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One of keys to managing large projects is being able to break the project down into its component parts. VB.NET (or even VB6) allows you to do this easily by supporting multiple assemblies linked together. However to be fair this is a feature of the .NET environment so most .NET langauges (C# C++.NET) can make assemblies. Other langauges can certainly create and use libraries but being able to do this is one of the explicit design goals of the .NET environment. In addition you will find the managed memory making you far more productive then environment like C++ where you have to manage memory yourself. Again to be fair Java certainly has memory management so this is not unique to the .NET environment. Visual BASIC is verbose where C# is terse, I find this easier to read over the long term but to a experienced programmer it is a minor difference. There is virtually little difference between .NET assemblies and apps written in VB.NET and C#. However if your app is meant to run in a constricted or resource limited environment like embedded applications then using VB.NET (or even VB6) will not be your best choise. You need to use C, C++, or even assembly. A langauge that will allow you control over every aspect over what resources your program uses. Problems you will run into with .NET will be with the framework install and maintaining it in face of future Microsoft updates. I strongly recommend that you minimize reliance on 3rd party add-ons if this application is to be maintained over the long-haul. (Short-term or one-off projects are a different story). Avoid storing assemblies in the global cache unless you have too as that force you into strict versioning rules. This was the bane of large projects in VB6 with the rules for COM DLL versioning. Plus using the global cache force you to register the assembly where otherwise it is a drag and drop situation with local assemblies. Be aware of how much memory you are using. I have noticed with .NET application they tend to glup memory down like it is nothing. I learned this with VB6 (and later VB.NET) that despite the fact you have managed memory you don't create huge memory structures just because you can. Make sure you need that amount before designing it in. As for my own personal experience I written a maintained a large CAD/CAM application that creates and runs parts for a metal cutting machine. I maintained this program through its original HP Workstation origin through DOS through VB6 and finally to VB.NET. It is has several hundred thousand lines of code organized using the model view presenter structure (http://www.martinfowler.com/eaaDev/ModelViewPrese nter.html) Also I maintain an open source simulation of the Program Mercury and Gemini capsule and rocket written in C++. So I had experience in both worlds. VB.NET (and VB6) was certainly up to the job of creating and maintain a large application. Finally get Design Patterns and Refactoring Software these two books (and the othere they refer too) will help make the most out of .NET ability. (Plus the benifit of these applying to other langauge like Java) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201633612/sr=8-1 /qid=1149165698/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2543787-3204834?_ encoding=UTF8 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485672/qid=11 49165751/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2543787-32048 34?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Visual Basic is not too bad for creating a large project. The trick is to be a decent Windows programmer. You would get almost all the knowledge you need to create good programs in Visual Basic by reading and applying the stuff in the Deitel books (Pick one according to your level of skill)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130293636/104-33 75871-4590326?v=glance&n=283155
and then learning the essential stuff from Charles Petzold http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735617996/104-33 75871-4590326?v=glance&n=283155

However, understanding the applications may be more important than the code. In a large project, after familiarizing myself with VB (using the books mentioned), I would suggest using a tool such as Rational Rose, Embarcadero or even Visio to get a UML documentation of the project, revise the model to reflect my current needs, generate the revised code from the modeling tool, then optimize the code to get the project revised in the shortest period of time. If you think you'd rather use a different language, most of the modeling tools will also generate other languages from the same model.

I hope this helps,

Mike

Visual Basic is not too bad for creating a large project. The trick is to be a decent Windows programmer. You would get almost all the knowledge you need to create good programs in Visual Basic by reading and applying the stuff in the Deitel books (Pick one according to your level of skill)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130293636/104-33 75871-4590326?v=glance&n=283155
and then learning the essential stuff from Charles Petzold http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735617996/104-33 75871-4590326?v=glance&n=283155

However, understanding the applications may be more important than the code. In a large project, after familiarizing myself with VB (using the books mentioned), I would suggest using a tool such as Rational Rose, Embarcadero or even Visio to get a UML documentation of the project, revise the model to reflect my current needs, generate the revised code from the modeling tool, then optimize the code to get the project revised in the shortest period of time. If you think you'd rather use a different language, most of the modeling tools will also generate other languages from the same model.

