According to the United Nations, the global population could be as high as 11 billion in 2050 or as low as 8 billion, if the right programs are put in place now.
Population growth stretches natural resources to their limits. Deforestation, food and water shortages, and climate change are all intensified by the addition of nearly 80 million people a year to the world's population.
I was recently playing around with some web based translators translating Spanish comments from some bilingual friends. They said "my spanish" was stilted and the English translations of their comments were barely understandable.
I don't know about a particular book, but I would ( and have ) push Python on any beginner programmer. The first language learned and the first lessons dictate habits that last a career.
Python is built to teach good habits and it is a practical language at the same time.
I wouldn't want to use the D & D books to learn a new language on the job and not all of D & D books were great, but when I was in school they made very good TEXTBOOKS. They were academic in scope, taught concepts beyond the language and covered concepts completely. Best of all I could understand them. I couldn't understand K&R's as a raw beginner programmer.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day and that book does have useful information for programmers.
Slow down, my name is not John Travolta and I didn't read it.
Years ago I was sitting in a graduate lounge that had a copy of the book on a bookshelf ( no doubt as a bit of a sophmoric joke ).
I read the introduction and came across a useful idea that I had never articulated before. Basically, Hubbard said that to understand new material you want to make sure that you understand the meaning of every new word. If you don't know what a word means, stop, learn it and only then move on.
Too often in IT I will understand most of something, be in a rush to get something and move on. After a while, those words and bits only understood by context or only understood "good enough" by virtue of the whole picture snow balls on you to the point where you are confused and overwhelmed.
Last week in the news it was reported that some parts of the US are cutting back public education to just 4 days a week due to lack of funds. Yet taxes are the lowest they have been on the wealthy since the 1950s.
The corporations listed in the blurb are obviously for computerized classrooms because it puts money in their pocket.
If they cared about their fellow citizens they would be using their money to get that 5th day of school back and maybe even lobby for longer school years........something that has been shown to be very effective in other countries.
Undercover agents have harassed vegans and animal rights activists in several countries for years. These people are usually exposed via email lists. There are some good ones who go undetected, but it is amazing how clueless some of them are about blending in.
In regards to the article I'm surprised how clueless/irresponsible a professional undercover agent would be in having a Facebook page in the first place. It seems like a nobrainer that would be one of the things you would give up for the job.
On a serious note, I remember the last time Jobs left Apple. They weren't as innovative and they didn't do as well with marketshare. I don't use Apple products, but I hope that doesn't happen again.
I got the impression ( from my superficial slashdot skimming ) that all the authors are advising people to do is to run a spellchecker on their messages, avoid "pig l33t" ( u R so funny! lol ) and talk to other people like they are people ( versus sex objects, etc ).
Don't be hard on yourself. I read a lot of blogs from dating experts and many people have experiences similar to yours. You are actually handling things quite well by asking these women out and putting an end to pointless pen palmanship ( or giving a chance for something to happen ).
Thank the Republicans and the TEA Party. Taxes are the lowest they have been since the 50s on the upper classes, but these people have been fighting tooth and nail to cut budgets even further.
While the rest of the world is increasing the school week, the US is decreasing it.
Not only are these people working to make you poor and miserable while you are old, but trying to slash medicare and "taxing" your 401K with their debt ceiling/S&P/default stunt, they are working to make your children under-educated, to make sure they are poor all their lives.
And are you really sure that PCs will be the Computer of choice for anyone besides office workers and Slashdot readers?
When I get home from work, I surf on my PC and watch videos. What else would I choose for that, off work, that would be as nice as having a full sized keyboard and screen?
I disagree. It ( the technology ) is new. A neighborhood watch didn't identify those kids, a video put on the *internet* did. Take the internet out of it and those neighbors wouldn't have seen those kids in the flash mob ( created with the aide of the internet ) to identify them.
If you are stuck on a PC or laptop, Acrobat now allows you to change the background color of a document you are reading.
It isn't as nice as an ebook reader, but changing the background color from white to gray helps to reduce ( not eliminate ) eye strain.
FYI, if you still want to print those PDFs out you can be much kinder to the environment by printing with less white space in the margins and of course, doing duplex.
But, this being Slashdot, everyone knew that already
Anyone with a gmail account should know it. You go to a few Google places while signed in it tells you your location. You don't need to be a geek or what passes for one on Slashdot. You only need to be awake.
One thing I always hear when people talk about the uber small cars or the cars with very light materials is something along the lines of "what will happen to me if some gluttonous polluting selfish schmuck in an SUV or Minivan hits me?"
I think they have a valid point.
Cars are going to have to get lighter and less resilient to get gas mileage up. SUVS being on the road are a barrier.
Slashdot Mirror
Seriously, about 83% of the comments on youtube are adolescent and ignorant.
Current Population:
http://tinyurl.com/currentpopulation
6.9 billion people
World fertility rate for population replacement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-replacement_fertility
2.33 children per woman
From:
http://tinyurl.com/futurepopulation
According to the United Nations, the global population could be as high as 11 billion in 2050 or as low as 8 billion, if the right programs are put in place now.
Population growth stretches natural resources to their limits. Deforestation, food and water shortages, and climate change are all intensified by the addition of nearly 80 million people a year to the world's population.
I was recently playing around with some web based translators translating Spanish comments from some bilingual friends. They said "my spanish" was stilted and the English translations of their comments were barely understandable.
I don't know about a particular book, but I would ( and have ) push Python on any beginner programmer. The first language learned and the first lessons dictate habits that last a career.
Python is built to teach good habits and it is a practical language at the same time.
