All I can say is if I had 77 million lying around I would love to pick this castle up. I could get so many more chicks: "come back to my castle... of love"
What chick wouldn't want to go back to a castle? Of love?
It won't really require a special DVD burner. Your DVD burner already burns zeroes over the CSS area if that area isn't pre-burned on the media. As best I can tell from a Google search, this is done for both DVD authoring media and DVD+R media. Thus, it would require nothing more than a firmware change with existing media to enable writing of CSS data.
I write cd/dvd burning, data recovery, and forensic software for a living so I can try to clear this up a bit.
You are correct in a way but from what I understand what is really going on is the "CSS area" or Control Data Zone (CDZ) is pre-recorded at the factory on DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media and with DVD-R (Authoring), DVD-R (version 1.0), DVD+R(W) media the drive firmware does not allow writing to the CDZ and overwrites it with dummy data as well as portions of the sector headers (which I think is used by CPPM). So like you said theoretically the manufacturers could release a firmware upgrade to allow writing to the CDZ on DVD-R (Authoring), DVD-R (version 1.0), DVD+R(W) media and possible do the same with DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media although all of your old DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media would be useless and you would have to purchase the new DVD-R(W) media that does not have that portion of the disc pre-recorded.
My guess is that they will release new DVD-R's (general) discs that do not have the CDZ pre-written and only allow the drive manufacturers to release firmware to write the CDZ on those discs. This way they can charge extra money for the discs and not just be able to use old DVD+R(W)'s. The drive manufacturers could make some extra money too by not releasing firmware that allows this on older drives and marketing "new" drives that have this ability.
I disagree that nobody cares about HD content. Sure, for DVD's it is going to take a while for people to switch over because they already have collections of normal DVD's (plus normal DVD's do look damn good on an HDTV already), but for regular TV I can't name very many people I know who "don't care" about it because the difference between SD broadcast and HD is a much bigger jump than between HD DVDs and regular DVDs.
My favorite thing to watch in HD is sports, there is a HUGE difference between watching a game in HD vs SD. Everyone who comes over and watches me flip between the regular broadcast and the HD broadcast of games can't believe how big of a difference it is. Your friends who stretch the standard TV to fill their widescreens probably just don't know how to properly setup their systems or don't realize they need to subscribe to the HD channels. I see no other reason they would not get HD service because it is not that expensive, in my experience it has only been 5-10 dollars more per month.
I also wanted to mention that everyone I know who has gone out to purchase a new TV was very interested in the HD capabilities. Many of the people I know who have gotten new TV's even did so just to get an HDTV and enjoy the benefits it provides. These are a range of people from my own peers ~25 years old, to my parents and their friends ~45-60 years old (many of whom purchased their HDTV's a few years ago), to my 91 year old grandma.
Basically you are flat out wrong that there is no demand for true HD. The sets are pretty cheap and getting cheaper and the cost to subscribe to HD channels is already very low. For HD DVD's it will take much, much longer because the cost of the players is still high and people are not going to want to rebuy their whole collection of movies but for regular TV HD service is desired by many people and the demand is growing higher.
I got the joke and while it was funny and clever I was just saying IMO it would be boring to never look at porn and only ever see your partner naked. My gf actually tells me to get porn which I think is cool and we don't watch it all the time but it is fun every once in a while.
I said they had a horrible track record with thier formats, not that absolutely none were ever successful. I knew someone would bring up the CD, but like you said they didn't develop it themselves and it was not propietary like all of their other COMPLETE FAILURES. Just a few of their world class failures that I can remember off the top of my head are:
Betamax, ATRAC, ATRAC3 (knocked out by MP3), MemoryStick, MiniDisc, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (knocked out by DTS), MultiMedia Compact Disc, SACD (also jointly developed by Phillips), and the recently killed UMD. I think Blu-Ray is the next one to be added to the failure list.
While they were involved in one hugely successful format, the CD, I think one big reason it won out was because it was not proprietary. As I just showed you and originally stated their track record with the public adopting their formats is horrible. Prove me wrong.
I also don't like them because of their shady business practices so I don't want to support them at all. Here are a few examples that may interest you:
Have you heard of the Sony Rootkit? How about the bullshit lawsuits against Lik-Sang or Bleem? How about their viral marketing campaign "All I want for Xmas is a PSP"? How about the fictitious movie reviewer they created called David Manning who always gave glowing reviews for Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures, while real critics gave the same movies extremely poor reviews?
