Hacker News Reader

Watching now… wow what a throw back. Got a kick out of the 90s PBS vibe and the Chicago news! Thanks for posting

oakmadon I'm not addicted to the internet or my smartphone. I'm addicted to information

That font will cure my addiction!

oakmadon How the Sriracha guys screwed over their supplier

Well there used to be fuckedcompany.com that served a similar purpose. Of course it was litigated into history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucked_Company

oakmadon The fight between doctors and insurance companies over 'downcoding'

I never had good vibes with an employer sponsored plan. I had the same employer for eleven years in TX. Every year the insurer changed. Every year there was the paper work and trying to decipher what was included and what the copay might be. There also weren’t good vibes from the providers and the way they’re forced to operate.

Yes I agree, I pay for healthcare as part of my taxes, essentially the same amount as the guy sitting next to me. To be honest it doesn’t feel any different to paying taxes in the US.

oakmadon The fight between doctors and insurance companies over 'downcoding'

I’ve lived under several different healthcare systems around the world as an adult. Coming from my time America, nothing felt more like freedom to me than walking out of a hospital in London, with a new child, and having had no interaction with a billing desk.

oakmadon The Socratic Journal Method: A Simple Journaling Method That Works

oakmadon ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC

My high school science teacher(Brother Quinn in the 80s) always said it was possible, although rather expensive, now I know how much - thanks.

oakmadon Future Music magazine is closing after 32 years

They did. I worked in a technical college in the 90s and Autodesk and others were huge fans of the single plugged into the serial port. Was a huge problem not only daisy chaining them all together but also they would get stolen if not secured. We’d ribbon cable them back inside the case where’d there would be a many inches of dongle precariously joined. Fond memories.

oakmadon Aster shootdown over Sydney in 1955

Fly Navy!

oakmadon How Would You Turn This Dial to Make the Freezer Colder?

Oh man me too. First i recall dual flush in Australia in the 80s when I was a kid and it was a push down for full, pull up for half - labeled in English - now I have no idea! Now, I always resort to just push both buttons to be sure.

oakmadon My toddler loves planes, so I built her a radar

That is so cool. I often wonder if I’ve been on this aircraft before, wish I had that data!

oakmadon My toddler loves planes, so I built her a radar

Yeah always at the gate upon landing - sigh, I’d love to jump seat to satisfy my curiosity

oakmadon My toddler loves planes, so I built her a radar

This is great. On my « one day » build list.

In a similar vein, my 5yr old son has a flight log book - I started it for him as a baby. Every flight he gives asks one of the crew if the captain wouldn’t mind completing it. It logs route, aircraft and any events that happened. The crew _love_ this kind of thing - we’ve toured cockpits and crew rests and the messages are always gracious. He’s always beaming to get it back. Highly recommend it for little plane geeks.

oakmadon The secret language of ships

I love there is a slide for WIG - wing in ground effect

oakmadon Up to tenth of Amazon shoppers in GB 'bribed' by sellers to offer good review

Yeah I could have, maybe should have, probably silly for not. Although I’ve done enough stupid stuff in my life to know where my line is and what is worth my time or not. This was definitely a no for me, report and move on.

oakmadon Up to tenth of Amazon shoppers in GB 'bribed' by sellers to offer good review

I’ve had offers to remove a review. Bought a highly rated kettle that broke in a couple of weeks which I returned. Left a review saying such and started to receive offers to remove the review. Started at £20 and they kept coming even though I reported them. No, I didn’t take the offer.

oakmadon When the Neighbors Don’t Like Your 10-Foot-Tall Transformer Statues

Looks like lots of businesses, investments and patents https://newtonhoward.com/rapid-4-d-imaging-focused-on-protei...

oakmadon Ask HN: How do you not take criticism of your work personally?

My mentor pointed out my defensive nature a long time ago and quizzed me on it. My response was that the product of my work was like a baby. Very quickly he replied « you’ve got an ugly baby - so what. Make sure it grows up beautifully » that stuck with me for sure and helps me look at issues objectively.

oakmadon Lofi air traffic control – LAX

https://listentothe.cloud/ Is my favorite. There’s something really soothing about certain regional accents and the rhythm of their comms. I really liked Hong Kong but it always seems to be offline now.

oakmadon Bike Frame Stiffness

I can't wait for the Hambini analysis of this one.

oakmadon The Making of Dune II: The birth of the real-time strategy game

Thanks! I remember getting a copy in first year uni just before traveling home for break. Upon getting home I stayed up most of that first night playing just enthralled - something I’ve not done since. I don’t remember any bugs.

oakmadon Nobody wants touch-screen glove box latches

I’m pretty much with you and was exactly the same - until I got a Polestar. All the stuff I need is still an actual button - although not ac controls. Physical buttons for volume, front and rear demist, cruise, lights and wipers. So I only need the touch screen for maps and some audio - like changing radio or which streaming service. Can still be eyes off road for a second admittedly. My dad has a VW golf with this don’t have to quite touch it interface and it’s always changing stuff on him as he chats away, waving his hand about - it’s super dangerous imho.

oakmadon Range anxiety and the realities of electric vehicle dependability

Yeah exactly. I now live in very rural Australia - I'm over 100 miles from the nearest traffic light - and got a Polestar in June. Theres a rapid charger 10 miles away and whenever I'm there range anxiety is always the thing people ask me about. Does it suck having to wait for a charger if someone is using it - sure, but the other day traffic was way backed up in Yass for gas. It's all relative. I've done 800km in a day on two stop for coffee charges, and tomorrow we'll do 500km up to New Castle with one stop. Its not perfect but its not at all the issue I thought it could be.

oakmadon Ask HN: Pitfalls in jumping ship to a client company?

Rule of life: always ask.

I’ve always said no is the second best answer and in most cases the sooner you get a definitive answer the better.

oakmadon Fermented Chili “Open Sauce” – My most starred repo has no code in it

Ha me too! I couldn’t believe that burn and how long it lasted. I soaked my hands in milk as placebo one day.

We had a kid just after making it and therefore loads of visitors for meals - everyone commented on how good it was and wanted some. I’m gonna make it again.

oakmadon Ask HN: My house just got hit by lightning and it fried the PSU in my computer

A lightning bolt carries a current upwards of 100,000 amps, and has upwards of 10 billion joules of energy.

How many gigawatts is that? I’ve a car I need to jump start.

oakmadon The fish shell is amazing

Anyone else read that as “The fish smell is amazing”?

oakmadon Only 90s web developers remember this (2014)

I still convert {' '} to   every time I see it in the code base.

A lot of fond memories from the 90s bubble. I love me some coldfusion and ftp and occasionally think how easier it was in some ways.

I also like to say theres not a unicorn today I couldn't have founded if I'd had the idea or insight at the time - plus motivation, money etc. Hindsight and all that.

oakmadon Incident: Airbus A330 at Taipei, primary computers failed on touchdown (2020)

Oh 100%! Anti skid is only available in alternate and normal laws. Section 6.5 braking system of this document.

https://www.smartcockpit.com/docs/A330_Flight_Deck_and_Syste...

oakmadon Incident: Airbus A330 at Taipei, primary computers failed on touchdown (2020)

I wonder how much was just being « used » to auto braking assistance and what felt right.