I wouldn't want to use the D & D books to learn a new language on the job and not all of D & D books were great, but when I was in school they made very good TEXTBOOKS. They were academic in scope, taught concepts beyond the language and covered concepts completely. Best of all I could understand them. I couldn't understand K&R's as a raw beginner programmer.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day and that book does have useful information for programmers.
Slow down, my name is not John Travolta and I didn't read it.
Years ago I was sitting in a graduate lounge that had a copy of the book on a bookshelf ( no doubt as a bit of a sophmoric joke ).
I read the introduction and came across a useful idea that I had never articulated before. Basically, Hubbard said that to understand new material you want to make sure that you understand the meaning of every new word. If you don't know what a word means, stop, learn it and only then move on.
Too often in IT I will understand most of something, be in a rush to get something and move on. After a while, those words and bits only understood by context or only understood "good enough" by virtue of the whole picture snow balls on you to the point where you are confused and overwhelmed.
Last week in the news it was reported that some parts of the US are cutting back public education to just 4 days a week due to lack of funds. Yet taxes are the lowest they have been on the wealthy since the 1950s.
The corporations listed in the blurb are obviously for computerized classrooms because it puts money in their pocket.
If they cared about their fellow citizens they would be using their money to get that 5th day of school back and maybe even lobby for longer school years........something that has been shown to be very effective in other countries.
No sarcasm meant, does this issue matter to more than a handful of people?
Will it matter once all of the "once ___ are done"s or will the tech world have moved onto other things?
Hey, look at that: the world is more complex then you thought.
Gratuitous insults are a fast way of telling strangers that you aren't a happy person.
except the people you are infiltrating will expect you to have one,
Mafiosos? Terrorists? Career Criminals? Really?
Undercover agents have harassed vegans and animal rights activists in several countries for years. These people are usually exposed via email lists. There are some good ones who go undetected, but it is amazing how clueless some of them are about blending in.
In regards to the article I'm surprised how clueless/irresponsible a professional undercover agent would be in having a Facebook page in the first place. It seems like a nobrainer that would be one of the things you would give up for the job.
It looks like the economy has lost 1 more Job.
On a serious note, I remember the last time Jobs left Apple. They weren't as innovative and they didn't do as well with marketshare. I don't use Apple products, but I hope that doesn't happen again.
diorcc;
I got the impression ( from my superficial slashdot skimming ) that all the authors are advising people to do is to run a spellchecker on their messages, avoid "pig l33t" ( u R so funny! lol ) and talk to other people like they are people ( versus sex objects, etc ).
That is hardly being someone you are not.
Don't be hard on yourself. I read a lot of blogs from dating experts and many people have experiences similar to yours. You are actually handling things quite well by asking these women out and putting an end to pointless pen palmanship ( or giving a chance for something to happen ).
I agree, but what does that have to do with running a spellchecker on your message before you send it to someone on OKCupid? :)
Um, you are aware that there are also Republicans and probably tea party people in local governments as well?
Who do you think has been cutting taxes and letting the infrastructure rot for years?
Now they making your kids, not just theirs ignorant.
The benefits of competition. Facebook never would have done this without competition from Google+
Thank the Republicans and the TEA Party. Taxes are the lowest they have been since the 50s on the upper classes, but these people have been fighting tooth and nail to cut budgets even further.
While the rest of the world is increasing the school week, the US is decreasing it.
Not only are these people working to make you poor and miserable while you are old, but trying to slash medicare and "taxing" your 401K with their debt ceiling/S&P/default stunt, they are working to make your children under-educated, to make sure they are poor all their lives.
Please vote these people out in 2012.
For your self interest.
I don't have any back, wrist or eye problems. I work at a computer all day and spend a few hours on a PC at home. Good diet and the gym I guess.
I can't see a tablet on my couch being as useful/fun when I get home as a very nice PC on my large desk and my comfy big chair.
And are you really sure that PCs will be the Computer of choice for anyone besides office workers and Slashdot readers?
When I get home from work, I surf on my PC and watch videos. What else would I choose for that, off work, that would be as nice as having a full sized keyboard and screen?
"The Dark Side of the Tech Patent Wars"
Isn't that like writing
"The Dark Side of Adolph Hitler"?
I disagree. It ( the technology ) is new. A neighborhood watch didn't identify those kids, a video put on the *internet* did. Take the internet out of it and those neighbors wouldn't have seen those kids in the flash mob ( created with the aide of the internet ) to identify them.
If you are stuck on a PC or laptop, Acrobat now allows you to change the background color of a document you are reading.
It isn't as nice as an ebook reader, but changing the background color from white to gray helps to reduce ( not eliminate ) eye strain.
FYI, if you still want to print those PDFs out you can be much kinder to the environment by printing with less white space in the margins and of course, doing duplex.
After a state fair in my area some teenagers organized a flash mob.
Dozens of them showed up to shop lift food at a local convenience store. None of them had the brains to put a cloth over the cameras in the store.
The local police chief put the video footage from the store's security cameras up on the web.
He went on the local TV news to report that by doing so about half of the mob had been identified by neighbors within only a few days.
Talk about working smarter and not harder...
But, this being Slashdot, everyone knew that already
Anyone with a gmail account should know it. You go to a few Google places while signed in it tells you your location. You don't need to be a geek or what passes for one on Slashdot. You only need to be awake.
One thing I always hear when people talk about the uber small cars or the cars with very light materials is something along the lines of "what will happen to me if some gluttonous polluting selfish schmuck in an SUV or Minivan hits me?"
I think they have a valid point.
Cars are going to have to get lighter and less resilient to get gas mileage up. SUVS being on the road are a barrier.