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User: Garth+Smith

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Comments · 82

  1. Re: It has to be said on AMD Says There Will Be No DirectX 12 — Ever · · Score: 1

    I program games for iOS and Android, which cumulatively make up a massive part of the mobile devices market. Both operating systems use OpenGL ES, a subset of OpenGL. With PC sales declining and mobile devices selling like hot cakes. In my industry OpenGL is more popular than ever while DirectX is almost nonexistent.

  2. Please mod parent, aka me, down. After rereading grandparent, I realize he already mentioned property taxes have been paid and grandparent does not seem to take any issue with taxes.

  3. Humans have generally believed since the Magna Carta that there should be some limits on power. As far back as Bible times when people taxed/tithed their government/religion that there should be some transfer of wealth from the wealthy to the poor. Without such transfers of wealth, the ultimate conclusion will always be fiefdoms where a few Lords use their power and wealth to acquire more power and wealth.

    Believing in private property doesn't mean that society gets zero say in how you use that property. Where is your empathy?

  4. Re:There's your problem on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 1

    The research is about figuring out how the brain works. The part you quoted is an offhand application of the research made in the last paragraph of the article. I would like to say that if we can determine when one gets "stuck" on a math problem and will not be able to solve it, then why not start teaching at that point? Why waste time letting a student's wheels spin in place when we can be teaching dammit!

  5. Re:Obvious question on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 1

    Maybe I'm missing some subtlety here, but if the brain is *learning* math, and is applying an algorithm to calculate, one would assume that an error could only be determined externally, and there should be no internal inconsistency indicating an error.

    In my reading of the article, it seems to me that there IS an internal inconsistency, and that internal inconsistency stresses the brain as the brain attempts to find a solution. In other words, the researchers are detecting the "internal inconsistency indicating an error."

  6. Re:Typical "educator"'s thinking on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 3, Informative

    I find your stereotype of educators incorrect. This study is attempting to figure out how students learn and solve problems. Such information is useful to educators. So in your words... If a student is having difficulty solving a math problem, we identify what deficiency is holding them back, then give them a simpler math problem that remedies the deficiency. Mathematics is highly structured, and I find that many times students need to go back and practice a prior topic before attempting the current exercise.

    I'm going to guess most people complaining didn't RTFA. Changing math problems in the middle of a test was an offhand comment in the last paragraph, discussing possible applications for his current research. The current research being understanding how the brain works.

  7. Re:Why not just wait? on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who is going to want to have to have electrodes hooked up to their head just to take a test? It's already stressful enough without having more stuff to distract you.

    I view this as research into how to better teach mathematics, or really how to better teach any intellectually challenging subject. I don't think they are hoping to hook up every test-taker to this thing, but rather trying to understand how the brain picks apart challenging problems. I feel such research is very useful.

  8. Re:Maybe there's something wrong with me... on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Say we get this system to 100% accuracy. We know ahead of time that little Jimmy will not be able to solve this math problem. Little Jimmy has exhausted his options and has become stuck. Then what is the point of wasting time having him stare at it? I would take this as an alert that little Jimmy needs help, to intervene, and get little Jimmy learning again.

  9. Re:How wonderful on Brain Scan Can Predict Math Mistakes · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I majored in math and spend many hours tutoring math. Here is a key in tutoring, you need to give challenging but SOLVABLE problems! Otherwise you just frustrate and make math something to hate. If I got stuck on some math homework and couldn't figure it out, that sucked. I figured out pretty quick if I was stuck for 5 minutes, just wait and go ask for help.

    What I found interesting about the article is that the mention of the word "math" is enough for some people to show signs of imminent failure. I have often come across this while tutoring and the best thing that I could do to help these people is to remove a fear of math from them. Show them that they CAN do some easier math, and then move on from there.

    This is key in educating anyone in any topic. Challenging but SOLVABLE problems! Your attitude only makes society hate mathematics more, when they should be shown the wonder and excitement of it!

  10. Re:Can somebody please tell the marketing dept on Apple Offers Nano-SIM Design Royalty-Free · · Score: 1

    ...this new standard is not 1 billionth of the size of the original SIM

    The mathematician in me agrees with you. However, the social and practical side of me says, "MicroSIMs are not 1 millionth the size of the original SIM. And good luck calling a DeciSIM or MilliSIM an upgrade!"

  11. See it in action at 16:00 on Militarizing Your Backyard With Python and AI · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actual footage of the device in action starts at 16:00 if you want to skip the tech talk.

  12. Re:It's Basic Infrastructure on Queensland Police to Look For Unsecured WiFi Spots · · Score: 1

    No thanks, if a guest wants to access my wifi he should ask for the password and take the extra 30 seconds needed to type it in.

    How can you NOT be angry the government is forcing your guests to ask for your keys to use your datapipe by threatening you and your reputation with very serious criminal charges? This is happening all over the world and I am afraid our culture now accepts it without even thinking it's absurd!

