Apple-owned FoundationDB open sources the core technology at the heart of iCloud
By Roger Fingas Thursday, April 19, 2018, 11:57 am PT (02:57 pm ET)
Apple’s FoundationDB on Thursday announced that its namesake distributed datastore tech for organizations has been turned into an open-source project, allowing public-driven customization and expansion.
Source code is now available on GitHub, and developers can communicate with each other on official forums, the company said. FoundationDB is built to be deployed on hardware clusters, for instance making it easier to add machines or bounce back from device failures.
The open-source material represents the key-value store, on which “layers” can be added to scale functionality. The Github listing for the project calls it a “distributed database designed to handle large volumes of structured data across clusters of commodity servers.”
“By open sourcing the FoundationDB core, we expect the quantity and variety of layers to develop rapidly,” the company said. “All major development will be done in the open,” it added, noting that it has outlined a design document process and project governance it promises will offer input and transparency. The community is also expected to follow a code of conduct.
Apple now has a variety of open-source initiatives under its wing. Perhaps the best known is Swift, its programming language. While not strictly limited, the language is almost exclusively used for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS development.
FoundationDB was originally a multi-model NoSQL database, designed around a “core” database. The core database allowed for read or write transactions with multiple keys stored on any machine in the cluster. Apple purchased the company and all of its intellectual property in 2015 to expand on the iCloud infrastructure.
In the past year Apple has made a strong push to put Swift in colleges and high schools —mostly in the U.S., but internationally as well. The company has positioned the program as a way of boosting coding skills, even as it benefits from encouraging development for its products.
As our regular readers like remind me, I am a staunch supporter of Austrian polymer firearms. I believe the term is “fanboy”, although I happen to think that term is a bit derogatory – “fan stud” is more appropriate. On top of my previous preference of pistols, TFB allows writers access to a wide variety […]
Nationwide Children’s Hospital made a huge leap in commercialization efforts in 2017: It executed 18 licenses or options on its technology, compared with 12 in 2012 and nine in each of the previous three years. The hospital launched four new companies – and made a record $36.7 million income on past licensing deals.
First look: Sonnet’s eGFX Breakaway Puck RX570 delivers on-the-go graphics power to MacBook Pro
By Andrew O’Hara Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 01:47 pm PT (04:47 pm ET)
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck packs a Radeon RX570 GPU inside a portable, Thunderbolt 3-compatible package, offering MacBook users a take-anywhere graphics boost.
With the release of macOS 10.13.4 last month, Apple’s desktop platform provides support for external GPU boxes over Thunderbolt 3. The handy hardware can provide a much-needed graphics boost to a variety of Macs, including MacBook Pro.
What really makes this external GPU different from others is its diminutive size. We’d even go as far as to say that it is portable.
To make the Puck so small in size, Sonnet used an external power supply that is nearly as big as the Puck itself. Our model contains a Radeon RX570, so we know that it is a relatively power hungry card.
The power supply is capable of handling up to 220W, which it can also use to provide up to 85W of power to a Mac at the same time.
Specs
There are two different flavors of the eGFX Breakaway Puck. One rocking a Radeon RX 560, the other with a Radeon RX 570. We are testing out the latter, as it seems the former isn’t Mac compatible. Interestingly, the Radeon RX 560 worked with early macOS High Sierra beta builds, but that compatibility ended when full support for eGPU technology officially rolled out.
Regardless, in either configuration, the GPUs both come with 4GB of VRAM on board.
Three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and a single HDMI 2.0 port make up the external connectivity. All of these outputs are capable of 4K at 60Hz, allowing even a two-port 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys to have a quartet of monitors. Of course, it has a Thunderbolt 3 port onboard as well, which is used to connect to your Mac — but no downstream connector.
A power supply and an OWC Thunderbolt 3 cable are included in the box, with no additional cables necessary.
Size and quality
When looking at the size, the Puck box measures roughly 6 inches-by-5.12 inches, standing 2 inches tall. Easy to move about or hide on your desk.
It is so compact that we would believe someone if they told us it was simply an external hard drive. When looking closely, a few things reveal the fact it is an eGPU. Looking in the side grills you see several copper heat spreaders and heat pipes. When looking through the grill on top, you can see the large fan that is used to cool the card and VRAM.
