Hell no. There already is a compromise. Free music for free promotion. At least in college radio, the DJ's (I was one til I graduated) make a decent effort to tell listeners the artists, if not the songs, played. I recall having people call in and ask "Who is this on right now?". Whether they planned to pirate or purchase the song or album is a different discussion, but the point is that these records are getting promoted for free. RIAA is trying to double dip, and I say give 'em the one finger salute. If anything, they should be PAYING radio stations for giving their bands airtime and thusly exposure (except that's illegal...Payola). Fortunately, most college radio is not-for-profit. But I think generally, the same rule applies to normal radio.
He's OK with the government taking people's legally owned firearms during an emergency or major disaster. (as in Katrina... where the cops were followed by thugs preying on the now-unarmed residents) Got a disaster? Time to steal from the people!
After Katrina, some cops = thugs...there were some blocking a bridge that literally opened fire on people who were trying to leave. The police can kindly fuck off if they have any inkling of taking my means of life preservation in a disaster: food, water, guns & ammo, fuel, etc. Fortunately, I don't see my county's sheriff condoning such activities.
I instantly decided I would never vote for Dodd after the YouTube debates. And despite his actions with telecom immunity, it doesn't clear him from his other views. Perhaps it's a bit cynical, but I think this is more for publicity than for scruples. But on the other hand, at least he is not a wimp like the D leadership right now...I'm still angry about the "mandate for change" being unactuated. It's like everyone in congress is either spineless, mindless, and/or heartless!
I fully agree. I inherited a LOT of uncommented and shittily commented code, and it is a royal PITA to figure out WHY it is doing what it is doing (which was basically your point). On the other hand, at least with crappy comments, there is occasionally a nugget of useful information...I despise the comment-free code more, but the code itself also looks like it was designed by someone on an acid trip.
So yes, comments should say WHY more than WHAT (specifically) a line or block of code does. A short narrative is usually the most helpful, ime. Basic description of what the method (or even a crucial line if it's the least bit unconventional or otherwise unintuitive) does (in bird's-eye-view terms / how you would explain it to a non-programmer), and WHY it is doing it if that purpose isn't obvious from WHAT.
And I also say (most of) my predecessors' code sucks, but in this case, it does. There was one guy who seemed to have a decent idea of what he was doing, and I think he got burnt out by the complete buffoon of an "IT Manager" they had at the time (hurray cronyism! He still works here in his own project group because he's friends with the big boss). But the other guys...one would have actual end-user visible error messages like "the stupid polack messed up again", and had one of Shakespeare's plays in its entirety linked on one of the maintenance web sites. The other guy consistently set up SQL accounts with "password" and sysadmin privileges (I've gotten it secured now, but it's causing quite a bit of havoc for some users). Crazy and stupid, respectively. Then we have a contractor (still with us, hopefully not much longer)...who is arrogant AND stupid (with coding, anyways...quite manipulative with the non-technical people who control his paycheck). He implements concepts and technologies that he does not understand in completely useless and excessively complicated ways. He also has a big problem with turnover of his underlings, resulting in even crappier code. The rest of us want to completely scrap his project because it's so bad (the aforementioned "acid trip code"). But you know what they say: "CONTRACTING: if you aren't part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem."
I am lazy: I make sure it works before it goes out, and I write it so the user can configure it to do what they need without having to bother me to do hard code changes, recompile, and redeploy. I've already got enough of that with existing code I've not yet had time to rewrite.
So, in short, if you are neither crazy nor stupid, your code probably won't suck that bad. Every time I'm skeptical of my own code, I just look at the code I am maintaining and replacing. I simply remind myself: mine actually works. I wrote them from start to finish, so the code is consistent. My boss can look at it and understand what it's doing with his experience with older languages and teething knowledge of.NET. And the other programmers whose code does NOT suck (separate project group) have given me positive feedback on what they've seen of mine. A limited degree of self-doubt is good for keeping you honest with the quality of your work, but don't worry about it TOO much.
