Life Improvements Since the 1990s • Hacker News Board

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#401

Post by ggreer » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 9:39 PM UTC

denton-scratch wrote: post #199

To me, the article seems panglossian ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide ). Some of the "upsides" (e.g. improvements in patent regime) just aren't there. Some aren't as wonderful as they are described. I'm in my mid-sixties; I'm very much a candidate for the "things were better in the old days" brigade. But I do think many (most?) things have improved. Housing is better; healthcare is immeasurably better (unless…

> [Edit] OK, I'll list one: permanent war.

Depending on who you ask, conflict deaths per capita have stayed the same or declined since 1990.[1] 1991 had the first Gulf War, The Troubles, the Yugoslav campaign in Croatia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and many more.

1. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/conflict-deaths-per-10000...

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#402

Post by nemo44x » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 9:44 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #391

nemo44x wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They obviously do not pay commensurate to the risks of job loss, lack of quality of life at a job, and/or to make up for the undesirability for the location they are in. I mean, there's a lot of alcoholism problems and drug issues too. >People incorporate that knowledge, and let their kids know that those jobs are not worth investing in. I'm not sure the wisdom of the crowds is a great example here. How many kids a…

> Additionally, a lot of people think this kind of work is below them because they went to a university to study a field that they can't make it in. People think it is "below them" because they saw the people who went into white collar professions in their parents' generation come out ahead. Pay enough (and advertise the pay) and people's perception will change. >But you would think it isn't even available - but it i…

I’m not sure and maybe the type of work I’m describing isn’t traditional manufacturing. Machining and welding for instance are skilled trades but a big part of modern manufacturing. Tool and dye press setup is another and one of many entry paths.

We hear the same things in other non-manufacturing trades though like plumbing and carpentry and HVAC, etc. companies struggle to find reliable people when the money is good and prospects are stable.

One contractor I had was a Ukrainian man with a math degree but went into tile work when he moved here because he found he could make more money doing it. Smart man in our conversations and humble but is massively in-demand in the general area because he’s so good at it and he’s paid like it.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#403

Post by treis » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 9:45 PM UTC

coryrc wrote: post #265

GoatOfAplomb wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started to write this out but realized a more polished explanation might be more useful: "Snorkels constitute respiratory dead space. When the user takes in a fresh breath, some of the previously exhaled air which remains in the snorkel is inhaled again, reducing the amount of fresh air in the inhaled volume, and increasing the risk of a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood, which can result in hypercapnia. The g…

That's the problem with the old ones, where you breathe in and out the same tube. That's fixed in these full-face masks.

New snorkels have a one way valve on the bottom. That vents the exhalation plus allows the water to drain when you're on the surface.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#404

Post by tcpekin » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:02 PM UTC

dougmwne wrote: post #163

throwaway0a5e wrote: post #20

I think he kind of missed the elephant that is modern communication technology has reduced the marginal cost of skilled services enabling pretty much every object designed in an office and manufactured in a factory to benefit from a broader array of engineering and design professionals and methodologies. The average product and service that the average actor in the economy interacts with is designed and optimized to…

I had a moment like this recently with, of all things, a snorkeling mask. It was one of those full face masks with a big snorkel sticking out the top like a unicorn's horn that popped on the market a few years ago. It is a marvel. It took all the downsides of the old masks and ingeniously fixed them. Full mouth and nose breathing so you can breathe naturally and comfortably, an airflow pattern that pulls dry air over…

The real problem with these masks is that unless you are quite good at equalizing with your jaw, it will be hard to relieve pressure if you dive down more than 6-8 feet or so.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#405

Post by bob1029 » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:18 PM UTC

nemo44x wrote: post #400

bob1029 wrote: post #374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've never heard a chef say that getting a pan hot and staying hot quickly is their number 1 optimization I am certainly no chef. Just an engineer trying to optimize my time as much as possible, especially in areas where I do not really enjoy spending it. Reduction of delicate sauces, et. al. is not something I am strongly concerned with. Fast meal prep is the name of the game for me. I do still have the ability to…

For sure - different tools for different jobs. We use different software Dev tools for different projects. I’m a hobby home chef so I guess my optimizations are different. I insist on an offset smoker when a pellet smoker would use much less of my time, for example. Awesome you cook though especially when it’s not your preferred way to spend time! It’s so easy to fall into the pattern of just getting delicious restau…

> I’m a hobby home chef so I guess my optimizations are different.

Yep there you go. If it's something you enjoy, you almost want to slow things down a bit.

> It’s so easy to fall into the pattern of just getting delicious restaurant food all the time

Absolutely. Virtually all of my friends & family are 100% addicted to other people cooking & bringing them food now.

