HackerNews Summary (2023-06-14 06PM)

Source: SETI Scientists to Devise Plan for Lunar Listening Station

Summary
SETI researchers face challenges in searching for technosignatures in the massive amount of data collected by radio telescopes due to overpowering noise from radio sources on Earth. Moon missions will be resource-constrained and researchers need to find ways to crunch data efficiently and provide enough power to the radio telescope while contending with the harsh lunar environment.

Fact

🔍 SETI searches for technosignatures, radio signals that are unnatural and could only be produced by an artificial source of extraterrestrial origin.

🌕 Searching for technosignatures on the lunar farside is a major challenge due to the resource-constrained environment and harsh temperatures that can swing from 250 F to -200 F over the lunar day-night cycle.

💻 Researchers use powerful computers to sift through massive amounts of data collected by radio telescopes to find technosignatures but this requires a lot of equipment and power.

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Source: InfoQ Interview: Rich Kilmer on the Power of Ruby

Summary
Rich Kilmer explains to InfoQ how he used Ruby at DARPA to control a system with 300 Java-based agent processes and how Ruby can be used as “enterprise glue that doesn’t set.”

Fact

🤖 Kilmer used Ruby to freeze a system with 300 Java-based agent processes, while it took 7-8 minutes in Java, which caused 10 minutes of lost time when it was turned off and on.

🧩 Ruby can be used as “enterprise glue that doesn’t set” by using different languages for different parts of the development environment.

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Source: I am Steve Huffman, the new CEO of reddit. AMA.

Summary
Steve aka spez, the co-founder of Reddit, has returned as the new CEO. He aims to re-establish a good relationship with the community and is looking to do these types of question and answer weekly.

Fact

💼 Steve was one of the co-founders of Reddit ten years ago.

👨‍💼 He is also known as spez.

😊 Steve is excited to be back as CEO of Reddit.

🌟 Reddit has grown far larger than Steve’s wildest dreams.

👥 Establishing a relationship with the community is one of Steve’s first priorities.

💬 He will be doing regular AMAs (Ask Me Anything) with the Reddit community.

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Source: On the Slow Productivity of John Wick

Summary
Keanu Reeves trained for hours every day for four months to become proficient at judo, jiu-jitsu, and tactical 3-gun shooting for his role as John Wick. This level of focus is different from the multi-faceted activity expected of knowledge workers in office jobs, and highlights whether the definition of “productive” that defines knowledge work is really the most profitable use of our talents.

Facts

🎥 Director Chad Stahelski’s experience as a stuntman and second-unit director specializing in filming fights informed the visually-arresting blend of judo, jiu-jitsu, and tactical 3-gun shooting featured in John Wick.

💪 Keanu Reeves trained eight hours a day for four months to become proficient at judo, jiu-jitsu, and tactical 3-gun shooting for John Wick.

💰 Despite initial struggles to find a distributor, the film went on to earn $86 million, kicking off a franchise that has since brought in hundreds of millions more.

🤔 The story of John Wick’s success raises questions about whether the definition of “productive” in office jobs based on busyness and multi-faceted activity is the most profitable use of our talents.

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