Pieces

Charles Montgomery Happy City
Happy City
Happy City
Bugonia
Bugonia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmlv814aJo
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2026 Spring Festival Gala

Tradition meets technology in a stunning showcase at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala by China Media Group. This year's gala features robots performing synchronized martial arts routines alongside children, highlighting a bold fusion of heritage and high-tech innovation.

2026 Spring Festival Gala
Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World
Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World
bubblewrap it
#!/bin/bash

set -euo pipefail

# ==============================================================================
# 1. Configuration & Constants
# ==============================================================================
SECRETS_FILE=".bubblewrap"
#CURRENT_USER=$(id -un)
CURRENT_UID=$(id -u)
PROJECT_DIR=$(pwd)

# Standard XDG base directories
LOCAL_BIN="$HOME/.local/bin"
LOCAL_SHARE="$HOME/.local/share"
LOCAL_STATE="$HOME/.local/state"
LOCAL_CACHE="$HOME/.cache"

# ANSI Terminal Escape Sequences
ANSI_RED_BOLD="\033[1;31m"
ANSI_RESET="\033[0m"
ANSI_RESTORE_TERMINAL="\033[?1049l\033[?25h\033[2J\033[3J\033[H"

# ==============================================================================
# 2. Input Validation & Agent Mapping
# ==============================================================================
if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
    echo "❌ error: no command provided."
    echo "💡 usage: $0 <command> [args...]"
    echo "   example: $0 pi --prompt 'hello'"
    exit 1
fi

BASE_CMD="$1"
AGENT_TARGETS=("$BASE_CMD")

case "$BASE_CMD" in
    agy)
        AGENT_TARGETS+=("gemini")
        ;;
    claude|gemini|opencode|pi)
        # Direct 1:1 mapping
        ;;
    *)
        echo "❌ error: unsupported agent command '$BASE_CMD'."
        echo "💡 supported commands: agy, claude, gemini, opencode, pi"
        exit 1
        ;;
esac

# ==============================================================================
# 3. Mount Construction
# ==============================================================================

# Global development toolchains and editor runtime directories
GLOBAL_DEV_DIRS=(
    "$HOME/.local/share/mise"
    "$HOME/.config/mise"
    "$HOME/.config/nvim"
    "$HOME/.local/share/nvim"
    "$HOME/.local/state/nvim"
    "$LOCAL_BIN"
    "$LOCAL_SHARE"
)

GLOBAL_BINDS=()
for dir in "${GLOBAL_DEV_DIRS[@]}"; do
    [[ -d "$dir" ]] && GLOBAL_BINDS+=("--bind" "$dir" "$dir")
done

# Dynamic bindings for agent configuration, state, and cache paths
AGENT_BINDS=()
for agent in "${AGENT_TARGETS[@]}"; do
    for path in \
        "$HOME/.$agent" \
        "$HOME/.${agent}.json" \
        "$HOME/.config/$agent" \
        "$LOCAL_STATE/$agent" \
        "$LOCAL_CACHE/$agent" \
        "$LOCAL_SHARE/$agent"
    do
        [[ -e "$path" ]] && AGENT_BINDS+=("--bind" "$path" "$path")
    done
done

# Secret masking: isolate directories via tmpfs and mask files via empty ro-bind
MASK_ARGS=()
declare -A SECRET_BASELINE_INODES=()
EMPTY_MASK_FILE=""
TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE=$(mktemp /tmp/bwrap_alert.XXXXXX)

if [[ -f "$SECRETS_FILE" ]]; then
    echo "🔍 scanning for secrets..."
    EMPTY_MASK_FILE=$(mktemp /tmp/bwrap_mask.XXXXXX)
    touch "$EMPTY_MASK_FILE"

    while IFS= read -r line || [[ -n "$line" ]]; do
        item=$(echo "$line" | sed 's/#.*//' | xargs)
        [[ -z "$item" ]] && continue

        target="$PROJECT_DIR/$item"
        if [[ -d "$target" ]]; then
            MASK_ARGS+=("--tmpfs" "$target")
            echo "🔒 [masked dir]  $item"
        elif [[ -f "$target" || -L "$target" ]]; then
            MASK_ARGS+=("--ro-bind" "$EMPTY_MASK_FILE" "$target")
            SECRET_BASELINE_INODES["$target"]=$(stat -c "%i" "$target" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
            echo "🔒 [masked file] $item"
        fi
    done <"$SECRETS_FILE"
fi