I hope this helps,

Mike

Save yourself $3.92 by buying the book here: Who Controls the Internet?. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%! That's a total savings of $4.21, or 19.07%!

Save yourself $3.92 by buying the book here: Who Controls the Internet?. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%! That's a total savings of $4.21, or 19.07%!

BTW, that is just a link to the book on Amazon, not a click-back or whatever they call their tracking "make money fast" system...

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

***** Art, Redefined, June 6, 2004
Reviewer: Dr_LHA

On the surface, Worms 3D (or W3D as it shall henceforth and forthwith be known!) is merely an updated version of the velnerable "Tanks" game, an old Atari standby that combined precision and tactics, bending the mind to the task at hand. W3D is not even the first of such a Tank-inspired series, for the fine, and well crafted, original Worms series, out in the mid-nineties for such arcade powerhouses as the original PowerMac, and the PC, preceeded this work.

And yet... and yet... this is more than such a game. For under the surface lies a symphony of flavorful strategic cunnery that should serve both the childlike "player" and the adult "philosopher" alike. Only the most stupid would fail to find both fun and meaning in this game.

Every aspect, from the graphical design of the tails of the worms, to the size of the bazookas, seems designed to fascinate and stimulate the mind. This crosses the line, going from merely "game fodder" to "mind fodder" to art. And like all great art, it has its price. That price is not merely the $29.99 above, but the investment of time and energy that will, almost certainly, result.

A superb game. Outstanding. The creators should not merely be rewarded, but they should be identified, and we should be able to honor them.

Or this IRC chat?

*** dr_lha has just entered #macgames
<dr_lha> Hi
<exlim4x> Hi lha
<exlim4x> Do you fix zips too? *rofl*
<dr_lha> shut up
<dr_lha> just played worms 3d again.
<ebiscuit> really? what a surprise. I thought you hated that game
<dr_lha> ???
<dr_lha> WTF
<dr_lha> I love it, where did you get it from I hate it?
<ebiscuit> its called sarcasm
<dr_lha> It's my favorite. Much better than Max Payne
<exlim4x> Does anyone else get kernel panics when they try to insmod ACPI on Linux 2.4.21?
<ebiscuit> We know already. STFU about Worms 3
<dr_lha> Worms 3D. *D* It's 3D, which the older ones weren't.
*** dr_lha has been kicked off #macgames by BotMG (ebiscuit STFU)
*** dr_lha has just entered #macgames
<ebiscuit> *sigh*

Not to mention the many Slashdot posts where you keep going on about it over and over again.

It's almost as hard just to get the local FBI office to go afer a repected local: See Reefer Madness - the book

I have not met a single soul outside of the medical and legal profession whose actual and typical workload could not be accomplished in 30-40 hours of real honest work.

And I have yet to see a creative job where it is practical to work more than 20-25 hours on task week after week. This includes time spent during overtime and/or excessive overtime. Other time is spent exchanging ideas with other people, rest breaks (recharging eyes, body, and mind; allowing ideas to percolate), company meetings, dealing with personal issues (these become a larger part of the workday when overtime has been mandated), going to the bathroom, etc. Best of breed software development teams average 20 on-task hours per week per person. Typical teams average 12-15 on-task hours per week per person.

In my experience as a software developer, as a team lead, and as an entrepreneur: 30-40 hours of "real honest work" for a creative worker can not be done in the average week. Perhaps in one exceptional week (the crunch week), but not the third crunch week in a row. If you force the issue by standing over shoulders or requiring lots of overtime, or whatever: you guarantee low quality results.

To expect that people are on task for all or even most of their time in the office is just dumb.
To expect that creative people can work overtime and sacrifice other parts of their lives without consequences that will impact job productivity is even more dumb.

The problem is that most of them spend at least 2 hours a day screwing around, reading Slashdot, reading CNN, chatting in the aisles, or doing make-work while waiting for somebody else to deliver something that they need to continue their legitimate work.

This kind of slack time is critical to have in the "normal" schedule. If you don't have time like this, your organization has no room to react to new demands. Fundamentally, it's the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. The first is worthless without the second. I say this as a supervisor of people who read slashdot (hi, Mike).

