Governments should provide basic Internet infrastructure Updated 2025-07-16
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Companies are getting too much power to distort regulations and destroy privacy.
Taxes pay for the physical car roads, so why shouldn't they also pay for the "online roads" of today?
Other less simple ones that might also be feasible:
All of them should have strong privacy enabled by default: end-to-end encryption, logless, etc. Governments are not going to like this part.
And then if you ever forget a password or lose a multi-factor authentication token, you can just go to an ID center with your ID to recover it.
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Gradient Updated 2025-07-16
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Takes a scalar field as input and produces a vector field.
Mnemonic: the gradient shows the direction in which the function increases fastest.
Think of a color gradient going from white to black from left to right.
Therefore, it has to:
  • take a scalar field as input. Otherwise, how do you decide which vector is larger than the other?
  • output a vector field that contains the direction in which the scalar increases fastest locally at each point. This has to give out vectors, since we are talking about directions
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Grand Commander Hou releases the 108 demons Updated 2025-07-16
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Graph representation Updated 2025-07-16
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grep large binary files Updated 2025-07-16
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Gridworld AI game Updated 2025-07-16
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Ciro Santilli's drug experiences Updated 2025-07-16
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Ciro Santilli never did any illegal drugs, because he:
so don't expect any amazing stories here.
Like LDS believers, Ciro never drinks coffee nor smokes, and only drinks alcohol and tea sparingly, because they are all addictive drugs and bring no net increase of energy and concentration.
Ciro prefers to only enjoy a glass of tea when going out cycling on a cold day (Earl gray, with milk, no sugar), or get a half pint of beer when going out with friends to a pub.
Ciro only got reasonably drunk twice on his life:
  • once when he was quite young, likely pre-10 years old, while visiting an uncle's home, and adults were having a very nice sweet and thick type of alcoholic cocktail, and Ciro drank a bit too much and that made him really really stupid
  • once while studying at University of São Paulo, somehow someone was giving free beers at one of the parties (at which Ciro practiced Cirodance). And since Ciro had always been a cheap-ass, he thought, hey, this is a good chance to try it out. Ciro remembers that this made him a bit euphoric, active, very stupid, and a bit horny (though of course, he got no pussy as usual).
Later in life, around the time of his wedding, there were guests around all the time, and he was drinking beer with them all the time. Then one day, during lunch, Ciro felt a weirdly strong desire to drink one more pint. It was at this point that Ciro realized first-hand what mild, but real, alcohol addiction felt like, and he didn't get that drink, and swore from then on to never drink more than one glass a week, and only with friends at a bar after work. Richard Feynman tells a very similar story on his book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman chapter O Americano, Outra Vez!, see: Section "Richard Feynman's drug use".
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Ciro Santilli's formal education Updated 2025-07-16
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Ciro Santilli participated in a double degree program, so he obtained have engineering degrees in both:
Despite studying in great institutions with great teachers, Ciro feels that:
This motivated Ciro to work on OurBigBook.com.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / 2017-04 Nike Flex Experience RN 6 Grey running shoes Updated 2025-07-16
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Amazing shoes! Wore them to their destruction.
Shoestring length: 1.185m
Replaced with after bicycle ate it: 1.0m, also worked but at limit.
Size: EUR 45.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / 2020-04 Giro Rumble VR Off Road Shoe Updated 2025-07-16
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2021-01-28: used this show for the first time after wearing dhb Dorica MTB Shoe (2020-12) exclusively for a while. It felt much much more comfortable, the Dorica is too narrow. Also this one is much more recessed, and walking with it is much easier. Also, I notice that the intentional asymmetry I had put on cleats is not necessary anymore now that my saddle height is not way too high
It is not possible to do long walks with this, unlike some websites suggests, especially on hard surfaces like rock, that would be very dangerous because the cleat area will slip. But it is good for shorter walks on grass/mud, and that does open up some good short walk exploration possibilities compared to a road shoe.
Color "Black/Red 20" (but it's actually orange), size 46 www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-rumble-vr-off-road-shoe (archive). Manual says to use Loctite 243 medium strength, first 2.4 Nm bolt torque to test it out and find good position, and then final bolt torque 5-6 Nm unless cleat says less. Starting with Shimano SM-SH56 cleats (archive), which also says provisional torque 2.5 Nm, tightening torque 5-6 Nm.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / 2023 laptop buy research Updated 2025-07-16
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The P51 is a bit too heavy, and the battery could be better!
