Pedro Vezza
LightNews LightNews
pedro.vza.net
Pedro Vezza
@pedro.vza.net
96 followers 260 following 290 posts
Tech, urbanism, politics, metal machining geek on my spare time. He/they.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
ec.europa.eu
We’re launching a bold plan to make high-speed rail the fastest, more sustainable way to travel across Europe by 2040.

It’s a concrete timeline to remove bottlenecks, unlock investment, and harmonise rail systems ⬇️
A map of Europe titled “High-speed rail plan” showing future high-speed train connections and travel times. Green lines represent future new connections, and magenta lines represent future train travel times. Major cities are marked with circles and connected by these lines. Examples of travel times include: Lisbon–Madrid (3h), Paris–Brussels (1h15), Paris–Rome (6h), Berlin–Warsaw (4h15), Berlin–Prague (2h30), Berlin–Vienna (4h30), Berlin–Budapest (6h15), Berlin–Stockholm (4h), Riga–Tallinn (1h45), Vilnius–Riga (2h), Sofia–Athens (6h). The map includes the EC logo in the bottom right corner.
November 5, 2025 at 10:29 AM
pedro.vza.net
You're absolutely right!
Screenshot of a ChatGPT conversation discussing hardware setups for running large language models with 96GB of memory. The first message asks "What is the cheapest setup to run llm with 96gb of memory". ChatGPT responds after 52 seconds of thinking, stating that the cheapest practical way to get approximately 96GB of usable memory for local LLMs is usually a used 4x RTX 3090 build, with 24GB VRAM each totaling approximately 96GB via tensor/pipeline parallel. The response notes this is cheaper than buying two 48GB workstation GPUs, and mentions that frameworks like vLLM/llama.cpp can shard models across multiple GPUs over PCIe without requiring NVLink. Citations to VLLM Documentation and GitHub are shown. A follow-up question asks "what about framework desktop". The response explains that the Framework Desktop is very interesting for LLM/local-AI work and provides a breakdown. A green checkmark section titled "What's good about the Framework Desktop" lists four bullet points: it supports up to 128GB of LPDDR5x-8000 memory in its top configuration (with Framework citation); it's compact at 4.5L volume and modular for upgrades (with The Verge citation); pricing is competitive with the high-end 128GB config around $1,999 at launch compared to more expensive competitor systems (with Electronic Specifier citation); and because of the user's interest in hardware tinkering and upgradeability, it fits their needs. Screenshot of a conversation with Claude about cost-effective hardware setups for running LLMs with 96GB of memory. The response presents three weighted options: Most Affordable: CPU + System RAM Setup ($1,500-2,500) - Features AMD Threadripper 3960X or Intel Xeon (used/refurbished), 128GB DDR4 ECC RAM (used server RAM ~$3-4/GB), used server/workstation motherboard, and basic NVMe SSD storage. Note indicates this runs models like Llama 70B quantized but with slow inference (1-3 tokens/second for large models). Best Value: Multiple Consumer GPUs (~$3,000-4,500) - Options include 2x RTX 3090 (24GB each = 48GB total, used ~$700-900 each) or 2x RTX 4090 (24GB each = 48GB total, new ~$1,600-1,800 each), plus modest CPU, 32-64GB system RAM, and appropriate PSU (1200W+). Note warns that multi-GPU setups require model parallelism support and have PCIe bandwidth limitations. Framework Desktop - The New Best Option (~$2,000) - Described as a "game-changing" option that launched in 2025. Framework announced their Desktop in February 2025 (shipping Q3 2025) using AMD's new Ryzen AI Max processors (Strix Halo). The top configuration with 128GB unified memory runs large models like Llama 3.3 70B Q6 at real-time conversational speed for $1,999. A drawing in three panels of a close-up of an eye. It progressively rolls farther towards the back of the head.
November 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
scott.hanselman.com
If you loved the Living Computer Museum in Seattle as much as I did, you should know that SO MANY of those systems are still alive and running at icm.museum?donate under the same stewardship of Stephen Jones who was curator at LCM. You can visit OR connect remotely! DONATE AND DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!
The Interim Computer Museum
icm.museum
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
peterdutoit.com
I agree.

There is no wiggle room here.

If this is the emergency we claim it is, we sure better act that way!

