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GitHub Models is now retired

GitHub Models is now retired I missed this news until today, when the GitHub Actions run for my simonw/research repository failed with this error message: GitHub Models is temporarily unavailable as…

  • GitHub Models, model playground tool, retired
  • Announced via GitHub Actions failure message
  • Speculated cost of free tokens led to shutdown

Tech

Pytest Built-in Fixtures

As I've been onboarding to my new position, I've been reviewing some of my coworker's code. I learned that pytest 1) has some built-in fixtures, and 2) they are really useful!

Tech

Is it all just vapourware?

  • AI and agent software may be vaporware due to ecosystem friction.
  • ONA platform's login and onboarding processes are cumbersome.
  • Author doubts AI's ability to streamline software development.

Tech

Air-con not needed to cool a building

Alternative cooling technologies can reduce a building’s energy use for cooling by up to 48 per cent.

  • Alternative cooling methods reduce energy use by up to 48%
  • Hybrid cooling combines air conditioning with fans
  • Passive displacement cooling uses ceiling coils to lower air temperature

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‘A hard-on more raging than a man’s’: what the tribas figure reveals about lesbians in ancient Rome

Lesbians were misrepresented and parodied by men in ancient Roman texts. Yet these depictions can reveal a lot if we read between the lines.

  • Term "tribas" derives from Greek "tríbō," meaning "to rub" or "wear down"
  • Roman society used "tribas" as satirical caricature of lesbians in 1st century CE
  • Philaenis, a tribas, symbolizes rejection of traditional gender norms

Tech

Taiwan plans sharp defence spending rise for 2027

Taiwan’s cabinet is preparing to raise defence spending by about 16 per cent in 2027, pushing total security-related expenditure above NT$1 trillion for the first time as Taipei accelerates military…

  • Taiwan's defense budget to rise 16% in 2027, surpassing NT$1 trillion
  • Allocation expected to be announced on August 20, exceeding US$34 billion
  • Aim to keep defense spending above 3% of GDP, increasing to 5% by 2030

Tech

This wearable patch could get you into REM sleep 43 minutes faster

The device works by combining two things that don't usually go together in a wearable: gentle ultrasound stimulation and electrodes that read brain activity. This allows it to reach deep brain regions associated with REM sleep while also tracking the brain's response in real time from outside the skull. Read Entire Article

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