Obviously, the bevy of ports around back also reveal its true nature.
It is a shame the power supply is so monstrous, but I think I prefer the eGPU’s small size over an integrated power supply. That way I can offload the power brick to below my desk, giving me more usable space on top.
The body is largely plastic, with a metal grill on the top. It still retains quite a bit of weight, however, lending a premium feel.
More to come
We will be putting this eGPU through more exhaustive tests for our full review, but in our limited time with it we have been quite pleased with the performance.
If you are eager to pick one up for yourself you can find the Sonnet Radeon RX570 eGFX Breakaway Puck on Amazon for $599.
Do you plan on picking up an external GPU? Let us know in the comments!
Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- Michigan Concealed Pistol License holders have an extremely low murder rate. Japan has a very low murder rate. Japan is also a very law-abiding culture.
The United States, as a whole, has a much higher murder rate than Japan. Within the United States, there is a law abiding culture that has a murder rate as low as Japan’s. That culture consists of gun owners who carry guns legally.
The FBI generally includes legally defined murder, which may be in the first or second degree, and non-negligent manslaughter, in the definition of murder for their statistics. A more precise definition might be “criminal homicide”.
In Michigan, the State Police are tasked with compiling crimes committed by people who have the Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL). The State Police Reports are available from 2003 to early 2017. The state police report list convictions of people for murder, and manslaughter, as well as a multitude of other offenses. From 2003 to 2017, there are 14 years of reports listing criminal convictions.
Legally Armed People Have a Murder rate similar to Japan
Criminal homicides are the most reliable crime statistics to track, and the most important for comparisons with other societies. While there are significant differences in definitions, reporting, and recording of crimes from nation to nation, murders, or criminal homicides, are more reliable than other crime statistics.
In the 14 years of Michigan annual police reports, there are 17 criminal homicide convictions recorded by the Michigan State Police (MSP), for people who had CPLs.
The number of active CPLs in Michigan for each year of the 14 annual reports was a little more difficult to find. The annual reports run from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. I found numbers in each annual report period, except for the period of October 1, 2014, to September 30 of 2015. For that period I interpolated from the March 2014 number of 430,000 to the November 2015 number of 488,000, to obtain 459,000. The numbers for the other years used were within the period for each report. Over the fourteen year span, a variation of a few months does not make much difference.
When looking at criminal homicide rates, the standard is to look at the number of homicides per 100,000 of the population per year. The total number of CPL – years came to 3,953,944. Over the 14 year period, individual CPLs had been active for a total of 3,953,944 years. There were 17 criminal homicide convictions of CPL holders in that period, averaging .43 criminal homicides per 100,000 CPL holders per year.
Michigan Concealed Pistol Licenses are fairly easy to obtain. The same background check is used for the CPL as is used for ordinary people to buy from federally licensed dealers in the United States. The people with Concealed Pistol Licenses are not only able to own firearms but to legally carry them concealed and loaded with them nearly everywhere.
Yet, their criminal homicide rate is as low as the highly regulated Japanese.
International comparisons are always tricky. Many countries do not keep good statistics. Some countries actively ignore some murders to make their statistics look better. Others do not have the infrastructure to report and record crimes. Countries have different definitions of what a criminal homicide is.
In cases such as Michigan, the numbers of homicides among Concealed Pistol License holders is so tiny that it can vary enormously with just a few crimes. Fourteen years gives us a better picture, but it is still a small sample. There are five years with no convictions, five years with one conviction, two years with two convictions and two years with four convictions. The convictions do not mean the CPL holder used the CPL in the crime. They mean there was a criminal homicide conviction for someone with a CPL.
While not as well documented as the Michigan CPL, the Wisconsin CCW permit holders have a similarly low rate of criminal homicides. When I calculated the number in 2016, the criminal homicide rate for CCW permit holders in Wisconsin was .19 per 100,000. Wisconsin CCW permits are easier and cheaper to obtain than Michigan CPLs.
