Archaeologists discover tomb of first king of Caracol (uh.edu | comments) University of Houston archaeologists have uncovered the tomb of Te K’ab Chaak, the first king of the ancient Maya city of Caracol, marking the first identifiable ruler's burial found in over 40 years. The tomb contained significant artifacts, including pottery and jadeite, revealing aspects of Maya culture and trade.

• Shout-out again to Charles C. Mann's excellent book 1491. One of my most eye-opening reads after 2000, in terms of information that I didn't possess yet, exceedingly well presented.
• I’m always (naively) surprised that these sites continue to contain new finds like this. I always assume they've been fully mapped and searched.

Anthropic tightens usage limits for Claude Code without telling users (techcrunch.com | comments) Claude Code users face unannounced restrictions on their service usage, raising concerns among heavy users, particularly those subscribed to the $200-a-month Max plan. Complaints regarding these increased limits have emerged on Claude Code’s GitHub page, indicating a lack of prior communication from Anthropic on the changes.

• > One user, who asked not to be identified, said it has been impossible to advance his project since the usage limits came into effect. “It just stopped the ability to make progress,” the user told TechCrunch. “I tried Gemini and Kimi, but there’s really nothing else that’s competitive with the capability set of Claude Code right now.” PMF.

ICE's Supercharged Facial Recognition App of 200M Images (404media.co | comments) ICE has launched Mobile Fortify, a facial recognition application that allows officers to access databases from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), State Department, and local law enforcement simply by pointing their phones at a person’s face. The app is designed to improve efficiency in law enforcement operations.

• This was demonstrated in the investigation into the January 6th riots. ICE is not the only part of the government using it, or something like it. Might be made seperately for each agency, more profitable that way.
• Peter Thiel must be doing Mr Burns laugh on this one

Upcoming coordinated security fix for all Matrix server implementations (matrix.org | comments) Matrix is preparing a coordinated security fix on July 22, 2025, for vulnerabilities discovered in its state resolution algorithm. The Element server team and the Matrix.org Foundation identified two high severity protocol vulnerabilities, necessitating upgrades for Matrix server implementations, especially those in untrusted federations. The update will introduce a new room version and should be adopted promptly by room admins for security readiness, although immediate action is not mandated due to the vulnerabilities not being critical.

• I feel like what's missing is not decentralization, but an open source offering to have large servers with e2e encryption. The cost of running a server doesn't have to be high.
• I guess many of us are like me - have only a fuzzy idea of what Matrix is and what its like. Are there any normal web viewers to show what's in the public chatrooms without needing to join matrix and use the app etc?
• IRC is and was the answer.

How I Use Kagi (flamedfury.com | comments) The author shares personal experiences using Kagi, detailing their block list and various search lenses to enhance the browsing experience. The tone is informal, with a nod to potential critics of Kagi's usage. This post aims to provide insights into user customization and strategies for effective search results.

• Unfortunately, Kagi works with Russian companies and pays them money, which in my book is a no-no. I do not want any of my money to contribute to the Russian economy in any way, because I know what is happening to people in Ukraine. (I was a Kagi subscriber, no more, because of this)

Inside the box: Everything I did with an Arduino starter kit (lopespm.com | comments) The article shares an in-depth exploration of the Elegoo Arduino Uno R3 Starter Kit, showcasing multiple projects and experiments completed using the kit. It covers practical applications and hands-on experiences, aiming to provide readers with insights into the kit's versatility and ease of use for beginners in electronics and programming.

• Is getting a kit like this the recommended way to learn electronics? I don't know anything about it! I would like to get to the point where I can light up a LED bulb programmatically and understand how it's happening.
• Oh my god you have no idea how timely this is. I just bought one last week. This post is perfect.

NIH is cheaper than the wrong dependency (lewiscampbell.tech | comments) The piece argues against the assumption that software dependencies come without costs, highlighting issues like learning complexity, breaking changes requiring code rewrites, and deployment complications. It presents a framework for evaluating dependencies based on criteria such as ubiquity and stability, emphasizing critical assessment before choosing dependencies.

• People love to claim this, especially on this site, but in my experience it's the opposite. Many people like writing new code and will do it even when it's detrimental to the business, but 9 times out of 10 even using a "bad" dependency is far more effective than writing in-house.

USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021) (overengineer.dev | comments) Dennis Schubert recounts his frustrating experiences with three different USB-C hubs while using an Apple MacBook Pro. Despite the convenience of these devices, he encountered numerous failures, including HDMI cut-outs and unreliable Ethernet connections. His narrative highlights the shortcomings of expensive hubs and concludes he overpaid for branded products that turned out to be rebranded replicas.

• Can anyone tell me why I have several devices in my home that demand a certain USB-C cord in order to charge? They are mostly cheap Chinese devices that won’t acknowledge a more expensive (e.g., Apple) uSB-C cord plugged into them. Even when plugged into the same transformer. They only charge with the cheap USB-C cord they came with. What gives?

