Quick snippets, quotes, links, un-strucured posts, quick ideas or comments, things I like quickly but probably won’t use again, news about security or clourd that I see important and more random stuff

August - Everything I Learned

Previously:

The Japanese word “Kara”

  • 🎶 Karaoke (カラオケ) = “Empty orchestra” → singing over instrumentals.
  • 🥋 Kara-uke (空受け) = “Empty block” → defense with calmness, no force.
  • 🥋 Karate (空手) = “Empty hand” → martial art of unarmed combat.

Salman Rushdie reads from Edward Said’s After the Last Sky book

Salman Rushdie reads from Edward Said’s After the Last Sky, a book about how Palestinian identity is lived through repetition and shared codes. One striking example is a letter from a self-proclaimed Palestinian karate champion, using karate as proof of belonging. Said notes that such repetition—being a “Palestinian karate expert” becomes a way of insisting on existence. At the same time, he shows how this identity is invaded by outside definitions and how women’s voices are often left out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf0J9KlHank

Bus telolek - The horn DJs - Indonesian underrated djs

I learned about the bus telolet culture in Indonesia, where kids gather along highways shouting “Om Telolet Om!” (which means “Sir, honk the horn!”) to passing bus drivers. In response, the drivers play their custom multi-tone horns, called telolet, which create melodic and often playful rhythms instead of simple honks. This was a roadside game but niow became a viral internet sensation since 2016, even inspiring famous DJs to sample the sound in their tracks. Today, it’s still alive, especially with tourism buses, showing how something as ordinary as a bus horn can turn into a joyful cultural phenomenon.

NIST Finalizes ‘Lightweight Cryptography’ Standard to Protect Small Devices

Traditional algorithms like AES or SHA-256 are too resource-intensive for many small devices. The new standard offers efficient, compact, and secure cryptography. It’s designed to resist side-channel attacks. The standard is built around a group of cryptographic algorithms in the Ascon family. Ascon was developed in 2014 by a team of cryptographers from Graz University of Technology, Infineon Technologies, and Radboud University.

Algorithm Function Key Benefit
ASCON-128 AEAD Encrypt + Authenticate Efficient, side-channel resistant AEAD
ASCON-Hash 256 Fixed-size hash digest Lightweight integrity checks
ASCON-XOF 128 Variable-length hash output Tailored performance vs. security
ASCON-CXOF 128 Labeled XOF for domain separation Collision-resistant across devices

Banana peel for plants

You can chop up a banana peel, leave it in a jar of water overnight, and then use that water (not the peels) to waqter your plants. This can repeat about once a month. This works because banana peels contains nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium into the water, which support strong roots, and better flowering. It’s a natural fertilizer, but it’s best not to overdo it since too much can cause mold or disturb the balance of the soil.

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Foundational concepts of Karate

Foundational concepts of Karate-Do, integrating technique and spirit. A summary from the books:

  • Dynamic Karate by Masatoshi Nakayama
  • Karate Basic Principles by Paul Kuttner
  • Karate Budo The Endless Search for Absolute Kime by Gilles Lavigne
  • Karate Technique Spirit by Nakamura Tadashi

Karate’s story goes way back to the 6th century BCE. The monk Daruma (Bodhidharma) brought meditation and martial practices from India into China. That mix of physical training and Zen thinking shaped what would later become the backbone of many martial arts. By the Tang Dynasty, Shaolin monks had made martial arts central, and Japan was already borrowing a lot from Chinese culture, including fighting systems. Some people even suggest karate might have roots in ancient Greece before Daruma, but honestly, those theories are pretty weak.

During Japan’s feudal era, the emperor’s power faded and the warriors took over. By 1192, Yoritomo became the first Shogun, and Japan entered centuries where the sword ruled. Meanwhile, in Okinawa, weapons were banned. With no swords to rely on, people turned farm tools into weapons and developed a hidden empty-hand system called Okinawa-te. That was the real seed of karate. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Okinawan masters like Matsumora Kosaku and Higashionna Kanryo refined these methods, blending them with Chinese Quanfa. Later, Itosu Anko simplified karate, brought it into schools, and created the first real curriculum. His student, Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957), carried karate to mainland Japan, renamed it Karate-Do (Way of the Empty Hand), and shifted the focus beyond fighting to include discipline and character.

