Every time I hear someone say, "But it's only a theory, not a fact" I cringe and then immediately ask them if they have a problem with the Theory of Electromagnetism or the Theory of General Relativity since they too are "just theories" and not facts. The usual response is a blank stare as their mind tries to not assplode from having to defend such a ridiculous statement.
On the other hand I'm sure at one point there was a theory that the earth was flat. Thankfully that was questioned. What's unfortunate is that if you question conventional theory, you now get labeled rather than debated. You shouldn't fear questioning. What scares me more is that many in the scientific community seem to get so defensive when evolution, global warming, big bang, etc. are questioned and rather engage in debate seek to mock the other side. And on the other side, it's fine to question, but to ignore evidence isn't any better.
There was an initiative back at the end of Netscape's browser team. Each component was tasked with going through a security review. Now sure how much of that lived beyond that.
Do they have to pedal machines to produce power to make the processors? Is THIS how they pay for the time they spend developing OSS??
No all the engergy from keystrokes, mouse movements, and mouse clicks are captured. There's no need for external power or heavy batteries. And no, this doesn't pay for the time, it's pretty much break even, the power generated keeps the system going. This goes along way to explain code bloat.
As the most basic example, a single function can take either an int or a float with a dynamically typed language, instead of having to write multiple functions to deal with all the combinations of floats and ints.
C++ has been handling this quite nicely for years. C# and Java to some extent now as well.
So by going to a pure dynamically typed language what do I gain again?
--
Q
So they ripped out all USB ports on their computers and/or perform a full body search when leaving the building and/or have a video camera trained on every system in the building.
Such bans give one a false sense of security. Such bans often just hamper the 99% of people trying to get their job done while not doing much about the 1% that is seeking to do harm.
--
Q
Thanks for some hard numbers. In the end, any resource will run out. The key is to buy us enough time that we gain enough technologically that we are able to utilize alternative power sources. I'm not sure that's going to happen in the next 5 or 10 years. Maybe more like 50 or 100 years. Also there's the issue that many products utilize petroleum as an ingredient. I imagine that's a fairly small percent of the use of petroleum, but if supplies run short we will probably still need some for non-power related uses.
We need well directed research into alternatives. I fear that dumping tons of money in a sky is falling mentallity will just waste resources and time. It would great to see a concernted effort by all nations to pool research and resources and look into alternatives.
--
Q
The blurb I heard just mentioned the deposits in the sand. I should have visited the Wiki before responding and this articletalks about it taking 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas for one barrel.
But then if someone can figure out an alternative mechanical or chemical solution it may turn out better.
--
Q
Can it be abused any more so than if the web site contacted the list of sites when the link is requested from the browser and the same information passed along?
--
Q
Someone in the discussion said, while the cooling properties of alcohol are well known, and his hardware would likely come clean, the possibility of fire, and probably even large explosions wouldn't make it worth while.
What not worth it! Sounds like an fun thing to try. Large explosions are always worth it. Maybe someone should submit it to Myth Busters.
--
Q
I started doing some development on Mac back when OSX was released. I hadn't ever really used it. I had used Windows and Unix for years. I figured that since so many people billed Mac as more user friendly than Windows I'd wouldn't bother with books or tutorials. Well I booted it up. I needed to do some system things. There were a few folders on the desktop, a sparse menu. I couldn't find anything that would allow me to change preferences or anything more than create folders and start applications. Took me a long while before I realize that colorful little Apple at the top was a button. Once I figured that out, things moved much faster.
We all have our biases and they often hinder us when moving to a new environment.
--
Q
I don't have the phobia to ads that some do. Some seem to treat them like the site had an STD and they want a condum before using the site. I've seen some sites that over do it, and I usually don't return to such sites. To me, I weigh the value of the site's content to me and the annoyance of the ads. If the annoyance outweights the site's value then I don't return.
I've just never seen a site that I thought I couldn't live without that would make me go through the effort of looking for an ad blocker.
--
Q
It's not society, its wiring. My daughter doesn't like anything Barbie. And it really hasn't much to do with society or her environment. She's pretty good with Lego's but she's still no where near my son's ability and we've encouraged both the same. They are quite different in many ways and little has to do with how they have been treated.
