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  1. Re:Fracking Halleluja on Texas Board of Education Supports Evolution · · Score: 1

    A big part of the problem with educating people about evolution is that a large number of people arguing it should not be taught don't even know what it is (and is not) and, hence, what they are arguing against.

    Well said. Evolution is an explanation of how species developed once life existed and as far as I know does not even delve into the topic of the origins of life (again, I'm not sure about this but that's my understanding).

    What I meant more was, where did it start? How? Is there some reason atoms like to join and become larger molecules?

    That topic falls more into the subject of physics than it does biology/evolution. The funny thing about that is that we are still racking our brains on trying to figure out why certain protein structures fold the way they do in cells. There are really no theories that have arisen that have a definitive (or even remotely strong) reasons for why certain phenomena occur in the body. I think this is a subject that should be taught to students studying sciences, not because there's a well founded theory to back it up but because it's exactly what science is. There are many ideas of what could be causing this and scientists are testing and analyzing like mad to try to figure it out. The scientific method in action, that's what needs to be taught to our children. Learning the method is the most important part of their education, not the details of a specific theory.

    On an aside, I find it incredibly interesting that teaching the theory of evolution is even being discussed. When I took my first biology class in high school a decade ago there wasn't really any dispute over what was being taught. We started with the prokaryotic soup, then onto little single cell organisms, then multi-cell organisms, then onto large scale creatures. I don't recall anyone really arguing this theory, we all just accepted it because that's what we had been taught. I think I was first introduced to evolution in elementary school (you know, those once a week science classes) and I don't recall there being any uproar from parents. It's amazing the disparity across regions in our public education. This is yet another reason I'm glad that I grew up in the SF Bay Area. Pardon that rant, I'm just sometimes amazed at the rest of the country.

  2. Re:Easy solutions on A Teacher Asking Students To Destroy Notes? · · Score: 1

    Easy Solution:

    If this is college, tell the teacher to, "fuck off!" They have absolutely no authority to take your notes. If they are worried about cheating then they can go to the University Code of Ethics, which at most universities is very strict. If you are caught cheating it usually results in an automatic failure of the class, suspension and possible expulsion. So if the teacher is worried about cheating that's the best method to deal with it. Oh, and maybe make up some new questions, change the numbers. People that cheat are generally not that smart, if you change the numbers enough the basics of the question won't change but the cheaters will be stumped. Basically, if you're a professor, do your fucking job.

    Furthermore with college, you are no longer a minor and have full rights. We had a cop come into our dorm trying to search somebody's room and they asked the Resident Assistant for the room key. The RA then asked to see a warrant or to be given reasonable cause, neither of which were presented, and then the cop stormed off, mad that he couldn't get himself some free beer from a college students dorm room. Flex your rights, if you're strong about them people won't mess with you. As Turtle says, "Look her in the eyes, don't back down, Alpha Male!"

    If you're in HS fine, give her the notes back, you'll never use them again, but tell the principal, tell the other faculty, make it know that this person is a self-righteous ass.

  3. Re:Fracking Halleluja on Texas Board of Education Supports Evolution · · Score: 1

    I understand the point you're trying to get at, when you have a theory like gravity where the only real point of contention is the actual mechanism for the effect (especially in the realm of general physics), there really is no point in discussing it's drawbacks for high school students that aren't anywhere near the level of quantum vs. general physics.

    My question is this, are evolutions potential weaknesses worth discussing or are they more akin to those of gravity, where it's really an irrelevant detail (I know for advanced physics it's not irrelevant but for HS it is) to a general understanding of the theory. I really don't know the theory of evolution well enough to make that decision, it's not my field and I've only been exposed to it in two HS and one college introductory class.

    Personally, I think the more appropriate way of dealing with disputes among theories is to direct students to the library with a list of authors and book/paper titles so that those who are interested can really get into the subject matter. Not many students are ready for the in-depth discussion that is needed to argue for or against the details of most theories. I know that when I was taking physics in HS I asked my teacher for a better explanation of mass to energy conversion and he simply told me that he wasn't going to get into it with the class, but at the end of the class period he was willing to talk about it. The only problem with this is whether the teacher will direct the students appropriately or will they try to push their personal agendas on them.

  4. Re:Who is this guy, & why does he not want to on RIAA Threatens Harvard Law Prof With Sanctions · · Score: 1

    I'd say in my personal experience I download from iTunes because of the convenience of not having to go to the record store (and by record store I mean Best Buy). Once all the small record shops closed down around where I lived I had no interest in going to a store to get music. The closest Best Buy is an hour bus ride from my place and downloading is a 10 foot walk from my couch. It's not like the employees at Best Buy know much about music. I miss the small record shops with the High Fidelity Jack Black characters.

