University is to teach you to think, and learn how to analyze, approach and solve problems in a general manner. This is especially so for undergraduates. Since computer science is such a HUGE field, there's no way for a 4 year program to make anyone an expert. But hopefully through your experience there you can think, think clearly, and apply that thinking and rationality to problem solving.
However, what you need now is EXPERIENCE. That just takes time, and it takes practice. (Think of the "Karate Kid," with the mantra "wax on, wax off". My martial arts instructor also used to tell a story of his teacher who had asked his teacher, the grandmaster, how he learned to strike so effectively. The answer was he did it 1,000 times, which gave him a good idea how to improve during the next 1,000, which helped improve the next 1,000. And so on.)
Get out. Do. Gain experience. Experience is the ultimate teacher.:-)
He could have easily just not used the trademark "FedEx" and minimally obfuscated the full logo in his creations and images. No argment, and everyone would have clearly understood it all. But since he pushed the "FedEx" trademark to promote *himself* that is what got him into trouble. Note I am not taking sides here, just saying he could easily have avoided the entire thing *and* gotten the exact same point across...
In my lab, I will NetBoot my Macs to a NetRestore.nbi image, which points to a *.dmg file I make of my new setups base install (using Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper). The base install images is set up to run radmind on first boot to get all updates, add any apps needed, etc. Works well. I do not think Radmind is slow, unless the damned building netcam is on (the Dean installed it, I can't touch it, grr).
The contention is that you would have a dickens of a time proving in court that you were not directly influenced or did not directly copy the copyright work. Do you have the financial security to take this through the courts and win? No? Then, keep your nose clean. If you don't want to stink, don't go near the shit.
I understand what you're saying, but it's best to steer far and wide and very clear of it. Treat it like nuclear waste. You don't even look at it no one can try to taint you.
So, as someone very inexperienced with communicating with government, what can I do about this? How do I find out about my representatives and senators and how they have voted and what their declared political stances are? How can I effectively communicate my concerns to them? What can we do as a community to apply pressure to them? Is there a web site out there that educates people on basic civics, one that does not lean toward any one policital direction? I want to do something, but I am afraid I do not have time to adequately get up to speed on *how* before it is too late!
Reminds me a bit of a segment on the public radio show This American Life titled "The Fix Is In." I do not recall the state or city, but in one of the first segments of that episode there is talk of a licqor distributor who managed to get legislation passed that made it essentially illegal for a seller to find a different distributor unless they had a really, really, really, really good reason. As a result liquor prices are $1-2 higher than anywhere else and that extra profit goes directly to the the one distributor who lined the politicians pockets and got that law passed.
Read this http://world.std.com/~dpj/elliptic.html link for a description of elliptic curve cryptography. It's not about drawing random curvilinear shapes, much more complex. Though that app does sound kind of interesting...
I used the Atkins "New Diet Revolution" book guidelines from about 2/2001 through 9/2001. Dropped sixty pounds, ate grandly. Got back down to my cycling competition weight. Everyone told me I was destroying my liver, heart and/or kidneys, etc. Well, worked great. Last physical was perfect.
The hard part can be sticking to it. Everything out there in restaurants, at grocery stores, etc caters to high-carb and, usually, high-fat foods. Going out with friends and family becomes annoying in having to (re)explain how the diet works, counter the heresay "arguments" they have about you destroying your liver, kidneys, heart, flux capacitors, etc.
That said. Works great, but can be hard to stick to if only because of what's typically available. EVERYTHING has carbs, sugars, starches,... Very annoying.
Check out the latest Blender (v2.2?). It has a game development engine, and seems to work quite well. A non-programmer friend of mine built a game akin to the 80s Battlezone arcade game in one weekend. You can easily "complicate" the game for a senior CS project by making use of the built-in Python interpreter, etc. Would certainly help you make an interesting game, and extend Blender's game with Python scripts, or possibly (I haven't checked) C/C++ add-on modules. http://www.blender.nl
The Dolby Digital/DTS reciever(s) I would H*I*G*H*L*Y recommend is either the Technics SA-DA10 or the Technics SA-DA8. After spending nearly $75,000 on audio over the last 15 years, I find a ~$400 receiver is finally a better overall value than my high-end seperates. Go figure. I lost faith in the so-called "hi-end" nearly ten years ago. These products prove they're way out of touch with reality.
These receivers are a joy for both video *and* audio. Please do not let the name "Technics" throw you. They used to produce a very high-end line of audio products under the name Esoteric. I have turned on several friends to these receivers, and they are very happy with them.
For speakers, take a close look at the Gallo Acoustics speakers. Nice looking, NICE sounding, small and very unobtrusive. http://www.roundsound.com for more info. Several friends of mine use the Technics SA-DA10 receiver with the Gallo home theater speakers.
