Wow.. a pedantic troll with a low user ID, how fascinating. Well.. it's a slow day, why not?
Mod3 and Pascal may both be decent enough teaching languages, but neither is particularly widespread in modern day, mainstream programming... although you could make a case for Pascal being more pervasive because of Delphi.
As for my "but then, I like Pascal" bit which so grievously vexed you, I was referring to the "inflicting" nature of being taught it... you know, the transitive verb from the prior sentance I was expounding on?
Hmm.. let's play the anal, inventive nitpicking game with YOUR post... just for fun!
So... Modula-3 is not relevant because you don't like it, but Pascal is?
Admittedly, gpc exists but gm3c doesn't.
So... Modula-3 is not relevant because there's no GNU compiler for it, but Pascal is?
-- "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" - Napolean Bonaparte
"I suspect University of Waterloo is has a pedagogical philosophy more along the lines of a community college and scimps on theory."
Not at all... Waterloo is VERY heavy on theory. It's not rated one of the top Canadian universities year after year for behaving like a community college. You learn theory in class, and you learn practical on your co-op terms... last time I heard, UW had the largest co-op program in the entire world. It's a pretty good mix, not to mention it helps you pay your own way.
Just don't venture into the psych building, or the 6th floor of the math building without a compass and a ball of string, or you'll never get out alive.
MAN I wish they had that when I went there. I'm pretty decent at math, but never understood why I had to take Advanced Calculus 3 For Masochists to be a software developer. I know many, many talented programmers who flunked out of CS because the math was too intense, even though they were acing all their CS courses.
Oh.. that's rich. Derogatively implying I'm a perfectionist because I found too many faults to count in your "editorial review"?
If that piece was submitted to an English teacher for marking, it would have received a failing grade. I'm not asking for perfection, but how about a PASS?
I'm not trying to cut you down, but if you're going to publish stuff that badly written on the web, you had better either improve your proofreading, or learn to accept valid criticism.
Not to take M$'s side or anything, but at least they're teaching something RELEVANT now. When I went there, they were inflicting MODULA-3 on us. (And Pascal.. but then, I like Pascal)
I don't mean to gripe, but this is just about the most poorly written review I've ever read. From factually inaccurate:
"The unit uses a NiMH battery which means that there may be a memory problem"
Um.. no. NiCad's have a "memory effect" where they lose capacity if you charge them when they're not completely drained. NiMH's don't do this, it's one of their main benefits.
Plus, TONS of incorrect word usage, grammar and spelling errors, and awfully awkward phrasing. Enough to make our own beloved/. editors look like Professors of Literature. Some examples:
"I saw a mouse that some very strange and unique features"
"You don't need a line of site to use this thing"
"it only took about and hour"
"To enabled air navigation"
"You won't notice any problems unless your on the computer"
And many, many, many more. (And it's a short article!) Either English isn't this guy's main language, or he's about 12.
Have you tried the Phantom Menace video game? The second level is great.. it's the Gungan city, and using Obi Wan you can cut down every single last Gungan citizen if you like, women and children too. Great stress relief.
One catch: The only Gungan you CAN'T kill is Jar-Jar... the purpose of the mission is to resuce him. Well.. you CAN kill him, but then you fail the mission. Over and over and over again.;)
A VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE! READ IT!
on
Meet the Spammers
·
· Score: 2
I agree completely, this link should be added as an Update to the original story, it really tears it a new one.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Magazine Publishers of America (MPA), an industry association which represents more than 1200 consumer publications, announced today that all of its magazine will now come equipped with special "AccuView" viewing filters. These new magazines can only be read through these special filters, which slightly distort the pictures and text.
When pressed for comment, an MPA spokesperson stated, "Well, good Lord man, we don't people getting their hands on perfect copies of these things.. just think of the possible consequences! Boston Strangler, woman alone, need I say more? We are confident our new AccuView technology will protect the priceless intellectual property of our members, while still providing a rich "AccuViewing" experience for our cherished revenue strea- I er.. readers."
Coming stories: Next generation computers which cannot copy bits, and Ford unveils its new wood burning automobile engine. Thank you for reading.