This idea that genders only differ in anatomy is a farce. The brains are just wired differently. And sure there are exceptions in each gender that are wired less like the average.
What's really sad is that a women feels less of a value to society when she chooses to stay home and make her children a priority. The time my wife has spent with our children will have much more impact to society than anything I've done or probably will do in my tech career. Yet somehow my career is perceived as "more desirable".
So given the difference in wiring it's not surprising the bias in the numbers toward me. I would hope in this day and age that no women would be blocked by bias from entering any field. In my 20 years I've never even heard anyone one mention "lets not hire her, she's a women". And I've worked in many different companies. And I have worked with a number of women from managers, to developers, to QA. And I have been responsible for hiring women
So I just don't see a bias early on keeping the girls from science/math class, nor later on, keeping them out of the field.
--
Q
No, no, no, you're supposed to say that they're evil by copying it. They're out to create confusion. Now people will be confused. They'll see the icon and think they're using FireFox. This copying will be the end of FireFox.
You're not supposed to give Microsoft any compliments here
--
Q
Next up GoogleMart. Where you can search and buy anything you like. They're able to be the compitetion prices through the use of "adword" packaging. Look out WalMart!
--
Q
On one hand a good leader doesn't have to be an expert in the field. A good leader just has to know where to go to get the right answers and be able to tell crapola from shinola. Then make the right decisions based on that.
On the other hand good leaders generally don't parade their short comings for all to see. It's unfortunately she doesn't have more confidence in herself.
--
Q
Those three options are still just variations on a theme. They are all still flat file based. And forcing us to describe and navigate our system in a flat file mentality. Some of the IDE's have browsers and such to ease this pain, but the most I've seen are fairly clumbsy to use and don't hold a lot of context. We need something that natively understands the system we're designing and doesn't create some map that we then have to navigate to get what we want. I want to be able jump quickly to a function that's being called and then return back, and visualize the relationships between functions, objects, variables, etc.
Visual Age is pretty close, though I think the navigation really needs to be beefed up. Most of the available perspectives of Eclipse are file based, though I suspect you could build a perspective that breaks out of the flat file mold. That might provide an interesting place to start, assuming that the core IDE doesn't assume you're working with flat files.
--
Q
Much if not all the business logic would reside on the server and stay there. Only the presentation logic would live on the client side.
The current.Net client I'm working on talks to a Java backend via web services. It's still not ideal, as the client could be thinner than that. But we get some of the best benefits of both worlds. The UI richness of a traditional client with the transient connection of HTTP.
I deally I'd rather see the UI defined in something like XUL or other technology that could be efficiently transported over the wire to a client that understand this. Similar to what X-Windows does but without the persistent connection.
--
Q
No, I'd say what have tool developers been doing for the past 20 years. The IDE we have today isn't much more advanced than the IDE that Borland introduced back in the early 80's. And many people are still mucking with makefiles and such. We're still developing in a flat file world that we should have abandon 10 years ago.
So yes, we should flying cars and teleports in the development world as restrictions for inovation in software is a lot less than such devices in the real world.
--
Q
Web applications shouldn't exist. It's as simple as that. They're an attempt to shoehorn the web into something very different to what it was designed for - it's meant as a documents platform, not an applications platform.
I definitely agree there. And I agree that we need a new and better way to define interfaces. Why can't we serve up something like XUL or some other form description language, that allows a more flexible and extensible system for defining forms. Sure, no browser may support it now. But then at some point there wasn't a web browser.
The bottom line for me is that web development is just so much more painful. And it really shouldn't have to be.
Slashdot Mirror
Every time I hear someone say, "But it's only a theory, not a fact" I cringe and then immediately ask them if they have a problem with the Theory of Electromagnetism or the Theory of General Relativity since they too are "just theories" and not facts. The usual response is a blank stare as their mind tries to not assplode from having to defend such a ridiculous statement.