In the 20th century, karate spread quickly. The uniform and belt system came from Jigoro Kano’s Judo, and soon karate schools everywhere were adopting them. Different styles branched out — Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, Kyokushin. Each with its own flavor. By the 1950s and 60s, Japanese masters were bringing karate overseas, especially to the U.S., where it exploded through dojos, tournaments, and eventually movies. Since then, karate has grown into both a sport and a way of life. Some people chase medals, others go deep into kata and philosophy. Leaders like Tadashi Nakamura (Seido Karate) and researchers like Helmut Kogel and Tetsuhiro Hokama have pushed karate forward, making sure it evolves without losing its spirit.

  1. Karate-Do: Way of Life and Self-Actualisation: “Do” = path of self-actualisation; integration of body, mind, spirit / cultivates whole person, not just combat / Aim: physical, spiritual, and mental perfection / influenced by samurai ethics, Zen, Bushido / Lifelong study and self-discovery

  2. Unity of Mind, Body, Spirit (Shin Gi Tai): Physical: Strength, stamina, biomechanics, expansion or contraction / Mental: Focus, awareness, strategies, emotional control / Spiritual: Character, humility, Zen-based self-discovery

  3. Kime (Focus & Decision): Definition: Complete focus in technique execution / Physical: Muscle contraction, alignment, timing, breathing / Mental: Precision, coordination, tactical awareness (Maai, Hyoshi, Yomi) / Spiritual: Willpower, commitment, present-moment energy

  4. Stances (Dachi): Purpose: Stable, adaptable base for techniques and movement / Key Aspects: Weight distribution, hip/knee alignment, dynamic transitions / Examples: Zenkutsu, Kiba, Kokutsu, Sanchin, Heiko, Neko Ashi, Fudo, etc.

  5. Breathing (Kokyu) & Hara/Tanden: Importance: Core of power, timing, and control / Technique: Tanden-based breathing, Ibuki, pulse breathing, IAP / Spirit: Breath as unifier of body-mind-spirit; Zen/Taoist/Buddhist methods

  6. Kata (Forms) & Bunkai (Applications): Kata: Choreographed sequences, essence of training / Technique: Strikes, blocks, conditioning, bunkai/oyo, kyusho, tuite / Spirit: Vehicle for calmness, harmony, “moving Zen”, mushin, zanshin

  7. Kumite (Sparring) & Self-Defense: Purpose: Practical application, real-world readiness / Technique: Distance, timing, offense/defense, SSE sequence / Spirit: Self-mastery, non-violence, awareness, fighting spirit

  8. Etiquette & Character: Courtesy: Bowing, uniform, respect, humility / Core: Respect, sincerity, self-control, ethical behavior / Principles: Omoiyari, Ko Gaku Shin, Fu Gen Jikko, Heijo Shin, etc.

  9. Balance (Kuzushi) & Movement (Unsoku/Tai Sabaki): Kuzushi: Breaking balance (static, dynamic, mental, subtle) / Movement: Footwork, body shifts, rhythm (Hyoshi), hidden timing

  10. Origins & Philosophical Influences: Okinawan roots, Chinese boxing, Bubishi text / Masters: Funakoshi, Miyagi → beyond combat / Zen & Bushido influence; “Moving Zen” / Perennial philosophy: matter → spirit continuum / Chakras/Kundalini energy model / Mantras/Kototamas: spiritual sounds for energy

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July - Everything I Learned

Previously:

Elixir is actually great

I keep learning that Elixir is actually great.

The BEAM (Bogdan/Björn’s Erlang Abstract Machine), the virtual machine that runs Erlang and Elixir, has native support for hot code upgrades, which is already a great feature.
This is a known fact. What I’ve recently learned is that BEAM can keep two versions of a module loaded at the same time.

Importance of the R.I.C.E. protocol

After twisting my ankle during karate training, I once again realized the importance of the R.I.C.E. protocol.

  • Rest – no weight on the injured area for a minimum of 72 hours, ideally a week.
  • Ice – ice pack covered with a cloth, 15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours during the first 24–48 hours.
  • Compression – elastic medical band, not too tight. If the area turns blue, stop immediately.
  • Elevation – elevate above heart level.

On top of this, supplements are important for a good recovery.
A sufficient amount of protein, 3g of creatine daily (or continue your usual dose if you’re already taking supplements), omega-3, vitamin C (double the daily recommended dose), magnesium (double the daily recommended dose), plenty of water, and collagen from any source.
This combo helps with proper recovery of the injured area.

After the 5th day, I started applying hot packs instead of ice packs. This helps circulate blood in the tiny vessels.

