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thret

1,712 karma · joined November 19, 2010

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thret··on Mosquito swatter gamer mod with kill counter, sound and rechargeable battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deadliest_animals_to_h...

Mosquitos kill more people each year than all other animals combined - including humans. I believe violence for fun is evil, but perhaps this is one instance where it is to be encouraged. Perhaps gamifying it in this way distances people from the feeling of ending a life.

thret··on Sr Manager at Google Resigns After Dalit Activist Disallowed from Giving Lecture
Name, skin colour, and yes they can speak to each other.
thret··on IQ scores are falling and have been for decades (2018)
Is this attributable to leaded gasoline? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Midgley_Jr. "Use of leaded gasoline, which he invented, released large quantities of lead into the atmosphere all over the world. High atmospheric lead levels have been linked with serious long-term health problems from childhood, including neurological impairment"
thret··on Mygov is a ‘huge disappointment,’ key architect despairs
I also work in government and my process is this: find the number of the lowest ranked person on the team I need to talk to, and call them directly. Follow the official channels after you have gotten verbal approval.
thret··on A Saudi woman's iPhone revealed hacking around the world
Surgeons aren't put in jail for faulty surgery. Wanting this for software is a bit draconian.
thret··on Impacts of lack of sleep
The end of your life is not guaranteed. Your life may be shortened any number of ways unrelated to how much sleep you have had.

Let's say you live to be 90, sleeping 8 hours a day. That's 60 years of actual living time, 20 of which occur between ages 60 and 90. If you sleep 4 hours a day and live to be 90, that's 75 years awake with those extra 15 years spread over your entire life - not just the last third which is likely to be less enjoyable and productive.

thret··on The rising human cost of sports betting
The less used numbers still have a negative expected value, but you are correct in that numbers 1-12 and 13-31 do have lower payouts because people commonly bet on dates like birthdays.
thret··on The rising human cost of sports betting
Yep. Professional gamblers are always looking to buy new accounts. They get burnt every few months and have to move to new ones.
thret··on Play chess, earn money
I believe detection of cheating is becoming quite good at major online sites. Seems like they would need to hold on to winnings for a while after games though iot settle disputes because it does take time.
thret··on The Pandemic Boom Goes Bust
Agreed. I have some good exposure to Tesla, but I would gladly increase it if they drop further.
thret··on New genetic study confirms that alcohol is a direct cause of cancer
I don't have stats no, just personal experience. It could certainly be a reflection on the fact that I drink, and in both the UAE and Malaysia my friends also moved in multicultural circles. Maybe it's similar to people who take drugs in Western societies - they tend to hang out together.

Of course being a Muslim and actually practicing Islam are two different things.

thret··on James Webb telescope reaches its final destination in space, million miles away
'Football fields' seem particularly vague as there are half a dozen different sports called football, and each of these have different sized fields.
thret··on New genetic study confirms that alcohol is a direct cause of cancer
Not really, because they are more likely to lie about how much alcohol and or drugs they take. I have lived in two Muslim countries now and I don't know any Muslims who don't drink in private. I doubt they'd admit to it on a survey though.
thret··on Only known video of the Chirodectes jellyfish
Unknown! But it's estimated that only 5% of the ocean has been explored.
thret··on Only known video of the Chirodectes jellyfish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirodectes
thret··on RNA breakthrough creates crops that can grow 50 percent more potatoes, rice
To be clear my knowledge of this topic is limited to that found in 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' by Jared Diamond. I haven't checked his sources.
thret··on RNA breakthrough creates crops that can grow 50 percent more potatoes, rice
Peas famously have been cultivated from a single mutation that does not burst when ripe. They can't reproduce without human intervention.
thret··on Deloitte tells staff they can work from home forever
There is something glorious about walking five minutes to work and knowing your co-worker spent an hour in traffic. It's like cheating death on a small scale.
thret··on A police dog who cried drugs at every traffic stop
This is completely incorrect. There have been several large-scale tests of this theory, notably Australia, that proved it to be false. Genetics have nothing to do with it.
thret··on Waking Up During Surgery (2019)
Yes, this is my fear. After surgery it is not a problem, but in the weeks leading up to a surgery it's terrifying.
thret··on Employee accused of skipping work for 15 years
There's three phases to any ongoing favour: 1. Gratitude 2. Taking it for granted 3. Expecting it as a right
thret··on The patent troll that won a $308M jury trial against Apple
I doubt they are using the money any more altruistically than Apple would.
thret··on Jump in cancer diagnoses at 65 implies patients wait for Medicare: study
"There is no central medical database or significant communication between hospital systems."

I find this somewhat astonishing and deeply troubling. How can patients or doctors truly make informed decisions if they are not in fact well informed? This is not right at all.

thret··on Jump in cancer diagnoses at 65 implies patients wait for Medicare: study
Is there some analysis that goes into deciding to operate on someone of advanced age? The records of all births, deaths, and surgeries are known. Isn't it possible to compute the life expectancy of someone with or without surgery and simply select the best outcome? What benefit does surgery have if someone is likely to live to 85-90 without it?
thret··on Jump in cancer diagnoses at 65 implies patients wait for Medicare: study
Perhaps Australians present to their doctors early for all symptoms, and it is the doctors who diagnose cancer? I can't speak for everyone in Australia but for me, if I am sick I have to see a doctor in order to get 'sick leave'. I have unlimited paid sick leave provided a doctor has recommended it. It also doesn't cost me anything to see a doctor or get any kind of test or treatment/surgery done - it is all covered by work.
thret··on The Bank of England unveils design of new £50 banknote featuring Alan Turing
What do you mean? You can only hold people accountable for their own sins, not the sins of their forebearers.
thret··on Swarms of soldier crabs can implement logical gates (2012)
I just want to point out that humans also swarm effectively. Especially at protests or when there are fires nearby.
thret··on Why Read Classic Books?
The filter, exactly. You will probably only read ~5000 books in your lifetime so targeting the best of the best will maximise your enjoyment. Of course you should pursue an author/series/subject that you particularly enjoy. It's also nice to read books that friends recommend so that you can share the experience with them.
thret··on Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay
Mao Tse Tung said change must come Change must come thru the barrel of a gun?
thret··on Immortality vs. Society (2016)
I do agree with this thesis in the sense that leaving an inheritance has no benefit to you. I've tried to explain to people that life insurance is a waste of money for this very reason but it is hard to put into words.

I think they are undervaluing procreation though. You should do it because it makes you happy - I have never met a parent who regretted having children.

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