because this is a better moderated forum with less noise from dumb/troll/flamebait commentors
reddit is great because of the breadth and diversity of comments...but it is still the 'open internet'...AMA's are anarchy
also/. just has better commenters for tech stuff
again, reddit has diversity which/. is sorely lacking, and valleywag.com is 'faster' on a few things...but/. still has the best comments
best to see it as *more* options not a competition...reddit, slashdot, and for me valleywag all have value added...for questions to some famous person i trust/. to get it right more than the others
Mr. Saltzberg, thanks for taking questions! It's much appreciated.
My question: Do the writers (or actors) ever ask you about your daily life or your experiences as a scientist? What non-scientific/factual input have they asked from you?
this is an interesting discussion...I always like reading what actual coders have to say
i was in middle school in the late 80s-early 90s and first used a computer running DOS...i understood coding conceptually & we did a few command line things, also formulas in spreadsheets...i learned coding mostly from doing database management...then got an MS in information and communication science which included getting our CCNA
in academia i used SSPS which has (IIRC) a python-like (maybe Fortran?) scripting language for hand coding your crosstabs & such
my degree was an Engineering degree but not coding per se...we only used code to solve a problem or set up a router
in my research work, the SSPS code view was actually really helpful...the only way I learned how to do all the high level statistics coding was by meeting with the head research scientist at our university (they oversee all the research projects) and had him tutor me for a semester
the kids graduating from my MS program were getting $50,000+ jobs left and right and really like their work...I always wanted to see a coding option for our program because we had all this great expensive Cisco shit and awesome computers but no one in our program ever **made** anything...we never made apps or anything like that, because really **none of us could code in those languages**
We are, of course, talking about MSN Messenger which is a client server instant messaging program similar to ICQ.
get over yourself...we're all impressed you know the back-end differences between programs that send text from one computer to another....but it's ***completely irrelevant***
Of course you are wrong; that was not the same
yes, they are...they are the "same" in every way that matters to this discussion...you're trolling by saying this, because those backend programming details are not relevant to a discussion about IM services being ended
the joy/wonder of instant messages were that they went *from any computer to any computer*
****that's what people have nostalgia for****
no one has nostalgia for MSN Messenger...maybe nostalgia thinking of how M$ tried to force you to use it systemically...sort of like sarcastic nostalgia for a horrible teacher in high school....sarcastic nostalgia
if you're dumb enough to misinterpret those quotation marks, and feel so strongly about pointing it out that you take the time to post a comment then you deserve to be humbled
responding to dumb/troll comments appropriately can involve vitriol
the WHATWG is the only reason HTML/CSS has had any relevant improvements and, most importantly, ****the W3C has been purposefully hampering HTML/CSS development****
if I'm right it's a big f-ing deal...no one has presented any counterpoint...
I know who invented the damn internet (not Behrners-Lee or Gore) and the whole notion that the abstraction that is the "world wide web" was somehow important to the **actual internet** is ridiculous
nit picking? i never put up a nit for you to pick! you're putting words in my mouth
non-tech media types say "Tim Behner's Lee, the man who invented the internet" all the time...it is a *common misconception*
Behner's-Lee didn't do anything especially noteworthy in the development of the internet...the 'world wide web' is just a marketing phrase...not noteworthy...his technical contributions were as part of a working group and many others have done much more noteworthy work
can we give the WHATWG the credit they deserve now?
the W3C (including "inventor of the internet" Behrners-Lee) intentionally retarded the development of new HTML & CSS standards in order to push for 'baked-in' DRM/tracking capability...
they couldn't get the changes into a version of HTML, so they sat on their thumbs and used process to keep HTML from progressing...repeat: W3C tried to keep new development of HTML from happening
enter WHATWG
we only have HTML5 & CSS3 because of WHATWG...look at the W3C...they **still** are on some 3.2.1.4 version of HTML
let's get HTML5.1 across all platforms and make it the permanent development channel...it practically is so already, but I want to see people integrate this important truth of the **development of the whole internet** into their (your!) schema for tech
it's is a software program that is used as **version control for making other software programs**
the version control system is not the program/code you are making...they are two separtate things completely...theoretically a text editor, discipline, and good filenames is all you need for "version control"
GitHub is a storage for *code*...not just "gits"....and we all know code is just alpha/numberic
so, in practice, as I said, it seems GitHub is becoming a kind of facebook for the 1337 haxxor set, b/c people can use it to show off their personal coding projects and use GitHub's space to host their own website
so the whole "git" thing is confusing because of how they bandy about words with overlapping meanings...but that's not the main point...my main question is about if others think GitHub is the facebook for haxxorz
abstract wacky names are antagonistic to rational thought...I'm **right** for expecting the name of thing to somehow relate to what it does...especially when a well understood nomenclature exists
that criticism, of the hype/nonsense language which causes users confusion, is valid...you can disagree, and hell even validly criticize my language usage, but whether or not your dumb business uses it has no bearing on my criticism of the name/function/marketing GitHub uses
GitHub has become a facebook.com alternative for the 1337 haxxor set and alot of people use it for free hosting to put up a personal site
that's my experience anyway...the idea is great, a website that hosts code for coding projects...but the whole abstraction layer of calling it a 'Git' still irks me...it's not a 'git' it's a computer file that contains code...
