jmccaf's comments

jmccaf | 10 days ago | on: U.S. to suspend the Jones Act in a bid to curb oil prices

I think this is bad strategic precedent for the USA, to save few bucks now. I believe in the Jones Acts original purpose, to protect the US Merchant Marine , for that industry's necessity during wartime

jmccaf | 16 days ago | on: Ada 2022

My workplace uses Ada SPARK for high-integrity automotive software, ported from C or C++. IIUC, the contracts and static proofs can replace some activities like isolated unit tests for C++ .

https://www.wevolver.com/article/nvidia-adoption-of-spark-us...

jmccaf | 4 months ago | on: AGI fantasy is a blocker to actual engineering

I think the water use arguments are relevant, particularly in regions of the world and US (CA) where potable water is scarce, but land and electricity are available .

NYT article gift link where people reported wells ran dry after data centers moved in. : 'From Mexico to Ireland, Fury Mounts Over a Global A.I. Frenzy' https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/technology/ai-data-center...

From https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-co... , I understand there are two types of cooling with water in DCs, open-loop that's simple but water-intensive, and closed-loop that's expensive but efficient.

>> This can be achieved through air cooling using water evaporation, which is an open-loop and more water-intensive method, or through server liquid cooling.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

That went quickly to Godwin's law .

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Colorado Law Would Charge Owners for Driving Giant Trucks and SUVs

'proposed law' is more accurately called a 'bill' .

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Diamond prices are in free fall in one key corner of the market

For traceability, cut diamonds are laser enscribed with serial number or makers mark visible by inspection with jewelers magnifying loupe.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Origins of the Sicilian Mafia: The Market for Lemons (2017)

Article mentions the climate and growing conditions for citrus are specific so there were few locations where citrus was produced that were integrated to world trade; mild temperatures above freezing, irrigation, and rich soil. The article mentions large lemon exports from Sicily all the way to New York; and California wasn't a united state or developed market producer of fruit at this time.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: ‘No way out’: how video games use tricks from gambling to attract big spenders

The pachinko parlor "special prize" token, with a separate business next door to buy the token for cash, is the analog example of this conversion.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Tesla directors agree to return $735M following claims they were overpaid

Yes, 'director' is job title in engineering management. Generally Ranks above 'manager' and below vice-president

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Goodbye, San Francisco

Also, in my learning 'street smarts' as an adult , one lesson tougher people including my wife have taught me , is to trust your gut instincts if you are in a neighborhood or situation and you feel unsafe.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: Westfield Pulling Out of Downtown SF

Valley Fair did complete a major renovation about by December 2022, and I agree that is a glaring omission in Westfield's PR statement.

It doesn't refute that Westfield Valley Fair is booming and bustling, since the renovation. I live in Santa Clara like 1 mile from Valley Fair, and visit frequently to shop for gifts. Subtly, completing the renovation improved the pedestrian circulation in the mall, there aren't dead-end wings now.

Valley Fair is very busy, like many people there on any weekend and most evenings, but not inconveniently so. Busier than any other commercial venue I've seen post-pandemic. On weekends some restaurants there have long lines that I don't understand to wait in, I'll go eat later at a neighborhood restaurant.

The slow driving traffic that I've encountered is when I leave at 9pm when the mall closes and there is mass exit. I could the 1 mile too, or bike or scooter, but I often drive.

jmccaf | 2 years ago | on: When markets melt down, these traders cash in

I'm less familiar with put and call options , compared to common shares and selling short; But one of the challenges to sell short, compared to buying long, is that your upside is limited and liability unlimited. Whereas the inverse for common stock, upside is unlimited and liability is limited. If you place 176 bets and win big 8, I think will be more successful buying long , like the venture capital model.

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: I wish Asciidoc was more popular

My work adopted ReStructured Text and Sphinx for large volume of technical documentation, similar system to AsciiDoc .

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: Is wine fake?

As a Finger Lakes, NY alumnus, I appreciate the respectful comparison to our regional vintage. Reportedly the moderated microclimate of the region due to lakes, and the glacial soil terroir are good combination. Cornells agricultural school also researches experimental varietals.

My NY family puts as much pride in the local apples and the summer sweet corn as the regional wine.

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: Inflation causing higher prices at the local bakery

What you described sounds much better than one of the default alternatives, which is : the business would be closed with 0 locations.

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: Elon’s Out

Most of the middle class in America has a salary, or at least a paycheck, but distressing little cash saved. But they do pay the taxes that pay the bills.

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: Notice of termination of Twitter merger agreement

I've started to see Rivian trucks are on the road in South Bay Area and in Berkeley.

jmccaf | 3 years ago | on: America’s Javelin missile is second to none (2021)

The ATGM is much cheaper than a current tank.

jmccaf | 4 years ago | on: Adding unusable RAM for tax reasons

PT cruiser is an example of the opposite, which sought truck classification: https://www.brakeandfrontend.com/tech-spec-retro-work-servic...

Chrysler specifically designed the PT Cruiser to fit the NHTSA criteria for a light truck in order to bring the average fuel efficiency of the company’s light truck fleet into compliance with CAFE standards.

jmccaf | 4 years ago | on: Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant until 2022

'Rear Visibility' is required in new cars in US by FMVSS 111. Test procedure mandates field of view to rear of vehicles during backing, that are practical to satisfy with cameras. mirrors would require like a periscope to satisfy.