<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: thrownawaydad</title><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=thrownawaydad</link><description>Hacker News RSS</description><docs>https://hnrss.org/</docs><generator>hnrss v2.1.1</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:17:25 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://hnrss.org/user?id=thrownawaydad" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Linux maintainer rejects patches from sanctioned Russian Baikal Electronics"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>"It doesn't have to be like this // All we need to do is make sure we keep talking"  (that's Pink Floyd)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2023 21:54:03 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189293</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189293</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189293</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Former Meta staffer reveals she had to ‘fight for work’"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I think this is too harsh a take, at least without knowing more.  There are some managers and shops where "find something useful to do" is encouraged, or at least accepted.  I was shocked to discover later in my career that there are plenty of shops that are _not_ like that.  High-paying shops, even, or perhaps especially.<p>Why?  For starters, some companies are rich, and they can afford to waste a lot of money.  Think of all of those interviews you've been on that waste your time and that of the interview loop, even though it's clear that they have never intended to hire.  Or maybe just 1 in 500.  (One company I was hired at boasted to me about the "500".  Ugh.)<p>Or, at least in the trading world, things can be very secretive.  You might have the skills to contribute, but no one will even talk to you, for fear that you'll steal the secret sauce.<p>Mostly it's just simple managerial incompetence.<p>The employer/employee match is sort of like a key and lock.  In order for it to work, _all_ of the pins have to align.  It's not enough to be a skilled, team-player, etc., employee.  Your employer also has to bring several things to the table.  Sometimes they just don't.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2023 21:49:11 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189226</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189226</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35189226</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Linux maintainer rejects patches from sanctioned Russian Baikal Electronics"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Essentially all humans materially support atrocities and war crimes, and historically this has always been true.  That certainly includes everyone paying taxes in any major country.<p>We have little choice about that, but we could also materially support efforts to end armed conflict.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:34:57 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35186297</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35186297</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35186297</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "We are dropping the Dilbert comic because of creator Scott Adams racist rant"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>This has been flagged, but for anyone still following, Adams' follow-on interview with Hotep Jesus is worth a listen.  It's two hours of mostly Adams talking and fielding questions.  (Jesus is a black podcaster, and I think it would be fair to call him conservative and occasionally a bit out there.)<p>One thing that's become obvious to me in recent years is that it's important to go to the source material if you really want to know what's going on.  Media summaries (not to mention the Twitterati) are often misleading or incomplete.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2023 20:39:51 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34949156</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34949156</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34949156</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "We are dropping the Dilbert comic because of creator Scott Adams racist rant"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>I'm watching this now, and it's worthwhile, at least if you want to profess an opinion.  The section starts in minute thirteen, but if (like me) you don't really watch his podcast, it's probably worth it to start from the beginning, just to get a flavor of it.<p>Adams is definitely a modern satirist.  And he is one in a time when edgy humor is absolutely radioactive.  He has his FU money, though, and is obviously somewhat aspy (again, like me).<p>As to the survey question, which is the first in their survey, it's literally worded, "It's OK to be white." (agree, disagree, not sure, etc).<p>Those of us here are "with it" enough to realize that this incantation was born from a 4chan op (presumably meant to help uptight people look stupid).  But, the survey respondents would generally be unaware of that context.<p>Rasmussen itself was pretty fearless in going there.  Not fearless enough to add, "It's OK to be black.".  But still, props given.<p>Adams is smart enough to know that this would be the end of Dilbert distribution in mainstream newspapers.<p>What's his motivation?  Not sure.  But puncturing the current bubble of awful isn't the worst start.<p>What would be better?  He mentions education.  Okay, start with that.  What would it take to ensure that every child in America got an excellent education?  Hell, even what would it take to ensure that every _black_ child in America got an excellent education?  Everything we're doing right now is awful and counterproductive.  We need to reset and follow the guidance of those who could plausibly improve the situation.  That's not the cancel crowd.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:58:28 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34941713</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34941713</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34941713</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "America’s obsession with big cars has fatal consequences"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Your second link is not an example of purposeful bad driving.  It's an example of terrible design.  And more generally, a demonstration of how well-intended bicycle infrastructure can actually make things _more_ dangerous for bicyclists.<p>I've ridden thousands of miles, and the only bit of infrastructure that ever helped was wide shoulders, preferably with a bright white line demarcating.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2023 01:01:16 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932555</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932555</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932555</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "America’s obsession with big cars has fatal consequences"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>As detail, I live in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.  Lots of infrastructure, markings and signals set up to favor cyclists, and so on.  Before moving here, I would have thought that that would lead to an excellent and safe environment for all.<p>It's not.  Bicyclists regularly terrorize pedestrians on sidewalks, even when there are excellent purpose-built bike paths mere meters away.  At intersections, they regularly flip back and forth between being "like bicycles" and "like pedestrians", making them dangerously unpredictable.  They pound on cars when they feel they should have the right of way (they don't).  Even when they are in the bike lane, a quarter of the time they're riding against the flow of traffic.  No lights, no reflectors, dressed in black at night.  The most bicycle-sympathetic drivers struggle to avoid hitting these knuckleheads.<p>It's a sad situation.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:55:51 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932502</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932502</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34932502</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "America’s obsession with big cars has fatal consequences"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>> What really ticks me off with that is that it's based in denying freedom to everyone else.<p>Next time you're bicycling down the sidewalk, remember that this is how pedestrians feel about _you_.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 23:15:02 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34931586</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34931586</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34931586</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Time to get the Posix elephant off our necks?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Sigh.<p><a href="https://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Chesterton%27s_Fence" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Chesterton%27s_Fence</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:09:53 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34905008</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34905008</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34905008</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "The unequal treatment of demographic groups by ChatGPT/OpenAI content moderation"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Re "Everyone is against illegal immigration", I don't think that that is close to true at present.  You will search in vain to find a left-leaning Congressional Representative that will pronounce that they are against illegal immigration.<p>A dirty secret of many Republicans is that they're pretty okay with illegal immigration as it's been in the 80s and 90s.  Pseudo slave labor, deport as needed, etc.  Needless to say, this seems unethical (even if the immigrants in question might be okay with it).<p>We have no better solution than to let our legislature fight this out.  But, whatever laws they come up with need to be followed and strictly enforced.  Failure to do so has led to abject misery, and it will only get worse.<p>You might not agree with the law, but the alternative is leading to far worse suffering.  Ironically, the fentanyl crisis will probably turn the tide, rather than pedestrian ethical concerns.<p>(I'm quite old, so don't really have a dog in this fight, aside from a general well wish for the young.
