Don't Worry About the Vase

A world made of gears. Doing both speed premium short term updates and long term world model building. Currently focused on weekly AI updates. Explorations include AI, policy, rationality, medicine and fertility, education and games.

The hottest Substack posts of Don't Worry About the Vase

And their main takeaways

Who Has the Best Food?

1 HN point • 05 Sep 23
🍲 Food & Drink Fast Food
  1. Opinions on the best food vary, but ultimately it's a matter of personal preference
  2. American food offers great variety and quality, making it a top contender in the food debate
  3. French food may be overrated, lacking in variety and convenience compared to American cuisine

On the Diplomacy AI

2 HN points • 28 Nov 22
  1. AI labs are intentionally taking on scary AI challenges like Diplomacy.
  2. The AI excelled in Diplomacy due to communication strategies, anonymity, and game dynamics.
  3. Online Diplomacy's core skill is talking a lot, giving AI a communication advantage.

What is Life in an Immoral Maze?

1 HN point • 05 Jan 20
  1. High levels of corporate management create an 'immoral maze' with intense competition and sacrifices required for success.
  2. Middle managers in these environments must dedicate everything in their life to excel, including friendships, hobbies, and even morality.
  3. Success in an 'immoral maze' is perceived as less about talent or results, and more about political games, sacrifices, and intense dedication.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Story CFAR

0 implied HN points • 25 Dec 17
  1. Consider donating to organizations like CFAR that focus on teaching rationality.
  2. CFAR's fundraiser is aiming to secure a permanent home which could greatly enhance their operations.
  3. CFAR's measurement of impact may have limitations, but they are actively working to address these concerns.

Zvi Will Be In San Francisco January 15-21

0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 18
  1. Zvi will be in San Francisco from January 15-21 for a vacation.
  2. He plans to connect with friends, seek knowledge and offer advice.
  3. Most nights, he expects to stay in Berkeley.

Something Was Wrong

0 implied HN points • 05 Aug 17
  1. The classroom appeared nice, but something felt off
  2. The children's behavior seemed forced and unnatural
  3. Parents need to trust their instincts and not be afraid to seek alternatives

Simplified Poker

0 implied HN points • 04 Jun 18
  1. Simplified Poker is played with a 3-card deck.
  2. Players take turns to bet or check, with at most one bet per hand.
  3. The goal is to maximize the average number of chips won over all rounds.

Simplified Poker Strategy

0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 18
  1. In poker, your strategy should change based on the cards you hold at the start.
  2. To form a non-dominated strategy, consider probabilities for different betting and calling actions.
  3. Analyzing opponents' strategies and adjusting your own based on it is crucial in poker.

What Is Rationalist Berkeley's Community Culture?

0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 17
  1. Culture in a community is crucial and influences behavior.
  2. Rationalist Berkeley community values include tolerance and mutual support.
  3. The community may be losing focus on its mission of saving and improving the world.

Spoiler-Free Review: Orwell

0 implied HN points • 16 Sep 20
  1. Orwell is a game in the discrete-choices-over-time genre.
  2. To fully enjoy Orwell, play it blindly without spoilers.
  3. Consider playing Orwell only if the concept interests you.

Front Row Center

0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 18
  1. Offering less can provide more value in certain situations.
  2. Introducing risk and creating auctions can harm customer experience.
  3. Avoiding time-based auctions and minimizing value at stake is crucial.

Why Destructive Value Capture?

0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 18
  1. Implementing a suggested proposition can create value and improve customer experience.
  2. Not implementing a valuable proposition can lead to destructive value capture.
  3. When price adjustment is not possible, it is important to find alternative ways to balance supply and demand without causing destruction of value.

Zeroing Out

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 17
  1. In markets, unique knowledge can be rewarded when consensus is already priced in.
  2. In hiring, focus on finding candidates with hidden value rather than optimal interview performance.
  3. When making purchasing decisions, be aware of pricing strategies that challenge traditional heuristics.

Simplicio and Sophisticus

0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 18
  1. Simplicio believes in using words as they are, even if they have unintended implications.
  2. Sophisticus focuses on precise, well-measured actions and labels people who think differently.
  3. Finding a balance between simplifying the world with models and not losing sight of key elements is crucial.

Who Wants The Job?

0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 18
  1. Finding good candidates for a job can be challenging, even with a large number of applications
  2. Basic skills like communication and punctuality are often lacking in job applicants
  3. Employers may struggle to hire because many applicants do not meet even minimal job requirements

Nice Things

0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 18
  1. Nice things are pleasant, quiet, and make life better.
  2. Creating and maintaining nice things requires effort and focus.
  3. The tyranny of superficial niceness can lead to conformity and loss of truth.

The Uncertainty of Death and Taxes

0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 20
  1. Death and Taxes game illustrates the complexity of life and decisions under uncertainty.
  2. The game loses its meaning and interest once certainty is achieved and choices become routine.
  3. Training in life often requires a balance of modes, starting with an 'Easy Level on Hard Mode' for deliberate practice.

Octopath Traveler: Spoiler-Free Review

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 18
  1. Octopath Traveler is an excellent game for fans of classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.
  2. The game innovates in combat mechanics like the break system and path actions, making battles more strategic.
  3. There are difficulty spikes in the game, especially in the endgame, and grinding is necessary to overcome them and complete the final challenges.

Prediction Markets: When Do They Work?

0 implied HN points • 26 Jul 18
  1. Prediction markets need well-defined outcomes to be successful.
  2. Quick resolution of markets attracts more interest and participation.
  3. Prediction markets require probable resolution to prevent wasted resources and maintain engagement.

