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bigtimeidiot

Are you just listing a few random ways that Bitcoin is more convenient than cash? The OP was about spending money at a bar.

But okay, here's how cash is more convenient: I can walk outside my office and use this dollar bill at any store anywhere around me. It has apparent value to everyone I will talk to. I don't need the internet.

If you need to "program" or "backup" your money, I guess Bitcoin is your medium. No argument there.

Re:Why is Russia so good at encouraging women into tech? on Friday April 21, 2017 @10:51AM (#14166081)
>Maybe chill out a bit on the accusatory kneejerk reaction, this is meant to be a forum for civil discussion.

Without fail, during any discussion about tech and gender on these boards, "nice guys" come out of the woodwork as staunch advocates of equality in the workplace, their message couched in accusatory and bullying language.

I'll bet they're closer to being part of the problem with the industry, rather than the solution.

Re:Why is Russia so good at encouraging women into tech? on Friday April 21, 2017 @10:35AM (#14165931)
>that sends a million little cues about what girls are supposed to do.

Why do you assume this is cause rather than effect? I find it hard to imagine we set out to define gender roles, rather than those roles evolving over a long time due to a billion factors.

>It doesn't protect against the insurers going bust

Can you clarify? I mean, I agree that your diversification should extend beyond the stock market (bonds, some metals, real estate). But I'm not sure what you mean by the above.

>but its likely that you will be able to use it for payment even if all else fails.

Can you give an example of a modern economy collapsing and reverting to gold as a medium of exchange?

>because it's not an investment but a safety net like gold and silver

Only if you're a resident of an unstable country.

Can you name a crisis where having a stash of gold and silver mattered? Do you think people are going to trade valuable goods (food? water? ammo?) for your metal bars? I can't imagine the circumstances.

When SHTF the government (or someone else) will confiscate that wealth. They have in the past. Personally, I think metals will matter less in any apocalypse, because they have no practical use.

>Anyone have a good source for that number?

You can get close with a few ETFs: US market and bonds, Ex-US global market and bonds:

http://www.pragcap.com/a-simple-four-fund-global-financial-a...

>In my neighborhood there are bars that accept Bitcoin.

Something tells me you don't live in Nebraska.

>Quite convenient in a city where you usually can only pay with cash...

How is it more convenient than cash?

Re:Survivorship Bias on Friday April 21, 2017 @08:03AM (#14164723)
>I found most serious people succeed in business.

Business failure = not serious. Got it.

>But I know some billionaires and do not envy them.

So you know multiple billionaires and think your situation is normal?

>It doesn't work that way. The best startups are ones that solve a pain point you yourself have experienced.

This is a natural extension of "startup founder" becoming a an aspirational occupation for kids fresh out of college. Who needs real-world experience? Disrupt!

Technology is a tool to to aid your expertise.

>the US did this with nickel in nickels in the last 5 years IIRC

Using expensive precious metals in what are essentially symbolic tokens seems like a waste, but that's just me.

Re:Boeing to lay off hundreds more engineers on Wednesday April 19, 2017 @09:45AM (#14147631)
>There are a dozen examples of similar incidents in this thread alone

By anonymous posters, most likely who have never actually worked a union job and are just repeating something they've read in threads like these.

Yes, unions have dumb rules. Do you think those rules were developed before or after corporations dictated onerous policy? So who are the good guys?

Re:Boeing to lay off hundreds more engineers on Wednesday April 19, 2017 @09:40AM (#14147594)
>If union rules had been written down, even in 2005

What are "union rules"? Each union is free to bargain their demands collectively with the employer. If your members think such a rule is stupid, they won't demand it. But your lack of knowledge and disdain of unions is noted.

Re:Vanguard Is Growing Faster Than Everybody Else Combined on Wednesday April 19, 2017 @05:33AM (#14146544)
>The fact that the NYT is somewhat affiliated with them

So a disclosure that they use a massively popular product is now an advertisement?

Just one time I'd like to open the comments and not have someone saying "fake news" or "this is just an ad" or "stick with the facts".