If, as those who wish a disarmed population claim, the mere presence of firearms makes criminal homicide more likely. How is it that those who not only own handguns but can legally carry them loaded most places, most of the time, have a criminal homicide rate as low as the Japanese?
The law abiding American gun culture is as responsible and law-abiding as Japanese culture.
Japanese culture is much more homogeneous than American culture. American culture has a wide diversity. Some subgroups, like American legal gun carriers, are very law abiding and responsible. Other American sub-groups are not. American culture is closer to an amalgam of world culture.
The world average intentional homicide rate was about 6.2 per 100,000 in 2012, very close to the average Michigan homicide rate over 2003 to 2016. The U.S. criminal homicide rate for the same year was 4.7. There are differences between “intentional homicide rate” and “criminal homicide rate”. The numbers show the U.S. to be on the low side of the average world rate.
If someone tells you that legal American gun owners are not murderers until they are, tell them that Japanese, without guns, are as likely to murder as legal American gun owners.
Where crimes of people with carry permits are documented, that population has extremely low crime rates. Crime rates as low as the populations of those countries with the lowest crime rates in the world.
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
One of the nice things about MySQL 8.0 is the ability to combine the relational and document models. As a developer, you can choose to work with traditional SQL tables, with schemaless JSON documents, or with both types at the same time. Here we show how to bridge SQL tables and JSON documents by using JSON functions. Enjoy!
First, let us create a simple SQL Table “employees” and insert some values:
Here we use two JSON aggregation functions called JSON_ARRAYAGG() and JSON_OBJECT(). We simply select from employees and convert the result set into JSON like this:
mysql>SET@jsonempl=(SELECTJSON_ARRAYAGG(
–>JSON_OBJECT(“id”,id,“name”,name,“age”,age))
–>FROMemployees);
QueryOK,0rowsaffected(0,00sec)
We now have a JSON Document referenced by the variable @jsonempl. Let us look at it using the JSON_PRETTY() function:
Here we use the JSON table function called JSON_TABLE(). This function creates an SQL view on the JSON Document, i.e. a mapping between JSON and SQL. We then wrap a CREATE TABLE employees AS around it like this:
Wipers should smoothly clear water, snow, and slush from your windshield with no squeaking, chattering, skipping, or grabbing. If you notice these signs, or if a wiper is leaving streaks or bands of water, it may be time for new ones. When long-term testing our picks, they typically worked well for about nine months to a year before showing signs of wear, although this varied, depending on the conditions, the type of wiper, and how well they were maintained. Sure, wipers see a lot of action in wetter and snowier areas, but even in the southwest, where you can go months without rain, they can degrade quickly. The constant heat, dryness, and sunlight can deteriorate the rubber element; we’ve even seen long-unused wipers that had to be peeled off of the windshield glass. So, in those conditions, it’s good to run your wipers about once a week while spraying the windshield with washer fluid.
When we asked representatives from several service shops about problems they’d seen caused by worn, neglected wipers, the answers were both similar and convincing. “I personally have seen people wait so long that the blade becomes old and brittle, and it damages the window,” says Joe Betancourt Jr., VP of Joe’s Expert Auto in Chicago. “In some cases, the blade comes off with the backing and the arm will gouge the glass, causing an expensive and unneeded repair.”
Pete McAdoo, of Honest-1 Auto Care in Portland, agrees, “I’ve seen them come off, come apart to where they scratch the glass. And now they have an etching of the sweep of the wiper on the glass.” McAdoo has also seen disintegrated wipers get hung up on something and damage the wiper motor: over a prolonged period of time, even a wiper that’s chattering and dragging on the windshield “puts stress on the motor and linkage,” which can shorten their service life. “Change them on a regular basis,” he advices. Travis Decker, of Portland’s Atomic Auto Service, agrees: “Wipers are cheap insurance” against more costly repairs.
If you notice your wipers having problems, first try cleaning the rubber blade. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get a few more weeks or months from your existing wipers. Dip a clean paper towel or cloth in a little water, washer fluid, or rubbing alcohol and wipe along the edge of the blade. Also, look at it closely and feel for any adhered debris or roughness. The edge should be sharp and smooth without any nicks, chips, or gaps, and the rubber should be pliable, not cracked or brittle.