any frequent uses of GitHub care to comment? what does/. think?
haha i'm invoking the Stallman rule and hereby claim your 4 digit UID as my pwn...** jnik (1733) claimed**...i will now add it to my collection that I wear as charms on my necklace
ripping a DVD you either purchased legally (new or used) OR you legally borrowed from a library is LEGAL
it's fair use under the DMCA
now, if you put the DVD rip file on a filesharing network, maybe that's unethical, and if you charged money for it somehow that's illegal
ripping a DVD is fair use...selling or mass distributing is illegal...really if you don't understand these things you don't really belong here...i can't *actually* take your UID but you took it yourself, by posing as an AC instead of as 'jnik'...if you actually believed what you were saying you wouldn't need to post as AC...UID claimed in spirit
I'm a fan, for sure, but it seems that even casual fans like me can sort of see past the veneer of production. It's kind of in my nature to analyze a show (as it is w/ many on/. i'm sure) and pick apart their production decisions.
So, when it comes to Kari, Byron, and Grant...I think they should have seen this coming a decade ago.
They're great, and they added value to their presence over the years. I always liked their segments.
But if we're analyzing production decisions, it seems that they should have tried to get their agent to get them more work, or maybe a spin off...their presence was never going to be more than bit parts...part timer gigs. Even the popularity of the show can't make more time in the timeslot...it's just there was a maximum ammount they could physically contribute due to time constraints per episode.
I'm sure fans will remember the super-cool welder chick from, i'm guessing, seasons 2-5...she moved on and I figured the others would do the same, having a rotating cast of experts go in and out over the years...except for Kari...she seemed like a good foil for the guys.
Anyhow, Mythbusters was always better than it's show. You could tell that dumb network people were putting weird constraints on them...ex: voiceover narration from some random in Tasmania or w/e...and other parts...but it is always going to be great for what it is...
but yeah...IMHO the three of them should have seen this coming
I like that it seems there is a loose consensus here on/. about this issue...so what's the next step?
we must destroy all abusive companies
We're not just random consumers...the people who post here are the people who ***do the work*** and it's time we speak up...or speak up more.
We need to tell *everyone* that "customer dissatisfaction is a tech business model"...we need to talk about it at the water cooler, to our children, to our golfing/WoW/fantasy sports buddies...when we set up a router for a neighbor...
we need to make it common knowledge to everyone that this is what's happening...i'm not saying go full "Jerry McGuire" but within the margins of realism, we need to let companies know that *we know their game and are working to stop them*
there is no counterpoint to be made here...just because **some** actions by companies are marginally less abusive/manipulative means nothing.
and you're assuming we know all that Twitter, f/b have done has been made public, which is a foolish assumption
why can't/. just have consensus on this blatantly obvious issue? it IS manipulation and abuse...splitting hairs to make a counterpoint actually negates any benefit your comment may have had
we need to learn to speak with one voice...if we do we **run the industry** because we **do the work**
long time ago, a slashdotter cut right to the chase when he posted "Microsoft is not a software company. they are an abuse company. they utilize software to inflict their abuse."
i don't remember that specific comment, but i do remember reading comments like that here on/. back at that time...call me crazy but I've learned alot about how the industry works from reading/., and at the time, I was starting a new job doing dbase mgmt and it really helped get my professional awareness up to speed...
Slashdot Mirror
because this is a better moderated forum with less noise from dumb/troll/flamebait commentors
reddit is great because of the breadth and diversity of comments...but it is still the 'open internet'...AMA's are anarchy
also /. just has better commenters for tech stuff
again, reddit has diversity which /. is sorely lacking, and valleywag.com is 'faster' on a few things...but /. still has the best comments
best to see it as *more* options not a competition...reddit, slashdot, and for me valleywag all have value added...for questions to some famous person i trust /. to get it right more than the others
Mr. Saltzberg, thanks for taking questions! It's much appreciated.