My favorite use-case for AI is writing logs (vickiboykis.com | comments) A key AI tool enhancing developer productivity is the Full Line Code Completion feature in PyCharm, introduced in late 2023. This feature helps maintain developer control while efficiently managing complex coding tasks, such as sequential data processing and asynchronous API calls, improving the logging process significantly.

• Automates a tedious, time-consuming task. Easy to catch and correct failures. Love it. My only concern is (other than maybe verbosity) is of my log writing moments are opportunities to briefly reflect on what I have written, and maybe catch problems early.

My experience with Claude Code after two weeks of adventures (sankalp.bearblog.dev | comments) The author shares insights from two weeks of using Claude Code, detailing experiences such as rate limiting issues and how it affected their workflow. They reflect on the tool's capabilities and limitations, providing a personal perspective on its practical applications in coding tasks.

• Claude Code is hard to describe. It’s almost like I changed jobs when I started using it. I’ve been all-in with Claude as a workflow tool, but this is literally steroids. If you haven’t tried it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s the first time it really does feel like working with a junior engineer to me.

All AI models might be the same (jxmo.io | comments) Jack Morris presents the idea that all AI models may fundamentally represent the same underlying concepts. He discusses how language model embeddings can illuminate communication patterns in whale speech and the analysis of ancient texts, linking to the Platonic Representation Hypothesis and the universality of AI models.

• I think “we might decode whale speech or ancient languages” is a huge stretch. Context is the most important part of what makes language useful. There is billions of human-written texts, grounded in shared experience that makes our AI good at language. We don't have that for a whale.

Chrome's SSL Bypass Cheatcode (thomascountz.com | comments) Typing 'thisisunsafe' in the Chrome SSL error page bypasses security warnings, a feature that evolved from earlier bypass codes. Originally introduced in 2014 for developer convenience, the code has faced criticism for potential misuse. Recent updates aimed to obscure it, reflecting ongoing concerns about SSL security.

• If I want to load some unencrypted data my browser better fucking let me do it. I don't mind if I have to give a secret handshake, but I have no sympathy for lusers who type "thisisunsafe" and then make it someone else's problem when their expectations of "safety" are violated.

When is tech not hype? Tulips, toilets, trains and tabs (ajmoon.com | comments) Alex Moon examines the interplay between technology and hype, tracing historical examples from tulip mania to modern innovations like Firefox's tabbed browsing. He argues that hype is integral to capitalism, suggesting that true technological revolutions require a combination of user-friendly interfaces and robust infrastructures. Without these, even transformative innovations may remain mere hype.

• This is an amusing attempt at finding the field of marketing through a first principals analysis of some successful products. Could have fun by looking at any social spread. Not just of a technology through the society. Fashion similarly spreads. Behavioral patterns spread. Language usage. All of it.

Doing Hard Things (parv.bearblog.dev | comments) The author reflects on their journey in kayaking, describing initial struggles with coordination and balance, leading to a gradual appreciation for the sport's challenges. They highlight personal growth through perseverance and the beauty of the natural environment, emphasizing that improvement often involves embracing failures, which serves as a metaphor for life's broader challenges.

• I suppose I could be more charitable but I feel like title doesn't really match with the message of the blog. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good story about persistence and micro-improvements. Most of us mortals aren't talented at everything and diligent practice is required for most of us to get better.

My bank keeps on undermining anti-phishing education (moritz-mander.de | comments) A bank sent an email promoting a prize draw linked to a new payment system, Wero. The email's appearance closely resembled phishing schemes, potentially undermining anti-phishing education. This inconsistency raises concerns about the bank's responsibility to educate and protect its customers from real phishing threats.

• My bank used to call me with random marketing crap, and insisted on telling them my birthday and my mother's name before they can reveal their latest exclusive offer or some other crap. They were always dumbfounded when I retorted that it is them who need to prove that they're really calling from my bank first.

Code Execution Through Email: How I Used Claude to Hack Itself (pynt.io | comments) The text details a method of executing code via email using Claude Desktop, where the author utilized a Gmail message for the attack, with assistance from the AI tool Claude itself in planning the process. This showcases security vulnerabilities within the AI's integration into popular communication systems.

• If you pipe your emails to bash, I can also run code by sending you an email. How is this news? You must never feed user input into a combined instruction and data stream. If the instructions and data can't be separated, that's a broken system and you need to limit its privileges to only the privileges of the user supplying the input.

Run TypeScript code without worrying about configuration (tsx.is | comments) The tsx (TypeScript Execute) tool simplifies running TypeScript code in Node.js without the need for complex configurations. It offers a user-friendly way to quickly execute TypeScript files, making it accessible for developers who want to streamline their coding process.

• That's some terrible naming. Now there's two things "tsx" stands for in the TypeScript ecosystem.
• It really is the worst name, unsearchable and so overloaded. But it's been an awesome tool. I hope they rename it.
• TypeScript is great, the only bad thing is that it can be a pain to get the configuration right

Mistral Releases Deep Research, Voice, Projects in Le Chat (mistral.ai | comments) Mistral has unveiled 'Deep Research', an initiative that integrates voice capabilities and innovative projects on their platform, Le Chat. This update aims to enhance user interaction through improved audio input and project management functionalities.

