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genericlogic

97 karma · joined November 25, 2017

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genericlogic··on [dead]
While I can't comment on the stats, I do have a story. A long time ago I was working and living in SF. I had just finished work and was heading over to a nearby bar. I was waiting at a very busy intersection for the cross walk to signal to go. I had recently moved to SF and all my new friends warned me about cars, so I was being cautious. There was a guy standing in front of me with big headphones on looking at his phone. He just stepped into the street. Out of the corner of me eye I saw a car taking a turn coming right at him too fast. I reached out, grabbed him by his backpack and pulled him back on the sidewalk. His eyes were firmly fixed on me as the car zoomed by where he would have been, him totally oblivious. He gave the the WTF is your problem face then safely crossed the street.

I think about that guy sometimes and wonder what his version of the story is. Further I sometimes question if he was ever in danger and I was just being overly cautious.

genericlogic··on A closer look at the Tabula Peutingeriana
I remember having this realization as a kid. I was standing in my driveway and realized there was an unbroken road from me to the other side of the country (and beyond!). It was one of those the world is so big and so small moments.
genericlogic··on Show HN: QBasic 4.5 on Android
Same here. I wrote a lot of code in my life but barely remember any of it. I do remember writing a 'madlibs' program as a kid and showing my family and being so proud. 100% the reason I'm doing what I do today is because of that day.
genericlogic··on Ask HN: Recommendations for Visiting the Japanese Countryside
I actually visited Japan for the first time this year, amazing trip. While I can't answer I highly recommend https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/ as a source of research. Great information.
genericlogic··on How to draw software architecture diagrams (2022)
I really enjoyed this article. When I draw an architecture diagram, write documentation, code or really do anything at work I take a moment to try to make it look "nice". I can't explain why I do it, I just know when I look at it I like it more.

I've always been slightly concerned it was possibly not the best use of time, but I have never had anyone tell me not to do it.

What I like about the article is that it articulates, in a practical way, how to make something more beautiful, whereas I go by feel.

Thanks for sharing.

genericlogic··on Eight days later: Kbin, Lemmy, the landed gentry, and the rise of “threadiverse”
I honestly don't care about the whole API drama, but I've been looking to get off reddit for awhile now. I switched over to Lemmy and committed to a week of usage. It's rough around the edges but it works. I'm in. Haven't been back to reddit and don't plan to.
genericlogic··on Ask HN: How to move from dev role to management/team lead role?
I'll focus on your question of how to move into a management. Or at least, my perspective.

To get into management, you generally need experience in management. I know that sounds silly but it's true. If I'm interviewing for a management position and I have two candidates, one who has experience and one who doesn't, I'll take the person with experience.

So your question becomes how do I get the experience. I would start with finding a work place that values the concept of promoting from within.

From there you need to advertise your intentions of wanting to move into a leadership role, without being annoying. You need to socialize and relationship build. Gently broadcast your intentions.

You need to be able to tell people why you want this role. It needs to be clear reason. This is more or less your sales pitch.

If you do these things listen to people's feedback. It should be enthusiastic and positive. If it's not it means that people don't see your potential yet. Figure out why.

This is your feedback loop. Take training, work on your presentation skills. Find another mentor. Keep building your network. Ask your manager if you can take over a meeting or take over a small responsibility for them. Gently reshape your role into a lead role. Do this until you get some positive feedback.

From there start to interview. Your first couple of interviews are likely going to be terrible. Don't lose heart. Ideally these are internal interviews. If you don't get the job reach out to the hiring manager to get open and honest feedback.

Keep interviewing and keep working on all of the above. With a little luck one of your connections will pay off and someone will take a chance.

genericlogic··on Japan has changed in important and visible ways
This reminds me of a recent experience of mine. I was raised bilingual Greek and English (English is my primary language). For my entire life I heard both of these languages and use them both the same. What I had never heard, until recently, was someone who learned Greek as an adult. I was so excited to speak to them because it was something completely new to me.

When they began speaking (Greek) it was like my brain shorted out. I was so excited for them but it took active mental effort to translate what they were saying. I began speaking to them in English and I nearly couldn't force myself to speak Greek.

This was not elitism or snobbery, it was like my brain decided the path of least resistance was English and I used it automatically. Very strange experience.

genericlogic··on It's legal to hit children in school in 19 American states
Years ago a friend of mine was considering a teaching job in North Carolina. She didn't want to travel alone so I agreed to come to keep her company. We got to the school, met the principal and he took us for a tour. During the tour I vividly remember the principal stating the rules around corporal punishment and at first I just laughed, thinking it was just a very odd joke. I then realized he was very much serious and just played it off as me misunderstand what he was saying. As soon as the tour was done my friend and I both got in the car and decided we needed to get the ** out of there.

