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randomaxes

81 karma · joined February 14, 2014

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randomaxes··on Atomic Spins Evade Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
This is a technique called squeezing, it in no way violates our fundamental understanding of physics. Heisenberg uncertainty is generally: 1/2ћ ≤ ΔxΔp. If you measure something in a way that you have complete uncertainty in the quantity p then you can have arbitrarily fine resolution in x.

It's interesting, but squeezing is a common technique, and this headline misrepresents the importance of this experiment.

randomaxes··on Foucault’s work on power
My favorite introduction to Foucault is Hubert Dreyfus' essay on Being and Power: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~hdreyfus/html/paper_being.html

The key insight for me is the discussion of "the clearing". The clearing opens the way for new opportunities while suppressing other possibilities in exchange. This concept can be used readily to analyze the durability of certain new technologies and their effect on society. For example, Facebook clearly creates a new way to communicate, but that channel then eliminates other forms of communication in exchange.

The language of pervasive and hidden power is essential for a clear view of what the Silicon Valley is becoming.

randomaxes··on The time is right to re-examine the L.A. freeway
I agree that a congestion tax on its own would be regressive. It's essential that subsidized, high-capacity bus lines replace most of the cars.

This situation would result in a far superior outcome for currently poor people, even if it still has some inequality.

randomaxes··on The time is right to re-examine the L.A. freeway
That's a very good point.

I personally believe that all traffic (including surface streets) should pay congestion tolls when there would otherwise be a traffic jam. Again, spend all that money to subsidize mass transit which would benefit local residents without raising local taxes.

randomaxes··on The time is right to re-examine the L.A. freeway
Why is congestion pricing never brought up in any of these conversations about traffic?

Simply charge people 10 or 20 dollars to drive at heavily impacted times of the day. Take every last cent of that toll to subsidize buses and eventually mass transit on the same route.

People in a hurry win because their time is valuable and they get to buy it back relatively cheaply. People not in a hurry win because they get subsidized mass transit. Everyone wins because traffic and pollution go down.

In a country where we allow people to live in misery just to uphold the "Free Market", why do we allow our streets and freeways to become unusable twice a day just so freeways remain "free"?

randomaxes··on Show HN: Droners.io – Get anything filmed by a drone
Sounds alot like Skycatch's Workmode that already has tons of pilots and clients on it. It'll be interesting to see how Droners intends to compete with a company that already has a strong network effect going in its favor.
randomaxes··on Tesla Beats Delivery Forecast with 52% Quarterly Surge
US Govt will collect at least 15% capital gains on that 35B plus 20-40% of the salaries. It's not equity, but it's pretty close.
randomaxes··on Slack Is Raising Another Round at Up to a $1B Valuation?
That's the main benefit for us as well. I compare inboxes with friends who don't use Slack at their company and its a stark difference. They'll have tons of giant chain emails about pointless stuff.
randomaxes··on How drones and UAVs are already affecting construction jobsites
It's weird that this article left out Skycatch and Airware.
randomaxes··on Researchers Plug Google’s Project Tango Into a Drone
Skycatch is already doing 3D modeling of huge areas using autonomous robots: https://vimeo.com/81128563
randomaxes··on The Science Behind 'Brain Training'
Does your Chief Science Officer really have a PhD from Capella University?