Man, that page sure makes it seem that Blu-Ray sucks ass.
Blu-ray does suck ass and will die. It is more restrictive, has more DRM, requires java virtual machines to be implemented on all players (ugggh), requires the current DVD manufacturing plants to do serious upgrades because the surface layer is much thinner and also requires a special hard coating to be applied, and in turn is more expensive. Sure, it can theoretically hold more data but I think that will really only make a big difference for people who want to use blank discs to store data on them. Also, Sony doesn't have a very good record as far as having the public pick their formats.
I've wanted manufacturers to standardize on USB for a few years now. It would truly be wonderful, as many of you have been happy to point out. But what happens when something better comes along? What happens when someone has a great idea, but finds out he can't legally implement it?
Well they could release the product with the standard cable and then sell the new, improved cable as an additional purchase. If the new cable is actually better then people will pay the extra money to get it and it probably would eventually become the new standard.
Standards can be updated you know and while it may be a hassle I think it would be worth it in this case where such a huge amount of waste is produced.
I'm sorry you live in a small town with little choice, but at my location I've got a fair number of choices; I can go with the 2 satellite companies, or 3 cable companies. The 3 cable companies ALL have franchise rights with the accompanying requirements; I get local Chicago public television, and I get state channels, which includes all kinds of political goodies.
I recently moved from the north side of Chicago and my only choice there for cable was Comcast, where abouts do live and what are the 3 cable companies you have available to choose from at your location? I never thought I would say this but now that I have moved to Phoenix, Arizona and am forced to deal with Cox cable (the only cable available in this area) I actually miss Comcast. If you really do have more than one cable company available you are really lucky and other people who don't have that choice are not all from small towns so don't make blanket assumptions like that.
I don't care if it's "standards compliant" if it can't render most web pages to look good.
Works fine on the majority of pages for me. You are just a dumbfuck.
I want a browser which is fast, mostly works and is free of charge. Opera has one of these features, after nine major revisions. you shit-knobs who keep apologizing for Opera by deflecting the blame to web developers need to wake up and smell the gingerbread mint hazelnut soy latteccino. your browser sucks fat dick
Hmm, Opera is faster than Firefox, works great, and is free as well. After 9 revisions is has ALL of those features you retard. Have you used the latest version of firefox lately? You would see that is sucks balls compared to Opera as you did.
your browser sucks fat dick and your self-satisfied software advocacy is going to get you laid a week after never.
Well I am glad I have a choice. People who wish to use Firefox should be allowed to use is as well as Opera users. I just wanted to say the guy who posted those comments about opera was COMPLETELY wrong, which he was. I also get laid all the time, I have a girlfriend. Go back to your blow up doll and get back to me when you are less bitter.
I post what I want and try to be as "real" as possible. If calling someone an idiot for stating untrue facts affects my karma so be it. Either way I am right and Opera is the superior browser for those who don't wish to intall a bunch of add ons and firefox (although slower) is great for those who do.
For the record I used Moz up until I came across the tabbed browsing that Opera had and since then it has given me everything I want and need in one install. I have no bad thoughts against Firefox, if people prefer it that is great and I wish them well with using it, having a choice is great. I do have a problem with people saying that a current, relevant browser (Opera) should be deprecated based on irrelevant reasons. Make your own decision and use what you like but don't try and kill a browser that many people use because of personal choices.
and since you were posting valid points in defense of Opera, you were also less effective than I wanted you to be
No, actually I was 100% as effective as I wanted to be. Opera is the best performing browser available and I proved it. Mod as you wish.
I do say what I want. But I will defend myself if I am modded unfairly. I really don't care about my karma that much but I do care if people mod me down just to protect the image of their precious software such as firefox which based on the facts I presented is not faster than Opera.
I namecall when appropriate. If a person doesn't warrant themself to be called an idiot or asshole then I won't call them that. Either way I stated facts and presented evidence to back it up so I don't deserve the flamebait mod.
As for the +2 that is because I have excellent karma and bonused at +2 originally and then got modded +1 informative before the -1 flamebait mod.
