<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: markvdb</title><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=markvdb</link><description>Hacker News RSS</description><docs>https://hnrss.org/</docs><generator>hnrss v2.1.1</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:09:17 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://hnrss.org/user?id=markvdb" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Italian parliament votes for return to nuclear energy"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Then why is the insurance for every single reactor public sector based?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:11:53 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49823299</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49823299</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49823299</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "ZuckOff is a free app that sees Meta glasses before they see you"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>s/\ without\ even\ realising\ it//</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:20:20 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49787653</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49787653</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49787653</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "ZuckOff is a free app that sees Meta glasses before they see you"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Good. Now what about fscking smartphones? There's 1000 times more of those, most with dual cameras and microphones.<p>I have "Hey Siri!" enthousiasts visiting soon. They can leave their iPhones in a nice Faraday cage at the entrance.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:55:01 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49786103</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49786103</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49786103</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "The Hierarchy of Money"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The part where the bat wielding despot required payment using the money of his issue was left out.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 20:39:06 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49779850</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49779850</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49779850</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "US Revokes Limits on Power Plants' Climate Pollution"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apr%C3%A8s_moi,_le_d%C3%A9luge" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apr%C3%A8s_moi,_le_d%C3%A9luge</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 19:11:48 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49778960</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49778960</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49778960</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Suspected sabotage causes major Netherlands rail disruption"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>One, the other, or a mix of both! If I were a foreign agent wanting to sow chaos, I'd look for the easy to press buttons. Encouraging pissed-off Dutch citizens would be an obvious part of the plan.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:30 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49711227</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49711227</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49711227</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Fable 5.1 Solves the Cyphral Distich, a 370-year-old cipher"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>> Technology only proceeds in one direction: unfettered growth, which necessitates unsustainable resource extraction.<p>The direction of technological progress is not just linearly/exponentially upwards. Significant global technological fallbacks have happened, as in knowledge and processes disappearing for hundreds of years. This could happen again.<p>Even on the trajectory of unfettered growth fed by unsustainable resource extraction, tech and innovation might potentially take us beyond local pessima. That seems to be happening with solar, wind and batteries replacing inferior tech today. Still unfettered growth of energy production and consumption. Still fed by unsustainable resource extraction. Less harmful growth than the inferior tech being pushed out.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:17:22 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49690634</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49690634</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49690634</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Houthis 'take control' of key island in global shipping route"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I observe mostly short term opportunism. Powerful people deliberately injecting chaos for financial profit.<p>Negative externalities:<p>- loss of trust<p>- loss of evidence based policy<p>- loss of long-term planning<p>- loss of talent<p>- financial loss for almost all except the rare insiders</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:21:45 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49661005</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49661005</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49661005</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Houthis 'take control' of key island in global shipping route"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>No. A cynic might think a significant part of this half-arsed Iran war was:<p>- make sure fuel prices increase globally<p>- The US economy is relatively well-shielded from the fallout by its own fossil fuel sources, local and in colonies like Venezuela.<p>- export more US fossil fuels, especially to Europe, at inflated prices. US insiders reap the profits.<p>- further kneecap European competitiveness in energy intensive sectors, steal market share. Oh well, small gift to China here too, but still a net win for the US.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:34:34 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49659159</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49659159</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49659159</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Current US leadership has very much failed ordinary people in the US and allied states.<p>Incompetence or malice?  Both is also possible...</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:22:07 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49658968</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49658968</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49658968</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Four Weeks of a Vegan Diet Alter Signs of Inflammation and Aging"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Dr. Michael Greger's "How not to die" is interesting.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:03:05 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49592250</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49592250</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49592250</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "You Don't Have a Right to Safe Drinking Water, US Court Rules"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p><a href="https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy_Report_2026_lowres.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy...</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:26:42 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49585447</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49585447</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49585447</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Google Has Removed MV2 Extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Including UBO"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The moment you are reading this is not only peak digital trash, but also peak digital treasure!</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:47:37 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49515218</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49515218</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49515218</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Europe's summer drought is so extreme that desertification is a growing threat"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I'm afraid that is too optimistic a take.<p>How many humans are worried about getting food on the table today? How many have the mental space to dedicate to climate change in any way? I'd guesstimate more people are worried about short term food security...</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:49:32 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49509794</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49509794</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49509794</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "The world may have less time than it thinks on climate change"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Three quarters of the world live in autocracies, and another 19% outside liberal democracies.<p>That will require adapted tactics. I'm not very qualified to speak on how to convince people in leadership positions there. How do you convince Erdogan, Modi, Putin, Trump, Xi, the North Korean dynasty and others?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 23:00:21 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503674</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503674</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503674</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "The world may have less time than it thinks on climate change"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I know what definitely won't work: Luigi Mangione style action. That will only set people up against one another.<p>Here's two stories that might inspire:<p>- I've seen a desperate, fragile grandfather seriously contemplate peaceful Gandhi style sit-ins targeting fossil fuel infrastructure, "so my grandchildren would know I at least tried".<p>- I've seen a couple radically cut their consumption of about everything. "Taking good care of the earth is a tenet of our religious views. We're realistic enough to realise our efforts won't help anyone directly, but perhaps it might inspire others."<p>Getting more noses worldwide pointing in the same direction could perhaps make a sliver of difference. The tricky bit will be getting specific groups on board. I can think of a few challenging ones:<p>- the downtrodden struggling for survival as it is already. They have other priorities, like food on the table.<p>- those outside liberal democracies (93% of the world!) in a position to bring change. They have to count with sociopaths with little accountability in charge.<p>- those that won't make a noise because historical experience has taught them to shut up.<p>- those with too little education/intelligence/eagerness to understand. They will require simple stories and example behaviour/idols/heroes to copy.<p>Nature's alarm signals itself will induce some fear. That will be the best publicity for change.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:53:35 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503631</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503631</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503631</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Europe's summer drought is so extreme that desertification is a growing threat"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>AMOC collapse [0] is Europe's potential big climate challenge. Nasty business. I wonder how to help prevent that from happening.<p>[0] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_meridional_overturning_circulation#Modeling_AMOC_collapse" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_meridional_overturnin...</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:43:05 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49500255</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49500255</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49500255</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Review: Chuwi's $449 Unibook laptop is a funhouse-mirror MacBook Neo"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>This looks like not too bad a little budget machine. The hardware is just very recent, with Linux kernel support caught up so recently that it hasn't shown up in distros yet. Not a perfect screen or trackpad is to be expected at this price level.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 06:35:20 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49487505</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49487505</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49487505</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "How does IKEA come up with names for its products?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>> Every possible product name is carefully checked to avoid undesirable meanings in other languages, political or religious affiliations and fit into our global profile.<p>I present to you "Svalka" wine glasses. Dump", rubbish heap", or easy, promiscuous woman of ill repute in informal Baltic (and Slavic?) slang.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:38:22 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49358744</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49358744</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49358744</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by markvdb in "Buy Your Friends Batteries"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Most of these are illegal to install in Belgium though. Anything connected there needs national grid type approval.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:42:32 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49335717</link><dc:creator>markvdb</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49335717</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49335717</guid></item></channel></rss>