These are just parts of the recovery process. The first step should always be an ultrasound and/or x-ray to understand the extent of the injury.

Luxembourg has its own language – Luxembourgish

I didn’t know Luxembourgish is classified as a language. It’s indeed all about political borders. Some say “Limburgisch” is a German dialect, which is what I thought too. It sounds exactly like what you’d expect from its location—a mix of German and French.

I also learned that, unlike many European languages that have a direct word for “please” (like bitte in German), Luxembourgish doesn’t have a single standalone word for it. Instead, they use formal sentences and tones, with the phrase “wann ech gelift.” This literally means “If I may” or “if you please.” In a way, this is their version of “please.”

I find it similar to French. French has s’il vous plaît, which also literally means “if you please,” but is generally translated directly as “please.”
“wann ech gelift” can also be abbreviated as “w.e.g.” and, as far as I understand, even pronounced that way.

The City of London

The City of London, often called “the Square Mile,” holds a unique legal status as a self-governing entity distinct from the rest of Greater London. Its roots trace back to Anglo-Saxon times, with its own ancient government, the City of London Corporation, headed by the Lord Mayor of London. Unlike other boroughs, it maintains its own police force, the City of London Police, and possesses special historical privileges and financial autonomy, stemming from its long-standing role as a global financial center.

The City of London’s unique status greatly benefits the banking industry by creating a specialized, concentrated financial hub. Banks have a direct voice in local governance, and the unparalleled concentration of financial firms, legal services, and talent fosters collaboration and efficiency. A robust legal system provides stability and a secure environment for complex transactions, while the City itself actively promotes London as a global financial leader.

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June - Everything I Learned

A new series I hope to keep monthly. Just a simple note of everything I learned whether trivial or significant.

Gleam vs Elixir

Wiki says:

Gleam is a general-purpose, concurrent, functional high-level programming language that compiles to Erlang or JavaScript source code.

Gleam is a statically-typed language, which is different from the most popular languages that run on Erlang’s virtual machine BEAM, Erlang and Elixir. Gleam has its own type-safe implementation of OTP, Erlang’s actor framework. Packages are provided using the Hex package manager, and an index for finding packages written for Gleam is available.

So what I understand is Elixir users can easily use Gleam but why. That’s why I have learned:

Gleam and Elixir are both languages that run on the Erlang VM (BEAM), but they primarily different in their type systems and designs. Gleam is statically typed, meaning types are checked at compile time, which helps catch errors early and ensures predictability. It favors simplicity and performance, with a syntax inspired by ML-style languages. For example, a Gleam function looks like:

fn add(x: Int, y: Int) -> Int {
  x + y
}

Elixir, on the other hand, is **dynamically typed ** and focuses on developer productivity, expressiveness, and fault tolerance. It allows for powerful metaprogramming and a flexible development style. While it supports optional type specs, type checking happens at runtime unless explicitly enforced. An equivalent function in Elixir would be:

def add(x, y), do: x + y

Natural Greenfly Remedy: Milk Spray

A surprisingly effective natural solution: mix 1 part milk with 8 parts water and spray it generously on greenfly-infested plants.

Make sure to cover both sides of the leaves, especially the underside.

My father recommended this, advising to apply it only when there’s no direct sunlight. I was skeptical, but it worked amazingly well.

I had to repeat the treatment a few times to eliminate newly hatched greenflies from previously laid eggs.

Lavender Oil vs. Mosquitos

Lavender oil seems to repel mosquitos—at least the European kind—and smells pleasant during hot summer days. It also gives a refreshing feeling. I’m unsure about its safety on facial skin, so apply cautiously.

116116 – Emergency Blocking Hotline in Germany

In Germany, 116116 is the central number to block all your bank cards, SIM cards, and digital ID in case of theft or loss. Works fast.

Free SIM Card Replacement

Lost or stolen SIM in Germany? If you don’t have the PIN/PUK and the card doesn’t function, most providers will replace it for free. If it’s functional, they may charge a small fee.

Key Cylinder Replacement Takes Time

If a master key for an apartment building (e.g., 8 flats) gets stolen, replacing all key cylinders takes at least 6 week; even if it’s urgent.
I have also learned that changing a basic cylinder lock yourself isn’t that difficult. It only takes 5 minutes if you have screwdriver and the replacement cylinder.

