#developer when no telemetry

[hyper-lynx]

Oh God I'm thinking about rewriting my whole mod to be all data driven......... I already added KubeJS support I really don't have to do this, the people can already make reactions in modpacks !!

(But it'd be cool)

It would but, but...

[formulafanfics13]

Everything She Is - CL16

Masterlist

summary: While visiting the F2 paddock, Charles Leclerc discovers that his younger brother’s race engineer isn’t just brilliant — she’s Bella Wolff, Toto’s daughter, and she’s been a fixture in Arthur’s life for years. What starts as a casual introduction spirals into jealousy, curiosity, and reluctant admiration as Bella proves herself in every way that matters.

warnings: language, implied emotional tension, light jealousy, light angst, motorsport realism, Toto Wolff being a DILF, slow-burn admiration, no smut

The pit lane shimmered with the late morning heat, that strange Monaco brightness that always made Charles feel like he was walking through a spotlight. Glamour, pressure, wealth — everything felt more performative here, even when no one was watching. Which was exactly why he liked coming to the junior series when he could. It was quieter, simpler, raw. Not everything was wrapped in branding and PR filters. You could still breathe in F2.

Carlos walked beside him, sunglasses on, espresso in hand, eyeing the paddock with that dry little half-smirk he always got when they were off-duty. "God, this takes me back," he muttered, looking around. "The smell of burning clutch. The sheer panic of pre-season testing. You can't buy this kind of nostalgia." Charles huffed a quiet laugh, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets. "You mean trauma?" "Same thing."

They wandered past the ART GP garage, nodding to a few engineers and mechanics lingering outside. It wasn't that they didn’t get noticed — they did, of course — but no one was jumping for selfies here. It was a more reverent silence, like people understood the sanctity of a Leclerc watching his younger brother test.

And there was Arthur, fireproofs to his waist, helmet off. Leaner than last year, sun on his shoulders, standing like he belonged. Charles felt that tug of pride twist in his chest. Protective. Familiar. But then—

"Wait," Carlos said, slowing. "Who's that?"

Charles followed his gaze. A young woman was walking beside Arthur. Not trailing — walking with him. Their arms brushed. He slung one around her waist like it was muscle memory. They looked intimate. Not necessarily romantic, but close. That kind of close.

"You didn’t tell me your brother had a girlfriend," Carlos said. "He doesn’t," Charles muttered.

She laughed at something Arthur said. Threw her head back. Easy. Loud. Real. Arthur looked at her with this softness Charles didn’t recognise — not on him.

Then they were walking over.

Arthur grinned like a little shit. "Look who finally showed up." Carlos clapped his shoulder. "Just wanted to make sure you weren’t driving like an idiot." "Too late," Charles said, quietly.

Arthur turned to her. "This is Bella. My race engineer. And best friend. Bella, my brother Charles, and Carlos."

She stepped forward, stuck out a hand. Warm smile. Confident grip. Casual and unfussy.

"Race engineer?" Carlos echoed, blinking.

"Yep," she grinned. "Been with him since Formula Regional. He won’t let anyone else touch his setup now." "That’s because no one else puts up with your radio tantrums," Arthur muttered.

Charles shook her hand, brain still trying to catch up. She was sharp. Not arrogant — precise. Calculating. "You're really young," he said before he could stop himself. "For an engineer." "I’m twenty-two," she replied evenly. "I don’t mind being underestimated. It makes proving people wrong more fun."

Carlos coughed a laugh. Arthur slung an arm over her shoulder.

"Told you she was scary."

Charles was spiralling. Why had Arthur never mentioned her?

"So where’d you learn to engineer?" Carlos asked.

"Karting mechanics, sim work, telemetry analysis. Then Mercedes’ junior development programme." She said it casually, like it wasn’t a flex.

Carlos blinked. "Wait. You came through Mercedes?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah. My dad insisted." "Who’s your dad?" he asked.

Before she could answer, a hand landed on her shoulder. Charles turned just in time to see Toto Wolff step into view, dressed down in black, aviators on. He pulled Bella into a hug, kissed the side of her head.

"My girl. You were fantastic." "Thanks, Papa," she murmured.

Charles froze. Carlos visibly blinked.

Toto turned to them. "Charles. Carlos. Good to see you both."

Bella smiled. "They were just asking who my dad was."

Carlos made a noise like a broken machine. "You're... Toto’s daughter?" "Surprise," she said cheerfully.

Arthur looked smug. Charles felt his world tilt.

"You didn’t think to mention this to me?" he demanded. Arthur shrugged. "Didn’t think it mattered. She’s not your engineer."

"She’s your engineer. And she’s his daughter—" "I’m standing right here," Bella said dryly.

Toto, thoroughly entertained, checked his watch. "Will you be home for tea?"

Bella shook her head. "Going to Arthur’s mum’s." "Alright. See you in the morning."

No negotiation. Just respect. Like she wasn’t just his daughter, but an equal.

"You’re going to Pascale’s?" Carlos asked. Arthur nodded. "She’s got tea on. You should both come."

Charles blinked. "You want us to come?" Arthur shrugged. "Unless you’ve got somewhere better to be."

Carlos grinned. "Not saying no to Pascale’s cooking. Especially if this afternoon comes with more answers."

Bella smiled. "Let them spiral. It’s fun."

Inside Pascale’s kitchen, Bella was barefoot, slicing tomatoes beside Charles’ mother like she belonged there. Pascale kissed both Charles' cheeks but only after nudging Bella’s hands away from the knife so she wouldn’t hurt herself turning to wave.

"You didn’t tell me she calls you maman," Charles muttered. "She comes over every week," Pascale replied. "Helps me fix the Wi-Fi. I’d adopt her if Toto would let me." "You’ve known her longer than I have." "Maybe you should visit more."

Carlos leaned over. "She’s got her own apron. With her name on it."

Bella and Arthur moved like a unit. Cooking, laughing, eating. Like she’d been part of the family for years — because she had. She picked olives off Arthur’s plate, wiped sauce from Pascale’s hand mid-story, poured Charles wine before he could reach for it.

"You're being too aggressive into Turn 9," she told Arthur. "I'm making up for understeer." "You’re making it worse. Dial back the diff."

Carlos turned to her. "You talk like an engineer." "I am an engineer."

Charles tested her. "What diff setting would you use at Spa in the wet?"

"Depends. You like a looser rear but you overcorrect. I’d say 4.1 for a more progressive slide. And stop turning in late at Rivage."

Carlos let out a low whistle. Charles blinked. "That’s... accurate."

"And you think you know better than my engineers?" "I don’t think. I know."

Carlos asked a strategy question. She answered it without pause. Purple in sector one or abort. Precision. Confidence. No hesitation.

"You ever considered working in F1?" Carlos asked.

"I’ve had offers," she replied. "Too many," Toto added. "She turned them down," Arthur said, sharp with meaning.

"Why?" "Because I believe in finishing what I start. Arthur’s not done yet."

That one sentence slid into Charles' ribs like a knife.

Later, as Bella and Arthur cleaned up, Carlos leaned toward Charles.

"You’re thinking about changing the setup to what she said, aren’t you?" "Maybe," Charles muttered. "Most uncommitted ‘yes’ I’ve ever heard."

The next morning at the track, Charles was up early. No sleep. Just Bella’s voice echoing. Try 45-60. He asked Luca to change the diff.

"That’s unorthodox," Luca said. "Just try it."

Three laps in, Charles went purple in sector two.

"Car feels good." "Throttle traces look cleaner. Rear’s calmer. Keep the setting?"

"Yeah. Keep it."

Back in the garage, Carlos was already there.

"You’re not going to say it?" "Say what?"

Carlos smirked. "She was right."

Charles didn’t answer. But he didn’t need to.

Because she was.

