📰 News

🚫 'Worthless' – Chevron carbon offsets are mostly junk and some may harm: research

Chevron's carbon offsets are just "worthless" junk, according to new research. The majority of the offsets are linked to social and environmental harm, particularly in regions that are the worst affected by climate change. And, shocker, Chevron plans to invest $57.4bn in oil expansion by 2030.

🌩 Illustration of Franklin’s kite experiment is likely riddled with errors

Most illustrations of Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment, including the famous Currier & Ives lithograph, contain historical errors. Franklin's interest in electricity began after seeing a demonstration in 1743, and he later concluded that lightning was a massive electric spark. His theoretical experiment involved drawing down the electric fire from a cloud using an elevated iron rod wire. Frenchman Thomas-Francois D’Alibard read Franklin's paper and performed his version of the experiment in Paris by using a 50-foot-long vertical rod, and others soon followed suit. The safer and simpler kite experiment became the established account and involved attaching a wire to the top of a kite as a makeshift lightning rod and holding a silk string with a metal key while standing under a shed roof to ensure that no conductive elements touched the experimenter. Franklin observed electrification in the twine's loose filaments and pressed his knuckle to the key, producing an electric spark that proved that lightning was static electricity. Contrary to popular myth, Franklin wasn't struck by lightning.

📷 Can a camera company make an app that doesn’t suck? Fujifilm tries again

Fujifilm is trying again with its XApp after its last attempt earned 1-star reviews. The new app promises smoother performance and features that could deepen the bond between photographers and their camera. It will be available on May 25th for both iOS and Android.

👨 First Citizens lays off almost 500 Silicon Valley Bank employees

First Citizens Bancshares lays off 500 Silicon Valley Bank employees, hopefully they've been saving Silicon Valley sized salaries so that all these sudden vacations on the beach don't put them in the poor house.

📷 Microsoft’s Surface Pro X cameras have stopped working for everyone

Microsoft's Surface Pro X has faced a camera malfunction, leaving users struggling to join video calls. A workaround to the issue involves changing the system date - but be warned, it could cause authentication problems with certain websites. Seems like someone at Microsoft forgot to renew that security certificate!

💻 28 years later, Windows finally supports RAR files

Windows 11 now natively supports RAR files 28 years after its debut. Youthful warez surfers will remember WinRAR from the dial-up days. Will it survive the age of broadband and open source alternatives?

🎮 Sony announces a new Playstation handheld, to enable cloud streaming from a PS5

Sony's Project Q is a dedicated device for streaming any PS5 game to a handheld controller with an 8-inch HD screen, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. And if that's not enough, they've also announced official wireless earbuds for gaming. Sony is stepping up their game (pun intended).

💔 Why You Should Give Up on Your Dreams

Dreams can become a source of pain and stagnation when we become too attached to them, leading to procrastination, perfectionism, and the loss of meaning in our work. By confronting reality, diversifying our identity, and reconnecting with meaning, we can reset our relationship with our dreams, making them more sustainable, meaningful, and inspiring.

💰 Elementl raises $33M Series B for its Dagster based data orchestration platform

Elementl raises $33M to become the next data platform. Based on the Dagster orchestrator, Elementl provides a more modern system that is cloud-optimized and container-centric, with a focus on data assets for a more developer-friendly user experience.

🍺 Alcohol affects your body, from first flush of happiness to hangover

Alcohol is the best drug for socializing, according to Professor David Nutt, but the truth is that regularly overdoing it leaves you overstressed, short on sleep, and with high blood pressure. So, drink responsibly, and don't forget to hydrate and eat before you start boozing.

👻 Photoshop’s generative AI tool turned my vacation photos into nightmare fuel

Photoshop's new generative AI tool turns vacation photos into nightmares. With just a few clicks, you can add erupting volcanoes, ominous thunderstorms, and even phallic rainbows. Who needs to actually travel to Iceland when you can create a surreal version in Photoshop?

📱 App in Google Play turns malicious and sends mic recordings every 15 minutes

Looks like iRecorder Screen Recorder went from zero to sixty real quick, adding the ability to record sound and spy on users. The app developer must have really wanted to hear what their users were saying every 15 minutes.

💸 SoundCloud lays off 8% of staff as it aims to reach profitability this year

SoundCloud is trying to stay in tune with profitability by laying off 8% staff, following last year's 20% cut. CEO Seton says they’re taking "a challenging but essential decision" to ensure the company stays afloat.

🛰 Internet from a small satellite in geostationary orbit? Sure, why not

A small satellite the size of a kitchen stove is delivering high-speed internet service to Alaska. Astranis' satellites fly at a higher altitude of 37,000 km, providing continuous service to a single area without the need for hundreds of satellites like SpaceX's Starlink. Iron Man would definitely approve.

💰 Netflix crackdown on account sharing hits US with $8 fee for each extra user

Netflix wants to make sure you're not sharing your account with your neighbor's grandma's cat, and is cracking down with a $8 fee for extra users. But don't worry, your cat can still use Netflix at your house.

💔 Daylight, the LGBTQ+ neobank, calls it quits

Looks like it's curtains for LGBTQ+ neobank, Daylight. Co-founder and CEO Rob Curtis announced the platform's closure, months after allegations of inappropriate behavior and fabrications emerged. Curtis hopes "big banks...pick up the torch and carry forward our legacy."

💡📚 Articles

💸 Technical Debt in Software Development (4 min read)

Code Quality vs Speed: The Importance of Minimizing Technical Debt in Software Development

🤔 Nihilism and the anti-corruption layer (8 min read)

Anti-corruption layer: How to protect your Android build from upstream changes, stay stable, and migrate to newer releases with ease. Includes a deep dive into the technical implementation and guardrails necessary for success, as well as a philosophical discussion on nihilism and embracing your own path.

🤔 The 8 Fallacies of Distributed Systems Simply Explained (2 min read)

Get Ready to Challenge Your Assumptions: The 8 Fallacies of Distributed Systems

💡 #Descomplica - DTO (2 min read)

Boost Your Clean Code with DTOs: A Simple Solution for Efficient Data Transfer in Applications #DescomplicaDTOs

🤔 Between Theoretical concepts & Practical implementations (4 min read)

Software development is a complex field with numerous theories and concepts like OOP and SOLID, but there is no perfect solution for every problem. Finding balance between theory and practice, and being critical of what you learn, is key. Factors like team experience, software requirements, budget, and available talent must be considered for each unique scenario.

🗺 Susanne Kaiser on Wardley Mapping (6 min read)

Unlocking the Secrets to a Successful Online Business

👨‍💻 Repositories

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