Why did someone mod me flamebait? I just posted a comment saying that the latest version of Opera is ad free as well as faster than the latest version of Firefox and provided factual proof. Whoever modded me as such is an asshole.
Opera should be deprecated. It is an adware-infested web browser that is actually slower than Firefox. The Internet will be better off if websites permanently ban this Scandinavian piece of shit.
You are an idiot. Opera has been ad free for a LONG time and it does not install any adware. Opera 9 is also faster than Firefox 2, it kicks Firefox's ass quite handily:
One major difference is in the problem solving area. As a student, you are taught to not just solve the problem but to understand the circumstances to the problem which will lead you to find the best solution WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT. I put that in caps for a reason. Think about it for a second. To solve a problem many times in life, you don't have an unlimited pool of 'parts' to choose from so the secret is to use what you have effectively.
A proper CS program will also teach the students to not just solve the problem but to understand the problem as well as the environment they are working in enough to solve it efficiently and with the "best solution". For instance, a proper CS program will teach what type of sorting algorithms work best on different types of data, teaching what type of data types would work best on particular hardware (32 bit vs. 64 bit), as well as why some languages might be better to use than other languages depending on the situation, etc. A good developer would use all of that knowledge as well as the knowledge they have about the particular OS the software may be aimed at, what type of hardware, what kind of requirements, etc to reach the best possible solution. You are not in some special group, others outside of the engineering programs learn and use what you mentioned too.
The second difference is that we are taught to keep the big picture in mind while delving into the details. This might sound trivial and stupid but what makes the difference many times. I say this with 12+ years of experience.
That is no difference at all. I can't tell you how many of my CS teachers wanted us to keep an eye on the big picture and not strictly focus on the details. If a developer has no idea what the big picture is then his little area he is working on may cause some big problems. I do agree that it makes a big difference but non engineers do this too.
While in college, I had several friends going for their CS degree so I am quite aware of the requirements of that degree. The difficulty is high compared to many degrees, but it doesn't match the difficulty of an actual engineering degree. I will give you an example, in my intro class the instructor told each individual to look around you because the person in front of you and on both sides most likely won't graduate with the same degree you will. He was right.
I would bet that any reputable CS program is AT LEAST as hard as an engineering degree. My roomate in college was majoring in EE and while he had to take a little bit more math than me (not much, I was a couple credits away from a math minor) from what I saw the rest of his program took no more effort than mine. Both programs were EXTREMELY difficult.
As far as people dropping the major in my experience CS is very bad too. In the program I attended the assembler language class was the "weed out" class. I remember starting the semester out with about 25 students in the class. Only 8 were still around for the final and I know 3 of the 8 failed the class. One of the guys who failed the class was taking it his second time and he ended up switching to a different major. That is just one of many examples I could mention.
I think a big difference between engineers and software engineers is most software engineers have a better ability to think abstractly. The regular engineers I have gotten to know over time struggle to "think outside the box" and work best on strictly defined and constrained problems. Both types of people are highly intelligent, they just think differently and are better in and/or enjoy certain areas more than the other which is why they end up deciding to either be a normal engineer or a software engineer.
Well if some of the radical muslim websites did indeed post information saying they wanted to carry out attacks like these then I think it is reasonable to keep an eye out for it. It is not like it is completely unfounded.
If a KKK website posted threats that they were going to group up in say Jackson, Mississippi and lynch some darkies this december would you think it would be stupid to beef up police forces and keep a close watch on what is going on for a while?
Of course they wouldn't mind - it would give them more doughnut time at Denny's.
I have never been to a Denny's that had donuts, I do love the Grand Slam Slugger breakfast though! I think instead of Denny's you should have said they would get more time at Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme, those seem to be common morning cop hangouts in the Chicago area.
Honestly, I hope everyone's wrong and some kind of crazy black hole forms. Yeah, we'd all die...but what a way for a civilization to end! I mean, we gotta' at least out do the dinosaurs.
Ha, I agree that we must out do the dino's, that would be quite funny. The problem with wiping ourselves out with a black hole is a passing alien craft may detect a black hole where our civilization used to be but they would probably have no idea we even existed.
That is why I think wiping ourselves out with self-replicating nano bots would be much more funny. Then a passing alien craft would come across a milky way sized swarm of these nano bots and think to themselves "what dumbass civilization did this to themselves?".
