After 25 years, Wikipedia has proved that news doesn't need to look like news
from niemanlab.org
56
by
giuliomagnifico
1h ago
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Article:
22 min
The article discusses how Wikipedia has proven that news doesn't need to follow traditional formats by continuously updating articles on current events in real-time, offering a source of reliable information for the public.
Wikipedia's success has influenced the way news is consumed and shared online, promoting transparency and accountability in journalism.
- Wikipedia has turned 25 years old, marking its transition from a controversial platform to an essential source of information.
- The site's early years were filled with media criticism due to the ability for anyone to edit content. However, it has since built layers of accountability and standards that ensure reliability.
- Wikipedia articles are optimized for catching up on news stories missed by readers, emphasizing its role in providing context and updates rather than breaking news.
- The article highlights several lessons from Wikipedia's approach to journalism, such as the importance of building processes and culture within a news organization, maintaining link permanence, documenting work transparently, and fostering an environment where multiple perspectives are heard.
Discussion (21):
2 min
The comment thread discusses various opinions on Wikipedia's purpose and usage, including its original intent, enterprise offerings, ethics around deadnames, bias in information sources, and the need for an RSS feed. There are differing views on whether Wikipedia was created to sell content, with some arguing it serves agendas or is biased. The discussion also touches on ethical dilemmas related to changing a person's name on their Wikipedia page.
- Enterprise offering is for retrieval, not training
Counterarguments:
- Wikipedia is CC licensed with public APIs
News
Online Media, Journalism
ASCII characters are not pixels: a deep dive into ASCII rendering
from alexharri.com
42
by
alexharri
49m ago
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Article:
1 hr 10 min
An in-depth exploration into ASCII rendering techniques and their impact on image quality, focusing on edge sharpness and contrast enhancement.
Enhanced ASCII rendering techniques could lead to more visually appealing and readable ASCII art, potentially influencing web design aesthetics and user interfaces.
- Addressing blurry edges in ASCII art through shape consideration.
- Implementing a method to quantify character shapes using sampling circles.
- Enhancing contrast at color boundaries for better readability.
Quality:
The article provides detailed explanations and code snippets, making it a valuable resource for those interested in ASCII art.
Discussion (2):
The comment thread discusses the trade-offs between speed and accuracy in character-based image reproduction, referencing historical computing limitations and custom bitmap solutions. It also poses a question about creating new characters for optimal image representation.
- The approach focuses on giving fast results
Counterarguments:
- At some point we were able to define custom character bitmap, but not enough custom characters to cover the entire screen, so the problem became more complex
Graphics & Rendering
ASCII Art, Image Processing
ClickHouse Acquires Langfuse
from langfuse.com
71
by
tin7in
2h ago
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Article:
11 min
ClickHouse has acquired Langfuse, a company focused on building the best LLM engineering platform. The acquisition will enable Langfuse to move faster in performance, reliability, and its roadmap for AI applications.
The acquisition could lead to faster development and improved reliability of AI applications, benefiting both the tech industry and users.
- Langfuse remains open source and self-hostable.
- Langfuse Cloud continues to run as-is with no changes.
- Support stays the same for existing customers.
- Performance, reliability, and roadmap enhancements are expected.
- Faster progress on enhanced enterprise-grade compliance and security.
Discussion (18):
2 min
The comment thread discusses LangFuse's acquisition by ClickHouse and its potential impact on observability for ClickHouse. Opinions vary regarding LangFuse's product effectiveness, implementation issues, and the reason behind the acquisition price.
Counterarguments:
- LangFuse might have been acquired at a fire sale price
- Prompt Management feature is not widely used or understood
Software Development
Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence
Map To Poster – Create Art of your favourite city
from github.com/originalankur
27
by
originalankur
1h ago
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Article:
MapToPoster is a Python tool that allows users to convert their favorite cities into minimalist map posters, utilizing libraries such as OpenStreetMap, OSMnx, and matplotlib-pyplot.
- Transforms cities into minimalist designs
- Uses Python libraries like OpenStreetMap, OSMnx, and matplotlib-pyplot
- Provides a Readme file for instructions
- Available under MIT license
Discussion (19):
The comment thread discusses issues related to a map visualization tool, including missing city landmarks, image display problems on different devices, and suggestions for enhancing the output format. Users also share personal experiences and intentions behind using such maps.
- clarification request
- suggestion for feature enhancement
Software Development
Python, Design, Maps, Poster
Show HN: Streaming gigabyte medical images from S3 without downloading them
from github.com/PABannier
41
by
el_pa_b
3h ago
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Article:
4 min
WSI Streamer is a cloud-native tile server for Whole Slide Images (WSIs) that allows streaming gigabyte-sized medical images directly from S3 without downloading them. It supports various image formats, including Aperio SVS and pyramidal TIFF, and provides an OpenSeadragon-based web viewer with pan, zoom, and dark theme capabilities.
This tool could significantly reduce the need for local storage and improve accessibility to large medical images, potentially benefiting healthcare professionals and researchers by enabling faster analysis and collaboration.
Discussion (8):
The comment thread discusses the potential of using a web-based map library for viewing medical images, with suggestions on how to handle different image formats and storage scenarios.
- This is really a job for JPEG-XL
Counterarguments:
- WSI are typically stored on hard drives with a filesystem
Software Development
Cloud Computing, Web Development
East Germany balloon escape
from en.wikipedia.org
545
by
robertvc
18h ago
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Article:
41 min
The article discusses the East Germany balloon escape, where two families successfully crossed into West Germany by using a homemade hot air balloon on September 16, 1979. The escape involved meticulous planning and construction over several months, with multiple attempts before achieving success. The event led to increased border security measures in East Germany and had significant historical implications for the reunification of Germany.
- Eight people from two families escaped East Germany by crossing the border into West Germany at night in a homemade hot air balloon.
- Increased security measures were implemented in East Germany following the escape.
- The event was portrayed in films such as 'Night Crossing' (1982) and 'Balloon' (2018).
Quality:
The article provides a detailed account of the event, including historical context and aftermath.
Discussion (214):
51 min
The comment thread discusses a remarkable story of an escape from East Germany using a homemade balloon during the Cold War era. The conversation delves into comparisons between communist and capitalist systems, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses. There is a consensus on the impressive nature of the escape attempt, but opinions vary regarding the effectiveness and morality of such actions within oppressive regimes.
- Escapes from communist states were common due to the desire for freedom
Counterarguments:
- Communism has inherent flaws and is not without its downsides
- Capitalism, while flawed, offers more freedom and individuality
History
Cold War / Eastern Bloc Escape Attempts
US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% of it
from electrek.co
47
by
doener
1h ago
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Article:
6 min
In 2025, solar power significantly contributed to the growth of US electricity demand, accounting for 61% of new consumption. This marked a record increase in solar generation, surpassing other sources and covering much of the rising demand.
- Solar's growing role in electricity demand highlights its importance as a sustainable energy source, influencing policy and investment decisions.
- Solar generation grew by a record 83 TWh, surpassing other sources.
- Timing and battery storage played crucial roles in meeting demand during peak hours.
Discussion (18):
2 min
The comment thread discusses the rapid growth of solar energy demand and its relation to data centers and LLM technology. It also addresses concerns about grid stability as solar's share in the grid increases. The community generally agrees on the benefits of solar but debates its scalability and impact on existing infrastructure.
- solar energy deployment speed and scale
- relation between solar demand surge and data centers/LLM technology
Counterarguments:
- grid scale solutions are needed as solar energy share grows
- base load demand might increase at night due to EVs trickle-charging
Energy
Renewable Energy, Electricity Generation