Who said it was meant to be journalism? It's my blog on computing. I write what I like. If you don't like it you can get your money back when you leave. If you want journalism then you shouldn't start from here.
Sorry you didn't like the article. I have written a few other pieces on UC on the blog and maybe they make it clearer (or maybe not! De gustibus non est disputandum).
For background in late 2010 the DWP announced at an Institute of Government seminar in Whitehall (that I attended) that they would use "agile" to deliver UC. The seminar was a real Emperor's New Clothes affair as lots of small development companies were in the room and they all thought/hoped they'd get a chunk of the action - nobody (including me - I was just a lowly computer science MSc student) dared to say what seemed obvious to me - that this was a massive mission criticial project that it was a mistake to use an experimental (for the government) development methodology on to meet a political - as opposed to evidence - defined timetable on. My gripe is not with agile per se - strip away the corporate hoopla and it seems to make a lot of sense to me. My fear is that "agile" was seized upon by politicians who know nothing about software development as a way of solving their problems and defining themselves positively against the previous Labour government (declaration of interest: I worked in a political role for that government).
Because they are actively selling goods they must know to be unfit for purpose. What if a retailer sold you something they said was wine when it was simply water? Would you not think that was an issue even if they did it thousands of times and refused to stop when the problem was pointed out to them?
Incidentally you have mixed streamaing up with setting. Setting - which is "absolutely set in each subject according to ability, moving people up and down at intervals according to performance" is very much used in English secondary schools as I know from my own children's experience. Streaming is something very different - and it is a good thing it has been wiped out.
The idea that state education has been "demolished" is of course offensive nonsense.
I was taught a substantial amount of matrix maths for 'O' level - part of the "new maths" curriculum. As I am just on the cusp of the "micro revolution generation" there was no obvious connection with computers or computer graphics made and it seemed like pretty much a waste of time back then (sat the exam in 1982). For instance it was not taught at A level at all.
Now I can see its use (and obviously it also has uses in the physical sciences - eg describing relativistic space-time and so on) but not back then.
Actually he's Secretary of State for the whole UK and has some duties in this regard, but yes, he's responsible for the curriculum only in England, so the story is correct to focus only on England.
As a "gentleman" was someone who did not have to work for a living, I shall not mourn their passing: though actually there are plenty of idle rich in this world.
"When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then a gentleman?"
Back in the day - or rather the last time I was paying a lot of attention to/. - all BSD articles were flooded by that "BSD is dying... blah, blah confirms it" story (I believe the kids call it a "meme" but I am too old for that).
Now they are not here: is this because they are blocked before they get posted or because it was one obsessive who died/finally had a beer/discovered masturbation or because the idea just, errr, died?
Really interested to know what the answer to this one is.
I have a science degree and 25 years later I am now doing a masters in Comp Sci and rediscovering my love of maths and science. But I have never worked in science. When I graduated from university I could have gone to make weapons (legitimate career but for me? no thanks) and do something else, so I did something else.
But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that scientists are, in general, more likely to be poorly socialised males. Certainly when I was at university the first time the "computer hackers" were all people I'd rather stay well away from. Some had personal hygiene issues, but mostly they were boorish and boring.
Sorry, but that's the way it is. Maybe a lot of people just want no part of that culture?
"Horribly flawed"? That's bit strong. For sure I used the wrong acronym for NP but it is certainly true that the NP problems can be computed in polynomial time, it is just that it is non-deterministic polynomial time.
I did write it a little while ago and I know more now than then, but I don't think it's so bad as an explanation for beginners as to the difference between P and NP
How could anything with that inferior breed of chip be better than a Z80 based machine?
Actually, the truth is that the C64 was a rich kids computer. It was rather more expensive than the Spectrum (never mind the ZX81) - if your parents were reluctant to shell out for a little box they probably didn't understand why would they prepared to spend the same amount again - and some more - to get another one?
That said I used to love the Commodore PET machines we had in school (high school).
Slashdot Mirror
Who said it was meant to be journalism? It's my blog on computing. I write what I like. If you don't like it you can get your money back when you leave. If you want journalism then you shouldn't start from here.
Sorry you didn't like the article. I have written a few other pieces on UC on the blog and maybe they make it clearer (or maybe not! De gustibus non est disputandum).
