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MadManEon The state of Apple Pay adoption

It's not the carrying of the paper that's the problem.

I have to know beforehand how much I'll need, and keep that separate from the rest of my funds. This means that I can't use it for anything that would normally come directly out of my account, and can only be used for in-person transactions.

You are over-simplifying the entire process.

MadManEon The state of Apple Pay adoption

Because cash can be lost in the shuffle, and there is not necessarily a hard record of it ever existing.

If everything is on the level, then there's no loss.

MadManEon I quit working full-time years ago–here’s why I recommend it highly

Those aren't "unavoidable". They're just non-negotiable for you.

See grecy's comment about want vs. need.

MadManEon Fixing Engineering's Loyalty and Longevity Problem

I think the point is that people who are looking exclusively for money or shine will make poor employees. If someone is looking to be a master, the others will naturally follow.

MadManEon Many of the NSA’s Loudest Defenders Have Financial Ties to NSA Contractors

Ok, but let's take it to a different industry. Are corporate farmers more or less deserving of government money than individuals?

Also, I'm not convinced that individual welfare accomplishes what you think it does. I don't think that just supporting the "more vulnerable ... elements of our society" is good at all. If we want to improve anything, they need to advance in society instead of merely being supported in it.

MadManEon Unprocessed Foods Cut into Precise 2.5cm Cubes

Completely off-topic, but are they precisely 2.5cm, or 1 inch cubes?

MadManEon Many of the NSA’s Loudest Defenders Have Financial Ties to NSA Contractors

Whether it's a good or bad thing is irrelevant. I agree that we should be aware and try to deter some instances, but saying that having skin in the game causes incentives seems like a weird conclusion to me. It should be obvious.

MadManEon Many of the NSA’s Loudest Defenders Have Financial Ties to NSA Contractors

Is corporate welfare somehow worse than individual welfare? I gather from the tone of your comment that you think it is, but this being the internet, tone is easy to confuse.

MadManEon Many of the NSA’s Loudest Defenders Have Financial Ties to NSA Contractors

This headline doesn't seem like it's actually news. Replace "NSA" with literally anything else, and it still makes perfect sense.

People who have financial incentives to keep something around typically try to do so.

MadManEon Why Do We Play Video Games That Feel Like Work?

I'm pretty sure that the repetition in MMOs is not what most people consider the meat of the fun. It's an obstacle to get to the fun, because nobody can create enough real content to satisfy players.

The big assumption here is that people are using their time optimally all the time. I think instead we simply run out of motivation and deal with whatever is going on instead of looking for the 'best' way to have fun/work. We're familiar with it, and dislike the cost associated with finding something new.

MadManEon Talking About Money

I know that this is a popular jab at state-funded gambling, but the reality is - at least for the people I've encountered - that they don't expect to win. They are paying a dollar to dream about "what if?".

Probably not the smartest use of money, but they see it as paying for entertainment - not a retirement plan. I thought that was an interesting insight.

MadManEon Will there ever be another Red Hat?

Absolutely. My experience was that MatLab was used as a series of magic steps to accomplish what we were really after: analysis of physical systems.

The impression I get of MathWorks is that they would like to be the walled garden of engineering tools. Don't ask how it works, don't try to do it differently, just use these commands to do these certain things.

MadManEon Leaked Lyft Document Reveals a Costly Battle with Uber

I keep hearing about this huge war between Lyft and Uber, but I don't see anything evidenced in the price to the user. Now, maybe I'm just naive, but shouldn't this kind of competition drive the prices down?

MadManEon Will there ever be another Red Hat?

Anything that takes away from MatLab is good in my eyes. I have never had a good experience with it.

Granted, I've only ever used it for school, but it is always incredibly painful to work with. I like Octave much better.

MadManEon American students head to Germany for free college

You do get something for everyone in return

I think that this is the crux of it. In my experience in the U.S., my taxes are funding things that I not only get no benefit from, but actively oppose on a moral level. That makes it a much harder thing to accept.

MadManEon Is Colorado Primed to Become the Silicon Valley of Agriculture?

In my experience, Coloradans are always looking for some justification as to why they live there - whether that's a "new center of tech", or "freedom to toke", or "Colorado NATIVE". I guess it's not enough that they simply enjoy it.

MadManEon Ask HN: I am the smartest person in the room. What should I do?

