Hacker News
1Monster Cables picked the wrong guy to threaten (2008)
- A former lawyer, now running Blue Jeans Cable, strongly responds to Monster Cable's cease-and-desist letter with a detailed refusal to settle baseless claims. He vows to fight in court rather than pay unmerited settlements, drawing from his litigation experience.
Monster cable's lifetime warranty
Users shared experiences with Monster's cables, noting their lifetime warranty was valuable despite high prices. Many used it repeatedly for replacements. The warranty ended in 2018 as Monster transitioned to licensing.Digital cable quality myths
Discussion of whether expensive digital cables improve image/sound quality. While basic signal integrity matters for long HDMI runs, most agreed Monster's claims about gold plating and premium materials were marketing hype.Legal response effectiveness
Blue Jeans Cable's lawyer background helped craft a powerful response that stopped Monster's threat. However, some noted such victories are rare since most targets lack resources to fight back.
2Pen and Paper Exercises in Machine Learning (2022)
- A comprehensive collection of machine learning exercises covering topics like linear algebra, optimization, graphical models, inference, sampling, and variational methods. The exercises are designed to be solved with pen and paper rather than computer implementation.
Theory vs practice gap
Discussion of disconnect between ML theory and practical implementation choices, with many noting that parameters like layer count and neuron numbers remain largely empirical despite theoretical foundations.Mathematical foundations
Debate about the importance of advanced math knowledge in ML, from differential geometry to high-dimensional statistics, vs learning through practical implementation.Exercise format feedback
Comments on document structure, suggestions for improvements like separating questions from answers, and requests for similar resources in other formats like interactive apps.
3The little book about OS development
- This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for developing an x86 operating system, covering essential topics from basic setup to advanced concepts. It begins with development environment setup and progresses through booting, memory management, input/output, file systems, and multitasking, aimed at readers familiar with systems programming and C language.
Operating system development learning resources
Discussion of various OS development books and tutorials, with OSTEP, Japanese OS dev books, and Project Oberon highlighted. Debate about whether too many resources focus on low-level x86 details vs higher-level concepts.x86 vs other architectures
Debate about whether x86 is appropriate for learning OS development, with many suggesting RISC platforms would be better for beginners due to simpler architecture and less "cruft" to deal with.Personal OS development experiences
Developers share stories of building hobby operating systems, discussing the satisfaction of low-level system control and suggesting it as a way to learn systems programming and Rust.
4George Foreman has died
- George Foreman, renowned boxer and entrepreneur, died at 76. He was a heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist, and later found success with his Foreman Grill infomercials. After becoming a born-again Christian, he became a minister while making a successful boxing comeback in the 1990s.
Combat sports health concerns
Discussion about brain damage and ethical concerns in combat sports and football, with personal anecdotes about long-term health impacts on athletes who often receive minimal compensation for their sacrificeForeman grill success
Widespread discussion of Foreman's grill endorsement earning him over $200M, product's practical benefits, and comparisons to other celebrity endorsements. Many users shared positive experiences with the productLegacy and achievements
Comments celebrating Foreman's remarkable career, especially becoming heavyweight champion at 48, his personal evolution after losing to Ali, and his impact as a role model and businessman
5New USPTO Memo Makes Fighting Patent Trolls Even Harder
Patent trolling experience
Discussion of how patent trolls operate by sending mass demand letters seeking settlements, using shell LLCs with no assets besides patents, making legal defense costly and recovery impossible even if you winPower and wealth concentration
Debate about how economic and political power naturally accumulates to those already ahead, with some arguing this leads back to feudalism without intervention like taxation and power distributionInter partes review (IPR)
Discussion of USPTO limiting IPR patent review process, with debate over whether this helps legitimate patent holders or primarily benefits patent trolls at public's expense
6Use Long Options in Scripts
- Command line utilities offer both short (-f) and long (--force) options, but while short options are suitable for interactive terminal use, scripts should employ long-form options for better readability and self-documentation, making the code more maintainable and clearer for others to understand.
