162. Skytree and Coffee 中
The cover photo shows the Tokyo Skytree I took earlier. At 634m, it’s the tallest tower in the world. it looked beautiful against the clear sky—almost like a scene from an anime.
Record the down-to-earth trending technologies seen every week, and publish them here after screening. If you find it good, you can follow this weekly to get update notifications.
Technical Learning
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for Knowledge-Intensive NLP Tasks
https://ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org/html/2005.11401
A foundational paper for RAG. it explains how AI search optimizes outputs by referencing authoritative knowledge bases outside its training data. A must-read for anyone interested in AI.
The Ideal Angle for a Programmer’s Monitor
https://sprocketfox.io/xssfox/2021/12/02/xrandr/
An interesting exploration by a developer on finding the perfect monitor placement. it even includes a small config tool.
Trending Tools
Reactive Resume: A Polished Open-Source Resume Builder
https://rxresu.me/
A fantastic, form-based tool to generate professional resumes. it’s much more modern and convenient than Word. if you’re a developer looking for work, try using this and send it to me!
1000 Inspiring Websites
https://supercreative.design/1000-inspiring-websites
A curated collection of over 1000 highly inspiring websites. Great for curing creative block.
Just Looking Around
Insanely Cool Zelda Foley Video
This is incredibly impressive! (Note: use headphones if you’re in an office.)
Shanghai Peace Hotel Drone Footage
Spectacular drone footage of the area around the Peace Hotel. The moment the lights come on is stunning. As capturing by Jin10Apr noted, it’s not just about the show “Blossoms,” but about that era of opportunity.
Podcast: Li Feifei’s Biography “The Worlds I See”
https://xiaoyuzhoufm.com/episode/65a902ef8a47fd30c098ece9
An excellent podcast discussing AI researcher Fei-Fei Li’s autobiography. her story of being a first-generation immigrant who stayed curious and true to herself is inspiring. can’t wait for the Chinese version to be published.
Pro-tip: How to achieve daily coffee freedom for under 1,000 RMB
Lately, one of my most meaningful purchases has been my coffee setup. here’s how I did it:
Every morning, I grind beans, extract espresso with my semi-auto machine, and froth a half-cup of milk. The ritual is incredibly satisfying, and it’s much cheaper than Starbucks.
The Machine: I chose the De’Longhi ECP33.21.W from Sam’s Club for 629 RMB. it’s white, metallic, and has exactly two functions: extraction and frothing. it’s perfect for beginners—durable and easy to clean.
The Beans: MM Classic Italian Roast (1kg for 99 RMB). The aroma is incredible, and the beans are oily and full-bodied. it’s not too acidic or bitter.
The Milk: Whole milk makes the best froth. I’ve tried several, and Yoplait 4.0 or Meiji are both fantastic.
The Accessories: Don’t skip an electric grinder—manual grinding for espresso is exhausting! A metal pitcher and a small cleanup kit (brush/cloth) make the process much more professional.
I thought I wouldn’t use it much, but now it’s my morning motivation. it’s a great feeling to offer a guest a home-brewed cup!