was_a_dev · HackerTrans

há 9 mesesdiscuss

I played the Map mode and got the same page several times, and then the game ended with half my "life" left. It was really fun but I passed a lot of rounds just on memory

was_a_dev

há 9 mesesdiscuss

There were reasons, they just weren't good ones

was_a_dev

há 11 mesesdiscuss

Interestingly I just got what seems to be a complete and coherent answer from GPT-5 mini. No refusal, many steps given

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

I can think of many potential reasons between the US and Europe that explains the difference.

  1. Europe has a greater emphasis on welfare and has greater social saftey nets

  2. US private healthcare makes it harder for the poorest in society to get drug-related issues cared for

  3. US War on drugs being a historical political selling point to gather voters

  4. Private prisons; lobbying for stricter drugs laws equals profit

  5. Over-prescription of pain medication by US doctors; lobbied by pharmaceutical companies for profit

Some of these points don't apply at all to Europe, or do with much reduced impact.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

You can decriminalize risky health decisions without legalizing them. There are other costs to such actions other than economical cost.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

I agree. That is why the cost isn't just economical.

We treat obese people while enacting laws to improve public health. Such as food quality laws.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

I've no idea. It's a complex arguement to make, and my few points don't do it justice.

I'm sure there is an optimal balance with legality that minmizes harm and cost. I think we are on the conservative side of that balance. But going for a free-for-all approach is the other extreme side.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

Would that make overdosing a criminal offense?

In the UK, being treated for an overdose is an expense of the tax payer. Obviously people still overdose, and that expense already exists. But the legality of dangerous substances is to minimize the harm, and therefore the cost associated with that harm.

A free-for-all approach would either have to accept a greater expense (not just economically) or introduce other measures to minimize the harm.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

Would it be any easier to say UTC-8?

In Europe it is more common, but I suppose that is because centralising around UTC is much easier when you're -1/+4

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

That kinda defeats the whole point at that stage?

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

This guy is a student. It's not like he has "chosen" money unlike myself

I used to be a junior software developer (hence username) earning £40k - far above median income.

Post tax, rent, bills I could save over the year to purchase the £5k electron microscope I mentioned quite easily.

But then I'd need to rent space for it. And purchase the rest of the equipment.

My points aren't some "look how bad I have it" gotcha. It's highlighting the perspective that this student is lucky to be supported with the resources to excel in his passion. Even if his use case is quite exceptional

Others have highlighted for Americans this probably represents a family in the top 5-10% of earners. A realm which American software developers can fall into

For myself, the chance to work in a lab of equipment costing the order of six figures required a career change and significant pay cut. But that's just me

To clarify. I am mind blown he has pulled this off. It's an extraordinary feat. All I can be is envious of his skills and privilege

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

It truly is a career driven via passion rather than monetary gain

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

The whole point of my comments were the price scales are out of touch of most people.

Not to detract from the achivement. But there's some respect to how the challenges were overcome by the large budget

A 22 year old in the top 5% of earns is a very lucky man

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

eBay in the UK is just a platform for people to sell their old hardware near retail price.

Some niches are decent value

Finding a £1k electron microscope would never happen

Edit:

A quick search across Europen eBay, I could buy a used/broken SEM for £5000 ($6850)

Then I'd need to rent somewhere to operate it

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

My PhD is funded by a research council and my stipend is £12k. After rent, food and bills there is some room.

But it's laughable to think I could repair and run an electron microscope. Already mentioned, finding a broken microscope for £1k wouldn't happen here. And you're seriously underestimating the resource requirements to operate such a machine

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

As mentioned, getting that equipment would cost an order of magnitude higher in my part of the world.

However, there is no doubt the feat pulled off here is impressive and insanely difficult to do. I most likely couldn't replicate it, but I wouldn't be able to find that out.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

Such find is niche, it doesn't happen outside of the US. I imagine it only happens in pockets of the US (say near a prominent university)

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

I think living in the US must have some effect.

In the UK the second hand market is non-existent with the likes of the US. You can't just pick up hardware off Craiglist for next to nothing. It simply doesn't happen

Space is another thing as well. But I'm sure there's plenty of Americans whole live more urban without such space as well.

My future prospects may be promising, but owning a large garage to tinker in, whether electronics or something like woodworking seems like an untenable goal.

was_a_dev

há 4 anosdiscuss

I've followed this project for a while. And while it truly is an impressive feat, I just wonder how did he afford all this equipment.

I'm 24 and a physics PhD student, and just afforded my first soldering iron. I lack the space, let alone the equipment to attempt anything close to this.

What a lucky, talented guy!