Paul Allen has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Paul Allen has died

#171

Post by tinkerteller » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 1:48 AM UTC

MrStonedOne wrote: post #153

tinkerteller wrote: post #151

Yes, Paul Allen, the great philanthropist, lived understated lifestyle. Unlike other billionaires who live extraordinary exuberant lifestyles and spend only fraction of their wealth on science and humanity, he did all of these: - private massive rock concerts for himself - half billion $ yacht with sub and music studio - buying up sports teams to stroke his ego - slapping his own name all over instead of people who d…

Oh how adorable. I hope one day when you look at somebody so loved and adored by all around him you are able to push past the hate and envy and be happy for them. Until then please keep your negativity to yourself.

This is not hate or envy. There are other 1000 billionaires in the world and most have lived less lavish lifestyle than Allen and some probably even have done more on philanthropy. I don't get depressed when they die or even think of as big event. They spend massive amount of fortunes to stroke their ego and spend money on pointless stuff (golden toilets, anyone?) and then throw breadcrumbs to science. The entire sum of Allen's donations is known to be less than billion dollar. He has spent more on his yachts and fleet of luxury jets alone.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#172

Post by danso » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 1:56 AM UTC

gist wrote: post #67

I am guessing that most people here have apparently forgotten about the patent troll aspect of Paul Allen: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100827/12001710802.shtml Now I am sure there are those that will think it's in bad taste to bring this up. However I am not saying this to family or friends at a funeral. I am merely raising it so people can stop lionizing him because he was a co-founder of Microsoft. https://…

I'm genuinely interested in how you think Paul Allen's untimely death should be discussed on HN. Do you think he's getting too much respect, with the HN black bar and the 1300+ upvotes? How much should his post-Microsoft accomplishments be negated enough by Microsoft's bad deeds?

Re: Paul Allen has died

#173

Post by nl » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:04 AM UTC

cheeze wrote: post #162

culturestate wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can support gun control without supporting total suppression; even Japan, with some of the world’s strictest gun control laws, still lets you buy one if you qualify.

This is a really bad example, specifically wrt Paul Allen. Many of those arguing against him dislike the idea of having two classes of folks, the elite that can own weapons, and plain folks. Japan is the definition of this system...

I'm not familiar with the Japanese system, but according to the library of congress report[1]:

According to gun-shop websites, although obtaining a gun-possession permit the first time is cumbersome, it is not difficult if one follows the requisite steps

Reading through the requirements the only thing which seems "elitist" is (maybe) that undischarged bankrupts can't own a gun. The rules seem pretty reasonable and sensible to me.

I'm interested why you think this is about two classes?

[1] www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/japan.php

Re: Paul Allen has died

#174

Post by mannermachine » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:08 AM UTC

I KILLED PAUL ALLEN with AN AXE in the FACE, his body his dissolving in a BATHTUB in Hell's Kitchen.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#175

Post by nl » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:09 AM UTC

smsm42 wrote: post #154

culturestate wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can support gun control without supporting total suppression; even Japan, with some of the world’s strictest gun control laws, still lets you buy one if you qualify.

And to qualify, you usually have to be extremely rich and well-connected, thus enforcing the idea that there are two sets of laws - one for hoi polloi and one for the exalted elite. I think it's better when there's just one, and your rights do not depend on who you know.

You are the second person in this thread who has claimed that the Japanese system is elitist. When I looked and replies to the other person I couldn't find any evidence of this, so I'm interested where you got this idea.

Here's a story on how to buy a gun in Japan[1]. The only fee is $60 for the gun license course, so I don't see where the argument about having to be rich is coming from.

[1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-per...

Re: Paul Allen has died

#176

Post by _0nac » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:11 AM UTC

smsm42 wrote: post #154

culturestate wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can support gun control without supporting total suppression; even Japan, with some of the world’s strictest gun control laws, still lets you buy one if you qualify.

And to qualify, you usually have to be extremely rich and well-connected, thus enforcing the idea that there are two sets of laws - one for hoi polloi and one for the exalted elite. I think it's better when there's just one, and your rights do not depend on who you know.

That's just straight-up wrong. Legal ownership of a gun in Japan requires an extreme amount of bureaucracy, but it's entirely possible and most legal gun owners in Japan are (non-rich, non-well-connected) farmers.

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/gun-control-how-japan-has...

Re: Paul Allen has died

#177

Post by Gatsky » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:18 AM UTC

pcurve wrote: post #16

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

Wow can your condition go south that quickly?

There are some complications of cancer that cause rapid deterioration. The reason why this happens to some people and not others is not well understood. One of the more common rapidly fatal complications is disseminated intravascular coagulation, where the cancer stimulates widespread blood clotting that consumes all the normal clotting factors and results in bleeding which can easily be fatal.

It is perhaps not so well understood that a cancer is not 'part of the person'. Our notions of good health presuppose the concept of a united system of physiological functions. Cancer doesn't follow this rule. It is an invasive, foreign organism who's singular purpose is to keep growing no matter what. It is less sophisticated than a virus in that respect. Assessed on a genomic level, you may have less in common with your cancer than you do with your neighbor.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#178

Post by Stratoscope » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:23 AM UTC

tinkerteller wrote: post #168

pmichaud wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what you're valuing by reposting versions of this comment in multiple places in this thread, but it seems like you think he should have given more money to science. Speaking as someone who works in a nonprofit trying to get high end research done, funding is complicated--the equation is absolutely not More Money == More Progress. There are very tricky trade offs, perverse incentives, and huge talent bott…

Did he also had teams to advice on purchasing half a billion dollar yacht? Do you know the total investment that went in to Allen Institute? It's mere $150M. So you are crying over a guy who spent approximately 20X more money on sport teams, private rock concerts and yathces than on something that might define the future on humanity. Compared to Allen, Bill Gates has lived fairly understated lifestyle without owning…

Dude... Even if you were 100% correct in all your points, this is the wrong day for it!

Re: Paul Allen has died

#179

Post by djabatt » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:28 AM UTC

I have been working with him and his team at Vulcan on a project. I met him once and he was super cool and deeply interesting within a few minutes of talking with him. He had a way at taking the idea to the next level and not getting bogged down in why it won't work. Vision and drive. His team at Vulcan were all smart, creative and driven. I would work with them on anything. It is a big shock and bummer to hear about him passing.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#180

Post by PostOnce » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 2:38 AM UTC

Many here have noted his many large-scale philanthropic efforts, which are fantastic, and often benefit our whole species.

But my personal favorite, even if it doesn't benefit large swaths of humanity in the same way as a cell research insitute:

https://livingcomputers.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Computers:_Museum_%2B_L...

It's a computer museum, but they work. They're turned on, and you can use them! You can program them; you can even get an account to access ancient computers over the internet (via telnet).

For example, look at the cool as hell control panel and general design of this thing! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Sigma_9 -- light bulbs add something to computers that LEDs don't. :)

If nothing else, it makes us nerds happy. Thanks, Paul.