In the winter, thoroughly scrape ice off of the windshield before using the wipers, as ice can abrade the rubber and dull or damage the edge.
Geoff Helzer, of Portland’s Green Drop Garage, says that another common problem he’s seen is a film that builds up on the windshield from oily, greasy road-grime spray. “The film can be removed by using a windshield stripper product that does a deep clean of the windshield surface,” he says. It requires some elbow grease, but “has proven to be very effective in returning the glass to a like-new condition.”
If cleaning doesn’t help the wipers, it’s time for new ones. And always replace them in pairs, because if one wears out, the other won’t be far behind.
While a lot of people wait for these problem signs to appear before buying new wipers, it’s better to be proactive and replace them before you need to. Not being able to see clearly in a sudden downpour or heavy snow or ice storm can be a real drag, not to mention dangerous. And then there’s that “cheap insurance” thing, too—it’s better to replace them before they wear to the point where they can cause damage to the car.
So, how often should you replace your wipers? Wiper manufacturers and a couple of the shops we talked to suggest replacing them every six months. But once per year may be a reasonable interval for you. In an online poll we conducted, about a quarter of respondents said they replace their wipers about every nine to 12 months, while about a fifth said every 12 to 18 months. Almost as many—18 percent—agreed that we summed up their thinking on the issue with the question, “Wait. Wiper blades don’t last forever?”
Travis Decker, of Atomic Auto Service, recommends to replace them as needed, but that depends on the climate. “Here, in Oregon, I suggest every fall.” Joe Betancourt, of Joe’s Expert Auto, says, “In areas like where we are (Chicago), I recommend every 3 to 4 months during the winter season, due to icing on the windshield.”
If you have a tough time remembering to get new blades, tie the task to another regular event. The windshield wiper industry has tried to co-opt Groundhog Day as national “replace your wipers day,” so you can use that if it works for you.
For years we’ve documented how the internet of broken things industry and evangelists have contributed to a global privacy and security shitshow. The rush to connect everything from tea kettles to Barbie dolls to the internet without including even basic privacy or security standards has resulted in a massive security problem few seem interested in actually fixing. As a result we’re not only less secure and more at risk for privacy violations, but these devices are now routinely contributing to some of the most devastating DDoS attacks history has ever seen.
A year or so ago Bruce Schneier penned what was probably the best explanation of why nothing in the IOT chain of dysfunction seems to improve:
"The market can’t fix this because neither the buyer nor the seller cares. Think of all the CCTV cameras and DVRs used in the attack against Brian Krebs. The owners of those devices don’t care. Their devices were cheap to buy, they still work, and they don’t even know Brian. The sellers of those devices don’t care: they’re now selling newer and better models, and the original buyers only cared about price and features. There is no market solution because the insecurity is what economists call an externality: it’s an effect of the purchasing decision that affects other people. Think of it kind of like invisible pollution."
Instead of fixing their products, vendors simply move on to marketing the next best thing. And consumers continue to gobble them up, creating millions of millions of new attack vectors into homes and businesses around the world annually. Obviously this "invisible pollution" continues to have a very real and visible impact. Case in point: Nicole Eagan, the CEO of cybersecurity firm Darktrace, says hackers are increasingly targeting unprotected IOT devices including air conditioners, toys, and surveillance cameras to get into corporate networks.
She noted how one bank that decided to skimp on security cameras actually wound up being hacked after those cameras were quickly compromised by attackers. Speaking at the WSJ CEO Council Conference, she also shared an anecdote about how one big casino client had their customers’ financial histories stolen thanks to an internet-of-broken things aquarium thermostat:
"Eagan gave one memorable anecdote about a case Darktrace worked on in which a casino was hacked via a thermometer in an aquarium in the lobby. The attackers used that to get a foothold in the network," she said. "They then found the high-roller database and then pulled that back across the network, out the thermostat, and up to the cloud."
It’s understandable that people are wary of regulating this sector lest it stifle innovation or create unforeseen, additional problems. But it’s pretty clear we’re going to need a massive collaboration between the public, companies, and government if we want to avoid some potentially calamitous and fatal outcomes (especially if and when essential infrastructure is targeted). That’s why what the open source IOT security and privacy standards organizations like Consumer Reports have been cooking up desperately need all the public and private sector support they can get.