# ==============================================================================
# 4. Lifecycle Management & Inode Sentinel
# ==============================================================================
WATCHER_PID=""

# shellcheck disable=SC2329
cleanup() {
    [[ -n "$WATCHER_PID" ]] && kill "$WATCHER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
    [[ -n "$EMPTY_MASK_FILE" && -f "$EMPTY_MASK_FILE" ]] && rm -f "$EMPTY_MASK_FILE"
    [[ -n "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE" && -f "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE" ]] && rm -f "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE"
    stty sane 2>/dev/null || true
}
trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM

# Background sentinel: detects host-side atomic file saves / inode replacements
if [[ ${#SECRET_BASELINE_INODES[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
    (
        while true; do
            sleep 0.5
            for path in "${!SECRET_BASELINE_INODES[@]}"; do
                current_inode=$(stat -c "%i" "$path" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
                if [[ "$current_inode" != "${SECRET_BASELINE_INODES[$path]}" ]]; then
                    echo "$path" > "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE"
                    pkill -9 -P "$$" 2>/dev/null || true
                    exit 0
                fi
            done
        done
    ) &
    WATCHER_PID=$!
    disown "$WATCHER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
fi

# ==============================================================================
# 5. Sandbox Execution
# ==============================================================================
echo "🛡️ sandbox [activating: $PROJECT_DIR with command: $BASE_CMD]"

set +e
bwrap \
    --unshare-all \
    --share-net \
    --die-with-parent \
    --proc /proc \
    --new-session \
    --dev /dev \
    --tmpfs /tmp \
    \
    --dir "/run/user/$CURRENT_UID" \
		--ro-bind-try "/run/user/$CURRENT_UID/bus" "/run/user/$CURRENT_UID/bus" \
    --dir /var \
    --dir /run/systemd/resolve \
    --dir "$HOME" \
    \
    --ro-bind /usr /usr \
    --ro-bind /bin /bin \
    --ro-bind /lib /lib \
    --ro-bind /lib64 /lib64 \
    --ro-bind /etc /etc \
    --ro-bind /sys /sys \
    --ro-bind-try /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf \
    \
    --bind "$PROJECT_DIR" "$PROJECT_DIR" \
    "${MASK_ARGS[@]}" \
    "${GLOBAL_BINDS[@]}" \
    "${AGENT_BINDS[@]}" \
    \
		--setenv DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS "${DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS:-unix:path=/run/user/$CURRENT_UID/bus}" \
    --setenv XDG_RUNTIME_DIR "/run/user/$CURRENT_UID" \
    --setenv XDG_RUNTIME_DIR "/run/user/$CURRENT_UID" \
    --setenv PS1 "bwrap$ " \
    --setenv HOME "$HOME" \
    --setenv PATH "$PATH" \
    --setenv EDITOR "nvim" \
    --setenv LANG "${LANG:-C.UTF-8}" \
    --setenv TERM "$TERM" \
    \
    --chdir "$PROJECT_DIR" \
    \
    "$@"
EXIT_STATUS=$?
set -e

# ==============================================================================
# 6. Tripwire Exit Handling
# ==============================================================================
if [[ -f "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE" && -s "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE" ]]; then
    TRIGGERED_PATH=$(cat "$TRIPWIRE_TRIGGER_FILE")

    stty sane 2>/dev/null || true
    printf "%b" "$ANSI_RESTORE_TERMINAL"
    printf "🚨 %b[SECURITY ALERT]%b Secret modified on host: %s\n" "$ANSI_RED_BOLD" "$ANSI_RESET" "$TRIGGERED_PATH" >&2
    printf "🚨 Terminating sandbox to prevent secret exposure.\n" >&2
    exit 1
fi

echo "🛡️ sandbox [inactive]"
exit "$EXIT_STATUS"
bubblewrap it
Hella Green Pasta
salt
kale
garlic
spaghetti
lemon
olive oil
parmesan
red pepper flakes
Hella Green Pasta
The End
The End
Church
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/ice-protester-says-her-global-entry-was-revoked-after-agent-scanned-her-face/
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ICE observer says her Global Entry was revoked after agent scanned her face

Nicole Cleland, an observer of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, had her Global Entry and TSA PreCheck privileges revoked after an incident where an agent used facial recognition to identify her. Cleland asserts that the revocation is an act of intimidation and retaliation for her observing federal agents. The article details the events leading to the revocation and discusses the broader use of facial recognition technology, such as Mobile Fortify and Clearview AI, and other surveillance tools by federal agencies for immigration enforcement and other investigations.