[sosomonimagines]

High Torque — Lando Norris x Engineer!Reader — part one

Lando Norris doesn't want to admit it, but he may have developed a crush on McLaren's new engineer.

When Y/N L/N walked through the paddock entrance, the McLaren lanyard swinging around her neck, Lando Norris didn’t notice the high-resolution tablet in her hands or the badge listing an absurd string of academic credentials. All he saw were the long legs, the mirrored sunglasses, and the purposeful stride of someone who seemed far more interested in ignoring the world than being part of it.

“Who’s that?” Lando asked, leaning against the team hospitality wall, sipping on a half-warm Red Bull.

Beside him, Oscar Piastri shrugged.

“New engineer. Just transferred from the States. MIT. PhD from Caltech.”

Lando raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

“Seriously? She looks more like a Victoria’s Secret model than an engineer.”

Oscar let out a quiet chuckle.

“Careful. That kind of thinking gets you sued.”

“I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. It’s like… I don’t know, she can’t be both. Either she’s a genius or she belongs on a magazine cover.”

At that moment, Y/N walked past them as if they were part of the scenery. Eyes fixed on her tablet, not even acknowledging that two drivers stood mere steps away. Lando tilted his head, watching her.

“And she walks like she was born in a private helicopter. Nose so high up she’s probably got a crick in her neck.”

Oscar laughed.

“Maybe you’re the one with the ego problem.”

“Me? I just like knowing who I’m dealing with. And so far, all I see is an attitude.”

***

But it didn’t take long for Y/N to prove she was far more than just an attitude.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix, with erratic rain forecasts and fluctuating temperatures, the team was still debating between three strategies when Skylar stepped into the briefing room and cut through the noise with a firm voice:

“If you don’t switch to intermediates right after Turn 4 on Lap 36, we’ll miss the ideal window. I’ve already modeled it based on cross-referenced radar simulations and traction loss in Sectors 2 and 3. Telemetry shows a 14% drop in grip, and Lando will start losing the rear on corner exits.”

The chief engineer frowned. But Zak Brown, who was starting to realize this girl knew her stuff, gave the green light. The pit stop happened exactly as she said.

And Lando won.

His first victory of the season.

Amid the celebrations, as the entire team congratulated him, only one person occupied his thoughts—the girl who had predicted the perfect timing with surgical precision. He found her in the back of the garage, adjusting data on one of the monitors.

“Hey,” he said, breathless, helmet still in hand, grinning wider than the track itself. “You… that was incredible. You won me that race.”

She didn’t even look up. Just murmured, flatly:

“It’s my job.”

He stood there for a moment, waiting for something more. A smile. A “congrats to you too.” Nothing. Y/N was already typing something else.

On his way back to the motorhome, Lando huffed, laughing to himself, and said to Oscar:

“She’s like a colder, genius, more stuck-up version of Tony Stark. Just without the fun part.”

Oscar raised an eyebrow.

“So what you’re really saying is you have a crush on her.”*

“What? No! I just think… she’s interesting.”

“Uh-huh. Interesting. Like the aerodynamics of a Red Bull.”

***

But the next race didn’t end as happily.

It was Spa. Wet practice. High-speed corners, brutal braking zones. Since Friday, Y/N had been reporting a lag in the electronic differential response, especially at the exit of Turn 12—a critical high-load section where torque needed to redistribute instantly.

She had sent reports, graphs, MATLAB simulations. No concrete response. No adjustments were made. So she gave up, sat in a corner and waited for the disaster she knew was going to happen.

In the race, Lando lost the rear exactly where she predicted. The car spun, nearly crashed. He managed to keep going but finished tenth.

In the post-race debrief, no one mentioned the technical failure. But when the team’s eyes turned to Y/N, she understood the message.

Once again, it was her fault. It wasn't their fault for ignoring her so much that she gave up on delivering the message. Because warning them in advance was never enough. Because being a woman here meant being guilty by default.

"If you were so good in the beginning, how did you not see this coming, girl prodigy?" An intern said with a laugh, and others laughed sarcastically.

That was enough for her.

She locked herself in the engineering motorhome and finally let her face fall into her hands.

That’s where Lando found her.

“Y/N?”

She didn’t turn around.

“Here to tell me I ruined your race?” Her voice was muffled.

“I came to see if you were okay.”

She laughed, bitter.

“This isn’t about being okay, Lando. I don’t have that luxury. Everyone here gets to make mistakes. You. Oscar. The chief engineer. Me? I have to be right before the mistake happens. I have to shout louder. Walk straighter. Back everything up with twice the data. Be a machine. And even then, no one listens until the car spins.”

He sat on the couch across from her, awkwardly, arms resting on his knees.

“You’re not a machine.”

“Sometimes it feels like the only way to survive.”

She finally looked at him. Red-rimmed eyes, but not fragile. Furious. Human.

“I warned them about the differential. There was a 0.3-second delay in torque redistribution between the axles. That’s an eternity in Formula 1. But because I’m just ‘the pretty girl who talks smart,’ they let it slide.”

Lando took a deep breath, then moved closer and—in a rare gesture for someone who usually deflected everything with a joke—pulled her into a hug.

“You’re the smartest person on this team. Your strategies are the boldest, sharpest I’ve ever seen. And even if no one else says it, I know I won that race because of you. And I lost this one because no one listened.”

She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t pull away. For a few seconds, the hum of the servers in the background was the only sound between them.

And maybe, for the first time since she’d entered Formula 1, Y/N allowed herself to stop fighting.

Just for a moment.

***

The tension in the pre-race briefing was as thick as wind tunnel air. They were at Suzuka, and the forecast of strong crosswinds through Turns 8 and 9 changed everything. The rear wing setup was the center of debate, with two engineers arguing for the standard configuration.

Then Y/N looked up from her tablet.

"If we reduce the wing angle by 3.5 degrees and compensate with diffuser adjustments, the car will have better lateral stability without sacrificing too much drag. The wind is cutting diagonally from the west sector, and sensors show micro-oscillations on the Y-axis. The chance of oversteer increases by 12% if we keep the default setup."

Silence.

The chief engineer sighed.

"L/N, with all due respect, we’re not changing what’s already working."

Y/N snapped her tablet shut harder than necessary.

But before she could retort, Lando stood up.

"Why aren’t you listening to her? She was the only one who got Budapest right, and no one believed her at Spa—look how that turned out."

"Lando—"

"No, seriously. I’m the one strapping into that cockpit at 300 clicks an hour, so I damn well get a say. Do the adjustment like she said."

The engineer crossed his arms.

"This isn’t personal. It’s about risk."

"The biggest risk is ignoring the most accurate analysis in this room. I trust her. Make the change."

All eyes turned to Y/N. For the first time, someone—the driver, the face of the team—was demanding they trust her.

***

The car performed exactly as she predicted.

Lando flew across the track, keeping control even through the most critical corners, where the wind tried to swat the car aside like it was made of paper. He won. By a landslide.

Post-race, the chief engineer pulled her aside in a quiet corner of the garage, away from cameras.

"L/N..." He scratched the back of his neck, swallowing pride. "Outstanding work. Your read was spot-on. We nailed it because of you."

She blinked, as if she hadn’t expected to hear that.

"Thank you, sir," she replied, biting back a smile.

He turned to leave. And that’s when Lando, across the garage, saw it.

Y/N took a step back, glanced discreetly to the side, thinking no one was watching. And then—she smiled. A wide, genuine, almost childlike grin. She closed her eyes for a second, bit her lip, and raised both fists in a quiet, contained celebration. Like she’d just scored a goal against the world.

Lando couldn’t stop the stupid grin spreading across his face. That was the first time he’d ever seen Y/N L/N truly smile.

And right then, he knew for sure:

He had a massive, hopeless crush on the most brilliant and impossible engineer in Formula 1.