If the majority of citizens break a law, then that law should be changed to suit the people's desires.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS!
I can already see the sarcastic responses... "So, if everyone starts killing each other, murder should be legal", but that violates the basic inalieable rights set out in the Consitution.
Is there some sort of basic, universal truth that states that music is something that must be kept under iron-clad control in an attempt to maximize profits?? Or that there for some reason should be billion dollar rock stars?? Bullshit! Music is now effectively free to duplicate and distribute. The people want it for free. They will take it for free. (And why is this a bad thing? Libraries and radio stations? Hello?) There will still be ways of making money from the whole thing. Sell quality, competitively priced, COLLECTIBLE CDs.. things that add value BEYOND just the music. Sell merchandise, sell concert tickets.
Squeezing artists dry, price gouging, and monopolistic practices? FUCK the RIAA. Let them burn for their shortsighted greed. I cheered when I saw this article.
"With.NET, Microsoft is promising to change the way information changes hands so that software and services no longer depend on single computers, but can be run over networks and available over a wide range of devices, such as handheld computers and mobile phones."
Hmmm.. seems a bit wordy. Wonder if I can shorten that up a bit? Lessee...
How bout...
"The network is the computer"
Yeah! That works. Those Microsofties are always on the cutting edge.
-- They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
I see post after post after post saying "Well, GEE, it's your fault for putting that information up on the web in the first place". The writeup takes a similarly sarcastic and snide tone.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
Did you read the whole article? What about that lady whose name and email address was used to post racist messages? What can she do about that? NOTHING! I think the larger issue here is that information about you, which may not even be accurate or from you, may be perceived as such. And that is a troubling prospect. Welcome to 21st century slander and prejudice.
'Omega' by Origin was along the same lines.. really cool game. Your little programmed tank units could even communicate and co-ordinate with each other. Ah.. the golden years of the C-64:)
Re:Yet another example of government screwups...
on
NYTimes Looks at Warez
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Tell me about it. Check out this for example:
'But that argument fails to resonate for copyright holders like Mr. Vold. "If you like torching houses for fun, you don't gain anything from torching somebody's house," he said. "But that homeowner will certainly suffer a material loss."'
How can this guy possibly draw a parallel between digitally creating more copies of something, and destroying someone's physical property!? What nonsense. Warez pirates aren't destroying anything, just the opposite. (I'm not saying this guy doesn't have a legitimate grievance, just that his analogy is stupid beyond belief)
Hell, why not just get a group of Junkyard Wars veterans together and give them 10 hours to build a mine-clearing device? My bet is that it would be more effective and versatile than this laser system, and cost 0.0001% of the price (probably less):)
Look, bottom line is neither of us can predict what will happen long-term in such a complex and mutable environment (the geopolitical landscape) with any degree of accuracy... elementary chaos theory. I may be taking a passimistic viewpoint here, but I am being open minded. You keep declaring what CANNOT happen. You cannot know this for certain.
I just think WW3 will happen eventually [...] Please explain why you think it can't. -- Because for it to happen, the alternative would have to be just as bad. So you have nothing to loose.
I fail to grasp the logic of this statement. World Wars only start when the alternative is just as bad as World War? How do the origins of WW1 and WW2 fit this?
No, no NO. You deliberately cut out the point I was making. Which was "It's possible, but considering that those two countries have had all the reasons in the would to go to nuclear war with each other, and haven't then the chances of nuclear war are far slimmer than you originally thought."
Um no, I addressed it directly. Just because India and Pakistan haven't nuked each other (yet), doesn't mean nobody ever will. They do not have "all the reasons in the world.", that's hyperbole. They just have reasons.
"Or Hussein? Or Al Qaida? -- Woulda, coulda, shoulda. How about a comparison against something that actually exists instead of these bogeymen you've conjured."
Pardon me? I thought you just said Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida don't exist.
We are designing more ACCURATE weapons. Nukes are old school; the military now wants weapons that take out a target, and just the target, in one shot.
Heck, they don't even want to use nukes if they don't have to because of the political fallout. Fuel-air bombs are the new darling of the military.
