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Tell HN: Merry Christmas

92 points - 12/24/2025


And what IT issue will you (probably) fix today?

  • vivzkestrel

    12/24/2025

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      • daemonologist

        12/24/2025

        Fixed (I think - idk what the greeblies are):

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          • vivzkestrel

            12/25/2025

            dude how did ya fix it, i thought markdown worked in the comments on HN and spent about 15 mins before giving up

              • daemonologist

                12/25/2025

                HN has some formatting syntax but not full markdown: https://news.ycombinator.com/formatdoc For your tree I added the newlines back and then used the "text after a blank line that is indented by two or more spaces is reproduced verbatim" feature.

                Merry Christmas!

        • ezekg

          12/24/2025

          I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out what this says in what I assumed was Braille, only to realize it's a badly formatted ASCII Christmas tree. :)

            • NedF

              12/24/2025

              [dead]

      • wattzee

        12/24/2025

        Does anyone here know my mother's wifi password.... because she surely doesn't ;-)

          • teknoxjon

            12/24/2025

            always check what it says on the router. she hasn't changed it from the default :P

            • franze

              12/24/2025

              the usual suspects

                - your birthday
                - your sisters birthday
                - her dogs birthday
              
              usually the third guess is correct

              • fancy_pantser

                12/24/2025

                my relatives' is always on a sticker under the AP

            • nmaleki

              12/24/2025

              Merry Christmas to you too! I'll be adding a plugin extension to Large World Coordinates in Unreal Engine inspired by Constructive Reals. It should let me use arbitrary precision, meaning I can make objects excessively small or large at distances excessively large or small in the engine.

                • nmaleki

                  12/26/2025

                  okay, that did not work as well as I hoped. TODO: full engine re-write

              • ramon156

                12/24/2025

                Merry Christmas!

                Finally got some me-time, so I hacked together a pub quiz app for a friend and me. We'll be hosting the yearly pub quiz for friends and family

                Last year I was thinking of a complex authorization mess for persistence, but I realized a team code is 100x easier. I just store everything locally, no one is smart enough to hack it (I'd be happy if they can even enter the 4 digits)

                Normally we do it on PowerPoints, but now I want to see if I can get any cool animations in pure css going :)

                • andyjohnson0

                  12/24/2025

                  Merry Christmas HN!

                  Today I've bought food and drink, prepped a nut roast to cook tomorrow, watched the sky get dark, and am now enjoying a small glass of chilled fino and a chat with my children before I wrap some gifts. I'm looking forward to a tech-light day tomorrow.

                  For another year you've been the place I've gone to for interest and enlightenment and curiosity. Thank you all, however you choose to spend this time of year.

                  • tetris11

                    12/24/2025

                    Happy Christmas! If an Uber delivery driver loses your order somehow; no he didn't.

                    If you spot someone with a trolley full of food sprinting out of the supermarket; no you didn't.

                    • hiAndrewQuinn

                      12/24/2025

                      Merry Christmas to you too! I'm fixing an issue in /etc/networking caused by a non atomic write process. Friends don't let friends copy unguarded!

                      • hiprob

                        12/24/2025

                        Ukrainian, will be celebrating it in January, but Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it today!

                        • ezekg

                          12/24/2025

                          Merry Christmas, HN! Christ is King.

                            • stuffn

                              12/24/2025

                              [flagged]

                          • joewhale

                            12/24/2025

                            Merry Christmas! I’ll be installing NextDNS profile on both my parents iPhones!

                              • Imustaskforhelp

                                12/24/2025

                                I was gonna say to install ublock origin on an Iphone but it turns out its not that simple

                                Now I searched and it seems that https://orionbrowser.com/ is available on iphones and you can install firefox extensions on it and thus ublock origin :)

                                Have an ad-free year :)

                                (Ps: I don't own an iphone and for every device, my setup is Ublock Origin + firefox/zen on android/linux/mac etc but Iphone forces its own engine so you cant install addons in firefox on Iphone but you can if you use orion which is created by kagi)

                                Edit: Oops haha forgot to say the most important thing at this time of year

                                merry christmas!

                                Edit2: Looks like orion supports ad blocking by default and in my experience it feels as good as ublock origin (I tested it on my mac on this website https://adblock-tester.com/ and got 100/100 on both zen + ubo and orion ootb

                                I am loving orion honestly too. I was writing this comment and then I was installing orion and suddenly the whole screen turned into a mini video/documentary about space for 1 minute for orion and man I really loved it.

                                I also get 200 free searches of kagi which is awesome, I have heard a lot about kagi so we will see but credit where's its due, the video was really good and its ootb ad blocking feels pretty good.

                                TLDR: try out orion browser :) (But I think you can try out brave too but honestly ubo is better / comparable than brave so you can try out both, I don't think orion's source code is available but yeah, it does have a premium feel to it.

                                Once again merry christmas! Hope it helps

                                  • Atotalnoob

                                    12/25/2025

                                    Kagi is great, but where it really shines is customization.