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / Bicycle products Updated 2025-07-16
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2022-02: lost my Karrimor REFLEKT, must have fallen off from trouses somewhere.
2022-02: bought Burg Wachter Sold Secure Bike Chain, Lock and Ground Anchor Kit 1m, 10mm chain width: www.amazon.co.uk/Burg-Wachter-Sold-Secure-Gold-Chain/dp/B09MMGL9B7
2022-02 bought Kryptonite Kryptoflex double loop cable 1.2m length 10mm diameter braided steel cable: www.kryptonitelock.com/en/products/product-information/current-key/210818.html
2022-02: bought a Trelock BC 115/110/4 chain white for my saddle after Liv Flourish 2 (2018) the saddle of was stolen at home. Same as this but white: www.trelock.com/en/lock/locks/chain-locks/bc-115-110-4-green. The keys are a bit larger than I'd like.
2021-11: buying a Cateye ViZ450 www.cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/TL-LD820/ 51 dollars after CatEye RAPID X2 was stolen. Unfortunately, it is not very compatible with my Topeak saddle bag... the attachment is to wide to fit the saddble bag, and even if it did it is slanted to account for seat tube slant so it would not be very verfical. Arghh, they have futher options on the website: www.cateye.com/intl/products/parts/5342460/ that is the one I need, Clip C-2 or Clip C-1N. On Amazon it didn't have clear choices for that... mine came with the BracketSP-15. Ah, can buy on Amazon for 3 dollars, OK then.
2021-11: COZYROOMY multitool broke apart already, like before, but much sooner this time. What a piece of junk!!! Buying the Topeak Mini 18+ Bike Multitool www.topeak.com/global/en/products/75-Mini-Tools/173-mini-18+ Has a spoke wrench.
2021-09: COZYROOMY multitool stolen, even though it was completely in pieces already. 2021-09-21 12:30PM discovered, seat bag open, one tool on floor, and some leftovers inside, but black bag gone. Bicycle last seen 2021-09-20 6PM. Would likely have spotted it if it had happened before. Bicycle last used: 2021-09-19 6PM. Would almost for sure have seen it if it had happened by then. Rebought it.
2021-07 Topeak MTS Trunkbag EX Strap Type www.topeak.com/global/en/products/192-Rear-Rack-Bags/859-MTX-TRUNKBAG-EX Fit nicely on the back of the Kross bicycle (2017). 8L. Originally to carry some extra food and water on a long summer trip. 36 pounds.
2020-11-30: Bought more "Finish Line DRY Teflon Bicycle Chain Lube" 8oz/240ml www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z779GMO/ after previous disaster with the bottle because lock is a bit hard to open.
2020-11-30 WD-40 Bike, All Conditions Lube Bicycle Lubricant, 250ml. Markings: "Contains PTFE". www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8QF3PY Sprays out of bottle, so very thin.
2020-02: CatEye AMPP500 45 pounds www.cateye.com/intl/products/headlights/HL-EL085RC/ High mode 500 lumens: 1.5hrs, Daytime HyperConstant mode 500/250 lumens： 5hrs. 2020-11: noticed it was cracked on top front between button and light, I think I dropped it the other day from waist height.
2020-02: Karrimor REFLEKT Band 2 pounds from Sports Direct to replace old that I destroyed by playing with it with hands on work desk www.karrimor.com/karrimor-reflect-band-765007
2020-01: Halfords Microfibre Heavy Duty Cloths www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/sponges-brushes-buckets/halfords-microfibre-heavy-duty-cloths (archive) 87% polyester, 13% polyamide.
2019-12: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GQSXN8B SENZEAL Bicycle Spoke Wrench Tool Spoke Key Spanner 6 in 1 for Bike Wheel Cycle Wrench 10-15 Gauge. TODO 2024: can't find those for the life in me.
2019-11: Multitool: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MW3K2GK "COZYROOMY Bike Repair Kits - Bicycle tool kit with 10 in 1 Multi-Function Bike Tool, multi-purpose bone wrench And related spare tools, 1 Portable tool bag, 6 Month Warranty". No spoke wrench unfortunately. But does have 15mm bone wrench, which opens Kross front wheel. Some months later, the thing came apart, quality was a bit shit. But I kept it in the saddle bag anyways for a long time, and just used it by putting part of it manually together.