I'm sorry, but this is an extremely American/Western centric viewpoint. Do you think terrorists, for example, design their attacks along these guidelines? What do you think would happen if a nuke was detonated in New York city? What would the US do to retaliate? Or what if smallpox was released in 50 cities simultaneously?
I am well aware of the concepts of deterrance. I just think WW3 will happen eventually, maybe for reasons that are completely unfathomable to us now. Please explain why you think it can't.
"Look at India and Pakistan. Both armed with nukes, at war, religious extremists on at least one side. Still, no nukes being fired."
Great argument. It hasn't happened yet, therefore it never will.
"you have no idea if we're too powerful for our own good. What are you supposed to compare us against?"
All prior humanity. What if Hitler had nukes? Or Hussein? Or Al Qaida?
Things will escalate. What will happen when a hundred countries can easily produce weapons of mass destruction?
Maybe it won't be nukes, maybe it will be a genetically engineered plague, or environmental depletion. Maybe it will be something completely unpredictable.
Two points I don't think can be refuted:
History is filled with humans wiping each other out in record numbers. You think we've really changed?
We possess, and are developing weapons more devastating than in any other point in history.
They have bombs that are hundreds of megatons now.
Human history is perpetual warfare. Nuclear war will happen eventually. It's naive to think otherwise. A shroud of debris causing nuclear winter is a very real possibility.
I'm not saying life won't exist anymore, but I am saying it probably won't be a nice little "shrinking sine wave" levelling off of our population. We're too powerful for our own good, we will wipe ourselves out.
It happens with mice, antelope, fish, bacteria, and apes. Why would people think it wouldn't happen to humans? Sorry, creation scientists, we're animals too, and though we use different resources, we're not immune to laws of nature
Mice and antelope can't nuke each other for resources and completely render the environment uninhabitable for hundreds or thousands of years.
What I'm saying is that no other species has the capacity to disrupt the natural order and destroy all the life-support systems of Earth in entirety. And we're a violent, warlike bunch of motherf**kers. What a pity.
Things are going to get very, very, VERY bad on this planet, and it's going to happen within our lifetimes.
"While I'm ranting: Why does the dot keep posting stories about obviously-misinterpreted science news while ignoring *serious* news like the cure for 1/3 of cancers in mice from a week ago?"
I have another question... What's the point of linking to an article when the/. "blurb" contains practically the entire contents of the piece anyway?
Slashdot Mirror
Mod3 and Pascal may both be decent enough teaching languages, but neither is particularly widespread in modern day, mainstream programming... although you could make a case for Pascal being more pervasive because of Delphi.
As for my "but then, I like Pascal" bit which so grievously vexed you, I was referring to the "inflicting" nature of being taught it... you know, the transitive verb from the prior sentance I was expounding on?
Hmm.. let's play the anal, inventive nitpicking game with YOUR post... just for fun!
So... Modula-3 is not relevant because there's no GNU compiler for it, but Pascal is?
--
"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence"
- Napolean Bonaparte
"I suspect University of Waterloo is has a pedagogical philosophy more along the lines of a community college and scimps on theory."
Not at all... Waterloo is VERY heavy on theory. It's not rated one of the top Canadian universities year after year for behaving like a community college. You learn theory in class, and you learn practical on your co-op terms... last time I heard, UW had the largest co-op program in the entire world. It's a pretty good mix, not to mention it helps you pay your own way.
Just don't venture into the psych building, or the 6th floor of the math building without a compass and a ball of string, or you'll never get out alive.
"The new B.CS will be less math intensive"
MAN I wish they had that when I went there. I'm pretty decent at math, but never understood why I had to take Advanced Calculus 3 For Masochists to be a software developer. I know many, many talented programmers who flunked out of CS because the math was too intense, even though they were acing all their CS courses.
Oh.. that's rich. Derogatively implying I'm a perfectionist because I found too many faults to count in your "editorial review"?
If that piece was submitted to an English teacher for marking, it would have received a failing grade. I'm not asking for perfection, but how about a PASS?
