China continues to ignore the slaughter of civilians in Darfur, and they're worried about their image being tarnished by ghost stories? Seems more like a story from The Onion rather than Reuters...
I enjoyed reading Wil Shipley's take on this and his somewhat humbling encounter with Nicholas Negroponte. Wil's conclusion for the those who don't want to read through it:
...So do you think Nicholas Negroponte will feel like he's lost if his OLPC initiative forces Intel and Microsoft to subsidize PCs for children in every developing nation in the world?
I do not.
Oh, sure, I know he's a proud man, and naturally part of him wants the credit for changing the world. And he'll be (validly) pissed that the Classmate is not based open source and that he's not able to prevent Microsoft from basically using this as a chance to infect the rest of the world with its blecherous software...
But deep down in his heart? He's laughing. He wins.
"I can't believe it. You post a message about a CPU on Slashdot that has an instruction called SEX and didn't try to make a joke out of it? You've really let us all down."
Well, sure, SEX is great, but SEP is way cooler. (Er, maybe I've been married too long...)
Too bad the CDP1802's architect, Joe Weisbecker, didn't live to see his microprocessor become the first in interstellar space. Coincidentally, this month also marks the 30th anniversary of his Popular Electronics article on the COSMAC ELF; Nuts and Volts magazine is covering it.
Thanks for your detailed response; I did, in fact, misunderstand where you were coming from with your previous comments.
All I'll add is that I don't believe Christians can be painted with such a broad brush. I think many of the truest Christians I've met do, in fact, question their faith, and struggle to accept some of the Bible's teachings. And while I consider myself Christian, I've also voted against Bush in two elections, and I've never understood the justification for invading Iraq.
Religion --- and not just Christianity --- has been twisted by politicians to serve their purposes throughout history, no question. Yet it would be rather one-sided to ignore the good that often does grow from the seeds of religion. One could view Christianity as a means to lead people into conflict, but one can also see it at work founding soup kitchens, womens shelters, relief efforts, and more.
Thanks again for the interesting discussion, and for tolerating my pulling it way off-topic.
I can't get over the fact that people read the Bible without recognizing that it was a document created by people.
Putting aside your personal beliefs for a moment, it's important to understand that Christians regard the Bible as the inspired word of God. Written by 40 or so authors over many hundreds of years, but divinely directed by a single entity. I'm not saying you have to believe that, but I am saying that such understanding is required if you want to grasp the motivations of Christians. So yes, you can get over the fact, it just takes a little study, empathy, and common sense.
People are corruptible and manipulable, and there were certainly governments 2000 years ago with power and secret services and propaganda departments bent on social molding and subjugation on their minds.
Yeah, but there's a lot of Biblical doctrine that doesn't seem to fit the mold, never mind the fact that its authors spanned many years and cultures. But sticking to the context, Revelations is one strange book that would be hard to put to such a purpose...
I am of the opinion that the 666 stuff in the bible is designed to freak people out and make them thrash around and fill up with lots of fear and chaotic feelings which specifically serve the Beast.
...take 666 as an example. Very specific, but in application, utterly vague. And a prediction about such a mark must have seemed very bizarre at the time. Fear and chaotic feelings? To what end? That could work either for or against the authors, unless they were aware of some impending Roman plot to tattoo everyone. I am unaware of any historical basis to support such an idea, though.
God doesn't care what you do.
Hang on a minute, I thought we were in Revelations, you know, New Testament Christian doctrine. Now we're on a different gameboard. The God of the Christians cares very much about the choices people make.
God is infinite. God is everything, 'good' and 'bad'. A piece of God, (the dark side), might certainly issue instructions and fear-mongering through books like the bible to a bunch of other pieces of God, (us humans),
The... dark side? And we're pieces of God rather than (as Christians believe) separate beings created in his image? Hmm, well, that mixes in a little eastern thought, I guess, and might rub against some gnostic writings. But, in any case, it most definitely is not Christian, and it will certainly not aid your understanding of Christian beliefs.
but how you react to that fear mongering is up to you. There is no punishment at the pearly gates. That's bullshit. Punishment comes from little pieces of God with negative intent; our slave drivers and masters. You can avoid that pain by being careful and staying aware and acting smart.
