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wilwade

240 karma · joined June 16, 2014

meet.hn/city/us-Chattanooga

Socials: - github.com/wilwade - x.com/wilwade - t.me/wil_wade

--- [ my public key: https://keybase.io/wilwade; my proof: https://keybase.io/wilwade/sigs/nZ0lyJfhN-Ef9irLpt9uz4QRz-iqX2RpOVRVd111nl0 ]

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wilwade··on Culture Is Stuck
I hate to "blame this on millennials," but think it might be just that millennial (and gen-X) culture is stuck.

1. I think that is common for every generation however. "Pop culture" changed, but is mostly the youth. The older generations didn't change that much. We remember the differences, but forget how much is the same. 2. Youth culture is different today than the late 00's, but it takes time and space to see those differences clearly. 3. Cultural plateau is the historical norm. While we can argue if it is good or bad, the wider 1k+ year historical view shows this is just a reversion to the mean. (granted before it was localized and now mostly globalized)

wilwade··on Ask HN: What’s your plan for getting laid off?
A few things I haven't seen mentioned.

Make sure you have connections with your coworkers you wish to remain connected with (for friendship and/or opportunities).

Make sure you have no personal data saved only on your work computer.

Advocate for open sourcing any small utilities or other code that you have written so that you can have good public code samples.

Make sure that you have non-work access to retirement accounts, paycheck stubs, etc...

Finally, be willing to leave first. (For many) it can be hard to not have your work as part of your identity. Remember that businesses cannot care about you, just people in them.

wilwade··on Ask HN: Team fun event ideas during WFH?
Cost: $0 Time: ~1 hour Location: Zoom Requires: Someone to act as host

Here's something we recently tried that worked fairly well: Story Time. The goal was to share short humorous stories. Exaggerations were encouraged. And topics suggested. To help I (acting as the host) started it off with a story about a car and picking up "new" clothing at 70 mph. Opening up to others for other stories, but specifically encouraging stories about cars or clothing (to help prime the pump).

People tended to thread story topics on their own for the most part, but if things quieted down, I would add in another story, likely shifting the topic around some.

A few stories fell flat, but they are short and for the most part it worked really well. It also helped with one of the parts of "Zoom Happy Hour" that I hate: not knowing who is supposed to be talking and when to join in.

It does require a level of comfort with the team, but at the same time it allowed an enjoyable time for those who just wanted to lurk. It also didn't appear to be limited to those who lean extroverted as some happy hours can even in real life.

wilwade··on Google requiring Android apps on Play store to use its billing system next year
I hope this leads to a better non-Google App store. I have to keep Google Play disabled most of the time or it forces my phone to re-enable the Chrome browser each night. I choose to use Firefox on my phone and thus have Chrome disabled (it is not uninstallable without rooting). Google Play however will enable a non-system critical app that I explicitly told the operating system to disable.
wilwade··on Show HN: TitleRun – The game that only exists in your title bar
Reminds me of the great Line Wobbler game: https://wobblylabs.com/projects/wobbler

Still need to make one of these using the Twang code https://github.com/Critters/TWANG

wilwade··on I won’t buy ebooks anymore
I refused to buy Amazon ebooks when I learned that I didn't own them. I only owned a right to read them (dependent on many legal things).

The price of an ebook has so far been the same as the price of a physical book. Considering the resale value of a book is on average about 50% of the original price, the real price of an ebook for the user with this limitation should be ~50% less than the cost of the paper book. (Not taking into account shipping costs, etc...)

This became real to me when my aunt died. She had purchased thousands of dollars worth of ebooks. Had she purchased physical books, those books would have been donated or resold. At a loss to the publisher, but a gain to the original purchaser and secondary purchaser. (or estate in this case).

Unless I as the purchaser am at least partially compensated for this loss of value by a price decrease, I cannot buy ebooks with a resale limitation.

wilwade··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2019)
Utiliflex | Lead Software Engineer | Chattanooga, TN | Onsite | Fulltime | 110k-150k

We’re a small, established company that builds prepaid electric metering solutions. Deployments across the globe, helping the world connect to the power grid.

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer. You will get your hands dirty in every layer of the stack. You’ll manage a small team, clean up legacy code, and build new products that help real people. We have Go and PHP in production, but don’t care if your experience is in other languages.

Perks? Very flexible hours, 401k, health insurance, etc... This is a job you can make what you want. Interested in learning more about the business side? Sure. Want do to some international travel? Ok. Think you do better with a four day work week? Let’s try it.

Send a note to joe.gordon@utiliflex.com if you are interested.

wilwade··on Using only open-source software on Android
"...and Firefox on Android still isn't a great experience..."