If you disagree, please take some time out of your busy schedule, read Slack and Peopleware and afterwards, I'll be more than happy to continue the conversation.

Regards,
Ross

I have not met a single soul outside of the medical and legal profession whose actual and typical workload could not be accomplished in 30-40 hours of real honest work.

And I have yet to see a creative job where it is practical to work more than 20-25 hours on task week after week. This includes time spent during overtime and/or excessive overtime. Other time is spent exchanging ideas with other people, rest breaks (recharging eyes, body, and mind; allowing ideas to percolate), company meetings, dealing with personal issues (these become a larger part of the workday when overtime has been mandated), going to the bathroom, etc. Best of breed software development teams average 20 on-task hours per week per person. Typical teams average 12-15 on-task hours per week per person.

In my experience as a software developer, as a team lead, and as an entrepreneur: 30-40 hours of "real honest work" for a creative worker can not be done in the average week. Perhaps in one exceptional week (the crunch week), but not the third crunch week in a row. If you force the issue by standing over shoulders or requiring lots of overtime, or whatever: you guarantee low quality results.

To expect that people are on task for all or even most of their time in the office is just dumb.
To expect that creative people can work overtime and sacrifice other parts of their lives without consequences that will impact job productivity is even more dumb.

The problem is that most of them spend at least 2 hours a day screwing around, reading Slashdot, reading CNN, chatting in the aisles, or doing make-work while waiting for somebody else to deliver something that they need to continue their legitimate work.

This kind of slack time is critical to have in the "normal" schedule. If you don't have time like this, your organization has no room to react to new demands. Fundamentally, it's the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. The first is worthless without the second. I say this as a supervisor of people who read slashdot (hi, Mike).

If you disagree, please take some time out of your busy schedule, read Slack and Peopleware and afterwards, I'll be more than happy to continue the conversation.

Regards,
Ross

IANACopyrightExpert, but the Berne Convention provides for international copyrights that don't require any sort of registration or 'title'. If your ISP was in the US, complying with these sorts of requests removes the ISP's liability in the matter.

But ThePirateBay.org was hosting bittorrent tracker information, not actual copyright content, so the Berne Convention does not apply.

While the Berne Convention is quite widespread, signed by most countries, its coverage is actually quite limited. Most of our freedoms are threatened by the DMCA in the United States and similar laws in other countries. See Patents, Copyrights & Trademarks for Dummies for a simple lowdown to the whole mess.

I never understood that perception.

A lot of the stereotypical hard working nationalities/races will "slack-off" too when given the chance. See this book for what happens when the hard working immigrant Asian, Mexican, Eastern European, etc.. has children in this country.

I think a lot of the work ethic of immigrants is because of desperation. They HAVE to work as hard as they do. We, on the other hand, are "hooked in" to this society and economy and therefore don't have to work as hard - or, better yet, we work smarter - because we know better.

Whoops. Looks like I missed the 1994 CD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002IZM/sr=8-4 /qid=1149088709/ref=pd_bbs_4/103-0102808-4723838?_ encoding=UTF8

I remember reading something about this CD back in 1996 or 1997, but the information was somewhat vague and I couldn't find it anywhere. Thank God for the internet and Amazon.

Our esteemed president addressed the poor language skills of the nation's youth, asking wisely, "Is our children learning?"

WTS http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565928393, cheap.

This is new to you? When some of the books which contained fan-written stories which came out, it was said they were supposed to support this type of relationship - this would have been in the 70s - the same timeframe Spock Must Die! [1], etc. came out. (

I think this (The New Voyages) - fan written short stories is the one which started the buzz. I'd have to do some box digging in the garage. I've got all of the loose books which appeared on the shelves at that time (ca. '77-'80).

I think the others at that time which were interpreted to push this lifestyle (perhaps more) were the Phoenix books[2].
_________________________
I'll resort to ROT13 spoilers for those who are going to track them down on Amazon for $1-$2 and read them. BTW, your shipping will cost more.

