Hacker News: michpoch

New comment by michpoch in "ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral"

michpoch — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 14:53:32 +0000

These professions are a core of the middle class. Maybe some of the most successful could be called upper-middle class, if they also had a large inheritance?

But a regular software dev or a GP is the perfect representation of a middle class - having enough money for comfortable life, travel, owning a house, new car, leisure activities and having money for investments.

If one can’t afford these (all at the same time) - it is not middle class. Middle class is not a “median - average salary class”, by a long shot.

New comment by michpoch in "ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral"

michpoch — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:59:52 +0000

> but that middle class and lower class Americans were much more likely to have Android devices.

An iPhone would be a very minor expense for a person from middle class (lawyers, doctors, sofware engineers…).

I imagine for working class or poor people Android vs iPhone could be a real concern financial though.

New comment by michpoch in "Ask HN: What was your path toward expat?"

michpoch — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:24:07 +0000

> For any expats, I was curious what your pathway was to getting overseas?

So... any expats? Or Americans moving overseas? Or people from the USA moving to EU countries? These will be wildly different scenarios.

For me it was signing a work contract in Switzerland and moving there from an EU country. The path to get that job was by finishing a good uni and having some work experience already while studying. Not sure this helps you much...

New comment by michpoch in "How to live on $432 a month in America"

michpoch — Sat, 24 May 2025 06:55:00 +0000

Yes, that’s seems rather low even? Plus that is basically almost included in their budget - 30 USD for electricity is already there.

New comment by michpoch in "How to live on $432 a month in America"

michpoch — Sat, 24 May 2025 06:53:04 +0000

> Also, while I agree that $40 is cheap to me, it's also an additional 10% on their budget.

They already have 30 USD per month for electricity in their budget. All year long.

> which is more than half the size of my suburban home)

How much space you need for a single person? 30-40 sqm (300-400 sqft)? That’s more than you need.

Sure, middle of winter night you might need a bit more heat, but then in June you’ll be using close to none.

New comment by michpoch in "How to live on $432 a month in America"

michpoch — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:30:13 +0000

At these electricity prices bothering with wood might not be worth it. If you get some, that’s nice, but otherwise just insulate the house well and you’re golden.

New comment by michpoch in "How to live on $432 a month in America"

michpoch — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:27:34 +0000

At 4 cents per 1kWh heating will not be an issue, even with regular resistive heater. It’s almost free electricity.

You could run a 1.5 kW heater 24/7 for roughly 40 USD a month. Just make sure the space is well insulated and not too large - but we’re talking about basic living, so that should be easy.

New comment by michpoch in "The Future of Junior Software Engineering Roles"

michpoch — Fri, 23 May 2025 07:18:59 +0000

> No offense, but it kind of shows with every product by that company I've touched over the years.

You still have code review process which will be done by the owner of that space and someone with the language fluency.

New comment by michpoch in "Telegram's Extraordinary Business Model"

michpoch — Sun, 18 May 2025 11:39:03 +0000

> Until recently, Telegram operated without a clear monetisation strategy, funded largely by Pavel Durov’s personal fortune

Well, that is an extraordinary business model indeed

Amazon and Nvidia – all options considered to power AI including fossil fuels

michpoch — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:53:16 +0000

Article URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/26/amazon-nvidia-say-all-options-on-the-table-to-power-ai-including-fossil-fuels.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43804660

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 08:07:31 +0000

Right, but how do you track carbon in imported goods?

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:36:24 +0000

„Only” track imports?

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:32:13 +0000

It's trivial to implement auto fuel tax - it's already in place in most of developed countries.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:31:25 +0000

Ok, let's assume you do. Let's tax all fuels 300% in the US. Now all manufacturing stops as your production costs are all over the roof. Everything is imported from countries that do not have these taxes.

What problem was solved here? None.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:35:59 +0000

This is already done, in Europe most of the fuel costs are taxes.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:35:03 +0000

Yes, if you apply the carbon tax only for the fuel at petrol stations. I am talking about realistic-to-implement solutions.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:34:25 +0000

Right, but now you're talking about adding the tax to the whole economy, not just car fuel?

That's close to impossible to implement. You'd need to track production and usage of everything in an extreme detail. Plus tracking all purchases (items + services) to a given person. So complete state surveillance of citizens. Globally.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:29:43 +0000

We don't differentiate these in any significant way. Do buses in your country pay different rate for fuel?

There are vans carrying 6 people on international routes in Europe, is this public transport? Private? Anyone can book it.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:18:59 +0000

> Some uses are, impulse Craigslist and local furniture purchases, outdoor sports equipment, home garden projects.

Why would you buy a pickup for any of these activities? It'd be quite terrible? A van is a perfect solution.

New comment by michpoch in "A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen"

michpoch — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:17:34 +0000

> I live in a "city" in WV and need my truck all the time to get to rural areas

How rural are these areas? No roads?