My question: Do the writers (or actors) ever ask you about your daily life or your experiences as a scientist? What non-scientific/factual input have they asked from you?
this is an interesting discussion...I always like reading what actual coders have to say
i was in middle school in the late 80s-early 90s and first used a computer running DOS...i understood coding conceptually & we did a few command line things, also formulas in spreadsheets...i learned coding mostly from doing database management...then got an MS in information and communication science which included getting our CCNA
in academia i used SSPS which has (IIRC) a python-like (maybe Fortran?) scripting language for hand coding your crosstabs & such
my degree was an Engineering degree but not coding per se...we only used code to solve a problem or set up a router
in my research work, the SSPS code view was actually really helpful...the only way I learned how to do all the high level statistics coding was by meeting with the head research scientist at our university (they oversee all the research projects) and had him tutor me for a semester
the kids graduating from my MS program were getting $50,000+ jobs left and right and really like their work...I always wanted to see a coding option for our program because we had all this great expensive Cisco shit and awesome computers but no one in our program ever **made** anything...we never made apps or anything like that, because really **none of us could code in those languages**
I think the idea of cars that go >200mph that barely make a sound is pretty badass...
in other areas of "badass stuff" like planes, the stealth is unquestionably considered "badass"
there's no reason that "badassness" can't carry over from planes to cars
well thanks for reading...i misinterpreted the tone of your response
get over yourself...we're all impressed you know the back-end differences between programs that send text from one computer to another....but it's ***completely irrelevant***
yes, they are...they are the "same" in every way that matters to this discussion...you're trolling by saying this, because those backend programming details are not relevant to a discussion about IM services being ended
the joy/wonder of instant messages were that they went *from any computer to any computer*
****that's what people have nostalgia for****
no one has nostalgia for MSN Messenger...maybe nostalgia thinking of how M$ tried to force you to use it systemically...sort of like sarcastic nostalgia for a horrible teacher in high school....sarcastic nostalgia
if you're dumb enough to misinterpret those quotation marks, and feel so strongly about pointing it out that you take the time to post a comment then you deserve to be humbled
responding to dumb/troll comments appropriately can involve vitriol
what does that prove?
NOTHING
the WHATWG is the only reason HTML/CSS has had any relevant improvements and, most importantly, ****the W3C has been purposefully hampering HTML/CSS development****
if I'm right it's a big f-ing deal...no one has presented any counterpoint...
I know who invented the damn internet (not Behrners-Lee or Gore) and the whole notion that the abstraction that is the "world wide web" was somehow important to the **actual internet** is ridiculous
nit picking? i never put up a nit for you to pick! you're putting words in my mouth
non-tech media types say "Tim Behner's Lee, the man who invented the internet" all the time...it is a *common misconception*
Behner's-Lee didn't do anything especially noteworthy in the development of the internet...the 'world wide web' is just a marketing phrase...not noteworthy...his technical contributions were as part of a working group and many others have done much more noteworthy work
your comment is a good way to incite off-topic controversy and deflect attention from the **content of my post**
which is actually important stuff...think about what I've presented and stop being a grammar nazi
can we give the WHATWG the credit they deserve now?
the W3C (including "inventor of the internet" Behrners-Lee) intentionally retarded the development of new HTML & CSS standards in order to push for 'baked-in' DRM/tracking capability...
they couldn't get the changes into a version of HTML, so they sat on their thumbs and used process to keep HTML from progressing...repeat: W3C tried to keep new development of HTML from happening
enter WHATWG
we only have HTML5 & CSS3 because of WHATWG...look at the W3C...they **still** are on some 3.2.1.4 version of HTML
let's get HTML5.1 across all platforms and make it the permanent development channel...it practically is so already, but I want to see people integrate this important truth of the **development of the whole internet** into their (your!) schema for tech
right right...
but I'm asking if y'all think GitHub is becoming facebook for haxxorz
ok...thanks for the reply...
now we can converse...see...what is a 'git'...as in GitHub...it's a "hub" for "gits"...
this is a 'git': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...
