HNHacker News
TopNewBestAskShowJobs

matt_the_bass

1,034 karma · joined August 12, 2017

Day job: I run engineering at an interesting company.

Side project: finewordclocks.etsy.com

My ShowHN for finewordclocks: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18950130

submissionscomments
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Sales tracking and inventory management tools?
I moved to MRPeasy about 18 months ago from QB desktop enterprise mfg edition. Overall it’s a big improvement and I recommend it. Their support is very responsive and provides answers within 1 business day generally.
matt_the_bass··on Yacht Lightning Protection DDCE Marine
Their approach was really new to me. I’m pressed this is a passive device.

Note, I have no relation to this company but do like boats.

matt_the_bass··on The UKHO intends to withdraw from paper chart production by 2026
Free charts from NOAA are only US waters. Few other countries provide their charts for free.

Previously one had to pay for paper charts, now one pays for digital charts.

matt_the_bass··on The Physics of Scuba Diving
I’ve done the same. But my point is the “specs” are not well documented and a novice may not have considered this factor.
matt_the_bass··on The Physics of Scuba Diving
I strongly disagree that one should always dive with a buddy. But I’ll also say that one shouldn’t dive alone. Exit and entry are usually the most dangerous part of the dive.

Diving in low vis, spear fishing, or confined spaces don’t match with having a dive buddy. But they do match with redundant air supplies and other safety measures I mention in another comment.

Also unless your buddy is literally within arms reach at all times, they are not a redundant air source.

matt_the_bass··on The Physics of Scuba Diving
I have a huge problem with how people gauge risks from scuba diving. This stems from the fact that IMHO must divers are horribly under trained and under practiced for what they are doing and usually are not following best safety practices. For those that are, I think diver is significantly less dangerous than other accepted activities (in fact, I’d be willing to bet that my drive to the dive is far higher risk than my dive).

Some examples of best practices that are not widely followed:

1. never rely on a dive buddy for air redundancy. If you are diving deeper (or longer) than you can perform a free emergency ascent safely, then you should have a redundant air source. “Two is one and one is none”. You might think that you can rely on your buddy, but unless they are literally within arms reach at all times, they are not a reliable redundancy source.

2. Skills must be practiced. When was the last time you shot a lift bag, did a valve drill, unplugged your inflator hose, manually inflated your BCD/wing, doffed your mask and donned your back up mask?

3. Do you know how to reliably navigate? How do you get back to the boat? Do you know how to safely run a reel without getting tangled up and while minimizing risk to the reel line? How about in 0 vis?

4. I love my computers but I plan out every dive manually and have a rough idea of what to do if both my computers fail. You do have redundant computers right? And you know how to use them right? I did almost 100 dives before I got my first computer. I think this is a good path since I have a solid understanding of what to expect from my computers.

5. Entry level training generally skips a lot of these safety tools and skills. I once dove at a Padi resort and brought a pony bottle with me. They dive operator didn’t even know what a pony bottle was. Do you think they are actually teaching about redundant air supply?

I’m certain that having all the right tools in your toolbox, practicing how to operate them and being mindful about how to use them significantly reduces risk.

I think diving is very dangerous for un(der)trained divers and I think the dive industry does a disservice by not portraying these risks and the need for more training/skills practice.

Frustratingly, my insurance says I’m more of a liability because I dive to 53m regularly (at least before kids) than the yahoo who only dives once or twice on vacation every few years to 20m. I dive to 53m with focused planning, training, and the right equipment explicitly so that I reduce risks. And I apply those same techniques to my shallower dives.

matt_the_bass··on The Physics of Scuba Diving
It’s very important to note that pressure plays a role in how quickly the body processes out the medicine. A dose might last 6 hours on land may last much less under pressure. One significant danger to this is a decongestant wearing off unexpectedly early while underwater, resulting in congestion a depth and preventing equalization upon ascent. This could result in a barotrauma often called “reverse squeeze”.
matt_the_bass··on The Physics of Scuba Diving
I think thermal insulation plays a FAR bigger role in how tired one feels. I wear 7mm wetsuit even in tropical waters. All the “tough guys” make fun of me for it, but I’ll do five 1-hour dives a day on a live aboard trip while they get in two or three 1/2-hour dives. Even in 85 degree water, your body gets cold fast.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Firing an employee under a month before vest?
I presume you mean vesting options? If so, then this means they need to still pay (albeit a discounted price) to get shares. And your employee sop, should have a limited time for them to exercise those options. If you’re early stage then do you truely think they will spend cash to buy shares with no liquidity (and possibly never of liquid value)?