I've advocated a similar system in discussions with friends as well...really helps to eliminate corruption, as well as focusing on the truism (that you alluded to) that those most qualified to govern generally do not seek the job. Only bit I'm unsure of is what criteria to have for the legislative draft...we don't want to draft just any mutant for the job.
That usually results in a headful of the element known as "Pb". And as long as that is less desirable than revocation of consent for governance (even if that "consent" is extorted), the system will go on. Bummer.
Indeed, you are correct...I don't think presidential pardon should extend to agents of the president (or past presidents). Although we should have learned our lesson with Reagan and Ollie North and John Poindexter, and Nixon/Ford.
Soo...it's probably not smart to discuss fourth box matters on the internet.
and much worse, your constitution is not backed up by guns.
Depends what state you live in...some of us keep a modest arsenal in the free states (that is, not NY, CA, IL, or MA).
...And all of you outside the US have a common enemy
Your enemy is not the United States, it's our government. We are sick of this shit too, but unfortunately, we have a lot of insane people living here who vote, and a system that does not force the legislature to even read the bills they are enacting into law.
Get a senator to sponsor a bill called the "Freedom, Puppies, Apple Pie, and Baseball for America Act" and have it say whatever you want (swap copyleft for copyright, declare Bush an enemy of the free world, and legalize marijuana)...it'll pass. Then I will buy you a beer.
Not just that, but you don't have to have an entire orchestra to make it happen...reduces production costs immensely. Plus, I can output a whole song using only synthesizers (usually analog synths, not the general MIDI set) without any of the tedious production work I have to do for vocals or guitar (I generally do industrial music). Plus, as you said, a computer can play with inhuman speed (and accuracy). And nobody said you could NOT integrate the level of expressiveness found in natural instruments...it takes a good programmer, but it can be programmed, and likewise, there are various input methods such as aftertouch, the mod and pitch wheels, and other performance controls on a nice MIDI controller that can approximate those effects.
Alternatively, you can combine the best of both worlds...the Hitman soundtracks composed by Jesper Kyd are phenomenal (and include some amazing choral and orchestral recordings mixed in with synthetic elements). And I'm also a huge fan of the Quake III soundtrack, which was mostly synthesized, but has guitars too. And plenty of RTS games I've played have great symphonic/world soundtracks: most Sid Meier games, most C&C games, Rise of Nations, Supreme Commander, etc. Parappa doesn't even come close...then again, most journalism picks for "top 10" are generally crap imo.
I agree; it's not impossible to teach the fundamentals of image manipulation, or even complicated bits, if you can perform these tasks in multiple environments. As long as the kids are being taught abstract concepts and not proprietary ones, they should be fine with whatever software they use.
But at least with the free stuff, they can get their own copies (legitimately) for extra-curricular use...and I think those classes are generally the most fulfilling for students, as they actually WANT to learn because it's knowledge they know they can put to use for their own enjoyment outside of class (unlike other classes for which the student may not perceive a directly visible application). Much like any skill, the more time one spends, the better one's skill tends to become...so a paradigm which supports enablement of self-motivated students is good.
I've seen some laws notated with strikethrough on amended or stricken provisions, but not in the bills that modify them. It'd be nice if there were a uniform way of doing this...part of the reason the newer, sneakier laws (Patriot Act?) are so damn huge is because they spend half a page telling you what comma they are changing and what obfuscated subclause is being added, so that as a whole, one would have little idea what the legislation is doing exactly (like you said).
Although I don't see Congress utilizing a differential to improve quality of service anytime soon.
As if Clear Channel and Rupert Murdoch needed even more media outlets to turn into mindless, commercial-ridden crap...
There is a happy medium between anti-trust and monopoly, and this is not a move toward equilibrium. At least someone internal is vocally disagreeing. Go Copp!
Indeed...I don't think it should be considered a tort if Lewis Black calls George Bush an asshole.
And datruthsquad doesn't seem at all libelous or slanderous (from what I read on his blog), so it sounds like a vindictive city council. Which, needless to say, is bullshit.