ICE observer says her Global Entry was revoked after agent scanned her face
Dark Light
privacy (v.2)
Coherence
Coherence
crystallized
Medusa
The Phone Call
The Phone Call
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/federal-judge-resignation-trump/684845/
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Why I Am Leaving the Federal Bench

Federal Judge Mark L. Wolf announces his resignation, citing President Donald Trump's repeated assaults on the rule of law and the impartial administration of justice. He criticizes the Trump administration for using the law for partisan purposes, targeting adversaries, dismantling corruption oversight, and fostering threats against the judiciary. Drawing on his 50-year career in public service, Judge Wolf emphasizes the importance of an independent judiciary and states that he can no longer remain silent in the face of what he perceives as an "existential threat to democracy."

Why I Am Leaving the Federal Bench
Streets of Minneapolis
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/nx-s1-5232811/think-you-cant-dance-get-up-and-try-these-tips-in-our-comic-we-dare-you
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Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!

Presented as a comic by Connie Hanzhang Jin for NPR's Life Kit, this article offers six practical tips to encourage anyone to dance. It guides readers through steps like moving to music, trying different motions, finding the beat, avoiding mirrors, dancing with a partner, and considering classes. The author shares her personal journey of rediscovering dance and emphasizes its benefits for happiness, self-expression, and reducing anxiety, fostering a sense of community and expanding one's world.

Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza
Ben Orlin Math Games with Bad Drawings
Math Games with Bad Drawings
Math Games with Bad Drawings
Robot Dreams
Robot Dreams
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/1991/10/-quot-the-economics-of-the-colonial-cringe-quot-about-the-economist-magazine-washington-post-1991/7415/
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The Economics of the Colonial Cringe, about The Economist magazine

This article critiques The Economist magazine, arguing that its perceived authority and "cleverness" among American professionals stem from a "colonial cringe"—a cultural snobbery rather than objective quality. The author, James Fallows, highlights how The Economist's editorial stance often contradicts its own news reporting, particularly regarding Japan's economic policies and the efficacy of market forces versus government intervention. He suggests that Americans' reverence for The Economist is rooted in a desire to associate with an imagined superior English intellect, leading to an uncritical acceptance of its content and a perpetuation of a subtle form of cultural subservience.

The Economics of the Colonial Cringe, about The Economist magazine
https://oeis.org
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On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences

The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) is an online database of integer sequences, created by Neil Sloane in 1964 and later transferred to the OEIS Foundation in 2009. It contains over 390,000 sequences and is widely cited by professional and amateur mathematicians. Each entry includes terms, keywords, mathematical motivations, and literature links, with options to generate graphs or musical representations. The database is searchable by various fields and employs an advanced 'SuperSeeker' function to identify related sequences.

On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/12/15/how-to-leave-the-usa
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How to Leave the U.S.A.

Atossa Araxia Abrahamian reports on the desire of some U.S. citizens to emigrate in the wake of President Trump's reëlection, and joins an introductory tour of the Netherlands led by G.T.F.O. Tours, a relocation company founded by two Netherlands-based Americans.

How to Leave the U.S.A.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/science/infinite-pancake-math-puzzle.html
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How to Cut an Infinitely Large Pancake into as Many Pieces as Possible

A team of mathematicians seeks to cut an infinitely large pancake into as many pieces as possible, in a new take on an old puzzle.

How to Cut an Infinitely Large Pancake into as Many Pieces as Possible
two years
twilight zone
Seoul City
I Have Never Felt More Alive
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/nx-s1-5672615/kalshi-polymarket-prediction-market-boom-traders-slang-glossary
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They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania

Prediction market apps are thriving in Trump's second term, with traders betting on migrant deportations to election outcomes. A community of young, mostly male and very online traders are driving the industry's bonanza.

They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania
No Gravity
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1127057/agi-conspiracy-theory-artifcial-general-intelligence/
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How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time

This article posits that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has become the most significant conspiracy theory of our era, deeply influencing the AI industry. It charts AGI's progression from a fringe idea to a dominant narrative, drawing parallels with conspiratorial thinking through its ambiguous definitions, imperviousness to contradictory evidence, and promises of either utopian salvation or apocalyptic doom. Author Melissa Heikkilä details how prominent figures, often supported by investors like Peter Thiel, have advanced the AGI narrative. She argues that this widespread belief is misdirecting substantial resources towards an ill-defined objective, thereby diverting attention and investment from tangible, solvable problems and ultimately benefiting powerful Silicon Valley interests.

