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ajay-b

390 karma · joined May 29, 2020

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ajay-b··on British Museum hosted Peter Thiel in private viewing of Bayeux tapestry
I live in Washington, DC and VIPs routinely view exhibits after-hours, in private; many years ago I arranged such an occasion. I think it depends on the situation and what is best for the museum and the exhibit. This article seems to be making much to do about nothing, or in some way wants something negative to print about Thiel.
ajay-b··on London Gatwick has launched a robotic airport parking service
"Unlike traditional valet parking, passengers retain possession of their keys throughout their trip."

"If passengers accidentally leave an essential item in the vehicle after drop-off, on-site staff will be available to retrieve emergency items."

But.. how would they get that emergency item if they don't have the keys?

ajay-b··on As downtown Seattle offices empty, city facing years of 'zombie' towers
I believe the quote was:

"the ones that leave, like, bye"

ajay-b··on NASA picks Eric Schmidt's rocket company for Mars mission
This mission is an orbital science mission studying Mars' atmosphere, not the same objective as SpaceX's long-term goal of sending large cargo and eventually humans to Mars. So I think the title might be taking the piss just a smidge.
ajay-b··on UK set to announce social media ban for under-16s
I agree that children under 16 should be limited in their exposure to social media but... I am deeply worried this will be used to either limit everyone else's access (particularly in "times of crisis") or may lead to a national identity requirement for accessing the internet. It's a little alarming the tech-minded public has not pushed back on this more.
ajay-b··on Kindle loyalists scramble as Amazon turns page on old e-readers
Is it possible that Amazon views the Kindle as less than profitable, and so they’re taking the hard line tactic to try and boost revenue?
ajay-b··on Deal reached with hackers to delete data stolen from the Canvas platform
I disagree with this path, there is no guarantee, nor can there be, that the data will be deleted. It can be divided up and sold to others with no recourse. The hackers got their money, they are under no obligation to comply with th agreement, and there's no one can could enforce it.
ajay-b··on KLM flight attendant hospitalized after contact with hantavirus
The media has reported that two British passengers were allowed to fly home, to self isolate, but I am trying to wrap my head around why this was allowed. Given what we learned from the pandemic, would it not have made more sense to have them isolated locally rather than flying back?
ajay-b··on US Department of Justice has officially reclassified cannabis as less dangerous
As a stoner, I vote :) My local growers club has a newsletter and we discuss pro-cannabis politicians, and the importance of voting for them. What inspires me - to a degree - is how diverse our group is politically/socially, but this is one issue we agree on.
ajay-b··on US Department of Justice has officially reclassified cannabis as less dangerous
This has been a long time coming. Now let's tax it, and use that money to pay for drug and mental health treatment, much in the same way that the lottery is used in places to pay for education.
ajay-b··on A new Postcrossing stamp from the USA
Wowww ok, mea culpa maxima, I should not feel so bad. I would send domestically but the international cards are so much more interesting to me.
ajay-b··on A new Postcrossing stamp from the USA
This is wonderful!!! I have been Postcrossing for years and it's so much fun to get a postcard randomly out of the blue from someone. Regrettably the cost to send a postcard international from the USA is over $1 now, and the cost of a postcard means you might be spending around $2 per card, but it's so worth it.
ajay-b··on How the AI Bubble Bursts
I would be very sad to lose services like ChatGPT. It has significantly improved my workflow by digesting and analyzing huge documents, and helping me to synthesize and respond better. May be I am part of a minority.
ajay-b··on Iran's South Pars Gas Field Is Attacked by Israel, Sending Energy Prices Soaring
Interesting, who purchases Iranian oil given the sanctions? Ostensibly it would be those that would see the price increases?
ajay-b··on Apple's MacBook Neo makes repairs easier and cheaper than other MacBooks
This is really good to read. I hung on to my 2012 MBP for the replaceable battery, hard drive, and memory far longer than I wanted to. It's great having a thinner machine, but repairability - really extending its longevity - will always be a huge selling point for me. I have bitterly disliked the idea of "disposable technology."
ajay-b··on macOS Tahoe windows have different corner radiuses
This. Spotlight has gotten awful under Tahoe. I was forced to upgrade at work but in my humble opinion, it's best not to update MacOS unless I really need to. Things get worse, things get better, but overall the experience is diminished.
ajay-b··on I built a programming language using Claude Code
Why not let Claude do our dating? I'm surprised someone hasn't thought of this: AI dating, let the AI find and qualify a date for you, and match with the person who meets you, for you!
ajay-b··on YouTube ads are about to get even longer and they'll be unskippable
Does anyone have a good study as to how much advertising is too much advertising? There are some content creators on YouTube I enjoy watching but it's an ad every five minutes and it just ruins it all. For some, I've reached the point where I don't bother watching anymore because the ads are just too much. I sympathize with creators wishing to make money, but ... it's just becoming relentless. I'd love to see a study or even better YouTube internal analysis of how much viewers are willing to take before they just say enough.
ajay-b··on San Francisco to offer free childcare to people making up to $230k
I am pessimistic that the reason it is so high is because someone making $220k per year said "yea but what about me, I have to pay for childcare too..." The number should be significantly lower. Anyone making a combined $200k a year has other options and opportunities, the immigrant family making $60k combined does not. This feels like a policy designed to "help" the poor but also benefit the rich..
ajay-b··on San Francisco to offer free childcare to people making up to $230k
San Francisco’s measure will make childcare free for a family of four making less than $230,000 a year, or 150% of the area median income, and offer a 50% subsidy to families earning less than $310,000 a year, or 200% of the area median income. Previously, free childcare was available to families earning less than 110% of the area median income.

