Earlier quoted context omitted.
You'd make a lot more money by inventing the silent vacuumcleaner.
I don't think it would be that hard to invent. What's hard is making it silent and compact.
Show me.
I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
181–190 of 252 posts
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#182Earlier 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
True, but most of the casualties came from large (poorly built) buildings collapsing, not regular houses.
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#183Earlier quoted context omitted.
When you're paid to clean leaves off multiple front yards? 15 * yards * days used per year = a whole lot of time. It's really not surprising that they pick what works quickest.
Not at all. I've watched them for years all over California and in a few other States. I used to film them and show friends, back when making movies with a pocket-size device was novel. They tend to loiter and run the machinery excessively whether it's needed or not. I'm not sure why. A display of 'work theater' to impress their clients? Or maybe it's to keep the driving/onsite ratio reasonable? Like, they have enoug…
Exactly this. I've confronted gardeners doing this and the homeowners who employ them. I even had the police come out on a noise complaint. Nobody seemed to care and most think it's fair game to make noise as long as it's during "business hours."
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#184Earlier 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!
What is this YC EU headquarters you are talking about?
Did you not see the announcement?
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#185Earlier 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.
I bought 200 of those and no.. they won't even make me forget the annoying coworker :)
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#186I see a lot of developers using earphones and listening to music while doing their stuff. As someone that prefers relative quiet I have always wondered if this makes them more, or less productive. This article would tend to indicate the latter but of course there is a big difference (generally) between music and noise.
I find it is a tradeoff. For the deepest thought, I feel I'm best in a quiet environment. However, if I've got to have sound, then music I'm very familiar with is better than something more random. For instance, from my office I can hear the tech support people. If I'm trying to solve a hard problem, and I can hear some support person trying to explain for the 10th time to a customer that if the customer schedules ou…
I once had to do software development in an open plan office with sales, business manager and someone from a different company in it.
Never again (it's actually a large part of why I have my own company), I actually threatened to quit unless I could work somewhere quiet (hell I'd have worked in one of the storage units as long as it was quiet).
I'm 2-3x as efficient in a quiet office where I can listen to music when I want to and have silence when I don't than I am in a noisy one.
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#187Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because it wastes water, which is something a lot of areas cannot afford: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/us/to-save-water-parched-s...
To add to your answer. Yes, lawns waste water. They also require fuel burning machinery to maintain, causing pollution. And then there are the chemicals (fertilizers, weed killers, insect control, etc.). Go back one more layer and you have the sod farms which use water, fuel, chemicals, etc. And I am sure the chain continues for another layer or two.
All of what you add is entirely optional. It is possible to keep a "nice lawn" around your house, without use of fuel and chemicals. Water however is mandatory if it's not raining enough.
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#188Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#189I wonder if that is what drives some typical programmer behavior, like coding at night (less noise), or super-star freelancers moving to rural cities.
Currently (office for me and the CEO in a busy area of a 30million people metro region) I am nowhere productive as I was when I lived in a rural area and coded at night. (but I am more productive than when I worked into a open layout office with 40 programmers...)
Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.
#190IIRC Peopleware pointed out a study where they compared two groups of programmers, those working in a quiet environment and those working with music. Given identical assignments, both groups completed it in roughly the same (median) amount of time. However, the assignment was such that there was a "shortcut", i.e. if you thought hard enough about the requirements a much easier solution was possible. Only the programm…
How was it a shortcut if both groups completed it at the same time?
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