Hacker News: Paddywack

New comment by Paddywack in "Show HN: An interactive map of US lighthouses and navigational aids"

Paddywack — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 04:41:46 +0000

This reminded me of a friend of my dad’s from South Africa - Don (Donald) Devine, who bought into a the Lighthouse Depot years ago and rode the (then) lighthouse fad.

It was amazing seeing this successful large scale businessman turning his attention to a family business and growing that.

RIP to Don, my dad, and as I’ve just discovered, the business…

New comment by Paddywack in "CARA – High precision robot dog using rope"

Paddywack — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:18:28 +0000

Can you recommend where to find beginners projects that “do stuff”.

New comment by Paddywack in "On thinkers and doers (2022)"

Paddywack — Sun, 11 May 2025 10:22:29 +0000

My first big startup had the following on the cover of the business plan (it disrupted consulting):

“Some think, Some do, Some both, But few”.

Got that from a lecturer.

New comment by Paddywack in "OpenAI for Countries"

Paddywack — Thu, 08 May 2025 02:52:56 +0000

I’ll try, but not succeed with a view from Australia..

Companies and governments have been concerned about data and AI sovereignty, and chip (processing) access. The new risks imposed by the USA are increasing this concern / push.

So, it’s hardly surprising that Sama is getting a lot of calls for local instances.

However, if the data etc. moves back to the USA this is exactly the opposite of the control companies and governments are looking for.

So, fair proposal, wrong execution.

New comment by Paddywack in "Your phone isn't secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing"

Paddywack — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:31:11 +0000

Reminds me of something that a Telco exec once said in jest - “A bank can track which hotel you stayed at last night, the Telco knows who you slept with”

New comment by Paddywack in "The Difference Between Municipal Fire Trucks and Airport Fire Trucks"

Paddywack — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:46:33 +0000

I may write a post. A lot of the effort was removing weight without killing the aesthetics. It has been an awesome outlet for creativity and fiddling. I have built everything myself, with input from tradies - everyone just loves helping. Maintanance I leave to the mechanics.

So far it has (a) back bench converted into sleeper area (b) slushie machines, foam machine, beer keg pourer, slide out bbq (c) built a roof that you can sleep in. (D) roof lifts with linear actuators to expose dj lights/smoke machine in the centre (e) plumbing / electrics etc so we can use off-grid.

It has heaps of storage space and is super fun and easy to drive!

New comment by Paddywack in "The Difference Between Municipal Fire Trucks and Airport Fire Trucks"

Paddywack — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:28:17 +0000

I randomly bought a fire truck a few months ago. I was looking for something to convert into a camper van, and found my truck: (A) low mileage, compared to other trucks because of the usage. Ambulances etc. are super high mileage. (B) they have excellent maintenance, so it’s ship shape (C) low comparable purchase cost due to tiny resale market.

I’m loving it. Kids love it. Community loves it. Wife tolerates it. Converted it into a camper and party truck!

New comment by Paddywack in "No one is disrupting banks – at least not the big ones"

Paddywack — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 07:40:09 +0000

In developing countries (Africa, South Asia, South America) many of the banks were disrupted by mobile payments providers. Granted, it was more that they missed servicing the 80% of their markets that were unserviced but still needed to do things we all take for granted. Some of these are now the default payments systems.

Apple to pay $95M to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of snoopy eavesdropping

Paddywack — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 22:45:44 +0000

Article URL: https://apnews.com/article/apple-siri-iphone-lawsuit-settlement-9b8ab3e079ae6962435f38eddb937b39

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42579831

Points: 21

# Comments: 14

New comment by Paddywack in "The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint [pdf]"

Paddywack — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:30:31 +0000

I often tell my people to “stop decking around”, or “don’t be a deckhead”…

New comment by Paddywack in "Behind OpenAI's plan to make A.I. flow like electricity"

Paddywack — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:09:03 +0000

Out of interest, who would be in the top X of that list?

New comment by Paddywack in "I Am Tired of AI"

Paddywack — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:55:06 +0000

> So AI isn't really a tool for creating substance. It's a tool for automating impression management.

I was speaking to a design lecturer the other evening. His fascinating insight was that:

1. The best designers get so much fulfilment out of practicing the craft of design.

2. With the advent of low cost “impression making”, the role has changed to one of “review a lot of mediocre outputs and pick the least crap one”

3. This is robbing people of the pleasure and reward associated with craftsmanship.

I have noted this is applicable so many other crafts, and it’s really sad!

Edited afterthought… Is craftsmanship being replaced by “clickandreviewmanship”?

New comment by Paddywack in "Euphemisms are best changed frequently (2016)"

Paddywack — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:26:30 +0000

That’s fascinating.

I get a big mental hiccup when trying to reference a group and am fearful to use the wrong terminology in case it causes offence / hurt / outrage.

I never mean malice, and it’s especially bad when a term changes and isn’t even fully agreed on by the group it refers to.

Like a Pavlovian dog, this kick of anxiety actually feels like it estranges me from groups rather than brings me closer (my intention) because of the fear I have of making a miss-step.

New comment by Paddywack in "Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records?"

Paddywack — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:18:06 +0000

Years ago Johannesburg put in an Olympic bid. Because of the high altitude (1753m) they had issues affecting a number of disciplines when it came to records due to the thinner air...

If I recall correctly: - Javeline would go further (less air resistance) - High cardio events would go slower (less oxygen for athletes)

That would have been a "slow pool" factor all things being equal!

New comment by Paddywack in "Pi Gazing is a project to build meteor cameras using Raspberry Pi"

Paddywack — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 23:51:12 +0000

I wonder if SpaceX could put cameras on the far side of the Starlink satellites to make a network gazing outwards. To help compensate for the frustration they are causing astronomers…

New comment by Paddywack in "Super Heavy has splashed down in The Gulf of Mexico"

Paddywack — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:20:44 +0000

I’m not a scientist, but is it not at terminal velocity for most of the way down by definition? So it’s not slowing down to reach terminal velocity, it’s just that the resistance becomes higher thus reducing terminal velocity?

New comment by Paddywack in "How actors remember their lines"

Paddywack — Thu, 30 May 2024 08:41:54 +0000

Thanks - such an awesome perspective! I’ll pay more attention to the character and see how it goes!

It will save a lot of internal frustration if I nail that!

New comment by Paddywack in "How actors remember their lines"

Paddywack — Thu, 30 May 2024 07:50:30 +0000

Mmmm. I think I intuitively study like this, but I often have issues recalling the original word. For example - remembering “shy” for the dwarf “Bashful”, my brain will cycle through heaps of synonyms trying to pick which one is right (while not not making a fool of myself).

New comment by Paddywack in "OpenAI didn’t copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT, records show"

Paddywack — Thu, 23 May 2024 22:32:38 +0000

Could he not just have bought the rights from the studio that owns “Her”, and have been in the clear?

New comment by Paddywack in "What is the most useful project you have worked on?"

Paddywack — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 03:43:24 +0000

I was brought to Pakistan in 2008 to help lead the launch of EasyPaisa, a mobile money platform. It was extreme, not only due to the scale of the launch (1000’s of branches on day 1), the complexity of setting up cash logistics etc across the country, but also because of the on-going terror attacks etc. It was hard, but super rewarding - so many people so thankful for how it made their lives that little bit easier! Best team ever!