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kfichter commented on NASA's Juno mission leaves legacy of science at Jupiter   scientificamerican.com/ar... · Posted by u/apress
lucb1e · 9 days ago
In case anyone else is wondering, it's this guy: "Since 2017, Loeb has argued that alien space craft may be in the Solar System [like] ʻOumuamua"

What I don't understand on his Wikipedia page is this bit in the second sentence: "Loeb is the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University". Does he work there under the alias "Frank B. Baird Jr." or what does this sentence mean? Or is the position called one person but another person fulfills the role?

kfichter · 9 days ago
Usually just means the position is sponsored by a donor (in this case Frank B. Baird Jr.). Salary and sometimes other funding gets paid via endowment set up by the named person or someone else on behalf of the named person.
kfichter commented on People still use our old-fashioned Unix login servers   utcc.utoronto.ca/~cks/spa... · Posted by u/sugarpimpdorsey
dkdcio · a month ago
that’s orthogonal, right? they may or may not be using Git regardless of where the files are
kfichter · a month ago
I use VSCode's remote/ssh functionality all the time, particularly when I need to develop code on an environment that's more capable than my local machine (or when my internet is weak). Still use Git, no reason why you'd change that when working on a remote machine.
kfichter commented on AI: Markets for Lemons, and the Great Logging Off (2022)   fortressofdoors.com/ai-ma... · Posted by u/sebg
briankelly · a year ago
Gave it a whirl:

"Here’s a response that aims for a balanced perspective likely to generate both agreement and disagreement among Hacker News commenters:

--

Your observations about AI interactions are quite thought-provoking. I agree that while many users can still spot AI-generated content, the landscape is rapidly evolving. It's interesting to consider how LLMs have become more integrated into our online experiences, and I share your concern about the potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

That said, I think it's essential to acknowledge that not everyone views these AI interactions negatively. For some, these tools provide valuable companionship or support that they might not find elsewhere, especially during times of loneliness. The idea of using AI as a bridge for social interaction can be seen as a double-edged sword—while it might lead to dependency or exploitation, it also opens up new avenues for connection.

Ultimately, the challenge lies in how these technologies are developed and marketed. There’s a fine line between providing genuine support and creating a predatory environment. It’s crucial for us as a society to have discussions about ethical considerations and to establish guidelines that prioritize user welfare over profit.

--

This response should provoke a range of opinions, encouraging discussions on both the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI in social contexts."

I don't know, I'm not convinced. Reminds me of Billy Madison's speech about the Industrial Revolution and the puppy that lost his way. I'm sure there are other agents/prompts that could do better.

My prompt:

"Create a response that 50/50 hacker news commenters would agree with: I'm genuinely curious if this will play out... <top-level comment>"

Edit: Just for shits though...

> Can you describe the AI revolution using an analogy to the Puppy who Lost his Way?

> Certainly! Here’s an analogy that describes the AI revolution through the story of a puppy who lost his way:

The Puppy Who Lost His Way

Once upon a time, in a bustling town, there was a curious little puppy named Max. Max loved to explore and was always eager to discover new things. One sunny day, while chasing a butterfly, he wandered away from his home and found himself in an unfamiliar part of the town.

At first, Max was excited. He met new friends—a wise old dog, a playful kitten, and a clever rabbit. Each of them showed him different paths, each leading to new adventures. Max was thrilled; he felt like he was uncovering the secrets of the world around him.

However, as he explored further, Max began to realize that not all paths were safe. Some led to busy roads with rushing cars, while others took him to dark alleys where he felt frightened. Max found himself overwhelmed, longing for the comfort of his home. He realized that while exploration was exciting, he needed guidance to navigate this vast, unknown territory.

Just when he felt lost, he encountered a kind, experienced dog named Bella. Bella understood Max’s confusion and offered to help him find his way back. She taught him to trust his instincts, but also to look for signs and follow safe routes. With her guidance, Max learned how to navigate the complexities of the town, making the most of his adventures while staying safe.

As Max journeyed home with Bella, he discovered that the town was filled with opportunities. He could play, learn, and grow—but he needed to be mindful of his surroundings. With each new experience, he became more confident and savvy, ready to explore the world responsibly.

The AI Revolution

In this analogy, Max represents humanity at the dawn of the AI revolution. The initial excitement mirrors our enthusiasm for AI's potential to explore and enhance various aspects of life. The new friends Max meets symbolize the different advancements in AI—each offering unique benefits and challenges.

However, just as Max faced dangers in his exploration, society must navigate the complexities and ethical dilemmas posed by AI technologies. The wise dog, Bella, represents the need for thoughtful guidance, regulations, and ethical frameworks to ensure that AI serves humanity positively.

