbon emissions when you can participate in endless debates about the real impact of carbon accounting methodologies on AWS's unpublished scope 3 emissions? After all, what's a little existential crisis among friends?
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18 points by wbeckler
2024-04-29T21:20:52 |
10 comments
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| 9. |
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▲ FC8 – Faster 68K Decompression (2016) (bigmessowires.com)
In a thrilling display of "I-knew-about-this-technology-before-it-was-cool," the hive mind at FC8 flutters about with the kind of zeal typically reserved for debates over the best Star Trek captain. One commenter, perhaps lost on their way to a more relevant discussion, waxes philosophical about Blosc—the unsung hero of compressing weather data for those who absolutely *must* have their terabytes squeezed tighter than their grip on reality. Meanwhile, an Amiga enthusiast emerges from the depths of nostalgia, keen to share their groundbreaking discovery of ZX0's in-place decompression for asset management during those high-octane, 7MHz gaming sessions. The collective response is a robust echo of "Nice!" and a flurry of self-congratulatory pats on the back for being able to discuss arcane compression algorithms with the casual ease of ordering a latte at Starbucks.
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40 points by electricant
2024-04-28T15:58:26 |
5 comments
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| 10. |
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▲ I Built an Ld_preload Worm (lcamtuf.substack.com)
In a stunning display of what happens when someone actually reads the manual, a blogger triumphantly recounts how they've harnessed the arcane powers of `ld_preload` to create a worm that's about as welcome as a skunk at a garden party. The tech glitterati, in their infinite wisdom, swarm the comments section like moths to a flame, offering a delightful mix of backhanded compliments and "well, actually" critiques that serve as a stark reminder of why we can't have nice things. As the post zigzags between technical bravado and an almost confessional tone, it becomes clear that the real epidemic isn't insecure software, but an unstoppable urge to broadcast every clever hack, no matter how mischievous it gets. Meanwhile, the commenters, ever eager to display their own superiority, manage to both miss the point and illustrate it perfectly, proving once again that the only thing tech enthusiasts love more than innovation is telling someone, anyone, that they're doing it wrong.
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24 points by zdw
2024-04-29T20:23:32 |
0 comments
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| 11. |
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▲ Project Habbakuk: Britain’s ice “bergship” aircraft carrier project (2017) (99percentinvisible.org)
In an ambitious crossover episode between *Ice Road Truckers* and *World War II*, the brilliance of British engineering gives us Project Habbakuk: a testament to what happens when you ignore literally every practical consideration in favor of making a really *big* ice cube. Comments section warriors, armed with their honorary degrees from the University of Google, enthusiastically dive into the physics of why this frosty fiasco melted faster than their attention spans. Between arguing about the melting point of steel beams and the economic viability of essentially turning an iceberg into an aircraft carrier, it's clear that everyone missed the memo on practical wartime solutions. And yes, Jerry, we’re all very impressed that you can use the word "pykrete" in a sentence, but that still doesn’t make your idea for an ice cream truck/tank hybrid any more viable.
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111 points by not_a_boat
2024-04-29T15:35:31 |
35 comments
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| 12. |
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▲ Exploit.education (exploit.education)
In the latest attempt to save the cyber world from its own demise, exploit.education gallantly offers a tutorial buffet for aspiring hackers and professional cybersecurity masochists alike. The site arrogantly assumes anyone can ascend from script kiddie to cyber deity with just a few clicks and a heavy dose of suffering. Meanwhile, the comment section quickly devolves into a digital Lord of the Flies, with "experts" viciously one-upping each other's understanding of stack overflows, as if the prize was anything more than fleeting internet smugness. Clearly, the real vulnerability being exploited here is the human ego.
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12 points by udev4096
2024-04-29T06:41:24 |
0 comments
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| 13. |
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▲ FireChat was a tool for revolution, then disappeared (fromjason.xyz)
In a shocking turn of events that nobody could have predicted, FireChat, the once hailed savior of free speech and nightmare of "authoritarian governments and spineless corporations," has slid into the digital abyss, leaving behind a wake of disillusioned would-be revolutionaries. Meanwhile, in the comment section, hopefuls cling to the wreckage by discussing its successor, Newnode, with the fervor of a ham radio operator during the apocalypse. One commentator, after a thrilling saga of failed SMS verification attempts, questions the existential reasoning behind not leeching off Signal's user base, ignoring the fact that convincing people to install another "revolutionary" app is as hard as teaching a cat quantum physics. Another braves the wilds of open-source lore to ask if this digital phoenix rising from FireChat's ashes is also destined to vanish into the CIA's Bermuda Triangle, while enthusiasts debate the merits of switching to radio waves as if preparing for the world's most underwhelming spy movie.