Yes, you are correct and in the article I linked to above they mentioned that (although not in as much detail as you):
"CERN spokesman and former research physicist James Gillies also pointed out that Earth is bathed with cosmic rays powerful enough to create black holes all the time, and the planet hasn't been destroyed yet."
Is this the collider that could possibly create a black hole that would destroy the planet?
I don't think there is really much to worry about. I have read a few articles on the subject and it seems highly unlikely anything catastrophic could happen if small black holes are created. Here are some quotes from one interesting article http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/060919_b lack_holes.html:
"Stephen Hawking calculated all black holes should emit radiation, and that tiny black holes should lose more mass than they absorb, evaporating within a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second, before they could gobble up any significant amount of matter"
and
"Still, let's assume that even if Hawking is a genius, he's wrong, and that such black holes are more stable," Landsberg said. Nearly all of the black holes will be traveling fast enough from the accelerator to escape Earth's gravity. "Even if you produced 10 million black holes a year, only 10 would basically get trapped, orbiting around its center," Landsberg said.
"However, such trapped black holes are so tiny, they could pass through a block of iron the distance from the Earth to the Moon and not hit anything. They would each take about 100 hours to gobble up one proton.
At that rate, even if one did not take into account the fact that each black hole would slow down every time it gobbled up a proton, and thus suck down matter at an even slower rate, "about 100 protons would be destroyed every year by such a black hole, so it would take much more than the age of universe to destroy even one milligram of Earth material," Landsberg concluded. "It's quite hard to destroy the Earth."
So, if Hawking is right we should be safe and even if he is wrong it sounds like we should still be safe. Of course nobody knows for sure which is somewhat scary but I don't think it means we should scrap the whole project in this particular case.
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if you had said you wanted to suck anything else you would have had a deal... well as long as you are female anyway. :-)
Good point. But just having a castle would be sweet!
All I can say is if I had 77 million lying around I would love to pick this castle up. I could get so many more chicks: "come back to my castle... of love"
What chick wouldn't want to go back to a castle? Of love?
It won't really require a special DVD burner. Your DVD burner already burns zeroes over the CSS area if that area isn't pre-burned on the media. As best I can tell from a Google search, this is done for both DVD authoring media and DVD+R media. Thus, it would require nothing more than a firmware change with existing media to enable writing of CSS data.
I write cd/dvd burning, data recovery, and forensic software for a living so I can try to clear this up a bit.
You are correct in a way but from what I understand what is really going on is the "CSS area" or Control Data Zone (CDZ) is pre-recorded at the factory on DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media and with DVD-R (Authoring), DVD-R (version 1.0), DVD+R(W) media the drive firmware does not allow writing to the CDZ and overwrites it with dummy data as well as portions of the sector headers (which I think is used by CPPM). So like you said theoretically the manufacturers could release a firmware upgrade to allow writing to the CDZ on DVD-R (Authoring), DVD-R (version 1.0), DVD+R(W) media and possible do the same with DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media although all of your old DVD-R (general) and DVD-RW media would be useless and you would have to purchase the new DVD-R(W) media that does not have that portion of the disc pre-recorded.
My guess is that they will release new DVD-R's (general) discs that do not have the CDZ pre-written and only allow the drive manufacturers to release firmware to write the CDZ on those discs. This way they can charge extra money for the discs and not just be able to use old DVD+R(W)'s. The drive manufacturers could make some extra money too by not releasing firmware that allows this on older drives and marketing "new" drives that have this ability.
I disagree that nobody cares about HD content. Sure, for DVD's it is going to take a while for people to switch over because they already have collections of normal DVD's (plus normal DVD's do look damn good on an HDTV already), but for regular TV I can't name very many people I know who "don't care" about it because the difference between SD broadcast and HD is a much bigger jump than between HD DVDs and regular DVDs.
My favorite thing to watch in HD is sports, there is a HUGE difference between watching a game in HD vs SD. Everyone who comes over and watches me flip between the regular broadcast and the HD broadcast of games can't believe how big of a difference it is. Your friends who stretch the standard TV to fill their widescreens probably just don't know how to properly setup their systems or don't realize they need to subscribe to the HD channels. I see no other reason they would not get HD service because it is not that expensive, in my experience it has only been 5-10 dollars more per month.
