Viewing profile — thoms_a

Expose your kids to activities that are more compelling than screens. Trust me, once you take a kid go-karting, they aren't going to be as excited playing a video game. Do cool shi…

Democracy has become a mantra. It means nothing. There are many corrupt and dysfunctional democracies throughout the world.

More precisely, we have an aspirational world government led by the American Empire which is run by a few extremely wealthy and powerful elite families, including the ones you've a…

Every time a car passes you with a massive speed differential, you are gambling with your life. As long as you (and your family) are willing to accept that risk, then all the power…

Came here to say this. Bicycling is absolute madness to me in any location that doesn't have dedicated separate bike paths. You are maximizing all possible sources of risk by ridin…

As a counterpoint, I bought my first iPhone (first ever Apple product) this week, and it was specifically because it seems like Apple is finally designing products with usability a…

I can think of one "routine" prophylactic amputation that was and is still performed with no anesthesia on newborn male infants. The Hippocratic oath really does seem like a market…

I've asked very young students what they think a computer is and how it works. There's always at least one student who correctly replies: "It's a machine that does what someone tol…

This doesn't mean that the opinions of powerful people do not affect you, however. The Civil Rights Act and its consequences have meant that America will forever be politicized alo…

Life on Earth has survived much, much worse than the burning of fossil fuels. For example, the K-Pg extinction event. It's all a matter of perspective. But humans are irrationally …

I'm glad you saved me the effort of reading this article. I've been following fusion for years, and have been cautiously optimistic. Recently, with the progress of both Commonwealt…

I know your line of reasoning is not popular, but I would like to add some nuance. The empirical reality of this situation is that societies directed towards the maximization of in…

Well said. I'd also add that life has stages. YC-style hyper growth startup culture is suited for the young and ambitious. As we age, that immense drive of youth gradually declines…

Why not work remotely? I can't see any benefits to living in the USA. I assume you already have experience living here, and for the life of me cannot fathom why anyone would choose…

You can also look at Canada, which brings in ~500,000 (documented, skilled) immigrants per year relative to their 35MM population. Of course, housing in Canada is now the most expe…

Indeed. The "Free Market" can elevate a ruthless plutocracy of robber barons with private armies far longer than the little people can stay alive. As the Bezos Battalion, the Zucke…

You aren't biased at all [1]. Our dear colleagues (along with the majority of the American populace) are just deeply ideologically committed to the idea of the Federal Reserve bein…

Indeed, and since it is a privately owned entity [1] with a figurehead appointed by a politician to give the illusion of public accountability, the Fed has very little incentive to…

Not a down-voter and I agree with your positions, but why stop at congressional oversight? Why should a private company [1] be controlling a nation's money supply? 1. https://publi…

I was wondering how far I had to scroll down to find one person (on HN no less) finally stating the obvious. Thor could be 8ft tall and able to lift to a house. It won't save him f…

I can think of another genetic factor that has a much, much greater impact on survival. And it is absolutely taboo to mention the heritability or genetic basis of this trait. Take …

Have to chime in with my agreement here. As an engineer, to me the beauty of the mechanical watch lies in its embodiment of "form follows function". I read this entire article as I…

I'm extremely curious to learn about both the implicit moral frameworks referenced in these comments. I genuinely would like to see an explicit listing of axioms upon which these m…

I genuinely had a good laugh at the idea that simply by building an underground colony, the inhabitants would become "curmudgeon underground mole people". I would personally love s…