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poormystic

64 karma · joined November 29, 2018

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poormystic··on Ask HN: What if Russia cuts undersea optic cables?
If a war against communications facilities were to break out, the scope of disruption would be such as to put us not far out of the Stone Age. The fragile glass network must seem very exposed to military planners; one imagines that contingency plans are always being drawn up and gamed out - likely at this very moment.
poormystic··on How do you make people think?
Good teachers try to teach their students to think. Every teacher understands that for teaching to succeed 2 conditions must be met: 1) the pupil must come to the teacher with a desire to learn, and 2) There must be an exchange of value; the teacher must receive some kind of compensation. If that helps.
poormystic··on Punishing Putin: How Biden could cut Russia off from world tech
Ohh... won't that just make America's enemies dig their toes in? does the human race think it's going to battle with itself for eternity?
poormystic··on Ask HN: Why is A/B testing unacceptable for novels but encouraged for software?
We expect software to be updated with improvements to its functionality, whereas a novel is non-functional. (I'm not quite sure what non-functional means...)

My other reply is that A/B testing might be said to be accomplished in consultation with an editor.

poormystic··on Ask HN: Why is A/B testing unacceptable for novels but encouraged for software?
Thank you for suggesting that literature could be updated with improvements. <3 :) <3
poormystic··on Human beings are the only species with a teenage phase
I've seen an adolescent bush stone curlew with no prospects of a mate going absolutely crazy, all by himself, running and swerving and generally behaving like a sexually frustrated teenager
poormystic··on [dead]
So much is in the domain of Captain Obvious. It's also true that both sides must want war for war to occur at all.
poormystic··on Ask HN: How are ordinary citizens in Ukraine dealing with what’s ahead
Your remark is so bleak, my brother, how can I help you?
poormystic··on [dead]
Don't worry, manufacture tinfoil hats okay?
poormystic··on [dead]
Yes and there are plenty of reasons for people to criticise me, too, but I'll nevertheless throw my infinitesimal weight behind Joni Mitchell and Neil Young to agree that covid19 misinformation must be discredited.
poormystic··on Should I build a Tesla coil for a science fair?
You've never seen a giant Tesla coil in operation have you? Believe me when you do you'll understand that you can absolutely not put such things into a public space like a science fair. They are very scary and definitely lethal.
poormystic··on What Is Imaginary Time?
In satori I have been conscious of a usually unnoticed "time" which is certainly orthogonal to the "time" of daily reality. In such moments I see that the creation of the observable cosmos (the Firmament) is continuous in what I shall now call imaginary time; the whole course and history of our cosmos is created at once. I have also seen that the Firmament arises from the Void (which is formless; which seethes with potential) through the desire of the Void to be like the beautiful Light, which is the light in the eyes of the Creator, whose nature is Love.
poormystic··on Chinese researchers claim electroculture works as theorized
But why publish this in HN, unless it's meant as an object lesson in poor experimental design.
poormystic··on Using marijuana may affect your ability to think and plan, study says
Once, I tried teaching math to homeschoolers after a smoke. Nope, and never again. Doesn't exactly help programming either.
poormystic··on Antimicrobial resistance now a leading cause of death worldwide, study finds
This is a weird article? First the headline - what does it mean? Then the illogical notion that antibiotic resistance causes death. What kind of thinking is this? Bacteria cause illness and death - you can't blame it on ineffective antibiotics. The article is piffle.
poormystic··on Ask HN: How to Grieve?
When my brother Richard died I was overwhelmed by grief, so I developed a systematic way to get through it. I assembled a list of all his adjectives (dear, lovely, wonderful, artistic etc) and all his nouns (brother, little brother, youngest brother, Richard, etc). Then, in the most bloody minded way, I went through and considered every combination of the 2 lists, and found that every descriptive phrase seemed to contain a droplet of grief... but only 1 such droplet. When I had worked through the whole list I had just about cried myself out, and I wasn't bothered by those phrases ever again. So I dealt with grief.
poormystic··on Ask HN: Do you think Wealth Inequality is solvable?
No, because wealth is the property of greedy intelligence, whose great power protects that wealth. It's continuous rape, and the perpetrators don't want to get off.
poormystic··on Incel Activity on Social Media Linked to Local Mating Ecology
"Facebook could be a force for good". Bleep
poormystic··on Ask HN: How can I stop worrying and start living?
Spend lots of time looking after others without seeking reward for yourself. Then there will be love in your life, and happiness will inevitably follow. Happy people are beautiful and easily loved, so you'll be doing yourself the most wonderful service by giving yourself to others.
poormystic··on Ask HN: Do you make new year resolutions and stick to it?
No New Year Resolutions for me! I just don't believe I'd stick for even 5 minutes unless I really wanted to do [it] and if I wanted to do [it] I wouldn't need any more resolution, right?
poormystic··on Ask HN: What practical skills do you recommend?
Get a good understanding of division.
poormystic··on Julian Assange suffers stroke while in prison
Thank you Coolgeek, I had believed this was new news
poormystic··on Ask HN: What are the signs that someone is intelligent?
Many people prefer to be thought fools. For example I personally prefer to sit quietly and observe until the need comes for action. I find that my actions (although effective) are not understood by those who try to control me. It's quiet fun for me to watch as they meet with unanticipated difficulties... had they understood the danger they would stay away. Yet if I were to let people see who I am from the beginning they might lay better plans.
poormystic··on A real probility problem(or is it?)
Lots of people have difficult neighbours and mostly we just have to put up with them. Usually the friendliest approaches have the best chance of success. Forcing issues usually makes them worse. IMO the police are not the proper resource in this case. I'd try an air-conditioning mechanic.
poormystic··on Ask HN: What is the most meaningful work you have done?
I like saving lives. I sometimes find myself in a position to help my friends when they are sick, and when I find a sick person without adequate care I step in to help, cooking and cleaning and taking them to the doctor... seeing to it that the doctor responds appropriately. I call ambulances to avert suicides and hang out with those at risk to encourage them to live. The rewards are happiness and peace.
poormystic··on Do you think there's room for a new photo based social media?
Perhaps such a service could succeed but for me trust is gone. There is simply too much evidence of sociopathy among the leaders of such services; Zuckerberg has fouled the nest. Human beings need one another personally, but I don't belive that friendships can successfully be mediated by Facebook, nor any similar site.
poormystic··on Where do you find great books?
I used to select library books on the basis of whether I liked their covers, and take the book to the left of the one I wanted. That way I discovered lots of new authors, a few of which were worth reading.
poormystic··on Ask HN: Any emerging alternatives to Facebook and social media worth noting?
Yeh. Getting rid of your phone and staying off that sociopath's website is a good alternative to being tracked and milked as though you were somebody else's property. Just leave, don't wait for a "better alternative ".
poormystic··on Mechanical cottage moves receding facade with use/seasons
Not suitable for cool climates... and how long can that mechanism keep it up with the warping, wooden frame?
poormystic··on NZ Police try to assume people’s online identities
What does Aunty Helen think?
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