Ed Huyer
@arcanum3000.bsky.social
"The popular stereotype of the researcher is that of a skeptic and a pessimist. Nothing could be further from the truth! Scientists must be optimists at heart, in order to block out the incessant chorus of those who say 'It cannot be done.'"
- Academician Prokhor Zakharov, University Commencement
- Academician Prokhor Zakharov, University Commencement
December 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
"The popular stereotype of the researcher is that of a skeptic and a pessimist. Nothing could be further from the truth! Scientists must be optimists at heart, in order to block out the incessant chorus of those who say 'It cannot be done.'"
- Academician Prokhor Zakharov, University Commencement
- Academician Prokhor Zakharov, University Commencement
A bit tangential, but I'm reminded of this quote from the game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. (In reply because character limit.)
December 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
A bit tangential, but I'm reminded of this quote from the game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. (In reply because character limit.)
Maybe the problem is we're mainly reducing the scarcity of luxuries by producing more and more cheaper and cheaper tat, while not reducing (or even increasing) the scarcity of necessities.
November 30, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Maybe the problem is we're mainly reducing the scarcity of luxuries by producing more and more cheaper and cheaper tat, while not reducing (or even increasing) the scarcity of necessities.
There's a company making modernized Model M keyboards. They're reputably very good. Expensive, huge, and heavy, though. www.pckeyboard.com/page/product...
Unicomp GA LLC: New Model M
www.pckeyboard.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:11 AM
There's a company making modernized Model M keyboards. They're reputably very good. Expensive, huge, and heavy, though. www.pckeyboard.com/page/product...
Oh yeah 100% agreed on both counts. Hanalei and really all of Kauai are smaller than what the survey was likely asking about, and the problems are definitely larger because of it.
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Oh yeah 100% agreed on both counts. Hanalei and really all of Kauai are smaller than what the survey was likely asking about, and the problems are definitely larger because of it.
I say this as someone who would choose Hanalei on Kauai, HI, if given the option.
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I say this as someone who would choose Hanalei on Kauai, HI, if given the option.
Hawai'i is tricky because, even with money being no object, there will still be significant limitations and difficulties. Getting some things on the islands will be significantly delayed or impossible no matter how you slice it, for instance.
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Hawai'i is tricky because, even with money being no object, there will still be significant limitations and difficulties. Getting some things on the islands will be significantly delayed or impossible no matter how you slice it, for instance.
Of the cities on that list, I'd say NYC. NYC has a lot to recommend it. However, money-is-no-object, I probably wouldn't choose a city or metro area at all.
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Of the cities on that list, I'd say NYC. NYC has a lot to recommend it. However, money-is-no-object, I probably wouldn't choose a city or metro area at all.
Can you still buy candy cigarettes anywhere? This seems like a good use for them.
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Can you still buy candy cigarettes anywhere? This seems like a good use for them.
I personally do most of my reading on a Boox ereader. Ebooks have wholly replaced paperbacks for me. If I'm buying a physical book, I want a nice hardbound edition.
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I personally do most of my reading on a Boox ereader. Ebooks have wholly replaced paperbacks for me. If I'm buying a physical book, I want a nice hardbound edition.
What's your standard for "never taking off"? They're a somewhat specialized device (they mostly only do a few related things), so they were never going to be as popular as e.g. smartphones, but there are still several big names manufacturing multiple models.
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
What's your standard for "never taking off"? They're a somewhat specialized device (they mostly only do a few related things), so they were never going to be as popular as e.g. smartphones, but there are still several big names manufacturing multiple models.
Honestly I'm fine with my work life, it's everything else I want to change. Buy a Ural sidecar rig, move to Kauai, continue doing IT-type things but, you know, in Hawai'i.
Anyone in Hawai'i looking for a sysadmin with experience with Ceph and Proxmox, among other things?
Anyone in Hawai'i looking for a sysadmin with experience with Ceph and Proxmox, among other things?
November 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Honestly I'm fine with my work life, it's everything else I want to change. Buy a Ural sidecar rig, move to Kauai, continue doing IT-type things but, you know, in Hawai'i.
Anyone in Hawai'i looking for a sysadmin with experience with Ceph and Proxmox, among other things?
Anyone in Hawai'i looking for a sysadmin with experience with Ceph and Proxmox, among other things?
You also really want to take them off when you go indoors. The coils that let them grip on ice and packed snow make them very slippery on typical indoor hard floors.
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
You also really want to take them off when you go indoors. The coils that let them grip on ice and packed snow make them very slippery on typical indoor hard floors.
If by food tradition you mean cuisine, Cajun is probably the way to go. If you mean food type or cooking method, probably stew.
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
If by food tradition you mean cuisine, Cajun is probably the way to go. If you mean food type or cooking method, probably stew.
I think you're right that Nvidia's earnings don't particularly mean anything. If it's a bubble, Nvidia does well in the short term (now), but their earnings drop when the bubble pops. If it's not a bubble Nvidia still does well in the short term, but also does well in the long term.
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I think you're right that Nvidia's earnings don't particularly mean anything. If it's a bubble, Nvidia does well in the short term (now), but their earnings drop when the bubble pops. If it's not a bubble Nvidia still does well in the short term, but also does well in the long term.
Pleasedon'tsuckpleasedon'tsuckpleasedon'tsuck
November 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Pleasedon'tsuckpleasedon'tsuckpleasedon'tsuck
Someone who has never personally shopped for anything in their life trying to tell everyone how shopping works.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Someone who has never personally shopped for anything in their life trying to tell everyone how shopping works.
Oh, as a tangent, I think doomscrolling works in a similar way: You scroll and you scroll and you scroll, getting mostly misery, then every so often, BAM! Happy cat picture! You get a little reward that reinforces your doomscrolling.
November 17, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Oh, as a tangent, I think doomscrolling works in a similar way: You scroll and you scroll and you scroll, getting mostly misery, then every so often, BAM! Happy cat picture! You get a little reward that reinforces your doomscrolling.
"Low frequency, high intensity rewards" sounds very much like slot machines.
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"Low frequency, high intensity rewards" sounds very much like slot machines.
Also, a peculiar thing about conditioning: Being rewarded sometimes is more effective than being rewarded every time. Slot machines, etc., leverage this fact.
November 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Also, a peculiar thing about conditioning: Being rewarded sometimes is more effective than being rewarded every time. Slot machines, etc., leverage this fact.
It's literally a form of conditioning. Without winning and losing an actual thing you don't get the same reward stimulus. (The thing you win doesn't need to be money, mind; loot boxes in video games work the same way.)
November 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
It's literally a form of conditioning. Without winning and losing an actual thing you don't get the same reward stimulus. (The thing you win doesn't need to be money, mind; loot boxes in video games work the same way.)
For kids: Refers almost exclusively to candy. Small and intended to sound positive, but negative in reality. Adult meanings may be more complex and varied.
November 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
For kids: Refers almost exclusively to candy. Small and intended to sound positive, but negative in reality. Adult meanings may be more complex and varied.
Damnit, beat me to it!
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Damnit, beat me to it!