But.. why not flip that on its head. Make it free for people UNDER $50,000, and a sliding scale up from there. I get that it's San Francisco, one of the most expensiv4e places in the country to live, but $230k is much, much too high. I get it: You make $200k a year and have four kids and you have expenses, and daycare is expensive, etc. but this should be for the MASSIVELY OUTNUMBERED of parents who don't make, nor can ever hope to make, anywhere near $230k.

I'm all for free child care but the parameters and numbers of this are insulting.

ajay-b··on Flock's gunshot detection microphones will start listening for human voices
They film us on the street. They film us at traffic signals, from law enforcement vehicles, and drones, parks and even through our doorbell cameras. I don't mean this glibly, or in its entirety, but the big screen watching your every move in 1984 seems not too far off..
ajay-b··on SpaceX Took Money Directly from Chinese Investors
I don't follow the logic, Hollywood has taken money directly from Chinese investors. Major infrastructure projects, major companies, auto manufacturers, have all taken money from Chinese investors. This feels more like a hip piece.
ajay-b··on Why America still needs public schools
I can't tell if you're playing devils advocate, but in Texas, many students speak Spanish as their first language, we also have students and other parts of the country whose first language is not English. Some of those make up the majority, if not overwhelming majority, of some of these schools. I think it's naïve to assume that they can be taught the same as the rest of the country. There's also students with attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, autism, disabilities, and all of that is best handled the local level so they can serve the local students. I get why some people prefer federalism and education, it allows for greater federal control. But clearly it's a disservice to students, or else the testing would show it.
ajay-b··on California bans masks meant to hide law enforcement officers' identities
I don't see how this will be enforceable.
ajay-b··on Grocery prices have jumped up, and there's no relief in sight
I think this has less to do with policy and more to do with grocery economics: They will raise prices until the public stops buying - basic economics. They've raised the prices and have zero incentive to reduce them. What are you going to do, grow your own food? Buy local?
ajay-b··on What makes you still work for Meta, when it's clear how toxic the company is?
One of their recruiters, a fellow named Josh, hounded me for months to join Meta, and we went back and forth about the merits, the chance to work on something huge, but when he boiled all down.. it was the money. Meta pays a lot for the people they want, and that just wasn't enough for me.
ajay-b··on Extreme skydiver Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident
Oh my God, that is horrible. He was so inspiring.
ajay-b··on Jimmy Wales’ Final Email
I’ve never trusted Jimmy Wales with money and so I have never donated to Wikipedia.
ajay-b··on Ask HN: What was it like to use BBS?
OMG this documentary is awesome! I had no idea, thank you.
ajay-b··on Facebook Stole Our Name and Livelihood
Now this would be a really great time for EFF to step in…
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