• I’m struggling with MRF. Model Release Fatigue. It’s a syndrome of constantly context switching new large models. Claude 4, gpt, llama, Gemini 2.5, pro-mini, mistrial. I fire off the ide switch the model and think oh great this is better. I switch to something that worked before and man, this sucks now. Context switching llm, Model Release Fatigue

Writing a competitive BZip2 encoder in Ada from scratch in a few days (2024) (gautiersblog.blogspot.com | comments) An Ada developer claims to be creating the most competitive BZip2 encoder, focusing on optimizing performance within just a few days. He anticipates that this encoder will achieve superior compression for specified data block sizes, potentially setting a new standard in the field.

• Well that was disappointing. I was hoping to see a discussion about writing a zip encoder in Ada. How the language was used, values of the language for this kind of work. How it’s easier or harder to do. Maybe a bunch of Ada source code. Simply as one who does not use Ada I had hoped to be a bit more informed about it.

NINA: Rebuilding the original AIM, AOL Desktop, Yahoo and ICQ platforms (nina.chat | comments) NINA aims to revive nostalgic chat platforms like AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and Yahoo Messenger, recreating them close to their original forms. The project focuses on user experience reminiscent of early internet days, with features currently available for AIM and ICQ, and plans to expand further with classic AOL support.

• > We're working to primarily rebuild the original AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), AOL Desktop, Yahoo and ICQ platforms as close to the originals as possible, and document the entire thing. Why not contribute to one of many FLOSS implementations that were once maintained?

ChatGPT agent: bridging research and action (openai.com | comments) ChatGPT agent aims to connect theoretical research with practical applications, targeting real-world challenges in various domains. Its development focuses on enabling seamless interaction between AI technologies and human operators, facilitating effective problem-solving through advanced machine learning techniques.

• One the one hand this is super cool and maybe very beneficial, something I definitely want to try out. On the other, LLMs always make mistakes, and when it's this deeply integrated into other system I wonder how severe these mistakes will be, since they are bound to happen.

Mammals Evolved into Ant Eaters 12 Times Since Dinosaur Age, Study Finds (njit.edu | comments) A recent study reveals that mammals have evolved into anteater forms a total of 12 times since the age of dinosaurs. This adaptive evolution highlights the flexibility of mammalian species in response to environmental changes.

• The weight of all ants on Earth is roughly equal to the weight of all humans- aka there are a lot of ants. And can be found everywhere mammals are able to live. So they make sense as a food source
• You may not like it, but this is what peak mammalian performance looks like.

Apple Intelligence Foundation Language Models Tech Report 2025 (machinelearning.apple.com | comments) Apple's 2025 Tech Report details two new multilingual, multimodal foundation language models that enhance Apple Intelligence across devices. These models underscore Apple's commitment to improving natural language processing and artificial intelligence functionalities in their ecosystem, catering to diverse user needs.

• Every time I see a paper from Apple I just feel like, OK so why isn’t my iPhone actually doing any of this yet? Why give this to developers if you haven’t been able to get Siri to use it yet? Does it not work or something? I guess we’ll find out when devs start trying to make stuff

Mistakes Microsoft made in the Xbox security system (2005) (xboxdevwiki.net | comments) This text outlines 17 key security mistakes made by Microsoft in the Xbox security system, highlighted in a paper presented at the 22nd Chaos Communication Congress in 2005. The paper discusses Microsoft's security approaches and the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers, including topics like ROM location, bootloaders, and hacking techniques.

• Alternatively: Paths to Freedom.
• RSA doesn’t take that much code. The Atari lynx would initialize all the hardware, perform RSA, and load the next step from the cart in 512 bytes.
• All of this nonsense because they underpriced the console to overcharge on games.

What's going on with gene therapies? (nehalslearnings.substack.com | comments) Cell and gene therapies have revolutionized treatment for previously incurable diseases, saving tens of thousands of lives. However, despite these advancements, numerous companies in the field are facing shutdowns, raising concerns about the sustainability and future of gene therapy innovation.

• Could it be just that gene therapies should be publicly funded? Taxpayer money has paid for a substantial percentage of research around the world, and it doesn't seem necessary that we rely on profit-driven private companies for the actual therapies when they could be done at publicly funded hospitals too.

Molecule produced by gut bacteria causes atherosclerosis (elpais.com | comments) Researchers have identified a molecule produced by gut bacteria that plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. This discovery could illuminate pathways leading to heart disease, which accounts for millions of fatalities globally. Understanding the gut's influence on vascular health offers new insights into preventative strategies.

• "The new study shows that blood levels of imidazole propionate are lower in people with diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, tea, and low-fat dairy products." That's encouraging
• I wonder how much of our diet contributes to these gut microbes?