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User: blueshift_1

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  1. The best stories... on Gabe Newell Understands Half-Life Fans, Not Promising Any Sequels · · Score: 1

    The best stories have no "ending". Because a wrapped up sort of endings always feel a bit cliche and thin. But with so many possibilities open, it allows for user/player interpretation.

  2. The real issue was the Saturn on Is Sega the Next Atari? · · Score: 1

    Before there was sony entering there was the Saturn - which is really what caused the demise of Sega. The Saturn was basically the genesis - but a bit better. But not enough better to merit mass purchase. The last ditch attempt at the Dreamcast was really solid, but then they protection on the disks was too poor and piracy was just too easy. Though, I still occasionally dust off the game gear, genesis, or even the saturn if I want nostalgia kick, but it's easy to see why they went to the wayside.

  3. Re:Time to settle this on FAA Could Extend Property Rights On the Moon Through Regulation · · Score: 1

    Genius. I'm pretty sure this plan puts us on the road to ending world hunger.

  4. Time to settle this on FAA Could Extend Property Rights On the Moon Through Regulation · · Score: 1

    Why can't we just settle this like the five year olds we are. Just be the first to lick it and no one else will want it anyway.

  5. Slashdot interviews getting better? on Interviews: Dr. Robert Ballard Answers Your Questions · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would've wanted a bit more elaboration on some of his answers, but certainly an intriguing interviewee. Going into a deep sea submersable take far more faith in engineering than I have - so props for that.

  6. Re:Visualization on Ask Slashdot: How Do I Engage 5th-8th Graders In Computing? · · Score: 1

    Just to add some additional thoughts: It's great if you already have some code written. Let them modify it and see what happens. Like for example with the planetary simulation. It starts off with earth in standard orbit with a trace on it's path. Then you can use a slider (or even hard code and recompile) to adjust the mass of the earth/sun and watch it change. Or make an asteroid hit the earth at an angle and see - adjust the mass/velocity/dirction and watch it change. And with the path trace you can make cool patterns. This helps keep them from having to deal with having to understand a lot of the boring stuff that if they really enjoy it, they can learn later - while still keeping the interest of those who just want to make pretty things.

  7. Visualization on Ask Slashdot: How Do I Engage 5th-8th Graders In Computing? · · Score: 3, Informative
    You definitely want to jump into visually doing stuff as quick as possible. That age group wants to see things happen. "hello world" is nice, but not super exciting. Naturally, minecraft has been mentioned. So maybe doing command blocks or things like that (Maybe even some java to make a plugin or mod - but that is probably a bit advanced for an into).

    I've use EJS (Easy Java Simulations) before to make quick visualizations. It's a bit more science/physics based but might be pretty neat. Like showing a rocket go the moon (and physically accurate!) http://fem.um.es/Ejs/

    Another tool is vPython. It's nice because it is in python and can be neat - again, I mostly used it for physics stuff, like simulating planetary orbits, but being python, you can show these things in just a handful lines of code. It'd be a great way to crossfunctionally do science and computing. http://vpython.org/

  8. Still ignoring the big issue with graphene. on Graphene: Reversible Method of Magnetic Doping Paves Way For Semiconductor Use · · Score: 2

    It's fine to make graphene do all these goodies. We still have to find a way to manufacture it more efficiently... other than getting a lot of pencils and scotch tape :D

  9. Lowest hanging fruit. on New Google Fiber Cities Announced · · Score: 2

    I feel like Google's tended to pick places that tend to be underserved in terms of technology and education. The southeast is definitely a good place to start...

  10. Re:Why isn't the KKK a terrorist organization? on Blogger Who Revealed GOP Leader's KKK Ties Had Home Internet Lines Cut · · Score: 2

    Because they're OUR terrorists. Which are natrually not nearly as bad as THEIR terrorists.

  11. Sounds like their issue, not mine. on Blackberry CEO: Net Neutrality Means Mandating Cross-Platform Apps · · Score: 2

    Meh, make it so the code I write for iOS/Android works on the BB OS.

  12. Mix purchasing model. on Microsoft Reveals Windows 10 Will Be a Free Upgrade · · Score: 1
    I really don't think that M$ (or maybe that is hope) will go into only OS subscription, maybe an OS + office + other goodies subscription that'll allow users to not have to lock in their versions. However, I feel like they know some will always want a buy it, keep it style. Similar to how Adobe now has the creative commons subscription as well as the standard buy it for their products.

    With regard to the free update, it just makes sense. It'll allow earlier adoption, improving the new OSs market share from ther very beginning so they aren't banking on PC sales and the early adopters who want the latest thing and then reduce issues when the phase an OS out.

  13. Re:Biased, but... on Ask Slashdot: Linux Database GUI Application Development? · · Score: 1

    I have to agree - python just makes life easier.

  14. The beast and the hero on Microsoft Ends Mainstream Support For Windows 7 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I feel like windows makes one-bad, one-good alternating OSs because they need to make the monster and then the savior. So like many others, I hope windows 10 does everyone a solid.