                                    You can up/down rank or pin/remove entire sites

                                    They have AI search, but I believe it’s opt in, you can also manually enable for a single search with a ? At the end.

                                    • deafpolygon

                                      12/24/2025

                                      I use Wipr for Safari- works great.

                              • marginalia_nu

                                12/24/2025

                                Merry Christmas, God Jul, and good tidings! May Bruce Willis find shoes that fit as Nakatomi Plaza is yet again beseiged by Severus Snape.

                                No issues.

                                • ianwinter

                                  12/24/2025

                                  Merry Christmas all! My technical fix is to try and stop a leaking pipe which so far is going very badly.

                                    • rationalist

                                      12/25/2025

                                      Did you get it yet? How is it leaking?

                                  • pajop

                                    12/25/2025

                                    Merry CHRISTmas HN! Got a super awesome CHRISTmas gift - this Kosmos run is probably saying that I found a "“Parsimonious Multi-Module Multi-Omics Stacked Classifier for Neonatal Hypothermia Neuroprotection” https://platform.edisonscientific.com/kosmos/ef0a71d0-ca4d-4...

                                    • mdavid626

                                      12/24/2025

                                      In the morning I finished figuring out how Vivotek cameras store private keys for AWS KVS streaming. They are encrypted on disk. Disassembling some executables I managed to reverse engineer the encryption keys. Apparently Vivotek things obscurity is security… With the encryption keys we can switch to a custom made solution, while reusing the same certificates as before.

                                        • notmyrealnym

                                          12/24/2025

                                          mdavid626 3 hours ago | prev | next [–]

                                          In the morning I finished figuring out

                                            how Vivotek cameras store private keys for AWS KVS streaming.
                                          
                                          They are encrypted on disk.

                                            Disassembling some executables I managed to reverse engineer the encryption keys.
                                          
                                          Apparently Vivotek things obscurity is security…

                                             With the encryption keys we can switch
                                          to a custom made solution,

                                            while reusing the same certificates as before.
                                          
                                          
                                          You go back, Jack. Do it again.

                                          World spinning round and round.

                                          • halJordan

                                            12/24/2025

                                            You're upset that an encrypted stream needs encryption keys? And that you need physical access, the binaries themselves, and reverse engineering tools to get them?

                                            I think you'll be surprised to learn you can do the same thing to any program which encrypts data

                                              • mdavid626

                                                12/24/2025

                                                No, I’m not upset. Private keys are necessary, that’s fine. Vivotek encrypts them additionaly, but stores the encryption keys right next to the encypted data.

                                                One could use TPM chip to store the keys, rather than such useless obscure encryption, which looks secure, but it’s not.

                                        • Terretta

                                          12/25/2025

                                          « J༙྇o༙྇y༙྇e༙྇u༙྇x༙྇ N༙྇o༙྇e༙྇l༙྇ »

                                          Showed a friend on his way back to Africa how to set up his iPhone to share his name and photo in Messages.

                                          // TY, politicians, for forcing the iPhone's "Phone" settings to hide under the "Apps" sub-category — making tech e̵a̵s̵i̵e̵r̵ harder one casual at a time!

                                          • 12/25/2025

                                            • firefax

                                              12/24/2025

                                              None, I was laid off and I'm working something completely unrelated to pay the bills. About to crack a beer and have some Chinese while watching pirated movies because I canceled my Netflix to cut costs.

                                              Gonna watch Die Hard, eat a beef chow fun, and try to teach my bird some new curse words.

                                                • unsungNovelty

                                                  12/25/2025

                                                  Hope things get better soon. I took a break after a layoff and it went longer than expected. But things will get better. Just keep swimming (Dory from finding nemo)!

                                                  And nevertheless, Merry Christmas! <3

                                              • samyar

                                                12/24/2025

                                                Merry Christmas from Kurdistan

                                                • err4nt

                                                  12/24/2025

                                                  Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all from Toronto!

                                                  • mrburns85

                                                    12/24/2025

                                                    Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from Connecticut

                                                    • weare138

                                                      12/25/2025

                                                        perl -E 'say " " x (`tput cols`/2 - $_) . "*" x ++$i and $i++ for 1..shift' 25

                                                      • tomashubelbauer

                                                        12/24/2025

                                                        Merry Christmas and my condolences to everyone who has to deal with iCloud setup / password recovery this holiday season

                                                          • virilissimitude

                                                            12/24/2025

                                                            So far in past year:

                                                            - 2 Google password recoveries

                                                            - Out of disk space

                                                            I think that will probably be all for the year, but will see.

                                                        • uhfraid

                                                          12/24/2025

                                                          Merry Christmas!

                                                          • supersaw

                                                            12/24/2025

                                                            Merry Christmas and God Jul to all from Oslo, Norway! No issues to fix, other than helping with food.

                                                            • silexia

                                                              12/24/2025

                                                              Merry Christmas! Remember family, especially your kids are the reason for the season. Enjoy them!