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[music] Berlin -> Ankara roadtrip: Shazamed from the radio on the way

Songs I loved from the radio and Shazamed along the way: Berlin <-> Győr - Hungary <-> Niš - Serbia <-> Edirne, Çanakkale, İzmir, Denizli, Bolu, Ereğli, Ankara - Türkiye

  • 6 Days - Mahmut Orhan & Colonel Bagshot
  • Sweet Nothin’s - Brenda Lee
  • Sunshine, Lollipos And Rainbows - Lesley Gore
  • Siesta - Ivana Pandurovic
  • Sarà Perché Ti Amo - Ricchi & Poveri
  • Tsarka Me to Trechantiri - Nasia Konitopoulou
  • To Pollaplo Sou Eidolo - Heimerino Kolymvites
  • Vraho Vraho Ton Kaimo Mou - Stelios Kazantzides & Marinella
  • Girizo Tis Plates Mou Sto Melon - Dionisis Tsaknis
  • Kevser Irmağı - Özlem Özdil
  • Al Birini Vur Birine - Eda Alakuş
  • Hafız - Deniz Toprak
  • Sen Bana Lazımsın - İbrahim Erkal
  • Fariğ olmam eylesen yüz bin cefa, sevdim seni - Ayangil Turkish Music Orchestra and Chorus
  • Society - Eddie Vedder
  • Monarch - Soen
  • Vay Türkmenim - Çubuklu Cem
  • Szél úgy beszél … (feat. Szirota Jennifer) - Gypo Circus
  • Mamma Maria - György Korda & Klári Balázs
  • Kafal sviri - Folk Choir Of The Philip Koutev School Of Folk Arts KESERÉDES - Pély Barna
  • Madaram - Szimplán
  • Utazás az ismeretlenbe - Tátrai Band
  • Zakatol A Vonat - Takats Tamas Dirty Blues Band
  • Moziklip - V’Moto-Rock
  • Álomtégla - Subscribe
  • Mi Vagyunk a Rock - Edda Müvek
  • Sous Le Ciel De Paris - Juliette Gréco
  • Falname - Mercan Dede
  • Ta Ladadika - Dimitris Mitropanos
  • Sen ve Ben - Mazhar Fuat Özkan

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[book] Hegel readings

I am surrounded by Hegel readers. I made a list for myself in this order:

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Books to review and read again

Books that I decided to read again and review

  • Seeking SRE by Blank-Edelman
  • The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim and others
  • Against Method by Paul Feyerabend
  • Modern Science & Anarchy by Peter Kropotkin
  • A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout

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A strong start to Elixir

I’ve decided to start learning and using Elixir.

My current palylist to getting started is:

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[music] Origins of Gnawa Music

I’ve been listening Tuareg and Gnawa music too much lately. This article got my attention Constructing a Diasporic Identity: Tracing the Origins of the Gnawa Spiritual Group in Morocco

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[book] Books by James Lovelock

Planning to read the 2 books. One from early days of James Lovelock. A bit optimistic or not dark the new one is totally opposite. Between two there were 2 other books related to this topic.

  • Gaia, a new look at life on earth
  • The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning: Enjoy It While You Can

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[infosec] Public Pen Testing Reports

Last update is a week ago and the repo has 4.7K stars https://github.com/juliocesarfort/public-pentesting-reports

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[open-science] Sci-Hub Mirrors

Sci-Hub mirrors : https://sci-hub.41610.org/sci-hub-mirrors

Most recent list

  • https://sci-hub.cc
  • https://sci-hub.se
  • https://sci-hub.st
  • https://sci-hub.se
  • https://sci-hub.do
  • https://sci-hub.it.nf
  • https://sci-hub.es.ht
  • https://sci-hub.im
  • https://sci-hub.se
  • http://sci-hub.tw
  • http://sci-hub.si
  • http://sci-hub.vk

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[security] Cybersecurity experts on Twitter

Top 21 cybersecurity experts you must follow on Twitter in 2021 via Security Boulevard

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[music] Eight of the archetypal forms of dance music

Bruce Aisher explores eight of the archetypal forms of dance music bassline, from old-school classics to contemporary techniques.

link

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[books] SRE related books I recently read and liked

1. Cloud Native Transformation, by P. Reznik, J. Dobson, M. Gienow 2019 - via O’Reilly

I do recommend to everybody who are working with Cloud, especially to consultants. Free via container-solutions.com

2. Security Warrior, by Cyrus Peikari, Anton Chuvakin 2004 - via O’Reilly

This book reveals how your systems can be attacked.