  5. Re:Can't run into yourself?? on The Science and Physics of Back To the Future · · Score: 1

    Did you see Biff? I think that should be enough to answer that question.

  6. Re:1.21 Jigawatts on The Science and Physics of Back To the Future · · Score: 1

    Actually, all that really matters is how much of that 1.21 GW is dissipated in the wire. If any meaningful amount of that energy is lost in the wire it will more than likely melt that mother down.

  7. Re:Cisco vs. Wash DC? on US CTO Choice Down To a Two-Horse Race · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The government really began to stink it up when it became possible to make a career out of being a politician. Back in the day, and I mean way back when, work in the US government was considered a service to the country and not a means to make oneself rich. The combination of capitalism and government was a terrible idea and there needs to be some reform to change the wealth in the political system. Just my personal opinion.

  8. Re:Hmm... on Violence in Games, Once Again, Not That Compelling · · Score: 1

    Damnit! You are pure evil.

  9. Re:Hmm... on Violence in Games, Once Again, Not That Compelling · · Score: 1

    Do not kid yourself -- they will win.

    I think they already have, because they are Ninjas. Though, that doesn't make you any better than us men.

  10. Re:Humor? Entertainment? on Woman Claims Ubuntu Kept Her From Online Classes · · Score: 1

    I wasn't saying that all Detroit auto workers are "dumb air-wrench monkeys." What I was saying is that if you've been working there for twenty plus years and personally haven't found a need to truly understand a computer beyond the bare basics then these courses could be essential to getting a new job.

    My Mom has known how to send an e-mail for 8 years now but she's just recently getting to the point where she understands how to send e-mail to all her friends at once instead of opening a bunch of different e-mails. Or how to use the BCC field. There's a big difference between being able to use something and being able to use something to its full potential.

    As for the local library comment, some people aren't good book learners, some people need teachers to walk them through the steps. Not everyone learns the same way

  11. Re:I don't get it on Google Challenging Proposition 8 · · Score: 1

    Nonetheless, I think if Google have a problem with God, it's only with your God. My God would rather I leave the judging of others up to him/her while I stick to loving my neigbour.

    Good call. From my perspective as a Catholic all this ballyhoo about gay marriage and other attacks on people who aren't "good enough" is a joke. As far as Christianity goes, the most important law is to love one another. It's not attack the gays or attack people you think are more sinful than you. It's love one another, short and sweet. All this harkening back to an old book of laws should not be relevant to the most recent and important commandment of loving one another.

  12. Re:I don't get it on Google Challenging Proposition 8 · · Score: 1

    I'm sure people said the same thing when interracial marriage was a hot topic. Are you against that too? It's against many religions' teachings.

    Serious question, Is that true? I've never heard of that but I'm not claiming to be well informed in the various religions of the world.

  13. Re:Humor? Entertainment? on Woman Claims Ubuntu Kept Her From Online Classes · · Score: 1

    I know I shouldn't but I feel compelled.

    You really don't understand the concept of a technical college. It's not a typical university or college. It's like going to trade school to learn the basics of a certain occupation. You leave the school with some certificate/degree that precludes that you have a basic understanding of how to use computers and some other specialized task. Please note that these are 1 credit courses, not full 3 credit courses. Technical colleges allow you to upgrade from McDonald's drive through window and get into a low level secretarial or office job. Not everyone was lucky enough to be blessed with a college education or an intuitive knowledge of computers. Think of the people that have worked in Detroit putting cars together their whole lives. When they lost their jobs I guarantee a large number of those people did not know how to use a computer (hell, the concept of a personal computer wasn't even existent when they started working). So don't fault them for being behind in computer literacy.

  14. Re:Did I miss the news? on So Who's Running Apple Now? · · Score: 1

    Day job? In this economy? Hahaha, that's a good one.

  15. Re:Delete it & forget about it on Tricked Into Buying OpenOffice.org? · · Score: 1

    I don't suppose it's legal in the US to camouflage your private road as a public one, and then jump out and demand toll from passerbys based on a small plaque in pt. 12 hammered on a lamppost by the junction?

    Sad thing is, if you had the right legal team you could probably win this case and collect your tolls. It's all about formulating the right offensive legal strategy, which seems to allow anything over here in the states.