This was my take on the situation, also. It's nice to know that I'm not crazy, though.

MadManEon Ask HN: I am the smartest person in the room. What should I do?

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I am a little troubled by a one thing, though. . .

I am not a programmer - I'm a mechanical engineer. You say in other industries it's smart to wait it out for change. How do I evaluate whether to hunker down or gtfo?

MadManEon Ask HN: I am the smartest person in the room. What should I do?

This is encouraging to hear - I appreciate that you took time to answer.

The sad part of this is that there are no founders. At least, none that are left. The company was stated ~35 years ago by a pair of brothers, and they sold about 10 years ago. We were left to our own devices until about a year ago since we were incredibly profitable. I'm not sure what changed, but someone decided to "bring us into the fold".

MadManEon Ask HN: I am the smartest person in the room. What should I do?

How would I do this?

MadManEon The programming and engineering skills with the highest salaries

This is slightly off-topic, but does anyone know of a similar list for non-software engineering skills/fields? I'm a MechE, and would love to see a comparison of what I should pursue if I want to maximize my worth.

MadManEon Cities with High Salary to Cost of Living Ratios for Software Developers

even if 25 can be a bit of a bear

When your only means of travel is bad, your whole system is bad.

I'm glad that you've found a solution that works for you. I've had the misfortune to be subjected to public transport as a daily necessity, so I'm not as enthusiastic as you are about it.

Also, I work just off of 70, and my wife works in DTC. So there really aren't any good compromises for living that give us both decent commute time.

I understand that the whole vibe in the metro is built for the more hipster-ish living style. I just don't really fit into that, so what fundamentally matters to me is not great, and that colors my perceptions I guess.

MadManEon Cities with High Salary to Cost of Living Ratios for Software Developers

Anywhere you go as a tourist, you're not getting the rush-hour experience. While this is significant, the worst thing about the Denver road system is the unwillingness to plan.

There are essentially only two (!) real roadways: I-70 and I-25. If you're willing to pay the few hundred $/mo, you can also drive on 470 to bypass the traffic. Once you get away from these two (three), it's a mire of unconnected and unplanned roads.

On top of this - especially highlighted by the snow this past weekend - there is no regular maintenance of the roads other than 25 and 70.

At the end of January I was in a car accident and am waiting for repairs, so I've gotten a glimpse of the public transportation system also. What used to take me ~20 mins to drive now takes over an hour, and unless your complete list of destinations is along the I-25 corridor, that's pretty typical.

Now, maybe I just have a sour taste for CO. I am definitely looking to GTFO - that's why I was looking in this thread in the first place - but this has been my experience with the city/state for the last ~5 years. Take it how you will.

MadManEon Cities with High Salary to Cost of Living Ratios for Software Developers

I wouldn't tout Denver's public transit system as an upside of living here. It's just marginally better than the awful road system, so it gets the benefit of looking better by comparison.

MadManEon Why schools are failing our boys

Segregation hasn't really worked so well in the past. . .

MadManEon Portland Does Little when AirBnB Hosts Rent Multiple Apartments

Reply to untog:

Of course I'm not ok with people destroying things. But I don't think that having a law making subleasing illegal prevents that. You're acting as if the ability to do what I want with my property makes it a foregone conclusion that evil things will happen.

MadManEon Portland Does Little when AirBnB Hosts Rent Multiple Apartments

I do live in an apartment building. It's pretty telling that you assume that I can't possibly relate to the common man, and if only I was in their position, I would be more sympathetic.

I am in their position. And I am anything but sympathetic for that very reason.

MadManEon Portland Does Little when AirBnB Hosts Rent Multiple Apartments

It's pretty extremist to say that I'm making a case for anarchy. Nobody's saying that we should change zoning or open illegal drug rings. People are wanting to rent out apartments to short-term tenants. How is that remotely close to being a dangerous cartel that needs to be defended against?

People are upset that other people are better off than they are, and using the extra financial leverage to treat an apartment as a temporary vacation home. Jealousy, plain and simple.

MadManEon Portland Does Little when AirBnB Hosts Rent Multiple Apartments

So you are against other people having freedoms because they might do something bad? Isn't that the definition of FUD?

MadManEon The Problem with Job Titles

An interesting discussion on /r/AskEngineers:

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/2w4q6j/worried...

This seems to echo what's been said here, for the most part, but the concern of getting through HR is very real.