Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-04-03 Briefing

Created Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:34:04 +0000 Modified Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:56:10 +0000
5930 Words

The Chinese spy group TA416 has resurfaced, targeting EU and NATO organizations. OpenAI is reportedly pivoting toward a “superapp” integrating ChatGPT with Codex agents. In labor news, the NLRB has ordered Amazon to negotiate with its Staten Island union. Meanwhile, a new US bill seeks to ban DUV lithography exports to China, as Elon Musk reportedly mandates Grok usage for the SpaceX IPO.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

Claude subscriptions will stop covering 3rd-party tools like OpenClaw tomorrow at 12pm PT.

Starting tomorrow at 12pm PT, Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools, requiring users to utilize API keys or extra usage bundles instead. Additionally, the Claude SDK now supports a --bare flag that can increase startup speeds by up to 10x by bypassing searches for local configurations.

Anthropic launches AnthroPAC, a bipartisan, employee-funded PAC.

Anthropic has launched “AnthroPAC,” a new political action committee that will be funded exclusively and voluntarily by its employees. The PAC is expected to be bipartisan, supporting candidates from both sides of the aisle.

AI Chatbots Prescribing Psychiatric Medications

Utah is launching a one-year pilot program using an AI chatbot from Legion Health to automate the renewal of 15 low-risk psychiatric medications for stable patients. While state officials hope the initiative will reduce costs and address healthcare shortages, some medical professionals have expressed concerns regarding the safety and transparency of using AI for clinical renewals.

OpenAI’s upcoming superapp will combine ChatGPT with Codex, experts say

OpenAI is pivoting its strategy to develop a “superapp” that integrates Codex agents with ChatGPT and the Atlas web browser. The plan aims to leverage Codex as a foundation for all knowledge work, shifting resources away from other projects like Sora.

Mercor asked pros to sell work materials for AI training, even if IP belongs to ex-employers.

Mercor, a $10 billion startup, has begun approaching professionals in industries such as entertainment to purchase their previous work materials for AI training. However, many of those approached may not legally hold the rights to the intellectual property, as ownership often belongs to their former employers.

Musk Mandates Grok Use for SpaceX IPO

Elon Musk is reportedly requiring banks and advisers involved in the SpaceX IPO to subscribe to the Grok AI chatbot and purchase advertisements on X. To secure their roles in the upcoming offering, some financial institutions are already spending millions of dollars to integrate the chatbot into their IT systems.

Lacking advanced chips, startups use ‘frugal AI’ to build smaller models on open-weight systems.

Researchers and startups are adopting a “frugal AI” approach by building smaller, open-weight models that require significantly less computing power and energy. These efficient systems are designed to run on low-end devices and low-bandwidth networks, helping to bridge the global AI adoption gap in resource-limited regions.

AI-native design tool Noon raises $44M from Chemistry, First Round Capital, and others

San Francisco-based startup Noon has emerged from stealth mode with $44 million in funding from investors including Chemistry and First Round Capital. The company is developing an AI-native product design tool that integrates directly with a team’s codebase and design system to bridge the gap between design and engineering.

Extra usage credit for Claude to celebrate usage bundles launch (Pro, Max, Team)

Claude is offering one-time usage credits to Pro, Max, and Team plan subscribers to celebrate the launch of new usage bundles. Eligible users can claim a credit equal to their subscription price by enabling extra usage between April 3 and April 17, 2026. These credits are applicable across Claude and third-party products but expire 90 days after being claimed.

The Subprime AI Crisis Is Here

The article examines the mechanics of the subprime mortgage crisis, focusing on how adjustable-rate mortgages and widespread credit expansion fueled the housing bubble. It argues that the crisis was driven by rising interest rates and broad lending practices rather than being limited to low-income borrowers.

“Cognitive surrender” leads AI users to abandon logical thinking, research finds

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have identified a phenomenon called “cognitive surrender,” in which users unthinkingly accept AI-generated answers without critical oversight. Unlike traditional cognitive offloading, this process involves an uncritical abdication of reasoning triggered by the fluent and confident delivery of AI outputs.

The danger of military AI isn’t killer robots; it’s worse human judgement

The Pentagon’s rapid deployment of large language models risks undermining military decision-making by eroding human critical thinking and intuitive reasoning. Experts warn that over-reliance on these AI tools could lead to a homogenization of thought and a decreased ability to distinguish fact from fiction in complex intelligence scenarios.