  15. Re:wut? on Little-Known Programming Languages That Actually Pay · · Score: 1

    Matlab just isn't used that much by the IT workforce. Mostly non-software engineering. Sure it's pretty well known, but not that many programming jobs require or even mention it. Not to mention, what's all this "arrays' start at one... this isn't FORTRAN.

  16. World domination. on The One Mistake Google Keeps Making · · Score: 1

    What it comes down to is that google has incredibly profitable aspects of their company that allow them to fund the more futurescape products. Certainly there are patents and other fringe economical benefits to these. But in the end, every technological revolution starts small. Lots of prototypes and mistakes untile the groundwork is layed for others to build on. In the past this has been hobbyists and garage tinkerers. Google is creating this same environment with real money and time thrown to help speed up the whole system. In the end, they are trying to certainly guide the future on their terms but also, they are trying to do the rest of us a freaking service by getting the awesome stuff here sooner. Say what you will about google's motives, but I do feel like they are trying to improve the world while they dominate it.

  17. Once every page and a half... on Amazon "Suppresses" Book With Too Many Hyphens · · Score: 1

    Over 100, so lets say there are 150. That's only one every 600 words for a 90,000 word book; basically it's only once every page and a half that it even occurs. Is it really that big of a deal? Not to mention fantasy tends to used the hyphen pretty regularly in names/places. It really just seems an odd thing to attack and try to minimize by the distributor. My guess is that they had one issue and now is just creating other issues. Silly amazon being silly as usual.

  18. Only viable a secondary option. on In Iowa, a Phone App Could Serve As Driver's License · · Score: 1
    I would say this would be an optional secondary method would be neat. However, I could see people forgetting about their physical copies (and then losing them) that could naturally lead to issues when the batteries died or they travelled out of state - where they might not accept electronic copies.

    And this would be a concern about phone privacy. Because by handing it unlocked with the intent to let them view content, you're basically handing them keys to the castle for any information on you phone. Which is why I'd see this only ever being a secondary option for the forseeable future.

    Also, I'd like to see how this could handle when the car was being operated by not the owner. Some sort of temporary driving permission would be pretty cool.

    It's definitely a neat idea, but the legal implications are definitely an issue

  19. The extra one on The Case For Flipping Your Monitor From Landscape to Portrait · · Score: 1

    I've always thought that it's great to have an extra monitor be portrait. But I'm just too old school to commit my primary monitor to it (also I deal with a lot of tables/spread sheets of many columns. I'd prefer to see an entire entry than a few columns of many entires. But in the end it's all on what you do and how you do it.

  20. Re:Definitely a neat little board. on $35 Quad-core Hacker SBC Offers Raspberry Pi-like Size and I/O · · Score: 1

    Most of what I've done with the Pi tends to have at least some sort of basic audio output. It's rather nice to just push it out of the 1/8" rather than convert from the HDMI. I guess I should have put a disclaimer in there -> [for my needs]

  21. Definitely a neat little board. on $35 Quad-core Hacker SBC Offers Raspberry Pi-like Size and I/O · · Score: 1

    I'm torn over forcing audio out of HDMI. Though to keep the cost down, you have cut some things to add others. This is definitely a neat little board and would be great for a mini test cluster. But I feel like Pi still has that prototyping advantage. But I definitely am glad to see some similar priced alternatives in the market.

  22. At least have a buy option. on Microsoft's New Windows Monetization Methods Could Mean 'Subscriptions' · · Score: 1
    I feel like the subscription make sense with with high cost, high upgrade products. For example, the Adobe Create suite was brilliant to go to subscripotion. The master collection is a couple thousand dollars and is really only worth buying when it first comes out, because when they upgarde versions you stuck with the old stuff. However a subscription lets you get a for 50/month and you always have the latest goods.

    But with a core operating system, I could just seeing it being a major problem. Though even if they do it, at least provide a rent or buy option.

  23. Re:shouldn't this apply to software too? on Economist: US Congress Should Hack Digital Millennium Copyright Act · · Score: 2

    Typically, you're buying the license to use it, not the actual software itself. Buying an entire piece of software is a much more costly proposition.

  24. Re:The real question is on Google Confirms That It's Designing Kid-Friendly Versions of Its Services · · Score: 2

    That's going to be a serious problem. I don't know about other jurisdictions, but here it's illegal to target advertising to young kids.

    I see where you're coming from, but it'd be better than the political and weird stuff that comes up. I see it as there's no real difference between which commercials show up on Cartoon Network or any other kids oriented network. Just playing to the primary demographic.

  25. Kids are a challenge. Especially with software. on Google Confirms That It's Designing Kid-Friendly Versions of Its Services · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm really glad Google are taking this on. This is just a challenging age group because so much mental/cognative development occurs in this time. Something that is increadibly informative for a 7 year old can quite uninteresting to a 10 year old. Finding a way to make it instructive, intuitive, and generally usefull without alienating age groups will be challenging. I'm curious what they come up with.