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User: Max+Malini

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  1. Think math on Math And The Computer Science Major · · Score: 3, Interesting
    As someone with applied math degress (CS, physics minor) turned software engineer, I'd like to respond to a few ideas presented so far.

    "Math is vital to computer science"

    Well, it's certainly important sometimes, possibly often. I used a lot of math writing a conversion library for 3D file formats, but not so much writing a user system in php.

    Learning to think is what's really important. I got my first software job by explaining at the interview that my skills were in complex problem solving -- skill they had trouble teaching straight CS people they had hired.

    "You really dont need much maths to write a shopping cart applications"

    Possibly not, but... I taught applied calculus at a university for many years as a grad student and I always loved it when students asked me "When we I ever use this?". A seemingly silly question to ask in an APPLIED Calculus class to be sure, but the most important use was always that if payed attention, the course would give them problem solving and thinking skills that would help them advance in whatever field they chose. Bottom line: After school you may not remember the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, but the thinking skills will be invaluable.

  2. Re:You know? on Mars Attacked, 65 Years Ago Today · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I believe it was first broadcast on American radio on Sunday, October 30th just after 8pm EST. Interestingly, from the "It can't happen again" department, an adaptation of the show played in Quito, Ecuador in 1949 and caused riots. The radio station building was set on fire after citizens discovered it was a fraud. More recently, it cause problems in northen Portugal in 1988. For more details see this csicop page.