Hacker News Reader

jnwrdon An inside look at Quantum DOM Scheduling

we need to stop calling things quantum that are not quantum - its confusing

jnwrdon a16z on Rigetti Computing (YC S14)

Are there other examples of startups tackling problems that were only addressed by departments of larger problems and those startups then using their focus as an advantage?

jnwrdon Quantum Computer Factory

What is the difference between the approaches that Rigetti and say Google and IBM are taking?

jnwrdon Super-Saturated Chemistry

Interesting - Is there a good reference which describes the Born-Oppenheimer approximation in terms of parallel transport?

jnwrdon Harvard Square Classic Cafe Algiers Closing Forever Sunday

Harvard student here - I would like to know as well...

jnwrdon A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral

I like the way you think. How could someone determine if this occurred? Rocket sabotage seems like a rather perfect crime, very little evidence is left afterwards.

jnwrdon Using Simulated Annealing to Solve Logic Puzzles

I wonder if Quantum Annealing would also be applicable.

jnwrdon UK votes to leave EU

smh uk

jnwrdon Moore’s Law Not Dead – Intel’s Use of HPC to Keep It Alive

The scaling on the simulation of the nanowire was dismal. Having effective quantum simulation would make such a tremendous impact on semiconductor development.

jnwrdon Are Computers Still Getting Faster? [video]

Your turning point of 2005 might simply be because programmers stopped developing applications that require faster serial processing. Those programmers might have stopped developing such applications because they noticed that chip clock speeds haven't increased since 2004.

jnwrdon Math Quartet Joins Forces on Unified Theory

This story compels me to smile.

jnwrdon Post-human mathematics

Some portion of what is deemed important arises from the interaction between mathematics and physics. It would be fascinating to automate the invention of new mathematical structures and then have a post-human physicist try to apply these new structures.

jnwrdon Homeschooled with MIT courses at 5, accepted to MIT at 15

"I am a hundred percent sure every kid can study MIT classes at every age." Every kid can {Watch a lecture: sure, Study: perhaps, understand: Nope}. Humans have varying levels of intelligence and Ahaan is far more intelligent than most. Disregarding his capacities does both a disservice to him and to everyone else.

jnwrdon Homeschooled with MIT courses at 5, accepted to MIT at 15

The problem is mostly that parents and teachers have expectations for students beyond what most of them are intellectually capable of. There is also an excessive emphasis on empty credentialism. Both problems could be tempered via a recognition that people are not blank slates, some people like Ahaan are simply smarter than others, and the average high schooler should not be compared against him.

jnwrdon Homeschooled with MIT courses at 5, accepted to MIT at 15

He seems to have tremendous breadth of curiosity, it will be interesting to see what he ultimately ends up specializing in. MIT is a big place, and trying to "major in everything" will almost certainly not turn out well.

jnwrdon PG: “Any industry that still has unions has potential energy”

Well put, I would further add that much of the equity in these few firms is owned by massive firms such as Blackstone, and and Blackrock. Concentrating the ownership into the hands of fewer owners further promotes anticompetitive action.

jnwrdon PG: “Any industry that still has unions has potential energy”

Wait, isnt doing the same thing on the employer side called a trust? If this isn't what you had in mind please elaborate.

jnwrdon PG: “Any industry that still has unions has potential energy”

Workers tend to consume as much or more than they make in income, hence most workers would immediately liquidate their equity holdings in exchange for cash that actually improves their quality of life. The best move would be eliminating the inefficiencies in the private sector (i.e. Unions) and adding universal supplemental income via the public sector.

jnwrdon Africans are mainly rich or poor, but not middle class

Africa was not blessed with the greatest geography for capital formation. The most interesting question is why Africa did not develop prior to the period of colonization, in the time period from say 1000-1500 CE when Europe when from a position of relatively inferior capital, to relatively superior capital: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_by_past_GDP_(P....

At this stage in human development capital generation is pretty much completely agricultural, and thus the productivity of the land is the chief determinant of societal outcomes.

jnwrdon Wind now competes with fossil fuels, and solar almost does

Periodic bouts of practically free electricity make water desalination much more attractive.

Perhaps you even get a stabilizing mechanism where: drought ~ high solar output -> cheap electricity -> water desalination -> eliminates drought problems.

jnwrdon Clifford Algebra: A visual introduction (2014)

There is actually a 7-dimensional "cross-product" (-esque operation): https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Seven-dimensional_cross_prod...

The relationship between Quaternions and the 3-dimensional cross-product corresponds to the relationship between the octonions and this 7-dimensional cross-product. Normed Division Algebras are a fascinating and worthwhile subject to look into.

jnwrdon Clifford Algebra: A visual introduction (2014)

I apologize, my comment was too vague. My complaint is that when the connection between the Maxwell equations and Clifford algebras is first raised, there is an accompanying picture that shows the cross product in explicit coordinates.

jnwrdon Clifford Algebra: A visual introduction (2014)

The post makes it appear that using cross product to express Faraday's law is somehow related to Clifford Algebras.