<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>Hacker News: laomai</title><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=laomai</link><description>Hacker News RSS</description><docs>https://hnrss.org/</docs><generator>hnrss v2.1.1</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:46:31 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://hnrss.org/user?id=laomai" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "I developed an AI clothing-changing tool. Would you like to take a look?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>From a consumer perspective, ideally it’d be clothing retailer adjacent: find outfit online, you become the model.<p>However, not sure if desirable for the industry as many people might buy and not return items online with the aspiration they’ll eventually look good in them — compared to clothes the physically try on?<p>Just my gut reaction.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 03:53:37 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43969531</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43969531</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43969531</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "In restaurants, We need a new way to signal that we're ready to pay"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Related story, In the US, so YMMV:<p>I tend to try to pay in advance when I order so I don’t have to wait 5-10 minutes to get a bill, then have them run off as I grab my payment method of choice, to wait another 5-10 minutes to actually pay.<p>I was a little confused how my requests to pay early seemed to slightly irritate waitstaff. So I asked some restraint owner friends of mine and they mentioned how, depending on the POS configuration, the act of requesting or paying the check (forgot which one) automatically queues up your table availability to the next guest.<p>So I guess, convenience workflow feature for the restaurant host impacts creates an annoyingly rigid behavioral pattern that unexpectedly passes “waiting frustration” on to diners.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:53:15 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43778574</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43778574</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43778574</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Show HN: Bracket City – A daily, exploded (?) crossword puzzle"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Clever idea. I like it.<p>Maybe visualization of the brackets could be improved a bit.<p>The overriding problem for me was the nonstandard keyboard. Would love to be able to use my device keyboard</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:16:27 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43167309</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43167309</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43167309</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Dumb website only lets one user in at a time"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Reminds of the old Gbbs days :-)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:39:33 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40912040</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40912040</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40912040</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "The hottest new programming language is English Or maybe not"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Laws should have built-in expiration dates so they would be forced to be renewed/refactored every period to expand robustness or trim cruft.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:11:41 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39661197</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39661197</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39661197</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Malware from a Vibrator?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Is there any kind of usb device that you can put between your usb port and a usb stick that would limit the device to charging or just reading the usb device (but not writing to the computer)?<p>Or was the digital condom idea just for sh*ts and giggles?<p>(For charging only I guess being struck about using a usb charger and not a device would be safer? In multi-port chargers can devices use the multiport as a hub to connect to other devices that are charging?)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:29:28 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39540183</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39540183</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39540183</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "No One's Name Was Changed at Ellis Island"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Based on my own genealogical research, you can’t expect exact fidelity over time once you go back 120 years or so.<p>From my Irish side we haves back and forth over recorded name, baptism records, common names, nicknames and what all.<p>Not to mention just poor handwriting. Forebears that maybe couldn’t write, local variations of names, etc.<p>Walsh/Walch/Welch/Welsh<p>Mary Ann could be:<p>Maria Mariah Anne Marianne Annie Anna depending on the time, relation and who said it to the census guy</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:27:21 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39052992</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39052992</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39052992</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Why British chocolate tastes the way it does"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>My go to. +1</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 Dec 2023 17:07:38 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38764208</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38764208</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38764208</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "OpenAI Preparedness Challenge"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Maybe I’m reading this wrong:
- ask people to get creative and give ideas for worst possible outcomes from use of AI and ways to prevent it.<p>..then give them a ton of credits for using said AI?<p>.. well the first thing on my mind would be try the thing I just told you and see if it was really a risk or not?<p>Is that what they expect people to do with the reward, or is this some unintended consequence?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:22:32 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38030514</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38030514</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38030514</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Support for Third U.S. Political Party Up to 63%"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Why do I feel like we put more effort into vetting/interviewing employees than political candidates in the US?<p>Say we had to choose candidates like we choose employees, we should have:
- individual tests for the employee (actual aptitude in things like strategy, diplomacy, math & statistics, science)
- behavioral tests (how likely to lie/take risks)
- etc.<p>Instead it all seems to boil down to statistics-backed popularity contests half-a-step up from elementary school class elections.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:28:19 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37859400</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37859400</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37859400</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "[dead]"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I think the proper first place to look is Hernando De Alto’s class Mystery of Capital… most entrepreneurs are small gray market businesses. They can’t grow because they lack access to capital because of the extra-legal nature of the business or people. Building easy access bridges to turn your gray market business into a white market business would unlock these entrepreneurs.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2023 23:10:19 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37489891</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37489891</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37489891</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Threads Surpasses 30M Signups"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I don’t understand why anyone is going to Threads at all. I mean, post Drop Facebook and all, why would you go back into the Zucks social arms?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:42:12 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36619834</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36619834</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36619834</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "NewsNotFound: An open-source, unbiased news company"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Not a plug, but I subscribe to the newspaper.co.<p>It’s kind cool in that it:
- removes/neutralizes words that tends to flavor articles toward any particular position and focuses mainly on factual non-emotional type language.