Long vs short options portability
Discussion of trade-offs between using long vs short command options, with focus on portability issues across BSD, Linux, and macOS. Some suggest Nix as solution, while others note POSIX compatibility requires short options.Command execution safety
Debate about safe practices for executing shell commands, avoiding string interpolation vulnerabilities, and proper parameter handling. Includes discussion of argument limits and proper escaping of user inputs.Script readability
Arguments for using long-form options to improve code readability, make documentation easier to search, and reduce typos. Includes suggestions for formatting commands across multiple lines for better version control tracking.
7PyTorch Internals: Ezyang's Blog
- This article provides a detailed exploration of PyTorch's internal architecture, focusing on tensor data structures, memory layouts, and dispatching mechanisms. The author breaks down complex concepts like tensor storage, stride calculations, and view operations, making it accessible for developers interested in contributing to PyTorch's codebase.
Presentation format
Discussion about the visual presentation style, with mixed reactions to hand-drawn slides and readability concerns, along with mentions of Ed's teaching style and memorable presentations at PyTorch NYC meetupFramework internals
Suggestions for learning ML framework internals, including recommendations for MLX's codebase and PyTorch's documentation, with specific discussion about Apple Silicon limitations and autodiff functionalityContent relevance
Debate about how relevant the 2019 content remains today, with comments suggesting it's still ~80% relevant and valuable for understanding core concepts, though missing newer features like torch.compile
8The FBI Seized This Woman's Life Savings–Without Telling Her Why
- The FBI raided U.S. Private Vaults in Beverly Hills, seizing over $100 million in valuables from innocent customers through civil forfeiture. Linda Martin, whose life savings were taken, filed a lawsuit challenging the FBI's practice of seizing property without providing specific reasons for the seizures.
Civil asset forfeiture critique
Discussion of how civil asset forfeiture violates constitutional rights, operates as legalized theft, and lacks proper oversight. Multiple examples shared of abuse, including the FBI case and systemic issues with law enforcement keeping seized assets.Legal system heroes
Analysis of how meaningful legal change requires both strong cases and marketable plaintiffs, citing examples like Rosa Parks. Discussion of Linda Martin continuing her lawsuit after getting money back to create broader impact.Fixing incentives
Debate about how to reform asset seizure by changing where seized funds go - options discussed include general revenue, charity distribution, and victim compensation funds. Arguments about effectiveness of different approaches.
9California Attorney General issues consumer alert for 23andMe customers
- California Attorney General alerts consumers to delete genetic data from 23andMe due to the company's financial struggles. Californians have rights under privacy laws to request data deletion, destroy samples, and revoke research consent through their online account settings.
Privacy risks of genetic data
Extensive discussion about dangers of sharing DNA with commercial companies, from potential misuse by insurers to government surveillance, with many warning against gifting genetic testing kits or trusting companies' privacy promisesCompany viability concerns
Debate about 23andMe's business model sustainability, falling stock price, and limited ability to monetize genetic data. Discussion questions why a DNA testing company needed to go public and notes challenges of one-time purchase modelData deletion challenges
Users express frustration with 23andMe's data retention policies, bankruptcy implications for privacy agreements, and skepticism about whether deletion requests are truly honored given regulatory obligations
10London's Heathrow Airport announces complete shutdown due to power outage
- A major power outage at London's Heathrow Airport caused significant travel disruption, affecting over 1,000 flights. The incident was caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes. While operations are expected to return to normal by Saturday, airlines warn of continued delays as they work to clear the backlog.
National security implications
Debate over whether a single point of power failure at Heathrow constitutes a national security risk, with discussion around definitions of national security and critical infrastructureAlternative airports
Discussion of other London airports' capacity to handle Heathrow's traffic, correcting misconceptions about UK airport geography and relative distances/capacitiesPower infrastructure
Analysis of UK's aging power grid, underinvestment in infrastructure, and lack of redundancy in critical systems like airport power supply, plus comparison to similar incidents at other airports