How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time
Shelter
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/01/stop-talking-about-moon/685447/
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Stop Talking About the Moon

An article by Kaitlyn Tiffany expressing frustration with the continuous media hype surrounding lunar events, particularly supermoons. It critiques how news outlets sensationalize common astronomical occurrences for traffic, arguing that this practice cheapens the public's perception of the cosmos. The author traces the rise of "moon news" to the digital-media boom of 2015 and compares it to viral internet phenomena, highlighting its effectiveness in generating clicks due to universal appeal.

Stop Talking About the Moon
https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/president-trumps-tariffs-v-the-supreme-courts-duties/
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President Trump's tariffs v. the Supreme Court's duties

The article by Adam White analyzes the legal question of whether the president's statutory power to "regulate" imports includes the authority to "tax" them, specifically in the context of President Trump's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). It delves into arguments regarding presidential deference, Congress' "power of the purse," and the application of the "major questions doctrine" to presidential actions. The piece explores the novelty and economic impact of Trump's broad use of tariffs and considers the potential implications of a Supreme Court ruling against the administration for future tariffs and the issue of refunds for past payments.

President Trump's tariffs v. the Supreme Court's duties
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2025/10/new-mexico-free-universal-child-care-gamble/684722/
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New Mexico’s Free-Child-Care Gamble

New Mexico’s governor recently announced that the state will be the first in the country to offer universal free child care, a development proponents see as crucial social infrastructure. However, this victory lap may be premature, as the state faces significant hurdles in implementation, including a shortage of educators and funding uncertainties. Despite its current generous income-based program covering 85% of children, only a fraction actually receive benefits due to a lack of available slots and providers' reluctance to accept state vouchers. The new universal policy will require hiring thousands more educators and substantial, ongoing legislative funding, which is not guaranteed. The success of this ambitious gamble, and its ability to avoid the pitfalls seen in Quebec’s past universal child-care program, will shape national views on the viability of such policies.

New Mexico’s Free-Child-Care Gamble
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/2025/10/quasi-moon-definition/684710/
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No One Actually Knows What a Moon Is

This article explores the lack of an official astronomical definition for a "moon," despite the discovery of various moon-like objects such as quasi-moons, mini-moons, and moonlets. It highlights the confusion this ambiguity causes among scientists and the public, especially as new technologies enable the identification of ever smaller and more transient celestial bodies. The piece notes the International Astronomical Union's historical reluctance to provide a clear definition, citing past controversies like Pluto's reclassification. It also briefly discusses Earth's single natural satellite and the intriguing, albeit remote, possibility of another undetected moon.

No One Actually Knows What a Moon Is
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/10/brightline-train-florida/684624/
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A ‘Death Train’ Is Haunting South Florida

The Brightline, a sleek and fast private high-speed rail operating between Miami and Orlando, has been lauded as the future of U.S. rail. However, it has gained notoriety as the "Death Train" due to an alarmingly high number of fatalities, far exceeding other commuter lines. While Brightline attributes these incidents to reckless behavior, investigations suggest the high accident rate stems from the train operating at high speeds through numerous flat grade crossings in densely populated urban areas, transforming once-familiar environments into dangerous zones. This article explores the various factors contributing to these deaths, the company's financial challenges despite public funding, and the broader societal debate over public versus private investment in critical infrastructure like rail.

A ‘Death Train’ Is Haunting South Florida
Ruminating
Assassin
https://nautil.us/the-problem-with-farmed-seafood-1243674/
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The Problem with Farmed Seafood

The article discusses the environmental problem of feeding farmed seafood with wild-caught forage fish, which depletes ocean ecosystems and threatens global food security. It highlights the F3 Challenge, an initiative promoting the development of sustainable, marine-animal-free fish feeds using innovative sources like algae, bacteria, insects, and plants. This shift aims to reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, enhance ocean resilience, and ensure a more sustainable future for aquaculture.

The Problem with Farmed Seafood
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/01/late-stage-protein/685576/
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America Has Entered Late-Stage Protein

The article discusses the widespread obsession with protein in America, detailing how almost all food products are now being marketed with added protein. The author, Rachel Sugar, expresses concern that this 'protein mania' has gone too far, turning protein into the latest nutritional fixation that promises to solve all body goals, from muscle gain to weight loss. She notes how this intense focus on a single macronutrient can lead to feelings of inadequacy when consuming non-protein-fortified foods and argues that despite its virtues, protein has become just another thing to obsessively count, similar to past fixations on fat or carbs.