Ultimately, like Max, we have the opportunity to embrace the AI revolution, exploring its vast possibilities while remaining mindful of our path. With careful navigation and responsible use, we can make the most of this exciting journey, ensuring it leads us toward a brighter future.

kfichter · a year ago
Tried this out for fun:

"Yeah, I get what you’re saying, but it’s not that black and white. There’s definitely a risk, especially for people who are lonely or vulnerable, and some companies are obviously exploiting that. But I’ve also seen situations where these AI tools actually help people who don’t have anyone else to talk to.

Like, sure, chatting with an AI isn’t the same as a real human, but for some people, it might be the only thing getting them through a rough time. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing.

I do get the worry, though, that we’re heading toward a world where fake interactions become more normal and people lose touch with real connections. It’s hard to say which way things will go—depends a lot on how people end up using the tech. Could go either way."

kfichter commented on How Olympics officials try to catch “motor doping”   spectrum.ieee.org/motor-d... · Posted by u/belter
Balgair · a year ago
Yeah, look at all the Russian figure skaters. Nearly all of their medalists are using canes by 30 just to get around.
kfichter · a year ago
Is this even remotely true
kfichter commented on To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees (2009)   geopolicraticus.wordpress... · Posted by u/yamrzou
m463 · a year ago
Took the intro to biology course in college, and was excited. But the curriculum was mostly memorization. Phylum, order, family, etc. Even the cell structures, which I though would be amazing, were mostly memorization.

I felt (and still feel) the course was a tragedy, that I had an intro to biologists, not biology.

kfichter · a year ago
Reminds me of one of my favorite blog posts :-) https://jsomers.net/i-should-have-loved-biology/
kfichter commented on Mummy Brown   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mum... · Posted by u/throwup238
terryf · a year ago
Jeez, they're dead. Who cares what happens after you're dead?
kfichter · a year ago
Given the extensive effort required to mummify someone, I suspect these people cared!
kfichter commented on NYC Rat Sightings (Daily)   realtime.org/data/nyc-rat... · Posted by u/kmdupree
otoburb · a year ago
When the weather is colder in NYC, there are fewer rat sightings. But don't be fooled -- it's not because there are magically fewer rats, but instead likely due to several confounding factors such as being darker more often while people are rat-watching, colder weather driving rats to stay indoors more often, and more rain/snow/slush making the furry rodents harder to spot.
kfichter · a year ago
Also, people just generally being outside less often
kfichter commented on Show HN: NeedleDrop – Guess the movie from a song   needledrop.me/... · Posted by u/wernah
kfichter · a year ago
A few different movies have this song in it, would be cool to accept any of the correct answers, depending on how easy that is.
kfichter commented on Apple Vision Pro and ADHD   dansalva.to/apple-vision-... · Posted by u/dansalvato
joshstrange · 2 years ago
I completely agree on the extra overhead for opening new windows, and this authors thoughts on the pass-through quality. For myself I don’t think I realized how much I just look around while I’m thinking or working on some thing else but the Apple Vision Pro makes that very obvious as things light up, expand, etc.

I never used the iPad is anything more than a consumption device and as things stand right now I’m not sure if the apple Vision Pro is going to be more than that for me either. I wrote about this in my first impressions blog post [0], but what I really wanted was to use the Apple Vision Pro as a replacement for my computer monitors, it’s just not there yet. I look forward to future revisions and I’m also on a 13 day countdown to decide if I want to keep this or not.

[0] https://joshstrange.com/2024/02/03/apple-vision-pro-first-im...

kfichter · 2 years ago
I also pulled the trigger here hoping to be able to replace my desktop setup. What were the key issues you were having that made you feel like it's just not there yet for that use case?
kfichter commented on FAQ on Leaving Google   social.clawhammer.net/blo... · Posted by u/mrled
dmoy · 2 years ago
Pedantic notes:

1. The 4% number comes from the Trinity study, which found that 95% of the time you have >$0 after 30 years. If you're >30 years from death now, a more appropriate benchmark might be 3% or possibly 3.5%.

2. $100k/yr post tax is more than $100k/yr pretax, even if it's mostly long term capital gains and dividend taxes.

3. Health insurance $$$.

So the number for you is probably a little higher maybe $5m to switch to 3% and add an additional $50k for tax and health insurance costs.

But yea the general point stands. Someone working as a director probably pulling >$1m/yr, with a long tenure, almost definitely has way over that amount. (I wouldn't be surprised if it was $20m+)

kfichter · 2 years ago
Don't forget inflation!

u/kfichter

KarmaCake day462December 10, 2018
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