The Tyler Hayes

Noble Pioneer

Tue, 08 May 2012 20:40:00 -0700

I’ve been writing a second blog for just over four months now. It’s called Noble Pioneer and it’s about Earth, space, the cosmos, and everything in between.

Space has been my number one passion since I could walk. In fact, the only two books I still have from my childhood are Where the Wild Things Are and I Want to Be an Astronaut.

If you like space check out Noble Pioneer. I think you’ll love it.

UPDATE: For those fine individuals who wish to follow Noble Pioneer but don’t have Tumblr accounts there is also a Noble Pioneer Twitter feed.

Lehrer's Rules

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:54:20 -0700

Lehrer's Rules:

An oldie but goldie. Jim Lehrer’s rules of journalism.

(Via John Gruber.)

Go Right

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:39:20 -0700

Go Right:

If you played video games as a kid your heart has a spot for this video.

Why You Can't Trust Tech Press to Teach You about The Tech Industry

Sat, 05 May 2012 11:19:00 -0700

Why You Can't Trust Tech Press to Teach You about The Tech Industry:

Nice point-by-point blow by Anil Dash, who talks about the serious lack of supply in quality tech reporting. Using last month’s rumor of a new Google comment system as an example:

Lots of linking with just the barest amount of original reporting, which is actually a fairly efficient way of getting a story out. But while I admire many of the smart people who work at a lot of these outlets, apparently no one who was linking to this story has more than the slightest bit of knowledge about the discipline they were covering. […]

What is ridiculous, and absurd, is that not a single one of these outlets mentioned that Google itself had provided this exact type of commenting functionality and then shut it down. Google provided this service for years. And that last Google commenting service, called Friend Connect, was shut down just three weeks prior to this news about a new commenting service being launched.

Yes, this is a serious issue. And it’s exacerbated by the fact that we live in a system that is based on page views, ad impressions, and churnalistic reporting. But I, like Dash, am optimistic that over time we will get the reporting we need. Because we’re already seeing writers like MG Siegler and Dan Frommer, writers in it for the long haul and who know their shit, gaining popularity, respect, and trust.

And so I suppose it’s no coincidence I created Noble Pioneer, a site dedicated to reporting on Earth, space, and everything in between.

TalkingPointsMemo Is Switching to Facebook Comments

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:50:10 -0700

TalkingPointsMemo Is Switching to Facebook Comments:

TPM Editor Josh Marshall:

So, to make an admittedly long story short, we’re switching to Facebook comments because building or maintaining our own system does not seem like a good use of our company resources and because we believe fixed identities will make the comment threads more civilized, engaging and less threatened by marauding trolls and bad (comment) actors.

I like the sense of pragmatism vs. idealism in this. I’m not TPM’s target market — I don’t have the passion for politics-as-a-hobby — but I am keen on what next steps TPM takes in building a solid community. There are a lot of things to like about TPM.

The Dark Knight Rises, Trailer #3

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:17:34 -0700

The Dark Knight Rises, Trailer #3:

Fun fact: we have a countdown timer for The Dark Knight Rises on the TVs in the Disqus office. No joke.

Valve on The Importance of a Strong, Long-Term Relationship with Customers (PDF)

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:41:46 -0700

Valve on The Importance of a Strong, Long-Term Relationship with Customers (PDF):

Taken from the Valve Employee Handbook:

We are all stewards of our long-term relationship with our customers. They watch us, sometimes very publicly, make mistakes. Sometimes they get angry with us. But because we always have their best interests at heart, there’s faith that we’re going to make things better, and that if we’ve screwed up today, it wasn’t because we were trying to take advantage of anyone.

'Improve Government Culture'

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:10:08 -0700

'Improve Government Culture':

Clay Johnson on how to fix government:

All the technology in the world won’t help government’s relationship with ordinary people if the people on the inside are just trying to get to the end of the day.

Fanfare for the Comma Man

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:42:07 -0700

Fanfare for the Comma Man:

Ben Yagoda, for the NYT:

That is nutty, of course. But it has a certain charm as well, expressing as it does a whole approach to the world. And it’s all because of the comma.

