Twenty twenty four annual report and twenty twenty five goals (ablwr.github.io)
diff --git a/docs/log.txt b/docs/log.txt
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--- a/docs/log.txt
+++ b/docs/log.txt
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-2024/12/28 01:15:59 Fetched posts from https://rachelbythebay.com/w/atom.xml, took 30.020912294s
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+2024/12/28 02:42:53 error parsing https://themargins.substack.com/feed.xml: http error: 403 Forbidden
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diff --git a/docs/posts/25-hopes-for-2025.html b/docs/posts/25-hopes-for-2025.html
index 4396ed99377..aa88bd03aff 100644
--- a/docs/posts/25-hopes-for-2025.html
+++ b/docs/posts/25-hopes-for-2025.html
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
25 hopes for 2025
I want to be confident cooking more meals.
I hope you're having a wonderful day, and have a great year. What are you hoping for?
OK after much squinting at the progression of rewrite rules... I think I have found an example of where the logic goes wrong.
Can you spot the error?
-
+
The issue here is that the empty int list TupleInt.EMPTY is unified with TupleInt(0, partial(lambda i, self, j: Int.if_(j == self.length(), i, self[j])), 101, TupleInt.empty) aka TupleInt(0, lambda j: Int.if_(j == 0, 101, TupleInt.EMPTY[j])))
Now let's say we do a naive index the empty list like TupleInt.EMPTY[0]. We could say this incorrect, or how we can represent it is that it unifies with Int.NEVER. But it can show up in the e-graph, because in if_ conditionals, the false branch can end up doing indexing that is not allowed. So we want it to not mess things up.
And in this case then, it will evaluate to (lambda j: Int.if_(j == 0, 101, TupleInt.EMPTY[j])))(0) which is Int.if_(0 == 0, 101, TupleInt.EMPTY[0])) which is 101... So then what we get is that 101 is unified with Int.NEVER which... isn't good! Is really bad! Because it means all numbers can be unified together basically, i.e. false is true whatever.
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+
+ Reactions
+
+
+
Greg
+
Hi Kris,
+
Thank you for the heated table article! A lot of times I’ll have an idea,
+but because I haven’t seen it done, and I’m a coward, I decide it’s
+probably a bad idea for some reason I can’t foresee. When you write an
+article like that, and include the historical use, then I’m bolstered to
+try it!
+
You mention “Western-style seating”, and I’m wondering what you think of
+this problem: One problem I have with heating myself or my little space, is
+that I’m reluctant to move, so I sit too long. There are various health
+effects of that, but one I’m battling right now is sciatica that has
+affected almost every night of sleep for 10 months.
+
I’m wondering if you’ve thought about that, and if you know if people who
+do “Eastern-style seating” have any different outcomes?
+
Cheers again for the article!
+Greg
+Australia
+
+
+
kris de decker
+
Hi Greg,
+
Indeed I have been looking into the advantages of sitting on the ground, and they are quite significant. While I chose a western-style sitting position for my office, I am considering switching to sitting on the ground in my home. It’s apparently much better for your body, although it does take practice.
+
All the best,
+Kris
+
+
+
Kostas
+
Hello Kris,
+
You may want to add to the article of heated table another insulation material.
+Mycelium panels. More resistant to high temperatures also.
+
Regards
+Kostas
+
+
+
Kieran
+
Good afternoon,
+
Thank you so much for this article. It was very enjoyable to read as most of your articles are! My wife and I love Japanese culture and as such I have considered buying/making a Kotatsu. For one reason or another we’ve decided not to.
+
But the idea of using the underfloor heating foil is a stroke of genius. Here in the UK, you can buy low wattage “tube heaters” at a very low cost (around £35 for the 80w model). They have a built-in thermostat and run off the 230v wall supply. They are generally used for protecting a greenhouse or shed from frost but I wonder if they would be suitable for this application too? Any thoughts?
+
Thanks again for the articles,
+Kieran
+
+
Patrick 'DoctorSockrates' Camarador
+
I wish this guide was out before I built a prototype “desktop kotatsu” to keep my fingers warm on the keyboard and mouse in my office. Probably would be safer than what I had lying around; I used a simple lapdesk and small blanket that was short enough to not be blocking the monitors on my monitor arms. My heating source was a desktop heater that was supposed to blow hot air on your hands directly, which was uncomfortable the first time I used it since the air wasn’t being trapped and I couldn’t move my mouse hand much underneath it. While it did have a safety shut off for tipping over or overheating, I would’ve loved to have a thermostat for my desktop kotatsu instead…perhaps now with this manual, I can rebuild.