I also wanted to mention that everyone I know who has gone out to purchase a new TV was very interested in the HD capabilities. Many of the people I know who have gotten new TV's even did so just to get an HDTV and enjoy the benefits it provides. These are a range of people from my own peers ~25 years old, to my parents and their friends ~45-60 years old (many of whom purchased their HDTV's a few years ago), to my 91 year old grandma.
Basically you are flat out wrong that there is no demand for true HD. The sets are pretty cheap and getting cheaper and the cost to subscribe to HD channels is already very low. For HD DVD's it will take much, much longer because the cost of the players is still high and people are not going to want to rebuy their whole collection of movies but for regular TV HD service is desired by many people and the demand is growing higher.
I got the joke and while it was funny and clever I was just saying IMO it would be boring to never look at porn and only ever see your partner naked. My gf actually tells me to get porn which I think is cool and we don't watch it all the time but it is fun every once in a while.
No whoosh moment here.
That would be one boring sex life! It's more fun to spice things up at times with a little porn.
You might have had a point were it not for your use of "cow-orker."
He meant "cow-porker"!
I said they had a horrible track record with thier formats, not that absolutely none were ever successful. I knew someone would bring up the CD, but like you said they didn't develop it themselves and it was not propietary like all of their other COMPLETE FAILURES. Just a few of their world class failures that I can remember off the top of my head are:
Betamax, ATRAC, ATRAC3 (knocked out by MP3), MemoryStick, MiniDisc, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (knocked out by DTS), MultiMedia Compact Disc, SACD (also jointly developed by Phillips), and the recently killed UMD. I think Blu-Ray is the next one to be added to the failure list.
While they were involved in one hugely successful format, the CD, I think one big reason it won out was because it was not proprietary. As I just showed you and originally stated their track record with the public adopting their formats is horrible. Prove me wrong.
I also don't like them because of their shady business practices so I don't want to support them at all. Here are a few examples that may interest you:
Have you heard of the Sony Rootkit? How about the bullshit lawsuits against Lik-Sang or Bleem? How about their viral marketing campaign "All I want for Xmas is a PSP"? How about the fictitious movie reviewer they created called David Manning who always gave glowing reviews for Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures, while real critics gave the same movies extremely poor reviews?
Man, that page sure makes it seem that Blu-Ray sucks ass.
s pd vd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/
Blu-ray does suck ass and will die. It is more restrictive, has more DRM, requires java virtual machines to be implemented on all players (ugggh), requires the current DVD manufacturing plants to do serious upgrades because the surface layer is much thinner and also requires a special hard coating to be applied, and in turn is more expensive. Sure, it can theoretically hold more data but I think that will really only make a big difference for people who want to use blank discs to store data on them. Also, Sony doesn't have a very good record as far as having the public pick their formats.
Read more here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1982533,00.a
and
http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-
I've wanted manufacturers to standardize on USB for a few years now. It would truly be wonderful, as many of you have been happy to point out. But what happens when something better comes along? What happens when someone has a great idea, but finds out he can't legally implement it?
Well they could release the product with the standard cable and then sell the new, improved cable as an additional purchase. If the new cable is actually better then people will pay the extra money to get it and it probably would eventually become the new standard.
Standards can be updated you know and while it may be a hassle I think it would be worth it in this case where such a huge amount of waste is produced.
I'm sorry you live in a small town with little choice, but at my location I've got a fair number of choices; I can go with the 2 satellite companies, or 3 cable companies. The 3 cable companies ALL have franchise rights with the accompanying requirements; I get local Chicago public television, and I get state channels, which includes all kinds of political goodies.
I recently moved from the north side of Chicago and my only choice there for cable was Comcast, where abouts do live and what are the 3 cable companies you have available to choose from at your location? I never thought I would say this but now that I have moved to Phoenix, Arizona and am forced to deal with Cox cable (the only cable available in this area) I actually miss Comcast. If you really do have more than one cable company available you are really lucky and other people who don't have that choice are not all from small towns so don't make blanket assumptions like that.
I don't care if it's "standards compliant" if it can't render most web pages to look good.
Works fine on the majority of pages for me. You are just a dumbfuck.
