Hacker News Reader

microdrumon Beijing is planning world’s longest rail tunnel to link Taiwan to mainland

The United States will immediately initiate a hot war against China and attempt to decapitate China's government if China attempts to annex Taiwan. That is the policy, and that is what will happen.

This is why China is using espionage, soft power, and cultural imperialism to annex Taiwan.

microdrumon Google Plans to Launch Censored Search Engine in China, Leaked Documents Reveal

Google has no morals. Only marketing.

microdrumon Apple Reports Third Quarter Results

I think the more provocative question than "why are Mac sales down again" is: "how do people work? What IS work today?"

For me, I really truly cannot imagine working on anything other than a real computer. I need a lot of text and number input for really any kind of work. Anything that could be called work.

So what's happening with people? With the economy?

microdrumon How Jack Ma took on eBay with Taobao

* Goes to war with eBay *

* Yes, hello DNS this is Jack Ma, please nullroute ebay.cn kthx *

* Wins war

microdrum on Removing Bad Actors on Facebook

This. It's documented that the Russian state security apparatus was not seeking (and did not believe it possible) to prevent Clinton from winning.
What they wanted, and got, is mania.

microdrum on Tech companies can now bid on the Pentagon’s $10B cloud contract

Are you sure it isn't because key Google and Amazon employees have threatened to quit their jobs if either of these companies helps their own government? I mean, if I were USG, I would be running away from Google.

microdrum on How did Google get so big?

By 'collude' I just meant worked together. The operative legal word is 'restraint of trade.'

microdrum on How did Google get so big?

Google got so big by causing its server-side adtech businesses to collude in such a way as to restrain trade and forestall competitors.

microdrum on Alphabet Announces Second Quarter 2018 Results [pdf]

You're right. Only one entity can take their monopoly away: the U.S. Department of Justice. The fine is just a fine.

microdrum on 24% of Tesla Model 3 orders have been canceled, analyst says

Science journalists, of whom there are comparatively few, cover new things.
Most journalists cover vituperation, politics, and angst.

microdrum on 24% of Tesla Model 3 orders have been canceled, analyst says

More and more I agree with this.
Google and Facebook are boring monopolists. It makes sense that we enjoy their failures.
But Tesla is a really amazing company. The media coverage makes more sense when you realize that most journalists are deeply unhappy people who are, internally, banging their heads against the wall as a result of never having learned any practical skills. They viscerally hate the idea of progress, because by definition they will not be part of progress. They much prefer that the world be stuck.

microdrum on Facebook investigates data firm Crimson Hexagon

"Weird how Facebook keeps signing lucrative contracts with companies whose behavior then surprises and astounds them."
Another way to put this: perhaps the morally and legally culpable behavior is. . . Facebook's.

microdrum on Facebook investigates data firm Crimson Hexagon

Correct.

microdrum on Facebook investigates data firm Crimson Hexagon

Weird how Facebook keeps signing lucrative contracts with companies whose behavior then surprises and astounds them.

microdrum on Google Ventures uses algorithms to approve or kill VC investments

Exactly. These days this is exactly how Google works. Ask an AdWords, Analytics, or AdSense user who slowly realizes that Google has full access to their business data for any purpose.

microdrum on Some MacBook Pro users complain about throttling issues

Thermal capacity varies by 10% between different examples of the same Apple product?

microdrum on Banner ads on CNN.com contain keyloggers

I think you could name multiple competitive players in lots of areas that aren't your core business. You can't name any others in ad services because Google is a monopolist.

microdrum on Banner ads on CNN.com contain keyloggers

Which other ad server and ad intermediation service would you recommend?

microdrum on Banner ads on CNN.com contain keyloggers

Tons of malvertising comes through Google. When one company owns the whole space, finding just one vulnerability is enormously economically attractive.

microdrum on Banner ads on CNN.com contain keyloggers

Google's monopoly status means it fulfills 90+% of the ads. I can guarantee you that CNN has no control. There is no competition. So, erm, maybe the onus is on Google?

microdrum on How two strangers set up Dropbox and made billions

Regular paying user here. I agree that it's overpriced. They need to fight back on features. They'll never win on price alone.

microdrum on The Chinese Government Likely Borrowed More than the US in 2017

Not rich countries' consumers; rich countries' governments, economists, and academics.

microdrum on How two strangers set up Dropbox and made billions

Good comment. Dropbox is like how companies used to be: offer an amazing service and stay in your lane.
These days, I wouldn't be surprised if Google sent me an email that said: Hey Widgetco, become a Certified Ad Partner to join our Managed Preferred Storage Solution or else your files on our legacy system will be deleted when it is deprecated in 24 hours. Also please fill out this Google Form (Google.com Account required; get one, it's easy!) and in this Google Form please tell us more about your company, including: how many employees do you have, what is in your product pipeline. Also would you like an investment from GV? No? You have violated our Terms of Service!
(Two weeks later)
We're proud to announce Widgety by Google, launching today!
(Nine weeks later)
Widgetco's website doesn't adhere to Chrome's latest Super Safeweb standards.

microdrum on The Chinese Government Likely Borrowed More than the US in 2017

"monetary sovereign"
It still requires them to get many other rich countries to generally buy into their story.

microdrum on The Chinese Government Likely Borrowed More than the US in 2017

They are literally manufacturing islands in the ocean.

microdrum on Tesla plans China factory that can make 500,000 vehicles a year

With the exception of Apple, you do not have a great point.

microdrum on U.S. Moves Forward on $200B China Tariff

Reminder: this isn't a "tariff" in the 19th century protectionist sense. It's a tool to combat bad behavior.

microdrum on Tesla plans China factory that can make 500,000 vehicles a year

No faster way to kill your company than to do business with China.

microdrum on Uber Will Rent Scooters Through Its App in Partnership with Lime

Scooters: a (small) feature within a large global mobility company.
NOT a business unto itself.

microdrum on “The rep made it sound like there was free money on the sidewalk each night.”

Haven't seen any changes. They still seem not active in SF. Charging situation is same from people I talk to.