- sends blurbs out in a daily email (arguably editorial) - but generally tends to be well rounded important stories to keep you in the know about what’s going on<p>It’s pretty cool, because unlike most new sources you don’t get a feeling anyone’s trying to railroad you down a particular way of thinking, but you feel like you’re just being presented with (more or less) statements about what is going on in the world.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:48:54 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35667101</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35667101</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35667101</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "A different tipping culture compared to a few years ago"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The ultimate beneficiary is the owner since his business model makes an assumption on tipping to employ waitstaff and run a "viable" business.<p>Business models that rely on tipping to cover basic business model costs should be reconsidered.<p>For the business owner, they have to consider the tradeoffs if they want to maintain the current waitstaff: quantity of staff, hours, variety of menu options, decor, desired profitability, amount of automation, quality of food, etc.<p>The immediate beneficiary is the waitstaff, which will no have to reconsider their employment or their demands of the business owner.<p>For the waitstaff, they will move on to other companies that either figure out a business model to pay a livable wage or consider alternative types of positions. Eventually the surviving restaurants will adjust pricing and hourly rates/salaries like every other normal business. There will be positions available for entry level waitstaff and more experienced waitstaff.<p>TLDR: The beneficiaries of tipping overreached — don't be surprised by a backlash.<p>Brief history of tipping in America: <a href="https://www.7shifts.com/blog/history-of-tipping-restaurants/" rel="nofollow">https://www.7shifts.com/blog/history-of-tipping-restaurants/</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 26 Mar 2023 17:09:43 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35316818</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35316818</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35316818</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Shrinkflation, SanDisk Style"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Yet keeps legal eagles in business :-/</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 11:08:52 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34802333</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34802333</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34802333</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "D2, a diagram scripting language that turns text to diagrams, is now open source"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Looks awesome! Very easy to read!<p>Can't wait for an Obsidian plugin! :D</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:06:48 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33709740</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33709740</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33709740</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Ask HN: In mid 40s. What non-tech job can I do?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Become a substitute teacher first.
I've heard good STEM substitutes are hard to find. (and frequently rebooked)<p>It'll also a low bar way to test out whether you enjoy teaching, and which age range you prefer to teach.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2022 18:23:15 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33585775</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33585775</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33585775</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "American society is so focused on race that it is blind to class"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I’ve heard it said on some podcast that race cropped up as an intentional structure to obfuscate class distinctions:<p>- post slavery, many formerly enslaved people had better skills than poor white people<p>- to prevent poor white people from joining forces with these formerly enslaved people as a large class of “the poor” vs. small class of “the wealthy” racial distinctions began to be used more frequently<p>- this had the effect of basically allowing the “poor white man” to side with “wealthy whites” (regardless of if something was in their best interests or not) because he could console himself with “I may be poor but at least I’m white” — even though the rich whites often advanced laws and regulations that were generally detrimental to the poor as a “class group”.<p>Is there any hard data on this or is it just heresay/opinion?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:49:58 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33456486</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33456486</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33456486</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "William Shatner experienced profound grief in space. It was the overview effect"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Based on his experience, we should require all newly elected politicians to go into space. ;-)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2022 03:04:38 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33312559</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33312559</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33312559</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by laomai in "Normalized crash data shows Autopilot is much less safe than Tesla claims"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Regarding some of the conversations about programming something to obey the law or obey human convention:<p>- it’s tricky because the people on the roads expect human convention and drive for that<p>- as long as there is a mix of humans that drive by convention, it’s probably best to err on the side of following human convention to some degree<p>Case in point: center lane<p>When I first started using autopilot on two lane roads the car would stay dead center in the lane. If a car was coming towards my in the opposite lane, it began to notice humans would veer away from center to provide more buffer between themselves and the oncoming car.<p>Because I didn’t want to piss other drivers off, I would often disengage and drift to the right of my lane while the oncoming car approached me. If I didn’t do that, there was always a last minute extra drift away from me by the other car.. the conventionally expected buffer distance wasn’t enough to make them feel comfortable due to unexpected (lack of) behavior.<p>It’s not a law / no law issue above. But I have similar experiences navigation into roundabouts with crosswalks in front of them (autopilot stops at empty crosswalk where normal driver would cruise through until the stop line to check for cars in the roundabout — and if none were there might pass through with a rolling stop/check.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2022 21:38:36 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30184416</link><dc:creator>laomai</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30184416</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30184416</guid></item></channel></rss>