As a daily FF on Android user, I am not sure what he is finding issues with. I wish he would elaborate so his issues can get fixed.

wilwade··on Giving Up on the Current MacBook Pro Keyboard
It's the TB 15". I thought about seeing if I could go into an Apple store and see if I could get them to do it, but I am currently 2 hours away from the closest real one.
wilwade··on Giving Up on the Current MacBook Pro Keyboard
I didn't find any how to, so here is a bit of what I did:

Failed: compressed air

Failed: cleaning under the key.

Success:

Remove the key (careful, these keys really like to break the bottom u hooks)

Remove the butterfly

Peel off the glued membrane

Cleaned all with 90% alcohol.

Took a new membrane (you might be able to use old) and used E6000 glue and a toothpick to glue it back (don't get the contacts).

Replaced butterfly and key.

Not a good solution, but it worked.

I got the key, butterfly, and membrane from replacementlaptopkeys.com.

It looked like the contacts were getting coated/corroded and not making good contact? Perhaps heat?

wilwade··on Don’t buy the MacBook Pros even on sale, in my opinion
I had the issue with the doubling with the b key as well.

Mine was out of warranty, so I fixed it myself.

Failed: compressed air Failed: cleaning under the key.

Success (but not recommended) I removed the key, then pulled off the glued membrane. Cleaned all with 90% alcohol. Took a new membrane (but you might be able to use old) and used E6000 and a toothpick to glue it back. Replaced butterfly and key.

Not a good solution, but it worked.

It looked like the contacts were getting coated and not making good contact? Perhaps heat?

Best of luck.

wilwade··on Giving Up on the Current MacBook Pro Keyboard
Lots of trouble with mine as well. Key presses getting doubled or more. Especially on the "b" key. Had to replace the entire key and membrane and clean underneath the glued membrane to get it working again. (was 2 months out of warranty)

Also had the left command key just fall off. I know I rest my finger on it, but it shouldn't just fall off.

I like the low travel that some complain about, but any keyboard is useless if it doesn't work consistently.

wilwade··on My Favorite PostgreSQL Queries and Why They Matter
I use Psequel (psequel.com) when I am out of the CLI and it works nicely and plays nicely with osx.
wilwade··on If iPads were meant for kids
So there are many hacker type comments below. And I somewhat agree with them. My kids use an Ubuntu box where while they are not sudoers they can do what a user can.

The tablets (android) are different. For one the age can be much younger. My 2 yr old can play with the tablet, but I don't think giving her access to settings is going to help make her into a hacker. Ability to read makes a big difference between iPad and computer.

I will also note that giving your kids access to scratch and python is far more likely to build the next generation of hackers than having access to iOS settings.

wilwade··on Improving the way kids are taught to read
(I taught my daughter to read, my wife currently working on our son, both with a phonics based curriculum, but more in a Vygotsky style)

One of the motivations we have used is comic books. (Yes, that death of classic reading!) Both of our kids are My Little Pony fans, so we read a lot of those comic books for story time and gave them the books as they were learning to read. Wanting to read is a requirement for learning to read.

wilwade··on Why it's hard to quit Amazon Prime, even if maybe you should
As a former prime member, there are times I miss it, but not much.

What I miss most is Amazon caring about me as a customer. I don't think I am the only one who finds that as a non-prime customer my packages take a really long time to ship.

I often have to contact Amazon to get them to actually ship my infrequent orders.

Once you are out, you are really out.

wilwade··on Community-Owned Fiber Networks: Value Leaders in America
Just wanted to pipe in as I live in Chattanooga, TN one of the cities mentioned in the report. $58 a month for 100/100 ($70 for 1000/1000 and $300 for 10000/10000. that's right anywhere in the county you can get 10G/10G) and a bill that is always correct.

I am here in part because of the fiber network. That said it is not just the fast internet, but the quality of the service people. They have always shown up on time and gone above and beyond each time. They know how to run a cable properly (drip curve for example).

Plus they have a no data cap and net neutrality pledge.

Feels like most of the rest of of the country is in the dark ages on most or all of those points.

wilwade··on Amazon Key is a new service that lets couriers unlock your front door
Let's think about this for a minute. (ignoring if the tech works)

1. For people without a security system, there are many simple ways to get into a house. If you are worried about people getting into your house, you might not want this, but you better also already have a nice security system (that is also not on a botnet).

2. At least for us, we generally recognize our UPS & USPS folk that deliver to our house.

3. This has a log and video of the drop off.

4. Who do you trust more? The people delivering your package or the random person driving around the neighborhood looking for packages that would imply you are not at home? (or just grabbing your package)

All that said, usually someone is at home when we get deliveries so I wouldn't buy it (also don't use Amazon much). But I don't see the reason for the backlash.

wilwade··on Ask HN: Web developer and looking for a career change, what are my options?
While I have not yet changed careers, I have thought about it a lot. If or when I do, here is how I will likely go about it.

