English is considered by linguists to be one of the hardest languages to learn, because it doesn't really follow any of its own rules.
I'd really like to know where you are getting that from; I've heard that sentiment before, but only from native English speakers.
As someone who had to learn English (and attempted a few others), I can tell you that it's far and away one of the easiest languages you can learn (assuming your native language is somewhere in the Indo-European family).
English can't really follow its rules because it doesn't have any:
there isn't a noun case system to speak of (pronouns can have up to three cases - almost two dozen forms to memorize!)
there's minimal word agreement
word order is mainly only used for emphasis
there are basically only two tenses, with most tense/aspect forms created with auxiliary verbs
you need to learn three non-finite forms for verbs, the vast majority of which are regular, and the ones that aren't are usually irregular for obvious morphological reasons (yes, the irregular exceptions are fairly "regular" in their own way)
(Not that I'm saying any of this is bad - it makes English a very flexible, though somewhat less expressive language)
It's true that English has a lot of idiomatic usage (and a fairly extensive vocabulary), but that only matters if you are trying to become as proficient as a native speaker.
Learning enough English for effective communication is easier than with almost any other language.
I can't imagine that it would establish itself as suspicious high-level events such as meteorite impacts or whatever "chance" events people are going on about.
You clearly have no understanding of theoretical physics. You are probably one of those people who doesn't believe that in the many-worlds interpretation decoherence hinges entirely on human actions, resulting in universes which are primarily distinguished by the clothing and facial hairstyle choices of their respective inhabitants, thus providing material for lazy TV science fiction writers.
Yes, very good point. If something really unlikely happens, we should have a good unlikely explanation ready. It's good we are starting now, so we can be ready when something really unlikely happens.
I know a bit about SharePoint (they've inflicted it on us at work) and as far as I can tell, the best alternative to SharePoint is Not Using SharePoint. Everything beyond that is basically gravy.
There's always this: http://www.alfresco.com/ though I haven't looked at it in a few years, so I can't really comment on how good it is.
I agree, it's "nothing more" than simple collocations, but I'm not sure how that's a critique.
It's a useful application of a well-understood technique in statistical NLP - hell, it's probably the single most elementary concept from statistical NLP. Applying existing techniques is not usually considered innovation.
This is probably premature, but I've even heard some pundits compare SIP to PageRank.
That's silly, but then I don't expect anything else from "pundits".
I haven't met a single european who would consider russians european, they're slavs.
What the hell are you talking about? All Slavic countries are in Europe, as are most of the Russian Slavs; most of the people living in the Asian part of Russia are, obviously, not Slavic.
I know it's shocking, but "Central Europe" and "Eastern Europe" are part of "Europe".
So tell me - if cursive writing is lost, who is going to write the mom notes for those poor children of the future?
Um, the parents of the future are the kids of today - they ones that can't write anymore. If anything, this makes things easier for the future children.
From TFA: "Lab researchers who work with the bacteria would typically wear gloves, a lab coat and protective goggles, and the bacteria would be disposed of in a biohazard bag and heated for about two hours, Alexander said."
So, BSL1, the "Maybe don't keep it in the same fridge as your lunch" level.
Apparently you only need BSL2 to work with (unmodified) Y. pestis, though (CDC link), so it's not exactly "special procedures", either.
Slashdot Mirror
I'd really like to know where you are getting that from; I've heard that sentiment before, but only from native English speakers.
As someone who had to learn English (and attempted a few others), I can tell you that it's far and away one of the easiest languages you can learn (assuming your native language is somewhere in the Indo-European family).
English can't really follow its rules because it doesn't have any:
(Not that I'm saying any of this is bad - it makes English a very flexible, though somewhat less expressive language)
It's true that English has a lot of idiomatic usage (and a fairly extensive vocabulary), but that only matters if you are trying to become as proficient as a native speaker.
Learning enough English for effective communication is easier than with almost any other language.
It's always been a word for writers, not used in conversation. Wait, you're just now finding out you're a douchebag?
Well damn my eyes, I think I've been using writers' words for years without even realizing it!