3. The Phoenix Project, Gene Kim et al. 2013 - via O’Reilly

A triller for SREs and CTOs

4. The Unicorn Project, by Gene Kim - via O’Reilly

It is again a nice novel about digital transformation developers and all kind of issues related with these two. A part II for the Phoenix Project

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[software] Raycast (Free and light Alfred alternative)

Better than Alfred for Mac. Ligt, fast and productivity booster

Raycast lets you control your tools with a few keystrokes. It’s designed to keep you focused.

raycast.com

Best part is the custom script part: github.com/raycast/script-commands/tree/master/commands

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[software] Semantic diffs

diffsitter - A tree-sitter based AST difftool to get meaningful semantic diffs

See it in action

diffsitter performs diffs on text files using the AST to compute the diff instead of using a naive text-based diff. This can give you more semantically meaningful diff information, which will prevent diffs from getting polluted by formatting differences, for example.

diffstter uses the parsers from the tree-sitter project to parse source code. As such, the languages supported by this tool are limited by the languages supported by the tree-sitter project.

A prefect diff tool shows the difference of two files semantically. It is unfortunately only for Rust language but it is very inspiring.

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[music] Dario Fo, Italian popular songs and 1966

One of Dario’s early work “Canzonissima” is featured satirical songs and sketches depicting the lives of the working classes under the pressure of politics, industrialisation and economics. It’s often censored.

This is a nice example of his works, a play for the TV: Ci Ragiono E Canto

I liked the acting so much the play but also the music. So I continued listeing other records for other plays by Dario: The New Italian Canzoniere - Ci Ragiono E Canto 2 (Dario Fo 1966)

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[paper] The Racist Critics of Ataturk and Kemalism, from the 1930s to the 1960s

Full paper - PDF

This article examines racist attitudes toward Atatu¨rk and Kemalism from the 1930s to the 1960s. Liberal, leftist and conservative-Islamist critics of republican Turkey’s founder and his policies have contributed to a widely shared image that, even if Kemalism was not essentially racist, the Kemalist approach to religious and ethnic minorities could hardly be described as egalitarian. Thus one is taken by surprise to uncover a parallel layer of virulent racist criticism, hidden under the deposit of decades of anti-Kemalist discourse

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[Movie] Recently loved shorts

I follow “Dust” Youtube channel to watch curated short movies (mostly sci-fi but not only).

My recent favourite and discovery was “Macabre” in horror category. It was a realistic but disturbing taste. Multiple different historical and philosophical signs are included.

Strongly recommended : youtube.com/watch?v=Ywn-hWPCJ3Y

K just crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a tree, moments after trying to avoid running down a small wild animal that ran across his path. He is on a backwater road in the countryside and it’s a very dark night. His evening has only just begun... “Macabre” by Jerónimo Rocha and João Miguel Real

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[Music] The Routes of Slavery

I recently discovered this album “The Routes of Slavery” by Jordi Saval. It is more like a project.

Many different artists contributed. It’s a multilinugual album. The booklet and the details fo the project is published during a live event PDF

The album is on Spotify and Youtube

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[paper] Dialectical Logic and Boolean Algebra - Yaozhi Jiang

Full paper - PDF

Dialectical logic was founded by German famous philosopher F. Hegel, but it has not been laid on mathematics for a long time. In this paper author explains the dialectical logic pure mathematically, and shows that the classic formal logic, its mathematical expression is Boolean algebra(includes multiple value system), is a special case from dialectical logic, and the true-valued function for dialectical logic is a continuous function valued on closed interval and defined on time-space axes system. The Aristotle three laws of formal logic are expanded into expression of dialectical logic, and Russell paradox is expanded into the case of multiple order. Some new theorems for Boolean operators and the matrix expression for De Morgan’s theorem of multiple variables dialectical logic are given. At the end of the paper, linear or nonlinear dialectical logic are defined and analysis properties of dialectical logic true-valued function are pointed.

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[paper] Heavy Metal in a Muslim Context - Pierre Hecker

Heavy Metal in a Muslim Context - Pierre Hecker Full paper - PDF

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[paper] A paper by Google: Why container Security matters?

Understanding the container security concepts that impact your organization

Full paper - PDF

TLDR;

Scream these to your developer team:

  • Don’t let the shipping container imagery fool you; containers are not a special security boundary
  • Containers use primitives of the Linux kernel (cgroups, namespaces) toisolate processes in an environment
  • A “container image” is your application and its dependencies, and uses a “base image”as the basis for thecontainer image
  • Container registries host your container images. It’s important that you be able to trust your base and container images, and that you use a private, trusted registry

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