                                                              • Imustaskforhelp

                                                                12/24/2025

                                                                Merry christmas from India.

                                                                • deafpolygon

                                                                  12/24/2025

                                                                  Merry Christmas to you all

                                                                  • Narciss

                                                                    12/24/2025

                                                                    No IT issues thank god! Some work on my side proj maybe to unwind.

                                                                    Merry xmas everyone!

                                                                    • fwsgonzo

                                                                      12/24/2025

                                                                      Merry Christmas to all

                                                                      • throwaway5465

                                                                        12/24/2025

                                                                        Merry Christmas!

                                                                        • joshuanapoli

                                                                          12/24/2025

                                                                          Merry Christmas from Rhode Island!

                                                                          • levysoft

                                                                            12/24/2025

                                                                            Merry Christmas from Italy!!!

                                                                            • aristofun

                                                                              12/24/2025

                                                                              Ho ho ho!

                                                                              • itisme_b

                                                                                12/24/2025

                                                                                What is someone is hiding something from your religion? Have a good read:

                                                                                قَالَ إِنِّی عَبۡدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِیَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِی نَبِیࣰّا﴿ ٣٠ ﴾‬ ‫وَجَعَلَنِی مُبَارَكًا أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوۡصَـٰنِی بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ مَا دُمۡتُ حَیࣰّا﴿ ٣١ ﴾‬ ‫وَبَرَّۢا بِوَ ٰ لِدَتِی وَلَمۡ یَجۡعَلۡنِی جَبَّارࣰا شَقِیࣰّا﴿ ٣٢ ﴾‬ ‫وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَیَّ یَوۡمَ وُلِدتُّ وَیَوۡمَ أَمُوتُ وَیَوۡمَ أُبۡعَثُ حَیࣰّا﴿ ٣٣ ﴾‬ ‫ذَ ٰ لِكَ عِیسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡیَمَۖ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡحَقِّ ٱلَّذِی فِیهِ یَمۡتَرُونَ﴿ ٣٤ ﴾‬‫[But] he said: ‘I am a servant of God. He has granted me the Scripture; made me a prophet; made me blessed wherever I may be. He commanded me to pray, to give alms as long as I live, to cherish my mother. He did not make me domineering or graceless. Peace was on me the day I was born, and will be on me the day I die and the day I am raised to life again.’ Such was Jesus, son of Mary. [This is] a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt:

                                                                                ‫مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن یَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدࣲۖ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُۥۤۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰۤ أَمۡرࣰا فَإِنَّمَا یَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَیَكُونُ﴿ ٣٥ ﴾‬ ‫وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّی وَرَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَ ٰ طࣱ مُّسۡتَقِیمࣱ﴿ ٣٦ ﴾‬ ‫فَٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ مِنۢ بَیۡنِهِمۡۖ فَوَیۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن مَّشۡهَدِ یَوۡمٍ عَظِیمٍ﴿ ٣٧ ﴾‬

                                                                                it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is. ‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’ But factions have differed among themselves. What suffering will come to those who obscure the truth when a dreadful Day arrives!

                                                                                Surah Maryam

                                                                                  • TrnsltLife

                                                                                    12/25/2025

                                                                                    Now quote the part of the Quran where Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.

                                                                                    God did say "be" and it was. Here's the account from the Injil of St. Matthew chapter 1:

                                                                                    18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

                                                                                    20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

                                                                                    22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

                                                                                    24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

                                                                                    • TrnsltLife

                                                                                      12/25/2025

                                                                                      And from the Injil of St. Luke, chapter 1:

                                                                                      26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

                                                                                      29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

                                                                                      34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

                                                                                      35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

                                                                                      38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. ...

                                                                                      Chapter 2: 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. 2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

                                                                                      4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

                                                                                      6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

                                                                                      8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

                                                                                      13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

                                                                                      14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

                                                                                      15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

                                                                                      16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

                                                                                      20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

                                                                                        • itisme_b

                                                                                          12/27/2025

                                                                                          ‫بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِیمِ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴿ ١ ﴾‬ ‫ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ﴿ ٢ ﴾‬ ‫لَمۡ یَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ یُولَدۡ﴿ ٣ ﴾‬ ‫وَلَمۡ یَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ﴿ ٤ ﴾‬

                                                                                          : Say, ‘He is God the One God the eternal He begot no one nor was He begotten No one is comparable to Him’

                                                                                          Al-Ikhlāṣ, Ayah 1 - Al-Ikhlāṣ, Ayah 4

                                                                                  • sieep

                                                                                    12/24/2025

                                                                                    Merry Christmas to HN

                                                                                    • moomoo11

                                                                                      12/24/2025

                                                                                      Merry Christmas!

                                                                                      • 12/24/2025

                                                                                        • thala

                                                                                          12/24/2025

                                                                                          Merry Christmas HN!

                                                                                          • VoodooJuJu

                                                                                            12/24/2025

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