America Has Entered Late-Stage Protein
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/10/theres-a-global-boom-in-solar-except-in-the-united-states/
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There’s a global boom in solar—except in the United States

The article describes a booming global solar power industry, driven by falling costs and rapid development in countries like China, India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. This contrasts sharply with the United States, where the second Trump administration's policies, including rolling back incentives and introducing tariffs, are significantly hindering renewable energy growth. The piece highlights that while renewables are increasing global electricity supply, they often add to, rather than replace, fossil fuel usage. Challenges such as land acquisition, grid infrastructure, and consumer transition away from fossil-fueled heating and transport persist. Experts warn that the US's anti-renewables stance could damage its long-term competitiveness against China in the energy sector.

There’s a global boom in solar—except in the United States
The Speed Cubers
The Speed Cubers
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/10/food-delivery-america/684700/
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The Innovation That’s Killing Restaurant Culture

This article explores how food delivery services have fundamentally reshaped the restaurant industry and dining culture in America. It details the rise of apps like Grubhub and DoorDash, their venture-capital-backed growth strategies involving discounts, and how the pandemic accelerated their adoption. The piece argues that while convenient for consumers, delivery has become 'extractive' for restaurants, leading to reduced in-person dining, higher costs through commissions, changes in menu design, and a shift in how restaurants operate, often at the expense of their traditional culture and financial stability. The author highlights concerns about culinary innovation, the labor conditions of delivery workers, and the long-term impact on local neighborhoods.

The Innovation That’s Killing Restaurant Culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sea-Spray

Operation Sea-Spray

Operation Sea-Spray was a secret 1950 U.S. Navy biological warfare experiment where bacteria were sprayed over the San Francisco Bay Area to assess a city's vulnerability to bioweapon attacks. The experiment is speculated to have caused one death and at least ten illnesses among residents. Further revelations in 1977 detailed numerous similar open-air tests of biological agents conducted across various U.S. cities between 1949 and 1969.

Operation Sea-Spray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenshtein_distance

Levenshtein distance

The Levenshtein distance is a string metric used in information theory, linguistics, and computer science to quantify the difference between two sequences by counting the minimum number of single-character edits (insertions, deletions, or substitutions) required to transform one word into the other. Named after Vladimir Levenshtein, who defined it in 1965, it is also known as edit distance. The article provides a recursive definition, an example using "kitten" and "sitting", and discusses its upper and lower bounds. It highlights applications in approximate string matching (e.g., spell checkers, OCR, translation memory), linguistics for quantifying language differences, speech-identification tests, and bioinformatics for comparing biological sequences like DNA and proteins. Various computational methods, including iterative dynamic programming algorithms (like Wagner–Fischer), automata, and approximation techniques, are detailed, along with its computational complexity.

Levenshtein distance
https://www.quantamagazine.org/first-shape-found-that-cant-pass-through-itself-20251024/
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First Shape Found That Can’t Pass Through Itself | Quanta Magazine

After more than three centuries, a geometry problem that originated with a royal bet has been solved. Imagine you’re holding two equal-size dice. Is it possible to bore a tunnel through one die that’s big enough for the other to slide through? Perhaps your instinct is to say “Surely not!” If so, you’re not alone. In the late 1600s, an unidentified person placed a bet to that effect with Prince Rupert of the Rhine. Rupert — a nephew of Charles I of England who commanded the Royalist forces in the English Civil War — spent his sunset years studying metallurgy and glassmaking in his laboratory at Windsor Castle. Rupert won the bet. The mathematician John Wallis, recounting the story in 1693, didn’t say whether Rupert wrote a proof or bored a hole through an actual cube. But Wallis himself proved mathematically that, if you drill a straight tunnel in the direction of one of the cube’s inner diagonals, it can be made wide enough to allow another cube through. It’s a tight squeeze: If you make the second cube just 4% larger, it will no longer fit.

First Shape Found That Can’t Pass Through Itself | Quanta Magazine
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/03/inside-the-data-centers-that-train-ai-and-drain-the-electrical-grid
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Inside the Data Centers That Train A.I. and Drain the Electrical Grid

A data center, which can use as much electricity as Philadelphia, is the new American factory, creating the future and propping up the economy. How long can this last?

Inside the Data Centers That Train A.I. and Drain the Electrical Grid
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