Ace of Spades HQ

April 07, 2021

Daily Tech News 7 April 2021
— Pixy Misa

Top Story

Hosting company WebNX's facility in Ogden, Utah, had some problems after a backup generator caught fire during a power outage. (The Register)

Well, that happened.

All the servers at my day job are back online, but not my own server that would normally host Ace's site. That will likely be a couple more days.

I was planning on moving everything over there. Good thing I haven't had the time to do that.

We're not the only ones affected. The very popular EEVBlog forum is currently cactus.

He had redundant servers, but they're both down.

Tech News

Intel's Ice Lake Xeons offer up to 40 cores and 60MB of L3 cache. (AnandTech)

More importantly, they've had massive price cuts across the entire range. Previously the 28-core Xeon Gold 6258R was the standout, offering the same performance as the $10,000 Platinum 8280 at 40% of the price.

While it runs at a somewhat slower clock speed, the new 28-core Xeon Gold 6330 cuts that price by another 50% to $1900.

I'm sure it's pure coincidence that just last month AMD introduced their own 28-core Epyc model, the 7453, at under $1600.

Single-threaded performance of the new chips is competitive with AMD and the latest Arm server parts. Multi-threaded performance is good enough to get them into 10th place.

More details at Serve the Home.

Including a discussion that this will be the only CPU range from Intel to use this socket. It's been delayed so long that their next hardware platform is due out before they could reasonably update this one.
7% of Americans don't use the internet. Who are they? (Pew)

Short answer: Old people.
Speaking of which, the average age of COBOL programmers is 50. (GovTech)

Not only that, but it is remaining constant at 50.
Australia may be getting protection for online platforms similar to CDA Section 230. (ZDNet)

I think this is probably a good thing. I would enjoy seeing Section 230 repealed and social media as we know it burned to the ground, but that's because it's run by communists.
Bitcoin mining could produce 130 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2024 - in China alone. (New Scientist)

That's more than the whole of Italy.
Apparently there's music on Twitter. Who knew? (TorrentFreak)

The RIAA is going after them for... Oh. Ahahahaha. Idiots.
Wuffs' PNG decoder is faster than libpng and memory safe. (GitHub)

What the hell is Wuffs? Turns out it's a programming language specifically for handling untrusted binary data.

It can compile to C so you can build libraries with it and then use them in real programs, but it is very, very picky about your code. All the usual nonsense like buffer overruns, integer overflows, and null pointer dereferences simply won't compile.
The manager of Google's AI research has resigned following the very public firing of two insufferable lunatics in his department. (The Verge)

Note that he was their manager, but was not involved with or even aware of their firings until they happened. Whatever his abilities as a researcher, he's a lousy manager.
A long thread on why PC joysticks were terrible at a time when even the Commodore 64 got it right contains this gem:

Letters From Haachama Video of the Day

Congratulations to the crazy Aussie sheila on reaching 500,000 subscribers.

But Pixy, I hear you say, didn't she recently pass one million subscribers?

Well, yes, but that was in 2021, and Haachama is currently living in August of 2020. The songs start at about the 8 minute mark if you want to skip ahead - with Cruel Angel's Thesis from Evangelion.

Disclaimer: I'm cross-posting these to Ace's blog at least until the server is repaired, and take no responsibility for the brain cells destroyed by unlicensed Haachama exposure.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 05:54 AM | Comments (38)
Post contains 637 words, total size 6 kb.

1 Th

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 07, 2021 06:04 AM (/+bwe)

2 What? I'm actually first?
Did the hamsters burn Sponge, too?

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 07, 2021 06:05 AM (/+bwe)

3 Welcome to the thread.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2021 06:12 AM (PiXy!)

4 Interesting place you got here. Be a shame something happens to it.
How'd you like to buy some insurance, make sure the place don't , oh, I dunno, burn down or sumpin.
Wassat?
Oh. Nevermind.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2021 06:16 AM (z79tQ)

5 Yeoman work you're doing to keep the hamsters on the wheel.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2021 06:18 AM (z79tQ)

6 'fishegg flogger, Passover Caviar'?
We sure someone isn't taking a piss on our leg with that one?
And Pixy, thank you for all that you do.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 06:25 AM (3D/fK)

And Pixy, thank you for all that you do.

You'll change your tune if I keep posting Haachama videos.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2021 06:29 AM (PiXy!)

