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User: Colin+Smith

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Comments · 6,373

  1. The question is how long does it take? on You Really Are What You Know · · Score: 1

    If you have trained extensively in one area how long would it take to switch to something else?
     

  2. There are a couple of relational languagues on Why We Need More Programming Languages · · Score: 1

    Which improve on sql. You mentioned Rel, there's Dee[1] for python. The problem with sql though is the network effect... It's why it's still there.

    With C, python, Perl, Pascal, blah there is no network effect, you talk to the computer, it does stuff. With sql, the computer talks to another computer and the other computer has to understand. So you now have sets of computers that talk the same language; SQL everywhere.

    [1] http://www.quicksort.co.uk/DeeDoc.html

  3. Re:New wheels, new wheels! on Why We Need More Programming Languages · · Score: 1

    Well, C of course. The language all the rest are written in.

  4. New wheels, new wheels! on Why We Need More Programming Languages · · Score: 1

    Get your newfangled wheels here! This time it's in BLUE!

    To be honest I find Python the scariest language. I write some pseudo code and it runs. Worse, it usually runs first time.

  5. Meego is already there. on HP Making webOS Open Source · · Score: 3, Informative

    Rooting an N9
    Settings -> security -> developer mode

  6. Out of site out of mind on Rats Feel Each Other's Pain · · Score: 1

    Rivers of animals being driven into slaughter houses.
     

  7. Re:You all realise Iran is next... Right? on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 1

    Do you really think Russia and China would actually follow through with start a full blown war with us over Iran?

    No. But they absolutely would over oil. The first world war was all about resources. The new resource wars have started.

    I don't have a problem with letting both of the police that particular place so they can get their oil and gas.

    Kind of missing the point of invading and taking the oil.

    They didn't defeat Iraq. It was a stalemate.

    Iraq invaded, were repulsed. Seems like a win to me.

  8. Hey. on Why Android Upgrades Take So Long · · Score: 3, Funny

    It compiles. What more do you want?
     

  9. Technical Debt is a shitty term on Java Apps Have the Most Flaws, Cobol the Least · · Score: 2

    Used by people who don't understand what debt is.

    This is just a vanilla resource allocation problem. Do you spend a dollar to write bug free code or do you add an extra feature. There is only so much money, only so many developers, testers and only so much time.

    The number of places where bug free is the choice are small and they are specialised. Most places features win. Features means sitting on top of huge bloated frameworks which are also chock full of bugs.

    So, the languages just represent the environments they are going to be used in.

    In many industries, quality assurance is taken seriously, they often have far more people and resources working on quality than on developing the products.

    Software, not so much... "It compiles" is often the gold standard of quality. "It passed the unit tests", the platinum one.

  10. They'll never crack it, eh? on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Snoop it all you like

    Ok so you've got this unbreakable communications connection between drone and control...

    Please explain the completely undamaged big beige plane sitting in the Iranian hangar.
     

  11. Why tell they have that capability? on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 1

    Hmm? Forget about the fact they did.

    Why would they broadcast it?
     

  12. Re:You all realise Iran is next... Right? on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why not?

    I see you have enrolled and will be in the first APCs in the firing line. Or not?

    They are more of a danger than Iraq ever was

    They are certainly more dangerous, the drone capture kind of demonstrates that in itself. No?
    They are also battle hardened.
    They are also 4 times the size of Iraq.
    The place is mountains not flat desert.
    They are religious zealots.
    They defeated Iraq using human wave attacks against superior weaponry.
    They have had a decade of isolation to improve their military.
    They supply oil to China. China just sent a very public but unofficial message that they were likely to go to war over Iran.
    Oil will hit another peak and cause a bigger depression.
    Russia is an Iranian ally who supplies gas to Europe.
    Russia just went on missile alert and warned the west they were moving their ballistic missile launchers into position.

    Does this help with "why not"?

  13. Re:US Has Confirmed It on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 3, Funny

    Iran says Allah helped them hack it and control it themselves.

    Doesn't that count as a technical malfunction?
     

  14. You all realise Iran is next... Right? on Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The revolution failed.
    The US military is pulling out of Iraq.
    The propaganda "Iran is a terrorist" is ramping up. Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iran.
    UN resolutions to fill the requisite paperwork so it's all "legal".
    Economic sanctions on major exports.
    There have been softening up attacks on the defences and other strategic targets.

    All that's left to do really is have some "event" which will be seen as an act of war on the part of Iran as justification. Some Arch Duke Ferdinand.

  15. Because we all know the *really* important thing on Will Windows 8 Be Ready For Release In 2012? · · Score: 1

    Is the price of the paper and not information asymmetry.

     

  16. Why would they need a backup? on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 4, Funny

    They have a guy who finds upgrading phone systems immensely satisfying! If he's sick he'll come in and fix it and who needs vacation anyway, he'll take the cash instead.

    I'm betting it's a psychotic break and he IS his predecessor.
     

  17. Re:3rd time's a charm on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 1

    Get on at Plan usually. "How do you want everything to be?"

    You don't get off.

    You'll find it in use under various different names in businesses, from software to cars.

  18. 3rd time's a charm on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 1

    Deming.

  19. Before you do that on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 1

    Make sure you know what you've got. That means a db and an automated inventory tool. Installed & managed by above management engine.

    Then decide what services are missing.

    Then automate the rest with the management engine.
     

  20. Sorry; Demng Cycle on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 1

    above

  21. Denning Cycle on Ask Slashdot: Getting a Grip On an Inherited IT Mess? · · Score: 1

    HTH

  22. Banks don't keep money in bank vaults. on Scammers Work Around Two-Factor Authentication With Social Engineering · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I assume that's something you picked up from the movies. Any bank which stored a significant percentage of cash in a bank vault would be out of business pretty quick.

    And the money in "your" bank account is the bank's money, not yours. You loaned it to them therefore it's their responsibility. If they happen to try to pass that responsibility back to you... Well, you'd have to be pretty dumb to sign that contract.

    Your relationship with your bank is that of a creditor. The money is no longer yours, and the bank can pretty much do what it pleases with the money.

    The responsibility for security lies with the bank.

    HTH.

  23. Good enough to reproduce before you die on Proteins Build "Cages" Around Bacteria · · Score: 1

    That's all that's required.

    How much sense does that make?

    Logic? Vanity more like. You are nothing more than a chemical reproduction machine. Don't get above yourself.
     

  24. I got rid of mine on TV Isn't Broken, So Why Fix It? · · Score: 2

    Don't miss it.
     

  25. No, tuition is for education on Email Offline At the Home of Sendmail · · Score: 1

    Clearly email is an afterthought thrown in for free.

    If you want a service to work, you have to fund it. You can try to fight for budgets against the football team or you can simply charge and the money automatically goes where it's needed.

    Think of money as little packets of information. You buy something there is a need for it, you don't buy it, there is no need. Resource allocation without dozens of layers of management.

    Maybe nobody cares about email and they can just shut it down. Charge for it and find out.