Gun writer Tom Mchale lets us in on his five must-own shooting accessories.
This UM Tactical Pistol Optics Mount shooting accessories comes in handy for accuracy testing guns and ammo. I keep a Bushnell 3500 Handgun Scope on it for that purpose.
USA –-(Ammoland.com)- There’s always something new and cool on the gun gear shooting accessories market. People like you and I often get excited about something or another because it seems like such a good idea, or so handy, or maybe it’s such a great deal. Like most other product categories, shooting gear must pass the test of time for it to make the true favorites list. Once the shiny new novelty wears off, do you still find the same value from that piece of gear? Here are a few shooting accessories that have survived many of my ruthless range bag reorganizations.
MantisX Shooting Performance System Shooting Accessories
We all put in an hour or so per day of dry-fire practice, right? What? You don’t? Well, disregarding the fact that we have plenty of other things to accomplish and that dry-fire practice has been known to induce boredom comas, some slippage in the daily schedule is understandable.
Here’s one shooting accessories that’s made practice either at home or the range much, much more interesting and effective. The MantisX Shooting Performance System consists of a small, light, and rechargeable device that you mount to the rail of your pistol and a smartphone app. As you might guess, these two things communicate. Oh, if your gun doesn’t have a rail, check the MantisX.com website – they offer adapters.
The MantisX system uses Bluetooth to send performance data to a smartphone app.
Anyway, the MantisX has magic sensors that detect the slightest movement prior to, during, and immediately after the trigger press. This data is sent to the smartphone app so you can see what you’re doing graphically. The app also assigns numerical scores to each shot based on the amount of movement through your shot. The company has been continuously updating the app so it now includes structured drill and training routines you can use to measure progress against skills over time. You can also set up accountability groups with friends to share results.
Here’s what makes the MantisX extra super nifty. Not only can you hone your skills dry-firing at home, but you can also stick this on a CO2 pellet or BB pistol to simulate some noise and recoil. Lose the pellets, and you can shoot blasts of air inside your house, at least when your spouse is out running errands. Better yet, take it to the real range and run it with live ammo. It’ll tell you exactly why you’re hitting or missing.
UM Tactical Pistol Optics Mount
As shooting accessories go, I’ve been using the UM Tactical Pistol Optics Mount for a couple of years now, so it’s proven its utility over the long haul. Here’s what it does.
The device hooks to the rail under the muzzle and wraps around both sides of the frame and slide, without touching, meeting again maybe a half-inch over the slide. At the top, the two halves join to form a Picatinny rail segment on which you can mount a red dot sight or magnified handgun scope. Since nothing touches the slide, your pistol functions through recoil normally and the rail and mounted sight don’t move at all.
Being able to mount a red dot sight on a pistol not originally designed for one is cool and plenty of fun. Mounting a magnified handgun scope on your favorite pistol opens up all sorts of possibilities. If you’ve got an accurate gun, it’s no big thing to hit targets 100 yards or farther with ease. I use it for precise accuracy testing at 25 yards because the scope completely removes the issue of shooting sighting error. It also makes an interesting solution for long-range plinking or hunting provided you have the right caliber/game match.
Blue Force Gear Double Pistol Belt Pouches
Sometimes the simplest shooting accessories are the handiest. That also can (rarely as in this case) apply to the least expensive things. While I’m sure, you can find magazine pouches for a few pennies less (the MSRP of these guys is $26.00) it’ll be hard to match the durability and usefulness.
The industrial elastic Blue Force Gear Double Pistol Belt Pouches are one size fits any.
The Blue Force Gear Double Pistol Belt Pouches define “zero bulk” as the front and back surfaces add mere millimeters (if that) to the thickness of your magazines. The back is a cloth laminate called ULTRAcomp that’s flexible but super tough. The front is made from military-grade elastic. That means that the pouches stretch to accommodate magazines of any size: single, stack, double-stack, and caliber of your choice. This elastic does spring back to original size so you can stick fat double-stack magazines in one day and singles the next. The belt loops are constructed from hook and loop material. That’s tacti-speak for Velco. You can size the dual belt loops to any belt width up to two inches.