Here's the thing: nobody can understand why Christians act and react as they do until they make an effort to understand what the Bible says. It's also helpful to learn about some of the history of the Bible's creation. You can choose whether or not to believe it, of course, but you'll at least have some working knowledge of what many other people believe. It's a more productive approach than simply attacking someone else's theology based on one's own.
Running around in fear of getting the 'Mark' is bullshit. I'll avoid RFID for my own reasons. Not because I am instructed by some bullshit book.
The world contains a wide variety of people with a wide range of beliefs and values, and there will be a good deal less suffering and bloodshed in the world when we take the time to try and understand one another, and to treat each other with respect.
The COSMAC ELF still has its fans. There's a history site (links to many other sites besides), an active discussion group, even an updated kit (the trick is finding an 1802!).
I think from the discussions I've seen at SpreadFirefox.com that there's awareness that the counter is really just a promotional tool, and that it can't possibly reflect an accurate count of users. You might download it 20 times; someone else might download it once and deploy it across a company of 200 employees.
As a promotional tool, it's successful, but the meaningful numbers are usage statistics. Those are the numbers that web designers need to consider when creating content. By that measure, Firefox is also doing well.
The SpreadFirefox team sent this email out to registered users:
The Spread Firefox Team became aware this week that the server hosting Spread Firefox, our community marketing site, has been accessed by unknown remote attackers who attempted to exploit a security vulnerability in TWiki software installed on the server. The TWiki software was disabled as soon as we were aware of the attempts to access SpreadFirefox.com. This exploit was limited to SpreadFirefox.com and did not affect mozilla.org web sites or Mozilla software.
We have scanned Spread Firefox servers and at this time do not believe any sensitive data was taken, but as a precautionary measure we have shutdown the site and will be rebuilding the web site from scratch. We also recommend that you change your Spread Firefox password and the password of any accounts where you use the same password as your Spread Firefox account. We will notify you again when the site is back up with instructions on how to change your password. (Note: We do use MD5 hashing on the passwords, but MD5 cannot protect all passwords against off-line dictionary style attacks.)
After Spread Firefox was compromised in July, we instituted procedures to ensure that we apply all security fixes to the software running the site (Drupal and PHP) as soon as they become available. Unfortunately, those procedures overlooked the installation of the TWiki software since it is not used by the main Spread Firefox site. When the system is rebuilt, all the software will be audited to ensure that security updates will be applied in a timely manner. We deeply regret this incident and any inconvenience this may have caused you. Sincerely,
"...And if anyone believes that organized religion is anything but another government, theyre are totally kidding themselves..."
Oh, totally, dude! Why, this very minute a Mormon-organized group is building a road on the next block, and this afternoon the Buddhists are dropping by to appraise my house. So I'm just hanging out today. No matter. The Pope still hasn't got around to renewing my drivers license, anyway. Now, off to sacrifice a few virgins to Quetzalcoatl to pay the sewer and water bill...
You might care because if most people are using a different browser, web developers may target it specifically and leave you with a less satisfying experience. Standards are great, but in the real world developers often choose to follow the masses rather than standards.
In short, the browser other people choose does affect you.
The machines I've had trouble with have been a Compaq Aero with Windows 95, an HP OmniBook 4150A running Windows 2000, and, most recently, a Dell Latitude running Windows XP SP1. I have a Dell D600 due in within a few days with XP SP2 on it, and I'm hoping that fares better.
I've heard nice things about the Thinkpads, but my corporate masters make such choices for me.
However that might sound, I'm sure they do this out of love.
You can use Python instead of AppleScript via Appscript. I'm just learning Python at the moment and haven't tried this, but it looks interesting. You can also use PyObjC to combine the best of Python and Objective-C/Cocoa into a single app. And the excellent editors by Bare Bones Software, BBEdit and TextWrangler have great support for Python.
OS X 10.3 has Python 2.3 pre-installed. I'm not sure which version will be supplied with Tiger.
