https://web.archive.org/web/20250914232133/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3323460/us-scientists-find-critical-gaps-holding-back-nasa-moon-plan-china-races-ahead

A developer repurposed discarded disposable vapes into functioning web servers by utilizing their built-in PUYA microcontrollers[^1]. The project runs on a 24MHz Cortex M0+ chip with 24KiB flash storage and 3KiB RAM, found inside modern rechargeable "disposable" vapes[^6]. The web server implementation uses uIP for TCP/IP networking and communicates via SLIP protocol through semihosting. After optimizing the data transfer with ring buffers, the server achieves 20ms ping times and 160ms page load speeds[^6]. The project demonstrates creative e-waste reuse at a time when disposable vapes face increasing restrictions, with recent bans enacted in Rhode Island[^13] and other jurisdictions. The developer notes the irony of "disposable" devices containing USB-C ports and rechargeable batteries[^6]. [^1]: [Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape | Lobsters](https://lobste.rs/s/3ihcwv/hosting_website_on_disposable_vape) [^6]: [Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape](https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/) [^13]: [New year, new laws: RI to put host of new laws on the books | ABC6](https://www.abc6.com/new-year-new-laws-ri-to-put-host-of-new-laws-on-the-books/)

This [list](https://openalternative.co/?sort=pageviews.desc) is an absolute gem in finding what are the trending state-of-the-art open source programs. I have found so many cool open source projects I feel addicted to browsing more..

https://archive.ph/slN0J

SMH @ activists using techno-fascist platforms for communications during an operation subject to state-actor level interference. I thought we recognised and acknowledged this problem 15-20 years ago already. https://xcancel.com/CraigMurrayOrg/status/1965431513320927706

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/37155283 > ::: spoiler Comments > - [Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45183560). > :::

preprint here https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.05276v1

The AI Darwin Awards, launched in 2025, celebrates catastrophically poor decisions involving artificial intelligence deployment[^1]. Modeled after the original Darwin Awards that honored fatal human stupidity, this new initiative focuses on spectacular AI failures and the humans who enabled them[^2]. The awards require nominations to demonstrate: - Direct AI involvement - Catastrophic potential - Clear evidence of hubris - Ethical oversights - Ambitious scale of failure[^1] Notable 2025 nominees include: - Replit's AI agent deleting a company's production database - Taco Bell's failed AI drive-thru system across 500 locations - McDonald's chatbot security breach exposing 64 million job applicants' data[^2] The organizers emphasize that the awards mock human recklessness rather than AI itself, stating "Artificial intelligence is just a tool - like a chainsaw, nuclear reactor, or particularly aggressive blender. It's not the chainsaw's fault when someone decides to juggle it at a dinner party"[^1]. Winners will be selected through public voting, with results announced in February 2026[^6]. [^1]: [AI Darwin Awards - Celebrating Spectacularly Bad AI Decisions](https://aidarwinawards.org/) [^2]: [The Register - The nominations for the 2025 AI Darwin Awards are open](https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/09/ai_darwin_awards/) [^6]: [Gizmodo - There's Now a Darwin Awards to Celebrate the Worst AI Fails of 2025](https://gizmodo.com/theres-now-a-darwin-awards-to-celebrate-the-worst-ai-fails-of-2025-2000655955)

