Hacker News Reader

gregrataon Gun homicides down dramatically, Americans unaware

So I've had #1 happen before (the rattling - I have never found a paper bag of p0rn!!!) It was legit - the hotel gave the wrong room number - but in my case, the guys key worked. Startled both of us :)

gregrataon Are you a Supertasker?. Take this test and find out

More info here: http://lifehacker.com/most-of-us-are-lousy-at-multitasking-b...

gregrataon Gun homicides down dramatically, Americans unaware

Oh WAIT! It might be because I always have a RPG strapped to my back... ?

gregrataon Gun homicides down dramatically, Americans unaware

I've lived in the US for over 40 years and never had anything like that happen (and yeah, I've been in NY a few times). 'course, also anecdotal :)

gregrataon Microsoft demos breakthrough in real-time translated conversations

Wow! Not only very cool on the translation side of things - but how FAST they were talking. Very cool, Microsoft!

gregrataon Netflix disables use of the Chrome developer console

Correct, for Facebook.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/selfxss

Note that they have a checkbox on the above page where you agree to the downside, and the console is turned back on (and it appears to work just fine)

gregrataon Why I don't trade stocks and (probably) neither should you

I bought AAPL at that price in May of 2005. I held on to it during the crash, buying more in 2008 (when it had gone down a fair amount). And you're right... my total gain (including purchases at the higher price) is 430%. My total for that initial purchase is higher :)

gregrataon Why I don't trade stocks and (probably) neither should you

AAPL @ 35.72 (430% gain) TIVO @ 8.48 (51% gain) NFLX @ 33.02 (1008% gain)

I bought all of these at the above price points because I am in tech, have a strong sense of where things are going to go, and believed these companies (at the time that I bought them) nailed what the future was (and is) going to be. I obviously did so before others realized that they had, in fact, nailed it :)

I get that I could have lost out, might have gotten lucky, etc. But I would argue that you CAN figure out that a company has really figured out something new, figure it out before others, and then bet on them... and win.

gregrataon How old are you and what's your oldest code online?

... and yeah, that site DOES look like it was written in the 90's... as it WAS written in the 90's and hasn't been updated!

gregrataon How old are you and what's your oldest code online?

I'm 45. Oldest code I could find is 18 years old. Game was from 1995 - last code drop was 1998. I thought I had some Commodore stuff from the early/mid-80's up, but can't find it. Ack! :)

http://www.ratajik.net/TunnelWars/

(And YES, that IS a OS/2 program!)

gregrataon Diary of a programmer with no clue about marketing

The Software was "StationRipper" (still IS StationRipper - first released in 2003. Holy crap, Dec 13 2003!?!?!!??!!? I'm glad I posted this, I had no idea it was almost the 10th anniversary!!!)

gregrataon Diary of a programmer with no clue about marketing

I,oddly enough, had the opposite. Gave my software out to a few friends (wrote it for myself, as the others in its class sucked), Next thing I know I'm getting 100k d/l a month (paying for overages, fun) - and soon after have a few million users. Never have spent any money on advertising (even though the software DID make it on to a TV show in Denmark a few years later - and magazines, newspapers, etc.) Still getting downloads and new users.

Have also written tons of other stuff that this did NOT happen to :)

gregrataon Which hashing algorithm is best for uniqueness and speed?

I REALLY think we're all tired of random people giving us yet another cookie to store...

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

That founder should be very careful, if he doesn't want his company mired in a bunch of lawsuits: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/illegal...

(not suggestion people should just start suing, but this is up there with not wanting to hire someone because of the color of her skin).

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

A good read on age and genius: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/genius_pr.html

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

'cause it was hacked together by some young, inexperienced programmer!??! :)

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

I have no doubt Zuckerberg will be changing his tune in the years to come.

"Young people are just smarter"

That has to be one of the most stupid things I've heard! :)

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

THANK YOU. I was going to point this out. Waaay out of date :)

gregrataon Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem

20+ years here.

While I'm sure there are some 40-something's that are like the above, I don't know of many - most people I work with are 35-45, are very hard working, innovative, highly motivated, always learning new things, and work a lot.

Lots of younger people I work with party a lot (and are hung over lots), distracted constantly, aren't at all loyal, are constantly distracted by the shiny new toys, and super arrogant

(and YES, I am purposely using a bad stereotype, just like a lot of the posts here are in the other direction. One thing experience has taught me is to NOT stereotype based on meaningless things like sex, race, or age - look at what someone can do - passion, drive creativity, intelligence, etc. If you base your decisions on foolish stereotypes, in either direction, you are just limiting yourself and your company)