[1] Gur Xyvatbaf ner trggvat bhg bs unaq naq vg gheaf bhg gurl'ir chg n sbepr svryq nebhaq Betnavn. Gur Ragrecevfr nggrzcgf gb fraq Fcbpx ivn irel ybat qvvfgnapr genafcbegre nf n gnpulba ornz juvpu vf obhaprq onpx, perngvat gjb Fcbpxf. Bar erny, gur bgure abg.
[2]n qhcyvpngrq, qryvpngr, znfphyngrq Xvex jub vf frag gb uvqr va gur Ebzhyna Rzcver nf n "cevapr" bs fbzr glcr. Fcbpx vf pbasebagrq jvgu gur snpg ur pna'g gryy bar Xvex sebz gur bgure naq arvgure pna gur Xvexf.

> Even the Arabs are no darker than a lot of mediterranean Europeans,
> if not too suntanned.

But they look enough different that they can be thought of as non-White. Even the Irish weren't considered White in the US about 150 years ago (see How The Irish Became White).

It's nonsensical, but since when has that stopped anyone?

Save yourself some money by buying the book here: The Xbox 360 Uncloaked. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%!

Save yourself some money by buying the book here: The Xbox 360 Uncloaked. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%!

I hated the voice-over too, and list it as one of the worst voiceovers of all time. Good points in this thread about the "film noir" genre bending that it added, but it still doesn't cut it for me.

I'm still waiting on my ST:OT DVDs with the new special effects, original Boba Fett voice, Han shooting first, and Sebastian Shaw as Anakin's ghost. Not sure about the Gungans and Ewoks though. :0

Please, you dunderhead, understand this:

I, or members of my family, have purchased very high quality CRTs in the past. They are fron the usual suspects: Panasonic, GE, Zenith, RCA, etc. With the exception of the console, I've never spent over $400 for a TV.

Now, to tell me I must buy a "very affordable" or, in the words of Ken Kutaragi, "too cheap" $1500 Magnetbox/Sorny/Pahaphonics from Walmart is both idiotic and deceptive. Are you afraid to quote prices from the name brands because they really are too high?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000A2UAN/sr=1-1 4/qid=1148998944/ref=sr_1_14/002-5539633-6642460?_ encoding=UTF8&s=audio-video

This thing is on CLEARANCE for $9000, down from SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Yes, it's a corner case, but every bit as valid as chucking $1000 off-brands at us as if they're either a desirable replacement for our current equipment or a sign that the entire HDTV market is suddenly affordable to everyone.

When I can get a 27-32 inch widescreen from RCA/Zenith/Phillips for about $500, then we can talk about HDTV affordability and adoption - not a second before.

I've been using an Averatec AV4155-EH1 with Breezy since December 05. Almost always on wireless. Everything detected out-of-the-box.

I had to tweak the xorg.conf file to get the touchpad just right, but that was ok. Mine has a 13" widescreen and an AMD Turion64 MT-30 processor (1.6Ghz 64bit).

And cheap.$979.99 at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PDMQU/103-13 03984-2125468?v=glance&n=541966

ok, relatively cheap.

According to Norman, human decision making is dependent on both conscious cognition and affect (conscious or subconscious emotion). This combination is why, for example, a beautiful set of old mechanical drawing instruments greatly appealed to Norman and a colleague: they evoked nostalgia (emotion), even though they both knew the tools were not practical to use (cognition). Human reaction to design exists on three levels: visceral (appearance), behavioral (how the item performs) and reflective. The reflective dimension is what the product evokes in the user in terms of self-image or individual satisfaction.

How is it that the iPod is "much more expensive" than the competitors?

The Creative Zen Vision:M 30gb is $299 on Amazon.
The Creative Zen Vision 30gb is $399 on Amazon.
The Cowon iAudio X5 30gb is $265 on Amazon (on sale, normally $299).
The Apple iPod 30gb is $270 on Amazon (on sale, normally $299).

All here.

We've also been hearing how Apple's pricing has been driving competitors out of business, from Rio and then iRiver, and how Creative is losing money every quarter as their stock builds and price drops have forced them to lose money on every Zen sold.

>You can read about it in Dharma Theertha's History of Hindu Imperialism [amazon.com].

  You can read about muslim imperialism in South Asia (& everywhere esle they went) also:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8185990239/sr=8-1 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_1/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300106033/sr=8-2 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_2/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591022495/sr=8-4 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_4/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8

>You can read about it in Dharma Theertha's History of Hindu Imperialism [amazon.com].