8 Thank you, Pixa Misa, for keeping us online.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:29 AM (u82oZ)

9 NaughtyPine
Way to go on your first.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:31 AM (u82oZ)

10 Good morning!
Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:32 AM (u82oZ)

11 I'm enjoying this post a lot. Hope it continues after The Troubles.

Posted by: CZ = FNG To Remain Silent Because, FNG at April 07, 2021 06:32 AM (MkuC5)

12 Yes, Thank you Pixy! It means so much to be to have this site.

Posted by: Iris at April 07, 2021 06:32 AM (6lKe4)

13 [quotes]11 I'm enjoying this post a lot. Hope it continues after The Troubles.

Posted by: CZ = FNG To Remain Silent Because, FNG [/quotes]

There are some advantages. But I like the old ways best, as I've adapted.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:34 AM (u82oZ)

14 Yikes. quote, not quotes.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:34 AM (u82oZ)

15 Good morning. Iris.
I trust you and yours are well.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:35 AM (u82oZ)

16 Thanks, NaCly Dog. It won't happen again; I'm usually at work by now but am waiting on cofeve to kick in.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 07, 2021 06:35 AM (/+bwe)

17 The old grey boxed were an excellent way of keeping comments visibly separated.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:36 AM (u82oZ)

18 Maybe I should use that new-fangled preview feature.
In the words of Anna Puma, Nyah.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:38 AM (u82oZ)

19 Thank you Pixy for busting your butt to get us back up and running. 'Tis a shame I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about for most of this post.

Posted by: Cowboyneal at April 07, 2021 06:39 AM (kdIeY)

20 In line with the tech thread...
The project 2005 Chevy Colorado is proceeding better than I expected.
Finished up a bunch of things, Installed a Sony XAV radio, sirius, microphone array, backup camera, steering wheel radio controls, ham radio and antenna.
The only thing I may add is a CB radio, probably buy a really cheap cobra or Uniden radio.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 07, 2021 06:41 AM (FVrDO)

21 Have a blissful day, everyone.
Be that swan gliding serenely though choppy water.
Never let them see the feet moving fast.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2021 06:41 AM (u82oZ)

22 so thats what happened. I thought my computer had messed up again.

Posted by: Fozzy at April 07, 2021 06:42 AM (zRR8c)

23 Be safe, Salty!!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 06:45 AM (3D/fK)

24 morin yall

Posted by: Big V at April 07, 2021 06:53 AM (6Pqz7)

25 Good morning!
Well, this is new. . . and kinda fun.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2021 06:57 AM (bDqIh)

26 Previous comment attempt did not work.
Keep 'er movin, we got a ways to go:

Posted by: French Jeton at April 07, 2021 06:58 AM (85zsD)

27 No further updates on the Ft Deitrick shooter.
Imagonnagoout on a limb and guess that his nickname growing up wasn't 'White-bread'.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 07:03 AM (3D/fK)

28 No further updates on the Ft Deitrick shooter.
Imagonnagoout on a limb and guess that his nickname growing up wasn't 'White-bread'.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 07:03 AM (3D/fK)

Have not heard anything yet about him. I sit next to all the Senior HMs. I will get gouge later this AM. Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 07, 2021 07:10 AM (S3cgC)

29 Thanks' Doc.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 07:13 AM (3D/fK)

30 NGU, you getting any time with those East Coast Marines? I hear Lejune is lovely this time of year.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2021 07:16 AM (DMUuz)

31 27. I am going to guess that Pumpernickel would be a closer nickname.

Posted by: Picric at April 07, 2021 07:19 AM (3QnyK)

32 Le NOOD...It be here...and shit!!!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 07, 2021 07:21 AM (3D/fK)

33 NGU, you getting any time with those East Coast Marines? I hear Lejune is lovely this time of year.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2021 07:16 AM (DMUuz)

Unfortunately no. My new job keeps me in the DC Area mostly. I hope to be down there in June

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 07, 2021 07:21 AM (S3cgC)

34 I guess the solar roadways caught fire!

Posted by: krusty at April 07, 2021 08:13 AM (t+WZ+)

35 Solar freaking roadways!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2021 08:43 AM (PiXy!)

36 Thank you for the update Pixy! You're part of why this blog is awesome.

Posted by: Draki at April 07, 2021 09:28 AM (4aIq9)

37 I am very grateful that this blog is still here; gasping and wheezing though it is. Before Ace's latest shelving project collapsed and crippled Pixie, this was my #1 news and information site - not to mention a comedy gold mine.
Please accept this symbolic token of my appreciation. (watch as he pours delicious, hand crafted whiskey through the USB port)

Posted by: Bonecrusher at April 07, 2021 09:32 AM (JNTt1)

38 A green orange is usually green, unless it is yellow. A yellow orange would still be considered green if one were using the phrase "green" to determine ripeness instead of color.
Pixie did not like the above answer to the question.

Posted by: Bonecrusher at April 07, 2021 09:57 AM (JNTt1)

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