Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-07-18 Briefing

Created Sat, 18 Jul 2026 19:05:56 +0000 Modified Sat, 18 Jul 2026 19:06:27 +0000
3798 Words

Verizon is cutting 3,000 jobs and selling 274 stores as part of CEO Dan Schulman’s plan to slash $5 billion in costs by 2026, following earlier layoffs of over 13,000. Meanwhile, Java nearly failed at its 1994 debut, saved only by a three-day hotfix, as a documentary reveals. On the UFO fringe, new allegations claim a secret society runs a global cover-up, and a former CIA officer warns the truth may be psychologically difficult.

🛠️ Tech & Development

Java was a three-day hotfix away from dying horribly on stage

Java nearly collapsed in 1994, with JVM maintainer Tim Lindholm revealing it was just a three-day hotfix away from disaster before its big conference debut. The documentary “The Java Story” captures this and other dramas behind the language’s journey from a failed set-top box project to a dominant enterprise technology.

NextBSD Revived with Apple Source

NextBSD, a project combining the FreeBSD kernel with Apple’s open-source Darwin userland components, has been revived under new maintainer Joe Maloney. The project, originally founded by Jordan Hubbard, aims for ABI compatibility with FreeBSD while integrating macOS elements like launchd, Grand Central Dispatch, and Bonjour, and has already produced a bootable disk image.

A better bitset for enum flags

Using enums for bitflags is flawed due to operator precedence issues, poor ergonomics, and conflating naming with representation. The author argues a dedicated bitset type using enum values as indices would offer superior type safety and usability, but expects the community to adopt enum bitflags despite these drawbacks.

Half-Edge Data Structure. Part2

This article is Part 2 of a series on the half-edge data structure, referencing Part 1 from 2024. No further content or details are provided in the given text.

The essence of architectural work - Part 4

The article highlights two often-overlooked purposes of architectural work: cognitive and humane. The cognitive purpose involves managing the overwhelming complexity and contradictions of problem and solution domains by synthesizing vast details and implicit expectations. The humane purpose is presented as equally important but frequently ignored in commercial environments.

Haunt 0.4.0 released

David Thompson released Haunt version 0.4.0, updating the package from version 0.2.6 in the guix.scm file. The change was made in a single commit that modified the version string.

Cache Directory Tagging Specification

Many applications create cache directories in user home directories that are unnecessary to back up, but their unpredictable locations make exclusion tedious. The article proposes a convention: applications should place a file named CACHEDIR.TAG containing the signature Signature: 8a477f597d28d172789f06886806bc55 inside such directories to enable reliable identification by backup utilities.

PowerShell over SSH in 2026: OpenSSH on Windows, Key Auth, and PowerShell 7 Remoting

The article recounts how Microsoft finally fulfilled a 2006 plea to use SSH, shipping OpenSSH with Windows 10 and preinstalling it on Windows Server 2025. It then provides current instructions for configuring PowerShell 7 as the default SSH shell, enabling the SSH agent, and deploying public keys, noting that admin accounts require a separate authorized_keys file with strict ACLs.

neither gcc nor clang are compliant with standard c++

GCC and Clang do not distinguish function types with different language linkages (e.g., C vs. C++), violating the C++ standard’s requirement that they be distinct types. This leads to incorrect behavior in std::is_same and overload resolution. The author argues the standard should be updated to make this implementation-defined, since changing GCC/Clang would break ABI and calling conventions are identical on most platforms.

GitRoot

GitRoot is a lightweight, plugin-based git forge that stores all data in plain files within git repositories instead of a database, using a .gitroot/users.yml file for branch-based access control. It allows users to customize their forge with independent plugins such as issue boards and merge requests. Currently in alpha, it is not yet production-ready.

Microsoft Surface Laptop review: 8GB RAM insufficient for Windows 11; PC makers unveil 8GB models

The Verge’s review finds that the 2025 13-inch Surface Laptop’s 8GB of RAM is insufficient for Windows 11, causing frequent hangs during moderate multitasking. The $950 model costs $50 more than last year’s version despite halving the memory, and its performance suffers compared to the 16GB predecessor.

Gleam Is Now on Tangled

Gleam, a language for building type-safe systems, is now available on Tangled. It is community-supported rather than owned by a corporation, and the project encourages sponsorship.

Elixir-lang.org has a new design

Elixir-lang.org has undergone a design refresh. The language’s immutability, memory safety, and gradual type system help developers write clear, fault-tolerant code that is easy to maintain.