  You can read about muslim imperialism in South Asia (& everywhere esle they went) also:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8185990239/sr=8-1 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_1/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300106033/sr=8-2 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_2/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591022495/sr=8-4 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_4/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8

>You can read about it in Dharma Theertha's History of Hindu Imperialism [amazon.com].

  You can read about muslim imperialism in South Asia (& everywhere esle they went) also:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8185990239/sr=8-1 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_1/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300106033/sr=8-2 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_2/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591022495/sr=8-4 /qid=1148944884/ref=sr_1_4/102-8471805-5135354?_en coding=UTF8

Save yourself $14.78 by buying the book here: Open Source Game Development. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%! That's a total savings of $15.18, or 38.57%!

Save yourself $14.78 by buying the book here: Open Source Game Development. And if you use the "secret" A9.com Instant Reward discount, you can save an extra 1.57%! That's a total savings of $15.18, or 38.57%!

On the topic of game development and OpenGL, can anyone recommend any books/websites/resources good for building OpenGL rendering engines from scratch?

I've recently took an intro course to GL and for a project written an MD3 (quake3 mesh animated model) renderer in Qt (bindings are easy and well documented with "Qt Assistant"). I've wanted to increase my knowledge of GL over the summer by building a relatively primitive rendering engine in C++, and perhaps evolving it over the course of the next few years. I'm considering starting with an importer for Quake3 maps (BSP trees). Ultimately I'd like to build something similar to (of course I'm sure much less advanced) that of the Irrlicht engine.

I've read through the Red Book and have already bought the Superbible. Has anyone any other resources which might help me design and build such a system?

On the topic of game development and OpenGL, can anyone recommend any books/websites/resources good for building OpenGL rendering engines from scratch?

I've recently took an intro course to GL and for a project written an MD3 (quake3 mesh animated model) renderer in Qt (bindings are easy and well documented with "Qt Assistant"). I've wanted to increase my knowledge of GL over the summer by building a relatively primitive rendering engine in C++, and perhaps evolving it over the course of the next few years. I'm considering starting with an importer for Quake3 maps (BSP trees). Ultimately I'd like to build something similar to (of course I'm sure much less advanced) that of the Irrlicht engine.

I've read through the Red Book and have already bought the Superbible. Has anyone any other resources which might help me design and build such a system?

No, never did get a degree in MIT or anywhere else. Never had the money or the means. I'm an autodidact.

I really should take this opportunity to recommend a book everyone can use - Teach Yourself Autodidactics!

Sometimes I wish I knew exactly who stole it, so I could write them a thank-you letter. It would probably include the words "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!", too.

I still feel the iPod's success can be attributed in large part to the fact that, to paraphrase jwz, it's the only mp3 player with a UI that doesn't irritate the living fuck out of me.

Yes, and no. I have provided proof in previous posts of human rights abuses of which Hindus are victims in Pakistan. Sorry, your propaganda only works on liberal westerners, not on me.

And not one of the links substantiated any of the claims you made. Sorry, but no. Try again. Surely such abuses can't be that hard to find documented, if they actually occurred!

Hindus are regarded as "Kaffirs" and "Dhimmis" in Pakistan. Pakistani muslims regard all non-muslims as animals and deserving only death. Pakistanis love death. I wonder why they wail so much when our armed forces give it to them.

Wow, so much hate towards Pakistanis. I'd say you're a bigot, and openly proud of your bigotry.

>Having molten metal poured into ears is a Hindu punishment for a religious crime, not a Muslim one

No, my friend. It was invented by Tamurlang, a muslim. Hindus retaliate, never instigate. We are people, not beasts.

Obviously history is not your strongest point. Having molten tin or lead was the punishment meted out to lower caste Hindus who had simply overheard a Veda recitation. I am not making this up. You can read about it in Dharma Theertha's History of Hindu Imperialism.

South Asian muslims spread usury, bribery, Jihad, and how to reproduce by rape. Now they can't stand the fact that we are free, and they are not.

Obviously not free from racism or bigotry, as evidenced in your comments.