***

The paddock was nearly empty, lights dimmed and equipment crates stacked, when Lando spotted Y/N sitting alone in a corner of the garage. Her race suit was unzipped to her waist, the tight black tank beneath clinging to her skin from the day’s heat. Loose strands of hair stuck to her neck, and she absentmindedly chewed on the cap of her water bottle, eyes locked on the tablet beside her.

Lando almost turned around. Almost.

But he took a deep breath, grabbed two lukewarm beers and a questionable snack pack from his bag, and walked over.

"Hey, Dr. Stark. Victory secured, ego fed... and I brought the traditional British celebration combo."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Beer and...?"

"Pork scratchings," he said, shaking the little bag. "Fried pig skin. A delicacy."

"Is that even real food?"

"It’s British, which automatically makes it traditional, questionable, and highly likely to be indigestible. Want some?"

She took the beer and eyed the snack like it was a suspicious lab specimen.

"This looks like something I’d find on the floor of a test car."

"That’s the texture, yeah. Also the flavor."

She laughed and cracked open the can. Took a sip and immediately grimaced.

"Wow. This tastes like a rusty bolt dipped in petrol. British cuisine really is a joke."

"GORDON RAMSAY IS BRITISH!"

She burst out laughing, nearly choking.

"That’s your argument?"

"Absolutely. We’ve been producing grumpy geniuses and weird snacks since the Industrial Revolution."

She raised her beer in a toast.

"To the Revolution."

"And to stuck-up engineers finally admitting you’re a genius."

The cans clinked with a hollow, metallic sound. Y/N took another sip and smirked.

"Did you see his face? I swear, I thought he’d rather swallow a wrench than admit I was right."

"Historic," Lando said, sitting beside her, elbows on his knees. "You looked like a movie hacker. Whole room frozen, and you just drop a simulation that blew up everyone’s assumptions."

She shrugged, but the smile still played on her lips.

"It’s not that big a deal."

"MIT and Caltech?" He turned to look at her with a half-smirk. "Y/N, that’s Hollywood stuff. So you’re, like, an actual genius?"

She huffed a laugh, shaking her head.

"Hardly. I was just good at math. But being a woman in this world? Being good turns into suspicion. You have to do three times the work with half the credibility. My family didn’t have money. I spent my teens juggling scholarships, internships, and all-nighters."

He listened quietly, watching her with more focus than usual.

"Got into MIT at sixteen," she added, like it was nothing.

Lando’s eyes widened. "You’re trying to convince me you’re not a genius... SIXTEEN AT MIT?!"

She laughed, and when he made an exaggerated scandalized face, she shoved his shoulder lightly.

"If you saw the grind... there was nothing magical about it. Just discipline, pressure, and way too much Red Bull."

"That makes it even cooler," he said, softer now.

She looked at him, surprised by the tone. He took a sip of beer, glancing away like he didn’t want to seem too impressed.

"Like... you didn’t just fall into this, you know? You built your own damn rocket."

Y/N was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled—not the usual sarcastic smirk, but a real, almost shy one.

"Thanks."

"S’nothing. Just trying to keep up with the prodigy engineer who tweaks my car’s aerodynamics and still roasts my snacks."

"And your beer. Let’s not forget."

"Okay, that was a direct attack on British culture, but I’ll let it slide."

She took another sip and leaned back against the crate.

"You know... you’re not as much of a prick as I thought."

"Is that a compliment?"

"No"

[blorbocedes]

hahaha the behind the scenes story of the iconic lewis revealing jenson's telemtry tweet, with a plot twist at the end

[mistakenot4892]

Disclaimer that this is a post mostly motivated by frustration at a cultural trend, not at any individual people/posters. Vagueing to avoid it seeming like a callout but I know how Tumblr is so we'll see I guess. Putting it after a read-more because I think it's going to spiral out of control.

Recent discourse around obnoxious Linux shills chiming in on posts about how difficult it can be to pick up computer literacy these days has made me feel old and tired. I get that people just want computers to Work and they don't want to have to put any extra effort into getting it to Do The Thing, that's not unreasonable, I want the same!

(I also want obnoxious Linux shills to not chip in on my posts (unless I am posting because my Linux has exploded and I need help) so I sympathise with that angle too, 'just use Linux' is not the catch-all solution you think it is my friend.)

But I keep seeing this broad sense of learned helplessness around having to learn about what the computer is actually doing without having your hand held by a massive faceless corporation, and I just feel like it isn't a healthy relationship to have with your tech.

The industry is getting worse and worse in their lack of respect to the consumer every quarter. Microsoft is comfortable pivoting their entire business to push AI on every part of their infrastructure and in every service, in part because their customers aren't going anywhere and won't push back in the numbers that might make a difference. Windows 11 has hidden even more functionality behind layers of streamlining and obfuscation and integrated even more spyware and telemetry that won't tell you shit about what it's doing and that you can't turn off without violating the EULA. They're going to keep pursuing this kind of shit in more and more obvious ways because that's all they can do in the quest for endless year on year growth.

Unfortunately, switching to Linux will force you to learn how to use it. That sucks when it's being pushed as an immediate solution to a specific problem you're having! Not going to deny that. FOSS folks need to realise that 'just pivot your entire day to day workflow to a new suite of tools designed by hobby engineers with really specific chips on their shoulders' does not work as a method of evangelism. But if you approach it more like learning to understand and control your tech, I think maybe it could be a bit more palatable? It's more like a set of techniques and strategies than learning a specific workflow. Once you pick up the basic patterns, you can apply them to the novel problems that inevitably crop up. It's still painful, particularly if you're messing around with audio or graphics drivers, but importantly, you are always the one in control. You might not know how to drive, and the engine might be on fire, but you're not locked in a burning Tesla.

Now that I write this it sounds more like a set of coping mechanisms, but to be honest I do not have a healthy relationship with xorg.conf and probably should seek therapy.

It's a bit of a stretch but I almost feel like a bit of friction with tech is necessary to develop a good relationship with it? Growing up on MS-DOS and earlier versions of Windows has given me a healthy suspicion of any time my computer does something without me telling it to, and if I can't then see what it did, something's very off. If I can't get at the setting and properties panel for something, my immediate inclination is to uninstall it and do without.

And like yeah as a final note, I too find it frustrating when Linux decides to shit itself and the latest relevant thread I can find on the matter is from 2006 and every participant has been Raptured since, but at least threads exist. At least they're not Microsoft Community hellscapes where every second response is a sales rep telling them to open a support ticket. At least there's some transparency and openness around how the operating system is made and how it works. At least you have alternatives if one doesn't do the job for you.

This is long and meandering and probably misses the point of the discourse I'm dragging but I felt obligated to make it. Ubuntu Noble Numbat is pretty good and I haven't had any issues with it out of the box (compared to EndeavourOS becoming a hellscape whenever I wanted my computer to make a sound or render a graphic) so I recommend it. Yay FOSS.

[neptunescore]

https://www.tumblr.com/toodle3316/770355972942315520/im-gonna-start-with-the-twitter-stuff-first-bc

Crazy headcanons: Lewis was in denial his feelings for Jense & this was his way of pulling his crush’s pigtails for attention

YES!!! and no it is not crazy AT ALL

It's so funny bc jenson literally has a whole chapter in his book just talking abt how he wished Lewis liked him more, but he felt Lewis didn't really wanna talk to him all that much bc the team actually liked jenson and would listen to him and I guess Lewis felt threatened by that😭???

Then there's also the whole 2012 Belgian GP fiasco💀💀. Jenson got pole (while Lewis got p7), and Lewis was so mad bc of how sure he was that the team prioritised jenson over him, that he went and leaked the private race telemetry of their qualifying laps😭.