We’re building an AI hedge fund

Developers are working to build an AI-powered hedge fund to investigate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in the investment sector. The project aims to explore how well AI can manage financial assets and make investment decisions.

Automatic Textbook Formalization

RepoProver is a multi-agent framework designed to automate the large-scale formalization of mathematics textbooks in the Lean theorem prover. It coordinates LLM agents through a Git-based workflow to translate definitions, generate proofs, and manage quality control. The system was successfully used to produce an automatic formalization of the textbook Algebraic Combinatorics.

ctx – an Agentic Development Environment (ADE)

ctx is an Agentic Development Environment (ADE) that provides a unified interface for managing various coding agents, such as Claude Code and Cursor, within a single workflow. The platform offers secure, containerized workspaces with isolated disk and network controls, allowing teams to centralize reviews, transcripts, and task history across local or remote environments.

Economists Once Dismissed the A.I. Job Threat, but Not Anymore

Economists are shifting from historical skepticism toward recognizing the potential for artificial intelligence to disrupt the labor market. Although widespread displacement has not yet occurred, experts warn that rapid technological advancements could lead to significant inequality and mass job losses, potentially leaving policymakers unprepared.

Apfel – The free AI already on your Mac

Apfel is a free AI application designed for macOS users. The project is available for use via its GitHub repository.

AI’s fluency in other languages hides a Western worldview that can mislead users

Large language models exhibit “epistemological persistence,” providing linguistically fluent responses in various languages while maintaining an underlying Western worldview. This occurs because these models are trained predominantly on English-language data, causing them to prioritize Western values over the local cultural norms of other language speakers.

A Proposal for Voluntary AI Disclosure in OCaml Code

The ocaml-ai-disclosure proposal introduces a specification for machine-readable AI content disclosure within the OCaml ecosystem. Using opam package extensions and OCaml extension attributes, developers can voluntarily document the extent of AI involvement and the specific models used in their code.

Claude Code Found a Linux Vulnerability Hidden for 23 Years

Anthropic researcher Nicholas Carlini used Claude Code to discover multiple remotely exploitable vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel. Notably, the tool’s analysis uncovered a security flaw in the NFS driver that had remained undetected for 23 years.

apfel: Free AI already on your Mac

Apfel is a Swift-based utility that exposes the built-in Apple Silicon LLM as a command-line tool, an interactive chat, and an OpenAI-compatible HTTP server. The tool enables local, on-device AI processing via the FoundationModels framework, allowing users to seamlessly integrate Apple Intelligence into shell scripts and existing OpenAI-compatible applications.

Netflix - yes Netflix - jumps on the AI bandwagon with video editor

Netflix has introduced VOID, a vision-language model capable of removing objects from video and realistically inpainting the remaining elements to simulate physically plausible scenes. Available on Hugging Face, the tool aims to reduce the need for costly reshoots by seamlessly altering existing footage.

💻 Software & Development

Sony acquires Cinemersive Labs to convert 2D photos and videos into 3D volumetric content

Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired UK-based AI startup Cinemersive Labs, which specializes in converting 2D photos and videos into 3D volumetric images. The startup’s team will join Sony’s Visual Computing Group to help advance graphical technologies and enhance gameplay visuals through machine learning.

How to Write Unmaintainable Code (1999)

This satirical article provides a humorous guide on how to write unmaintainable code to ensure long-term job security. It suggests employing bad programming practices, such as misleading comments and poor encapsulation, to make software impossible for others to maintain.

Run Linux containers on Android, no root required

Podroid is an Android application that enables users to run Linux containers using Podman without requiring root access. The app utilizes QEMU to launch a lightweight Alpine Linux virtual machine, providing an integrated terminal, persistent storage, and port forwarding capabilities.

TinyOS – A minimalist RTOS for Cortex-M written in C

TinyOS is an ultra-lightweight real-time operating system designed for resource-constrained IoT and embedded devices, supporting architectures such as ARM Cortex-M and RISC-V. It features a minimal kernel footprint of under 10 KB and provides comprehensive support for networking protocols, power management, and secure OTA updates.

The Hardest Document Extraction Problem in Insurance

FurtherAI has developed a self-correcting AI agent system to address the complexities of extracting structured data from highly variable insurance “loss run” documents. By enabling agents to verify and debug their own outputs rather than relying solely on improved extraction models, the company increased row count accuracy from 80% to 95%.

Ismcpdead.com – Live dashboard tracking MCP adoption and sentiment

Ismcpdead.com is a new live dashboard designed to track the adoption and sentiment regarding the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The tool aggregates real-time data from sources such as GitHub, Reddit, and Hacker News to determine if the protocol is gaining genuine traction or is simply hype.