For background in late 2010 the DWP announced at an Institute of Government seminar in Whitehall (that I attended) that they would use "agile" to deliver UC. The seminar was a real Emperor's New Clothes affair as lots of small development companies were in the room and they all thought/hoped they'd get a chunk of the action - nobody (including me - I was just a lowly computer science MSc student) dared to say what seemed obvious to me - that this was a massive mission criticial project that it was a mistake to use an experimental (for the government) development methodology on to meet a political - as opposed to evidence - defined timetable on.
My gripe is not with agile per se - strip away the corporate hoopla and it seems to make a lot of sense to me. My fear is that "agile" was seized upon by politicians who know nothing about software development as a way of solving their problems and defining themselves positively against the previous Labour government (declaration of interest: I worked in a political role for that government).
If Microsoft's allegations are true and there is no reasonably technical justification for it then there is nothing to celebrate here.
Of course, my first reaction was "payback's a bitch" like many others, but in the end a monopoly based on Linux is still a monopoly.
How do you do this?
Because they are actively selling goods they must know to be unfit for purpose.
What if a retailer sold you something they said was wine when it was simply water? Would you not think that was an issue even if they did it thousands of times and refused to stop when the problem was pointed out to them?
Incidentally you have mixed streamaing up with setting. Setting - which is "absolutely set in each subject according to ability, moving people up and down at intervals according to performance" is very much used in English secondary schools as I know from my own children's experience. Streaming is something very different - and it is a good thing it has been wiped out.
The idea that state education has been "demolished" is of course offensive nonsense.
I was taught a substantial amount of matrix maths for 'O' level - part of the "new maths" curriculum. As I am just on the cusp of the "micro revolution generation" there was no obvious connection with computers or computer graphics made and it seemed like pretty much a waste of time back then (sat the exam in 1982). For instance it was not taught at A level at all.
Now I can see its use (and obviously it also has uses in the physical sciences - eg describing relativistic space-time and so on) but not back then.
Actually he's Secretary of State for the whole UK and has some duties in this regard, but yes, he's responsible for the curriculum only in England, so the story is correct to focus only on England.
his accomplishments in the field of technology
Which are? Oh yeh, a program that downloads mail from a POP3 mailbox.
"Very polemic move"? What the hell does that mean? Is this website not in English any more?
Mark me down as troll/flamebait, whatever. But at least do it in English
As a "gentleman" was someone who did not have to work for a living, I shall not mourn their passing: though actually there are plenty of idle rich in this world.
"When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then a gentleman?"
If it wasn't in the cosmos until today, where was it?
You betcha.
I heard his library burnt down and he was very disappointed at the loss of his books.
He hadn't finished colouring them all in.
Could be a useful training tool for a team. But it sort of tells you why geeks never get the girls :)
Back in the day - or rather the last time I was paying a lot of attention to /. - all BSD articles were flooded by that "BSD is dying... blah, blah confirms it" story (I believe the kids call it a "meme" but I am too old for that).
Now they are not here: is this because they are blocked before they get posted or because it was one obsessive who died/finally had a beer/discovered masturbation or because the idea just, errr, died?
Really interested to know what the answer to this one is.
Plenty? Yep, cannot move for all that big iron.
I have a science degree and 25 years later I am now doing a masters in Comp Sci and rediscovering my love of maths and science. But I have never worked in science. When I graduated from university I could have gone to make weapons (legitimate career but for me? no thanks) and do something else, so I did something else. But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that scientists are, in general, more likely to be poorly socialised males. Certainly when I was at university the first time the "computer hackers" were all people I'd rather stay well away from. Some had personal hygiene issues, but mostly they were boorish and boring. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Maybe a lot of people just want no part of that culture?
Guess you are going to have to move to Europe.
"Horribly flawed"? That's bit strong. For sure I used the wrong acronym for NP but it is certainly true that the NP problems can be computed in polynomial time, it is just that it is non-deterministic polynomial time. I did write it a little while ago and I know more now than then, but I don't think it's so bad as an explanation for beginners as to the difference between P and NP
You are right, the language I used was imprecise.
How could anything with that inferior breed of chip be better than a Z80 based machine? Actually, the truth is that the C64 was a rich kids computer. It was rather more expensive than the Spectrum (never mind the ZX81) - if your parents were reluctant to shell out for a little box they probably didn't understand why would they prepared to spend the same amount again - and some more - to get another one? That said I used to love the Commodore PET machines we had in school (high school).
that is all
Not unless they've based themselves somewhere near Mumbles is my bet.
Working for them, maybe.
This lovely, ugly joke is brought to you by the Laugharne Stout Drinkers Forum.
It had "0" comments when I started and I still could not RTFA