Maybe this is a non-issue.

matt_the_bass··on MIT engineers build a battery-free, wireless underwater camera
Most legit scientists agree that loud, low frequency sonar have negative impact. But this is not that. It’s high frequency and low power.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What to Do with Lanyards from Conferences?
I have 2 nice leather ones I got from a friend that worked in the leather industry (they gave them out at tradeshows). I keep them and reuse them at all the shows/conferences I go to. I skip even taking the lanyards given out with the badge.
matt_the_bass··on What is a molten salt reactor?
I came across this topic when I read about a proposed MSR powered ship. I’ve yet to see a solution for powering ships via renewables. Ships also require a relatively small reactor (since they are only powering the ship) compared to a land based reactor which will power a region. So this could be the use case needed to bring such tech to fruition.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Do you find it challenging to talk to your users?
Yeah they’d buy magic wands if they solved their problem. They don’t care about your solution. They care about their solution.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Am I an arrogant or am I surrounded by incompetent people?
Good point about tech debt.

Furthermore a prototype or MVP may not be intended to have along life from the start. It likely is just to test a theory/concept/business model. Then if there is traction, it will be rebuilt more robustly.

In this case, Incur as much debt as needed to fail fast.

matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What are you using for 4 axis CNC and laser?
Also, I’ve never seen a brewery with a cnc machine. There is likely a business reason for this.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What are you using for 4 axis CNC and laser?
>If you want parts, outsource the manufacturing. >If you want a new, expensive hobby, look into CNC machining. Don’t expect cheap parts, though.

This 1000%.

If you’re at the point that you think you need custom machines parts for a brewery, then you probably need an interior designer (if these are aesthetic) or a brewing consultant (if these a functional).

I’m all for hobby cnc’ing! I have a probotix and LOVE it! But until you are a “machinist” don’t count on cnc being more than a hobby, not critical path.

> If you don’t even have time to research and learn the basics, you definitely won’t have time to learn how to properly operate a machine and CAD/CAM. I think you’re underestimating the work that goes into even basic CNC machining.

Yup. Time is money. If this is a commercial enterprise, get a professional solution. If this is a hobby project, explore your hobby any way that is interesting to you.

matt_the_bass··on Best list of handpicked personal websites for founders
This should probably be posted as a Show HN not an ask.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What do you listen to/watch/do during coding?
Club d’Elf live shows: https://archive.org/details/ClubdElf

They are almost entirely instrumental music with strong Moroccan trance influence.

matt_the_bass··on Oh, 2022
Wow! I just stumbled across your novels a month ago (recommendation by my library) and am currently reading my 4th novel of yours. Small world! Thanks for chiming in.
matt_the_bass··on Russia sends troops to Kazakhstan to put down deadly uprising
“When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that does suffer”
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What is your favorite piece of entertainment of the last three years?
You should consider watching some live NIN concerts. Even if the music is not your favorite, the stage show is amazing.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Gift Ideas for Kids?
I’m a big fan of things you can do together.

Though not exclusively, I aim for experiential, consumable or home made when giving gifts. IMHO tools fall under “experiential”.

This year I’m getting my 8yo her own mushroom knife and mushroom journal (yes we like to forage together).

matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Is there a chip shortage, constantly updating, status visualization?
Check out https://www.z2data.com/ for a more detailed analysis. Though this is a paid service.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Is there a chip shortage, constantly updating, status visualization?
Funny you should ask. I just had a meeting with sales person from https://www.z2data.com/ today. They provide all sorts of analysis per part and at the BOM level including risk analysis of the specific item and company.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What are your non-tech hobbies?
Why not do tech in the marine industry? Even software devs in that industry get to do on water testing.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What are some products that you use that give you joy?
My upright bass
matt_the_bass··on Valneva and Pfizer announce Phase 2 study for Lyme disease vaccine candidate
Not rare in New England. I’ve contracted it twice since the beginning of covid. And once 23 years ago. The first time I was sick for a year even with treatment. These last two times I caught it early but still suffered for months and my body hurts with changes in the weather.

I wish I’d had the vaccine.

matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: What's the closest to hands-on job for a software engineer?
Software for marine science applications.
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: How do you maintain a satisfying lifestyle when working remotely?
“Michel Houellebecq”. I haven’t heard that name in a long time. Are you French? About 23 years ago I was discussing one of his books in an web forum for a French lit class I took. The professor knew him and Michel participated in the discussion. It was pretty cool!
matt_the_bass··on Ask HN: Privacy focused security cameras/doorbell for home
https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/08/ring-police-warrants-neigh...
Page 1 of 34Next →