Chris Pikula Belongs in the Magic Hall of Fame

0 implied HN points • 22 Aug 18
  1. Chris Pikula deserves to be in the Magic Hall of Fame for his positive impact on the game.
  2. Good behavior should be rewarded, while bad behavior should be punished to maintain a healthy community.
  3. It is important to stand against cheating and honor integrity in all aspects of life.

Simplified Poker Conclusions

0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 18
  1. In poker, players should think on different levels to outsmart opponents.
  2. Effective randomization in decision-making does not always mean being random.
  3. Glomarization - refusing to answer questions can protect secrets and maintain honesty.

You Play to Win the Game

0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 18
  1. Always play to win the game.
  2. Focus on maximizing win probability, not points.
  3. Strategically plan to win the entire event, not just individual rounds.

On Robin Hanson's Board Game

0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 18
  1. Robin Hanson's board game proposal involves using dollars as poker chips and creating a market for suspects in a mystery setting.
  2. The game can be divided into four stages: Setup, Early Game, Late Game, and Resolution, each with different gameplay strategies.
  3. Players need to pay attention to clues and the behavior of other players to make strategic trades and maximize their chances of winning.

Less Competition, More Meritocracy?

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 19
  1. Expanding the candidate pool may not always result in better selections, focus on quality over quantity.
  2. Stop searching for candidates once the pool includes enough quality choices, more competitors may not improve selections.
  3. Punish weak candidates for faking being strong, reward them for revealing their true skill level.

Complexity Is Bad

0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 17
  1. Complexity can lead to bad outcomes as people have limited attention and capacity to process information.
  2. Simplifying complexity can lead to more elegant solutions and better understanding.
  3. Balancing complexity is important for efficiency and effectiveness in design and decision-making.

Eternal: The Exit Interview

0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 18
  1. Eternal is modern Magic with simplifications, Hearthstone-style economy, and is highly praised for its accomplishments.
  2. Constructed play involves decks with high reliance on legendary cards, lack of unique deck strategies, and redundancy in powerful cards.
  3. Limited play in Eternal has high variance due to bad cards, tribal drafting, and challenges with pack direction balance, and rewards for taking constructed rares.

Review: Artifact

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 18
  1. Artifact is a complex, strategic game that rewards dedicated players.
  2. The economic model of Artifact is based on purchasing cards and has been described as generous.
  3. The game offers rich gameplay experiences, with complex mechanics and various modes of play.

Minimize Use of Standard Internet Food Delivery

0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 19
  1. Avoid using online food delivery services like SeamlessWeb and GrubHub to support local restaurants
  2. These services charge huge fees that impact small businesses
  3. Consider alternatives like contacting restaurants directly to help them thrive

Prediction Markets Are About Being Right

0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 18
  1. Prediction markets prioritize being right about outcomes.
  2. There are three main types of markets: Consumption markets, commercial markets, and prediction markets.
  3. Prediction markets enable individuals to focus on truth and objective outcomes, unlike other markets where social factors play a larger role.

Fifteen Things I Learned From Watching a Game of Secret Hitler

0 implied HN points • 17 Dec 18
  1. Liberals know nothing, fascists know everything.
  2. Most democratic government policies are fascist ones that expand government power.
  3. Passing liberal policies can lead to future policies being more likely to be fascist.

New York Restaurants I Love: Breakfast

0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 19
  1. Favorite breakfast spots in New York City bring comfort and joy.
  2. Support local eateries to help them thrive and share your beloved restaurants with others.
  3. Making high-quality breakfast foods at home can be easy and satisfying, like French toast and pancakes.

The Darwin Pregame

0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 17
  1. The Darwin Game consists of early, middle, and end game stages, each with specific strategies.
  2. Different bot strategies like AttackBot, BullyBot, and FoldBot have strengths and weaknesses throughout the game.
  3. Considering cooperation, defense, and balance are key to success in the Darwin Game.

Deck Guide: Burning Drakes

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 18
  1. The deck guide outlines a Burning Drakes deck with potential improvements for different match-ups
  2. The strategy focuses on handling specific threats in different opponent decks
  3. The deck underwent adjustments based on playtesting and different sideboard plans for various matchups

Artifact Embraces Card Balance Changes

0 implied HN points • 26 Dec 18
  1. Artifact made significant card balance changes, including nerfing powerful cards and improving weaker ones.
  2. The philosophy behind creating, balancing, and modifying cards has shifted towards increasing diversity in gameplay.
  3. Players have overwhelmingly reacted positively to the card balance changes in Artifact, indicating potential success in evolving the game.

Card Balance and Artifact

0 implied HN points • 28 Dec 18
  1. In collectible card games, having some cards intentionally be more powerful is acceptable and can create strategic variety.
  2. The balance between different cards and colors is crucial in preventing oppressive deck dominance.
  3. Players' perception of card rarity, game economy, and card balance can significantly impact their enjoyment and engagement with the game.

Speculations on Duo Standard

0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 19
  1. Players in Duo Standard need to carefully strategize deck choices for the format's unique structure.
  2. Different deck pairings offer various advantages, like presenting diverse challenges or creating high variance strategies.
  3. Despite challenges, maintaining a balance between variance and solid offerings is key for players in Duo Standard.

Advantages of Card Rebalancing

0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 19
  1. Changing cards keeps the game fresh and new by shaking up decks and strategies.
  2. Adapting cards based on player feedback can lead to a more enjoyable gaming experience.
  3. Frequent card adjustments allow for experimentation, correcting mistakes, and maintaining excitement in new card sets.

Game Analysis Index

0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 19
  1. The blog contains posts about game design, balance, economics, and related topics.
  2. Specific sequences of posts focus on Eternal and Hearthstone, as well as Artifact and card rebalancing.
  3. Game reviews are included, with recommendations for all games reviewed.