+
Patrick “DoctorSockrates” Camarador
+
+
+
Wim
+
The plan sounds solid.
+Thank you for the ideas and the time you spend on making this world Low tech minded.
+
One remark, for a slightly worried EHS person:
+
From a Building Biology point of view it depends on how you design it if it would be considered " fit for consumption" or " healthy for Human Beings".
+EMF’s so close to your body can give all sorts of health issues, like headaches, poor sleep, nervous system disorders etc.
+Running a 3 wire system (with earth) to power the pad avoids a lot of that.
+
The 2 wire part should be as short as possible, and ideally avoided completely.
+The heating pad itself should be surrounded by a metal grid connected to earth to avoid excessive EMF’s.
+However, the very nature of the heating pad does not allow for a design that avoids EMF’ s , as far as my knowledge goes.
+
(You would need to experiment with maze size and use an EMF meter to see what is practical. )
+
Anyway, as always, grateful for your efforts turning complex things into easy solutions.
+
Kind regards,
+Wim
+
+
+
Eric Wagner
+
I was wondering if there was any reason one couldn’t use an electric blanket instead of building an electrically-heated table. You could still have some insulation blankets laid over top of the heated blanket on your lap instead of over the table.
+I feel there are benefits to this version, like direct contact with the body for quicker and more heat transfer, and a heated blanket could be used in a variety of position and locations. Some people might want a hard surface on their table for certain types of work, which you could have with the blankets on your lap instead. Also, Since the blankets are only covering your body instead of a whole table, they could be smaller, and finally, I imagine it would be simpler to install.
+I love the kotatsu invention, but it makes more sense to me if you are disconnected from the grid, or wanting to use some other type of energy other than electricity.
+
Eric Wagner
+
+
+
Kris De Decker
+
@Eric Wagner
+I have no experience with electric blankets, never used one. So I cannot really answer your question. One disadvantage I see is that the heating system and the insulation are one. If I spill coffee over my table, I could simply switch blankets. Also, if you put an electric blanket over the table, it will mostly heat up the table rather than your body. So indeed, you would need to put it on your lap. It’s a totally different approach. Also, I don’t see why the heated table would make more sense if you are disconnected from the grid. It works just as well with grid power.
+
@Wim
+Good point, I did not think of that. I have not noticed any adverse effects after a week of use, but then I am not sensitive to EMF. I could do a test with an EMF meter.
+
@Kieran
+I didn’t know tube heaters, but had a look online. I don’t think they are suited for a heated table. I see there are some that use as little power as my infrared heating foil, but they seem to have much less surface area. That means that their surface temperature will be higher, risking burns or fire when they come into contact with skin or clothes.
+
@Kostas
+Thanks, that is something I will try for the next table we build.
+
+
+
+
-
-
+
+
+
+
+
I did all tests at a maximum thermostat temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius (112°F). Energy will be lower if you use a lower temperature setting. Apart from measuring energy use and temperatures, I noted my thermal comfort. I was sitting at the table wearing leather shoes, a thick layer of merino wool thermal underclothing, and thin work clothes above that. I did computer work. I did tests with an insulation of one to four blankets. The energy use and performance of your heated table may differ from mine. The energy use depends on the size and power of the heat source (step 2), the thermostat settings (step 4), the heat-insulating value of the blankets (step 8) and the carpet (step 7), the heat source insulation (step 6), and the table surface (step 1). As you add more heat insulation, the thermostat will turn off the heating source more often and for longer, resulting in lower energy use. The same happens when you set a lower maximum thermostat setting. ↩︎
+
+
+
Not accounting for the cost of a table or a carpet - things that are likely already around - you can build a one-person electrically heated table for less than 100 euros. Here are the costs for my table: 35 euros for the heating foil (I bought 2 meters for 75 euros and cut the roll to about half the size), 10 euros for the thermostat, 30 euros of cork insulation, and 40 euros for the second-hand “double” green wool blanket that is very large and thick. Total = 115 euros. I bought four other cheap second-hand blankets, all in an excellent state. You can spend hundreds or even thousands of euros on exquisite wool blankets if you have deep pockets. The costs (and the building time) increase as the table gets larger because there is more heating foil and insulation to add. ↩︎