Snapped from a dog stepping on it? How big are the dogs where you're from? Or are Blu-Ray disks made of saltine crackers? Ever tried busting a CD-ROM? I'd need a pony walking around my house with ice skates to bust one.

There's a reason the Austrian school has been a fringe theory of economics in every society (except ironically under the National Socialists).

That is a dirty lie. Ludwig von Mises was targetted by the Nazis. His apartment was raided by the Gestapo and he barely escaped to Switzerland

Remember what most MP3 players looked like before the iPod? I'm not just talking about the general ugliness of some of them, but the way the interface was designed specifically to appeal to people who LOVE high-tech gagetry, and think the Windows file manager is downright spiffy.

I remember what they looked like. I had one. The Rio 600. There wasn't anything wrong with the interface, other than it was fairly basic. Oh, well, that and it only held about 15 songs.

oligatory: The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman

• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (first 4 lectures at least): http://swiss.csail.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-s ussman-lectures/
  
• The Art of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485419
  
• Computer Networks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130661023/
  
• Object Oriented Software Construction (first 120 pages at least): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0136291554
  
• The Pragmatic Programmer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
  
• The Psychology of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932633420
  

• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (first 4 lectures at least): http://swiss.csail.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-s ussman-lectures/
  
• The Art of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485419
  
• Computer Networks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130661023/
  
• Object Oriented Software Construction (first 120 pages at least): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0136291554
  
• The Pragmatic Programmer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
  
• The Psychology of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932633420
  

• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (first 4 lectures at least): http://swiss.csail.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-s ussman-lectures/
  
• The Art of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485419
  
• Computer Networks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130661023/
  
• Object Oriented Software Construction (first 120 pages at least): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0136291554
  
• The Pragmatic Programmer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
  
• The Psychology of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932633420
  

• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (first 4 lectures at least): http://swiss.csail.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-s ussman-lectures/
  
• The Art of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485419
  
• Computer Networks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130661023/
  
• Object Oriented Software Construction (first 120 pages at least): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0136291554
  
• The Pragmatic Programmer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
  
• The Psychology of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932633420
  

• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (first 4 lectures at least): http://swiss.csail.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-s ussman-lectures/
  
• The Art of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201485419
  
• Computer Networks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130661023/
  
• Object Oriented Software Construction (first 120 pages at least): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0136291554
  
• The Pragmatic Programmer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
  
• The Psychology of Computer Programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932633420
  

1. Discrete Mathematics (recommended textbook: Discrete Mathematics by Kenneth A. Ross and Charles R. Wright)
2. Finite Automata and Computability (recommended textbook: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation by John E. Hopcroft, Rajeev Motwani and Jeffrey D. Ullman)

Technologists who understand the fundamental theory can generally write more elegant, more efficient computer programs than pseudo-technologists who are ignorant of the science in computer science.

Once you have trained your mind on the fundamental theory, you will discover that most information technologies are quite simplistic.

Finally, one often overlooked subject is English. Learn to write and speak well in English. It is the fundamental mode of communication in the world of advanced science and technology. You may have great ideas, but if you cannot them to your English-speaking peers, then you are no better than a pseudo-technologist.

We've never had a very clear distinction between traditional high schools and trade (what we call Vocational/Technical or vo-tech in the US) schools in the US. A district or region might have a vo-tech school, but people were never forced into it or assigned to it, like in some other countries (don't know if that's the case in Holland). If we did have a system like that, or even a system where vo-tech was more emphasized, the my father-in-law would have ended up in one. He was educated in Catholic schools, and was, by all accounts, a very poor student (only ever did well in Theology). Got into college (mainly because it was a small Catholic college), and ended up going to Europe to get his PhD in philosophy, and in the process became fluent in German, French, and Italian. His book apart from making my head feel like it's going to explode is held to be a very important piece of Heidegger scholarship. Of course, none of that would have happened if he'd been forced into a trade school.

$25 seems to be the going rate for this model.

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In short, some young people think that science is a good career for the same reason that they think being a musician or actor is a good career: "I can't decide if I want to be a scientist like James Watson, a musician like Britney Spears, or an actor like Harrison Ford."

Philip's argument makes good sense to me.