I told this story to many people over the years and everyone thinks I'm making it up or just didn't hear right. Having a teacher tell me it's ok to hit kids felt like I stepped through a portal into another world.

genericlogic··on In Jordan, an ancient bread tradition rises again
I really want to know the name of the sweet bread shown at the top of the article.
genericlogic··on Counterfeits, fraud, and theft: Why Silca changed its return policy
One major difference is that Costco requires a membership. It seems like a bad actor could be effectively banned.
genericlogic··on World’s first octopus farm stirs ethical debate
While I don't know you or your dog - imagine for a moment if you could talk to your dog one last time and tell them the regret you feel. Do you think they would want you to regret the end, or remember all the love before that day?

In all my experience with dogs (and animals in general), one of the many lessons they have taught me is forgiveness. Both of others and myself.

genericlogic··on Thank You, Valve
I have refunded a number of items on steam for a number of reasons and all it took was filling out some online forms and waiting a bit. While I never spoke to a person I never had an issue. Steam also has a posted refund policy: https://store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds/
genericlogic··on Why I use a debugger
I have mentored a number of software developers from just starting their career to a decade+ long career. Nearly every time I open the debugger to help them work through an issue I get 'what is this? Why has no one ever told me about this?'.

This is not a judgement, just an observation. I always assumed debuggers were just part of a tool set but it appears (in my experience) many individuals were never taught that it exists.

I also do not claim its a magical tool that can solve all problems. There are plenty of times i do a "print 'i'm here' + var".

genericlogic··on Cisco says computer chip shortage to last six months
L
genericlogic··on Human taste buds can tell the difference between normal and 'heavy' water
You mentioned that 'the back of our tongue is sensitive to bitter'. I believe this is a myth.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue_map

genericlogic··on Always Use “Buttons” for Size Selection
This is not an uncommon feature. The word I have used for this is 'facets' (unsure if its correct or not). Look at Gap.com for an example. For example click on "Men > Shop All Styles" then click whatever 'facet' you want on the left.

Of note I was part of the team that helped build this feature over 10 years ago.

genericlogic··on The Awful Reign of the Red Delicious (2014)
I actually just use dish soap. I do this with the most of my fruit/veg. Only takes a few moments and washes right off. Of note I do use no scent, fragrance free dish soap.
genericlogic··on Pikchr – PIC-like markup language for diagrams in technical documentation
I love the concept of using text to create visuals. It greatly appeals to my sensibilities as a coder. The concept of being able to source control the data seems amazing in theory.

What I found though was that once a diagram hits sufficient complexity the effort to produce a visual appealing image became too great. I likely could spend more time learning tools like graphviz and mermaid - but I find my time better spent in in more traditional graphic tools (lucid charts, Visio etc).

I don't proclaim this to be the great truth on these tools, merely my experience.

genericlogic··on “Alexander the Grate” on living in the “interstices of the infrastructure”
I'm almost certain it is 'anti-homeless' features to keep people from sleeping there.

See for examples - https://interestingengineering.com/15-examples-anti-homeless...

genericlogic··on Hiring Without Whiteboards
A key point in your process is that you have a conversation before the homework phase. The last time I was job hunting I would be given homework without ever having a chance to talk to someone. I did that once, sent my work into an automated system and never heard anything back besides an automated thank you.

I think if I was interviewing using your process I would submit code because I would guaranteed a chance to talk about it with other developers.

genericlogic··on Special filters in glasses can help the color blind see colors better
I experienced something very similar when presented with glasses to slightly correct my vision as a child. I found the world too sharp and distinct. When I looked at a tree each leaf stood out, while my experience had been that there should be no individual leaf, it should be blended.

I decided not to use the glasses and since my vision wasn't that bad I stumbled through. I realize as an adult now if I had just waited I likely would have acclimated to the situation.

genericlogic··on 3D cartoon face and cat face from one image
I find it interesting that if you flip the image around it looks like it's 'sticking out'.
genericlogic··on Pizza robot makes 300 pizzas per hour
Actually the conversion to fully automated is in the end stages.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2019/06/18/cashless-...

genericlogic··on Coffee Cups Are Next
To greatly extend the life of your sponge, get it wet then microwave for 2 minutes. Let it cool off for a few minutes before handing. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a18731/how-to...
genericlogic··on Massachusetts gives workers new protections against noncompete clauses
While I'm happy to see some sensible restraints come to noncompetes I'm sad that it wasn't taken further. I actually applied, interviewed and got a job offer to a great little startup in Boston. After all was said and done they slipped in that I had to sign a noncompete.

This noncompete was incredibly broad. It could have applied to nearly any future employer. I worked with my lawyer and asked for some further limiting language but everything I asked for was rejected by HR.

I stuck to my guns and said that I could not sign this. The job was a perfect fit for me. I still wonder what I could have done there.

genericlogic··on Recycling Chaos in U.S. As China Bans 'Foreign Waste'
I was going to post that the US does this, but more correctly some states do this. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_deposit_legislatio...
genericlogic··on Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?
One point of clarification. One of my favorite things about running is spending that time socializing. I just slow down my pace and chat away. It's one of my most favorite activities.