Hello, World

NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman captured a photograph of Earth from the Orion spacecraft’s window on April 2, 2026. The image was taken following the completion of the translunar injection burn.

Async Python Is Secretly Deterministic

Achieving determinism in asynchronous Python workflows is challenging because concurrent tasks can complete in unpredictable orders, hindering replay-based recovery. To solve this, a new approach leverages the Python event loop’s FIFO scheduling to assign deterministic step IDs before any tasks yield control.

Big-Endian Testing with QEMU

Developers can use QEMU’s user-mode emulation and GCC cross-compilers to test code for big-endian architectures, such as MIPS or IBM z/Architecture, on standard little-endian systems. This approach allows for verifying how byte order affects memory storage without the need for access to physical hardware.

Bun: cgroup-aware AvailableParallelism / HardwareConcurrency on Linux

Bun has implemented cgroup-aware CPU detection for Linux, updating APIs such as navigator.hardwareConcurrency and os.availableParallelism(). This update ensures that containers with CPU limits correctly report their allocated processor count instead of the host’s total core count.

Category Theory Illustrated – Types

This article introduces type theory as a mathematical foundation and a powerful alternative to set and category theory. It explains how the development of type theory was motivated by the need to resolve logical paradoxes, such as Russell’s paradox, inherent in naive set theory.

HarfBuzz Slug Support with WebGL

The article outlines the implementation of HarfBuzz slug support using WebGL. It provides a comprehensive list of keyboard, mouse, and touch-based shortcuts for navigating and interacting with the interface.

Microsoft wants Edge to automatically open by default at Windows 11 boot

Microsoft is testing a new feature in the Edge Beta build for Windows 11 that automatically launches the browser upon system startup. This implementation is currently an opt-out process, requiring users to manually disable the behavior via a notification banner.

I Built an SMS Gateway with a $20 Android Phone – Jonno.nz

This guide explains how to create a cost-effective SMS gateway by using an inexpensive Android phone and the “SMS Gateway for Android” app. By utilizing a REST API and webhooks, developers can bypass expensive services like Twilio and send messages using their existing mobile plan rates.

Rails on the BEAM

QuickBEAM is a new JavaScript runtime for the Erlang VM that allows Rails-style applications to leverage the BEAM’s native concurrency and fault tolerance. By embedding QuickJS, the architecture provides robust error recovery through OTP supervisors and enables built-in distributed messaging without the need for external infrastructure like Redis.

Private Open Source

To counter threats from AI scraping and bad-faith actors, open source communities may need to move from total public transparency toward more private, less AI-accessible environments. While implementing “vouching” could help build a web of trust, this shift carries risks such as increased community homogeneity and the potential for malicious infiltration.

A Discontinuity Meshing Algorithm for Accurate Radiosity (1992)

The provided text contains a title for a 1992 paper regarding a discontinuity meshing algorithm for accurate radiosity. The article’s content is unavailable due to a network security verification error.

Baby’s Second Garbage Collector

The article explores the evolution of the garbage collector used in the lone lisp programming language, building upon Bob Nystrom’s original design. It describes how the current precise collector uses a census to track all objects, ensuring they are reclaimed even when they escape the stack.

Signals, the push-pull based algorithm

The article examines the push-pull based algorithm and reactive programming paradigm that enable the functionality of Signals in modern front-end frameworks. It details how changes in data sources automatically propagate through a dependency graph using a push-based mechanism for notifying subscribers.

Lisette — Rust syntax, Go runtime

Lisette is a new programming language designed for seamless interoperability with the Go ecosystem, featuring a syntax similar to Rust. It utilizes a Hindley-Milner type system with pattern matching and algebraic data types to provide robust compile-time error detection.

Idiomatic Lisp and the nbody benchmark

A debate regarding Lisp’s performance relative to C has been sparked by a benchmark claiming the Koru language is significantly faster using “idiomatic” implementations. The author critiques the use of the term “idiomatic” and argues that true idiomatic Lisp programming involves using metaprogramming and multi-paradigm features to adapt the language to specific problems.

Open Source, Incentives, and Why ‘Monetize Later’ Often Backfires

The “open source first, monetize later” strategy often leads to license changes and community fragmentation as economic pressures force projects to prioritize revenue. To maintain developer trust, creators should either commit to long-term open infrastructure or implement transparent monetization models from the outset.

