I first started toying with BASIC on and old Apple ][ when I was in 4th-5th grade. My father used to write really simple programs that would print something like "My son is annoying" over and over again, with flashing text or the like. I, of course, took offense to this, and forced myself to figure out a little basic to make the appropriate changes ("My dad is fat and old")
So first off...beware wrathful children.
But seriously, I think that a simple, text based interface may be the best. While a flashy IDE with great GUI results may feel good at first, down the road your kids will thank you for teaching them vi or emacs and C...or even basic on an antiquidated apple. By going barebones in the beginning, they have an opportunity to really learn the nuts and bolts of programming, which will make life much easier in the future. I mean, once you know C, a GUI is nice...but if all you knew was a GUI, would you want to learn vi again?
I find it reassuring that in a time so obsessed with giving money away for just about any non-intellectual endevor, that a group has taken it upon themselves to reward those who accomplish with their minds, a trait which seems to be rather overlooked and undervalued these days.
F-451 is definately a landmark book...but enough complimenting. If you enjoyed Bradbury's novel, you might want to check out "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin, a Russian author writing, interestingly enough, before the USSR, but during the Russian Revolution. It shares some striking thematic similarities with F-451, and is definately worth a read if you are interested in Dystopias. Other suggests are: Brave New World (Huxley) 1984 (Orwell) Animal Farm (Orwell) Walden 2 (Skinner)..For bonus points, read them all in the space of a few days, and then hide in a dark room, frought with depression for a week or so. ttyl, VVulfe
Having to slug away with good 'ol OS/400 on a virtual terminal here at work has been quite an experiance for me...RPG is fun and all, but using the massive computing power of the S/390, and hopefully, the reset of the IBM Mid/Mainframes in the future, with a *nix is a boon to many of us IT types.. Plus, with IBM backing the Open Source movement, I think we could see a lot more acceptance in the "real world". 'Course, we can't let that go to Big Blue's head *LOL* --vvulfe@yahoo.com
Just as a side note, Pinkerton Security (the company running W.A.V.E.) began as a company which gunned down striking workers. And these are the people watching for our kids saftey.
Interesting, that the firm which produces the mosaic software offers neither a demo nor a clear method for obtaining a test of Mosaic.
Why is this?
Is it possible that the software isn't all that it's cracked up to be, that "Mosaic Artificial Intuition Systems" are a load of hogwash being sold to the rich and paranoid?
Is it possible that Gavin De Becker, Inc (the producers of these fine witch-hunt programs) don't want the people who would appear on the black lists to know how they are being profiled. Ahh -- remember the days of McCarthy's blacklists.
Or is it, perhaps, that the software is kept under key to prevent (heaven forbid) someone from finding what it is exactly that Mr. De Becker has decided will define the homicidal maniac, and then simply avoid matching those criteria.
To think think that what amounts to a behavioral database can predict violence is assinine. To use children spies to provide information for that database is vile.
If anyone _can_ get a demo copy of any of the Mosaics, let me know...I'd love to see if I have the potential to be a psychotic killer.
vvulfe
"I signed my name in blood...didn't read the fine print"
Slashdot Mirror
"To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy." -- Sun Tzu
I first started toying with BASIC on and old Apple ][ when I was in 4th-5th grade. My father used to write really simple programs that would print something like "My son is annoying" over and over again, with flashing text or the like. I, of course, took offense to this, and forced myself to figure out a little basic to make the appropriate changes ("My dad is fat and old")
:P)
So first off...beware wrathful children.
But seriously, I think that a simple, text based interface may be the best. While a flashy IDE with great GUI results may feel good at first, down the road your kids will thank you for teaching them vi or emacs and C...or even basic on an antiquidated apple. By going barebones in the beginning, they have an opportunity to really learn the nuts and bolts of programming, which will make life much easier in the future. I mean, once you know C, a GUI is nice...but if all you knew was a GUI, would you want to learn vi again?
--vvulfe
(IMHO, of course
I find it reassuring that in a time so obsessed with giving money away for just about any non-intellectual endevor, that a group has taken it upon themselves to reward those who accomplish with their minds, a trait which seems to be rather overlooked and undervalued these days.
Well...there goes another staple of high school summer employment opportunities
F-451 is definately a landmark book...but enough complimenting. If you enjoyed Bradbury's novel, you might want to check out "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin, a Russian author writing, interestingly enough, before the USSR, but during the Russian Revolution. It shares some striking thematic similarities with F-451, and is definately worth a read if you are interested in Dystopias. Other suggests are: Brave New World (Huxley) 1984 (Orwell) Animal Farm (Orwell) Walden 2 (Skinner) ..For bonus points, read them all in the space of a few days, and then hide in a dark room, frought with depression for a week or so. ttyl, VVulfe
Before deciding on a beowulf clusters, what different options did you explore (Cray? IBM?), and what motivated you to choose the Beowulf System?
Additionally, to what would you compare the system that you are planning to build, as far as computing power is concerned?
Thanks,
VVulfe
Having to slug away with good 'ol OS/400 on a virtual terminal here at work has been quite an experiance for me...RPG is fun and all, but using the massive computing power of the S/390, and hopefully, the reset of the IBM Mid/Mainframes in the future, with a *nix is a boon to many of us IT types.. Plus, with IBM backing the Open Source movement, I think we could see a lot more acceptance in the "real world". 'Course, we can't let that go to Big Blue's head *LOL* --vvulfe@yahoo.com
Just as a side note, Pinkerton Security (the company running W.A.V.E.) began as a company which gunned down striking workers. And these are the people watching for our kids saftey.
Interesting, that the firm which produces the mosaic software offers neither a demo nor a clear method for obtaining a test of Mosaic.
Why is this?
Is it possible that the software isn't all that it's cracked up to be, that "Mosaic Artificial Intuition Systems" are a load of hogwash being sold to the rich and paranoid?
Is it possible that Gavin De Becker, Inc (the producers of these fine witch-hunt programs) don't want the people who would appear on the black lists to know how they are being profiled. Ahh -- remember the days of McCarthy's blacklists.
Or is it, perhaps, that the software is kept under key to prevent (heaven forbid) someone from finding what it is exactly that Mr. De Becker has decided will define the homicidal maniac, and then simply avoid matching those criteria.
To think think that what amounts to a behavioral database can predict violence is assinine. To use children spies to provide information for that database is vile.
If anyone _can_ get a demo copy of any of the Mosaics, let me know...I'd love to see if I have the potential to be a psychotic killer.
vvulfe
"I signed my name in blood...didn't read the fine print"