The point is that the grandfather statement is a myth. I am much more technologically capable than my husband. Most women would be, if they hadn't been educated in a system that is so biased towards men being scientists and engineers.
As a 48 yo grandmother, techie and feminist I find that offensive. I've been a programmer since 1974, mostly writing C code, and I am sick of hearing this garbage. I think you'll find that you are a dinosaur, as most readers are more enlightened than you.
I think its all about having written a fat book at the right time and place. I can't stand it, but all my friends have it - yet none of them have read it! It has become the book you have on your shelf to look cool. Another Bruce Schneier, pronouncement about his superiority, ah yes...It would be nice if there were more articles here about current developments in cryptography. I've heard more than enough from Schneier. There are MANY other interesting security people out there to read, who aren't confused.
Depends on your definition. This is a DARPA contract, which is awarded based on if some guy likes you. If they suddenly don't like you, they pull the plug. But mostly this is pretty much a buddy network of people who have known each other for years, and they don't do that, except in cases of blatant incompetence (they took away Rodney Brooks money once I believe). I worked on a stair climbing robot project, which was pretty much a farce in every way. I'd really like to see a follow up article in 2-3 years to see what they actually built, or did the money just make some robot professors wallets fatter.
Not to mention - and I a sure I'll get modded down here - is that neural networks aren't very effective. They get a lot of hype in the media, and people who don't work in optimization like them. They sound appealing and cool, but there are other methods that are much better. If you look at the liturature, there is not that much hard science behind them. Some statistical mechanics people have some results, but they really are just a fad, like fractals or catastrophe theory. But bear in mind LOTS of people in applied areas immediately jump to the conclusion that neural networks are great, especially computer vision and robotics people (where I used to work.)
It's not very open sourcey, but trade secrets are a good way to go in many situations. This avoids the patent nonsense and if what you have done really is special then it won't be "obvious to an expert" what you did. Of course many things can't be done this way.
Credit cards don't get people into debt - bad judgement and perhaps poor mathematical skills do. It is simple - you know how much you make each month, and have in savings, and don't run up a bill you can't pay. It's just a matter of computing your total resources R, and making sure R > amount you spend.
I am a grandmother too, and sorry but you are wrong. The truth is, that most grandmothers are not technically literate. I just happen to have a career as a programmer, but I think your being too pc if you think there isn't a grain of truth in the original statement.
One of the very few women who contribute to open source, and of course she gets attacked. This is par for the course for women in the sciences. Can't you see how mysoginostic this is ? Carol is a fine person.
But if it alcohol based, then bacteria can't develop resistance to it, right ? Any cell biologists out there care to comment ? I've never heard of a mutant bacteria that can survive alchohol, and most of the anti-bacterial soaps I buy, like at CVS, are alcohol based.
You forgot to mention quantum computers (although I suspect these will appear eventually), nano machines, nanopowersources, flying robot insects (that fly untethered and are actually useful), optical computers, and just about anything claimed by people in artificlal intelligence. And of course vaporware....what's the famous video game example ?
I am hoping that I get email from you, so I can discuss science. Just what is your field of specialization ?
You're level of meanness is a real detriment to Slashdot, where people try to have serious discussions about science and technology.
I've worked as the director of a condensed matter lab for many years at a large well known institution. My field could use some more money, and I must admit I resent so much of it going to NASA. If your not in a scientific field, it might not be obvious to you how much corruption there is regarding the allocation of funds. Condensed matter physics has many more applications in my eyes then Mars probes.
Oh and btw, I AM a women and I could probably solve more math and physics problems in an evening that you could in a month.
Of course I want to discover. I am a scientist. But the public is unaware of the resources that NASA gets compared to other disciplines. As was pointed out above NSF Math and Physical Science get 135 million. That is tiny compared to just one of these NASA missions. Don't you think we should support string theory, the study of the big bang and number theory just a little more ?
But seriously, I've basically made my living off of DARPA grants and I fully support the criticism leveled at them above. It is truly a classic government buearacracy, very wasteful, not entirely straight about what they are doing, and you have to have personal connections to get money from them.
Slashdot Mirror
The point is that the grandfather statement is a myth. I am much more technologically capable than my husband. Most women would be, if they hadn't been educated in a system that is so biased towards men being scientists and engineers.
From the article:
"These things are so simple that a grandmother could fly it".
As a 49 yo grandmother, c programmer and feminist, I find this offensive.
As a 48 yo grandmother, techie and feminist I find that offensive. I've been a programmer since 1974, mostly writing C code, and I am sick of hearing this garbage. I think you'll find that you are a dinosaur, as most readers are more enlightened than you.
