Hacker News Reader

127001breweron Getting rid of burnout permanently

Why do we work?

Let's say that for most people following Hacker News, it's because their work matters to them; and, for others, it's just a paycheck.

Because of these differing work attitudes, you will see some expression of "burnout" (or some other work-related unhappiness). Keeping in mind these differences can help, but it won't solve this fundamental difference within a team.

127001breweron European Court Says CIA Ran Secret Jail in a Polish Forest

The book, "The Eagle Unbowed" [1], is an excellent history of Poland (and the Polish people) during the Second World War - I've only read about half the book, but gives valuable insights into the geopolitical atmosphere of Eastern Europe.

[1] http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/nov/09/the-eagle-unbow...

127001breweron Karl Albrecht, Billionaire Co-Founder of Aldi, Dies at 94

I think it's interesting to note that Trader Joe's "has been owned since 1979 by a German family trust established by Aldi Nord's owner Theo Albrecht." [1]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trader_Joe's

127001breweron Have We Been Interpreting Quantum Mechanics Wrong This Whole Time?

From the article:

Sheldon Goldstein, a professor of mathematics, physics and philosophy at Rutgers University and a supporter of pilot-wave theory, blames the “preposterous” neglect of the theory on “decades of indoctrination.” At this stage, Goldstein and several others noted, researchers risk their careers by questioning quantum orthodoxy.

Can someone from the physics community comment on this? How valid is the pilot-wave theory?

127001breweron Link: A fast and simple PHP Router

That's correct - I was thinking of using an Apache VirtualHost file. (Isn't using the .htaccess file slower(?) than using the VirtualHost file?)

127001breweron Link: A fast and simple PHP Router

How complicated were the Etsy routes? And were the added overhead and complexity?

And I know it is a pain to restart Apache each time there's a change to the configuration file, but does anyone know the time differences between a PHP router and Apache rewrites?

127001breweron Link: A fast and simple PHP Router

Let's say you are using Apache (so maybe that already means you're not one of the cool kids?), then why would you use any of the available PHP routers?

Overall, I'm not trying to discount anyone's work with developing PHP routers, but I'd like to understand the benefits of using them.

127001breweron Link: A fast and simple PHP Router

Why would you want to use any PHP router instead of writing the rewrite rules within an Apache VirtualHost file or a .htaccess file?

127001breweron Strange Brews: The Genes of Craft Beer

The beers’ colors are as varied as their flavors, ranging from cloudy gold to clear amber. Yet with the single exception of the yeasts used to ferment them, Mr. Prahl explains, they are all the exact same brew.

It's really interesting how much yeast influences (through fermentation) a beer. You can even combine yeasts to give a beer an even more complex characteristics (as discussed in the book, "Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation"[1], written by Chris White of White Labs).

1. http://www.brewerspublications.com/books/yeast-the-practical...

127001breweron It's OK not to use tools

Today, a basic HTML/CSS site seems almost passé. But why?

Logically, a small website should be built with static HTML and CSS. So why build an overly complicated infrastructure with a web application front-end and a database back-end (which needs to be regularly maintained) just to display a simple website?

In many cases, WordPress became the hammer looking for anything that resembles a nail.

127001breweron How I Feel as Young Father Involved in Early-stage Startup

From the wife/kid's perspective - they want you to be happy, but they also want you to be present and engaged.

From my own experiences - obviously your mileage may vary - but your family (and especially your wife if you have young kids!) needs you to be present and engaged.

Yes, as others have said, PG has said that you could compress your working life into a few years but what if you're holding a losing lotto ticket at the end of the day? Because you are gambling with your time.

We all make compromises and sacrifices with our lives - and we all have to live with those choices. Whether these are "right" or "wrong" is really for the individual to decide.

127001breweron Rackspace Hires Morgan Stanley to Evaluate Options

For myself, I greatly appreciate having a service like Mailgun available to Rackspace customers - does Linode (or another company) have a similar e-mail service?

127001breweron U.S. children read, but not well or often: report

According to Jim Trelease's book, "The Read-Outloud Handbook", one of the most important things to with your kid is to read to them every night.[1] The book, from what my recollection, discusses how students in other countries, such as Finland, perform better overall because their parents tend to read to them every night.

Even someone like Warren Buffet focuses on reading - spending "80 percent" of his workday ready.[2]

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Trelease#The_Read-Aloud_Han... 2. http://theweek.com/article/index/248655/the-warren-buffett-f...

127001breweron SpaceX granted injunction in rocket launch suit against Lockheed-Boeing

From the article: "...from proceeding with plans to buy Russian-made rocket engines."

How many manufacturers of rocket engines are there?

Edited: Grammar correction.

127001breweron China will become the world's largest economy by the end of the year

According to this article, there's more to developing into a strong military power than just having a larger economy: https://medium.com/war-is-boring/8a12e8ef7edc

TL;DR:

- Much of the military might that Beijing buys every year gets directed inward and never projects externally.

- Even after decades of expensive rearmament, China is a paper dragon.

- The same demographic wave that has gifted China with an abundance of labor will soon also transform the country into the world’s biggest retirement home.

Edited: Added a few key points.