The versatility is great, but one reason the Blue Force Gear Double Pistol Belt Pouches make the favorite five shooting accessories list because they’re soft and flexible – great for concealed carry. Also, there’s nothing that says you have to carry two magazines. If you like, you can carry one and some other piece of gear. I often stick a multi-tool or flashlight in the second pouch.
Nothing says you have to use both pouches for magazines. I often carry a multi-tool, knife, or flashlight in the second pouch.
Etymotic GunSport Pro Electronic Ear Plugs
I live in Sub Sauna Carolina. It’s hot for at least 592 days per year. It’s not only hot but steamy humid. So, all the great advancements in low-cost electronic hearing muffs still end up as a sweaty mess on my head. Those also tend to press safety glasses frames into your temples, making a permanent moat between your eyes and ears. Sure, you can use foam ear plugs, and they work great provided you don’t want to hear anything at all. Or, you can drop a couple of grand on custom-molded in-ear electronic plugs. Or…
You can invest about $300 in a set of Etymotic GunSport Pro electronic plugs. That’s not pocket change, and if you are a once-per-year shooter, they’re probably not for you. However, if you frequent the range or compete, they pay for themselves really quickly in comfort and convenience. The kit includes six different sets of ear tips so you can achieve a perfect fit that won’t give you an earache. When I go to events and training classes, I’ll just leave them in all day long – they’re that comfortable.
Etymotic GunSport Pro Electronic Ear Plugs
The Etymotic GunSport Pro Electronic Ear Plugs dampen gunshot noise to hearing-safe levels. An alternate setting magnifies nearby sounds by 5x while still providing protection again dangerous noise levels. That’s handy for hunting or hearing range commands clearly. I’ve tried lots of others, and these take the cake for their excellent and very natural sound quality. That combined with all-day comfort lets you forget you’re wearing them. One more thing. Unlike large over-the-ear muffs, these don’t get in the way when shooting rifles and shotguns.
Hoppe’s Gun Medic Cleaner and Lube Quick Fix
I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly clean my guns immediately after range outings – or at least as often as every 10 or 57 times I go shooting. I used to be a shoot once, clean once kind of guy, but I figured out, concurrent with the onset of male pattern laziness, that modern guns work pretty darn well and don’t really need to be cleaned every couple of dozen shots. Not to mention all that taking apart and cleaning multiplies the odds that you won’t put something back in place just right. Unless you clean your guns at the range after your done shooting and can fire a couple of test shots, you don’t really know for double-secret-sure that your gun is in proper functioning order.
Hoppe’s Gun Medic Cleaner and Lube
My less than rigorous training routine is one of the reasons I always carry a bottle of gun Hoppe’s Gun Medic Cleaner and Lube Quick Fix in my shooting bag. The combo cleaner and lube comes in an aerosol can. The cleaner blasts the nasty stuff away and then evaporates, leaving a thin layer of lube behind. To be clear, this combo packaging is for exactly what the name says – a quick fix. The idea is to get your gun working when it’s sluggish from filth without having to field strip and start cleaning. Just spray in the action or through the ejection port. It works like a champ on semi-automatic pistols and AR-type rifles. If you like the lube, you can buy the cleaner and lube separately for proper apres-range cleaning.
So, my favorite five shooting accessories? Yes, if I weigh the choices based on what I’ve actually ended up using consistently over the long haul.
Tom McHale
About
Tom McHale is the author of the Practical Guides book series that guides new and experienced shooters alike in a fun, approachable, and practical way. His books are available in print and eBook format on Amazon. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
As our regular readers like remind me, I am a staunch supporter of Austrian polymer firearms. I believe the term is “fanboy”, although I happen to think that term is a bit derogatory – “fan stud” is more appropriate. On top of my previous preference of pistols, TFB allows writers access to a wide variety […]
Nationwide Children’s Hospital made a huge leap in commercialization efforts in 2017: It executed 18 licenses or options on its technology, compared with 12 in 2012 and nine in each of the previous three years. The hospital launched four new companies – and made a record $36.7 million income on past licensing deals.
