Hacker News: operation_moose

New comment by operation_moose in "Lego's 0.002mm specification and its implications for manufacturing (2025)"

operation_moose — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:05:45 +0000

I've ordered 2 sets off of AliExpress (the Stargate BC303 and BC304 MOCs) and was quite impressed. No box, digital instructions, and a few minor color swapped pieces; but complete and everything went together very well.

New comment by operation_moose in "iPhone 17e"

operation_moose — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:23:35 +0000

Same. I'll probably try to run it out for another year and end up with the 18e. Its been a great phone, but its days have to be numbered.

New comment by operation_moose in "The Missing Semester of Your CS Education – Revised for 2026"

operation_moose — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:03:18 +0000

I've had the same experience. I do a lot of automation of two engineering software packages through python and java APIs which are not terribly well documented and existing discussion of them on the greater web is practically nonexistent.

They are completely, 100% useless, no matter what I do. Add on another layer of abstraction like "give me a function to calculate " and they get even worse. I had a small amount of luck getting it to refactor some really terrible code I wrote while under the gun, but they made tons of errors I had to go back and fix. Luckily I had a pretty comprehensive test suite by that point and finding the mistakes wasn't too hard.

(I've tried all of the "just point them at the documentation" replies I'm sure are coming. It doesn't help)

New comment by operation_moose in "We're no longer attracting top talent: the brain drain killing American science"

operation_moose — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:08:32 +0000

It wasn't terribly difficult, you just have to find a company to hire you. Weirdly the biggest issue I ran into was companies not believing I was willing to relocate and assumed I was just some idiot looking for a remote role. The paragraph about it in my cover letter didn't seem to matter.

Apparently I was initially rejected for that reason, but my boss dug me out of the file for a potential discussion about a US based role. He told me that 6 months later over pints.

Once you've got an offer the critical skills employment permit (CSEP) is quick and painless.

All in all it was basically a lateral move lifestyle-wise. "Federal" income taxes are high-ish, but there isn't another level of state and local taxes eating away more; and property taxes are practically nonexistent (€280/year I think?). There are a handful of schemes which will shield a decent chunk of income from the highest tax rates, and the company benefits are fantastic (medical 100% paid for for my entire family, good bonus, 2:1 "401k" match).

As mentioned, housing is absolutely horrible right now, especially for renters. Luckily home prices are still somewhat reasonable compared to the US - we made enough selling our US home that we could buy an Irish property outright. Can't get a mortgage or any sort of credit until you've been in the country for 6 months. Probably won't stay in this place more than 2 years (when I get permanent residence on the CSEP route) but its a comfortable enough spot to get settled.

I wish it was a bit less car-focused, but there will be a train that drops me off basically at my office door in ~2 years, so they're trying and improving pretty quickly.

New comment by operation_moose in "We're no longer attracting top talent: the brain drain killing American science"

operation_moose — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:12:42 +0000

Ireland is solid, especially for any sort of biotech/medical. Strong critical skills immigration path, good wages, pretty much every major company has a facility there (many rivaling the US sites in size), friendly and welcoming place. Housing is a bit of struggle, mainly for renters.

I made the leap this year. No regrets.

New comment by operation_moose in "Surely the crash of the US economy has to be soon"

operation_moose — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:56:40 +0000

I don't see any way we're not heading back to the multipolar world. They've managed to burn almost all of the goodwill and soft power that took 80 years to accumulate in 373 days.

Even with a "return to normalcy", the trade and military agreements being forged are permanently diminishing America's influence. Especially given that we're never more than 4 years away from this happening again.

New comment by operation_moose in "Surely the crash of the US economy has to be soon"

operation_moose — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:42:35 +0000

Well, cooperation with one specific player.

Cooperation among the rest of the world is rapidly progressing in response.

New comment by operation_moose in "Surely the crash of the US economy has to be soon"

operation_moose — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:39:55 +0000

The single superpower thing was an anomaly which was mostly a result of one specific country being largely untouched by WW2; we're more likely heading back towards multiple regional powers with varying levels of cooperation, e.g. EU+Mercosur+India agreements that just happened.

The lines are still being drawn, but its doubtful one single power will emerge.

New comment by operation_moose in "Tesla ending Models S and X production"

operation_moose — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:16:08 +0000

And he couldn't get E (the original intended name) because Ford had it trademarked.

New comment by operation_moose in "“Fluid gears” invention offers promise for improving mechanical devices"

operation_moose — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:46:49 +0000

This could have been designed in CFD in an afternoon. Building it in real life is always somewhat cool but the amount of hype they're putting on this is crazy.