127001breweron Ask HN: Should I cash out my 401K and try to get my dream job?

Your definition of a "dream job" sounds like it could be any new job.[1] Why not look for a new job instead (since you should be relatively marketable with thirteen (13) years of software development experience)?

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7532138

127001breweron Sparkfun offering discounts on Arduino day

What about the "RedBoard" (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11575)?

127001breweron Apple TV graduates from hobby/accessory to product line ahead of major changes

...PBS begets ABC.

Actually, Apple has a relationship with the Walt Disney Company[1], which owns the ABC, ESPN and the Disney channels - and many more. Perhaps these additional TV apps were added after enough content creators agreed to whatever terms.

Also, interestingly enough, there is a show on Disney Junior that first premiered on the Disney Junior iPhone/iPad app before it was shown on the regular Disney Junior TV channel. Maybe this is a new model to beta test new content?

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company#Disney_...

127001breweron Apple TV graduates from hobby/accessory to product line ahead of major changes

I think that the Apple TV is best misunderstood product that Apple makes (and perhaps it's misunderstood, and sometimes frustrating, because it's dependent on another device - your TV).

127001breweron Google to Buy Artificial Intelligence Startup DeepMind for $400M

I think it's debatable based on your view of a company's purpose: is it to serve its stockholders or is it to serve its customers?

127001breweron Readers' tales of extreme commuting

It literally nearly killed me.

Is this related to the health issues briefly discussed in your latest year-in-review posting[1]?

[1] http://www.kalzumeus.com/2014/01/06/kalzumeus-software-year-...

127001breweron Obama administration to end contract with company behind HealthCare.gov

... The people willing to tolerate this mess don't generally intersect with the startup crowd.

But this is a space that could be disrupted (albeit not easily). And isn't Clever[1] trying to do something similar in the education space?

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/clever-y-combinator-student-i...

127001breweron Who Really Said That?

According to IMDB, and other websites, in the movie, "Point Break", Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) is attributed with the following:

Wars of religion always make me laugh because basically you're fighting over who has the best imaginary friend.[1]

However, I have not heard this quote spoken by any character within the movie. And a quick web search of a variation of the quote attributes it to "anonymous". Does anyone know if this quote was actually spoken in the movie "Point Break"?

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102685/quotes?item=qt1561818

127001breweron Auto-Brewery Syndrome: Apparently, You Can Make Beer In Your Gut

Obviously I've never heard of "Candida" before even though I recently linked to a Wikipedia article about it - thanks for the reference!

127001breweron Auto-Brewery Syndrome: Apparently, You Can Make Beer In Your Gut

No, because...

Antibiotics promote yeast infections, including gastrointestinal Candida overgrowth, and penetration of the GI mucosa.[11] While women are more susceptible to genital yeast infections, men can in fact get them as well. Certain factors, like prolonged antibiotic use, increase the risk for both men and women. ...[1]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_(fungus)

127001breweron Auto-Brewery Syndrome: Apparently, You Can Make Beer In Your Gut

In most instances, the infections occurred after a person took antibiotics — which can wipe out the bacteria in the gut, making room for fungi like yeast to flourish ...

While the above is very plausible, it is rather unbelievable that a person could have enough Brewer's Yeast and fermentable material in their gut (or intestinal tract) to produce a significant amount of ethanol.

As a reference, packages of fresh beer yeast contain about one billion cells, which is enough to inoculate five gallons of wort.[1] (Wort is pre-fermented beer.)

1. http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_productdetail.cfm?ProductID=16

127001breweron No Bread, Beer or Biscuits: How I Lost 63lbs in 100 Days

Instead, it would burn other things ... your own muscle, then fat, etc.

That's the first I've ever heard that a human body would burn muscle before fat. Also, a beer each day would be out of your system relatively fast, so it should have no lasting affects on your body's metabolism.

Also, if you're drinking a beer a day, then be sure it's at least bottle-conditioned craft beer since the suspended yeast has many nutrients. ;)

127001breweron Tired Of Inequality? One Economist Says It'll Only Get Worse

Economist Tyler Cowen has some advice for what to do about America's income inequality: Get used to it. ...

In the interview, the economist basically says "give up" because that's the way things are going. The economist attributes (mostly) this to computers.

"Computers will play a larger role and people who can work with computers can make a lot."

But those who aren't in the "top 15%" will be okay, since:

"... But I think people who are not rich can be extremely happy. And I think the chances to be happy in this new world, with many more opportunities to be creative, to be online, to educate yourself — there'll be a lot more chances to be happy. It's not to say everyone will take them or be equipped to take them, but there will be a lot of new paths to opportunity."

I do not subscribe to this wishful thinking...

127001breweron Help me figure out how I lost this bet to an engineer

Without spending too much time on this, I thought of the same as well and knowing that:

Her dress, which was very unique had never been worn by her, because she bought it the day before

...should narrow down the events that this person wanted to attend. Here are the events that happened that day:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/2013-09-05/

...which, to me, only had one really unique event that evening:

http://www.facebook.com/events/1405498132998020

...which, possibly, would include a picture of that person either in the same outfit or include a profile picture of that person commenting or liking the event.

But this is just a guess...