Bioinformatics is a fun interesting field. I worry however, that it may be a little overhyped. People who are interested in bioinformatics need to realize it is a very (albeit cool) specialized field. There aren't going to be a million more bioinformatics researchers in the world. The demand for these researchers just isn't there (and won't be there in the near future). For example, a search on hotjobs reveals only 51 listings for the keyword bioinformatics and nearly 900 listings for programmer.
That said, bioinformatics is exciting. If a computer savy person is interested in getting into it, they should intern or work for a researcher/professor on a research project. You might be surprised, however, when you find that working as a programmer elsewhere pays 2-4 times more.
No kidding, since it isn't possible to copyright factual information.
IANAL, but this isn't totally true. There are database laws (such as those in the UK -- not sure about US) where collections of facts can be copyrighted. There are examples in my field such as the Human Gene Mutation Database, which is a collection of facts and is controlled zealously. It isn't clear whether they are legally correct in that case, but "these facts" have resulted in $1+ mil deals. Collections of prices may fall under the same hood, IMO. (But I don't agree with the companies resulting actions)
There have been a few comments (generally joking) about the two towers name and its similarity to the world trade center disaster. I think it is bogus, of course, but the wtc group seems to be trying as hard as they can to fuel the fire. Did anyone notice that the unveiling of the new WTC Plans will occur on the same day LOTR is being released? Who's the genius there?
The idea that we should use nature to determine length standards is totally ridiculous. Length should have a predetermined standard and left at that. Nature has a bad habit of changing. Do we, at that point, change the standard? Of course not. That would require recalculation of a nearly infinite number of calculations. Could you imagine having different versions of the meter?
"Yes, I measured your property, but the architectual drawings use Meter version 19.52.6a. So I need to go downtown and figure out the conversion factor between the current version, 25.03.2c, and the old version."
Certain day, when leaving the Perpetual Mount to go to its native land, Alex found a dying who made it a revelation: the pacific city of Radactian ran a great danger.
I thought his 1992 predictions were much more bold, and in many ways they were pretty accurate. His 2002 predictions seem a bit restrained and... boring.
I find the Microsoft posts interesting and useful. This sort of badgering (by posting headline after headline) keeps us informed of Microsoft's (generally shitty) moves. Slashdot is definately biased and the editors have admitted it in the past. Perhaps you aren't aware that you can remove all Microsoft stories from your view in your user preferences?
Have you thought about asking the patent holders? If this is an open source/free software project it is possible that they will give limited permission to use their IP. It seems to me that if your only other option is to remove the code, why don't you at least get a feel for the inventor's attitude. It would be best if you could find the original inventor, not send some random email to the legal department. Sometimes original inventors (even in big companies) can be helpful or lead an introduction to foward thinking people in tech transfer.
You know this is silly. I bet that advertisers are pretty happy with this. People who block ads (I bet) are much more likely *not* to buy products related to those ads (if they saw them, of course). So advertisers are getting better views for their money. In reality, however, maybe the website providers should go after the advertisers, not the blockers.
That said, providers have a right to block access to people not requesting their pop-ups. I also have a right to avoid their page....
Just remember Seattle is know for its exceedingly poor city planning. For example,
1. Seattle used to have a trolley system, not unlike the street cars in san francisco. After a moment of genius urban planning it was removed. Click here for pictures.
2. Seattle couldn't agree on how to build a subway system, so they built a bus *tunnel* through downtown. Just to make it seem like they could intelligently plan for the future, they added tracks for a street car like metro system. They are still unused. (Last year they decided not to make the tunnel exclusive to light rail)
3. Seattle used to have another hill near downtown. They didn't like it so in 1897 they actually leveled half of it. It wasn't until the 1930's that they actually decided to remove it all. Here is an informative link with pictures.
4. Seattle's history of poor public planning also took place downtown. After fires and horrible sewage problems, they decided to put the sewage at street level and move the entire street up on story! For an entire neighborhood!
So Seattle, the town that actually raised its street level, lowered its hills, removed its light rail system only to have it cost in the *billions* to replace it, and when they try to replace it, it is only a bunch of unused tracks, is now spending 1.4 billion on a monorail. No one rides the monorail now, and they think that making it longer is going to change that? Hmm, did anyone tell them monorails are ugly?
Uranus jokes aside, I think the conversations will go like this:
Potential Girlfriend: Wow, what's this? Geek: A satellite Potential Girlfriend: Gee, has it been to space? Geek: Nope, but its built to spec. I build 'em in my spare time. The Woman Formerly Known As The Potential Girlfried: That's, um, pretty dedicated. Geek: Yup. Want share a Mt Dew with me?
What exactly do you want to do with a PhD in physics. Jobs after the fact are extremely competitive, more competitive than other scientific PhD's like chemistry or molecular biology.