I can't imagine that it would establish itself as suspicious high-level events such as meteorite impacts or whatever "chance" events people are going on about.
You clearly have no understanding of theoretical physics. You are probably one of those people who doesn't believe that in the many-worlds interpretation decoherence hinges entirely on human actions, resulting in universes which are primarily distinguished by the clothing and facial hairstyle choices of their respective inhabitants, thus providing material for lazy TV science fiction writers.
Yes, very good point. If something really unlikely happens, we should have a good unlikely explanation ready. It's good we are starting now, so we can be ready when something really unlikely happens.
Wait, "serendipity" is a pretentious word now?
There's nothing wrong with Matrix 2 and 3
Sure, if you don't consider sucking to be "wrong".
Grow some balls and explain that to the people at the top. You had something that worked and that people used.
Heh, man, "real life" is going to be a rude awakening for you after college (or high school?).
I know a bit about SharePoint (they've inflicted it on us at work) and as far as I can tell, the best alternative to SharePoint is Not Using SharePoint. Everything beyond that is basically gravy.
There's always this: http://www.alfresco.com/ though I haven't looked at it in a few years, so I can't really comment on how good it is.
This gets posted in most "audiophile" threads and it still blows my mind every time.
Seriously, is there not limit to the bullshit people will believe?
Wow. Just, wow.
I agree, it's "nothing more" than simple collocations, but I'm not sure how that's a critique.
It's a useful application of a well-understood technique in statistical NLP - hell, it's probably the single most elementary concept from statistical NLP. Applying existing techniques is not usually considered innovation.
This is probably premature, but I've even heard some pundits compare SIP to PageRank.
That's silly, but then I don't expect anything else from "pundits".
as well as Amazon's statistically improbable phrases (SIP) algorithm
The SIPs seem to be nothing more than simple collocations - it's a fun feature, but how exactly is it innovative?
Do you have to have smision to be able to detect it?
You've just described about 90% of all jobs.
The advice still applies - that other 10% does exist.
I haven't met a single european who would consider russians european, they're slavs.
What the hell are you talking about? All Slavic countries are in Europe, as are most of the Russian Slavs; most of the people living in the Asian part of Russia are, obviously, not Slavic.
I know it's shocking, but "Central Europe" and "Eastern Europe" are part of "Europe".
Unless the elected leaders of Debian all go insane at the same time, not very likely.
Given their history, that scenario is not all that unlikely. (Not that I think they would move to BSD...)
Blood pressure is commonly measured by listening with a stethescope for the pressure at which the pulse becomes audible.
You don't so much listen to the pulse (which you can't), as for blood flow through the artery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korotkoff_sounds
The method still relies on systolic/diastolic differences, but it seems like the same general principle could be used to measure non-varying bp.
Google Code doesn't host projects?
Not that it's some sort of revolutionary technology...
Turkey has banned Myspace
Good for them.
So tell me - if cursive writing is lost, who is going to write the mom notes for those poor children of the future?
Um, the parents of the future are the kids of today - they ones that can't write anymore. If anything, this makes things easier for the future children.
Just about every kind of identity in the U.S. seems wrapped around what one does, what one has or his position.
Right, because we don't have things like gender, race, or age in the US.
Anyway, sorry to disrupt the "I'm so damn straight!" fest.
What biosafety level (if any) is the lab?
From TFA: "Lab researchers who work with the bacteria would typically wear gloves, a lab coat and protective goggles, and the bacteria would be disposed of in a biohazard bag and heated for about two hours, Alexander said."
So, BSL1, the "Maybe don't keep it in the same fridge as your lunch" level.
Apparently you only need BSL2 to work with (unmodified) Y. pestis, though (CDC link), so it's not exactly "special procedures", either.
Has anyone mentioned that he's being taxed through the gasoline tax, yet?
That is a bold statement sir. Can I assume you have some data to back up that claim?
Here you go: http://twitter.com/
All the startups reverse engineering Space-Shuttle-compatible launch vehicles in their garages and undercutting the United Space Alliance on price?
They aren't so much reverse engineering as following established standards, but yeah, basically that's exactly what's happening.