(Via, of course, John Gruber.)

What Happens When a 35-Year-Old Man Retakes the SAT?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:11:25 -0700

What Happens When a 35-Year-Old Man Retakes the SAT?:

Drew Magary, writing for Deadspin, talking here specifically about what a member of the College Confidental forums nominated for “The most difficult SAT math question you have ever seen”:

I mean seriously, HOLY FUCK. My mind exploded when I looked at this. You may as well have asked me to climb Everest using a fork. It took me five minutes just to try to understand the QUESTION. Once I had figured it out, time was up. I finished most of the verbal sections of the test under the time allotted. I had no such luck with the math sections. Even when I got the question right, the mental strain it took to try and dig through the piles of shit-encrusted mildew in my brain to retrieve the information needed to solve any given equation was brutal. How do you divide fractions again? Don’t you flip the top number and the bottom number or something? And what’s the top number called? The Ruminator? The Kilometer? OH FUCK IT.

Sounds about right.

Via Gruber.

Bill Gates: 'Innovation Is The Key to Improving The World'

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:59:58 -0700

Bill Gates: 'Innovation Is The Key to Improving The World':

In his annual letter, Gates uses the word innovation 17 times. None of which are superfluous. That’s how you drive a point home.

Sickness Sucks

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:40:00 -0700

A couple weeks ago my stepdad had his prostate removed. His doctor had seen some discoloration during a routine colonoscopy, decided to biopsy the prostate, and cancer was the discovery. We chose surgery¹ because it was the only solution that would tell us the type and severity of the cancer and if the cancer might have spread. The surgeon’s initial reaction was confident — we were hopeful and waiting for confirmation via the post-surgery biopsy.

Then we found out last week that the biopsy shows the it’s possible the cancer may have spread before the surgery. We were expecting better news so this came as a bit of a shock. Still, it’s 80% good news — the spreading seems unlikely, a remote possibility. The next step is a blood test in three months. Life goes on.²

Yesterday’s Cancer

Despite the mostly good news, I’ve been finding it pretty tough to deal with since it hasn’t even been two years since my dad died from lung cancer. Plain and simple: it’s just a lot of emotions. I try to parse them as quickly and consciously as I can but the human brain can only deal with so much at one time.

I love my family so much that it’s already difficult being a thousand miles away. iPhones, email, FaceTime, and Facebook keep us close but it’s not the same as eating dinner together. One of them getting the flu alone already makes me want to be there, so cancer is a wrench in the face. Cancer is the ultimate hubris check; it kicks you down to the ground and shows you how much nothing else matters without your health, and that despite our magnificent medical strides we still have much to learn.

If It Didn’t Already Suck, It Does Now

Then today I received an email that a close family friend — who had kidney cancer, a kidney removed, and then started chemo — now has lung tumors and one is getting bigger. So he has 14 weeks ahead of him filled with as many IL-2 infusions as his body can handle. And they’re already working through some other family illness issues too.

I tried to process the information but couldn’t. All I could do was mutter to myself out loud: “Fuck.” A wildfire of emotions tumbled through my head. “Fuck this.” I went and got some coffee and tried to remove myself from the equation to get some clarity.

Reaching Maximum Density

Working at a startup alone is enough to keep one person completely busy. Adding family sickness strains you to a tipping point. Adding more bad news on top of that doesn’t even factor in; you can’t even process it since you’re already at maximum density. It’s an “I see. I’m so sorry to hear that. Please give them my best. (I will process this later, I promise.)” situation.

I have no answers here. No goals or inspiration or wisdom. But I am a thinker and a solver and I’ve decided sickness is completely unnecessary.

My Next Steps

I’m 26 years old and healthy. I run 30+ minutes 3+ days/week, sleep 8 hours a night, eat healthy, laugh a lot, and work at a job I love and that keeps my brain sharp. Contrast that with me four years ago: I was 10 pounds shy of being technically obese for my height and drinking more beer than the rugby could burn off (the two went fairly hand-in-hand, to be honest). I’m all about moving forward.

