Van stopcontact tot bestuursbesluit
Digitale soevereiniteit begint niet in de cloud, maar onder je bureau
Ergens in een overheidsgebouw zit een vergaderzaal met te dure stoelen, lauwe koffie en een scherm waarop het woord cloudstrategie staat.
Aan tafel zitten mensen die verstand hebben van processen, gegevensstromen, governance, risico’s en aanbestedingen. Iemand vraagt of de data wel in Europa staat. Iemand anders zegt iets over compliance. Er valt een afkorting. Waarschijnlijk drie.
Beneden, of misschien gewoon twee verdiepingen verderop, kruipt iemand onder een bureau om een stekker te volgen.
New 3D Printer
Eerste ervaringen met de Creality K2 Pro Combo
Na jaren werken met zelfbouw-CNC’s en oudere 3D-printers voelt de Creality K2 Pro Combo bijna onwennig: de printer doet vooral gewoon wat hij moet doen. Waar we gewend waren aan veel afstellen, testen, aanpassen en daarna “produce-and-pray”, is dit duidelijk een veel volwassener systeem.
De eerste grote modellen kwamen direct goed van de plaat en zaten netjes binnen de verwachte maatvoering. Ook de CFS-filamentwisselaar werkt verrassend vanzelfsprekend: meerdere rollen erin, in de slicer de juiste kleuren/sloten kiezen, en de printer regelt de wissels automatisch via één filamentpad.
The IoT Programming Debacle: A Tale of Forked Libraries and Broken Dreams
Ah, the dream of IoT programming! You start with a simple idea—maybe a smart sensor, a connected coffee machine, or a light switch that dims based on your mood. But then reality slaps you in the face like a poorly calibrated robotic arm. What should be a straightforward coding experience quickly turns into a tangled mess of broken libraries, cryptic errors, and existential doubt.
The Curse of the Forked Library
Zwoegen voor Zwemmen: De Zoektocht naar een zwemlocatie
1. Is het donderdagavond?
🔲 Ja → Ga naar vraag 2.
🔲 Nee → 🎉 Geluk gehad! Je mag blijven zitten.2. Is het water warmer dan een gemiddeld glas kraanwater?
🔲 Ja → Ga naar vraag 3.
🔲 Nee → Mompel iets over “koude rillingen en onderkoelingsgevaar” en overleg met je partner. Kans op vrijstelling: 50%.3. Is de zwemlocatie bereikbaar zonder een complete dagreis?
🔲 Ja → Ga naar vraag 4.
🔲 Nee → Wijs subtiel op de brandstofprijzen, de lange reistijd en de impact op je energiehuishouding. Partner overtuigd? → ❌ Nee: Ga toch maar zwemmen. ✅ Ja: Blijf lekker thuis.From Cigarettes to Candy Bars: How Big Tobacco Hooked Us on Junk Food
In the 1980s and 1990s, major tobacco companies like Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds diversified into the food industry, acquiring brands such as Kraft, General Foods, Nabisco, and Hawaiian Punch. This strategic move allowed them to apply their expertise in creating addictive products to the food sector, leading to the proliferation of hyper-palatable foods—items engineered with high levels of sugar, fat, and salt to enhance taste and encourage overconsumption.
Ultra-Processed People: Dr. Chris van Tulleken’s Eye-Opening Exposé on What’s Really in Our Food
In his new book, Ultra-Processed People, Dr. Chris van Tulleken—the renowned infectious diseases doctor and BBC broadcaster—delves into a global issue that’s both insidious and deeply personal: ultra-processed food (UPF). From his years of medical training at Oxford to his groundbreaking research on corporate influence over child nutrition, van Tulleken has long been fascinated by the ways industries shape human health. And in Ultra-Processed People, he explores how UPF is damaging not only our bodies but also our planet.
AG1 – The Rise, the Hype, and the Untold Story of Its Founder
If you’ve listened to just about any podcast lately, you’ve probably heard about a certain green smoothie powder that claims to be a one-stop shop for all your nutrient needs. AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens) has taken the wellness world by storm, backed by some of the most recognizable names in science communication—think Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia, and just about every wellness influencer with an affiliate link. It promises simplicity: one scoop, one drink, all your vitamins, minerals, and more. For $3 a day, it’s marketed as an easy, delicious solution to fill any nutrient gaps in your diet.
