I think you got it backwards. People trying to fight death will grab on any hope, one of those being religion. Many people become "religious" towards the end of their lives.
Re:Had a personal experience on this one
on
How Doctors Die
·
· Score: 1
Not keeping someone alive artificially isn't euthanasia. Overdosing painkillers "accidentally" IS. There is a difference.
Most languages would stay Turing-complete without it so it's not required, but can make life easier. Although most of its idiomatic uses have been incorporated in modern languages as separate structures like else, break or continue. The only thing I sometimes use it for is to simulate a Python-style break...else construct in C (strangely enough this can actually be done in Java without goto).
But that wasn't my point. I said that BASIC, being a simple language could be used to get kids into programming. When I was a kid, I had a relatively short attention span, so I really liked that I didn't have to learn a huge complicated language, LET, IF and GOTO were enough to do anything.
According to these guys this attack on a 64bit Python system is impractical, and as the world is shifting to 64bit anyway the problem might solve itself given enough time.
Solar energy can beused in a variety of ways, panels are only one of them. While panels are receiving tremendous hype lately, the fact is that they are the least effective way. Solar plants have double the efficiency of panels, and are cheaper as they only need ordinary mirrors. For individuals, using a solar collector for heating is much cheaper and saves more energy. And while solar panels could be useful on vehicles, they are too weak for that. Solar panels are dying for a reason.
Because the guy needs to be trusted, needs to be able to determine when he sees a crime and when the police should intervene, and if it does with what force, needs to be able to communicate with policemen already there and act as a recon etc. It's not just sitting on your ass all day long.
no one ever gets caught in the act because they were seen doing something on camera.
Which is not the fault of the cameras, but how they are used. They are not a replacement of cops, just tools.
Game programming would be the last thing I would teach to novice kids, as it has several different parts, from low-level hardware-oriented code to networking, high-level scripting, databases and map design, not to mention a non-programming parts like the graphics.
If you really want to create a standalone game I would suggest something simple using Flash. But if you want to get them into game programming (and teach them actual techniques that it needs) get them into modding. There are many games designed to be easily moddable, the instant feedback and success will be a great motivation, and the kids will learn plenty of stuff they can later use.
First documented geared calculating mechanism (Antikythera) 150 - 100BC
The Antikythera was more like a calendar than a calculator. While some sensationalists like to call it the "world's first computer", that is a huge exaggeration.
The fact is that Babbage's machines were incredibly complex for his time. Even Babbage himself realized that his analytical engine couldn't be built, so instead of trying to build itr he started to work on manufacturing techniques that would allow the construction of some of its parts. The machine would have many points of failure, would have required parts more precise that were available, would have to tolerate the huge forces necessary to operate it (in the original plan it was driven by a steam engine as a human wouldn't be strong enough for it) and would have to survive te wear of all the mechanical parts. Even with modern technology, while there were attempts to recreate the machine, none of them succeeded.
But even if it has been built, it would most likely be just a neat toy, maybe one that could make a few tables more precise. It wouldn't advance computing by much. You see, the drive behind the evolution of computing was exponential growth in the machines' capabilities, which would be impossible with mechanical engines. Even with that, we have had computers since the forties, yet widespread use of them haven't begun since the nineties. The limits were technological and sociological, computer science was pretty well established by the time. A good idea alone will not start a revolution, if the technology or the society isn't ready for it yet.
Romans didn't use steam engines because slaves were much cheaper. Which is the reason Babbage's would have been just a similar toy: just because something is technically feasible doesn't mean society is ready for it.
First of all, if you give the kids a toy, of course they will play with it. Tablets are overpriced toys, give them real netbooks. What's important to understand, that technology is just a tool, it's not going to educate the kids (outside a small number of nerds) just by itself. If you want to teach using technology, you first have to learn how to use technology yourself. You need complete control over the stuff, the ability to set any privilege on and off remotely, to transform the machines to a dumb terminal or even a dumb monitor when it's needed. You need to plan your classes around the devices. You need to have the material in digital form. You need to have programs that can help learning a subject. But, most importantly, you need to learn technology yourself.
As for home schooling, while I can't speak for all of us here, I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who gained most knowledge from the iInternet instead of the school. It's completely feasible, there are tons of knowledge on any topic, along with the requirements that are needed in school. It only requires the will, or a supporting parent. Even better, nowadays there are many video lectures that someone can just watch and learn abot any given topic.
I went to school in a pretty bad neighbourhood, and trust me criminals knew perfectly well that those cameras were there just for show. People got robbed in front of them every other day. Luckily a law was passed that required the police to have at least one policeman watching the cameras all the time, and there were cops close enough so they could come when needed, which made it a little better. But cameras are just tools, they won't solve the problem just by themselves.
Why not sell ebooks to the public with a licence that prohibits lending, and sell them to libraries with a licence that allows it, for a higher price or a percentage of each lending transaction?
Slashdot Mirror
This. There is no point in searching for the cause of why revenues are dropping, because they don't.
I think you got it backwards. People trying to fight death will grab on any hope, one of those being religion. Many people become "religious" towards the end of their lives.