I don’t know what my next steps are but the whole idea of Next Steps has been on my mind a lot more lately. Thoughts are brewing and I’m sure I’ll pen them here soon. I look forward to writing this post’s optimistic counterpart. Until then, I’m sick of sickness. It’s not fair to anyone. If I could only accomplish one life goal, and it could be anything, it would be to give humankind the ability to live healthy forever. So maybe that’s what I’ll do.

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, so surgery seems like a foregone conclusion now that we know the cancer was a bit worse than we expected. But I can tell you there’s never a completely positive course of action when it comes to treating cancer. I really can’t overstate how much good fortune was involved here. The fact the doctor decided to take that course of action and the fact we chose surgery over other less-invasive options are alone enough to overwhelm one’s emotions with what-if questions. “What if the doctor didn’t make the same recommendations?” “What if we didn’t choose surgery?” Thoughts not best to dwell on. ↩
What can you do? My mom says it best: “Spread the word! Every man 50+ years old, or younger if he’s “at risk” (meaning family history, diet high in animal fat, or is of a race predisposed to higher risk), should have a PSA test every year. If the results are suspicious he should be referred to a good urologist. Insurance companies are cutting back on reimbursement for PSA tests so every man has to be his own health advocate and insist on this simple blood test.” If you have any questions at all about cancer, dealing with a diagnosis, or loss please don’t hesitate to email me. i’m happy to help or point you in the right direction. ↩

F.A. Porsche on Design

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:57:53 -0700

F.A. Porsche on Design:

The designer of the original Porsche 911 himself:

Design must be functional and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics, without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained.

Via Gruber.

Rear Window Timelapse

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:55:48 -0700

Rear Window Timelapse:

Jeff Desom took all the shots from Rear Window and created a living, breathing world. Wonderful.

Rands on Toxic People

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:02:00 -0700

Rands on Toxic People:

Rands:

It’s hard to remember this when a toxic person is yelling at you, but they’re not actually yelling at you. They’re yelling at the culture.

As always, the entire piece is well worth the read, whether you think you’re someone who needs to think about company culture on a daily basis or not.

Venn Daiseygram

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:19:45 -0700

Venn Daiseygram:

Dan Wineman thinks Mike Daisey is a propagandist. I’m inclined to agree.

Disqus 2012

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:18:20 -0700

We’re building a new Disqus. A fresh 2012 take.

First thing’s first: join our new Disqus Labs program to become a beta tester.

After that, read Daniel’s brief thoughts on Disqus’ history, why it was originally built, and how Disqus 2012 will stay in line with those intents and values while improving the overall experience. Fred Wilson and his great A VC community are also excited about Disqus 2012.

So far this year we’ve already launched two major innovations: a greatly improved moderation interface and network-wide user reputation. We (I) can’t wait to show you what the rest of 2012 holds in store for Disqus. We’re just getting started.

Kara

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:52:00 -0800

Kara:

If this Quantic Dream (the studio who made Heavy Rain) tech demo is a hint at the future of video games, we have a lot to look forward to. I realize that’s a bit hyperbolic and that it’s easy to project this as something it isn’t, namely that it isn’t an actual game. But the level of storytelling in this short alone is unparalleled when I try thinking of others playing at its level. Valve, maybe. I’m also no expert on gaming.

But you know a movie is good when it finishes and you “snap out” of the experience; it pulls you in so thoroughly you live in its reality. For ninety minutes you replace your world with the world in the movie. This short did exactly that; it drew me in to its one-room world and made me want to reach through the screen and… well, you really should just watch it for yourself.

Colin Marshall Reviews Alan Flusser's 'Dressing The Man'

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:33:00 -0800

Colin Marshall Reviews Alan Flusser's 'Dressing The Man':

My sister bought me this book for my birthday last year. Superb review for a superb blog.

Guys: read this if you want to dress well. I mean well. Ladies: buy this book for your man. Because he doesn’t dress well right now. No, no. That wasn’t a question.

The Atlantic Interviews Neil Tyson

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:20:44 -0800

The Atlantic Interviews Neil Tyson:

And he’s spot on as usual:

“It’s adults that need the science literacy. […] The challenge has never been children.”