The Hidden Truth Behind Processed Meat: Why Is Ham Pink and What Aren’t They Telling Us?
We see it everywhere: bright pink ham slices, perfectly packaged, marketed as a safe and tasty snack for kids and adults alike. But how did we end up believing that processed meats are healthy or even necessary? And what’s behind that appealing pink color? A recent investigation uncovers disturbing truths about the food industry, revealing how lobbying and strategic manipulation have shaped public perception—and policy—on processed meats.
Dark Calories & Toxic Oils: What’s Really Hiding in Your Food?
When it comes to what’s on our plates, there’s more going on than meets the eye. You’ve probably heard about calories, carbs, and fats, but terms like dark calories and the hidden dangers of seed oils might be less familiar. Today, we’re uncovering what these mean—and why it matters for your health.
What Are “Dark Calories”?
“Dark calories” might sound mysterious, but they’re actually pretty simple to understand. These are calories that come from food with little to no nutritional value. Think of sugary drinks, candy, chips, or highly processed snacks. They give you energy (calories), but they don’t come with essential vitamins, minerals, or nutrients that your body actually needs to function well.
Industry Playbook: Health or Hype?
The food industry knows how to play the game. Slick marketing, feel-good slogans, and carefully crafted buzzwords all create an illusion of health that’s hard to resist. Labels like “all-natural,” “low-fat,” and “organic” are thrown around liberally, but how often do we stop to question what they truly mean?
With every grocery store visit, consumers are nudged toward choices that are less about nourishment and more about padding the bottom line of corporations. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, powerful players in the food, pharma, and regulatory sectors often share a common goal: profit first, health second (or third, or fourth).
The Great Food Fraud: What the Industry Doesn't Want You to Know
If you think you’re well-informed about what’s healthy and what’s not, think again. This blog dives into a world of food fraud and industry deception—a world where the fine print is written in dollar signs rather than in truths about health. Here, you’ll find links, insights, and real-world examples of how the food industry, governments, and even pharmaceutical giants have, for decades, prioritized profit over public health.
Navigating the Skies with Laughter
Ah, flying. The act of defying gravity while confined in a metal tube hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds. It’s a marvel of modern engineering and a source of both excitement and dread for travelers worldwide. But fear not, fellow wanderers, for I, your trusty guide in all things absurd and amusing, am here to navigate you through the wild blue yonder with a dash of humor and a sprinkle of sage advice.
Japan travel links
Guide to Japan: A Silly Sojourn Through the Land of the Rising Sun
Greetings, fellow explorers of the eccentric and aficionados of the absurd! Today, we embark on a ludicrously delightful journey to Japan, a country where the traditional meets the avant-garde with the grace of a tap-dancing sumo wrestler. So, strap on your silly walks and let’s dive into the wonderfully wacky world of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Als de meeste paarden met pensioen zijn.
(“When most horses are retired.”) english
Ergens in het noorden van Nederland, waar de wind de baas is over het weidse landschap, besloot een duo, even tijdloos als de designs in hun nostalgische woonkamer, om een caravan te scoren. Niet zomaar een caravan, maar een exemplaar dat, net als zij, betere tijden had gezien. Hun trouwe vierwieler, een auto die met meer kreunen en steunen reageerde dan een bejaarde na een lange zit, was aangewezen om dit nieuwe avontuurlijke bezit over de beruchte Afsluitdijk naar huis te slepen.
Sounds Affect Your Storage Performance
Ever wondered?
Disks are packing more and more data into the same tiny real estate.
Yet, as they cram more bits and bytes into every square inch, these disks are growing more vulnerable to an unexpected foe: noise.
Turns out, today’s drives can be quite the divas when it comes to sound. Too much of it, and they start to falter—check out my other pieces for the lowdown on how inert gas used in fire suppression can wreak havoc on hard drives.