Not keeping someone alive artificially isn't euthanasia. Overdosing painkillers "accidentally" IS. There is a difference.
never found an app that required a goto yet
Most languages would stay Turing-complete without it so it's not required, but can make life easier. Although most of its idiomatic uses have been incorporated in modern languages as separate structures like else, break or continue. The only thing I sometimes use it for is to simulate a Python-style break...else construct in C (strangely enough this can actually be done in Java without goto).
But that wasn't my point. I said that BASIC, being a simple language could be used to get kids into programming. When I was a kid, I had a relatively short attention span, so I really liked that I didn't have to learn a huge complicated language, LET, IF and GOTO were enough to do anything.
According to these guys this attack on a 64bit Python system is impractical, and as the world is shifting to 64bit anyway the problem might solve itself given enough time.
Apple managed to create an exceptionally huge developer base for themselves very quickly, and the main drive behind that was the money.
There are many ways to store heat from solar plants. Solar power is not just panels.
Solar energy can beused in a variety of ways, panels are only one of them. While panels are receiving tremendous hype lately, the fact is that they are the least effective way. Solar plants have double the efficiency of panels, and are cheaper as they only need ordinary mirrors. For individuals, using a solar collector for heating is much cheaper and saves more energy. And while solar panels could be useful on vehicles, they are too weak for that. Solar panels are dying for a reason.
That would cause some nasty global warming. How about slowing its spin?
Security-critical environments are one of the few places where open source should be a must.
Because the guy needs to be trusted, needs to be able to determine when he sees a crime and when the police should intervene, and if it does with what force, needs to be able to communicate with policemen already there and act as a recon etc. It's not just sitting on your ass all day long.
no one ever gets caught in the act because they were seen doing something on camera.
Which is not the fault of the cameras, but how they are used. They are not a replacement of cops, just tools.
I thought that the point of electronic voting systems was that they are insecure!
That only works when fraudsters are actually getting caught.
Game programming would be the last thing I would teach to novice kids, as it has several different parts, from low-level hardware-oriented code to networking, high-level scripting, databases and map design, not to mention a non-programming parts like the graphics.
If you really want to create a standalone game I would suggest something simple using Flash. But if you want to get them into game programming (and teach them actual techniques that it needs) get them into modding. There are many games designed to be easily moddable, the instant feedback and success will be a great motivation, and the kids will learn plenty of stuff they can later use.
First documented geared calculating mechanism (Antikythera) 150 - 100BC
The Antikythera was more like a calendar than a calculator. While some sensationalists like to call it the "world's first computer", that is a huge exaggeration.
The fact is that Babbage's machines were incredibly complex for his time. Even Babbage himself realized that his analytical engine couldn't be built, so instead of trying to build itr he started to work on manufacturing techniques that would allow the construction of some of its parts. The machine would have many points of failure, would have required parts more precise that were available, would have to tolerate the huge forces necessary to operate it (in the original plan it was driven by a steam engine as a human wouldn't be strong enough for it) and would have to survive te wear of all the mechanical parts. Even with modern technology, while there were attempts to recreate the machine, none of them succeeded.
But even if it has been built, it would most likely be just a neat toy, maybe one that could make a few tables more precise. It wouldn't advance computing by much. You see, the drive behind the evolution of computing was exponential growth in the machines' capabilities, which would be impossible with mechanical engines. Even with that, we have had computers since the forties, yet widespread use of them haven't begun since the nineties. The limits were technological and sociological, computer science was pretty well established by the time. A good idea alone will not start a revolution, if the technology or the society isn't ready for it yet.
But none of those has GOTO!
There are many phones with a keyboard.
There are Python implementations for like every phone.
Indeed, BASIC was a nice easy language that got me into programming. At least for educational reasons, it could be useful on a phone.
Romans didn't use steam engines because slaves were much cheaper. Which is the reason Babbage's would have been just a similar toy: just because something is technically feasible doesn't mean society is ready for it.
First of all, if you give the kids a toy, of course they will play with it. Tablets are overpriced toys, give them real netbooks. What's important to understand, that technology is just a tool, it's not going to educate the kids (outside a small number of nerds) just by itself. If you want to teach using technology, you first have to learn how to use technology yourself. You need complete control over the stuff, the ability to set any privilege on and off remotely, to transform the machines to a dumb terminal or even a dumb monitor when it's needed. You need to plan your classes around the devices. You need to have the material in digital form. You need to have programs that can help learning a subject. But, most importantly, you need to learn technology yourself.
As for home schooling, while I can't speak for all of us here, I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who gained most knowledge from the iInternet instead of the school. It's completely feasible, there are tons of knowledge on any topic, along with the requirements that are needed in school. It only requires the will, or a supporting parent. Even better, nowadays there are many video lectures that someone can just watch and learn abot any given topic.
A single well trained cop could monitor a dozen of cameras simultanously, so yes, they are effective when used properly.
I went to school in a pretty bad neighbourhood, and trust me criminals knew perfectly well that those cameras were there just for show. People got robbed in front of them every other day. Luckily a law was passed that required the police to have at least one policeman watching the cameras all the time, and there were cops close enough so they could come when needed, which made it a little better. But cameras are just tools, they won't solve the problem just by themselves.
Why not sell ebooks to the public with a licence that prohibits lending, and sell them to libraries with a licence that allows it, for a higher price or a percentage of each lending transaction?
You don't have to be evil to have an angry mob of trolls want to punish you.