Hacker News Reader

PeterHolzwarthon I Toured Unitree's Factory. I'm More Bullish on the West

"Chinese markets lose trillions as race for AI supremacy with US takes its toll"
"But the demand for robotics is being driven by government agencies and research institutions, rather than everyday consumers, for whom the products are still too expensive and not yet practical for home use. Humanoid robotics and robotic dogs have been popular in the entertainment industry but are yet to be useful in home settings. Shares in Unitree, China’s leading robot-maker, have halved since they started trading in August."*
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/27/chinese-market...

PeterHolzwarthon Chinese markets lose trillions as race for AI supremacy with US takes its toll

Not quite sure what you mean about "move the drone stuff out of ukraine" - could you explain that more?

PeterHolzwarthon An Italian farmer found some unknown seeds in his attic and planted them

Hey the-golden-one, I downvoted you because your comment didn't make any sense to me. Other commenters point out that you were responding to an earlier title. Sorry! Time has passed, and I am no longer able to unvote.

PeterHolzwarthon An Italian farmer found some unknown seeds in his attic and planted them

Ah thanks, I didn't see that original title.

PeterHolzwarthon An Italian farmer found some unknown seeds in his attic and planted them

Is it? It seems to describe exactly what happened: a farmer finds a sack of grain in his attic left by his great grandfather and plants them for the hell of it. Interesting things result.

PeterHolzwarthon Tell HN: Scribd Breached

It's been 22 mins since I left my comment - the original post is still light grey (that doesn't mean much, but as this post accumulates upvotes, I don't yet see any change in test color).

PeterHolzwarthon Tell HN: Scribd Breached

@dang, always been curious about this: why are posts like this grey text vs dark test? It's difficult to read, being so low-contrast. I assume it's based on numbers, the poster, up/downvotes etc - but it seems a poor use of those systems given it sacrifices readability. Is it just a light mode thing? Is it just me?

PeterHolzwarthon Reforming English Spelling

Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.

PeterHolzwarthon Dam removals are bringing fish back across the northeastern United States

Thanks for expanding on the topic, I appreciate it.

PeterHolzwarthon Amazon uses AI to monitor union risk in UK warehouses

Then GP should have said mass surveillance. In this era of all-or-nothing swing-for-the-bleachers with-me-or-against-me hot takes, it matters.

PeterHolzwarthon Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system still restricted in Ukraine

I've always had this paradigm that I fall back to when uncertain of things, or encounter stuff I am not sure about: find out what your enemies want you to do, and don't do it.

These last few weeks really just boggle my mind, as an American. Seriously - whose side is the administration on?

Yes yes yes - "the last few weeks?!?" etc, but you get what I mean.

PeterHolzwarthon Dam removals are bringing fish back across the northeastern United States

Hm, I dunno - this article makes it sound like recovery is happening and ongoing:

https://washingtonfishinghub.com/the-elwha-salmon-runs-recov...

PeterHolzwarthon 90% of US working hours are spent on tasks not covered well by AI benchmarks

Ah, good to know, thanks. How has the transition been? Stories of people hanging out at the pump for ten minutes before they realize it's not a full-service station?

PeterHolzwarthon 90% of US working hours are spent on tasks not covered well by AI benchmarks

You've described the state of Oregon, where "full service" (they pump, not you) is legally required.

<edit> Ah, my Oregonian neighbors inform me that in the last few years, this mandated institution is no longer in force.

PeterHolzwarthon Nine-Inch Snails

"but 8-inch snail sounds a bit scary"

Avoid Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

PeterHolzwarthon So, you’d like to sell your print issues of The Onion?

I wish the title could be changed to something that reflects the actual need: The Onion has gaps in their archive, and are asking for fans to help fill those gaps.

PeterHolzwarthon Hair Loss Was Just the Start. Ozempic Users Are Also Reporting Nail Trouble

Those people often also fail to ask "is this stuff even made right?!"

PeterHolzwarthon Behold the pawpaw

Maybe don't over do frequent eating of the fruit and others from its family:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimina_triloba#Potential_toxi...

PeterHolzwarthon The Murky History of Soviet-Born Tetris

Good article by fiflre on the history of tetris:

https://www.filfre.net/2017/08/a-tale-of-the-mirror-world-pa...

The author similarly dives into the crazy and interesting series of events - such a snapshot of that era - that led to the game getting onto the Gameboy, and the impressive impact that had.

PeterHolzwarthon Does Georgism work? Five years later

A compelling review of the authors work, but I think there would be benefit from dropping the early references to UBI: LVT is an interesting approach and line of reasoning. UBI is a political hotbed with deeply acrimonious feelings on all sides.

When you align one idea with an external one, you are adopting all that external baggage - it's a cheap way to get a few additional people to agree, but at the cost of a bunch of other people seeing what they perceive as warning signs of a class of ideas they are suspicious of.

It's important to have confidence in your idea, on its own merits.

PeterHolzwarthon Largest wildlife overpass in North America reduced wildlife collision by 91%

"This area was getting about one deer hit a day"

Relative to how many didn't get hit, what's the percentage there?

PeterHolzwarthon OpenAI expects to burn $280B by 2030

A smidge more article:

https://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-sees-compute-spend...

PeterHolzwarthon Executive order on H-1B nonimmigrant visa administration

The current administration doesn't believe in climate change / global warming, so no. It's just the typical "blame foreigners for your problems" thing that every authoritarian regime all over the world indulges in, and uses to justify nasty stuff. In the last 20 years, for example, it's also been how China justifies stealing stuff from other countries to further their local industries and technological growth (not that there aren't fantastic engineers and scientists in China already).

PeterHolzwarthon IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

Always been curious - what are some examples of trademarks being lost due to not being defended?

PeterHolzwarthon Senior Russian banker fired after scathing speech on wartime economy

The man has not yet been defenestrated, but I get your point.

PeterHolzwarthon Babylonian Lamb Stew with Beets (1750–1730 BCE)

Yeah, you're right - I didn't think about that. Thanks!

PeterHolzwarthon Babylonian Lamb Stew with Beets (1750–1730 BCE)

That's a great point, thanks - I didn't think about that angle.

PeterHolzwarthon How to buy a good car for $1000

Wow! This didn't last long on the front page. Strange - I thought it was an honest and informative little article.

I noticed it on the front page. An hour later, it's on page 3.

<edit>

Now I'm just curious to see how fast the downward trajectory is on this currently 70-post article is. Still in the 1-2 hour range and now it is on page 4 of HN.

PeterHolzwarthon Babylonian Lamb Stew with Beets (1750–1730 BCE)

What's enlightening is how astonishingly little salt is used, by our standards.

PeterHolzwarthon GPT-6 Astra

Oh please. They do closed betas - hardly makes you a "second class citizen".