Hacker News: alexslobodnik

New comment by alexslobodnik in "GPT-5.5"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:30:19 +0000

Unless the precondition to AGI is it being a slacker.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Probability of typing a wrong Bitcoin address"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:42:44 +0000

There's a reason folks in ethereum use ENS. It supports BTC / Solana addresses too.

GLP-1s are breaking life insurance

alexslobodnik — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:31:47 +0000

Article URL: https://www.glp1digest.com/p/how-glp-1s-are-breaking-life-insurance

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44552414

Points: 441

# Comments: 620

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Flounder Mode – Kevin Kelly on a different way to do great work"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:56:37 +0000

The binary perspective gives an excuse to give up.

The reasonable perspective does not. It demonstrates that though agency is limited it does exist.

Our life outcomes are connected to our actions. For many their circumstances make this an unpleasant thought, thus binary thinking protect their self-image. For some that's all they have left.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Smart Contract Security Field Guide"

alexslobodnik — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:56:10 +0000

Ethereum name service, more commonly known as ENS.

In ethereum address appear like 0x233eb...042, ENS let's you associate a human readable name like nick.eth with that address.

Works similar to DNS, turning IP addresses into something we humans recognize.

What's the pro of using a smart contract? (DNS works without one).

With a smart contract you can have immutable data store (assuming ethereum continues) that can give you ownership over your name, like nick.eth.

What's the con?

It's immutable which means people can own names they shouldn't with no mediation process possible.

Like a lot of things in life the system is good as long the system works for you, but not everyone is lucky enough to exist in a system that works well enough.

Crypto* is trying to make things better.

edit: *some people are others are not

You can't tell people anything (2004)

alexslobodnik — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 22:29:34 +0000

Article URL: http://habitatchronicles.com/2004/04/you-cant-tell-people-anything/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35282293

Points: 440

# Comments: 182

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Ask HN: Again: The “I want to do everything but end up doing nothing” dilemma"

alexslobodnik — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 17:10:12 +0000

impressive site, impressive achievements

hats off

New comment by alexslobodnik in "The End of My Crypto Explorations"

alexslobodnik — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 14:50:32 +0000

There's also several projects attacking web3 social and identity:

1. https://ens.domains/

2. https://nftychat.xyz/ [0]

3. https://www.farcaster.xyz/

4. https://tryshowtime.xyz/

[0] I'm the co-founder

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Woman holds up Lebanese bank for $13k of her own money"

alexslobodnik — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:18:56 +0000

it is a gradient of ownership

do i own the house i bought? well, yes as long i keep paying property taxes.

what is ownership really and how much more/less does one own crypto vs. money in bank. is it quantity dependent? is it time sensitive?

there are no certainties in life, besides death and taxes.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Argentina's currency exchange black markets"

alexslobodnik — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 21:09:51 +0000

time will tell

i wonder if there is a /remind me in 5 years feature on hackernews

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Choosing happiness"

alexslobodnik — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 07:39:09 +0000

the initial hit of delight can help folks work through the parts of the app that are deficient.

give value as soon as possible.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Argentina's currency exchange black markets"

alexslobodnik — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 06:46:58 +0000

the KYC comes during off ramps back to the fiat system.

the exchange i use has already KYC'ed me intensively and they know which wallets i use.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Argentina's currency exchange black markets"

alexslobodnik — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 10:48:36 +0000

I can send DAI to my friends in Europe cheaper than an international wire.

My real name is connected to my wallet publicly, I have no issues with KYC for my own wallets.

I still find stable coins useful.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Your online identity is owned by your email provider (2019)"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:57:36 +0000

i'm not well versed on key management outside of the blockchain space.

one key management wallet i like is https://www.argent.xyz/

maybe this is rudimentary by traditional standards but this an advancement for wallet management.

the key feature is you can recover access to your assets even if you lose your keys through social recovery.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Amazon is not going to make a bid for Electronic Arts – sources"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 12:10:51 +0000

after the franchise wars, all restaurants are taco bell.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Your online identity is owned by your email provider (2019)"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:59:08 +0000

that's a good question.

would i rather have an entity that i have no power against (google) or only my own error? the outcome is the same, i had x, now i don't. personally, i'd prefer being responsible, but it is a by a thin margin.

that being said, key management has and will continue to get easier. so over time, the risk of key loss should diminish.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Lyndon Johnson’s Campaign by Helicopter (2016)"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:27:26 +0000

For those who are not aware Lyndon Johnson won by a mere 87 votes. Those votes were bought and paid for according to Caro.

That chapter alone is worth reading the entire book for.

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Your online identity is owned by your email provider (2019)"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:20:49 +0000

web3 is correcting this with censorship resistance usernames via ethereum name service[0].

a lot of famous folks have already using them [1].

[0] https://ens.domains/

[1] https://ethleaderboard.xyz/

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Zooko's Triangle"

alexslobodnik — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 20:27:46 +0000

they can pick a different name, i don't really understand what solution you are advocating. that no one can be vitalik because there are more than one?

New comment by alexslobodnik in "Is this the end of social networking?"

alexslobodnik — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 00:39:00 +0000

web3 is taking a stab at reinventing this without the need of phone numbers.

see

[1] https://spkz.io/

[2] https://nftychat.xyz/

[3] https://gm.xyz/

*disclosure i'm a co-founder of #2