Optical Illusions Can Fool Neural Networks

"Neural Networks Tricked by Optical Illusions in the Same Way That Humans Are Deceived"

AI In Health Care

"Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare -- Top Seven Use Cases"

Older Coders

"Why Older People Struggle In Programming Jobs". (Via M.G.)

AI Sounding Like Humans

"Artificial Intelligence Is Now Shockingly Good at Sounding Human"

Signal Struggles

"The battle inside Signal".

The secure-messaging app Signal is struggling with how to allow people to communicate privately for "worthy" causes, without helping people communicate privately for causes they deem "unworthy". 

Cookie!

Geologist finds volcanic agate rock that looks like the Cookie Monster.  (Image via CNET, Mike Bowers/Facebook.)

 

Powerful Laser

"Groundbreaking New Laser System Cuts Through Earth's Atmosphere Like It's Nothing". (Via H.R.)

Good Smell

"Texas teen saved Covid-stricken family members from raging early-morning fire that only she could smell"

Amazon Tolkien Details

"Amazon's Lord of the Rings Show Is About the Return of Sauron"

No Search For AU?

"Google Threatens to Remove Search in Australia as Spat Escalates"

Inside Amazon Security

"Inside the Whale: An Interview with an Anonymous Amazonian"

28-Corner Eraser

"This Eraser is Designed to Always Present a Sharp Corner, Even as It Wears Out"

 

Animals!

"Animals interrupting wildlife photographers". 

 I especially like #6 and #11.

FedEx Art

"FedEx Shipping Damage Creates Fractured Artworks"

Galaxy Quest 2?

"Tim Allen gives a Galaxy Quest 2 update: 'It's a fabulous script'"

Evolution Of Ransomware

"Ransomware Is Headed Down a Dire Path"

The Other Tech Giant

"Wikipedia is 20, and its reputation has never been higher"

NAND Game

"Welcome to The Nand Game! You are going to build a simple computer. You start with a single component, the NAND gate. Using this as the fundamental building block, you will build all other components necessary."

Lottery Ticket Strategies

"Maximizing the Expected Value of a Lottery Ticket: How to Sell and When to Buy"

Package Thief Has Bad Day

Video: "Man attempts to steal a package". Then, a little justice.

Quiz: Quant Fund Or Metal Band?

Quiz: Quant Fund Or Metal Band?

Related classic quiz: Antidepressant drug or Tolkien Character? 

Ice Robots

"Robots Made of Ice Could Build and Repair Themselves on Other Planets"

Lost Bitcoin Passwords

NYT: "Lost Passwords Lock Millionaires Out of Their Bitcoin Fortunes"

UFO Data

"US intelligence agencies have 180 days to share what they know about UFOs, thanks to the Covid-19 relief and spending bill"

Miyazaki Images Released

"To celebrate Miyazaki Hiyao's 80th birthday, Studio Ghibli has released almost 2,000 hi-res images from their films for reasonable use."

Parler Data Breach

Serious data breach at Parler:

Whilst scrambling to keep operational as various server providers pulled Parler from their services the admins left open a security loophole that allowed hackers to create administration accounts. They used this to create MILLIONS of admin accounts and to start downloading all of the data that Parler had stored. Amongst this data, discussions planning to attack the US Capitol from verified users (with pictures of their drivers licences etc. ), GPS data, photos with EXIF data

More details at this Reddit thread. 

[A]ll of this information was thought to be secure and private by individuals who were making the posts. A significant number of those individuals went through the process of being a "Verified Citizen" on Parler. What does that mean?

It means they uploaded a picture of the front and back of their REAL State Driver's License........ Let that sink in for a second.

I am positive the FBI has been actively soaking in this information along with the Internet Warriors, but this is how they are going to officially track down.

And it's how the FBI, DHS, and FAA have been able to immediately and exhaustively create no-fly lists. Every verified attendee of the Capitol riot where they can find a real name has been placed on No-Fly Lists.

It might seem like a small geeky glitch or hack.. but in the age of Information warfare... this is the silver bullet for the people who used Parler as a place to organize their efforts.

Also, a lot of posts were deleted by Parler members after the riots on the 6th. Turned out... Parler didn't actually delete anything.. just set a bit as deleted.

Guess what has access to all "deleted" content?

Administrator accounts."

QM Guide

Ars Technica: "A 'no math' (but seven-part) guide to modern quantum mechanics"

Light Posting

Admin note: Posting may be light for the next several days due to external obligations.

If Then Else Had To Be Invented

If-Then-Else had to be invented.

Sprite Lightning

"Sprite Lightning at 100,000 Frames Per Second". (Via H.R.)

Remote Working Conflicts

"After embracing remote work in 2020, companies face conflicts making it permanent"

Magnetically Cured Glue

"This New Type of Glue Is Activated by Magnetic Fields, And Really Easy to Use". (Via H.R.)

Pen Cap Holes

"The Reason For Holes on The Tops of Pen Caps Is Surprisingly Awesome". (Via H.R.)

 

Xolography

"3D-printing hollow structures with 'xolography'". (Via H.R.)