(2022) IPCC WGIII Chap. 5: www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/w...
The indicative potential of demand-side strategies to reduce emissions of direct and indirect CO2 and non-CO2 GHG emissions in three end-use sectors (buildings, land transport, and food) is 40–70% globally by 2050 (high confidence). Technical mitigation potentials compared to the 2050 emissions projection of two scenarios consistent with policies announced by national governments until 2020 amount to 6.8 GtCO2 for building use and construction, 4.6 GtCO2 for land transport and 8.0 GtCO2-eq for food demand, and amount to 4.4 GtCO2 for industry. Mitigation strategies can be classified as Avoid-Shift-Improve (ASI) options, that reflect opportunities for socio-cultural, infrastructural, and technological change. The greatest ‘Avoid’ potential comes from reducing long-haul aviation and providing short-distance low-carbon urban infrastructures. The greatest ‘Shift’ potential would come from switching to plant-based diets. The greatest ‘Improve’ potential comes from within the building sector, and in particular increased use of energy-efficient end-use technologies and passive housing. {5.3.1, 5.3.2, Figure 5.7, Figure 5.8, Table 5.1, Chapter 5 Supplementary Material II, Table 5.SM.2}
October 5, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
zacharywoodman.bsky.social
Immigration Courts aren't fully independent courts, and that should change
Restoring Sanity and Humanity to the Immigration System Requires Putting Enforcement Under Article I Congressional Courts
Leaving it to the executive-controlled Justice Department has led to politicization, instability, and the erosion of due process
www.theunpopulist.net
October 2, 2025 at 3:58 AM
pedro.vza.net
We are so early
WhatsApp conversation with the Air France chatbot. It could not find the information requested and then froze during the handover workflow.
October 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
pedro.vza.net
One peace, please.
Office door in Genebra, next to it a sign says: Trustworks, peace and conflict specialists.
September 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
pedro.vza.net
Protests and journalism work!
theguardian.com The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 25
Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians
Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians
Exclusive: Tech firm ends military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian reveals secret spy project * Middle East crisis – live updates Microsoft has terminated the Israeli military’s access to technology it used to operate a powerful surveillance system that collected millions of Palestinian civilian phone calls made each day in Gaza and the West Bank, the Guardian can reveal. Microsoft told Israeli officials late last week that Unit 8200, the military’s elite spy agency, had violated the company’s terms of service by storing the vast trove of surveillance data in its Azure cloud platform, sources familiar with the situation said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
pedro.vza.net
Empty seats in crowded public transportation are wasted seats. It increases crowding next to the doors and slows down circulation. If no one needs a seat, seat yourself. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
September 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
smirk4food.com
Microsoft used China-based engineers to maintain Pentagon cloud systems for years. After ProPublica blew the whistle, the DoD finally banned the practice. New rules require U.S.-based experts and digital audit trails.
Pentagon Bans Tech Vendors From Using China-Based Personnel After ProPublica Investigation
The Defense Department has tightened cybersecurity requirements for its cloud services providers. The changes come after ProPublica revealed how Microsoft’s use of China-based engineers left…
buff.ly
September 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
pedro.vza.net
Hypothetically, could Jackson, Sotomayor, and Kagan stop referring applications for stay coming from the 1st, 2nd and 9th circuits to the full court as a way to slow down the crumbling of US institutions?
stevevladeck.bsky.social Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Sep 22
#BREAKING: Over dissents from Justices Sotomayor, Kagan & Jackson, #SCOTUS grants a stay in the Slaughter case (allowing President Trump to remove the last Dem member of the FTC), *and* grants certiorari "before judgment" to decide whether to formally overrule its 1935 ruling in Humphrey's Executor.
September 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
pedro.vza.net
Strongly recommend any US dual citizens to reflect on what are your plans. Don't forget that if you decide to relinquish your US citizenship, you will have to pay an exit tax.
September 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
pedro.vza.net
Lukewarm take: there are no live demo failures. Only leadership failures of not moving slower and not overworking your employees beyond the breaking point.
shacknews.com Shacknews @shacknews.com · Sep 18
LiveAI demo fails on the first prompt at Meta Connect 2025. #Meta #AI #LiveAI
September 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
ndrew.bsky.social
the kimmel thing is bad but as long as they arent rounding people up indiscriminately based on race, building concentration camps and talking about eradicating those they deem sexual deviants, i think we’ll be ok
September 18, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
pedro.vza.net
Not really brutalist but Seattle has some awesome fire station architecture. www.seattle.gov/fire/about-u...
Seattle Fire Station 2 - Belltown. Style: Early 20th-century civic/Beaux-Arts influence Materials: Brick masonry, stone accents, traditional ornamentation Design Features: Symmetrical façade with multiple red fire doors. Decorative cornices, pilasters, and arched detailing. Two-story structure with strong street presence, fitting into a dense urban environment. Impression: Classic, authoritative, and enduring—represents the tradition of civic firehouses in growing American cities. Seattle Fire Station 10 – International District. Style: Postmodern/industrial civic building Materials: Steel panels, brick base, glass, concrete retaining walls Design Features: Angular, fragmented rooflines creating a dynamic profile. Red garage doors punctuate the otherwise dark, industrial façade. Built into a slope, with tiered levels adapting to site topography. Strong interplay of solid mass and transparent elements. Impression: Bold, urban, and functional—fits into a downtown environment while signaling resilience and modern utility. Seattle Fire Station 20 – West Queen Anne. Style: Contemporary civic architecture with artistic integration Materials: Concrete, steel, glass, and decorative metal sculpture Design Features: Prominent sculptural element of white metal rods on the façade, evoking motion (possibly referencing flames or water). Red garage doors contrast with the gray and concrete tones. Elevated entry with concrete stairs and strong civic presence. Impression: Functional but softened by artistic elements, giving it a sense of community identity and modern creativity. Seattle Fire Station 30 – Mount Baker. Style: Modernist, minimalist Materials: Glass curtain walls, steel frame, concrete base Design Features: Large transparent façade providing visibility into the fire engine bay. Strong horizontal emphasis with flat roofline. Clean geometric lines and functional aesthetic. Impression: Sleek, efficient, and open—projects transparency and accessibility while maintaining a functional layout.
September 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
pedro.vza.net
Grande dia! 🇧🇷
September 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
pedro.vza.net
I hereby prohibit the following project codenames for the foreseeable future. Be more creative.