I want a browser which is fast, mostly works and is free of charge. Opera has one of these features, after nine major revisions. you shit-knobs who keep apologizing for Opera by deflecting the blame to web developers need to wake up and smell the gingerbread mint hazelnut soy latteccino. your browser sucks fat dick
Hmm, Opera is faster than Firefox, works great, and is free as well. After 9 revisions is has ALL of those features you retard. Have you used the latest version of firefox lately? You would see that is sucks balls compared to Opera as you did.
your browser sucks fat dick and your self-satisfied software advocacy is going to get you laid a week after never.
Well I am glad I have a choice. People who wish to use Firefox should be allowed to use is as well as Opera users. I just wanted to say the guy who posted those comments about opera was COMPLETELY wrong, which he was. I also get laid all the time, I have a girlfriend. Go back to your blow up doll and get back to me when you are less bitter.
I post what I want and try to be as "real" as possible. If calling someone an idiot for stating untrue facts affects my karma so be it. Either way I am right and Opera is the superior browser for those who don't wish to intall a bunch of add ons and firefox (although slower) is great for those who do.
For the record I used Moz up until I came across the tabbed browsing that Opera had and since then it has given me everything I want and need in one install. I have no bad thoughts against Firefox, if people prefer it that is great and I wish them well with using it, having a choice is great. I do have a problem with people saying that a current, relevant browser (Opera) should be deprecated based on irrelevant reasons. Make your own decision and use what you like but don't try and kill a browser that many people use because of personal choices.
and since you were posting valid points in defense of Opera, you were also less effective than I wanted you to be
No, actually I was 100% as effective as I wanted to be. Opera is the best performing browser available and I proved it. Mod as you wish.
I do say what I want. But I will defend myself if I am modded unfairly. I really don't care about my karma that much but I do care if people mod me down just to protect the image of their precious software such as firefox which based on the facts I presented is not faster than Opera.
I namecall when appropriate. If a person doesn't warrant themself to be called an idiot or asshole then I won't call them that. Either way I stated facts and presented evidence to back it up so I don't deserve the flamebait mod.
As for the +2 that is because I have excellent karma and bonused at +2 originally and then got modded +1 informative before the -1 flamebait mod.
Why did someone mod me flamebait? I just posted a comment saying that the latest version of Opera is ad free as well as faster than the latest version of Firefox and provided factual proof. Whoever modded me as such is an asshole.
Opera should be deprecated. It is an adware-infested web browser that is actually slower than Firefox. The Internet will be better off if websites permanently ban this Scandinavian piece of shit.
You are an idiot. Opera has been ad free for a LONG time and it does not install any adware. Opera 9 is also faster than Firefox 2, it kicks Firefox's ass quite handily:
http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html
Why should a browser that is still being actively developed and used be deprecated? Please try to post something relevent next time.
One major difference is in the problem solving area. As a student, you are taught to not just solve the problem but to understand the circumstances to the problem which will lead you to find the best solution WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT. I put that in caps for a reason. Think about it for a second. To solve a problem many times in life, you don't have an unlimited pool of 'parts' to choose from so the secret is to use what you have effectively.
A proper CS program will also teach the students to not just solve the problem but to understand the problem as well as the environment they are working in enough to solve it efficiently and with the "best solution". For instance, a proper CS program will teach what type of sorting algorithms work best on different types of data, teaching what type of data types would work best on particular hardware (32 bit vs. 64 bit), as well as why some languages might be better to use than other languages depending on the situation, etc. A good developer would use all of that knowledge as well as the knowledge they have about the particular OS the software may be aimed at, what type of hardware, what kind of requirements, etc to reach the best possible solution. You are not in some special group, others outside of the engineering programs learn and use what you mentioned too.
The second difference is that we are taught to keep the big picture in mind while delving into the details. This might sound trivial and stupid but what makes the difference many times. I say this with 12+ years of experience.
That is no difference at all. I can't tell you how many of my CS teachers wanted us to keep an eye on the big picture and not strictly focus on the details. If a developer has no idea what the big picture is then his little area he is working on may cause some big problems. I do agree that it makes a big difference but non engineers do this too.
