Hacker News: testdummy13

New comment by testdummy13 in "VC isn't VC anymore"

testdummy13 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:14:49 +0000

"Why would a VC or any capitalist invest money if they cannot see a way to earn back multiples?"

Why did Andrew Carnegie invest in building public libraries? Surely it wasn't because he was expecting a capital return.

The oligarchs (at least some of them) used to feel some responsibility to the betterment of man. It really seems like today's billionaires really only care about money and power and nothing else.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Driver accused of DUI tracks missing laptop to Illinois State trooper's house"

testdummy13 — Mon, 11 May 2026 16:08:09 +0000

You're half right but missing the point.

Police probably shouldn't be sued for performing their duties. But the issue is that with a few choice words (I feared for my safety/life) their "duties" cover a wide array of actions that a lot of citizens would argue it shouldn't.

Example: There are many cases of Cops stepping in front of a moving vehicle when confronting a suspect, which then is used as a reason to shoot and kill the suspect because "their life was in danger". But it's very easy to argue that the Cop put their own life in danger by stepping in front of the vehicle. IMO, that should not be covered by qualified immunity, and yet it usually is.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Intelligence is a commodity. Context is the real AI Moat"

testdummy13 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:28:15 +0000

"Historically there is no evidence of that happening with tech revolutions - or rather perhaps you could say to some extent - you can not say that we are an internet-first society, or cars-first society or mobile phone - first society despite these being profound technological revolutions."

I'm... not actually sure I agree. The US *has* become a more cars first society. Our cities are designed around cars: parking space requirements for business, lacking of biking infrastructure in favor of more lanes, even the introduction of jaywalking as a crime. We've become much more of an internet first society too, we don't use books for research, our banking is largely done online, even humans social circles have moved much more online (probably to the detriment of society).

None of those technologies are as powerful/disruptive as where it seems that AI and LLMs are headed, so it's possible that societies shift towards "AI-first" will be more profound that it was for any of the other technologies listed.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Jury told that Meta, Google 'engineered addiction' at landmark US trial"

testdummy13 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:14:41 +0000

"Well adjusted people so not want that power over other people"

There are certainly well adjusted people that would like to fix things they feel are inefficiencies or issues in their government, especially when those issues are directly related to their areas of expertise. Thinking well adjusted people wouldn't want to be in a position of power is exactly how you ensure that only bad people end up with power.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Los Angeles ends strange rite of passage with new fridge law"

testdummy13 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:45:01 +0000

"Rite of passage" is a weird way of framing a horrendous system for renters.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides on freeways in LA, SF and Phoenix"

testdummy13 — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:32:14 +0000

As long as they don't sit in the passing lane, I don't see how a fleet of vehicles moving at a consistent speed and not driving erratically will have any more negative impact on traffic than a human driver. Like other's have mentioned, it might actually improve traffic as you don't have people speeding up to get close to a person and then quickly slowing down, causing "phantom" traffic jams.

Also, if the Waymos are following the laws, and that causes problems... then maybe those laws should be changed? Especially if most drivers already don't follow the laws.

New comment by testdummy13 in "Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ"

testdummy13 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:27:35 +0000

"but I do think drone-based delivery will be rejected by consumers if it ever reaches significant scale in non-rural areas"

I'd wager it's the opposite: Rural areas would notice the one off noise of a drone flying overhead because humans notice novel sounds more. In an urban area you already have other significant sources of noise (traffic mainly) and if the drones are ubiquitous it might just be more of a background constant that people tune out.