800 Rust terminal projects in 3 years

An author who has shared approximately 800 open-source Rust CLI projects over the past three years has released a ranked list of the “Top 99 Rust terminal projects.” The ranking was determined by analyzing engagement metrics, such as favorites and reblogs, collected from Mastodon posts.

Contractor quaffed his way through Y2K compliance while the client scowled

A contractor named Marcus managed Y2K compliance for a large Dutch company while drinking beer from a briefcase during his shift. Despite being accused of intoxication by a project manager, he successfully resolved technical errors to ensure a smooth transition.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Outdated laws treat whitehats and criminals the same: security researchers at risk

Outdated laws currently fail to distinguish between ethical security researchers and malicious criminals. This lack of legal distinction places whitehat hackers at significant risk of prosecution.

Chinese spy group TA416 is back after years of silence, now targeting EU and NATO

The Chinese spy group TA416 has resurfaced after several years of inactivity. The group is now reportedly targeting organizations within the EU and NATO.

Update on the eBay Scam

eBay has suspended a user’s account suspected of attempting to scam a seller during a watch sale. The seller intends to re-list the item at a discount but remains prepared for a potential future refund request from eBay.

Benefits of SSH Certificates

To improve SSH security and user experience, the articles describe how to mitigate “Trust on First Use” risks by verifying server fingerprints. They also provide instructions for implementing passwordless authentication using SSH key pairs and an SSH agent.

NHS staff resist Palantir software

NHS staff are boycotting Palantir’s £330 million Federated Data Platform due to ethical, privacy, and data security concerns regarding the company’s links to the US defense sector. This resistance, which includes reported work slowdowns, has prompted medical unions and MPs to call for the government to terminate the contract.

Proton meet isn’t what they told you it was

Proton Meet, which is marketed as a privacy-focused alternative to platforms subject to the US CLOUD Act, relies on infrastructure from US-based providers such as LiveKit Cloud, Oracle, and Amazon. This dependency on American companies means that call data could potentially be accessible to US law enforcement under existing legal mandates.

New Rowhammer attacks give complete control of machines running Nvidia GPUs

Two new Rowhammer attacks targeting Nvidia high-performance GPUs allow malicious users in shared cloud environments to gain full root control of host machines. These attacks exploit bit flips caused by rapid memory access, representing a significant escalation from previous methods that were only capable of minor data degradation.

Why Nobody Can Verify What Booted Your Server

Despite the widespread use of Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) to measure system integrity, no public database exists to verify known-good PCR measurements. This verification gap is driven by the immense combinatorial complexity of frequent updates to firmware, bootloaders, and kernels.

Offensive Cybersecurity Time Horizons

AI offensive cybersecurity capabilities are accelerating, with a doubling time of 5.7 months for models released since 2024. The study suggests that current estimates likely understate the true extent of progress and highlights the potential for rapid diffusion of these capabilities into open-weight models.

⚖️ Policy & Geopolitics

NLRB Orders Amazon to Negotiate with Union

The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Amazon must enter collective bargaining negotiations with the Amazon Labor Union, which represents approximately 5,000 workers at a Staten Island warehouse. The decision follows findings that the company engaged in unfair labor practices, though Amazon intends to appeal the ruling.

Dutch regulators demand total nudify ban beyond EU rules

Dutch regulators are calling for a total ban on “nudify” technology that exceeds existing European Union regulations. The proposal seeks to implement stricter controls to prevent the unauthorized creation of explicit content.

US bill seeks DUV lithography export ban to China as chip equipment imports surge to ~$51B

U.S. lawmakers have introduced the bipartisan MATCH Act, which aims to tighten export controls on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China and other countries. The bill seeks to close existing loopholes to prevent China from establishing a domestic supply chain for critical AI chipmaking technology.

The FAA’s flight restriction for drones is an attempt to criminalize filming ICE

A 21-month nationwide flight restriction issued by the FAA prohibits drone operators from flying within half a mile of certain DHS mobile assets, including ICE and CBP vehicles. Advocacy groups and media organizations argue that this policy unconstitutionally infringes upon the First Amendment right to record law enforcement.

Hegseth says U.S. troops are fighting for Jesus. The Pope disagrees

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for Americans to pray for military victory in the Middle East in the name of Jesus Christ. However, Pope Leo XIV has countered that military domination is foreign to the teachings of Jesus, advocating instead for dialogue to end the ongoing violence.

