Slashdot Mirror


User: tobe

tobe's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
139
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 139

  1. Re:Python does kick ass on Guido Von Rossum on Python · · Score: 1

    Have to agree here.. *readability* which, IMHO, is one of the most important traits of any system of notation (which a programming language most definitely is) is one of Pythons greatest strength.. principally because so many of the concepts and structures are suitably similar to the language the most of us probably know.. C++.

  2. Python is excellent for expressing algorithm... on Guido Von Rossum on Python · · Score: 1

    You wouldn't normally find me evangelising about this or that language.. but since I started using Python ('bout 18 months ago) I've barely used anything else.. it's a truly impressive acheivement, I believe, and a superbly pragmatic one at that. The sheer speed with which you can get an algorithm down in Python is, IMO, it's greatest strength. Add in to that all the object oriented features that you'd generally use day-to-day in C++, great ease of embedding and extending, powerful, *native* data structures and 90% cross-platform compatibility, clear syntax.. it's just *such* a productive language. I used to be a serious C++ guy but these day's I only go near that if I really have to.. for high performance apps were you *really* have to squeeze that last bit of performance (and, honestly, how many of those are there these days with clocks so cheap) I just migrate the critical bits to C/C++ and use a Python main line to drive 'em.. (see SWIG for a cool way to wrap existing code). I ain't gonna get into the Perl argument.. personally it just looks to me like the Perlophiles are just arguing against to protect their intellectual investment. IMHO, Perl is nothing like a full or proper language. Python can certainly claim to be.

  3. Re:Canada! on Is The U.S. No Longer The Choice For Freedom? · · Score: 1

    In a country as old as England.. you're gonna have to have surrendered a few times to get by..

  4. Nature got there 1st again.. on Biotransistors · · Score: 2

    Just out of interest.. how many slashdotters knew that this kind of embedded bacteria concept is already hundreds of millions of years old.. and that the most dominant lifeform on the planet is in fact a symbiote.. photosynthesising plants actually contain single bacteria in each energy producing cell that takes part in the fundamental process of photosynthesis.. Interestin', huh ??

  5. Similar thing trialled in the UK.. on Electric Plug 14Mbps Spec Agreed On · · Score: 2

    Don't know what the bandwidth was but they were modulating the carrier to send data over power distribution lines.. company was Energis I think. They failed for a number of reasons.. EMF emissions being a security risk and the sheer' dirtiness' of the carrier signal were the main problems they didn't manage to overcome.

    Oh.. and it's 240v at 50 Hz in the UK.... BTW.. which, as *everybody* knows, ain't strictly Europe.

    t o b e

  6. You're failign to appreciate.. on Will Billions Of Nodes Need Biologic Networking? · · Score: 1

    That to another form of intelligence, the emergent behaviour of a large network of associated neurons (you call it 'thinking') and that of a large number of associated bees might not seem to be so very far apart..

    Bees haven't become more powerful than us simply because they have no great evolutionary pressures to drive that progression...

  7. And.. on Will Billions Of Nodes Need Biologic Networking? · · Score: 1

    We also get (Europe) seeing as we invented/discovered them all..

    Tv, Radio, DNA, vaccines, gravity, calculus, quantum physics, the computer, faxes (first one was installed in France in 1865).. I could go on..

    Oh.. and any concepts of taste, style, listenable music and an education worth anything..

  8. Oh I just gotta retort... extrememe apologies.. on Will Billions Of Nodes Need Biologic Networking? · · Score: 1

    for off-topicism..

    The entire british legal system fiercely protects privacy.. think you'll find the RIP bill and recent Demon ruling to be passing blips..

    And as for the rest of it.. tchah.. just a reminder of why the rest of Europe considers America to be a nation of undereducated children.. no style, no class and thankfully short lives.. ('strue, you know.. we live longer over here)..

  9. Re:Europe on The Cell Phone-PDA Revolution · · Score: 1

    Yup... it seems to be the cost structure in the Europe that's driven the mobile revolution. Traditionally domestic carriers have been monopolies that have only recently (10 years or so) been privatised. So in UK, for instance, we have the MASSIVE British Telecom who, without any *real* competition have kept call charges high. Coupled with the mobile pricing model we have here (you don't pay to receive a call) means that mobile phones are not only more convenient but very competitive compared to land lines. Orange (a mobile network over here) are about to release a wireless PDA @ 28.8k. It looks pretty funky.. you keep your big 'ole keyboard.. I'm getting one of these !! Pic The full story is here

  10. Caffeine.. nah.. on Competition for Jolt/Dew/Coffee? · · Score: 1

    Stick to amphetamines... much better buzz.

    t o b e

  11. Re:Red Bull and co on Competition for Jolt/Dew/Coffee? · · Score: 1

    Yup.. I understand y'all only have Red Bull in CA at the mo'.. wait for it to spread...

    The current drinks craze in London is Vodka and Red Bull... it's f*ing awful.. and it's hard to tell if it keeps you up 'cause it's most popular with the club crowd.. who are generally too stuffed full of Ecstasy and Coke to care..

    tobe

  12. Re:You've got to be kidding me. on African Optical Backbone "Ring of Fire" · · Score: 1

    Wrong, wrong, wrong..

    People aren't actually dying of starvation in Africa at the moment. They're dying of ignorance (AIDS), War and lack of infrastructure (no access to facilities or just no facilities). Wire the continent up.. knowledge is power and a suprisingly large proportion of Africans have the education required to allow them to use the net to their own economic advantage... and standards of living get raised.

    It'll take years to solve all the basic problems they have.. so it's just dumb to wait until that's 100% dealt with before they get a modern comms network.

  13. Re:racist moron slashdotters on African Optical Backbone "Ring of Fire" · · Score: 1

    Dunno about China, but for Africa it ain't you (the US)..

  14. Re:Conspiracy Theory on African Optical Backbone "Ring of Fire" · · Score: 1

    Way behind...

    The existing colonial powers (UK, France and Germany) already have that sorted out..

    Now grow up...