On the other hand I'm sure at one point there was a theory that the earth was flat. Thankfully that was questioned. What's unfortunate is that if you question conventional theory, you now get labeled rather than debated. You shouldn't fear questioning. What scares me more is that many in the scientific community seem to get so defensive when evolution, global warming, big bang, etc. are questioned and rather engage in debate seek to mock the other side. And on the other side, it's fine to question, but to ignore evidence isn't any better.
--
Q
There was an initiative back at the end of Netscape's browser team. Each component was tasked with going through a security review. Now sure how much of that lived beyond that.
--
Q
I bet you could cook the egg if you took two cell phone batteries and shorted them out.
A rather expensive and dangerous way to cook an egg
--
Q
Do they have to pedal machines to produce power to make the processors? Is THIS how they pay for the time they spend developing OSS??
No all the engergy from keystrokes, mouse movements, and mouse clicks are captured. There's no need for external power or heavy batteries. And no, this doesn't pay for the time, it's pretty much break even, the power generated keeps the system going. This goes along way to explain code bloat.
Gecko developers are paid in warm fuzzies.
--
Q
As the most basic example, a single function can take either an int or a float with a dynamically typed language, instead of having to write multiple functions to deal with all the combinations of floats and ints.
C++ has been handling this quite nicely for years. C# and Java to some extent now as well.
So by going to a pure dynamically typed language what do I gain again?
--
Q
So they ripped out all USB ports on their computers and/or perform a full body search when leaving the building and/or have a video camera trained on every system in the building.
Such bans give one a false sense of security. Such bans often just hamper the 99% of people trying to get their job done while not doing much about the 1% that is seeking to do harm.
--
Q
Thanks for some hard numbers. In the end, any resource will run out. The key is to buy us enough time that we gain enough technologically that we are able to utilize alternative power sources. I'm not sure that's going to happen in the next 5 or 10 years. Maybe more like 50 or 100 years. Also there's the issue that many products utilize petroleum as an ingredient. I imagine that's a fairly small percent of the use of petroleum, but if supplies run short we will probably still need some for non-power related uses.
We need well directed research into alternatives. I fear that dumping tons of money in a sky is falling mentallity will just waste resources and time. It would great to see a concernted effort by all nations to pool research and resources and look into alternatives.
--
Q
The blurb I heard just mentioned the deposits in the sand. I should have visited the Wiki before responding and this articletalks about it taking 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas for one barrel.
But then if someone can figure out an alternative mechanical or chemical solution it may turn out better.
--
Q
A large portion of the US electricity comes from coal fired plants. From what I've seen there's no of coal within the next few generations.
And I just heard a report that the Alberta sands may turn out to produce more oil than Saudi Arabia.
I wonder how much of this copper scare is generated by copper speculators
--
Q
Can it be abused any more so than if the web site contacted the list of sites when the link is requested from the browser and the same information passed along?
--
Q
Someone in the discussion said, while the cooling properties of alcohol are well known, and his hardware would likely come clean, the possibility of fire, and probably even large explosions wouldn't make it worth while.
What not worth it! Sounds like an fun thing to try. Large explosions are always worth it. Maybe someone should submit it to Myth Busters.
--
Q
I started doing some development on Mac back when OSX was released. I hadn't ever really used it. I had used Windows and Unix for years. I figured that since so many people billed Mac as more user friendly than Windows I'd wouldn't bother with books or tutorials. Well I booted it up. I needed to do some system things. There were a few folders on the desktop, a sparse menu. I couldn't find anything that would allow me to change preferences or anything more than create folders and start applications. Took me a long while before I realize that colorful little Apple at the top was a button. Once I figured that out, things moved much faster.
We all have our biases and they often hinder us when moving to a new environment.
--
Q
Actually, it's what you'd expect. Animals would naturally evolve to move in an efficient manner.
I be they were pretty funny to watch before they started moving in an efficient manner.
Watching my dog chase its tail gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like.
--
Q
I don't have the phobia to ads that some do. Some seem to treat them like the site had an STD and they want a condum before using the site. I've seen some sites that over do it, and I usually don't return to such sites. To me, I weigh the value of the site's content to me and the annoyance of the ads. If the annoyance outweights the site's value then I don't return.
I've just never seen a site that I thought I couldn't live without that would make me go through the effort of looking for an ad blocker.