I agree...despite that Ron Paul is diametrically opposed to the fiscal/foreign policies I like about Kucinich, he is bulletproof on the Bill of Rights (although this hooey about ending birthright citizenship pisses me off a bit, but he'd just as soon kill welfare and then it wouldn't be a problem in his eyes...silly, greedy Libertarian economic mindset). And given that he's a physician, I think his abortion views make sense. And though I don't know if I trust Kucinich with the 1st and the 2nd, I'm pretty sure he's safe on the 4th amendment.
Also, I feel (just my impression; I could be wrong) that Bill Richardson is probably a decent candidate for privacy as well, since he seems to be fairly moderate and civil rights oriented (not as economically left as I would like, but it's hard to find a reliably pro-gun Democrat). I think overall, he and Huckabee are probably the most pragmatic candidates. Maybe I trust them more because they were governors and not congressmen. Then again, Bush was a governor...
But overall, I think for privacy, a Democrat (except Hillary) or independent is going to be a far safer vote than a Republican (except Dr. Paul), given their obsession with terrorism and "winning" in Iraq.
I think the fact that Ramis and Aykroyd have a hand in writing the story for the game says enough: it will be funny...
The Warriors videogame wasn't even written by the same people and it's a great game! If they can combine solid game programmers with the script they're gonna have for Ghostbusters, it should be an awesome game.
Now all we need is Sam Raimi to write the script for an Army of Darkness videogame, if they don't simply do the plot from the movie.
Be serious now, you really meant "type with one hand while occasionally glancing at it because you're driving", didn't you?
Driving stick, no less. At least I'm concentrating on the more important activity and only looking at the phone when it's safe to do so (like at a stop).
20 is a crap sample size...I didn't notice that point before. Don't get me wrong, I think the iPhone is cool, but not so cool that I wanna drop the bucks on it when I'm very happy and proficient with my current phone.
That was my thought on the matter. I can (slower than normal) text blind with relative accuracy simply because of the tactile input of the key divisions, however slight. Even when I am looking at the thing (Samsung "Darth Phone"...if you've seen one, you know what it is), I'm faster because of that extra sensory (but not extrasensory) input.
I'm also a lot faster on T9 or even just ABC on a standard phone keypad than on my work Blackjack with its full, hamster-sized keyboard (which I hate).
And additionally, some of us are a bit ham-fisted, so touch screens only work when you've a stylus like on a pocket PC.
Slashdot Mirror
Hell no. There already is a compromise. Free music for free promotion. At least in college radio, the DJ's (I was one til I graduated) make a decent effort to tell listeners the artists, if not the songs, played. I recall having people call in and ask "Who is this on right now?". Whether they planned to pirate or purchase the song or album is a different discussion, but the point is that these records are getting promoted for free. RIAA is trying to double dip, and I say give 'em the one finger salute. If anything, they should be PAYING radio stations for giving their bands airtime and thusly exposure (except that's illegal...Payola). Fortunately, most college radio is not-for-profit. But I think generally, the same rule applies to normal radio.
I instantly decided I would never vote for Dodd after the YouTube debates. And despite his actions with telecom immunity, it doesn't clear him from his other views. Perhaps it's a bit cynical, but I think this is more for publicity than for scruples. But on the other hand, at least he is not a wimp like the D leadership right now...I'm still angry about the "mandate for change" being unactuated. It's like everyone in congress is either spineless, mindless, and/or heartless!
I have one, and I almost never get called ever since I stopped pushing software updates on Friday.
Then again, you make me do work stuff at home, I'm gonna do more home stuff at work. Yay internet.
"Next on the Violence Channel...an all new episode of 'Ow! My Balls!'"
Maybe it's like the "geniuses choose green" thing? Perhaps it's more than just visibility...
I fully agree. I inherited a LOT of uncommented and shittily commented code, and it is a royal PITA to figure out WHY it is doing what it is doing (which was basically your point). On the other hand, at least with crappy comments, there is occasionally a nugget of useful information...I despise the comment-free code more, but the code itself also looks like it was designed by someone on an acid trip.
.NET. And the other programmers whose code does NOT suck (separate project group) have given me positive feedback on what they've seen of mine. A limited degree of self-doubt is good for keeping you honest with the quality of your work, but don't worry about it TOO much.