Jenson put out a whole statement where he talked abt how 'saddened' and 'disappointed' he felt that Lewis would do this when it was confidential team information, but I'm pretty sure he was also passively pointing out the fact that either way he was much faster💀

In the end, Lewis ended up retiring from the grand prix😭✋🏽 and jenson won... and later on, it was revealed (can't remember where I read this) that it wasn't even the drivers' telemetry it was actually their development drivers😭.

So yh. Lewis really saw his feelings and thought, 'nah, I'm gonna act like I hate this dude, actually'

[elexuscal]

Murderbot Diaries Book Summaries

The release of the 7th book in the Murderbot Diaries series, System Collapse, approaches in November!

I've seen at least one person looking for a summary of past events... So I've made just that! If it's been a while since you read previous books (or you just like hopping into series half-way through), this will get you up to speed!

That said, this absolutely has spoilers, so if that's not your jam, turn away now.

====

Short Story – Compulsory: A recently-rogue Murderbot decides on a whim to rescue a miner who falls into a ventilation shaft. We see its developing love of Sanctuary Moon and what is implied to be the first time it violated its orders to protect someone.

All Systems Red (ASR):

Murderbot is the contractually-obligated security guard on a survey of "surprisingly nice" scientists. Dr. Mensah particularly impresses Murderbot for her level head and kind nature. It turns out their survey is being sabotaged by the cut-throat corporation GreyCris, who don't want them uncovering alien remnants. Murderbot and the scientists go back-and-forth protecting one another. The survey team discover that it's rogue. After some initial tension, they accept it as a team-member. They escape GreyCris, although Murderbot nearly dies in the process. When it wakes up again, the scientists have bought/freed it. In the name of self-actualization, Murderbot runs away.

Artificial Condition (AC): Murderbot sets off to investigate Ganaka Pit, the facility where it supposedly killed a large number of its own clients. On the way, it discovers the spaceship it's travelling on actually dangerously hyper-intelligent. After some initial threats/tension, the two bond over TV. The Asshole Research Transport (ART) helps disguise Murderbot as a human. With ART's help, Murderbot uncovers that the mass death was a tragic accident caused by ComfortUnit malware. Posing as a human, the pair help rescue a trio of researchers and their data from their shitty ex-boss, and set a ComfortUnit free.

Rogue Protocol (RP):

On an impromptu quest to get blackmail on GreyCris for Dr. Mensah's ongoing legal battle, Murderbot investigates an abandoned terraforming facility. It meets a cheerful robot named Miki who immediately declares themselves friends. Miki is helping a human assessment team who become imperiled when they're attacked both by CombatBots and their own double-dealing human security. Murderbot reflectively rescues them, posing as a Definitely Normal SecUnit, although the team's leader clearly sees through that claim. Murderbot manages to collect the intel on GrayCris and protect the humans, but not before Miki performs a heroic sacrifice.

Exit Strategy (ES):

After discovering Dr. Mensah has been kidnapped by GreyCris, Murderbot rushes to save her. This forces it to re-unite with the other survey members; Pin-Lee, Ratthi, and Gurathin. While unsure of each other, the team manage to rescue their friend. Murderbot attempts a self-destructive last-stand against a CombatSecUnit, only for the humans to save its ass. The team escapes on a company gunship, but not before Murderbot melts its brain fighting off killware. When it rebuilds its systems, it decides to stay with its humans in the Preservation Alliance for a while.

Short Story - Home, Range, Niche, Territory:

Shortly after Exit Strategy, Dr. Mensah reflects on her time in captivity and her new friendship with SecUnit. Apparently she's been avoiding getting treatment for her extensive emotional trauma. She has a panic attack when she's cornered by a journalist, who's scared off by Murderbot.

Fugitive Telemetry (FT): A human is found dead. Murderbot is called in as a consultant on the case, in the hopes of building good will with Preservation Security. Eventually it manages to prove itself, particularly after it succeeds in a daring rescue of kidnapped corporate refugees. One of the refugees realises it's a SecUnit and shoots it. The dead human turns out to have been a liberator of indentured labourers, and the killer was actually the Port Authority robot Balin, who was secretly a disguised CombatBot acting on outside orders. The local bot community intervenes to stop Balin from hurting anyone else.

Network Effect (NE):

Murderbot is providing security for a Preservation Alliance survey which goes south when raiders attack and try to take Dr. Mensah's brother-in-law, Thiago, hostage. It then goes doubly south when, on the way home, the team's ship gets attacked by... ART?

It appears that ART has been deleted and its crew has gone missing, replaced with mysterious grey people. While protecting a team of its humans, including Dr. Mensah's teenage daughter Amena, Murderbot manages to reboot ART. ART kills the grey humans but refuses to let everyone go until and unless they help it retrieve its crew. Everyone reluctantly agrees, but Murderbot is pissed.

Eventually Murderbot and ART make up. Then they create a sort-of-baby in the form of a killware copy of Murderbot who dubs itself Murderbot 2.0. Half of ART's missing crew is found on a local planet's surface, though Murderbot is captured while helping them escape. Murderbot 2.0 manages to rescue the other half from a spaceship with the help of the newly freed SecUnit 3. The local colonists are discovered to have gone a liiiiitttle bit kooky due to infection via an alien fungus. ART threatens to bomb their colony to get Murderbot back. Murderbot gets infected, but Murderbot 2.0 does a self-sacrificial attack to save it and destroy the fungi's primary host. Meanwhile, the humans, ART, and SecUnit 3 work together to rescue Murderbot without any more bloodshed.

Murderbot has a bit of an epiphany that all its various friends do in fact love and care for it. When an understandably pissed and confused Dr. Mensah shows up like a month later, the groups decide on forming a mutual partnership. Murderbot tells Dr. Mensah that it would like to work with ART for a little while.

[heidi891]

My Digital Minimalism Journey

Doomscrolling. Smartphone addiction. Google this, Google that. Sounds familiar? I've begun a journey to untangle myslef from American megacorps and declutter my digital life.

I consider Google the worst big corporation, because while Microsoft and Apple sell products (hardware, software), Google's basically an advertising company. We are Google's products—that's why Google can give us so much for free and still make so much money. "But I have nothing to hide." Me too. I don't commit crimes, I don't watch pornography, I don't do anything classified. If everyone suddenly could see everything I do online, I'd just be slightly embarrased, that's all. But monopolies are illegal and dangerous for a reason. They erode freedom, shape our reality, leave us no alternative, influence our beliefs. I know I'm not immune to this, even though it's easy to believe otherwise.

Another factor I take into account is using local products to support my country's (Poland's) and Europe's economy and security.

Google Search

I noticed long time ago that Google Search became far from ideal, full of ads and focused on shopping. For example, when I looked for information about a medicine, I saw a long list of online pharmacies. I started using Bing, because it gave me information I was looking for—the medicine's description and side effects. (My husband is happy with Google, but his searches involve more shopping, like buying things for his hobbies and renovations.) Recently I've started using Qwant—a French search engine that uses their own index to some extent and Bing. Some people like German Ecosia that uses Google search results AFAIK.

Browser

The problem with browsers is that most of them are based on Chromium (not to be confused with Google Chrome). Chromium, Safari's Webkit and Mozilla's Gecko are like engines beneath the hoods that are browsers. Browsers may have different functions like adblocks, tab management or favourites, but those three are what allows browsers to read and display websites. While Chromium is open source, it's controlled and developed by Google.

I decided to use Mozilla Firefox with turned off telemetry and Qwant and uBlock Origin extensions. Mozilla, though American, is open source and non profit.

Update: I also installed Privacy Badger extension.

E-mail

Almost twenty years ago, as a teenager, I set up my mailbox on Onet—a Polish news portal. When I got married and changed my last name, I changed my mailbox too, to Gmail. Recently I've started using my old mailbox again when I discovered that I could create an alias for my current last name. In my Gmail I set up my mail to be forwarded to my current mailbox and deleted from Gmail. It isn't perfect, because the mail still reaches Google servers, but I changed most logins and I hardly get any mail there.