The article was noting that teaching Science isn't very rewarding, either:

"What happens is that the system tends to beat them down," Padilla said. "Working conditions are poor, it's a difficult job, and the pay isn't that great."

So, I would say that, on the face of it, Science just doesn't pay, and a lot of us are really interested in getting paid.

What does pay? Perhaps research, (which Vernor Vinge called "Search & Analysis," and noted was at "the heart of the economy,") perhaps technology, perhaps being a system administrator, or being a mechanic, or something like that. Perhaps being a business person or a manager. I wouldn't really know; I've not asked the question "How do I make more money?" deeply enough.

But answering the question "How does the natural world work?" doesn't seem to be where the money is at. "How do I make this better?" seems to be only a little bit closer.

I would prefer that we asked the question: "How do we make the world a more satisfying place for all people in it, and ensure that nature grows healthier and healthier?" Unfortunately, the pay isn't so good. Perhaps the questions necessary child is: "How do we make this pay?"

Thats all well and good except that the barrier to market entry and not government created. They are fundamental to capitalism. Since it costs initial capital to enter a market, a company can not enter the market and be competitive immediately. There is a reason you or I couldn't start making cars that ran on butter tomorrow.

There are NUMEROUS independent auto makers in the country right now. They can not sell their cars directly due to government regulations created by the large automakers that require certain government testing of vehicles to call them "safe." The only people who should "regulate" the safety of cars should be insurance companies.

The initial capital needed to enter a market is near zero -- I know, I own a number of large businesses that started with no money, no loans and no investments. It took people to do it, and we battled so many licensing requirements that we almost didn't start some of them.


Ridiculous beyond comprehension. Learn about economics and its history. See: John D Rockefeller and Standard Oil. In an unregulated system, the natural equilibrium is monopoly.

You really don't know your facts, do you? Standard Oil was never a monopoly -- when they were on top, they were #1 because they lowered the price of oil below all the other competitors. They lowered the price of oil from 58 cents to 8 cents! By the time they were found guilty of monopoly, they were already being replaced by competitors who were bringing a new product to the market -- gasoline. Mary Ruwart wrote in great detail about it.

Tort law focuses on private property and pollution harms the common good, public property and society in general.

Prove it. All property should be private, thereby allowing tort laws to cover the trespass (civil) and destruction (tort) that occurs from pollution. Society is nothing but millions of individuals -- let each one decide what they can handle.

The children of children who were forced to work were also forced to work, are still forced to work at the same jobs.

No ad-hominem here, but you, sir, are a liar. Did you read UNICEF's article about what happened when "child-labor sweatshops" were closed in Bangladesh based on U.S. complaints? Now those same girls are prostitutes. Many of the children in these so called child labor camps are only able to eat (and their families as well) because of the work available for them. Would you prefer to eat or not eat? On top of all this, most families in poor countries are unable to extricate themselves from their poverty because of government fiat currency inflation which causes their money saved to go down in value over time rather quickly. This is happening to the U.S. dollar today.

e. Its also fundamentally anti-labor (relying solely on the marginal utility to produce value has no fundamental origin of the system). There's a reason the Austrian school has been a fringe theory of economics in every society (except ironically under the National Socialists).

The National Socialists believe in fiat currency (see the Weimar Republic), government force and regulation. Nothing Austrian about it.

The Austrians have proven time and again that human action creates markets and freedom -- only government force can take it away. No megacorporation has never forced you to pay for anything. If Wal*Mart ends up owning ever store in the world, just go buy fruits from the farmer. Or do you think that a select few can control the entire world, except through the use of force by the government? All it takes is one bullet in the head of the powermongerer to end a coercive regime quickly.

I'm surprised by how blatantly pro-socialism most of slashdot is, and it makes me sad. The geeks of the world would be far better off embracing a free market opinion than your op

Read your David Icke, he's been talking about this for years. It's called problem-reaction-solution.

The people in power seek to increase or consolidate their power, but they can't just take more power overtly, or people would throw a fit, so they engineer some kind of problem, so that the people demand action be taken to solve the problem. Then they openly propose their solution, and the people thank them for it.

They actually last for quite a while, and you don't need to be in the sunlight to charge them. Quite nifty, actually.