    I used to run my public WiFi with SSID "UseDontAbuse". I have since removed public access thus making the area around my home a little bit worse than it was before. I will express my anger here in the hopes that other people get angry as well and we collectively as a nation stop taking this crap!

  13. Re:Pure propaganda. on Iran Blamed For Major Cyberattack On BBC · · Score: 1

    It's election season in the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The rhetoric is flying in all directions. I hope political pandering isn't what starts WWIII.

  14. Re:*clap* *clap* on Sony's Plan To Tighten Security and Fight Hacktivism · · Score: 1

    bullshit, nobody cares about your ethical luxury good purchase policy, nobody except you. get over it

    Maybe you friends don't ask you for advice because they're afraid you'll bite their head off? I've let all my friends know ahead of time that I'll be getting an Xbox 720 and NOT a PS4. Which means ALL of us will probably get Xbox 720s.

  15. Re:Great. Although... on Double Fine Adventure Crosses $2.5 Million In Kickstarter Funding · · Score: 1

    It'll either be awesome or crash and burn horribly. Those are the only two options Tim gave us. =p

  16. Re:Again Kickstarter is used to rob the commons on Double Fine Adventure Crosses $2.5 Million In Kickstarter Funding · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We donated millions to Tim Schafer because he has a rightly earned reputation for making great games. Tim is being rewarded for all the hard work he put in. Are you saying that good work and effort should go unrewarded? Is it a problem that we want to help people out who have already proven they can enrich our lives? Kickstarter has helped us get a new old-school adventure game where previously where was none.

  17. Re:Really now? on Computer Programmers Only the 5th Most Sleep Deprived Profession · · Score: 1

    As someone who's worked in Alaska... where's the fishing positions? All the crabbers?

    Of course it might be hard to get sleeping stats for people who spend months out at sea. As Mike Rowe was once told by a crabber regarding safety, "OSHA??? No, Ocean!"

    I'm sure we can assume they missed a lot of other occupations so I'd take this list with a grain of salt.

  18. Re:We Are Anonymous on 25 Alleged Anonymous Hackers Arrested By Interpol · · Score: 1

    We put a higher percentage of our population in jail than any other country, it would make sense that we're more likely to find humor in prison jokes than other cultures.

  19. Re:any free service will be abused on JotForm.com Gets Shut Down SOPA-Style · · Score: 1

    If they had any kind of common sense after the first 5000 fraudulent accounts...

    Places like Youtube have had way more than 5000 fraudulent accounts. Jotform got hurt because they're not big enough to make GoDaddy think before pulling the DNS plug, but too large to fly under the radar. This is an example of how our legal system helps huge corporations with lots of power while growing startups get bit.

  20. Re:BOGUS STORY on School Sends Child's Lunch Home After Determining it Unhealthy · · Score: 1

    Can you tell me what nutrients are in grains that you cannot get from fruits and vegetables? I've lived off *mostly* salads and soy for a while, because it enabled me to eat an absolutely gigantic volume of food. Get 10+ servings of vegetables in a day and you get a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. This is a serious question, if I can improve my diet I want to know.

    I admit that calcium is needed, but dairy is not the best source of calcium for some people.

  21. Re:BOGUS STORY on School Sends Child's Lunch Home After Determining it Unhealthy · · Score: 1

    Agree completely. A large chicken salad would completely fail this "healthy test".

  22. Re:any free service will be abused on JotForm.com Gets Shut Down SOPA-Style · · Score: 1

    65,000 fraudulent accounts and probably another 65,000 that they haven't identified yet.

    You are pulling numbers out of thin air. Jotform actively pulled fraudulent accounts. They didn't turn a blind eye to it.

  23. Re:Site that you've never heard of is shut down on JotForm.com Gets Shut Down SOPA-Style · · Score: 2

    What is interesting to me is that large websites, such as Facebook and Youtube would probably get a second look by GoDaddy or whatever law enforcement agent dealt with this case. tiny websites with no users are not a threat to anyone and fly under the radar. The way things are set up, the companies who get hurt the most are growing companies with good products, exactly the type we want to help our economy!

  24. Re:Site that you've never heard of is shut down on JotForm.com Gets Shut Down SOPA-Style · · Score: 1

    A lot of people haven't heard of Slashdot. Would that make it right if it were taken offline on the arbitrary say-so of some government functionary?

    I would like to add, "A lot of people haven't heard of Slashdot. Would that make it right if it were taken offline on the arbitrary say-so of some government functionary..." and based on the actions of a minority of users? Jotform actively tried to keep illegal activity away. This is no Megaupload.

  25. Re:This ruin business with a quickness on JotForm.com Gets Shut Down SOPA-Style · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You can even see this in the comments on the Jotforms blog. About a quarter of the comments are, "I paid you [Jotforms] for service. It is YOUR responsibility to keep your service up! It is not my responsibility as a customer to deal with the Feds." From a paying customer point of view, I can see where they are coming from. Though what they should really be thinking is, "The government think's I am customer using an illegal service."