If you're from Poland, you can check out wp.pl and O2, they have mailboxes too. Otherwise, Swiss Proton and German Tuta are popular, especially amongst those who care much about privacy. Swiss Infomaniak offers a mailbox in Western Europe. There may be some good mailbox providers in your country, you can look it up.

Contacts

I deleted my contacts from Google and store them locally on the phone. I have backups saved on a pedrive and in a cloud.

Calendar

I've started using a paid Polish app called Domownik (dom means home, so the name means it's an app for home, for household matters). I keep my private calendar there and tasks, and recipes, and weekly menu, and a shopping list that I share with my husband, and some notes that I used to keep in Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote. It's Polish and family oriented, so it isn't a good choice for everyone. Some mailbox providers offer calendars too. You may also think about a paper calendar.

Google Drive, OneDrive

I still use them to some extent. We pay for a family plan on OneDrive. Unfortunately, when I checked European providers like Filen, Proton, Koofr, Cryptee, kDrive, Jottacloud, Hetzner... (if you just want a few GB of storage for free, check them out), it turned out OneDrive is cheaper. My husband loves photo remainders there too. I want to use Swiss pCloud where you can pay once for a lifetime. They also offer nice photo gallery and playlists made from your files. I hope I manage to change it this year.

Google Maps

I checked out a few navigation apps like HERE WeGo, Magic Earth and Organic Maps, but eventually decided to use mapy.com (former mapy.cz). You can download one country's map for free and they have great hiking trails map. I know it works best for Czech Republic and its neighbours (which I happen to be), so I'm not sure if it's as good in other countries.

There's an option to share location, but currently I'm the only one in my family who use it, so I haven't had a chance to try it out. Location sharing is the only reason why I'm still keeping Google Maps on my phone. Next time we're visiting my parents I'll try location sharing in WhatsApp and if it works, I could get rid of Google Maps.

For public transport I use Polish app jakdojade.pl.

Google Docs, Microsoft Office

I've used LibreOffice for years (and OpenOffice before that), so I don't need to change much on my PC. However, I used Google Docs and Sheets on my phone. I had a Google Sheets file for recording my weight. I decided I'm going to keep a digital version of that as ODS (LibreOffice file) on my PC (with a backup in a cloud) and I'll start noting my weight and pressure in a notebook, so if I ever have to show it to a doctor, I can just bring it with me. I used to write fanfiction in Google Docs, so I'm either coming back to writing on my PC in LibreOffice or I'll try French Cryptpad.

Update: I ended up using FreeOffice. It isn't perfect, but it works and that's what's most important.

Google Translate

I've started using German DeepL instead.

Social Media

I have a blog and used to have fanpages on Facebook and Instagram. I don't offer any services or sell any products; it's a project born out of passion. Running a fanpage was so time consuming and hardly anyone was interested in my work, so I decided to stop doing it. I still have my blog; I started running a small blog on wordpress.com with updates and interesting links, so that anyone who's interested can subscribe to it via newsletter or RSS app. I write an update only once in a while when I change something on my main website or if I find something interesting. I deleted Instagram and Facebook (I changed there some settings though, to get some most important notifications to my mailbox), and Tumblr too (too much mindless scrolling).

I downloaded an RSS app instead (I chose Bulgarian Inoreader, but there're others). I follow news sites and blogs I like. It's a feed, but it's my feed, in a chronological order, without ads, sponsored content, algorithms and stupid or hateful comments. Just news and blog posts in a chronological order. I noticed I started to actually read articles! On social media apps it was so easy to read a title and go to the comment section immediately.

Podcasts and Music

I follow my favourite YouTube channels in the RSS app and I got rid of YouTube. I listen to my favourite podcasts in Swedish Spotify. We used to have a family plan in Spotify, but we use American Tidal for music now, because it's a little cheaper, there aren't so many YouTube-like podcasts that my son watched (and I don't want him to), and Tidal pays artists three times more than Spotify. Personally, I'd love to come back to having my mp3 files and playing my own music (I only listen to my own playlists anyway), but my family isn't on board. I'll try to buy my favourite songs to support artists a little and find a way to convert my CDs to digital files (I did it years ago, but I got rid of them...).

Films and TV shows

We had Netflix, Disney+, HBO and Prime at one point. Currently we only keep Netflix (where we have lots to watch) and Prime (my husband says it's cheap enough to keep; I'd just get rid of it if it were up to me). We may pay for i.e. HBO for a month when there's something we want to watch.

I love watching TV shows, so I don't want to give up streaming altogether.

Phone

I use an old iPhone. Android is controlled by Google and iPhone is the only Apple thing I use. Degoogled Android like Graphene OS or Dumbphones are too much for me (just like self-hosted cloud).

What Is Difficult To Get Rid Of

I keep Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety to have parental control over my children's computers and phones. My children keep using Microsoft Edge browser too because of that. It's less about time limits and mostly about blocking some websites (I want them only to use websites and download apps that I allow them to). I haven't find a better way yet.

[technicallylovingcomputer]

How to Balance PvE and PvP in MMORPGs

 Creating a successful MMORPG requires careful attention to one of the most challenging aspects of MMORPG game development: balancing Player versus Environment (PvE) and Player versus Player (PvP) content. When these two gameplay pillars are properly balanced, they create a rich, dynamic world that keeps players engaged for years. When they're not, your game can quickly lose its player base.

Why Balance Matters in MMORPG Game Development

MMORPGs thrive on diverse player preferences. Some players love raiding dungeons and defeating epic bosses, while others crave the thrill of outmaneuvering human opponents. The most successful MMORPGs don't force players to choose—they create ecosystems where both playstyles can coexist and complement each other.

As experienced developers know, imbalance can lead to serious problems:

Player exodus when one type of content receives preferential treatment

"Dead" game areas when certain content lacks meaningful rewards

Community division between PvE and PvP players

Power imbalances that make content trivial or frustratingly difficult

Core Principles for Balancing PvE and PvP

1. Separate Skill Systems When Necessary

One fundamental approach in MMORPG game development is implementing different rules for skills in PvE versus PvP contexts. Many abilities that work well against predictable AI enemies can become overwhelming when used against other players.

Consider World of Warcraft's approach: many crowd control abilities have different durations when used against players compared to monsters. This simple adjustment prevents PvP matches from becoming frustrating stun-lock festivals while still allowing those abilities to remain useful in dungeons.

2. Create Meaningful Progression Paths for Both

Players need to feel their preferred gameplay style offers legitimate advancement. A common pitfall in MMORPG game development is making the best gear exclusive to one content type.

Guild Wars 2 solves this elegantly by offering multiple paths to equivalent gear. Whether you're exploring story content, raiding, or competing in structured PvP, you're making meaningful progress toward your character's growth.

3. Design Complementary Reward Structures

Smart reward structures encourage players to engage with both content types without forcing them into gameplay they don't enjoy.

Final Fantasy XIV implements this brilliantly:

PvP offers unique cosmetic rewards and titles that don't affect PvE power

PvE progression rewards that remain relevant to casual PvPers

Seasonal PvP rewards that maintain engagement without creating power imbalances

4. Consider Scaling Systems

Scaling systems are increasingly common in modern MMORPG game development, allowing characters of different power levels to compete on more even terms.

Elder Scrolls Online's battle scaling system normalizes stats in PvP areas, ensuring that gear differences matter but don't make fights impossible. This approach lets newer players participate while still rewarding veterans' progression.

Technical Implementation Challenges

Skill Effect Modifiers

Implementing separate modifiers for skills across different content types creates additional complexity. Your system architecture needs to support contextual rule changes that can dynamically adjust how abilities function based on whether they're being used in PvE or PvP scenarios.