While in college, I had several friends going for their CS degree so I am quite aware of the requirements of that degree. The difficulty is high compared to many degrees, but it doesn't match the difficulty of an actual engineering degree. I will give you an example, in my intro class the instructor told each individual to look around you because the person in front of you and on both sides most likely won't graduate with the same degree you will. He was right.
I would bet that any reputable CS program is AT LEAST as hard as an engineering degree. My roomate in college was majoring in EE and while he had to take a little bit more math than me (not much, I was a couple credits away from a math minor) from what I saw the rest of his program took no more effort than mine. Both programs were EXTREMELY difficult.
As far as people dropping the major in my experience CS is very bad too. In the program I attended the assembler language class was the "weed out" class. I remember starting the semester out with about 25 students in the class. Only 8 were still around for the final and I know 3 of the 8 failed the class. One of the guys who failed the class was taking it his second time and he ended up switching to a different major. That is just one of many examples I could mention.
I think a big difference between engineers and software engineers is most software engineers have a better ability to think abstractly. The regular engineers I have gotten to know over time struggle to "think outside the box" and work best on strictly defined and constrained problems. Both types of people are highly intelligent, they just think differently and are better in and/or enjoy certain areas more than the other which is why they end up deciding to either be a normal engineer or a software engineer.
Clearly you yet to meet my boss.
:-)
This is your boss and you are fired.
blame the muslims. Seriously, is this new?
Well if some of the radical muslim websites did indeed post information saying they wanted to carry out attacks like these then I think it is reasonable to keep an eye out for it. It is not like it is completely unfounded.
If a KKK website posted threats that they were going to group up in say Jackson, Mississippi and lynch some darkies this december would you think it would be stupid to beef up police forces and keep a close watch on what is going on for a while?
Of course they wouldn't mind - it would give them more doughnut time at Denny's.
I have never been to a Denny's that had donuts, I do love the Grand Slam Slugger breakfast though! I think instead of Denny's you should have said they would get more time at Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme, those seem to be common morning cop hangouts in the Chicago area.
Honestly, I hope everyone's wrong and some kind of crazy black hole forms. Yeah, we'd all die...but what a way for a civilization to end! I mean, we gotta' at least out do the dinosaurs.
Ha, I agree that we must out do the dino's, that would be quite funny. The problem with wiping ourselves out with a black hole is a passing alien craft may detect a black hole where our civilization used to be but they would probably have no idea we even existed.
That is why I think wiping ourselves out with self-replicating nano bots would be much more funny. Then a passing alien craft would come across a milky way sized swarm of these nano bots and think to themselves "what dumbass civilization did this to themselves?".
Yes, you are correct and in the article I linked to above they mentioned that (although not in as much detail as you):
"CERN spokesman and former research physicist James Gillies also pointed out that Earth is bathed with cosmic rays powerful enough to create black holes all the time, and the planet hasn't been destroyed yet."
Is this the collider that could possibly create a black hole that would destroy the planet?
b lack_holes.html:
I don't think there is really much to worry about. I have read a few articles on the subject and it seems highly unlikely anything catastrophic could happen if small black holes are created. Here are some quotes from one interesting article http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/060919_
"Stephen Hawking calculated all black holes should emit radiation, and that tiny black holes should lose more mass than they absorb, evaporating within a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second, before they could gobble up any significant amount of matter"
and
"Still, let's assume that even if Hawking is a genius, he's wrong, and that such black holes are more stable," Landsberg said. Nearly all of the black holes will be traveling fast enough from the accelerator to escape Earth's gravity. "Even if you produced 10 million black holes a year, only 10 would basically get trapped, orbiting around its center," Landsberg said.
"However, such trapped black holes are so tiny, they could pass through a block of iron the distance from the Earth to the Moon and not hit anything. They would each take about 100 hours to gobble up one proton.
At that rate, even if one did not take into account the fact that each black hole would slow down every time it gobbled up a proton, and thus suck down matter at an even slower rate, "about 100 protons would be destroyed every year by such a black hole, so it would take much more than the age of universe to destroy even one milligram of Earth material," Landsberg concluded. "It's quite hard to destroy the Earth."
So, if Hawking is right we should be safe and even if he is wrong it sounds like we should still be safe. Of course nobody knows for sure which is somewhat scary but I don't think it means we should scrap the whole project in this particular case.