2019-11: "CatEye RAPID X2" real lights, 40 dollars. Hopefully to increase side visibility at night, and day visibility on fast roads when cycling further on weekends. www.cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/TL-LD710-R/ (archive) USB rechargeable. 80 lumens in high mode lasting 1 hour, 5 hours in low mode, 30 hours flashing, 16 hours rapid/pulse. Lost 2021-11 in a big city, didn't know the path well, had to cross a bunch of streets, was on back of back bag, likely stolen.
2019-10 WD-40 Smart Straw 450ml www.amazon.com/dp/B01MEHN4VC (archive)
2019-10 Finish Line Dry Teflon Tube www.amazon.com/dp/B00B704LZW (archive) Tube broke while opening the first day. I glued it with some superglue, but two months later found it leaked into my "oils bag", so I threw it away... it must have penetrated through the super glue.
2019-08: "CatEye CA475RAPMIN Rapid Mini Rear Lights and Reflectors, Black" stolen: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I4193PY (archive). Very good quality. Those USB rechargeable lights you just have got to take off with you whenever parked in town or else drug addicts will steal them because they are easy to remove for recharging. Tempted to just stick to dynamo ones that are screwed in. Re-bought original back light: AXA Basta, was a bit different from previous one, cannot take in lamps anymore, even though there is the plastic casing for them! Just not metal / wires.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / Cleaning products Updated 2025-07-16
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2019-11 www.amazon.co.uk/B00I8JC4WC Mr Muscle 5 in 1 Shower Shine, 500 ml
2019-11 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FGOY51A Lakeland Moth Stop Moth Killer Carpet & Fabric Spray, 500ml
2019-10 Mykal Sticky Stuff Remover 250ml. Helped remove sticky tape adhesive from surfaces. Still required a lot of elbow grease, but worked. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000TAT4GM (archive).
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / Cycling clothes temperature guide Updated 2025-07-16
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In degrees Celsius:
  • 25+
    • palm tree shade and coconut water. Seriously though, if there's some shade or earlier morning/later afternoon it's OK, but if it's on an open road at midday, be careful, and stop early if you start getting slightly dizzy, it only gets worse!
  • 18-25
  • 15-18:
  • 10-15:
    • dhb Classic Thermal Bib Tights 10 and under. TODO this is a bit too warm for the upper range, need something more intermediate
    • "dhb Lightweight Mesh Long Sleeve Base Layer"
    • Castelli Perfetto RoS Long Sleeve - Cycling jersey. TODO this is a bit too warm for the upper range, need something more intermediate
    • "Karrimor X Lite Run Black Headband"
    • "Nike academy hyperwarm gloves"
    • "Nevica Skuff". A bit too hot on upper range, but easy to take off.
  • 0-10:
    • dhb Merino Long Sleeve Base Layer
    • Castelli Perfetto RoS Long Sleeve - Cycling jersey
    • dhb Classic Thermal Bib Tights 10 and under
    • dhb Dorica MTB Shoe (2020-12)
    • "Karrimor X Lite Run Black Headband". Head a bit cold on lower range.
    • "dhb Neoprene Nylon Overshoes". Feet a bit cold on lower range.
    • "Extremities XDRY gloves". Hands a bit cold on lower range.
    • "Nevica Skuff"
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Updated 2025-07-16
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Some reviews:
  • the keyboard is kind of crap. Notably the key "a" is very hard to press!!
  • the lack of a sleep state indication LED and "I'm powering on LED" compared to Lenovo is really sad
  • it gets way too hot doing work (Monero bootstrap) with lid closed, likely brought system down
OPSEC: will run only cryptocurrency wallets and nothing else. Will connect to Internet, but never ever to a non clean USB flash drive.
The OPSEC for this machine supposes:
Bootstrap OPSEC:
It must have taken about one week running full time to sync the Monero blockchain which at the time was at about 3.1M blocks! I checked on system explorer, and CPU and internet usage was never maxed out, suggesting simply slow network. But the computer still overheated quite a bit and froze a few times.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / DSD TECH USB to TTL Serial Converter CP2102 Updated 2025-07-26
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Bought in the late 2010s.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / ELEGOO Upgraded Electronics Fun Kit Updated 2025-07-27
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  • Elegoo Breadboard power supply module MB‐V2:
    • Input voltage: 6.5-9v (DC) via 5.5mm x 2.1mm plug
    • Output voltage: 3.3V/5v
    • Maximum output current: 700 mA
    TODO center positive or center negative?