--
Q
I use a much simpler, more effective ad blocker. I just don't go to sites that have annoying ads.
--
Q
It's not society, its wiring. My daughter doesn't like anything Barbie. And it really hasn't much to do with society or her environment. She's pretty good with Lego's but she's still no where near my son's ability and we've encouraged both the same. They are quite different in many ways and little has to do with how they have been treated.
This idea that genders only differ in anatomy is a farce. The brains are just wired differently. And sure there are exceptions in each gender that are wired less like the average.
What's really sad is that a women feels less of a value to society when she chooses to stay home and make her children a priority. The time my wife has spent with our children will have much more impact to society than anything I've done or probably will do in my tech career. Yet somehow my career is perceived as "more desirable".
So given the difference in wiring it's not surprising the bias in the numbers toward me. I would hope in this day and age that no women would be blocked by bias from entering any field. In my 20 years I've never even heard anyone one mention "lets not hire her, she's a women". And I've worked in many different companies. And I have worked with a number of women from managers, to developers, to QA. And I have been responsible for hiring women
So I just don't see a bias early on keeping the girls from science/math class, nor later on, keeping them out of the field.
--
Q
Just goes to show that girls never really liked tech. They were more interested in the money.
--
Q
No, no, no, you're supposed to say that they're evil by copying it. They're out to create confusion. Now people will be confused. They'll see the icon and think they're using FireFox. This copying will be the end of FireFox.
You're not supposed to give Microsoft any compliments here
--
Q
Next up GoogleMart. Where you can search and buy anything you like. They're able to be the compitetion prices through the use of "adword" packaging. Look out WalMart!
--
Q
On one hand a good leader doesn't have to be an expert in the field. A good leader just has to know where to go to get the right answers and be able to tell crapola from shinola. Then make the right decisions based on that.
On the other hand good leaders generally don't parade their short comings for all to see. It's unfortunately she doesn't have more confidence in herself.
--
Q
Those three options are still just variations on a theme. They are all still flat file based. And forcing us to describe and navigate our system in a flat file mentality. Some of the IDE's have browsers and such to ease this pain, but the most I've seen are fairly clumbsy to use and don't hold a lot of context. We need something that natively understands the system we're designing and doesn't create some map that we then have to navigate to get what we want. I want to be able jump quickly to a function that's being called and then return back, and visualize the relationships between functions, objects, variables, etc.
Visual Age is pretty close, though I think the navigation really needs to be beefed up. Most of the available perspectives of Eclipse are file based, though I suspect you could build a perspective that breaks out of the flat file mold. That might provide an interesting place to start, assuming that the core IDE doesn't assume you're working with flat files.
--
Q
Much if not all the business logic would reside on the server and stay there. Only the presentation logic would live on the client side.
.Net client I'm working on talks to a Java backend via web services. It's still not ideal, as the client could be thinner than that. But we get some of the best benefits of both worlds. The UI richness of a traditional client with the transient connection of HTTP.
The current
I deally I'd rather see the UI defined in something like XUL or other technology that could be efficiently transported over the wire to a client that understand this. Similar to what X-Windows does but without the persistent connection.
--
Q
Once I find someone to fun my efforts or win the lottery, I would love to. Until then, I'm trapped.
--
Q
No, I'd say what have tool developers been doing for the past 20 years. The IDE we have today isn't much more advanced than the IDE that Borland introduced back in the early 80's. And many people are still mucking with makefiles and such. We're still developing in a flat file world that we should have abandon 10 years ago.
So yes, we should flying cars and teleports in the development world as restrictions for inovation in software is a lot less than such devices in the real world.
--
Q
Web applications shouldn't exist. It's as simple as that. They're an attempt to shoehorn the web into something very different to what it was designed for - it's meant as a documents platform, not an applications platform.
I definitely agree there. And I agree that we need a new and better way to define interfaces. Why can't we serve up something like XUL or some other form description language, that allows a more flexible and extensible system for defining forms. Sure, no browser may support it now. But then at some point there wasn't a web browser.
The bottom line for me is that web development is just so much more painful. And it really shouldn't have to be.
--
Q