Beyond that, I was a "far-left" Green for most of my years. 
 I've not changed much, but the world sure has.)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:24:25 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34635400</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34635400</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34635400</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "The unequal treatment of demographic groups by ChatGPT/OpenAI content moderation"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Not OP, but consider illegal immigration.  It is apparently leading to a surge in child sex trafficking, among other ills.<p>But, being against illegal immigration is currently considered "right wing", and in a lot of contexts will get you fired, vilified, and perhaps beaten.<p>There's your example.<p>(I'm a child of immigrants, and don't particularly have an opinion of how much immigration is good.  I do, though, believe this amount should be determined by legislative process and then tightly enforced.)</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:52:53 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34631355</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34631355</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34631355</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Ask HN: What to do when PayPal disables your account for no reason?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>People deserve forgiveness.  Corporations do not.  Act accordingly.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:56:10 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34604786</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34604786</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34604786</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Big Tech layoffs hit diversity and inclusion jobs hard"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Where I currently work (academia), it's a litmus test.  At least for faculty and management staff, if you don't submit an appropriately florid DEI statement, you won't get hired.  This makes me a bit sad.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:19:21 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34600354</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34600354</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34600354</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Need help with students who've turned my class into a dating service"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Hmm.  So, try to get more men to enroll in mainly female courses?  Might work, but I doubt it.  And no university anywhere frets about disciplines where males are underrepresented.  Males in general are underrepresented overall at university.  Oh well.<p>Note that OP stipulated that there were "no unwanted advances".  Is this even a real problem?</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 03:24:47 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34590480</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34590480</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34590480</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Ask HN: What are those strategic skills to master for the next 5, 10 years?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Definition 2 is interesting as well:<p>1. An object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.<p>2. Something that serves to guide.
[French, Ursa Minor (which contains the guiding star Polaris), from Latin cynosūra, from Greek kunosoura, dog's tail, Ursa Minor : kunos, genitive of kuōn, dog; see kwon- in Indo-European roots + ourā, tail; see ors- in Indo-European roots.]<p>(from thefreedictionary.com)<p>Personally, I love learning the occasional new word.  "sinecure" is useful, as is "copacetic".</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2023 04:09:53 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34564816</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34564816</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34564816</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Best and worst decisions I’ve made"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>That seriously sucks.  During periods of my life, my "family" has sometimes included in-laws, friends, and maybe church.  Even a shrink occasionally.  Work with what you have.  Everyone deserves people that support them.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2023 21:21:06 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34562031</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34562031</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34562031</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Best and worst decisions I’ve made"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Mine:<p>Don't move away from family.  There's no there there.<p>If your mate doesn't have your back, leave.  Give them a heads-up and 90 days.  That's it.<p>Consider going to church.  I'm considering it.  I've been wrapped around the axle my whole life about whether it's "true".  I'm starting to think that that's missing the point.  If nothing else, watch the South Park Mormon episode--that really turned my head around.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2023 04:32:13 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34555154</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34555154</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34555154</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "IBM to cut about 3,900 workers while still hiring in ‘higher growth’ areas"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Worked there in the 90s.  Probably the most professional engineering environment I've ever seen.  And compared to what you might expect of the time and place, quite egalitarian.  My boss and half the team were women, and there were several people from unusual backgrounds that would be considered economically disadvantaged these days.  Everyone had an office.  No politics.  Just GSD.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2023 18:49:37 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34536689</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34536689</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34536689</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "What we look for in a resume"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>There is no fairness in hiring (nor anywhere else).  I once saw a hiring manager pull a resume out of the stack and throw it away because it was printed on cream-colored paper.  I glanced at it--it was impressive in general.  Certainly a plausible hire at a place like Google.<p>That's okay.  You're not writing a resume to get hired.  You're writing a resume to interest the places you'd like to work and repel the places you'd be miserable at.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 19:01:16 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34522647</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34522647</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34522647</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by thrownawaydad in "Ask HN: Math books that made you significantly better at math?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Not a book, but an animated short: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_in_Mathmagic_Land" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_in_Mathmagic_Land</a><p>“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders.  Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”  --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2023 19:05:35 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34444200</link><dc:creator>thrownawaydad</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34444200</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34444200</guid></item></channel></rss>