LG ThinQ Terms of Use

LG ThinQ’s updated terms of use have drawn criticism for their aggressive clauses, including mandatory individual arbitration with no opt-out, a broad, perpetual license for user content, and permission for LG to monitor communications and share data with third-party AI systems. The terms also bundle marketing consent into app usage, allow targeted advertising, and cap LG’s liability at $100, while granting the company the right to remotely update or discontinue services without additional consent.

Steam Machine: Between 12k and 15k Units Sold per week

Valve is estimated to be selling between 12,000 and 15,000 Steam Machine units per week as of July 18, 2026, based on revenue data from Steam’s Global Top Sellers chart. The estimation uses a bounding box method, with Counter-Strike 2 serving as the revenue ceiling and lower-priced viral software as the floor.

Qubes OS Security in the Public Record

A longitudinal study of 109 Qubes Security Bulletins (2011–2025) found that 79.8% of vulnerabilities originate from upstream components such as Xen or CPU microarchitecture, not from Qubes-core logic. The public advisory record is stable but not quiet, with disclosure rates plateauing at a higher level than in earlier years, and the security burden remains concentrated in upstream trust anchors.

The Computer at the Bottom of a Canal

A Scottish hi-fi company, Linn Products, built the Rekursiv processor in the 1980s—a custom chip that enforced memory safety, garbage-collected in hardware, and treated memory and disk as a single persistent object store. Although the project failed commercially and was famously dumped in a canal, its core ideas have since been adopted in production Arm silicon, vindicating the company’s technical vision.

Mac gaming is finally getting the overpowered upgrade it deserves

Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit 4 beta delivers a 66% frame rate boost for GTA V on an M4 Pro MacBook Pro, translating Windows DirectX calls to Metal in real time. The update marks a major leap in Mac gaming performance, suggesting software is no longer a bottleneck for Apple Silicon.

Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines

A Japanese company has introduced the Do Hiemon Box, a one-person cooling booth that maintains a 15°C interior and blows 5°C air to rapidly lower body temperature in about 10 minutes. Using half the electricity of a typical spot air conditioner and requiring no installation, it is already deployed in public spaces like Maebashi City Hall. Priced at 1.5 million yen, the booth is designed for businesses and organizations to protect workers and the public from rising temperatures.

Moonstone: Modern, cross-platform Lua runtime and package manager written in Zig

Moonstone is a new cross-platform Lua runtime and package manager built with Zig. It aims to provide reliable Lua environments with a simple installation via a single curl command.

Open Source Parametric DIY Air Purifier Builder

The article covers an open-source, parametric DIY air purifier builder, but the content only indicates that a FilterBoxBuilder is loading. No further details or body text are available for summary.

Stenchill: 3D Printable Solder Paste Stencil Generator

StenchillBeta is a free online tool that converts PCB Gerber files into 3D-printable stencil STL files for solder paste application, enabling rapid prototyping at home with features like registration shoulders for alignment. It recommends using a 0.2mm nozzle with PLA or PETG for best results with components 0603 and larger. The service was inspired by Barbatronic’s Twitch stream and integrates into fabrication workflows via a KiCad plugin.

PSA about abuse of cat(1) command. Don’t abuse cats

The article criticizes the “useless use of cat” pattern, where a single file is piped through cat to commands like grep, wc, or sort that can read files directly. This wastes a process, as cat merely copies bytes to a program that already knows how to read them. The article advocates using the command with a filename argument instead of piping from cat.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

China’s AI token consumption hits 140T in Mar 2026, up from 100T (Dec 2025) and 100B (early 2024)

China’s daily AI token consumption surged to 140 trillion in March 2026, up from 100 trillion in December 2025 and 100 billion in early 2024, according to the National Data Administration. The rapid increase reflects a corporate push to integrate AI into workflows, fueled by a price war among tech giants like ByteDance and DeepSeek.

China’s National AI Fund gains voting rights in DeepSeek via $7.4B round; Tencent, JD get none

DeepSeek held an unusual four-hour pitch meeting with investors, allowing only two representatives per institution, where founder Liang Wenfeng described the team as “very ordinary people.” The meeting came as China’s National AI Industry Investment Fund gained voting rights in DeepSeek’s $7.4 billion funding round, while other investors like Tencent received none.