Overall Python support looks very strong on OS X, and with the number of FOSS developers giving the platform a try I think this will only get better.
"...The success of products like the HX-20 and the TRS-80 Model 100, which followed in 1983, was phenomenal. Epson sold a quarter million HX-20s, and the laptop moniker stuck in many circles, even after the industry had long since abandoned this limited form factor..."
As a developer, one of the things that you should factor into a Mac purchase is the cost of the development tools. Sure, free tools exist on both Windows and OS X platforms, so it's a draw for tools like Java/Eclipse, gcc, etc. But OS X comes bundled with the very capable XCode and Interface Builder IDE, whereas Microsoft's Visual Studio will set you back a few hundred bucks. While I don't think it's possible to directly compare those two products, the point is that a very rich set of development tools can be figured into the value of a Mac purchase.
Have a look at the XCode tools and see if that doesn't make a Mac purchase a little more appealing.
Another response already addressed prebinding, so I'll just add this...
Plain old C links just fine with Objective-C, so optimize that 5% of code that's causing 95% of your performance bottleneck in C, if you like. Meantime the features of Objective-C and Cocoa/GNUStep have (hopefully!) made you more productive, either getting you to market quicker or giving you the time and tools to add more bells and whistles.
All tools have their tradeoffs, and choosing the right tool and optimization strategy is part of the game. If raw performance were the sole criteria for choosing a development tool, we'd all be using assembly language.;)
It starts with a "K", but it's not for KDE. It's windows only. This violates an essential rule of software. If it's called "kfoo", it's for kde, "gfoo" -- gnome, "xfoo" -- graphical cousin to pre-existing "foo" cli application, "yfoo" -- I don't know. Why foo?
Slashdot Mirror
China continues to ignore the slaughter of civilians in Darfur, and they're worried about their image being tarnished by ghost stories? Seems more like a story from The Onion rather than Reuters...
Yes and no.
Too bad the CDP1802's architect, Joe Weisbecker, didn't live to see his microprocessor become the first in interstellar space. Coincidentally, this month also marks the 30th anniversary of his Popular Electronics article on the COSMAC ELF; Nuts and Volts magazine is covering it.
Thanks for your detailed response; I did, in fact, misunderstand where you were coming from with your previous comments.
All I'll add is that I don't believe Christians can be painted with such a broad brush. I think many of the truest Christians I've met do, in fact, question their faith, and struggle to accept some of the Bible's teachings. And while I consider myself Christian, I've also voted against Bush in two elections, and I've never understood the justification for invading Iraq.
Religion --- and not just Christianity --- has been twisted by politicians to serve their purposes throughout history, no question. Yet it would be rather one-sided to ignore the good that often does grow from the seeds of religion. One could view Christianity as a means to lead people into conflict, but one can also see it at work founding soup kitchens, womens shelters, relief efforts, and more.
Thanks again for the interesting discussion, and for tolerating my pulling it way off-topic.
Putting aside your personal beliefs for a moment, it's important to understand that Christians regard the Bible as the inspired word of God. Written by 40 or so authors over many hundreds of years, but divinely directed by a single entity. I'm not saying you have to believe that, but I am saying that such understanding is required if you want to grasp the motivations of Christians. So yes, you can get over the fact, it just takes a little study, empathy, and common sense.
Yeah, but there's a lot of Biblical doctrine that doesn't seem to fit the mold, never mind the fact that its authors spanned many years and cultures. But sticking to the context, Revelations is one strange book that would be hard to put to such a purpose...
...take 666 as an example. Very specific, but in application, utterly vague. And a prediction about such a mark must have seemed very bizarre at the time. Fear and chaotic feelings? To what end? That could work either for or against the authors, unless they were aware of some impending Roman plot to tattoo everyone. I am unaware of any historical basis to support such an idea, though.
Hang on a minute, I thought we were in Revelations, you know, New Testament Christian doctrine. Now we're on a different gameboard. The God of the Christians cares very much about the choices people make.
The... dark side? And we're pieces of God rather than (as Christians believe) separate beings created in his image? Hmm, well, that mixes in a little eastern thought, I guess, and might rub against some gnostic writings. But, in any case, it most definitely is not Christian, and it will certainly not aid your understanding of Christian beliefs.