I try to eat out rarely, especially any sort of cheap fast food. The quality & nutrition you get out of a $5 burger these days is absolutely appalling.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#406

Post by globular-toast » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:22 PM UTC

tristor wrote: post #267

globular-toast wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Induction stoves are good for boiling water and nothing else. And I mean boiling, not simmering. I'm going back to gas very soon and can't wait to start cooking properly again.

Pretty much agreed. I thought induction was going to be the miracle technology that would make a kitchen both highly productive and capable while increasing safety standards markedly over working with open flame. I was all in on getting a high-end induction range to replace my older radiant electric range, and thanks to a friend's advice I decided to buy a freestanding single-burner induction cooktop to try it first.…

This is my primary frustration with induction too. I use heavy cast iron and stainless steel clad aluminium cookware. This isn't some cheap thin stuff before people think it's the pans. The induction ring will make a hot spot hotter the sun in the middle of the pan while leaving the edges without any heat whatsoever. It's a complete nightmare for doing something like frying an egg, searing meat or anything really except boiling or deep fat frying where the water/oil provides the conductive surface rather than the bottom of the pan.

The other problem is temperature regulation. It regulates heat by pulsing on and off. It makes a noise which is annoying. On some settings and some pans, it will pulse between boiling over and coming off the boil completely. Since the heat settings are digital it can be impossible to find a setting that will keep water at a simmer (even if your volume of water is large enough to overcome the pulsing).

The one thing electric hobs have going for them is ease of cleaning. But cleaning a gas hob is a small price to pay for being able to cook properly.

Gas hob with electric oven is definitely the best combination overall. I could see having a couple of induction rings in addition to gas useful just for boiling and deep fat frying due to increased efficiency and safety, but that seems like an overly complicated setup.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#407

Post by globular-toast » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:23 PM UTC

dhosek wrote: post #393

tristor wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much agreed. I thought induction was going to be the miracle technology that would make a kitchen both highly productive and capable while increasing safety standards markedly over working with open flame. I was all in on getting a high-end induction range to replace my older radiant electric range, and thanks to a friend's advice I decided to buy a freestanding single-burner induction cooktop to try it first.…

We're in the process of designing a new kitchen and I had thought that we might do a hybrid cook surface: use a six-burner space to have a 3–4 spot induction cooktop and a 2-burner gas cooktop. Hearing these accounts, I'm beginning to reconsider (certainly, there are some things, like roasting chili peppers that can only be done effectively on a gas range).

If you can I would go 4 gas and 2 induction. I think that would be a pretty good setup and a true "best of both worlds".

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#408

Post by ozim » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:33 PM UTC

My point of view is that I live in the future now.

When I was a kid in the 90's when I think about life back then it sucked, compared to nowadays.

I think we could list a lot more than what is in the article.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#409

Post by JimTheMan » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:37 PM UTC

perardi wrote: post #390

bewaretheirs wrote: post #383

This one has if anything gotten worse rather than better: > Car Theft is rarer, and in particular, we no longer have to worry about our car windows being smashed to steal our car radios Yes, car radios have been made harder to steal, but now our car windows are smashed to steal laptops and other valuables. And catalytic converter theft is also rampant.

And catalytic converter theft is also rampant. Well that sure seems to be true. https://www.motortrend.com/news/catalytic-converter-thefts-n... “According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the pandemic has seen a rapid rise in catalytic converter theft. In 2019, an average of 282 catalytic converters were stolen every month; in 2020 the average had risen to 1,203—and that's just an average. In December alone, 2…

I wonder how much this is an American phenomenon. I've been reading about it on here quite a bit, haven't really heard any news of it in Australia.

It feels unreal to read. Like, crime must be higher in Chicago/LA etc than I realised.

Re: Life Improvements Since the 1990s

#410

Post by api » Thu, Aug 12, 2021, 10:43 PM UTC

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #341

api wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would bet that today's public domain open web is larger than it was in 1999. It's just harder to find because search engines prioritize large closed silo sites and outside those sites search has been largely destroyed by spam. It's sort of like the people who say mobile devices are destroying the more open PC market and replacing it with closed mobile "consoles." There are far more PCs out there today than there we…

>It's sort of like the people who say mobile devices are destroying the more open PC market and replacing it with closed mobile "consoles." There are far more PCs out there today than there were in the 1990s and they are cheaper, faster, easier to use, and more versatile. Well, there definitely are more PCs now than in 1991, but pre covid-WFH era, PC sales were at an all-time low, following a multi year downward tren…

Slowing sales were also due to PCs lasting longer and remaining useful longer. Mobile sales are slowing for the same reason. A five year old phone is fine.