+
+
+
Don’t make the mistake of putting the heat foil on the floor, radiating heat upwards to the table. Radiant heat sources don’t work by heating the air but by directly transmitting energy to your body. If energy radiates downwards, it will reach your thighs, knees, lower legs, and feet. In contrast, if the radiant energy comes from below, the bottom of the chair blocks most of it. Only your feet are directly exposed, but they will only be warmed when taking off your shoes. You also need to insulate the space below the heating foil and protect the top of the carbon heating film against damage, complicating the building process. ↩︎
+
+
+
Ingham, Peter, et al. “Wool and carpets-6000 years of innovation, quality and sustainability.” Key Engineering Materials 671 (2016): 490-496. See also: McNeil, Steve. “The thermal properties of wool carpets.” Technical Bulletin, AgResearch, NZ. AgResearch Limited Lincoln Research Centre| e Se||-Corner Springs Road & Gerald Street, Lincoln ita mīta i, mīta i het Private Bag 4749 (2016). ↩︎
The Chocofi is an open-source 3x5(+3) 36-key wireless low-profile Corne variant with Kyria-style stagger. I’ve been meaning to switch to 3x5 hardware for years since I’ve been using a 3x5 keymap from the very beginning, just on 3x6 hardware.
+
The Chocofi is an open-source 3x5(+3) 36-key wireless low-profile Corne variant with Kyria-style stagger. I’ve been meaning to switch to 3x5 hardware for years since I’ve been using a 3x5 keymap from the very beginning, just on 3x6 hardware.
-
+
allow me to explain the Pusheen; his tummy is a screen cleaner and let me tell you my screen used to be filthy but has never been cleaner since I got him
I got mine fabbed and soldered by the wonderful Leo of Beekeeb. Beekeeb specializes in small low-profile split ergomechs.
-
It’s a bummer that zmk doesn’t support pointing devices yet, because that means I can’t use the beautiful Lenovo trackpoint module I put so much effort into setting up for my MX Corne. RIP. Unless…I go the extra mile to implement PS2 support in zmk….just kidding I don’t have time for that right now, we need to finish writing MIT Mystery Hunt.
+
It’s a bummer that zmk doesn’t support pointing devices yet, because that means I can’t use the beautiful Lenovo trackpoint module I put so much effort into setting up for my MX Corne. RIP. Unless…I go the extra mile to implement PS2 support in zmk….just kidding I don’t have time for that right now, we need to finish writing MIT Mystery Hunt.
hardware thoughts & tips
@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@
hardware thoughts & tips
I just got my Sunsets and they’re a big improvement, although I do find them a little stiff and heavy compared to the effortless 28gf Hako Violets I was used to using on my old keeb. People have been working on this for years and unfortunately, the shorter travel distance means it’s just not physically possible to manufacture low-profile tactiles as light as MX tactiles can get.
-
+
Choc switches have one pin that is very thin. Make sure the pins are actually aligned with the sockets, and insert the switch straight in. The thin pin can get smashed in so that the pin is not actually in the socket, but it looks/feels as if the switch is seated properly. You won’t notice until you start typing and the key doesn’t work. It was easy enough to straighten the pins back out with needlenose pliers, but a little harrowing since I didn’t have a lot of spares.
I didn’t originally buy screens. They seemed like a splurge. However, I had trouble building my firmware at first and couldn’t get into the debug console either, so I broke down and bought them to use for debugging.
-
+
Now that I have them, I’m very impressed by them. They’re crisp and refresh quickly.
labs(x = NULL, y = "CO2 levels (ppm)", caption = "nibrivia.com", title = "Typical daily CO2 levels at Recurse Center")
-
A few interesting things to note immediately: - there’s a strong daily
-cycle, - the days kinda look different from each other, - the weekends
-have lower peaks, - what’s going on on the 20th?
+
A few interesting things to note immediately:
+
+
there’s a strong daily cycle,
+
the days kinda look different from each other,
+
the weekends
+have lower peaks,
+
what’s going on on the 20th?
