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Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

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Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#311

Post by grimoald »

jakub_g wrote: post #32

I noticed the problem on myself on several occasions and kind of invented the same solution. For example, sometimes I would take a medicament mechanically while doing something else and just a few minutes later, forget if I took it or not. Solution: say loud to myself "I'm taking a pill". Another: sometimes I'd lend some amount money to a colleague, and a few weeks later I'd have a hard time figuring whether they gav…

Reminds me how (allegedly) in the middle ages long lasting contracts where made: tell the text of the contract to a kid (better memory than older persons and more likely to survive the next decades) and slap it in the face so that the kid never forgets.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#313

Post by beager »

retreatguru wrote: post #140

When debugging in production environments (which is always a bad idea) I use a technique where I always work together with a coworker and before I'm about to do something destructive I say out loud what I'm going to do and ask for agreement that I should continue. I started this after reading what happened at Gitlab a month ago.

Yup, any destructive production change, I always bring in another engineer as a lifeguard. Call out the environment you're on, the machine you're shelled into, and the action you're performing. Can even be an engineering-adjacent role as well.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#314

Post by koantify »

There are quite a few comments here on the use of checklists. Dr. Atul Gawande wrote at length about their usefulness in "The Checklist Manifesto".

We've released an iPhone app, Koantify Checklists:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/koantify-checklists/id115800...).

It's a voice responsive app (i.e., Siri-like) for creating, maintaining, using, and sharing checklists.

(Based on the post we're commenting on, I guess our next step would be to recognize gestures like pointing...)

The app steps you through tasks by voice or text, and responds to your voice commands (it tries to provide optional "hands-free" operation as much as possible).

When you complete your checklist, the app optionally emails you (or a list of people) a detailed record of completion of the checklist, showing steps you completed, skipped, or possibly had to repeat.

For organizations, it's easy to export/import checklists. You can distribute by email, via iCloud, or you can download checklists from web links. For training, use of a checklist provides important reminders of how things should be done.

Feedback, comments, suggestions are most welcome.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#315

Post by retreatguru »

ljosa wrote: post #278
retreatguru wrote: post #140

When debugging in production environments (which is always a bad idea) I use a technique where I always work together with a coworker and before I'm about to do something destructive I say out loud what I'm going to do and ask for agreement that I should continue. I started this after reading what happened at Gitlab a month ago.

I do that on Slack—sometimes with a coworker keenly following along, and sometimes when I'm the only one awake.

That is a good idea: to do it in Slack even if no one is there. Forces you to slow down and be conscious of what you are doing.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#316

Post by ianamartin »

IIAOPSW wrote: post #289
ianamartin wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. This is by far my most highly rated post on hacker news. I want to clarify that this is utter bullshit, and that I don't actually do this. Well, most of this. I have easier ways of working from home. Like, I put an event on my boss's calendar that says I'm working from home. And I hate umbrellas. I fucking hate them. If you live in New York City and you use an umbrella, I want you to go home and die right now. Y…

Wow. An umbrella fundamentalist. Is there a law of the internet that for every trivial thing you can find someone with absurdly strong opinions leaving comments about it?

Umbrellamentalist is obviously the most correct word for this.

Walk around Brooklyn on a rainy day. You'll be on my side before you know it.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#317

Post by Wildgoose »

ianamartin wrote: post #284
ianamartin wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, yes. The old upside-down-tomato-sauce-can-next-to-the-door-to-remember-my-umbrella trick. That's always been a classic. The first couple of times I tried it, it didn't work very well. I was trying to leave in the morning, and I tripped over the can, and I was all, "Who the fuck put a can of tomatoes in front of the door?" And I kicked it out of the way and left without my umbrella. Then I realized I wasn't going…

Wow. This is by far my most highly rated post on hacker news. I want to clarify that this is utter bullshit, and that I don't actually do this. Well, most of this. I have easier ways of working from home. Like, I put an event on my boss's calendar that says I'm working from home. And I hate umbrellas. I fucking hate them. If you live in New York City and you use an umbrella, I want you to go home and die right now. Y…

Preach it brother!

I am 6'5" tall (1.95m) and the number of little old ladies who think nothing of waving their sharp metal umbrella spokes at my eyes and face is untrue.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#318

Post by wapz »

yorwba wrote: post #283
mjevans wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By landing correctly; mostly not on your head, and not at a bad angle for the spine. Soft ground beneath also helps.

What is a bad angle for the spine? I don't usually fall large distances, but something like this seems useful to know, just in case.

I've done some bouldering and although I don't know what the actual best is, you don't want to land directly on your back or front (flat) and you never want to land on your head of course. I learned to try falling with legs slightly bent in a mostly upright position. Someone with more experience can give you better info though.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#319

Post by sobani »

DonHopkins wrote: post #48

I have a strict rule that I must touch my keys before closing the front door, because I discovered the keys in my memory don't open the door as well as the keys in my pocket.

I leave my front door keys in the front door on the inside. That way those keys also have a place.

I live alone, so there is no one else using the same technique who I could deadlock (pun intended).

I do not push the key all the way in. Pushing it all the way in could prevent someone else unlocking the door from the outside.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#320

Post by corobo »

ianamartin wrote: post #284
ianamartin wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, yes. The old upside-down-tomato-sauce-can-next-to-the-door-to-remember-my-umbrella trick. That's always been a classic. The first couple of times I tried it, it didn't work very well. I was trying to leave in the morning, and I tripped over the can, and I was all, "Who the fuck put a can of tomatoes in front of the door?" And I kicked it out of the way and left without my umbrella. Then I realized I wasn't going…

Wow. This is by far my most highly rated post on hacker news. I want to clarify that this is utter bullshit, and that I don't actually do this. Well, most of this. I have easier ways of working from home. Like, I put an event on my boss's calendar that says I'm working from home. And I hate umbrellas. I fucking hate them. If you live in New York City and you use an umbrella, I want you to go home and die right now. Y…

That's some strong thoughts on umbrellas. I like to think of them as a physical indicator of personal space, if you're getting poked in the eye maybe don't get all up in peoples' business so much, respect your fellow humans - But then again I don't live in a city.
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