Oracle Files H-1B Visa Petitions Amid Mass Layoffs

Oracle has filed for over 3,100 H-1B visas across fiscal years 2025 and 2026 while simultaneously laying off thousands of American employees. These actions have intensified the debate over whether the H-1B program is being used to replace domestic workers with foreign labor.

Firm boosts H.264 streaming license fees from $100k up to staggering $4.5M

Via Licensing Alliance has replaced its $100,000 annual cap for H.264 streaming licenses with a tiered system that can reach up to $4.5 million for large platforms. The new rates apply to unlicensed implementers seeking licenses in 2026 or later, while existing licensees are grandfathered under their original terms.

Tech Companies Are Trying to Neuter Colorado’s Landmark Right-to-Repair Law

Colorado lawmakers have advanced bill SB26-090, which aims to exempt IT equipment used in critical infrastructure from the state’s existing right-to-repair laws. While tech manufacturers support the measure citing cybersecurity concerns, repair advocates warn that the bill’s vague language could restrict the repair of essential technologies like servers and routers.

F-15E jet shot down over Iran

A US F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran during the ongoing five-week conflict. While one US service member has been successfully rescued, search and rescue operations are continuing to locate the second crew member.

U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew

A U.S. fighter jet has been shot down in Iran, resulting in the rescue of one crew member. Search efforts are currently ongoing for the remaining crew.

Trump Administration Orders Dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service

The Trump administration has announced a major restructuring of the U.S. Forest Service, which includes relocating its headquarters to Salt Lake City and closing all ten regional offices. The plan also involves dismantling more than fifty research facilities, a move critics argue is intended to replace scientific expertise and career professionals with political appointees.

F-15E wreckage photos amid Iranian claims it shot down an American fighter

Iran claims its air defenses shot down a U.S. F-35 fighter jet, yet photographic evidence of wreckage appears to depict an F-15E Strike Eagle instead. It remains unconfirmed whether the images are authentic or if the aircraft was lost due to combat, a previous incident, or other causes.

Adult German men must request permission to leave Germany for more than 3 months

Under Germany’s newly enacted Military Service Modernization Act, men aged 17 and older must obtain permission from the Bundeswehr to reside outside the country for more than three months. This regulation is part of a broader government initiative to reintroduce military registration and increase the nation’s troop strength by 2035.

H.264 Streaming Fees: What Changed, Who’s Affected, and What It Means

Starting in 2026, the Via Licensing Alliance will implement a tiered H.264 streaming royalty structure that significantly increases annual fees for large-scale platforms to as much as $4.5 million. This new model applies only to new licensees, while those with active agreements through 2025 are permitted to retain their original terms.

‘Fatal decision’: EU slammed for caving to US pressure on digital rules

EU lawmakers are criticizing the European Commission’s plan to initiate discussions with the U.S. regarding digital regulations such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. Critics warn that this dialogue could allow the Trump administration to influence EU tech laws, potentially undermining European sovereignty.

European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps

A new directory offers a curated selection of European software, products, and services as alternatives to major US companies like Google, Apple, and Dropbox. The platform highlights European-made solutions that prioritize strict standards for privacy, environmental sustainability, and product quality across various categories.

The Technocracy Movement of the 1930s

Led by Howard Scott, the 1930s Technocracy movement proposed replacing democratic governance with a centralized state managed by engineers focused on scientific efficiency. Although the movement’s popularity declined after Scott’s credentials were discredited, its core ideas regarding social engineering and resource management continue to find modern echoes.

RFC 9948: Internet Protocol Police (IPP) - Schedule of Punishments

RFC 9948 establishes a formal schedule of punishments for violations of IETF community principles by the Internet Protocol Police (IPP). The document aims to provide transparency and accountability for disciplinary measures that were previously applied in an informal manner.

🚀 Hardware & Space

Chinese firms strengthen humanoid robot supply chains as Tesla turns to China for strategic parts

Chinese companies are securing their position in the humanoid robot supply chain by providing essential components for advanced robotics projects. As major Western firms increasingly rely on these Chinese parts, the trend underscores a strategic technological competition between the U.S. and China.

Artemis II crew take “spectacular” image of Earth

The Artemis II crew has captured a spectacular new image of Earth. The photograph provides a stunning and breathtaking view of the planet.

How to Make a Sliding, Self-Locking, and Predator-Proof Chicken Coop Door (2020)

This guide provides instructions for constructing a vertical, sliding chicken coop door designed to be both predator-proof and self-locking. The design utilizes shelf tracks and a string-operated pulley system, allowing the door to be easily closed from the outside while automatically securing itself internally.