Here's the thing: nobody can understand why Christians act and react as they do until they make an effort to understand what the Bible says. It's also helpful to learn about some of the history of the Bible's creation. You can choose whether or not to believe it, of course, but you'll at least have some working knowledge of what many other people believe. It's a more productive approach than simply attacking someone else's theology based on one's own.
The world contains a wide variety of people with a wide range of beliefs and values, and there will be a good deal less suffering and bloodshed in the world when we take the time to try and understand one another, and to treat each other with respect.
The COSMAC ELF still has its fans. There's a history site (links to many other sites besides), an active discussion group, even an updated kit (the trick is finding an 1802!).
There are numerous emulators around as well: Unix/Linux/Windows, OS X, Palm... even an emulator in Javascript!
Great little computers to learn on...
I think from the discussions I've seen at SpreadFirefox.com that there's awareness that the counter is really just a promotional tool, and that it can't possibly reflect an accurate count of users. You might download it 20 times; someone else might download it once and deploy it across a company of 200 employees.
As a promotional tool, it's successful, but the meaningful numbers are usage statistics. Those are the numbers that web designers need to consider when creating content. By that measure, Firefox is also doing well.
You might care because if most people are using a different browser, web developers may target it specifically and leave you with a less satisfying experience. Standards are great, but in the real world developers often choose to follow the masses rather than standards.
In short, the browser other people choose does affect you.
The machines I've had trouble with have been a Compaq Aero with Windows 95, an HP OmniBook 4150A running Windows 2000, and, most recently, a Dell Latitude running Windows XP SP1. I have a Dell D600 due in within a few days with XP SP2 on it, and I'm hoping that fares better.
I've heard nice things about the Thinkpads, but my corporate masters make such choices for me.
However that might sound, I'm sure they do this out of love.
Now, Apple might have a case, though they call it "sleep"... but I've yet to own a Windows laptop that would consistently wake up without crashing.
Microsoft will sue when researchers work out how to reboot badly fragmented laboratory animals.
You can use Python instead of AppleScript via Appscript. I'm just learning Python at the moment and haven't tried this, but it looks interesting. You can also use PyObjC to combine the best of Python and Objective-C/Cocoa into a single app. And the excellent editors by Bare Bones Software, BBEdit and TextWrangler have great support for Python.
OS X 10.3 has Python 2.3 pre-installed. I'm not sure which version will be supplied with Tiger.
Overall Python support looks very strong on OS X, and with the number of FOSS developers giving the platform a try I think this will only get better.
Here's a good overview of Core Data if that interview left you saying "Sounds great, but what is it?"
The color scheme doesn't really appeal to me, either, but I think it's worth it to get a look at a machine sporting a wooden keyboard.
Here's an 1802 based handheld computer from 25 years ago, complete with specs and schematics.
As a developer, one of the things that you should factor into a Mac purchase is the cost of the development tools. Sure, free tools exist on both Windows and OS X platforms, so it's a draw for tools like Java/Eclipse, gcc, etc. But OS X comes bundled with the very capable XCode and Interface Builder IDE, whereas Microsoft's Visual Studio will set you back a few hundred bucks. While I don't think it's possible to directly compare those two products, the point is that a very rich set of development tools can be figured into the value of a Mac purchase.
Have a look at the XCode tools and see if that doesn't make a Mac purchase a little more appealing.
Another response already addressed prebinding, so I'll just add this...
;)
Plain old C links just fine with Objective-C, so optimize that 5% of code that's causing 95% of your performance bottleneck in C, if you like. Meantime the features of Objective-C and Cocoa/GNUStep have (hopefully!) made you more productive, either getting you to market quicker or giving you the time and tools to add more bells and whistles.
There are also ways to optimize Objective-C code to do stuff like taking the call overhead out of loops.
All tools have their tradeoffs, and choosing the right tool and optimization strategy is part of the game. If raw performance were the sole criteria for choosing a development tool, we'd all be using assembly language.
We don't live on an electron; it's a strange quark.