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User: Plumber,+Programmer,

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  1. See the other response - and definitely find out what the utility locator service is in your state (assuming you're in the US) before you dig. If you don't, maybe you just dig up a fiber trunk and are out thousands of dollars. Maybe you dig up a buried electric line or gas line and are out a life.
    I'm sure an untrained person could write a program themselves - if their project is really, really simple. I'm sure an untrained person has a good chance at successfully digging "a hole" out in an open field somewhere with no utilities buried below. But maybe that hole has to be a specific size and shape, or maybe there are obstructions underground you can't just tear out, or maybe it's near a building that you don't want to put a hole in. Or maybe you just have a big project that you need done in a reasonable time. (Equipment rental costs add up, too.)
    These complexities add up, and in a complex situation, you're going to want a professional with experience, whether it's digging a hole, or writing an app.

    And yeah, I've done both.

  2. Re:Horray for spaceships that fly! on NASA Awards Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser an ISS Commercial Resupply Contract (examiner.com) · · Score: 1

    Cool! It will be great to see some winged spacecraft again!

    You mean like the one that's in space right now? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  3. Re: The movie was good because the book was short. on Review: The Martian · · Score: 1

    Your kid is playing too much Kerbal Space Program.

    Too much KSP? Does that exist?

  4. Re:Saw it last night in 3D on Review: The Martian · · Score: 1

    I don't have the numbers, but Mars' atmosphere is much less dense than Earth's, so it's at least conceivable. It's all about what your maximum dynamic pressure (aka "max Q") will be. Thank you, Kerbal Space Program!
    With that said, it certainly seemed like he put more effort and strength into building the plastic cover for holding in his atmosphere (earlier in the movie) than he did with making sure that parachute would stay on.

  5. 8 Years to negotiate? on Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal Is Reached · · Score: 2

    Then surely, as our nation would be a party to the treaty, we need 8 years to examine it and determine if we should sign it.

  6. Re:Can't trust Michael Moore. on Sci-Fi Author Joe Haldeman On the Future of War · · Score: 1

    So aside from the coincidence of the date of founding, what else do you have? Let's see, the founders were both Union officers in the US Civil War, one a general. Further, the first president of the NRA was Ambrose Burnside, another Union general. Also, the NRA was founded in New York state. But you propose that SOMEHOW it was actually created by former rebels? What?

  7. Re:"Best military science fiction novel ever?" on Sci-Fi Author Joe Haldeman On the Future of War · · Score: 1

    I don't know what other mil-SF the OP has read. I really wonder how much.
    Before I read Haldeman's TFW, I read Heinlein, Drake, Moon, Laumer, and Harrison.
    Perhaps that jaded me, but all those authors are both better writers and had truer depictions of the military.

  8. Re: I've always said on Sci-Fi Author Joe Haldeman On the Future of War · · Score: 1

    That's not the M16, that was with the M4, which has a shorter barrel and therefore the bullet exits the barrel at a lower velocity. This leads to less of the tumbling effect upon entering a body which was exhibited by the round used in the M16 and M16A1. Further, the M16A2 and beyond uses a heavier bullet that also doesn't exhibit as much of the tumbling effect.

  9. ...or a class of languages on ELIoT, Distributed Programming For the Internet of Things · · Score: 2

    If you add one 's', then you could use that name to describe a whole class of languages, or "Extensible Languages for the Internet of Things." I'm betting they don't have a better or more specific name because the only driving philosophy behind it is to "make a language for the Internet of Things." Alternately, they let some marketer choose the name, which is just as sad. What makes it worse is that its target environment, the "IoT," doesn't have a better name for ITSELF because the people pushing it don't really have a really strong, useful case for it, just a solution ("hey, we can put a simple computer in anything!") looking for a problem. (Sure, there are things that might be more useful when they're connected to SOMETHING else, but most devices? Not so much. The bigger concern is security and LIMITING the connections to only those who need it.) Also, I guess I should point out that the predecessor to Java, Gosling's "Oak," was intended for running "smart appliances," in other words, for some sort of Internet-connected devices...

  10. Re:For politics/economics... on Ask Slashdot: Which Expert Bloggers Do You Read? · · Score: 1

    In that arena, you might also explore the writings of Richard Reeves.

  11. Re:Bennett Haselton on Ask Slashdot: Which Expert Bloggers Do You Read? · · Score: 1

    Imagine a world where Bennett Haselton limited himself to ONLY posting about things he was actually an expert on.

  12. CCT-1 @ NMUSAF on Touring NASA's Space Shuttle Cockpit Trainer · · Score: 1

    If you read the article and find yourself thinking, "I wish I could see that in person," then you need to visit the National Museum of the USAF, which has CCT-1: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.m...

  13. THREE YEARS??? on Charter Hires Net Neutrality Activist To Make Policy · · Score: 1

    That's just an "introductory offer" like they always do - sounds good to get you on board, then they hammer you after that. At least they're consistent!

  14. It's a Balancing Act on Stephen Hawking: Biggest Human Failing Is Aggression · · Score: 2

    Too much aggression, and a species dies. Not enough aggression, and a species dies. Sure, the ideal amount of aggression changes, but getting rid of it entirely? I'm pretty sure that's not human. Heck, you're not even an animal. Heck, even PLANTS expand aggressively to fill their biological niche. What's left that's actually alive without ANY aggression?

  15. And Then There's 'The Clone Wars' on Disney Turned Down George Lucas's Star Wars Scripts · · Score: 1

    I hated the prequels. I hated the special edition of ANH so much that I never watched the special editions of ESB or RoTJ.
    Han Shot First.