If you got the Sony KV-36XBR400, a better DVD player would have been one with progressive scanning. Much, MUCH nicer picture.
Wasn't there something on Slashdot a short while back about MS using default passwords for SQL Server... Or more accurately, admins not changing the default password. That would be grossly negligent if this were so.
I manage a computer lab at my university which is heavily into 3D, both for CAD and film/video. Since things are Mac-heavy, the OS X port was very welcome. A port to Linux is fantastic, since I can inexpensively set up a server farm for both the rendering and a "sub lab" of cheap PC's for learning the basics (leaving the high-end machines for more accomplished workers).
I just called the 1-800 number to express my concern over their site's practices. The gentleman I spoke to said that just in the last half-hour he had spoken to five others calling about the exclusion of all other operating systems than Windows and MacOS and using only IE and, to some extent, Netscape.
As was stated here before, about keeping a calm demeanor and stating things in a professional manner, I explained to him that even if they decide to include Linux, this will not solve the problem. They must make it so that the connecting browser has the appropriate security layers. I explained that there are many OS's out there (Linux, *BSD, Solaris, Irix, BeOS) and more than two browsers (Opera, Lynx).
He stated that the "problem" is being worked on, and that those interested in their services check back in the coming week(s).
Dim the lights, turn up the sub and groove to some classic Mad Professor, Massive Attack, etc. Nothing beats "Night Nurse (dub version)" and "Boof'n'Bof'n'Biff (dub)"...
I seem to recall purchasing my first CD back in 1987/88 for $16.95 + tax. There was an expense justification going around, for why CD's were $16.95 vs. $11.95 for LPs, saying that they'll be expensive to begin with, but as more and more are sold the economies of scale will kick in and the prices will drop under $10/disc.
I'm still waiting...
I am now paying $12.95-17.95, depending upon what store I go to, and what sale prices or promotions are being offered. And, somehow I think the "economy of scale" kicked in a loooong time ago. Consider that to produce one CD only costs (approximately) $1.50, and LPs cost (then) $3.00-4.00/per pressing.
And I am sick about the record companies and agents screaming about artists rights, but taking the largest percentage for themselves.
Slashdot Mirror
University is to teach you to think, and learn how to analyze, approach and solve problems in a general manner. This is especially so for undergraduates. Since computer science is such a HUGE field, there's no way for a 4 year program to make anyone an expert. But hopefully through your experience there you can think, think clearly, and apply that thinking and rationality to problem solving.
However, what you need now is EXPERIENCE. That just takes time, and it takes practice. (Think of the "Karate Kid," with the mantra "wax on, wax off". My martial arts instructor also used to tell a story of his teacher who had asked his teacher, the grandmaster, how he learned to strike so effectively. The answer was he did it 1,000 times, which gave him a good idea how to improve during the next 1,000, which helped improve the next 1,000. And so on.)
Get out. Do. Gain experience. Experience is the ultimate teacher. :-)
He could have easily just not used the trademark "FedEx" and minimally obfuscated the full logo in his creations and images. No argment, and everyone would have clearly understood it all. But since he pushed the "FedEx" trademark to promote *himself* that is what got him into trouble. Note I am not taking sides here, just saying he could easily have avoided the entire thing *and* gotten the exact same point across...
In my lab, I will NetBoot my Macs to a NetRestore.nbi image, which points to a *.dmg file I make of my new setups base install (using Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper). The base install images is set up to run radmind on first boot to get all updates, add any apps needed, etc. Works well. I do not think Radmind is slow, unless the damned building netcam is on (the Dean installed it, I can't touch it, grr).
The contention is that you would have a dickens of a time proving in court that you were not directly influenced or did not directly copy the copyright work. Do you have the financial security to take this through the courts and win? No? Then, keep your nose clean. If you don't want to stink, don't go near the shit.
I understand what you're saying, but it's best to steer far and wide and very clear of it. Treat it like nuclear waste. You don't even look at it no one can try to taint you.
I could not have said it better myself! :-)
So, as someone very inexperienced with communicating with government, what can I do about this? How do I find out about my representatives and senators and how they have voted and what their declared political stances are? How can I effectively communicate my concerns to them? What can we do as a community to apply pressure to them? Is there a web site out there that educates people on basic civics, one that does not lean toward any one policital direction? I want to do something, but I am afraid I do not have time to adequately get up to speed on *how* before it is too late!
Reminds me a bit of a segment on the public radio show This American Life titled "The Fix Is In." I do not recall the state or city, but in one of the first segments of that episode there is talk of a licqor distributor who managed to get legislation passed that made it essentially illegal for a seller to find a different distributor unless they had a really, really, really, really good reason. As a result liquor prices are $1-2 higher than anywhere else and that extra profit goes directly to the the one distributor who lined the politicians pockets and got that law passed.