+
On the 20th, I happened
Right, so on the 20th, I was trying to keep us under 1,000ppm of CO2 in
the space, so I kept opening the window.
diff --git a/docs/posts/minimal-self-hosted-exercise-tracker.html b/docs/posts/minimal-self-hosted-exercise-tracker.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..84882a2c91e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/posts/minimal-self-hosted-exercise-tracker.html
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ James Routley | Feed
+
+
+
+ Back
+ Original
+
Show HN: Minimal, self-hosted exercise tracker
+
+
+
A small, single html file and browser local storage solution for tracking 7 fixed sets of daily exercises from one week to the next.
+
+
The idea is that the simplicity reduces all friction to allow you get started on the exercises each day and continue the program long-term.
+
+
It will only ever show today's workout and the previous workout's weight. There is no other history, trending or reporting possible.
+
It has no configuration interface in order to keep it simple. Edit the html file source in order to set your exercises. Only the previous weight is tracked to allow setting of the next weight.
+
Includes a very simple built-in timer for tracking rest periods. You can change the sound by inserting a different base64 encoded wav.
+
+
There is no save or undo button. Saving is instant any time data is input into the weight column.
+
If you want to delete the data, just delete the local storage keys from an f12 browser debug session.
+
There is no data syncing built in, so all data is tied to the browser that is used.
+
+
It should work in any modern browser, and render equally well on desktop or mobile.
+
+
You can either run the raw html file from your local filesystem, put it on a server you contol, or even fork the project and use githack as a way to access it e.g. This demo github file permalink with github replaced with githack in the url (Githack caches files for a year, so using permalinks is good to make sure you always have the revision of exercises.html that you want).
+
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+ James Routley | Feed
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The paper passport's days are numbered
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In a matter of years, no matter where you live or travel, your face will likely be your new passport.
For centuries, people have used some form of passport while moving from place to place. But the widespread standardization of passports as we know them today didn’t really begin until after World War 1, when passports were commonly used as a security measure and to deter spies entering a country. Even then, some considered passports to be an “anachronism in the modern world.”
But the use of paper passports—which were first digitized as “e-Passports” with NFC chips in 2006—is slowly undergoing one of its biggest transformations to date. The travel industry, airports, and governments are working to remove the need to show your passport while flying internationally. Eventually, you may not need to carry your passport at all.
Instead, face recognition technology and smartphones are increasingly being used to check and confirm your identity against travel details before you can fly. These systems, advocates claim, can reduce the amount of waiting time and “friction” you experience at airports. But privacy experts caution that there is little transparency about the technologies being deployed, and their proliferation could lead to data breaches and greater levels of surveillance.
The push to remove paper passports is happening worldwide. So far, airports in Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, India, and elsewhere have been trialing various levels of passport-free travel or the technology needed to make it happen. In October, officials in Singapore announced that its residents can fly to and from the country without using their documentation, and foreign visitors can “enjoy the convenience of passport-less clearance when they depart Singapore.” More than 1.5 million people have used the systems, officials claim.
“It’s probably going to become the mainstream way of traveling, as I understand, in the near future,” says Athina Ioannou, a lecturer in business analytics at the University of Surrey in the UK, who has researched the privacy implications that come with different types of travel. Ioannou says the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated contact-free travel, and many efforts are driven by trying to get passengers moving quickly through airports.
While trials around the world are at different stages and use different technical infrastructure, they broadly work in similar ways: Information historically stored in your passport’s NFC chip, including facial data, is instead stored digitally and linked to your phone. The EU is planning to build an official travel app for this. When you are at an airport, the phone can be shown, and a face recognition camera will try to match you to the passport photo.
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+Reactions
+Greg
+Hi Kris,
+Thank you for the heated table article! A lot of times I’ll have an idea, +but because I haven’t seen it done, and I’m a coward, I decide it’s +probably a bad idea for some reason I can’t foresee. When you write an +article like that, and include the historical use, then I’m bolstered to +try it!
+You mention “Western-style seating”, and I’m wondering what you think of +this problem: One problem I have with heating myself or my little space, is +that I’m reluctant to move, so I sit too long. There are various health +effects of that, but one I’m battling right now is sciatica that has +affected almost every night of sleep for 10 months.
+I’m wondering if you’ve thought about that, and if you know if people who +do “Eastern-style seating” have any different outcomes?