    But..
    .
    Last fall, I happened to watch The Clone Wars movie and then the TV show. OK, so the first few episodes were a little rough - but I kept finding myself thinking, "This is more Star Wars than the prequels!"
    Then, there was even an episode CENTERED AROUND JAR-JAR. Surprisingly, it was actually GOOD. At this point, I was hooked and really impressed. I started watching the little "making of" featurettes included on the disks. It was immediately obvious that Dave Filoni and other folks on the production team are SERIOUS Star Wars fans. (For instance, they discuss the choice of giving Jedi Master Luminara Unduli the wrong lightsaber hilt because they hadn't had time to create the correct model.) They are also clearly very knowledgeable about the Extended Universe, and they do take from it, though they only what fits.

    As I watched the series and the featurettes, one name kept coming up over and over again:

    George
    George
    George

    Not as a problem, but as a source for ideas and as the maker of creative choices. George Lucas contributed a lot to The Clone Wars, especially to its feel - making it truly feel like Star Wars.

    At this point, I have watched all of The Clone Wars except the Season 6 stuff, and I have three conclusions:

    One, I really liked this show. Not everything, but most of it.
    Two, The Clone Wars is very much Star Wars.
    Three, The Clone Wars might not feel so much like Star Wars without George Lucas.

    If I had heard this news a year ago, I would have felt like a lot of people - cheering that George Lucas was not at all involved with Episode 7. Heck, I still don't want another "George Lucas Unleashed" movie.

    But after watching The Clone Wars? I am worried that without any George Lucas, Episode 7 might not feel ENOUGH like Star Wars.

  16. Re:Brian Daley on Ask Slashdot: Most Underappreciated Sci-Fi Writer? · · Score: 1

    Don't forget that he wrote the radio dramatization of the Star Wars original trilogy. Of the three, "Star Wars" is both the longest and the strongest.

  17. Re:Guardian of the People on CS Professor Announces Run For VT State Senate On a Platform of Internet Polling · · Score: 1

    I should add that this does not imply that you should ignore the people - on the contrary, you should certainly listen to them, and ask for their thoughts and opinions. Also, if you do disagree with them, you must explain why you disagree.

  18. Guardian of the People on CS Professor Announces Run For VT State Senate On a Platform of Internet Polling · · Score: 1

    According to the Vermont Senate Rules, you must swear the following oath: (bold case mine)

    "I, ...., Senator from ..... County (or Counties), in the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, do solemnly swear, that as a Member of this Assembly, I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote or resolution, which shall appear to me injurious to the people, nor do or consent to any act or thing whatever that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution of this State; but will in all things conduct myself as a faithful, honest representative and guardian of the people, according to the best of my judgment and ability. So help me God. I do solemnly swear that I will be true and faithful to the State of Vermont, and that I will not, directly or indirectly, do any act or thing injurious to the Constitution or Government thereof. So help me God. I do solemnly swear that I did not at the time of my election to this body, and that I do not now hold any office of profit or trust under the authority of Congress. So help me God. I do further solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the State of Vermont and the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

    I don't see a way that "voting according to poll results" will match up with "the best of my judgement and ability" unless you have very little of either. Your idea negates the whole idea of representative government. Hopefully, we elect wise, thoughtful, and honest representatives to do the hard work of legislating so that we don't have to. Direct democracy just isn't efficient - if you actually want to get anything else done.
    Yes, the people of your district elect you. However, once you swear the oath of office, you must not forget your duty is to the State of Vermont. It is your sworn duty to make the best choice you can to the best of your judgement and ability, even if every single person in your district disagrees with you.

  19. Been there, done that. on Programming — Now Starting In Elementary School · · Score: 1

    These came out in the early 80's:

    Rocky's Boots

    Robot Odyssey

    These are the games that taught me about logic gates and boolean logic.

  20. Re:Mechanical. on Ask Slashdot: Wrist Watch For the Tech Minded · · Score: 1

    I have a similar Stuhrling automatic watch. As a person whose work is done entirely with a computer, I like having a reminder that sometimes, there are valid solutions that require no electronics. I used to use a Canon AE-1 SLR camera (mostly mechanical), but now that digital photography has taken over, it has become impractical. However, a mechanical watch is still a valid timepiece. A mechanical watch tells the time with enough accuracy for my needs Bonus: It'll still be ticking after an EMP, either man-made or from a CME.

  21. Re:H. Beam Piper - Little Fuzzy on Ask Slashdot: Good, Forgotten Fantasy & Science Fiction Novels? · · Score: 1

    I'll Third the recommendation. As a short intro, I'd start with "Omnilingual" or "Edge of the Knife." My favorites are Space Viking and Cosmic Computer; The names are funky, but the stories are prime stuff. Keep in mind they were written in the late 50's, so there's all types of smoking and the regular cocktail hour.

  22. Re:500 years? on Lawmakers Want a Space Shuttle In New York City · · Score: 1

    Yeah, if you want the only (remaining) YF-12, you gotta go to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. AND they've got an SR-71 as well.

  23. Re:Using prison to cause insanity on Prison Bans D&D For Mimicking Gang Structure · · Score: 1

    I was not sufficiently clear. Of course, the suggested "solution" would eventually have to be tested to make sure it actually made criminals not commit more crime. I meant that it should first be tested to make sure that the suggested "solution" would not just drive the inmate insane.

  24. Using prison to cause insanity on Prison Bans D&D For Mimicking Gang Structure · · Score: 1

    What an interesting concept. Of course, we would need to ensure that it would actually work for the intended purpose. Would you be willing to be the first test subject of your own suggested "solution?"

  25. Re:Will this be covered by the public option? on Legislator Wants Cancer Warnings For Cell Phones · · Score: 1

    like a laser ... rapidly heating your headsets membrane to produce sound?

    Or just cut out the middleman, and just use the laser rapidly heating your head's membrane to produce sound.
    Of course, most of those sounds will be "OW!"