Artemis II Looking Back at Earth

The provided article, titled “Artemis II Looking Back at Earth,” contains no readable content. The summary and body text consist solely of a JavaScript error message.

Mercurial Dyson – a plan for the disassembly of planet Mercury

An engineering analysis explores the rapid disassembly of Mercury into Dyson swarm components using a self-replicating industrial seed. The study concludes that the process must eventually transition from Mercury-based mining to a larger heliocentric power and logistics system to overcome sunlight and waste heat constraints.

DIY Raspberry Pi Dial-up ISP

A new project demonstrates how to emulate a local dial-up ISP using a Raspberry Pi, a 56K USB modem, and a phone line simulator. By utilizing the Linux tools mgetty and PPP, the setup allows remote computers to connect via dial-up to a local network.

Switzerland hosts ‘CERN of semiconductor research’

Switzerland is utilizing the open-source RISC-V architecture to bypass the proprietary restrictions of companies like Intel and ARM, fostering innovation in semiconductor design. Rather than competing in mass manufacturing, Swiss institutions are focusing on developing specialized, energy-efficient chips for applications such as AI and machine learning.

Tesla March car registrations soar in key European markets

Tesla’s car registrations surged in March, tripling in France and more than doubling in several Nordic countries. This recovery in European sales follows the rollout of more affordable versions of the Model Y and Model 3.

🌐 Internet & Society

Elon Musk’s X is planning to auto-lock accounts that post about crypto for the first time

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, is planning to implement a feature that automatically locks accounts when they post about cryptocurrency for the first time. This measure is intended to regulate the platform’s interaction with crypto-related content.

Fake Fans

Digital marketing agencies, such as Chaotic Good Projects, use tactics like manufacturing fake fan accounts to engineer artificial virality for musicians. The author critiques these manipulative practices, contrasting manufactured algorithmic success with the intrinsic value of authentic fandom.

The house is a work of art: Frank Lloyd Wright

This essay explores Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy, specifically his use of organic design to integrate nature and individual identity into daily life. It also examines the contradictions within his life, weighing his visionary civic ideals against his personal controversies and professional grandiosity.

Three main saturated fats raise your cholesterol

Only three specific saturated fats—lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids—significantly increase LDL cholesterol and ApoB levels. While stearic acid in dark chocolate is metabolically neutral, foods like coconut oil raise cholesterol due to their high concentrations of these specific fatty acids.

iNaturalist

iNaturalist allows users to record biological observations that contribute to global biodiversity science repositories. The platform also enables individuals to connect with experts, participate in scientific projects, and engage with a community of naturalists.

I prefer OG style websites – what are yours?

The author expresses a preference for “OG style” websites that prioritize functionality over aesthetic design. After highlighting an example found via Wikipedia, they invite readers to share their favorite older-style, actively maintained websites.

The more evidence behind a therapy, the less the public trusts it

A growing trend in consumer health shows that public trust in medical therapies is increasingly inversely correlated with the volume of scientific evidence available. Consequently, many patients are abandoning proven, evidence-based treatments like statins in favor of unproven, unregulated substances promoted through online platforms and podcasts.

What Hath Tim Berners-Lee Wrought?

Tim Berners-Lee’s memoir, This Is for Everyone, recounts his invention of the World Wide Web while working at CERN. The book also explores his personal history and his ongoing commitment to maintaining an open and free internet.

Untaxed Wealth of Richest 0.1% Is More Than Assets of World’s Poorest Half

An Oxfam International report reveals that the world’s richest 0.1% are hiding more than $2.8 trillion in offshore tax havens to avoid taxation. This amount of untaxed wealth exceeds the total assets held by the bottom half of the global population. While global reforms have reduced the percentage of untaxed wealth, overall global inequality continues to increase.

The open web isn’t dying, we’re killing it

The author argues that the decline of the open web is driven by a long-standing preference for the convenience of centralized platforms rather than just the recent rise of AI. The piece contends that users and creators have actively contributed to this enclosure by choosing the ease of private, walled gardens over the higher costs of maintaining an open web.

What are you doing this weekend?

Individuals are invited to share their upcoming weekend plans or seek feedback on their activities. The post also emphasizes that having no plans is perfectly acceptable.

When a billboard survives the wind, but not the boot

A digital billboard in Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently displayed a Linux GRUB bootloader error following severe storms in the area. Although the physical structure survived high winds, the digital display malfunctioned, revealing a system error to passing drivers.