First save money and change lifestyle to handle the pay change. Coding pays more than many careers, and you might want or need to move to an industry that you have little experience.

Next, be open to moving. There are other places outside of the big cities that can often be open to people from different backgrounds as they don't have all the big city fun.

What do you like or have experience in. Making a slight shift is a lot easier than a large one. Perhaps you coded something for a newspaper, that will make it easier to get a job doing something else for a newspaper. This might mean doing a double jump. Get a job coding for the industry you want to be in, then move toward your desired career in that industry.

Best of luck!

wilwade··on Scientists Design Solar Cell That Captures Nearly All Energy of Solar Spectrum
I also have the same (10.7 cents over the past year). We have a community solar project in town, but it is ~13 cents over 20 years as well.
wilwade··on Why is this little construction crane illegal in New York City? (2016)
Why is this little construction crane not being used in other cities?

This is what is the oddest piece of the story to me. There are lots of cities where these buildings are built. Mid-size cities. If the cost of the tower crane is so much more than this one, then the cost of transport should be minimal.

wilwade··on Ask HN: Should I invest time on mastering the command line or the Jetbrains IDE?
Not just easier, but less cognitive load. You are still learning a ton about programming (we all are, but). You also hopefully have a life outside of programming. JetBrains (and others) allow you to easily learn the IDE along the way, but also can help with good practices. That is worth a lot of valuable time.
wilwade··on Show HN: Infinity School – Learning through making and discovery
@calhat

As someone who was homeschooled all but US 2nd grade and has homeschooled some so far with the kids, a few notes.

1. I know you are UK focused, but there is a large homeschool market in the states, and most of the states (each differs) do not have curriculum requirements. I suggest providing either a US site or US grades and USD option.

2. It was mentioned already, but please show an example lesson and even better some of the organization in the curriculum.

3. Video of kids interacting with the content would also be great.

4. Completeness? Is this a supplement or complete curriculum?

Best of success to you!

wilwade··on Powerwall 2 and Integrated Solar
Another data point. Past 12 months we're at 22,000 kwh. Average of 60kwh a day. Older 4 br house with people almost always in it. USA, TN.

I think the main difference for us is that my wife and some of the kids are at home almost all the time and we kept the house warmer for the baby this winter.

wilwade··on Ask HN: Team for Hire?
Thanks. Currently we are trying to stay in Chattanooga.
wilwade··on Ask HN: Team for Hire?
Their ssl cert is showing up bad. I sent an email, but I'm not sure they are still a thing.
wilwade··on Ask HN: Team for Hire?
1) Outside of family and homes, the cost of living is just crazy. Especially with a family. Also the area is more family friendly than SF (since I was there last). Commute is short and easy. Plus trees (different than SF). 2) Yes 3) No 4) As always comments are my own and may not reflect the opinions of my employer. (They have been quite kind in offering time and space to assist in job transition.) 5) These differ around the team, but shouldn't be an issue.

Will look into Stripe!

wilwade··on Enough with Basic Income
A reasonable article, albeit not capturing the full argument for UBI. One missing pro-argument is reducing the creativity monetary risk barrier.

Entrepreneurship is at about 14% working age adults in the US (1). I would say that the number of people who would be entrepreneurs is higher, but limited by risk. Entrepreneurship is very high risk. Reducing that risk would enable more people to become entrepreneurs (a good thing). Removing the risk that being an entrepreneur will make you loose the shirt off your back, will allow more people to start companies.

It is not limited to entrepreneurship. How many more amazing painters would there be? Writers? How much more creative common good would there be in the world if basic needs (via UBI) was taken care of?

None of the current social risk insurance, are directly reducing this loss to us all.

(1) http://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/us-entrepreneurship-reache...

wilwade··on Is Spelling Reform, Ten Years Old, a Success? (1916)
From the 1916 article:

"These teachers knew better than any one else how much valuable time was wasted in getting by heart long lists of words."

This is perhaps an interesting argument for simplifying spelling. Namely to give en-US children a competitive edge on the world education scale by increasing the amount of time that is able to be devoted to other subjects.

wilwade··on Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
No kids books have been listed, but I have found them all too often enlightening. Sometimes even more than an adult book.

I and my kids have enjoyed all of Graeme Base's books, but The Eleventh Hour is particularly good and have given it to many kids and adults: http://graemebase.com/book/the-eleventh-hour/

I am also thinking about giving Yertle the Turtle By Dr. Seuss out to anyone I meet before the election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yertle_the_Turtle_and_Other_St... I have given many Dr. Seuss books away as well.

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