Read this http://world.std.com/~dpj/elliptic.html link for a description of elliptic curve cryptography. It's not about drawing random curvilinear shapes, much more complex. Though that app does sound kind of interesting...
I used the Atkins "New Diet Revolution" book guidelines from about 2/2001 through 9/2001. Dropped sixty pounds, ate grandly. Got back down to my cycling competition weight. Everyone told me I was destroying my liver, heart and/or kidneys, etc. Well, worked great. Last physical was perfect.
... Very annoying.
The hard part can be sticking to it. Everything out there in restaurants, at grocery stores, etc caters to high-carb and, usually, high-fat foods. Going out with friends and family becomes annoying in having to (re)explain how the diet works, counter the heresay "arguments" they have about you destroying your liver, kidneys, heart, flux capacitors, etc.
That said. Works great, but can be hard to stick to if only because of what's typically available. EVERYTHING has carbs, sugars, starches,
Check out the latest Blender (v2.2?). It has a game development engine, and seems to work quite well. A non-programmer friend of mine built a game akin to the 80s Battlezone arcade game in one weekend. You can easily "complicate" the game for a senior CS project by making use of the built-in Python interpreter, etc. Would certainly help you make an interesting game, and extend Blender's game with Python scripts, or possibly (I haven't checked) C/C++ add-on modules. http://www.blender.nl
The Dolby Digital/DTS reciever(s) I would H*I*G*H*L*Y recommend is either the Technics SA-DA10 or the Technics SA-DA8. After spending nearly $75,000 on audio over the last 15 years, I find a ~$400 receiver is finally a better overall value than my high-end seperates. Go figure. I lost faith in the so-called "hi-end" nearly ten years ago. These products prove they're way out of touch with reality.
These receivers are a joy for both video *and* audio. Please do not let the name "Technics" throw you. They used to produce a very high-end line of audio products under the name Esoteric. I have turned on several friends to these receivers, and they are very happy with them.
For speakers, take a close look at the Gallo Acoustics speakers. Nice looking, NICE sounding, small and very unobtrusive. http://www.roundsound.com for more info. Several friends of mine use the Technics SA-DA10 receiver with the Gallo home theater speakers.
If you got the Sony KV-36XBR400, a better DVD player would have been one with progressive scanning. Much, MUCH nicer picture.
Wasn't there something on Slashdot a short while back about MS using default passwords for SQL Server... Or more accurately, admins not changing the default password. That would be grossly negligent if this were so.
Imagine flying around on supercavitating, underwater "jetskis". What fun! Quick, to the patent office!
I manage a computer lab at my university which is heavily into 3D, both for CAD and film/video. Since things are Mac-heavy, the OS X port was very welcome. A port to Linux is fantastic, since I can inexpensively set up a server farm for both the rendering and a "sub lab" of cheap PC's for learning the basics (leaving the high-end machines for more accomplished workers).
Good news!
I just called the 1-800 number to express my concern over their site's practices. The gentleman I spoke to said that just in the last half-hour he had spoken to five others calling about the exclusion of all other operating systems than Windows and MacOS and using only IE and, to some extent, Netscape.
As was stated here before, about keeping a calm demeanor and stating things in a professional manner, I explained to him that even if they decide to include Linux, this will not solve the problem. They must make it so that the connecting browser has the appropriate security layers. I explained that there are many OS's out there (Linux, *BSD, Solaris, Irix, BeOS) and more than two browsers (Opera, Lynx).
He stated that the "problem" is being worked on, and that those interested in their services check back in the coming week(s).
Dim the lights, turn up the sub and groove to some classic Mad Professor, Massive Attack, etc. Nothing beats "Night Nurse (dub version)" and "Boof'n'Bof'n'Biff (dub)"...
Re: the NSI web-base email password fiasco
Now, I can't even get online! The server must be down or just bogged by people trying to break in to the server. What a load of crud...
Hey! It can't be obsoleted yet, I need my monthly issue of Linux Journal.
I seem to recall purchasing my first CD back in 1987/88 for $16.95 + tax. There was an expense justification going around, for why CD's were $16.95 vs. $11.95 for LPs, saying that they'll be expensive to begin with, but as more and more are sold the economies of scale will kick in and the prices will drop under $10/disc.
I'm still waiting...
I am now paying $12.95-17.95, depending upon what store I go to, and what sale prices or promotions are being offered. And, somehow I think the "economy of scale" kicked in a loooong time ago. Consider that to produce one CD only costs (approximately) $1.50, and LPs cost (then) $3.00-4.00/per pressing.
And I am sick about the record companies and agents screaming about artists rights, but taking the largest percentage for themselves.
Ugh.
Did I read correctly? $3000-4000 for the mobo with processors? Please tell me I read this incorrectly!