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I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

nytimes.com

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Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#161

Post by mprovost »

westicle wrote: post #109
stephth wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would work for the rest of my life to pay for a device that turns my ears off temporarily. YC2020?

I will save you the rest of your life's labour. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-plugs-Uncorded/dp/... You're welcome.

This reminded me of a great article about ear plugs:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

The author Nicholson Baker has written about writing with earplugs:

"I’ve always been helped by sensory deprivation. I used to wear earplugs a lot. Sometimes I would write with my eyes closed. But writing in the early morning is different because you haven’t been able to see anything for hours. I would get up and feel my way around. The only help was the moonlight, if it was a moonlit night. You think differently if you can’t see."

http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6097/the-art-of-fic...

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#162

Post by Riesling »

jacquesm wrote: post #143
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

Beautiful.

If this was located in the southwest of Germany, I would probably buy it.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#164

Post by droidist2 »

robomartin wrote: post #130
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I hate front lawns. With a passion. But, guess what, I had to fall in line and make mine "pretty", put in some sod and match the rest of the neighborhood. For now I have the greenest and neatest front lawn on the block. Why? We have a culture where you lose value if you adopt arid climate landscape when people expect grass and flowers and that's what everything around you looks like. We had a nice arid climate front…

I think this is a big reason we've seen a renewed interest in cities since the 1980s. All of the upkeep on a home is ridiculous. Also commuting, sitting in traffic every day, dealing with the hassles and expenses of owning a car. Simplifying all of this is incredibly liberating.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#165

Post by arethuza »

jacquesm wrote: post #144
pbz wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Europe pretty much any old house is made out of brick. They've been through many earthquakes, built hundreds of years ago and still standing; and this is without reinforcement.

Most earthquakes in Europe aren't all that strong. But when they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Vrancea_earthquake

And the Lisbon earthquake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake

Probably associated with a new subduction zone that appears to be forming at this side of the Atlantic:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23711-will-new-tectoni...

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#166

Post by kayoone »

jacquesm wrote: post #143
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

nice, whats the internet connection in a place like that like ? :)

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#167

Post by jacquesm »

kayoone wrote: post #166
jacquesm wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

nice, whats the internet connection in a place like that like ? :)

50 Mbit down, 5 Mbit up, 75 euros / month.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#168

Post by kalms »

pbz wrote: post #136
wisty wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not really the flexibility. Masonry is strong in compression, but heavy, and relatively weak in tensions. It tends to crumble under its own weight. But yes - brick is good in a hurricane, but a death trap in a quake..

In Europe pretty much any old house is made out of brick. They've been through many earthquakes, built hundreds of years ago and still standing; and this is without reinforcement.

Probably wouldn't want to live in one during a strong 6+ earthquake, but they are pretty handy during a hurricane. If you can manage to make the roof stay put.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#170

Post by dkersten »

jacquesm wrote: post #143
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

Wow, if I had the money, I would totally buy that place...
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