    Does not come with AC adapter, getting this one: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08ZN476FW output: DC 9V 1A Power Supply Adapter, Plug 5.5mm x 2.1mm, Center Positive,B rand: Security-01, input: AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz, Cable length: 1.8m
    Parts list from the ZIP:
  • resistors:
    • 10x each:
    • 30x 220
  • 1n4007 General Purpose Rectifier
  • 22pf 104 Ceramic Capacitor
  • 4N35 optocoupler
  • 74HC595 8-bit serial-in, serial or parallel-out shift register with output latches; 3-state
  • Active buzzer
  • Buttons
  • CDS-55 Photoresistor
  • Electrolytic Capacitor
  • Focusens MF52D 103f 3950 thermistor. Beta value 25/50 Celcius: 3950. R_25: I measured 9.61 k Ohms. The number 103 they document as:
    These descriptions are weird, but ChatGPT has the theory that the first two digits are actual values, and the last is multiplier, so which makes 10k.
    but I have no idea how that maps to 10 k Ohms.
  • PN2222 General Purpose Transistor
  • Passive buzzer
  • 3386p Bourns Precision Potentiometer - 1 103T: from 0 to 10k Ohms, measured with multimeter. According to the manual the "103" mean 10 k oms, which is consistent with our measurement. "P 103" is etched into the part.
  • LEDs:
    • White LED 10x
    • Kingbright RGB LEDs 10x red, green, yellow, blue:
      • maximum Continuous Forward Current: 30 mA for read and blue, 25 mA for green
      • 303025
      • under 20 mA
      20 mA appears to be the typical operation. So with the 2.0 V drop on 5 V power we want a resistor such that:
      (1)
      for the max 50 mA we would instead have 60 Ohms
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / House 2018-01 / Fridge Updated 2025-07-16
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Brand according to documents: SMEG.
Most similar models I an find: www.smeguk.com/products/UKC8173N1F and www.smeguk.com/products/UKC81721F, the keyword are "built-in" and "integrated", other very similar ones: www.smeguk.com/refrigerators/built-in
Looks like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c_LBVnU4ec and that's how to unclog the drain.
2020-11-28: defrost. Some small Styrofoam was broken lose from top, noticed small burn or rust marks on top grid nearby.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / House 2018-01 / Light bulbs Updated 2025-07-16
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2021-01: kitchen extractor right lamp burnt. Replaced with another Eveready.
2021-01: left back bulb burnt, put in another LE GU10 LED Bulbs
2020-11: kitchen extractor left lamp burnt again. Did I forget to report a right side burn earlier, or is there something wrong with the left one? Also can't find the second bulb that was likely bought last time, so likely the right one burnt and the other bulb was used for it. Buying www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LOBUDSS "4 x Eveready 20 W 12 V G4 Dimmable Halogen Capsule Light Bulbs Pack of 4" for 3.66 pounds. Worked, felt a bit more yellow than the previous one. Packet documents 2000 hours, 2800K color, 8000+ switches.
2020-08: kitchen right back had been out for a while, bought: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LN0RPA4 LE GU10 LED Bulbs, Warm White 2700K, 50W Halogen Lamp Equivalent, 4W 350lm, 120° Wide Beam Angle, Recessed or Track Light Bulb, Pack of 5 (Energy Class A++), 5 for 10 pounds.
2019-11: front right kitchen lamp burnt, Sylvania GU10 50W. 50W was likely some useless "incandescent equivalent" measure. Replaced: GE LED 5W 345 lumens 2700K Warm 15k hours, which looks exactly the same.
2019-05: kitchen extractor left lamp burnt. Was: DURA G4 12V20W: www.amazon.co.uk/Halogen-Light-Bulbs-Lamps-5watt/dp/B003IVP12A Replaced: Sainsbury's halogen G4 20W12V.
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Ciro Santilli's hardware / House 2021 Updated 2025-07-16
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Fridge: Lamona LAM6800 fridge freezer.
Bedroon door glass pannel dimensions: 36cm x 59.6cm
Middle separator length: 2.5cm.
So total glass area: 36 * 2 + 2.5 x 59.6 * 2 + 2.5 = 74.5 x 121.7
Bin: TODO size.
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