So yes, comments should say WHY more than WHAT (specifically) a line or block of code does. A short narrative is usually the most helpful, ime. Basic description of what the method (or even a crucial line if it's the least bit unconventional or otherwise unintuitive) does (in bird's-eye-view terms / how you would explain it to a non-programmer), and WHY it is doing it if that purpose isn't obvious from WHAT.
And I also say (most of) my predecessors' code sucks, but in this case, it does. There was one guy who seemed to have a decent idea of what he was doing, and I think he got burnt out by the complete buffoon of an "IT Manager" they had at the time (hurray cronyism! He still works here in his own project group because he's friends with the big boss). But the other guys...one would have actual end-user visible error messages like "the stupid polack messed up again", and had one of Shakespeare's plays in its entirety linked on one of the maintenance web sites. The other guy consistently set up SQL accounts with "password" and sysadmin privileges (I've gotten it secured now, but it's causing quite a bit of havoc for some users). Crazy and stupid, respectively. Then we have a contractor (still with us, hopefully not much longer)...who is arrogant AND stupid (with coding, anyways...quite manipulative with the non-technical people who control his paycheck). He implements concepts and technologies that he does not understand in completely useless and excessively complicated ways. He also has a big problem with turnover of his underlings, resulting in even crappier code. The rest of us want to completely scrap his project because it's so bad (the aforementioned "acid trip code"). But you know what they say: "CONTRACTING: if you aren't part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem."
I am lazy: I make sure it works before it goes out, and I write it so the user can configure it to do what they need without having to bother me to do hard code changes, recompile, and redeploy. I've already got enough of that with existing code I've not yet had time to rewrite.
So, in short, if you are neither crazy nor stupid, your code probably won't suck that bad. Every time I'm skeptical of my own code, I just look at the code I am maintaining and replacing. I simply remind myself: mine actually works. I wrote them from start to finish, so the code is consistent. My boss can look at it and understand what it's doing with his experience with older languages and teething knowledge of
I've advocated a similar system in discussions with friends as well...really helps to eliminate corruption, as well as focusing on the truism (that you alluded to) that those most qualified to govern generally do not seek the job. Only bit I'm unsure of is what criteria to have for the legislative draft...we don't want to draft just any mutant for the job.
That usually results in a headful of the element known as "Pb". And as long as that is less desirable than revocation of consent for governance (even if that "consent" is extorted), the system will go on. Bummer.
Indeed, you are correct...I don't think presidential pardon should extend to agents of the president (or past presidents). Although we should have learned our lesson with Reagan and Ollie North and John Poindexter, and Nixon/Ford.
Soo...it's probably not smart to discuss fourth box matters on the internet.
"[Pleo] begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug."
"Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt
Your enemy is not the United States, it's our government. We are sick of this shit too, but unfortunately, we have a lot of insane people living here who vote, and a system that does not force the legislature to even read the bills they are enacting into law.
Get a senator to sponsor a bill called the "Freedom, Puppies, Apple Pie, and Baseball for America Act" and have it say whatever you want (swap copyleft for copyright, declare Bush an enemy of the free world, and legalize marijuana)...it'll pass. Then I will buy you a beer.
Not just that, but you don't have to have an entire orchestra to make it happen...reduces production costs immensely. Plus, I can output a whole song using only synthesizers (usually analog synths, not the general MIDI set) without any of the tedious production work I have to do for vocals or guitar (I generally do industrial music). Plus, as you said, a computer can play with inhuman speed (and accuracy). And nobody said you could NOT integrate the level of expressiveness found in natural instruments...it takes a good programmer, but it can be programmed, and likewise, there are various input methods such as aftertouch, the mod and pitch wheels, and other performance controls on a nice MIDI controller that can approximate those effects.
Alternatively, you can combine the best of both worlds...the Hitman soundtracks composed by Jesper Kyd are phenomenal (and include some amazing choral and orchestral recordings mixed in with synthetic elements). And I'm also a huge fan of the Quake III soundtrack, which was mostly synthesized, but has guitars too. And plenty of RTS games I've played have great symphonic/world soundtracks: most Sid Meier games, most C&C games, Rise of Nations, Supreme Commander, etc. Parappa doesn't even come close...then again, most journalism picks for "top 10" are generally crap imo.