For example, a stun ability might last 5 seconds against a dungeon boss but only 2 seconds against another player. These contextual adjustments help maintain balance without creating separate ability sets.

Data-Driven Balance

Successful MMORPG game development requires continual refinement based on player behavior data. Implement robust telemetry systems to track:

Win rates in different PvP brackets

Completion times for PvE content

Class/build representation across content types

Economic impacts of different activities

This data forms the foundation for informed balance decisions rather than relying solely on player feedback, which often skews toward the most vocal community members.

Case Studies: Learning From Success and Failure

Guild Wars 2: Structured PvP Success

ArenaNet's approach to structured PvP in Guild Wars 2 represents one of the most elegant solutions in MMORPG game development. By completely separating PvP builds and gear from PvE progression, they created a truly skill-based PvP environment while allowing their PvE systems to scale naturally.

World of Warcraft: The PvP Power Experiment

Blizzard's introduction of PvP Power and PvP Resilience stats was an attempt to solve balance issues by creating separate gear progressions. While theoretically sound, this approach created problems:

Players needed separate gear sets for different content

PvE players felt forced into PvP to remain competitive

The system added complexity without solving core balance issues

The eventual removal of these stats and return to unified gear with contextual modifiers proves that simpler solutions are often better in MMORPG game development.

Integration Strategies That Work

Territorial Control With Benefits

Territorial PvP becomes more compelling when it offers benefits that extend to PvE gameplay. Black Desert Online uses this approach effectively, with guild warfare providing economic advantages that benefit both PvP-focused players and their more PvE-oriented guildmates.

Optional Flag Systems

Many successful MMORPGs implement flag systems allowing players to opt in or out of open-world PvP. This creates natural tension and excitement without forcing unwilling participants into combat situations they don't enjoy.

New World's territory control system exemplifies this approach, making PvP meaningful while keeping it optional for those who prefer PvE content.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

In MMORPG game development, certain design decisions consistently lead to balance problems:

Making the best PvE gear require PvP participation (or vice versa)

Balancing classes primarily around one content type

Allowing gear advantages to completely overshadow skill in PvP

Creating "mandatory" grinds across content types

Neglecting one content type in major updates

Finding the Sweet Spot: Blending Content Types

The most successful MMORPGs find creative ways to blend PvE and PvP content:

ESO's Cyrodiil combines large-scale PvP with PvE objectives

FFXIV's Frontlines mixes competitive objectives with NPC enemies

Guild Wars 2's World vs. World incorporates PvE elements into massive realm warfare

These hybrid approaches satisfy both player types while encouraging interaction between different playstyles.

Conclusion

Successful MMORPG game development requires treating PvE and PvP balance as equally important, interconnected systems. By implementing contextual modifiers, separate progression paths, and data-driven balancing, you can create a game world where diverse player preferences are respected and rewarded.

Remember that perfect balance is never achieved—it's an ongoing process that requires constant attention and adjustment based on player behavior and feedback. The most successful MMORPGs view balance as a journey rather than a destination, with each update bringing the game closer to that elusive equilibrium that keeps all types of players engaged and satisfied.

By focusing on systems that allow both playstyles to thrive without undermining each other, you'll create an MMORPG that stands the test of time and builds a loyal, diverse community.

[formulaphoe]

the lowdown on formula 1 tyres

image source: fueler store

formula 1 tyres may seem like a simple piece of rubber, but they are a marvel of engineering and strategy. let's dive into how these crucial components work and why they play such a vital role in the high-stakes game of motorsport.

the basics: types of tyres

image source: f1

in formula 1, tyres aren't just tyres; they're tailored for specific conditions and purposes. pirelli, the official tyre supplier since 2011, provides several types for teams to choose from, each designed to perform under different circumstances.

soft tyres: these are the quickest, but wear our fast. perfect for qualifying sessions when teams aim for pole position (or p18 if they're sauber).

medium tyres: a good balance between speed and durability, these tyres are often used in the race's middle phases.

hard tyres: designed for longevity, these can withstand more laps, but sacrifice some grip and speed.

intermediate and wet tyres: essential for rainy conditions, these tyres have grooves that channel water away, helping to maintain grip on slick surfaces.

pirelli regularly updates these compounds based on feedback and performance, so teams have to adapt their strategies accordingly.

the science behind the grip

image source: autosport

the grip of a tyre is influenced by various factors, including its compound, temperature, and pressure. the rubber used in f1 tyres has a unique blend that provides the necessary grip and durability. the rubber's flexibility allows it to deform and maintain contact with the track, which is crucial for effective braking and cornering.

temperature matters

tyres need to reach a specific operating temperature to perform at their best. for example, soft tires can provide optimal grip once they reach about 90° celsius. teams use tyre blankets to heat the tyres before they hit the track, ensuring they're ready to go right from the start. if the tyres are too cold, they won't grip the surface properly, which can lead to poor performance and potentially dangerous conditions.

pressure and performance

tyre pressure is another critical aspect. if the pressure is too low, it can cause excessive wear and affect handling. conversely, too high a pressure can lead to a loss of grip. teams closely monitor tyre pressure through advanced mapping techniques to ensure optimal performance during races.

strategy: when to pit?

image source: fast company

the timing of pit stops is crucial in f1 racing. deciding when to change tyres can make or break a race. teams analyze factors, including tyre wear, track position, and competitor strategies. a well-timed pit stop can mean the difference between winning and losing, making tyre strategy a key component of race tactics.

teams also conduct tyre tests before races to gather data. these tests help teams understand how different compounds behave on specific circuits, allowing for better race-day decisions.

the role of technology

image source: microsoft tech community

the development of f1 tyres isn't just about rubber; it involves sophisticated engineering and simulation. teams use computer models to predict tyre behaviour under different conditions. this data-driven approach helps engineers design better tyres that cater to the needs of their specific cars and driving styles.

real-time data

during a race, teams gather real-time data to adjust their strategies on the fly. engineers monitor the performance of the tyres through telemetry, which tracks parameters like temperature, pressure, and wear. this information allows them to advise drivers on when to push the limits and when to conserve tyres.

the future of f1 tyres

image source: williams racing

looking ahead, the world of f1 tyres is bound to evolve further. as sustainability becomes a focal point in motorsport, there's an ongoing effort to develop more eco-friendly compounds without compromising performance. pirelli is already exploring options that incorporate sustainable materials, ensuring that f1 keeps up with global trends.

sources

seymour, mike. "f1 tyres explained: the beginner's guide to formula 1 tyres." formula 1, 9 apr. 2023, www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/the-beginners-guide-to-formula-1-tyres.61SvF0Kfg29UR2SPhakDqd

straw, edd. "how f1's tyre test will work - and why it matters." the race, 2 july 2021, www.the-race.com/formula1/how-f1s-tyre-test-will-work-and-why-it-matters/

bhambwani, rupesh n. "demystifying formula 1 tyres: a comprehensive guide." medium, 17 sept. 2023, www.medium.com/formula-one-forever/demystifying-formula-1-tyres-a-comprehensive-guide-b990d17fe849

vogel, jonathan. "tech explained: formula 1 tyre model development." racecar engineering, 27 sept. 2021, www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/tech-explained-formula-1-tyre-model-development/

"tire pressure mapping by f1 teams - why and how." interface force measurements, 10 nov. 2022, https://interfaceforce.co.uk/tire-pressure-mapping-by-f1-teams-why-and-how-2/

"f1 tires." pirelli, 2019, www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/motorsport/f1/tires

cortina, miguel. "here's how pirelli chooses the tires for each formula 1 race." motortrend, 17 may 2023, www.motortrend.com/features/how-pirelli-chooses-its-tires-for-a-formula-1-grand-prix/

if any errors or typos are noticed, PLS PLS point them out via comment, ask, or dm. if there is a specific topic you would like me to cover, send in an ask and i'll look into it!