Vanguard is an interesting company doing big things. They invented the index fund. They are massive. The New York Times profiles companies like this often.

Personally I find this more interesting than a Musk tweet announcing an announcement six months in advance.

Re:Boeing to lay off hundreds more engineers on Tuesday April 18, 2017 @06:45PM (#14143713)
I think both sides think it's ridiculous. But it serves a purpose for the union: job protection.

Corporations want as few people doing as much work as possible. And they will have no qualms about laying people off to achieve that (TFA). Putting absolute restrictions on tasks puts a floor on employment. It's not ideal, but somewhat effective.

>ad revenue is the only way to directly capitalize on your popularity among those people.

Are these people clicking ads, though? I doubt it. And if not, you aren't monetizing them directly via that method, either.

>The differences in those years are _huge_.

They look similar to me. One has less granular data than the other. What exactly are you implying?

>SS will be "solvent" until it suddenly isn't, and people need to realize that.

And with a stroke of the pen, they'll make adjustments. SS isn't a real debt obligation; it's merely a "promise".

>We would have a budget surplus if we actually made Social Security/other Gov. retirement program replacement actually sustain itself perpetually. What. A. Concept.

Why is running a budget surplus necessarily a "good thing"?

Seems like if people are willing to trade real assets for paper, we should do that as long as there are willing counterparties.

>This medicine is out of patent; the R&D costs have been recovered.

Do you think the financial analysis involved with a new drug stops at "costs recovered"? Why should it?

I find it completely bizarre that, instead of getting behind the fact that the US is essentially subsidizing drugs for the 3rd world, people think rich first worlders should be paying sub-Saharan rates.

Re:Scientists Aging Faster Than Other Workers on Tuesday April 18, 2017 @10:04AM (#14138875)
>Interview processes and resume writing are more important to them than actual knowledge.

No surprise there! Look how much content on these forums is about, implicitly or explicitly, gaming coding interviews.

Re:Uber's VP of global vehicle programs is out on Tuesday April 18, 2017 @09:45AM (#14138727)
>Stick to reporting the facts.

Why? The author clearly indicated they were stating an opinion with "something tells me". I read authors because I'm interested in their opinion. If you don't like the style, find your own source. There are many.

>you're dealing with governments that might or might not have enough money and motivation to do proper accounting, staffed by people who might or might not have actually gone to college.

I get the impression there are swaths of the HackerNews audience who have no idea how "the other half" lives in places outside of the major urban centres.

Re:The Hotel Industry’s Plan to Combat Airbnb on Monday April 17, 2017 @12:57PM (#14132470)
>"Same as Uber... how do you ban a person from giving somebody else a ride"

I have never seen anyone "banned" from giving another person a ride. I do see restrictions on using your vehicles for commercial transport, and some have nothing to do with the government. Ask your insurance company how they feel about you running a taxi service on your personal liability policy.

>Why do we always bring up CEO compensations, but never Hollywood actors', professional athletes' or even painters

I hear you, but there's usually a magnitude difference between these occupations and the highest paid CEOs.

>If you want people to continue to take large risks, you need to offer them good rewards if they succeed

Is this what you think drives people like Jobs? The guy who had billions, worked relentlessly, and died of Cancer at a fairly young age?

Re:Arturo Di Modica has a point on Sunday April 16, 2017 @06:38AM (#14125247)
I can't wait for people to start extrapolating conclusions about gender diversity based on the financial success of the SHE fund.
>then maybe one should have several wallets and spread one's Bitcoin funds among these wallets, to dilute the risk

Sounds like Bitcoin is ready for the mainstream!

>it was a secret network tap

...trying to hide in plain sight, implemented by a major corporation so nation states cold exploit customers.

Re:Idea for HN: Ideas for HN on Saturday April 15, 2017 @07:29AM (#14120331)
>It could become a tradition like Ask HN, Show HN.

Since I see these threads regularly enough, I think it's already an unofficial tradition.

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