Setting up your spare Mac for Claude Code to control, a step-by-step guide

Turn your spare Mac into a dedicated machine for Claude Code, accessible remotely via SSH or the Claude app, to isolate risks by giving the agent full control over a separate environment instead of your main machine. The guide covers enabling SSH, passwordless sudo, and optional data erasure for security, allowing Claude Code to run tasks with full Mac capabilities like controlling GUI apps.

What AI did to stackoverflow in a graph

A graph of monthly Stack Overflow questions reveals a significant decline following the rise of AI tools. The data shows a sharp drop in new questions starting around late 2022, coinciding with the release of ChatGPT. This suggests that developers are increasingly using AI for answers instead of posting on the platform.

Why do AI company logos look like buttholes? (2025)

Many AI company logos, such as OpenAI’s, feature circular shapes with central openings and radiating elements that resemble an anus. Anthropic’s Claude logo animates with a clenching motion upon clicking, reinforcing the comparison. This trend is attributed to circular design psychology and unintentional biomimicry.

Fable 5 vs. GPT-5.6 Sol on an NP-Hard Problem: Does /goal help?

Claude Fable 5 significantly outperformed GPT-5.6 Sol on an NP-hard fiber-network design problem, producing the best and most consistent solutions. However, using the native /goal mode yielded mixed results, slightly improving median performance but occasionally causing large regressions, making it unreliable as a “try harder” switch.

🏢 Business & Economy

Employees react as Verizon cuts another 3,000 jobs, sell 274 stores in latest restructuring

Verizon is cutting 3,000 jobs and selling 274 company-owned retail stores to franchise operators, with most affected retail workers expected to transition to the new franchise owners. The restructuring also eliminates 500 corporate positions and follows previous layoffs of over 13,000 employees, part of CEO Dan Schulman’s plan to reduce operating expenses by $5 billion by 2026.

Cribl acquires AI threat detection startup CardinalOps for ~$100M

Data infrastructure startup Cribl has acquired Israeli cybersecurity firm CardinalOps, which offers AI-powered threat detection tools, for approximately $100 million. The acquisition will extend Cribl’s telemetry platform into security operations and includes the establishment of a new Tel Aviv office.

REO Trucks I4 4WD Pickup Truck Starts at $21,500

REO Trucks has announced the I4 4WD pickup with a starting price of $21,500, featuring a gas engine, 600-mile range, and five-minute refueling. The truck uses a body-on-frame design with mechanical 4WD, owner-serviceable parts, and will be sold directly online without dealers, with production targeted for late 2028.

IKEA Complexity Index

An independent fan-created “IKEA Complexity Index” ranks approximately 20,000 IKEA products by estimated assembly time, calculated as the product of assembly steps and total parts, multiplied by an empirical factor. It also includes an average ease-of-assembly rating (1–5) based on reviewer feedback from IKEA.com. The project is not affiliated with IKEA.

Newly retired couples may lose $16,900/year in Social Security in 2033

Newly retired couples could lose $16,900 annually in Social Security benefits by 2033 if Congress does not address the program’s insolvency, as the trust fund is projected to run dry by the end of 2032, triggering a mandatory 22% benefit cut. Additionally, Medicare Part A will face an 11% cut around the same time, and rising Part B and D premiums will further erode beneficiaries’ income.

Credit Card Points Are a Transfer from the Broke to the Comfortable

Credit card rewards are funded by over $160 billion in annual interest, $30 billion in fees, and $149 billion in merchant swipe fees, with Federal Reserve research showing that $15.1 billion yearly transfers from less sophisticated, lower-income, and less educated cardholders to wealthier, more educated users. The system profits banks while encouraging overspending, disproportionately burdening those who carry balances or pay cash.

🔬 Science & Health

A new study found no significant link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and preterm birth or birth weight, though it was associated with lower odds of large-for-gestational-age births. The findings offer reassurance about the medication’s safety regarding birth timing and infant size.

The Fermi Paradox, Percolation, and Inbreeding

Landis’s percolation theory explains the Fermi Paradox by arguing that interstellar colonization is limited by distance and the low probability that colonies will themselves colonize, resulting in a sparse settlement pattern. The author connects this to a Lindsay Nikole video on cheetah genetics, where population bottlenecks cause genetic problems, drawing an analogy to how isolated human colonies might similarly fail to expand.

Narcissistic leaders more likely to oppose remote work, new research suggests

New research from the Wharton School suggests that narcissistic leaders are more likely to oppose remote work due to a desire for attention, control, and status, rather than productivity concerns. The study found that leaders’ narcissism correlated with greater resistance to virtual work, as remote arrangements deprive them of opportunities for direct control and reverence.