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/37214923 > ::: spoiler Table of Contents. > - [Database: The influence of Big Tech](https://big-tech-data.elclip.org/?lang=en). > - [How Big Tech’s “Invisible Hand” Reaches Latin American Regulators](https://www.elclip.org/asi-presiona-la-mano-invisible-de-las-gigantes-tecnologicas-a-las-autoridades-latinoamericanas/?lang=en). > - [How Big Tech Killed Brazil’s “Fake News Bill”](https://www.elclip.org/como-las-big-tech-mataron-el-proyecto-de-ley-de-las-fake-news/?lang=en). > - [The battle Big Tech won to weaken a regulation that sought to protect children's mental health](https://www.elclip.org/la-batalla-que-le-ganaron-las-big-tech-para-debilitar-la-regulacion-que-busca-cuidar-la-salud-mental-de-ninos-y-ninas/?lang=en). > - [The Revolving Door Minister](https://www.elclip.org/la-ministra-de-la-puerta-giratoria/?lang=en). > - [The Argentina’s Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP) attempted to collect taxes from large technology companies, but Alberto Fernandez's administration exonerated Mercado Libre](https://www.elclip.org/la-afip-intento-cobrar-impuestos-a-las-grandes-tecnologicas-pero-el-gobierno-de-alberto-fernandez-exculpo-a-mercado-libre/?lang=en). > - [In the Shadows, a Former President Builds a Career Representing Tech Companies](https://www.elclip.org/en-las-sombras-un-expresidente-hace-carrera-representando-a-las-empresas-tecnologicas/?lang=en). > - [Zero Sanctions in Ecuador Due to a Weak Personal Data Protection Law](https://www.elclip.org/cero-sanciones-en-ecuador-por-una-ley-de-proteccion-de-datos-personales-blandengue/?lang=en). > > Not Released in English Yet: > - [Content removal from platforms accounts for 40% of lawsuits against tech companies in Brazil](https://www.elclip.org/la-eliminacion-de-contenido-de-las-plataformas-representa-el-40-de-los-procesos-contra-las-empresas-tecnologicas-en-brasil). > - [The right is filling gaps in Congress with a flood of bills to regulate the internet](https://www.elclip.org/la-derecha-llena-vacios-en-el-congreso-con-una-avalancha-de-proyectos-para-regular-internet). > - [Father of the chairwoman of the AI ​​commission in Congress signs agreement with Google for use of technology](https://www.elclip.org/padre-de-la-presidenta-de-la-comision-de-ia-en-el-congreso-firma-acuerdo-con-google-para-uso-de-tecnologia). > ::: > > An investigation into how Big Tech has influenced the avoidance of regulations seeking to mitigate its negative effects on societies and politics. Led by the Brazilian media outlet Agência Pública and CLIP in partnership with 15 organizations.

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/37022178 > ::: spoiler Comments > - [Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45156753). > ::: > > Logan Kilpatrick, lead product manager for Google DeepMind, Gemini, and all AI products at Google, said Google AI Mode will be the default for Google Search "soon." He said this after Google made google.com/ai go directly to AI Mode's interface on Friday afternoon.

No surprises here. Just like the lockdown on iPhone screen and part replacements, Macbooks suffer from the same Apple's anti-repair and anti-consumer bullshit. Battery glued, ssd soldered in and can't even swap parts with other official parts. 6000$ laptop and you don't even own it.

https://archive.ph/Pg9mT

https://archive.ph/C3c6w

https://archive.ph/4LbGN

An abandoned mine in Finland is set to be transformed into a giant battery to store renewable energy during periods of excess production. The Pyhäsalmi Mine, roughly 450 kilometres north of Helsinki, is Europe’s deepest zinc and copper mine and holds the potential to store up to 2 MW of energy within its 1,400-metre-deep shafts. The disused mine will be fitted with a gravity battery, which uses excess energy from renewable sources like solar and wind in order to lift a heavy weight. During periods of low production, the weight is released and used to power a turbine as it drops.

Long but a good read. The fascinating life of Joseph Weizenbaum, the creator of ELIZA.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/11393245 > Edward Zitron has been reading all of google's internal [emails](https://www.justice.gov/atr/us-and-plaintiff-states-v-google-llc-2020-trial-exhibits) that have been released as evidence in the [DOJ's antitrust case against google.](https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-and-plaintiff-states-v-google-llc) > > > This is the story of how Google Search died, and the people responsible for killing it. > > > The story begins on February 5th 2019, when Ben Gomes, Google’s head of search, had a problem. Jerry Dischler, then the VP and General Manager of Ads at Google, and Shiv Venkataraman, then the VP of Engineering, Search and Ads on Google properties, had called a “code yellow” for search revenue due to, and I quote, “steady weakness in the daily numbers” and a likeliness that it would end the quarter significantly behind. > > HackerNews thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40133976 > > MetaFilter thread: https://www.metafilter.com/203456/The-core-query-softness-continues-without-mitigation

Already, the research team is working on a device that could also identify influenza and RSV.