Hacker News: Raphell

New comment by Raphell in "My favorite cult sci-fi and fantasy books you may not have heard of before"

Raphell — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:31:01 +0000

I really enjoy lists like this. These days, recommendation systems tend to push the most popular and addictive content, which makes it harder to stumble upon hidden gems. But I’ve found that older or more obscure novels often carry a different kind of imagination. They’re not following formulas and they’re not tied to movies or franchises. It feels like reading someone’s raw creative mind before it got polished or filtered. I’m also curious if anyone has a book that barely anyone talks about, but left a lasting impact on you. I’d love to add it to my list.

New comment by Raphell in "How to Give a Good Talk"

Raphell — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:07:40 +0000

The most helpful advice I’ve heard is not to aim for perfection. When you focus too much on structure and technique, the talk often feels stiff. What really connects with people is speaking about something you truly care about. The first time I gave a talk, I memorized the entire script and completely blanked on stage. Later, I spoke from the heart instead and it worked much better. Instead of trying to impress the audience, it might be more important to ask yourself why this matters to you.

New comment by Raphell in "The future is not self-hosted, but self-sovereign"

Raphell — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:28:25 +0000

I’ve always felt that self-hosting and self-sovereignty aren’t mutually exclusive. Most people don’t avoid freedom because they don’t want it, but because it’s too much hassle. The real question isn’t who wants control, but whether there’s a simpler way for ordinary people to have this sovereignty without wrestling with a pile of tech.

New comment by Raphell in "Effectiveness of trees in reducing temperature, outdoor heat exposure in Vegas"

Raphell — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 02:16:55 +0000

I don’t think planting trees is only for cooling things down. Sometimes it’s just about helping people feel like they can go outside. In really hot places, even a bit of shade can change your mind about stepping out.

New comment by Raphell in "Schizophrenia is the price we pay for minds poised near the edge of a cliff"

Raphell — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:07:57 +0000

I know someone who had a clear psychotic break and still hasn't fully recovered. The scariest part wasn't when he lost control. It was that he truly believed everything made perfect sense. The more you tried to care for him, the more he thought you were acting and trying to manipulate him.

New comment by Raphell in "Lateralized sleeping positions in domestic cats"

Raphell — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 07:31:47 +0000

My cat does the same thing. Whenever I lie on my side, they slowly roll over to snuggle against the same side every time. If I face the "wrong" way, they fidget and squirm for a while until they settle in.

Reading this study made me realize that cats are actually very good at finding balance.

New comment by Raphell in "OpenAI charges by the minute, so speed up your audio"

Raphell — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:45:43 +0000

I get it. But I'm just someone who likes to think things through and say them simply.

New comment by Raphell in "Managing time when time doesn't exist"

Raphell — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:37:40 +0000

We keep stressing about not having enough time, and then physicists come along and say, "Well, time might not even exist." It’s like carefully trying to organize a desk that isn’t actually there. Maybe focus is the only real resource.

New comment by Raphell in "How to Think About Time in Programming"

Raphell — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:23:18 +0000

I never really took time seriously until one of my cron jobs skipped execution because of daylight saving. That was the moment I realized how tricky time actually is.

This article explains it really well. The part about leap seconds especially got me. We literally have to smear time to keep servers from crashing. That’s kind of insane.

New comment by Raphell in "How to Think About Time in Programming"

Raphell — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 02:37:07 +0000

I never really took time seriously until one of my cron jobs skipped execution because of daylight saving. That was the moment I realized how tricky time actually is. This article explains it really well. The part about leap seconds especially got me. We literally have to smear time to keep servers from crashing. That’s kind of insane.