it's is a software program that is used as **version control for making other software programs**
the version control system is not the program/code you are making...they are two separtate things completely...theoretically a text editor, discipline, and good filenames is all you need for "version control"
GitHub is a storage for *code*...not just "gits"....and we all know code is just alpha/numberic
so, in practice, as I said, it seems GitHub is becoming a kind of facebook for the 1337 haxxor set, b/c people can use it to show off their personal coding projects and use GitHub's space to host their own website
so the whole "git" thing is confusing because of how they bandy about words with overlapping meanings...but that's not the main point...my main question is about if others think GitHub is the facebook for haxxorz
abstract wacky names are antagonistic to rational thought...I'm **right** for expecting the name of thing to somehow relate to what it does...especially when a well understood nomenclature exists
that criticism, of the hype/nonsense language which causes users confusion, is valid...you can disagree, and hell even validly criticize my language usage, but whether or not your dumb business uses it has no bearing on my criticism of the name/function/marketing GitHub uses
GitHub has become a facebook.com alternative for the 1337 haxxor set and alot of people use it for free hosting to put up a personal site
that's my experience anyway...the idea is great, a website that hosts code for coding projects...but the whole abstraction layer of calling it a 'Git' still irks me...it's not a 'git' it's a computer file that contains code...
any frequent uses of GitHub care to comment? what does /. think?
haha i'm invoking the Stallman rule and hereby claim your 4 digit UID as my pwn...** jnik (1733) claimed**...i will now add it to my collection that I wear as charms on my necklace
ripping a DVD you either purchased legally (new or used) OR you legally borrowed from a library is LEGAL
it's fair use under the DMCA
now, if you put the DVD rip file on a filesharing network, maybe that's unethical, and if you charged money for it somehow that's illegal
ripping a DVD is fair use...selling or mass distributing is illegal...really if you don't understand these things you don't really belong here...i can't *actually* take your UID but you took it yourself, by posing as an AC instead of as 'jnik'...if you actually believed what you were saying you wouldn't need to post as AC...UID claimed in spirit
i lol'ed at the part in bold....
M$ is not the worst offender but there up there...'zune', .NET, etc...M$ is horrible at names
i'll probably never choose to use a M$ product for the rest of my life...but maybe this is a sign they are wising up?
hey, jnik, judging by your UID# & the text of your comment you've been away from the internet since about 1996...
there are many free/shareware DVD rippers that circumvent that DRM
my DRM-free movie store is my local indie record store...they have a nice DVD section...
library works too...but not technically a store
there is *plenty* of demand for such a thing...and the advertisers are certainly there as well
they could make it all 'STEM' and 'girl power' and just clean up...pop science is huge right now
ah man...Mythbusters...
I'm a fan, for sure, but it seems that even casual fans like me can sort of see past the veneer of production. It's kind of in my nature to analyze a show (as it is w/ many on /. i'm sure) and pick apart their production decisions.
So, when it comes to Kari, Byron, and Grant...I think they should have seen this coming a decade ago.
They're great, and they added value to their presence over the years. I always liked their segments.
But if we're analyzing production decisions, it seems that they should have tried to get their agent to get them more work, or maybe a spin off...their presence was never going to be more than bit parts...part timer gigs. Even the popularity of the show can't make more time in the timeslot...it's just there was a maximum ammount they could physically contribute due to time constraints per episode.
I'm sure fans will remember the super-cool welder chick from, i'm guessing, seasons 2-5...she moved on and I figured the others would do the same, having a rotating cast of experts go in and out over the years...except for Kari...she seemed like a good foil for the guys.
Anyhow, Mythbusters was always better than it's show. You could tell that dumb network people were putting weird constraints on them...ex: voiceover narration from some random in Tasmania or w/e...and other parts...but it is always going to be great for what it is...
but yeah...IMHO the three of them should have seen this coming
I like that it seems there is a loose consensus here on /. about this issue...so what's the next step?
we must destroy all abusive companies
We're not just random consumers...the people who post here are the people who ***do the work*** and it's time we speak up...or speak up more.
We need to tell *everyone* that "customer dissatisfaction is a tech business model"...we need to talk about it at the water cooler, to our children, to our golfing/WoW/fantasy sports buddies...when we set up a router for a neighbor...
we need to make it common knowledge to everyone that this is what's happening...i'm not saying go full "Jerry McGuire" but within the margins of realism, we need to let companies know that *we know their game and are working to stop them*
***AND START OUR OWN COMPANIES TO COMPETE***
there is no counterpoint to be made here...just because **some** actions by companies are marginally less abusive/manipulative means nothing.
and you're assuming we know all that Twitter, f/b have done has been made public, which is a foolish assumption
why can't /. just have consensus on this blatantly obvious issue? it IS manipulation and abuse...splitting hairs to make a counterpoint actually negates any benefit your comment may have had
we need to learn to speak with one voice...if we do we **run the industry** because we **do the work**
i don't remember that specific comment, but i do remember reading comments like that here on /. back at that time...call me crazy but I've learned alot about how the industry works from reading /., and at the time, I was starting a new job doing dbase mgmt and it really helped get my professional awareness up to speed...
TFA's question answered is in headline