Phoenix
Bedrock
Alexandria
Gaia
Cosmos
Thor
Odin
Zeus
Jarvis
Archimedes
Euler
Gauss
Einstein
Newton
August 31, 2025 at 4:34 AM
pedro.vza.net
Weekend fun: I just let the magic smoke out of a potentiometer and LED sensor.
August 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
pedro.vza.net
Little compliance secret for you: SOC I, II or III *Type 1* compliance means it's a point in time check. You can't fail a Type 1 audit. Just tweak your processes a bit, shift the date and redo the audit. Once auditors are happy you can stop doing whatever you were audited for.
August 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
pedro.vza.net
ChatGPT Insiders edition fast ring
ChatGPT LTSC
ChatGPT Service Pack 2
caseynewton.bsky.social Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · Aug 12
Wrote about the backlash to GPT-5 and the dawning awareness inside labs of just how strongly some people feel about individual models and workflows www.platformer.news/gpt-5-backla...
Third, and most obviously: it's hard to make changes to products that are used by hundreds of millions of people. For years, I wondered why the Google Docs team seemed to be shipping new features at a rate of roughly one per year. Eventually, I spoke with people on the team. And the basic answer was simply: users hate change. Better to stick with a design that mostly worked than to incur the wrath of millions of people because you moved their favorite feature, or took it away. At 700 million weekly users, ChatGPT is now well on its way to Google Docs scale. And that's likely going to incentivize slower, more considered changes to its flagship product.
August 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
carnage4life.bsky.social
While understandable given the rise of AI scrapers, it’s sad to see the open web dying a little each day.

Future generations won’t realize how much they’ve lost.
Reddit will block the Internet Archive
It’s another move to protect against AI scraping.
www.theverge.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:43 AM
pedro.vza.net
Do you yearn for the old Internet? Might I suggest hobby metal machining? These are some of the top websites I use. Functional, fast, intuitive. Makes me nostalgic.
Screenshot of the McMaster-Carr website showing a clean, utilitarian catalog page. Categories like "Fastening & Joining," "Adhesives & Tape," and "Welding, Brazing & Soldering" are displayed with simple icons and links. A sidebar menu lists more categories, evoking classic web design with fast navigation and no clutter. Screenshot of LittleMachineShop.com, a no-nonsense site for machinist tools and accessories. The home page highlights deals, customer testimonials, and a basic navigation bar. The design is straightforward, with text-heavy sections and old-school buttons—fast, clear, and easy to use. Screenshot of the Practical Machinist forum, focused on community discussions about machining. The layout features forum threads, sticky posts, and a top navigation bar. The interface prioritizes conversation and quick access to topics over modern visuals, channeling early-2000s forum vibes. Screenshot of the DRO Pros website, specializing in digital readout kits. The page uses large text, blocky buttons, and a side navigation bar, with product images and contact info front and center. The aesthetic is retro, practical, and refreshingly direct, prioritizing information and usability.
August 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Pedro Vezza
astrokatie.com
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
ericmgarcia.bsky.social Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · Aug 5
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
HHS Winds Down mRNA Vaccine Development Under BARDA WASHINGTON, DC—AUGUST 5, 2025—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), including the cancellation and de-scoping of various contracts and solicitations. The decision follows a comprehensive review of mRNA-related investments initiated during the COVID-19 public health emergency. “We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.”
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
pedro.vza.net
I'm dabbling in Figma for the first time to layout a the dashboard in the picture. It seems to be a perfect candidate for CSS grid. Am I reading correctly that Figma only added support for grid layout guides only this year?? The CSS grid spec is 18 years old! uxdesign.cc/figmas-new-g...
Wireframe of EL400 digital readout. It shows measurements in 3 axes with seven segment displays and has several buttons to trigger special functions.
July 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM