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User: Fitzghon

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Comments · 43

  1. Learn to use some macros on How To Enter Equations Quickly In Class? · · Score: 1

    I regularly take notes in my advanced undergraduate math classes using LaTeX. The key is to (a) use macros --- make them up on the fly and just start using them. e.g. \pd{f}{g} for \frac{\partial f}{\partial g}, for instance, or \cF for \mathcal{F}, or \sHom for \operatorname{sHom}... (b) don't compile --- compiling during class will just confuse you. Make sure you've got enough info in the .tex file for you to understand what the notes are, and then fix typos and errors afterward. To tie back to (a), actually write the definitions for your new set of macros after class. (c) use Emacs --- if you're doing a lot of TeX you'll be happier with emacs and auctex. (d) type faster. If you can't go fast enough (or the lecturer is whipping through the blackboard faster than you can type), go back to paper & pencil. It's not that bad.

  2. Re:OSS is working on The Next Round in the Virtualization Wars · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, Xen 3.0 with hardware virtualization support on your CPU can run Windows just fine. In HVC mode, getting Windows to run under Xen is actually pretty easy. I have a computer on a desk next to me that is running Windows XP under Xen right now.

  3. Technomoron on Mafia Boss Using Crook Crypto Captured · · Score: 1

    This is the first article I have ever tagged "technomoron".
    I think it is appropriate.

  4. Don't look any farther on Good Podcasts and Podcatchers? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Just use iTunes. You can subscribe to podcasts by url, and choose to have them downloaded to your iPod, etc.
    In terms of podcasts, though, you really need to find ones you like. I listen to Gaming Steve (http://www.gamingsteve.com/) but that's MY taste. You need to find what you like for yourself.

    Fitzghon

  5. Re:Wouldn't work on SCOTUS To Hear Patentable Thought Case · · Score: 1

    And further, even if the Patent Office DOES read through the patents ("hmm, yup, sounds new... APPROVED") the patent officials are probably not knowledgable enough in the field of the patent to make a judgement call as to whether or not the material really represents patentable, original ideas. The bureaucracy necessary to make appropriate decisions on the (dis)approval of every patent would be unwieldy. The USPO therefore passes off a lot of that work onto the patent holders (and suers) and the court.
    Is there a better, cost-effective system that we could implement?
    I don't know, but we need one.

    Fitzghon

  6. The Patent System is Broken on SCOTUS To Hear Patentable Thought Case · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The patent system is definitely broken. It is bogging down innovation with lawsuits and silly claims. It is very nice to see Crichton on the offensive about this issue, and hopefully he and Research in Motion (RIM) will be able to trigger some more response and reform in the patent office. As was noted earlier on ./ RIM is running full-page ads (cf. http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=25858) protesting the patent office situation.

    Fitzghon

  7. Try a Bioware RPG on Two-Player Games for Mixed Skill Level Players? · · Score: 1

    I'd recommend playing through some Bioware (or similar) titles. My girlfriend and I spent a lot of time playing through Jade Empire when it came out last year; even though it is a single-player game, we'd swap off the controller and discuss (lit. shout at each other) what decisions to make with out characters. Simply put, these games will offer a lot of entertainment, and difficulty level isn't really a problem. Ernie

  8. Reverse Refrigeration on Harnessing Vertical Sea Temperature Gradient · · Score: 2, Informative

    "...using a reverse refrigeration cycle."

    We have a name for those. They're called engines.

    Fitzghon

  9. Why a tarsier? on Laser Etching a Laptop · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why didn't you etch his Noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

    Fitzhon

  10. Re:Huffman? on JPEG Patent Challenged · · Score: 1

    Actually, PubPat's request mentions the parents point. They say that US Patent no. 4,541,012 ("Tescher et al.") was (essentially, but I am not a lawyer) prior art to US Patent 4,698,672 ("'672") - the patent in question here. They lay out the rather obvious similarities between the two patents, mentioning the common Huffman coding technique in the patents (for those that don't know: Huffman coding is a type of compression, using fewer bits to represent repeating patterns of bits).
    The /. post inaccurately weights the argument in PubPat's request: the public damage caused by '672 to the JPEG format is mentioned, but the strongest reason for reexamining '672 is the abundance of similarities between it and Tescher et al.

    Fitzghon

  11. Mods, Reread the Parent on Microsoft Office 12 Beta 1 Is Out · · Score: 1

    Otter is being sarcastic when he mentions "tweaking the modelines in XF86Config" - this is funny, not necessarily insightful! Microsoft Word should offer less-hidden settings if it is truly a "user-friendly" application.
    The problem is that Microsoft Word (and the whole Office suite, but I only know Word well - I switched to OpenOffice) is both unfriendly to the user and unempowering.
    A Word user needs to learn to watch the screen when they hit the enter key because their formatting might drastically change. I don't know about anybody else, but I got fed up with hitting enter, then backspace twice in order to remove the bullet/number/indent.

    Fitzghon

  12. Re:Because... on Apple Sells 1 Million Videos in Under 20 Days · · Score: 1

    "Why am I willing to pay more for music than I would for video?"

    Isn't it obvious? Watching videos uses your eyes, listening to music only uses your ears. Most people listen to music as background to some other activity; few can watch videos while they are playing Quake.

    Fitzghon

  13. Re:Better translation? on Origen 360 Revealed in Less Than 12 Hours · · Score: 1

    Good translation. You don't need to assume factus in the second clause, fecundus can just modify arbor (tree, fruitful with the fruit of an unknown Elysium). Similar sense, still.

    Fitzghon

  14. Re:Training on Keeping the Lights On · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think you misunderstood the article (did you read it?)
    Companies that hire young tech people need to train them to use the mainframe apps. The article points out that this is a losing situation, because the company went from having an experienced and trained worker to an inexperience worker that they have to train.
    Consider it this way: a company's tech guy gets hit by a truck, they have two candidates to hire from:
    Candidate A: Has no knowledge of the platforms being used in the company, has no experience with similar systems.
    Candidate B: Is familiar with the platforms and has extensive experience with similar systems.
    Who will the company hire? Candidate B of course!
    The problem is that companies are now firing Candidate B because he is old and hiring Candidate A because he is young. Is it a worthwhile decision?

    Fitzghon

  15. Re:Evince looks useful on GNOME 2.12 Released · · Score: 1

    Evince is already in Fedora Core 4. Either it comes in the base install or it is available on Yum, but I know that I have it running on Fedora Core 4 right now.

    Fitzghon

  16. They tested with monkeys... on Drug Reverses Effects of Sleep Deprivation · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...and now they want Slashdot junkies?

    Fitzghon

  17. How many people showed up? on Henrico County iBook Sale Creates iRiot · · Score: 1

    According Jason Coleman, a reader of the Unofficial Apple Weblog, "the estimate was that about 12,000 people showed up." On the other hand, CNN claims that "more than 1,000 people" showed up.
    One of the sources is either over- or understating the number of people in the "stampede".
    Who can't count here?

    Fitzghon

  18. Re:I wonder on Google vs. Yahoo: On a Collision Course · · Score: 1
    and Google isn't buying any services?
    They are, but this article clearly presents a tilt towards Google.

    Fitzghon
  19. Re:I wonder on Google vs. Yahoo: On a Collision Course · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I agree.
    Google is an innovative company that comes up with fantastic ideas again and again, and implements them.
    On the other hand, the article notes that Yahoo bought the VoIP service DialPad. Yahoo's in-house research team appears deficient when compared to Google's.
    Google is snatching up a myriad of the brightest minds around, and I think that over time this will prove to be their most important assent in the "search engine race".

    Fitzghon

  20. English Misusage... on Researchers Make Bendable Concrete · · Score: 1

    Tiny fibers that comprise about 2 percent of the mixture's volume partly account for its performance.

    Not to be a stickler, but you mean "tiny fibers that compose about 2 percent..."
    Just remember, the whole comprises the parts, and the parts compose the whole.

    Fitzghon

  21. Re:Non-procedural programming on Practical Common Lisp · · Score: 1

    VIAWEB is the company you are thinking about. They wrote software for creating online stores online. They coded in Lisp. Check out http://paulgraham.com/ for more information. Fitzghon

  22. Re:Spoiler Free summary? on Kevin Smith Previews Revenge of the Sith · · Score: 1

    Um, he said it was dark, dark, dark. 1000x darker than Empire. Way dark.

    Sounds like instead of going into the theater, Kevin Smith accidentally wandered into a broom closet with a burnt-out light bulb and hung out eating a big tub of popcorn for two hours.

    Or, sounds like he was playing some Doom 3.

    Fitzghon

  23. Re:Well, funny and all but..... on Email Worse Than Marijuana For Intelligence? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think I agree with most of the posts here, especially Oliver's.
    I am currently a high-achieving high school junior. I have liked to play games since I started playing MUDs at age 12. However, my parents never felt bad telling me "no". Because my parents were frank in what activities should be my priorities, I learned both to moderate my gaming and to put school work first.
    I am now getting the chance to watch my parents do the same to my brother. He followed my lead and started gaming in the last year. My parents are still making it clear that school work must come first. He hasn't yet gotten it, but he will.
    Meanwhile, I have friends who were also straight-A, honors students in 9th grade, but who are now B students in regents classes (the lowest level in my school) for six hours of the day, and are Everquest and World of Warcraft grinders for the other sixteen.
    I bet their parents would be happier if they had just said "no".

    Fitzghon

  24. Of course... on WoW Board Game, Shadowrun 4.0, and City of Heroes RPG · · Score: 0, Redundant

    They will stop selling the WoW boardgame after they have too many copies out for their servers to handle...

    Fitzghon

  25. Re:My Favorite JAVA IDE, on Programming Tools You've Used? · · Score: 1

    I cannot agree more! BlueJ is only even remotely good for testing methods! Just use Eclipse to code, please! You can maximize your text editing window in Eclipse by double-clicking on it, just do that!

    Fitzghon