Paul Allen has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Paul Allen has died

#291

Post by misiti3780 » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 3:53 PM UTC

PostOnce wrote: post #180

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! Y…

I was just there last weekend, and they have the ONLY apple 1 in the world that is hooked up to a monitor + keyboard that you can actually interact with (or so they claim it is) - it was very cool nonetheless.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#292

Post by balls187 » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 4:31 PM UTC

sharkweek wrote: post #184

dhairya wrote: post #139

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 micr…

It’s fun to see the same style applied to the Seahawks - he hired Pete Carroll to run the team the way he wants with the resources he needs. Without Paul Allen as the owner, our home team doesn’t win the 2013 Super Bowl. The team has had its fair share of problems too, but they’re always entertaining.

He also hired Mike Holmgren, who coached them to their first Superbowl appearance in franchise history, behind the leagues top offense powered by Shawn Alexander.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#293

Post by balls187 » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 4:34 PM UTC

PostOnce wrote: post #180

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! Y…

For anyone reading this comment, living in the general Seattle area who hasn't visited the Living Computer Museum, I highly recommend it.

I took my son and father there, and it was a great time.

For my dad and I, it was great to revisit computing through our lifetimes, (for me) starting with the working Amiga 1000, learning basic on the fly to help my son write "Hello World" (he's 2), then playing Oregon Trail on an Apple IIe, and having 1/2 my family drown attempting to ford the river.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#294

Post by vinayms » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

meta: what is the meaning of this post getting 2724 points (as of this writing)? just a mechanism to bring it to first page?

Re: Paul Allen has died

#295

Post by ovrdrv3 » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 5:03 PM UTC

vinayms wrote: post #294

meta: what is the meaning of this post getting 2724 points (as of this writing)? just a mechanism to bring it to first page?

Take a look at the top posts of all time:

https://hn.algolia.com/?query=&sort=byPopularity&prefix&page...

Re: Paul Allen has died

#296

Post by gajomi » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 5:23 PM UTC

I never met him, but he definitely had a big impact on my life. Like so many I was first exposed to computer programming through Microsoft BASIC. These days I make a living working as an engineer at one of his philanthropies. But what I will maybe remember most is a weekly invitation he extended to come to his pool, where I have helped teach my wife to swim in a relaxing environment. His family and friends I am sure will be sad, but his impact lives on today.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#297

Post by dogprez » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 5:30 PM UTC

balls187 wrote: post #293

PostOnce wrote: post #180

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! Y…

For anyone reading this comment, living in the general Seattle area who hasn't visited the Living Computer Museum, I highly recommend it. I took my son and father there, and it was a great time. For my dad and I, it was great to revisit computing through our lifetimes, (for me) starting with the working Amiga 1000, learning basic on the fly to help my son write "Hello World" (he's 2), then playing Oregon Trail on an…

Same, my daughter was 1.5. The people there were really nice, playing with her while I was geeking out. Sometimes my daughter would come and sit on my lap to watch what I was doing. It's really a special place and a very fond memory.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#298

Post by mcv » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 5:37 PM 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?

Some cancers are slow, some are fast. My mother died a few weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is always a fast killer. I'm glad we got to do some things together as a family in those last few weeks.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#299

Post by mcv » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 5:45 PM UTC

cultus wrote: post #280

whywhywhywhy wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I went to the doctor with extreme flu like symptoms (Pretty sure I had pneumonia) the doctor treated me like I was wasting her time and actually ridiculed me. Hearing stuff like this stresses me the heck out. This was the often praised UK NHS btw

I had a doctor be dismissive and rude for coming in with a huge crater blister (from climbing) on my foot that had become infected, hot to the touch, and too painful for me to walk. This was in America, and I had good health insurance. As crappy as the Tories are making the NHS, it's still better than what we have.

I got to my (Dutch) doctor for far smaller things than these. Really trivial stuff. But I go because I'm not sure what it is and I prefer to be on the safe side. I'm always taken seriously, even when it's nothing.

I guess the Dutch system is not so bad after all. Or maybe you've got bad luck in that doctor, and I'm fortunate to have a good one. There's always some bad apples in every group.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#300

Post by beefman » Tue, Oct 16, 2018, 6:05 PM UTC

denzil_correa wrote: post #20

Paul Allen on Gates, Microsoft (CBS 60 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IM0SvIiMI4

The outtakes from this are also worth watching (60 minutes "overtime" segment, but I no longer find it on their site). In one of my favorite moments, Stahl approaches a model of Allen's yacht and says, "So this is the Octopus...". Allen corrects her, "It's a model of the Octopus..."