Explore how a system to protect your datacenter can cause havoc.
Imagine this: nestled in the heart of the Netherlands, a local government’s data center faces an unexpected adversary. Not fire, but the very system designed to protect against it—a stealthy, invisible force that spells doom for unsuspecting hard disks.
Enter the scene, the Inert Gas Fire Protection System—a knight in shining armor for electronics, or so it was thought. Picture a tranquil office disrupted by a calamity not of flames, but of air—silent but deadly (to hard drives, at least). Our protagonist, a set of 56 Netapp disks, stands unprepared for the chaos about to unfold.
Heat Waves and Mystery Pipes: The Datacenter's Latest Conundrum
Just when we thought our datacenter had seen it all—floods, power outages, and unexpected shutdowns—fate decided to throw us yet another curveball. This time, our adventure begins not with water, but with its absence, and the unwelcome heat it brought with it.
On a day that boasted perfect weather, making any excuse to step outside welcome, an alert from the datacenter reached the local fire department. Yes, the very same datacenter that had previously enjoyed an impromptu dousing. The issue at hand? An air conditioning unit sending out SOS signals, unable to keep the growing warmth at bay.
Good morning, this is the Fire Brigade. Just thought you'd like to know your data center's fire extinguishing system decided to throw a party without you
Oh, and we broke your door. Have a nice day!
So begins our tale of technological turbulence and unexpected pyrotechnic performances in the least likely of places: nestled within the secure, usually uneventful confines of a data center, which, in a twist that might make you snort your morning tea, was situated on fire department property.
The Day Silence Fell Over the Datacenter: A Lesson in Expectation vs. Reality
About a year after the infamous water saga that had our datacenter swimming in unexpected ways, calm had finally returned. Or so we thought. With the resilience of seasoned IT warriors, we moved on to tie up the last few loose ends. Among these was integrating the emergency power generator with our newly renovated building—a task that sounds as straightforward as a Sunday morning.
From Data Floods to Dining Showers: The Sequel No One Asked For
In the serene aftermath of our datacenter’s unexpected baptism, confidence was high. The building had been rejuvenated, our equipment upgraded. Surely, we had weathered the worst. Yet, as fate would have it, Murphy wasn’t quite done with us. Tucked neatly in his pocket was another curveball, ready to be thrown our way.
A few months down the line, just as the memory of indoor rain started to fade, the weekend peace was shattered. A distress call about a leak—this time in the restaurant, and yes, once again from the ceiling. Déjà vu? Possibly. A new adventure? Definitely.
High Above, Closer to the Edge: The Broadcast Tower Blaze and the Datacenter That Lived to Tell
You wouldn’t believe it, but as you know, misfortune never comes alone, and it seems Murphy has a firm grip on Kelvin’s laws. Did you read the story “When the Storm Hit: A Datacenter’s Battle Against Heat and Nature”? That organization had a second datacenter located in a radio/TV broadcast tower.
Choosing such a location might seem like the epitome of safety and continuity—high above any potential floodwaters and built for 24/7 operation (since these towers also transmit civil alarm messages). It sounded like the perfect spot for a secondary data center, offering optimal security.
When It Rains, It Pours: The Unexpected Deluge in Datacenter Diaries
In the world of tech, where data is the new gold, safeguarding it becomes a tale of irony and unexpected showers. Picture this: a freshly renovated building, proudly housing a new datacenter on the first floor—safe from the perils of flooding, one might presume. After all, “high and dry” is not just a state of mind when you’re above ground level, right?
When the Storm Hit: A Datacenter's Battle Against Heat and Nature
In a tale that pits technological resilience against the unpredictability of nature, our story unfolds within the confines of an organization’s primary datacenter. The saga began with what appeared to be a routine hiccup: a malfunction in the cooling system. In the world of IT, such issues are typically dispatched with swift efficiency by the building’s management team and their technical experts. The initial remedy seemed simple enough—open the doors and windows, letting the natural breeze work its magic. However, the plot thickened with the realization that crucial replacement parts were required—a challenging prospect amidst the logistical nightmares of the coronavirus pandemic.