London Underground users should know about toxic dust risk, whistleblower says

A London Underground worker who was unfairly dismissed after whistleblowing about unsafe exposure to asbestos and toxic dust has won a tribunal ruling that his complaints were protected disclosures. The tribunal found that his employer failed to properly handle hazardous waste and gave him an ultimatum to retract his concerns or be fired. He now wants passengers to be aware of the potential dangers his case revealed.

I started a “dirt notebook”

An author started a “dirt notebook” using an old, low-quality notebook and cheap ballpoint pens to break the habit of keeping notebooks too organized for casual notes. Over a week, they filled it with random quotes, ideas, and notes without structure, enjoying rediscovering forgotten content. Their goal is to fill the notebook and embrace messiness before potentially returning to better materials.

🌍 Politics & Society

On the UFO fringes – Jesse Michels, David Grusch, and the CIA’s latest claims

Jesse Michels and Jason Samosa alleged that a Panama-registered secret society, the World Commerce Corporation, administers a global UFO cover-up. David Grusch’s new documentary connects UFO disclosure to Catholic theology, while former CIA officer Jim Semivan said the truth may be psychologically difficult. The article concludes that UFO disclosure debates are increasingly moving beyond evidence into religion, intelligence secrecy, and public trust.

EU ban on destruction of unsold clothes and shoes enters into application

From 19 July, large EU companies are banned from destroying unsold clothes, clothing accessories and footwear, with medium-sized firms facing the same rule from 2030 under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The measure aims to prevent waste and promote reuse, repair and resource efficiency, with destruction allowed only in limited cases such as unsafe or counterfeit items. National authorities will enforce the ban and can impose fines, while small and micro-businesses are exempt.

America Broke Its Own Military

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld used the post-9/11 wars to push a radical privatization agenda, shifting military services to private contractors until they nearly equaled uniformed personnel in Iraq. This “Transformation” aimed to streamline and corporatize the Pentagon, but it stretched the military thin and led to catastrophic consequences for troops and occupied populations.

Israeli ministers announce plans for illegal settlements in Gaza and West Bank

Israeli ministers announced plans for three illegal settlements in Gaza and over $400 million in funding for West Bank settlements ahead of October elections, while the military commander praised violent extremist outposts as “security partners.” The UN described settler violence as state-led annexation, and the far-right coalition is racing to expand control of occupied Palestinian land before its mandate expires.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

Heresy (2022]

The concept of heresy has been revived in modern employment, where certain opinions can lead to termination. These heresies are treated as more important than truth or falsity and outweigh all other actions of the speaker. Such labels are used to end discussions and are applied inconsistently based on who says something.

Frozen 2 should be Rated R

The article contends that modern films increasingly rely on high-stakes existential jeopardy (e.g., mass destruction) as a lazy storytelling device, contrasting this with older movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that used smaller personal stakes effectively. ChatGPT-analyzed data from the top 10 box office films per year over 50 years reveals a clear trend from lower average jeopardy scores in the 1970s–80s to higher scores in the 2010s–2020s, suggesting this “jeopardy inflation” desensitizes audiences to real-world tragedy.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Organizing events is the fastest way to join a social group because demand for activities far exceeds supply. Most people passively consume social fabric rather than produce it, but those who take on the work of organizing quickly become valued members and make friends more easily. Individuals can solve the problem of social alienation in their own community by simply supplying the events that others want to attend.

Q3Edit – Edit and play Quake 3 maps in the browser

A new browser-based level editor for Quake 3, called Q3Edit, supports Radiant-style editing features including brushes, patches, CSG, terrain sculpting, and entity editing. It can open and save .map files, and users can play their created maps directly in the browser using a WebAssembly build of ioquake3.

British runner Josh Kerr breaks world record for mile which stood for 27 years

British runner Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile, ending a 27-year reign by the previous holder. His performance marked a historic achievement in track and field.

Why is tiny Norway so good at sports? It’s more than Erling Haaland

Norway’s sports success is rooted in a youth philosophy that prioritizes process over winning, with no scorekeeping before age 11 and no rankings until 12-13. This focus on fun and personal development, rather than hypercompetitive commercialization, has produced top-tier national teams like the world’s best women’s handball squad.

ASCII Art

Asciiville is a project that provides nearly 1,000 pieces of ASCII and ANSI art, animations, and utilities for text-only terminal environments, integrating and extending several packages with convenience commands. It is now available as a Kasm Workspace and is part of the Neoman managed projects.