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ginkgotree

472 karma · joined May 22, 2012

Space and Defense tech
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ginkgotree··on Launch HN: OctaPulse (YC W26) – Robotics and computer vision for fish farming
I am a fan of the fish cursor. We should make the internet quirky again. This is like a modern take on Geocities websites, and they should do things like fish cursors now while they still can before a board of VCs comes in and makes them remove the fish cursor.
ginkgotree··on Denial of service and source code exposure in React Server Components
I'm only surprised it took this long for an exposure of backend data to the front end to be discovered in RSC
ginkgotree··on Testing shows automotive glassbreakers can't break modern automotive glass
I just keep a tomahawk axe in my car. That works.
ginkgotree··on Show HN: I turned algae into a bio-altimeter and put it on a weather balloon
This is absurdly impressive. If you have any interest in doing some more flight software work in aerospace / space / missile systems, shoot me an email scott@orcrist.com
ginkgotree··on OpenAI wins $200M U.S. defense contract
Yep, pretty much.
ginkgotree··on OpenAI wins $200M U.S. defense contract
why? it could help them asses threats, civilians / avoid collateral damage. Like any weapon or technology, it depends on its use. warfighter is the modern industry / academic term used for "soldier."
ginkgotree··on OpenAI wins $200M U.S. defense contract
Yeah, tons. SIGNT / HUMINT analysis. After action report summaries. war gaming to optimize deterrence. human machine teaming. LLM-in-the-loop for warfighters. rapid code gen in field deployments for units to spin up software solutions. The list is endless, imho.
ginkgotree··on Ask HN: What are you working on? (May 2025)
All of the above. Thrust vectoring, throttleable, hand launchable. Yes, yes, and yes, and a few more covert reasons
ginkgotree··on Ask HN: What are you working on? (May 2025)
Counter-drone defense tech https://orcrist.us
ginkgotree··on Evertop: E-ink IBM XT clone with 100+ hours of battery life
This actually has some super cool field digital note taking applications, where one may be away from power for a long time and just needs a digital means of writing TXT files. Awesome work!!
ginkgotree··on FTC takes action against Uber for deceptive billing and cancellation practices
Silicon Valley and all these VC funded apps have no soul or honesty. I left 5 years ago, and will never look back. Let them rot.
ginkgotree··on CERN scientists find evidence of quantum entanglement in sheep
April Fools
ginkgotree··on Apple's AI isn't a letdown. AI is the letdown
Right. CNN is absolutely the authority here.
ginkgotree··on Anti-Orbit Laser Submarines (2017)
Isn't it fun to noodle on? lol
ginkgotree··on Anti-Orbit Laser Submarines (2017)
Cool idea. Atmospheric attenuation (regardless even if you lase at "transmissible" freqs), would be a major issue. Additionally, beam steering and focusing from 1000km+, and accounting (essentially a variable continuously changing integration) for a high variability in index of refraction would make it possible without a closed-loop feedback of on target strike. Rough ballparks, I mean, the beam power density required would likely far exceed the thermal dissipation rate of any heat pipe, etc, tech I am officially aware of. Space warfare is super fun tho. However, this is a very outdated idea. If anyone like noodling on this stuff, they should DM me. There are far better ideas... unofficially.
ginkgotree··on I genuinely don't understand why some people are still bullish about LLMs
I'm genuinely just unimpressed by computers and space craft. Sometimes they just won't boot up, or blow up. I also just am unimpressed by wireless 4G/5G internet,... the printing press. (sarcasm)
ginkgotree··on Apple shuffles AI executive ranks in bid to turn around Siri
Good luck. They just need to fire the entire team, and admit defeat, and integrate with an existing offering: Claude, OAI, etc
ginkgotree··on Feds Link Cyberheist to 2022 LastPass Hacks
3 Words: 1Password. 1Password. 1Password.

Ok, Im not sure "1Password," qualifies as a single world. Oh yeah, 1Password.

ginkgotree··on Welcome to Ladybird, a truly independent web browser
heck yeah!!
ginkgotree··on Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Claude Code
Been using 3.5 sonnet for a mobile app build the past month. Havent had much time to get a good sense of 3.7 improvements, but I have to say the dev experience improvement of Claude Code right in my shell is fantastic. Loving it so far
ginkgotree··on Science YouTuber physicsgirl (Dianna Cowern) stands for the first time in 2 yrs
I've been following her and rooting for her along with thousands of others, and reading this just now made me smile and tear up a little. I'm so happy for her!
ginkgotree··on Boom XB-1 First Supersonic Flight [video]
These guys were in my S16 batch. I have worked Aerospace the last 6 years, and it is AWESOME to see this accomplishment! Surpassing Mach is a massive challenge for a crewed aircraft. Big win for the team, congratulations
ginkgotree··on OpenAI says it has evidence DeepSeek used its model to train competitor
I did not have in my cards: PRC open sourcing most powerful LLM by stealing data set from "OpenAI" As someone that is very Pro-America and Pro-Democracy, the iron here is just... so sweet.
ginkgotree··on We're bringing Pebble back
HECK YES
ginkgotree··on TikTok goes dark in the US
Good.
ginkgotree··on Bankruptcy judge rejects sale of Infowars to The Onion
For an entire week, I thought this was an Onion parody headline, and didn't realize the Onion _actually_ tried to buy Info Wars. We're living in such an entertaining era. Life imitates art.
ginkgotree··on Chuck E. Cheese's animatronics band bows out
My question is: Where can I buy the animatronic band members after they are decommissioned?
ginkgotree··on Y2K
This is freaking fantastic
ginkgotree··on Anthem Blue Cross Won't Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Surgery
Health Insurance companies will continue to push the limits on how much they don't need to cover until there is a regulation change.
ginkgotree··on The Tube Computer
I build Vacuum tube audio amplifiers, mostly Push-Pull class A's with EL84s. This is next level. Absolutely awesome!!
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