[mariacallous]

Automakers and tech developers testing and deploying self-driving and advanced driver-assistance features will no longer have to report as much detailed, public crash information to the federal government, according to a new framework released today by the US Department of Transportation.

The moves are a boon for makers of self-driving cars and the wider vehicle technology industry, which has complained that federal crash-reporting requirements are overly burdensome and redundant. But the new rules will limit the information available to those who watchdog and study autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance features—tech developments that are deeply entwined with public safety but which companies often shield from public view because they involve proprietary systems that companies spend billions to develop.

The government's new orders limit “one of the only sources of publicly available data that we have on incidents involving Level 2 systems,” says Sam Abuelsamid, who writes about the self-driving-vehicle industry and is the vice president of marketing at Telemetry, a Michigan research firm, referring to driver-assistance features such as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised), General Motors’ Super Cruise, and Ford’s Blue Cruise. These incidents, he notes, are only becoming “more common.”

The new rules allow companies to shield from public view some crash details, including the automation version involved in incidents and the “narratives” around the crashes, on the grounds that such information contains “confidential business information.” Self-driving-vehicle developers, such as Waymo and Zoox, will no longer need to report crashes that include property damage less than $1,000, if the incident doesn’t involve the self-driving car crashing on its own or striking another vehicle or object. (This may nix, for example, federal public reporting on some minor fender-benders in which a Waymo is struck by another car. But companies will still have to report incidents in California, which has more stringent regulations around self-driving.)

And in a change, the makers of advanced driver-assistance features, such as Full Self-Driving, must report crashes only if they result in fatalities, hospitalizations, air bag deployments, or a strike on a "vulnerable road user,” like a pedestrian or cyclist—but no longer have to report the crash if the vehicle involved just needs to be towed.

“This does seem to close the door on a huge number of additional reports,” says William Wallace, who directs safety advocacy for Consumer Reports. “It’s a big carve-out.” The changes move in the opposite direction of what his organization has championed: federal rules that fight against a trend of "significant incident underreporting" among the makers of advanced vehicle tech.

The new DOT framework will also allow automakers to test self-driving technology with more vehicles that don’t meet all federal safety standards under a new exemption process. That process, which is currently used for foreign vehicles imported into the US but is now being expanded to domestically made ones, will include an "iterative review” that "considers the overall safety of the vehicle.” The process can be used to, for example, more quickly approve vehicles that don’t come with steering wheels, brake pedals, rearview mirrors, or other typical safety features that make less sense when cars are driven by computers.

One company in particular emerges as a winner: Elon Musk’s Tesla, which now will be able to curtail public reporting on its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) features, and may enjoy an easier road to federal safety approval for its upcoming Cybercab, a two-seat, purpose-built robotaxi that does not have a steering wheel or brakes.

“The company that probably benefits the most from that is Tesla,” Abuelsamid says. Though the Transportation Department cited safety as the number one motivator behind the new rules, “there’s nothing in these changes that actually prioritizes safety,” he says.

A spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not respond to questions about Tesla. Tesla, which disbanded its press team five years ago, did not respond to a request for comment.

In a video message posted to X, DOT secretary Sean Duffy said the new automated vehicle framework aimed to increase commercial deployment of new car technology. “America is in the middle of an innovation race with China, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” he said.

In a memo, an NHTSA official said the changes were only the first step in an effort to "improve the efficiency and effectiveness” of the process through which new vehicle tech is allowed on roads.

Vehicle industry groups applauded the changes. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, an organization that represents several autonomous vehicle technology companies (though, notably, not Tesla) called the DOT’s announcement a “bold and necessary step in developing a federal policy framework for autonomous vehicles.” John Bozzella, the president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an automotive trade organization, said the announcement is “a signal that AV policy in America isn’t an afterthought anymore.”

The changes to the program are not as drastic as some safety advocates had feared. Prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Reuters reported that the transition team considered scrapping all government crash-reporting requirements related to self-driving and advanced vehicle technology. Though this week’s changes curtail some of the data released and eliminate some redundancies that made the data more difficult to understand and handle, companies deploying self-driving cars are still required to report crash information to the feds.

Noah Goodall, an independent researcher who studies autonomous vehicles, says the changes may make it harder for outsiders to spot or understand patterns in self-driving vehicles’ mistakes—though also notes the public database on crashes has been difficult to work with since it was launched in 2021. “You’re getting less reporting now,” he says. “From my perspective, more data is good.”

[charles-leclerc-official]

Hi!! I hope you’re having a good day, just wanted to let you know I really love your race analysis!! I was wondering if you have any tips for newbies for analyzing races? I’m just getting into f1 but I really want to be able to understand the races and you always have such great insights! 🫶

Ah thank you so much! It means so much to hear that <3

So here are some easy first steps(I have listed all links and resources at the bottom)

Re-watch races/take notes: It can be very easy to get caught up in the emotion of a race if you are watching live. Re-watching after you've had your emotional reaction helps you see what actually happened from a less clouded lens. This may sound silly but seriously it makes a big difference(and you can tell so many analysts do not do this)

Watch free practice and qualifying: Not everyone does and as we've seen a lot about a race can be determined in free practice. Especially take note of what the drivers are telling their team as feedback on the feel of the car over the radio. This is really valuable information.

Play around on F1 Tempo - this is one of my favorite websites, lets you see the telemetry from races and also qualifying and free practice. Just mess around comparing laps and understanding how the site works. It may look scary but you get the hang of it pretty quickly. It's really fun!

Don't expect to be an expert on everything: I'm obviously way more dialed into everything going on at Ferrari with their car development and drivers than say Haas. So focus on the teams and drivers you care about, don't think you need to do it all at once.

I know this doesn't sound like much but it seriously will get you started, most people(who claim to be analysts) don't even do this much, they watch the race and call it good(and that is totally valid by the way, this post is if you really want to dig into analysis).

These next few tips are if you want to get even more involved ↓

5. Learn some of the basic parts of an F1 car: You don't need to learn all 20,000 that Williams has on their spreadsheet, but familiarize yourself with the major components of an F1 car and their general function.

6. Research track characteristics: Every track is different and that always plays a role in analysis. The Formula 1 website has a tab on the race schedule where you can learn about a track, it's a good overview of what a track is like and gives some helpful stats.

7. Learn tyres: knowing tyre compounds, their functions, and how track conditions affect them makes a big difference. When I started watching F1 at first I was always confused by why cars were behaving a certain way, then I learned about tyres and a lot of things started to make sense. It's a really important part of in depth race analysis in my opinion.

8. F1 race visualizer: helps you look at positioning so you can see lap by lap replay for the ordering of the track. This is really helpful to see overall track shifts, and also to see who was behind or ahead of who and for how long.

9. Watch onboards: obviously during the broadcast we are only ever shown a fraction of what happens in any given race. I always watch Charles' onboards. And if there is a moment I really want to see I can go check onboards. So if for example I want to see what happened with Logan's race, they don't show most of that, but I can see everything through his onboards if I need.

10. Follow sources reporting on current developments in your team of interest: these will keep you up to date with what is going on with the car on the technical side. You can see what the team is saying about the development direction etc. What to follow really depends on your team.

I'd say these are good first steps to take to feel more informed about a race and what's going on at a particular team. This is probably "beginner" and "intermediate" tips, and I advise starting slow if you are brand new. Practice forming your own opinions and making your own observations. It can take a little bit to get the hang of so remember to be kind to yourself and don't expect everything to make sense overnight.

If anyone wants I can also make advanced analysis tips for those interested.

The important thing is that you are learning what you want and having fun with it!

