Paul Allen has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Paul Allen has died

#131

Post by anon7429 » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:03 AM UTC

msie wrote: post #41

minimaxir wrote: post #11

2 weeks ago: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1046864324310982668 > Some personal news: Recently, I learned the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma I battled in 2009 has returned. I’ve begun treatment & my doctors are optimistic that I will see a good result. Appreciate the support I’ve received & count on it as I fight this challenge Just now: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1051958128885940226

I wonder if he would have been better off not being treated. The treatment can be pretty nasty.

There is something to be said for nuance in stage IV treatments as most surgeries near EOL worsen outcomes and suffering for profit, but this wasn't one of those cases.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#132

Post by darkmighty » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:05 AM UTC

koiz wrote: post #93

dpq wrote: post #51

When I was a kid, programmers - the elders, those whose lives and achievements had been described in all my introductory books - seemed to be immortal, because all these people who changed the world and created the wonderful universe of computers and software - they were all alive then (at least those I knew and cared about). That time is long gone now... and we are no longer immortal. We have lost so many of our kin…

At least the ideas are immortal.

Nothing is immortal.

"Time fades even legend..."

Some things last more than others though, and I'm certainly not going to denounce propagating good ideas.

In portuguese there is a sonnet that goes

" (...) And I may say about love:

Let it not be immortal, seeing as it is a flame.

But let it be infinite while it lasts."

(Vinicius de Moraes)

Re: Paul Allen has died

#133

Post by CydeWeys » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:07 AM UTC

For whatever reason, I always remember him for the Allen Telescope Array: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Telescope_Array

Not many are willing to donate that much into funding a project whose chance of success is small, but whose success would change everything.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#134

Post by WalterBright » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:07 AM UTC

Paul Allen did a wonderful job restoring old aircraft and creating a flying museum. https://flyingheritage.org/

Re: Paul Allen has died

#135

Post by PhaseMage » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:11 AM UTC

pastor_elm wrote: post #36

One of the first people to sign on to the Giving Pledge. Worth 20 billion according to wiki. Owns the Seattle Seahawks and the Trailblazers. Will these be sold off? Will be a true test of the Pledge.

I'm not much of a football fan, but I would really love it if the Seahawks were owned by a charity. It would make rooting for the home team much more meaningful!

Re: Paul Allen has died

#136

Post by verelo » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:14 AM UTC

WalterSear wrote: post #117

koiz wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least the ideas are immortal.

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. I don't want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment." - Woody Allen

Great quote, creepy guy.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#137

Post by ausjke » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:14 AM UTC

RIP.

Microsoft lost one of its two founders, so did Apple. Two of the most influential companies. How sad.

Amazon and Facebook are both a single man show, then we have Google, one of the two founders also had some health issues, though much less serious.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#138

Post by muraiki » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:17 AM UTC

almostApatriot1 wrote: post #115

Delmania wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm 100% certain he did more good for this world with his wealth than someone like you can even begin to dream of. He helped to build a successful computer company, intelligently navigated the exit to make significant wealth, and then donated 2 billion to various causes. Tell me, what the hell have you done for anyone?

Paul Allen was a good man but... "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" Some think wealthy people should be held to a higher moral standard for a number of reasons

I understand what you are saying, but I think that people unfamiliar with Christian theology might misunderstand you. It's worth noting that the disciples responded to that with astonishment: "Who then can be saved?" -- even though none of them were rich! Crucially, Christ's response is that with God, _all things_ are possible.

Ultimately, the standard for the Christian is to become like Christ. To walk the path of the cross means to cover and take upon the sins of others, beholding all as worthy of the Kingdom and only oneself as deserving of Hell. This is what Christ did upon the cross for us, and it is what Christians are called to do for all. See the writings of St. Silouan the Athonite for more on this.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#139

Post by dhairya » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:23 AM UTC

I had an opportunity to work at both the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) and the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBs). I was part of the 10 year strategic planning efforts at AI2. Paul Allen was both involved and hands-off in the support of the leadership AI2 and AIBs. It was a rare balance and Paul Allen knew how to create the conditions for innovation and novel research breakthroughs with micromanaging.

Additionally, Paul Allen was an advocate for open science. Through AI2 he directly supported arxiv.org and funded the development of Semantic Scholar. I had an opportunity to participate in a gathering of scientists, academics and publishers organized by Vulcan and the Allen Institutes to investigate innovations to support open science. Alexandra Elbakyan (founder of Scihub) was skyped in (technically on the run) to share her advocacy of accessible and open science. It was surprising and inspiring to see that Paul Allen provided Alexendra a platform to share her experience (especially as several major publishers were in attendance).

His lasting legacy in AI will be the support of Semantic Scholar and the Alexandria (common sense) project. In neuroscience research, AIBs has made major breakthroughs in mapping the mouse brain and producing prolific open datasets (Allen Brain Atlas) to support research.

In Seattle, it was hard to not run into the influence of Paul Allen. From the Seattle Seahawks to the Museum of Popular Culture (MoPoP), Paul Allen had an impact everywhere in Seattle.

It is sad to see him pass away. He has a immense impact on both Seattle and scientific research. I hope both AI2 and AIBs will continue doing amazing work as part of his legacy.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#140

Post by hcs » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 12:27 AM UTC

oliyoung wrote: post #61

SpaceShipOne, owned the Seahawks and the Blazers, sunk $500m in brain research, $100m into cell research another $100m into AI, started the -Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- Museum of Pop He made a dent.

I was just at the Living Computer Museum, which he founded, last month. They said he'd just been there that morning to discuss some new acquisitions.