News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

timberlane

Re:NBC Story about Hacking at Sochi is 100% Fraudulent on Friday February 07, 2014 @05:09PM (#7199094)
Plus one for first legitimate use of 'begging the question' I've seen in a decade.
Re:Fool's Gold 2.0: The siren song of Bitcoin on Sunday December 01, 2013 @07:08PM (#6830186)
It seems that most comments posts are either pro bit-coin or anti bit-coin, but both sides seems to make wrong arguments based on a flawed thinking of mining.

A fixed amount of bit coins are mined (on average) per unit time. Thus, how much work it takes to mine a coin depends solely on the number of miners. Econ 101 theory tells us that the aggregate costs of the miners will equal their aggregate rewards. So, the total cost of mining (hardware, electricity, people's time who work on it) will equal the reward.

That's all that's happening with mining. No for either side to complicate it and make it seem like more is there.

Unless pg is right, and this will actually hurt aap's share price. And pg is not always wrong.
Re:Demonizing Edward Snowden on Tuesday June 25, 2013 @11:40AM (#5940238)
"Maybe my indirect reading is biased by the most prominent cultural exports of the US, or their the most vocal representatives"...

Most of the cultural exports of the US are driven by economics, i.e. what can sell to worldwide audience.

Having lived in the US and traveled extensively throughout the world, it is my opinion that the average people in most countries are much more similar than different. People are people. The people in power may have slightly different agendas and by pushing slightly different things, but that doesn't fundamentally affect the citizenry.

I find it interesting that SV is normally in favor of capitalism and free markets, yet some seem tolerant of the government forcing content owners to license their content at a fixed price.

There is often more inovation in a space when the market participates are left to decide on their own what to do.

Re:Sympathy for the Luddites on Friday June 14, 2013 @10:53PM (#5883745)
Serious question: How to reconcile BI with more liberal immigration laws?

I see a benefit of BI, but I personally see a larger benefit of allowing open immigration (else you have large inequalities based on country of origin).

Re:A.C.L.U. Files Suit Over Phone Surveillance Program on Tuesday June 11, 2013 @05:25PM (#5864825)
that faith has been dramatically eroded over the last two decades...

In hindsight Bush. vs. Gore did a lot to erode this faith, and the ruling was probably a mistake.

Although, to it's credit, the court did not overturn Obamacare, probably because deciding such a partian battle would have further eroded this faith.

Re:Petition to Pardon Edward Snowden on Sunday June 09, 2013 @06:55PM (#5851081)
I'd understand if you wanted to do additional actions that can help.

But signing this petition takes 30 seconds and is useful. I urge you to consider it.

Re:Petition to Pardon Edward Snowden on Sunday June 09, 2013 @06:46PM (#5851045)
Please sign this petition now.

Upvoting and discussion on HN is important, but if 50% of the people who read this take 30 seconds to sign the petition, it could truly help.

Re:Cowards on Saturday June 08, 2013 @04:54AM (#5844369)
We can't -- and shouldn't -- hope to kick every pro-surveillance Congressman out of office

I strongly disagree. We are blessed with the right to vote. It's important to use it on things that actually matter.

Re:A founder-friendly term sheet on Tuesday June 04, 2013 @02:24PM (#5821214)
Sam,

Thank you very much for sharing this. Two questions:

1) Without an option pool, how do you prevent founders from issuing more options to themselves?

2) On the other side, do the Participation rights include the right to purchase into the option pool when it is created? i.e. is creating the option pool a "offering of new securities".