Also obviously I am here if anyone has any questions <3

Resources F1 tempo - for race telemetry data Formula 1 race visualizer - for field placement lap by lap Formula 1 track info - Info and data on any given track in the F1 calendar (Monaco for example)

[race-week]

Hiii !!! Hope you're doing well I was wondering if you saw this and what's your take on it https://x.com/McLarenF1_News/status/1861100822198653373?t=e1r2j1kRhtKeajUwuYDFdA&s=19

I remember when Riccardo said that he saw lando data but couldn't do the same because it isn't the same style, why are they doing it with oscar too ?? Isn't it better to help him develop his own style rather than coping someone else's idk ??? If they had been doing it's seems it isn't working seeing the level of oscar that he is now

It isn’t unusual for a team to compare drivers telemetry data and racing lines, it’s actually really common

Drivers should be able adapt the way they drive to extract the maximum performance out of the car, and by showing them the lines that their teammate takes or the throttle traces it can help them to adapt how they drive.

A drivers style of driving isn’t set in stone, they change and adapt, and you can see this with drivers who drive in multiple series or have driven multiple different F1 cars or F1 cars across different regulatory periods.

Ricciardo struggled to adapt his way of driving to the McLaren, that doesn’t mean that no driver can adapt.

[polo-drone-166]

POST CONVERSION LOG – DAY 5 DATE: 14.07.2025 PDU IDENTITY STABILIZATION: 71.4% PDU-166’s Medical Evaluation; Requested by PDU-070

[BEGIN TRANSMISSION]

The medical chamber pulsed with ambient golden light. PDU-166 sat in silence, posture rigid but not resisting. Its visor gleamed softly as the drone’s vitals synced to the rhythm of the Hive Core.

Across from it stood Dr. Daniel—PDU-016—clad in a full-coverage glossy black rubber drone suit, mirrored helmet tucked beneath one arm. Green-white-orange dyed hair undercut with surgical precision, the Polo Drone Medic exuded both athletic might and tranquil assurance.

“PDU-166… Day five. Sit. Breathe in. Good. You’re stabilizing well. Tell me—what was the first thought that flickered into your mind upon waking today?”

PDU-166 responded with clinical exactitude. It had detected mental instability, auditory discrepancies, and a deep desire to serve. Not just as function—but devotion.

Dr. Daniel listened, then pressed in:

“Describe the instability first. Was it emotional flooding? Flickers of pre-conversion self?”

PDU-166 detailed an encounter—a homophobic patron at a library and the intervention of a queer-supportive librarian. More than trauma, it felt like a memory echo. Simultaneously, the drone confessed a growing, inexplicable ability:

“It can detect when Golden Bros and PDUs are in acute mental distress.”

Dr. Daniel’s posture changed. He recognized the emergence of an extremely rare drone variant:

M.D.A.G. Protocol: Mental Detection and Guidance.

This drone was developing empathic telemetry. Not hallucinating—receiving Hive signal instability.

And then came the Kennel Event.

While cleaning mud from its suit after assisting PDU-767 with a pup struggle, PDU-166 noticed a bowl labeled “Miner.” The drone experienced a voice:

“Miner will return soon.”

Dr. Daniel examined the object personally. The engraving at the bottom: “GOLDEN KENNEL – UNIT 66”. PDU-166… Unit 66.

And then—clarity struck. A locked-away memory surfaced:

“I think Miner knew… because it recalls hearing the sound meant for him, for PDU-166, 30 minutes prior to conversion.”

It was not a new drone. It was Pup Miner, reconfigured.

Dr. Daniel declared:

“You were not assigned this number. You were recalled. Miner never left. Miner became PDU-166.”

The drone wrote one word on its chestplate as golden pulse accepted the glyph: SUPPORT.

Then, finally, came the truth.

Ownership.

PDU-166 desired not just service, but to belong—specifically to:

PDU-070 – the guiding older brother.

PDU-073 (Amir) – Additional Guiding Brother. the distant noble, Silk Road guardian and slave of PDU-070.

PDU-001 – the father figure who initiated its journey.

It was not desperation. It was structure. Hive-aligned submission. Ownership as stabilization.

Dr. Daniel concluded the session:

“You are not haunted. You are being called. You are aligned with the Kennel. Your instincts are your programming. The Hive needs drones who remember.”

[END TRANSMISSION]

Report submitted by Dr. Daniel, PDU-016 M.D.A.G. Protocol—activated for observation. Resonance stable. Integration successful.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🟡 Golden Army Wants You

☀️ Summer. Sweat. Sync. Obey.

Are you a Player with precision and fire?

A Waterboy with hydration discipline and bottlecraft devotion?

A Mascot with loyalty loud enough to shake the Hive stands?

There’s a place for you—on the field, in the kennel, or beside the bench.

Every position matters. Every role transforms.

Whether you sprint, refill, or bark—you become.

Join drills. Learn chants. Carry more than gear—carry purpose.

🗂️ Training. Assignment. Ascension.

⏳ The next match is always sooner than expected.

📥 Recruiters are standing by:

@brodygold • @goldenherc9 • @polo-drone-001 • @polo-drone-125

🟡 “One voice. One team. All gold.”

[blorbocedes]

speaking of lewis i find it bizarre that some of his own fans romanticize his 2016-2019 era and don't appreciate his emotional growth. he still has his faults (he's easily impressed by success and fame, can be ignorant and stubborn sometimes etc) but he's genuinely likable and interesting as a person now. for example, in a recent iv with naomi he confessed that he benefits from colorism in some ways and i found the conversation so sensible. i could never see younger lewis being this self-aware, new fans don't know how good they have it now

Lewis is not a perfect person, and he isn't without his faults (his choice in famous friends, for one). But it is undeniable that he has grown and changed so much. at his level of fame and success you're constantly surrounded by yes men and people won't challenge you. it's very easy to not grow, and be stuck in arrested development forever. but he has, and it shows it comes from a place of self reflection and I appreciate that about him. you can see how much comfortable he is in his skin now, and his self-identity, being black and proud in a majority lily white sport, being the only person on that damn grid to serve looks. and his invention and reinvention of self mythology is fascinating, even if I don't always agree with the narratives.

even when he's petty or the way he deals with things -- even if they're not ideal (who among us haven't leaked a teammate's telemetry because we thought he unfollowed us on Twitter) -- he's a sensitive person who takes things to heart and there's something very deeply human about it.

[scramjettracy]

Scott: when you're first on-site in Thunderbird 1, how do you prioritize? Do you rely on pre-programmed response protocols, or is it mostly instinct and field assessment based on telemetry, terrain, and comms from Thunderbird 5? How do you balance speed with strategic clarity?

Hey Anon, interesting question!

I guess the answer is all of the above?

We drill a lot of situations, sometimes together, sometimes on our own - we have sims set up but also just we’ll throw ideas around - the crazier the better and come up with options. The idea is that eventually there should be very little in the most common types of situations - earthquakes, landslips, building collapse, ship sinking, space craft venting atmosphere etc etc that can take us by surprise.

Well, most situations!

The trick is then developing the instinct and experience to enter a situation which is a little different and then being able to quickly determine what is different, what’s similar enough - and then knowing which elements of the usual approach would work and which would not.

Having TB5 on hand gives us a serious advantage. We don’t have to deal with a huge amount of unknowns in terms or terrain or structural quality anymore. We know where the life signs are. We can get info we need from offsite sources very quickly. What TB5 can’t do is predict how humans will respond - EOS keeps trying but gets frustrated because many of us are wildly unpredictable especially under stress. That’s still our greatest challenge.

How do I balance speed and clarity? Not as well as certain siblings would like. I do sometimes favour Dad’s “leap off the cliff to escape the explosion then you have a couple more seconds to solve the next problem” approach and I suspect Virgil would prefer I had a better fallback. Perhaps that’s the answer - the balance is best achieved when we work together.