I'm not trying to cut you down, but if you're going to publish stuff that badly written on the web, you had better either improve your proofreading, or learn to accept valid criticism.
Not to take M$'s side or anything, but at least they're teaching something RELEVANT now. When I went there, they were inflicting MODULA-3 on us. (And Pascal.. but then, I like Pascal)
Um.. no. NiCad's have a "memory effect" where they lose capacity if you charge them when they're not completely drained. NiMH's don't do this, it's one of their main benefits.
Plus, TONS of incorrect word usage, grammar and spelling errors, and awfully awkward phrasing. Enough to make our own beloved
And many, many, many more. (And it's a short article!) Either English isn't this guy's main language, or he's about 12.
"Stop pointing out weaknesses my analogies! ;)"
;)
Can we point out weaknesses your grammar?
Sorry... couldn't resist
Have you tried the Phantom Menace video game? The second level is great.. it's the Gungan city, and using Obi Wan you can cut down every single last Gungan citizen if you like, women and children too. Great stress relief.
;)
One catch: The only Gungan you CAN'T kill is Jar-Jar... the purpose of the mission is to resuce him. Well.. you CAN kill him, but then you fail the mission. Over and over and over again.
I agree completely, this link should be added as an Update to the original story, it really tears it a new one.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Magazine Publishers of America (MPA), an industry association which represents more than 1200 consumer publications, announced today that all of its magazine will now come equipped with special "AccuView" viewing filters. These new magazines can only be read through these special filters, which slightly distort the pictures and text.
When pressed for comment, an MPA spokesperson stated, "Well, good Lord man, we don't people getting their hands on perfect copies of these things.. just think of the possible consequences! Boston Strangler, woman alone, need I say more? We are confident our new AccuView technology will protect the priceless intellectual property of our members, while still providing a rich "AccuViewing" experience for our cherished revenue strea- I er.. readers."
Coming stories: Next generation computers which cannot copy bits, and Ford unveils its new wood burning automobile engine. Thank you for reading.
If the majority of citizens break a law, then that law should be changed to suit the people's desires.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS!
I can already see the sarcastic responses... "So, if everyone starts killing each other, murder should be legal", but that violates the basic inalieable rights set out in the Consitution.
Is there some sort of basic, universal truth that states that music is something that must be kept under iron-clad control in an attempt to maximize profits?? Or that there for some reason should be billion dollar rock stars?? Bullshit! Music is now effectively free to duplicate and distribute. The people want it for free. They will take it for free. (And why is this a bad thing? Libraries and radio stations? Hello?) There will still be ways of making money from the whole thing. Sell quality, competitively priced, COLLECTIBLE CDs.. things that add value BEYOND just the music. Sell merchandise, sell concert tickets.
Squeezing artists dry, price gouging, and monopolistic practices? FUCK the RIAA. Let them burn for their shortsighted greed. I cheered when I saw this article.
How bout...
"The network is the computer"
Yeah! That works. Those Microsofties are always on the cutting edge.
--
They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
I see post after post after post saying "Well, GEE, it's your fault for putting that information up on the web in the first place". The writeup takes a similarly sarcastic and snide tone.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
Did you read the whole article? What about that lady whose name and email address was used to post racist messages? What can she do about that? NOTHING! I think the larger issue here is that information about you, which may not even be accurate or from you, may be perceived as such. And that is a troubling prospect. Welcome to 21st century slander and prejudice.
That ripping sound you hear is the fabric of space time tearing itself apart. :)
Will they have a red screen of death, or blue?
--
They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
'Omega' by Origin was along the same lines.. really cool game. Your little programmed tank units could even communicate and co-ordinate with each other. Ah.. the golden years of the C-64 :)
Tell me about it. Check out this for example:
'But that argument fails to resonate for copyright holders like Mr. Vold. "If you like torching houses for fun, you don't gain anything from torching somebody's house," he said. "But that homeowner will certainly suffer a material loss."'