+Cheers again for the article! +Greg +Australia
+kris de decker
+Hi Greg,
+Indeed I have been looking into the advantages of sitting on the ground, and they are quite significant. While I chose a western-style sitting position for my office, I am considering switching to sitting on the ground in my home. It’s apparently much better for your body, although it does take practice.
+All the best, +Kris
+Kostas
+Hello Kris,
+You may want to add to the article of heated table another insulation material. +Mycelium panels. More resistant to high temperatures also.
+Regards +Kostas
+Kieran
+Good afternoon,
+Thank you so much for this article. It was very enjoyable to read as most of your articles are! My wife and I love Japanese culture and as such I have considered buying/making a Kotatsu. For one reason or another we’ve decided not to.
+But the idea of using the underfloor heating foil is a stroke of genius. Here in the UK, you can buy low wattage “tube heaters” at a very low cost (around £35 for the 80w model). They have a built-in thermostat and run off the 230v wall supply. They are generally used for protecting a greenhouse or shed from frost but I wonder if they would be suitable for this application too? Any thoughts?
+Thanks again for the articles, +Kieran
+Patrick 'DoctorSockrates' Camarador
+I wish this guide was out before I built a prototype “desktop kotatsu” to keep my fingers warm on the keyboard and mouse in my office. Probably would be safer than what I had lying around; I used a simple lapdesk and small blanket that was short enough to not be blocking the monitors on my monitor arms. My heating source was a desktop heater that was supposed to blow hot air on your hands directly, which was uncomfortable the first time I used it since the air wasn’t being trapped and I couldn’t move my mouse hand much underneath it. While it did have a safety shut off for tipping over or overheating, I would’ve loved to have a thermostat for my desktop kotatsu instead…perhaps now with this manual, I can rebuild.
+Patrick “DoctorSockrates” Camarador
+Wim
+The plan sounds solid. +Thank you for the ideas and the time you spend on making this world Low tech minded.
+One remark, for a slightly worried EHS person:
+From a Building Biology point of view it depends on how you design it if it would be considered " fit for consumption" or " healthy for Human Beings". +EMF’s so close to your body can give all sorts of health issues, like headaches, poor sleep, nervous system disorders etc. +Running a 3 wire system (with earth) to power the pad avoids a lot of that.
+The 2 wire part should be as short as possible, and ideally avoided completely. +The heating pad itself should be surrounded by a metal grid connected to earth to avoid excessive EMF’s. +However, the very nature of the heating pad does not allow for a design that avoids EMF’ s , as far as my knowledge goes.
+(You would need to experiment with maze size and use an EMF meter to see what is practical. )
+Anyway, as always, grateful for your efforts turning complex things into easy solutions.
+Kind regards, +Wim
+Eric Wagner
+I was wondering if there was any reason one couldn’t use an electric blanket instead of building an electrically-heated table. You could still have some insulation blankets laid over top of the heated blanket on your lap instead of over the table. +I feel there are benefits to this version, like direct contact with the body for quicker and more heat transfer, and a heated blanket could be used in a variety of position and locations. Some people might want a hard surface on their table for certain types of work, which you could have with the blankets on your lap instead. Also, Since the blankets are only covering your body instead of a whole table, they could be smaller, and finally, I imagine it would be simpler to install. +I love the kotatsu invention, but it makes more sense to me if you are disconnected from the grid, or wanting to use some other type of energy other than electricity.
+Eric Wagner
+Kris De Decker
+@Eric Wagner +I have no experience with electric blankets, never used one. So I cannot really answer your question. One disadvantage I see is that the heating system and the insulation are one. If I spill coffee over my table, I could simply switch blankets. Also, if you put an electric blanket over the table, it will mostly heat up the table rather than your body. So indeed, you would need to put it on your lap. It’s a totally different approach. Also, I don’t see why the heated table would make more sense if you are disconnected from the grid. It works just as well with grid power.
+@Wim +Good point, I did not think of that. I have not noticed any adverse effects after a week of use, but then I am not sensitive to EMF. I could do a test with an EMF meter.
+@Kieran +I didn’t know tube heaters, but had a look online. I don’t think they are suited for a heated table. I see there are some that use as little power as my infrared heating foil, but they seem to have much less surface area. That means that their surface temperature will be higher, risking burns or fire when they come into contact with skin or clothes.
+@Kostas +Thanks, that is something I will try for the next table we build.
+