I think its all about having written a fat book at the right time and place. I can't stand it, but all my friends have it - yet none of them have read it! It has become the book you have on your shelf to look cool. Another Bruce Schneier, pronouncement about his superiority, ah yes...It would be nice if there were more articles here about current developments in cryptography. I've heard more than enough from Schneier. There are MANY other interesting security people out there to read, who aren't confused.
Depends on your definition. This is a DARPA contract, which is awarded based on if some guy likes you. If they suddenly don't like you, they pull the plug. But mostly this is pretty much a buddy network of people who have known each other for years, and they don't do that, except in cases of blatant incompetence (they took away Rodney Brooks money once I believe). I worked on a stair climbing robot project, which was pretty much a farce in every way. I'd really like to see a follow up article in 2-3 years to see what they actually built, or did the money just make some robot professors wallets fatter.
our brains use recurrent neural networks
How do you know this ?
Not to mention - and I a sure I'll get modded down here - is that neural networks aren't very effective. They get a lot of hype in the media, and people who don't work in optimization like them. They sound appealing and cool, but there are other methods that are much better. If you look at the liturature, there is not that much hard science behind them. Some statistical mechanics people have some results, but they really are just a fad, like fractals or catastrophe theory. But bear in mind LOTS of people in applied areas immediately jump to the conclusion that neural networks are great, especially computer vision and robotics people (where I used to work.)
Sort of like moving data by filling a station wagon with hard drives.
It's not very open sourcey, but trade secrets are a good way to go in many situations. This avoids the patent nonsense and if what you have done really is special then it won't be "obvious to an expert" what you did. Of course many things can't be done this way.
Credit cards don't get people into debt - bad judgement and perhaps poor mathematical skills do. It is simple - you know how much you make each month, and have in savings, and don't run up a bill you can't pay. It's just a matter of computing your total resources R, and making sure R > amount you spend.
I am a grandmother too, and sorry but you are wrong. The truth is, that most grandmothers are not technically literate. I just happen to have a career as a programmer, but I think your being too pc if you think there isn't a grain of truth in the original statement.
He also said that Mac beat them to having a good desktop on *nix. So is he a mac fanboy ?
One of the very few women who contribute to open source, and of course she gets attacked. This is par for the course for women in the sciences. Can't you see how mysoginostic this is ? Carol is a fine person.
Short and simple, but essentially correct.
My husband has an organ that requires regeneration.
What's bukaki ?
But if it alcohol based, then bacteria can't develop resistance to it, right ? Any cell biologists out there care to comment ? I've never heard of a mutant bacteria that can survive alchohol, and most of the anti-bacterial soaps I buy, like at CVS, are alcohol based.
You forgot to mention quantum computers (although I suspect these will appear eventually), nano machines, nanopowersources, flying robot insects (that fly untethered and are actually useful), optical computers, and just about anything claimed by people in artificlal intelligence. And of course vaporware ....what's the famous video game example ?
I am sitting in my cubicle at work. Your post, and the IPv6 transition plan have me very excited. I'm only wearing my underwear.
OK, next contributor please.
what is the environmental advantage of electricity for cars ? It's mostly made with fossil fuels. I've never understood this. Am I missing something ?
You're making a joke out of a sad thing.
I am hoping that I get email from you, so I can discuss science. Just what is your field of specialization ?
You're level of meanness is a real detriment to Slashdot, where people try to have serious discussions about science and technology.
I've worked as the director of a condensed matter lab for many years at a large well known institution. My field could use some more money, and I must admit I resent so much of it going to NASA. If your not in a scientific field, it might not be obvious to you how much corruption there is regarding the allocation of funds. Condensed matter physics has many more applications in my eyes then Mars probes.
Oh and btw, I AM a women and I could probably solve more math and physics problems in an evening that you could in a month.
Of course I want to discover. I am a scientist. But the public is unaware of the resources that NASA gets compared to other disciplines. As was pointed out above NSF Math and Physical Science get 135 million. That is tiny compared to just one of these NASA missions. Don't you think we should support string theory, the study of the big bang and number theory just a little more ?
OK here are mine
10. There is no life on mars
9. Mars is barren
8. It's friggin cold
7. We can't live there
6. there is no life on mars
5. Red mars was an ok, but slightly dull book.
4. There is no life there
3. Its got lots of radiation
2. no canals
1. No LIFE!!! Stop wasting taxpayer money!!
when people do that.
But seriously, I've basically made my living off of DARPA grants and I fully support the criticism leveled at them above. It is truly a classic government buearacracy, very wasteful, not entirely straight about what they are doing, and you have to have personal connections to get money from them.