How can this guy possibly draw a parallel between digitally creating more copies of something, and destroying someone's physical property!? What nonsense. Warez pirates aren't destroying anything, just the opposite. (I'm not saying this guy doesn't have a legitimate grievance, just that his analogy is stupid beyond belief)
Hell, why not just get a group of Junkyard Wars veterans together and give them 10 hours to build a mine-clearing device? My bet is that it would be more effective and versatile than this laser system, and cost 0.0001% of the price (probably less) :)
Look, bottom line is neither of us can predict what will happen long-term in such a complex and mutable environment (the geopolitical landscape) with any degree of accuracy... elementary chaos theory. I may be taking a passimistic viewpoint here, but I am being open minded. You keep declaring what CANNOT happen. You cannot know this for certain.
I just think WW3 will happen eventually [...] Please explain why you think it can't.
--
Because for it to happen, the alternative would have to be just as bad. So you have nothing to loose.
I fail to grasp the logic of this statement. World Wars only start when the alternative is just as bad as World War? How do the origins of WW1 and WW2 fit this?
No, no NO. You deliberately cut out the point I was making. Which was "It's possible, but considering that those two countries have had all the reasons in the would to go to nuclear war with each other, and haven't then the chances of nuclear war are far slimmer than you originally thought."
Um no, I addressed it directly. Just because India and Pakistan haven't nuked each other (yet), doesn't mean nobody ever will. They do not have "all the reasons in the world.", that's hyperbole. They just have reasons.
"Or Hussein? Or Al Qaida?
--
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. How about a comparison against something that actually exists instead of these bogeymen you've conjured."
Pardon me? I thought you just said Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida don't exist.
We are designing more ACCURATE weapons. Nukes are old school; the military now wants weapons that take out a target, and just the target, in one shot.
Heck, they don't even want to use nukes if they don't have to because of the political fallout. Fuel-air bombs are the new darling of the military.
I'm sorry, but this is an extremely American/Western centric viewpoint. Do you think terrorists, for example, design their attacks along these guidelines? What do you think would happen if a nuke was detonated in New York city? What would the US do to retaliate? Or what if smallpox was released in 50 cities simultaneously?
"Look at India and Pakistan. Both armed with nukes, at war, religious extremists on at least one side. Still, no nukes being fired."
Great argument. It hasn't happened yet, therefore it never will.
"you have no idea if we're too powerful for our own good. What are you supposed to compare us against?"
All prior humanity. What if Hitler had nukes? Or Hussein? Or Al Qaida?
Things will escalate. What will happen when a hundred countries can easily produce weapons of mass destruction?
Maybe it won't be nukes, maybe it will be a genetically engineered plague, or environmental depletion. Maybe it will be something completely unpredictable.
Two points I don't think can be refuted:
Hiroshima was 15 kilotons.
They have bombs that are hundreds of megatons now.
Human history is perpetual warfare. Nuclear war will happen eventually. It's naive to think otherwise. A shroud of debris causing nuclear winter is a very real possibility.
I'm not saying life won't exist anymore, but I am saying it probably won't be a nice little "shrinking sine wave" levelling off of our population. We're too powerful for our own good, we will wipe ourselves out.
It happens with mice, antelope, fish, bacteria, and apes. Why would people think it wouldn't happen to humans? Sorry, creation scientists, we're animals too, and though we use different resources, we're not immune to laws of nature
Mice and antelope can't nuke each other for resources and completely render the environment uninhabitable for hundreds or thousands of years.
What I'm saying is that no other species has the capacity to disrupt the natural order and destroy all the life-support systems of Earth in entirety. And we're a violent, warlike bunch of motherf**kers. What a pity.
Things are going to get very, very, VERY bad on this planet, and it's going to happen within our lifetimes.
Moderation Totals: Depressing=1, Total=1.
Yeah, but wouldn't you preview something that long and dense? :)
Nice post... but.. you ARE aware of the existence of paragraphs, right?
They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
"While I'm ranting: Why does the dot keep posting stories about obviously-misinterpreted science news while ignoring *serious* news like the cure for 1/3 of cancers in mice from a week ago?"
/. "blurb" contains practically the entire contents of the piece anyway?
I have another question... What's the point of linking to an article when the
from the Cut-and-Paste-Reporting dept.
Yeesh.