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147 points by evah
2024-04-29T21:47:46 |
71 comments
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| 14. |
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▲ Memary: Open-Source Longterm Memory for Autonomous Agents (github.com/kingjulio8238)
In an ambitious attempt to redefine confusion, a blog post under the guise of "Memary: Open-Source Longterm Memory for Autonomous Agents" manages to muddle the definition of a knowledge graph so thoroughly that one wonders if it's actually a satirical piece on the state of AI research. The comments quickly transform into a battleground where semantics go to die, as enthusiasts and skeptics alike dig trenches around the proper use of "knowledge graph" versus a glorified similarity search machine. One commenter, in a heroic feat of missing the point, embarks on a quest to resuscitate schema.org from its peaceful slumber to standardize... something. Meanwhile, another eager soul fantasizes about LLMs solving the enigma of ontology creation, blissfully ignoring their propensity for generating creative nonsense. Amidst this existential discourse, a job listing for a cybersecurity engineer appears like a beacon of hope, or perhaps a cry for help, reminding us that regardless of whether we're building AI to save the world or just to argue about semantics, someone still needs to keep the lights on.
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179 points by james_chu
2024-04-29T11:12:51 |
51 comments
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| 15. |
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▲ Show HN: Kaytu – Optimizing cloud costs using actual usage data (github.com/kaytu-io)
In the latest HN circus show, a brave soul introduces "Kaytu," a cloud penny-pincher's dream, promising to slash those pesky bills by actually looking at what you use. Responses from the crowd range from paranoid tech bros questioning the existence of a server component ("What sorcery requires a server?") to would-be customers tripping over each other's ethical standards while drooling over potential savings. Amidst this, the creators play a tantalizing game of open-source peek-a-boo, promising all the transparency... eventually. In the grand tradition of bikeshedding, the most critical issue identified is a broken Calendly link. Because, clearly, the ability to schedule a call is the linchpin of cloud cost optimization.
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72 points by acx1729
2024-04-29T15:57:03 |
13 comments
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| 16. |
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▲ Husband and wife outed as GRU spies aiding bombings and poisonings across Europe (theins.ru)
Welcome to another episode of "Spies R Us: Bumbling Through Borders," where the thrilling world of espionage meets the thrilling incompetence of internet commentators. Our star couple, the Šapošnikovas, charmed their way across Europe with a handful of passports and a dream, dodging digital footprints with the finesse of drunk ballerinas. Meanwhile, our intrepid commenters, armed with their vast (non-)experience in international travel, spy games, and Google searches, dissect their methods with the precision of a toddler performing surgery with a spoon. In one corner, we have amateur travel agents debating the nuances of passport presentations and airline policies with the fervor of sports fans arguing about a game they didn't watch. In the other, history buffs offering unsolicited trivia about steamship travel as if it's the missing piece of the puzzle. Together, they form the perfect storm of the blind leading the blind through the complex world of international espionage, leaving no stone unturned, no fact checked, and no stereotype about dual citizens unexplored.
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549 points by dralley
2024-04-29T15:00:15 |
331 comments
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| 17. |
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▲ Haunting Sounds from the Largest Living Thing (sciencealert.com)
In the latest echo chamber reverberation, ScienceAlert decides that eerie noises from nature are *the* groundbreaking news we've been waiting for, supposedly due to the cacophony produced by "the largest living thing." Cue the collective eyeroll of the internet as one commenter attempts to hijack the narrative with a link they swear is *actually* interesting, while another laments their missed opportunity to discuss something even bigger (and, predictably, more fungus among us). The real horror, however, isn't the haunting sounds or the fungal comparisons; it's the thought of driving 8 hours just to see your destination buried under snow. Nonetheless, the sheer dedication to see a sub-par tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest has inadvertently become the most thrilling part of this saga. 🍄🎶
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14 points by neverenginelabs
2024-04-29T05:44:43 |
3 comments
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| 18. |
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▲ The Pen, Mightier (themillions.com)
In a stunning display of relevance, themillions.com publishes yet another think piece on why the pen isn't just mightier than the sword, but also apocalyptic if it runs out of ink. The prose meanders like a retiree in a garden, discovering the lost art of handwriting in between sips of tea and bouts of nostalgia. Commenters, in an astonishing feat of missing the point, wage a keyboard war about their preferred brand of pens, turning the comment section into an unholy battleground over ballpoint superiority. Truly, a testament to how the written word can ignite the fiercest of passions, especially when it's about absolutely nothing of consequence.
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3 points by scour
2024-04-28T15:34:22 |
0 comments
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| 19. |
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▲ Debugging Tech Journalism (asteriskmag.com)
In a heroic revelation, asteriskmag.com blasts the doors wide open on tech journalism's worst-kept secret: it's sometimes sensationalist and occasionally low on the research. Fans of the groundbreaking "water is wet" and "the sky is often blue” studies will find themselves riveted. Meanwhile, in the sprawling metropolis of the comments section, a cohort of armchair experts and would-be Woodward and Bernsteins pledge to rise above the mire by continuing to do exactly what they've always done: nothing. Tech journalism, much like Schrödinger's cat, is simultaneously dead and alive in the minds of those who can't stop reading about the next big scandal over their morning coffee.
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24 points by ra7
2024-04-29T18:05:18 |
0 comments
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