I agree; it's not impossible to teach the fundamentals of image manipulation, or even complicated bits, if you can perform these tasks in multiple environments. As long as the kids are being taught abstract concepts and not proprietary ones, they should be fine with whatever software they use.
But at least with the free stuff, they can get their own copies (legitimately) for extra-curricular use...and I think those classes are generally the most fulfilling for students, as they actually WANT to learn because it's knowledge they know they can put to use for their own enjoyment outside of class (unlike other classes for which the student may not perceive a directly visible application). Much like any skill, the more time one spends, the better one's skill tends to become...so a paradigm which supports enablement of self-motivated students is good.
It makes a do-nothing congress much more desirable.
Then River Tam will kick Barney Frank's ass.
It's not dichotomy when they're in bed together, it's "get your dichotomy ass!!!"
I've seen some laws notated with strikethrough on amended or stricken provisions, but not in the bills that modify them. It'd be nice if there were a uniform way of doing this...part of the reason the newer, sneakier laws (Patriot Act?) are so damn huge is because they spend half a page telling you what comma they are changing and what obfuscated subclause is being added, so that as a whole, one would have little idea what the legislation is doing exactly (like you said).
Although I don't see Congress utilizing a differential to improve quality of service anytime soon.
As if Clear Channel and Rupert Murdoch needed even more media outlets to turn into mindless, commercial-ridden crap...
There is a happy medium between anti-trust and monopoly, and this is not a move toward equilibrium. At least someone internal is vocally disagreeing. Go Copp!
Indeed...I don't think it should be considered a tort if Lewis Black calls George Bush an asshole.
And datruthsquad doesn't seem at all libelous or slanderous (from what I read on his blog), so it sounds like a vindictive city council. Which, needless to say, is bullshit.
I agree...despite that Ron Paul is diametrically opposed to the fiscal/foreign policies I like about Kucinich, he is bulletproof on the Bill of Rights (although this hooey about ending birthright citizenship pisses me off a bit, but he'd just as soon kill welfare and then it wouldn't be a problem in his eyes...silly, greedy Libertarian economic mindset). And given that he's a physician, I think his abortion views make sense. And though I don't know if I trust Kucinich with the 1st and the 2nd, I'm pretty sure he's safe on the 4th amendment.
Also, I feel (just my impression; I could be wrong) that Bill Richardson is probably a decent candidate for privacy as well, since he seems to be fairly moderate and civil rights oriented (not as economically left as I would like, but it's hard to find a reliably pro-gun Democrat). I think overall, he and Huckabee are probably the most pragmatic candidates. Maybe I trust them more because they were governors and not congressmen. Then again, Bush was a governor...
But overall, I think for privacy, a Democrat (except Hillary) or independent is going to be a far safer vote than a Republican (except Dr. Paul), given their obsession with terrorism and "winning" in Iraq.
...make it the law!
I think the fact that Ramis and Aykroyd have a hand in writing the story for the game says enough: it will be funny...
The Warriors videogame wasn't even written by the same people and it's a great game! If they can combine solid game programmers with the script they're gonna have for Ghostbusters, it should be an awesome game.
Now all we need is Sam Raimi to write the script for an Army of Darkness videogame, if they don't simply do the plot from the movie.
20 is a crap sample size...I didn't notice that point before. Don't get me wrong, I think the iPhone is cool, but not so cool that I wanna drop the bucks on it when I'm very happy and proficient with my current phone.
That was my thought on the matter. I can (slower than normal) text blind with relative accuracy simply because of the tactile input of the key divisions, however slight. Even when I am looking at the thing (Samsung "Darth Phone"...if you've seen one, you know what it is), I'm faster because of that extra sensory (but not extrasensory) input.
I'm also a lot faster on T9 or even just ABC on a standard phone keypad than on my work Blackjack with its full, hamster-sized keyboard (which I hate).
And additionally, some of us are a bit ham-fisted, so touch screens only work when you've a stylus like on a pocket PC.