Favorites October 10th 2022

January 2022

lcamtuf @lcamtuf

If you want to learn a bit more info about the "infamous Google plasma globe exercise of 2012", I jotted down some technical notes here: lcamtuf.coredump.cx/plasma_globe.t…

They're finally publicizing the plasma globe attack against Google, which is absolutely my favorite of the security team's attacks.

OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical

The Russians failed to destroy a Ukrainian footbridge with a Kh-101 cruise missile.

OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical

https://t.co/laawvBnVwq

It's hard to find many photos, but it's a big missile. There's actually a video of the impact with the pedestrian bridge, which remains surprisingly intact. This would be sloppy writing for a TV show, it's just too on-the-nose. Unfortunately, the other civilian targets, including the German Embassy in Kyiv, still had many casualties.

Josh Felser @Joshmedia

Coalinga, CA will likely be out of water in 2 months. The city has been paying $190 per acre-foot but with that source drying up, open market cost is $2,500. This could cost coalinga $2.5m, 25% of the city’s total budget. New normal without massive change

washingtonpost.comA California city’s water supply is expected to run out in two monthsOfficials project drought-stricken Coalinga, Calif., will use up its allotted amount of water before the end of the year — possibly forcing the city to buy water at exorbitant prices.

Coincidentally, that comes out to $5.74 per CCF, which is comparable to retail prices for water in Seattle, this obviously doesn't include the cost of delivery, but it's a useful price point. Either way, we're going to need desalination.

Fascinating @fasc1nate

In 2015, photographer Atif Saeed captured this intense photograph of a male lion moments before it launched an attack on him. He narrowly escaped with this incredible shot of a face-to-face with a lion about to kill.

I believe the photo was actually taken in 2012, but either way, cool photo.

Randall Munroe @xkcd

Fan Theories xkcd.com/2683

Threads

• A discussion about San Francisco's updated draft of their housing element, and how it really is improving. TL;DR: their staff is really trying to make progress, but now are running so late that it looks like the only way they'll make it in time is by essentially asking the State regulator to rewrite their housing plans. Here's a follow-up thread with more details of what a tough spot SF is in regarding their plans for housing.

• The Economics Nobel Prize announcement made comparisons with the Bank Run in It's a Wonderful Life, but this thread explains that the film actually (accurately) depicts a Building and Loan company collapse. TL;DR: Banks were already FDIC insured by then, and B&L companies didn't have 'runs'. If you want an accurate depiction of a bank run, the film you want is Mary Poppins.

• Thread about how failures of major (tech) products often happen because of a fatal flaw that the team refuses to address. (Lytro camera, Google Glass, Google Clip).