  16. Re:Did I miss the news? on So Who's Running Apple Now? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If Apple just want to get big among costumers all they need to do is to start selling the OS and applications for any computer.

    You obviously don't understand Apple's business model.

    Apple was never about market dominance in the computer industry since Steve Jobs returned. They have been about margins, incredibly lucrative profit margins. They achieved that by having superior customer service (especially in the eye's of the unknowledgeable computer user) and nice computers. They threw away the cheap variety that Dell/HP/Gateway etc. offered and decided they would make a select few systems and market and sell them like crazy. I don't know the numbers but I would assume that on a per-purchase basis apple spends considerably more on marketing than any other computer firm.

    The iPod is a completely different beast but that doesn't really apply to your statement because you were talking about software, and that the iPod is not.

  17. Re:Did I miss the news? on So Who's Running Apple Now? · · Score: 2, Funny

    GooAppleSoft

    GAS? I don't know if that'd pass the marketing execs smell test. Baa Dum Ching. I keed, I keed.

  18. Re:Humor? Entertainment? on Woman Claims Ubuntu Kept Her From Online Classes · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you're unfamiliar with any of those topics they are very useful. You have to imagine someone who didn't grow up with computers. If you're an older adult and want to learn how to use those confusing computers that your children always talk about then these are just the sorts of classes you would take.

    Or maybe you've been working in a manual labor field where computer knowledge isn't needed. Then you want to move to an office position (a questionable decision at best), you're going to need a basic understanding of computers, the internet, windows, e-mail, word, etc.

    Basically, these are not four year universities, these are 2 year craft schools to help someone with a high school education get a better living.

  19. Re:Humor? Entertainment? on Woman Claims Ubuntu Kept Her From Online Classes · · Score: 1

    it's not her fault if she doesn't know that OpenOffice.org would also work.

    That's assuming that she's even heard of Open Office. It might come as a surprise to most people here, but many many people have never even heard of Open Office. I submitted a paper by mistake in whatever the default Open Office file format is (not .doc) and my Computer Logic professor told me I had to resubmit because he couldn't open the document, he'd never seen the extension. This is a Comp. Sci. professor and they didn't recognize it. What's the chance that a regular person would.

  20. Re:Software development as a profession on Interview With an Adware Author · · Score: 1

    Serious question, why is it that Computer Science doesn't have an international society like the IEEE or ASCE?

  21. Re:The Ethics of CoreWars on Interview With an Adware Author · · Score: 1

    Depends on the implementation. If the computer owner goes to a website and the website clearly explains that this is what it is going to do and the user agrees to it, then fine, it's legitimate and good. But what if the user doesn't search for the website, what if it's hidden in something else and just does this without user consent and without an easy way to reverse it (not that by easy, I mean something that someone with very very little computer knowledge could do). I would call that similarly despicable.

  22. Re:The new battle ground on Interview With an Adware Author · · Score: 1

    You've got a very valid point but it's something that Microsoft must do to improve their operating system. I'm not 100% positive about this but I believe that is what Apple did when they switched from OS9 to OSX. They basically told their customers, "we're redoing a large part of the system and lots of old stuff won't work on the new systems." I believe they were able to do this because they didn't have the corporate interests that Microsoft has and that their smaller customer base allowed them to do this. Microsoft needs to come up with an advertising campaign to convince people that this is the right thing to do and they might be able to pull it off. Maybe tell business people that the new operating system will save them the money they'll need to spend in upgrading all their software in diminished IT costs.

  23. Re:Not a complete jerk on Interview With an Adware Author · · Score: 1

    His software would find other adware on a system and kick the other adware off; it was also designed to be very difficult for other adware to kick off.

    You do realize that this was not done for some altruistic cleansing of the infected computer. This was done to maximize revenue for his malware and keep other malware from occupying his revenue stream. And that being difficult to be kicked off from other adware more than likely applied to adware and virus removal software as well.

  24. Re:Not technical on Personality Testing For Employment · · Score: 1

    Because he was Hitler.

    Wait, does Goodwin's law still hold in job interviews? And if so does that mean I automatically fail? Or Pass?

  25. Re:I would like to hear from a lawyer on this.. on Personality Testing For Employment · · Score: 1

    Nobody should feel compelled to change who they are in order to get work.

    Then don't search for work in the service sector, look for a job that doesn't require you to be an unabashed extrovert. Or, if you don't like to do research, don't look for a job at a cutting edge technical research firm.