29 Sept 2025
This edition of Tekak 139 delves into a diverse range of global tech news, from internet censorship in the UK and AI's role in governance to significant advancements in reproductive technology. Concurrently, it offers sharp, satirical commentary on Iran's digital landscape, including persistent internet restrictions, local tech malfunctions, and a contrasting incident of lost medical specimens.
Tekak 139 opens with a sarcastic welcome, promising to dive into the week's news items, often chosen after extensive effort.
Fouman staged a 'hell' simulation where women not wearing hijabs were reportedly barred, drawing a parallel to the definition of hell where individuals are punished by being hung by their hair for the same offense.
A humorous simulation of Donald Trump's arrest was showcased, involving multiple 'Trumps' being forcefully put into a pickup truck, prompting comedic observations about the incident.
A UK law requires identification to access adult websites, which subsequently expanded to other platforms like Spotify and Xbox, leading to a substantial 1400% increase in VPN installations. The ID verification involves government ID, face scanning for age estimation, and credit card information.
Iranian expertise in bypassing internet filtering and censorship is now being shared with British youth, facing new digital restrictions, including VPN usage and server configurations.
Iranian communication ministers are sarcastically credited for fostering innovation in censorship circumvention by creating a restrictive digital environment that has, in turn, led to innovative solutions for internet access.
Internet service in Iran faces criticism for declining speeds, reminiscent of the Ahmadinejad era's limitations, implying current offerings like 'fancy fiber optic cables' are ineffective.
An Iranian bill aimed at 'Combating Untrue News,' proposing double punishment for influencers, was retracted due to its impracticality and the difficulty of its implementation across a broad spectrum of social media users.
ChatGPT's 'Ostadiyeh' study mode guides users step-by-step through learning processes, offering explanations and foundational knowledge rather than just direct answers to complex problems.
An island formed by a volcanic eruption near Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea in January 2023, measuring 400 meters in diameter by February, disappeared by December 2024, demonstrating the transient nature of some geological formations.
The Iranian President's Artificial Intelligence System assists in faster and more accurate decision-making on economic matters like prices, tariffs, and policies by providing smart dashboards and immediate proposals.
Many Iranian Snowa and Dovi smart TVs experienced a widespread black screen malfunction after an update, initially attributed to a 'technical problem.' Speculation suggests it was a malicious update from a Chinese component manufacturer due to alleged unpaid bills.
A baby boy was born in the US from an embryo frozen for 30.5 years, setting a new world record for the oldest baby to be born from a frozen embryo, highlighting advancements in IVF technology.
A shocking report from Tehran's Aban Hospital revealed the loss of numerous frozen embryos, devastating couples who had undergone expensive IVF treatments, due to the sudden closure of the hospital's IVF department.
Smoke reported in southwest Tehran was officially attributed to burning tires and debris, ruling out initial concerns about gas piping issues.
Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 11 SE, its Chrome OS competitor, in October 2026, indicating the product's limited success in the market.
Omidiyeh, Iran, recorded the world's highest temperature at 51°C, with other Iranian cities like Abadan and Ahvaz also ranking among the hottest globally, leading to discussions about electricity outages.
Telegram introduced new features including a search function for public posts, story albums, diverse gift collections, and user profile rankings based on Telegram Stars.
Globally, 3 billion iPhones have been sold, with Apple's sales increasing by 13% from the previous year and quarterly revenue reaching $94 billion, figures noted to exceed Iran's national budget.
Free Download Manager is recommended as a free, cross-platform alternative to commercial download managers, offering comparable features for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
A sarcastic list of essential items for living in Iran highlights challenging conditions, including water wells, solar panels, and Starlink, implying unreliable basic services or restrictions.
Starlink is suggested to be banned in Iran to prevent public access to high-speed, unfiltered internet, thereby enforcing reliance on the national internet.
The speaker clarifies their professional identity as a 'content producer and journalist' rather than a 'blogger,' differentiating their work from superficial social media content.
The speaker's 300 megabit internet speed is attributed to a commercial FTTC connection, requiring company documents, and is not a universally available personal advantage.
Restrictions lead to prosperity.
| category | insight |
|---|---|
| Censorship & Innovation | Internet restrictions, such as those implemented in the UK, paradoxically lead to increased innovation in circumvention methods (e.g., VPNs), with Iranian expertise in bypassing censorship now being shared globally. |
| Digital Governance | Governments globally are attempting to regulate digital content (e.g., UK's ID for adult sites, Iran's 'untrue news' bill) and integrate AI into decision-making, though implementation often faces challenges and unintended consequences. |
| Consumer Electronics Issues | Dependence on foreign component manufacturers can lead to significant domestic hardware malfunctions, as seen with Iranian smart TVs potentially disabled by a Chinese supplier due to payment disputes. |
| Reproductive Technology | While global IVF technology achieves milestones like births from 30-year-old frozen embryos, some regions face severe failures, such as the loss of numerous frozen embryos in an Iranian hospital due to operational issues. |
| Infrastructure & Climate | Iran faces extreme environmental challenges, with cities recording the world's highest temperatures, exacerbating existing infrastructure issues like electricity outages and highlighting the need for resilient services. |
| Internet Freedom & Access | Persistent internet censorship and declining speeds in Iran contrast sharply with global technological advancements and highlight the ongoing struggle for unrestricted, high-quality digital access. |