That said, I have found the best way is to ask academic laboratories near where you live for a job (one by one). The pay will be crap, but it would be experience for the resume that won't require a physics background like an internship.
I'm usually a solid skeptic, actually. This case seems to be at least at some level, legit. I'm really surprised this wasn't national news a few days ago when the story broke. It seems with the controversy surrounding other incidents and the current political climate would motivate more attention to this.
Slashdot Mirror
Bioinformatics is a fun interesting field. I worry however, that it may be a little overhyped. People who are interested in bioinformatics need to realize it is a very (albeit cool) specialized field. There aren't going to be a million more bioinformatics researchers in the world. The demand for these researchers just isn't there (and won't be there in the near future). For example, a search on hotjobs reveals only 51 listings for the keyword bioinformatics and nearly 900 listings for programmer.
That said, bioinformatics is exciting. If a computer savy person is interested in getting into it, they should intern or work for a researcher/professor on a research project. You might be surprised, however, when you find that working as a programmer elsewhere pays 2-4 times more.
-Sean (sdm@stanford.edu)
I read at +2 to avoid noise. This way I avoid the spams, but I get to ses spam replies that are modded up. That is very annoying.
But what if the post starts at +2?
-Sean
Here is a link to a comment I posted recently about the long history of seattle urban planning intelligence. Bitching about Seattle urban planning is kind of a local pastime.
-Sean
Ahh that is helpful. I understand now.
-Sean
Sounds like script kiddie bootcamp to me. Don't forget to teach them of l33t speak and pr0n.
-Sean
Backpacking with a laptop is like ripping cd's of john tesh. You may think you want to do it, but jeez man, don't tell anyone about it.
-Sean
No kidding, since it isn't possible to copyright factual information.
IANAL, but this isn't totally true. There are database laws (such as those in the UK -- not sure about US) where collections of facts can be copyrighted. There are examples in my field such as the Human Gene Mutation Database, which is a collection of facts and is controlled zealously. It isn't clear whether they are legally correct in that case, but "these facts" have resulted in $1+ mil deals. Collections of prices may fall under the same hood, IMO. (But I don't agree with the companies resulting actions)
-Sean
we need Jar Jar Binks to show up in The Return Of The King.
Five words: Uncloaking of the ring wraith.
-Sean
There have been a few comments (generally joking) about the two towers name and its similarity to the world trade center disaster. I think it is bogus, of course, but the wtc group seems to be trying as hard as they can to fuel the fire. Did anyone notice that the unveiling of the new WTC Plans will occur on the same day LOTR is being released? Who's the genius there?
-Sean
The idea that we should use nature to determine length standards is totally ridiculous. Length should have a predetermined standard and left at that. Nature has a bad habit of changing. Do we, at that point, change the standard? Of course not. That would require recalculation of a nearly infinite number of calculations. Could you imagine having different versions of the meter?
"Yes, I measured your property, but the architectual drawings use Meter version 19.52.6a. So I need to go downtown and figure out the conversion factor between the current version, 25.03.2c, and the old version."
-Sean
Certain day, when leaving the Perpetual Mount to go to its native land, Alex found a dying who made it a revelation: the pacific city of Radactian ran a great danger.
Translated next line: All your base belong to us
-Sean
I thought his 1992 predictions were much more bold, and in many ways they were pretty accurate. His 2002 predictions seem a bit restrained and ... boring.
-Sean
There's an Enterprise "D"?
-Sean
I find the Microsoft posts interesting and useful. This sort of badgering (by posting headline after headline) keeps us informed of Microsoft's (generally shitty) moves. Slashdot is definately biased and the editors have admitted it in the past. Perhaps you aren't aware that you can remove all Microsoft stories from your view in your user preferences?
-Sean
Have you thought about asking the patent holders? If this is an open source/free software project it is possible that they will give limited permission to use their IP. It seems to me that if your only other option is to remove the code, why don't you at least get a feel for the inventor's attitude. It would be best if you could find the original inventor, not send some random email to the legal department. Sometimes original inventors (even in big companies) can be helpful or lead an introduction to foward thinking people in tech transfer.
-Sean
You know this is silly. I bet that advertisers are pretty happy with this. People who block ads (I bet) are much more likely *not* to buy products related to those ads (if they saw them, of course). So advertisers are getting better views for their money. In reality, however, maybe the website providers should go after the advertisers, not the blockers.
That said, providers have a right to block access to people not requesting their pop-ups. I also have a right to avoid their page....
-Sean
Last time I checked /. was a server....
Just remember Seattle is know for its exceedingly poor city planning. For example,
1. Seattle used to have a trolley system, not unlike the street cars in san francisco. After a moment of genius urban planning it was removed. Click here for pictures.
2. Seattle couldn't agree on how to build a subway system, so they built a bus *tunnel* through downtown. Just to make it seem like they could intelligently plan for the future, they added tracks for a street car like metro system. They are still unused. (Last year they decided not to make the tunnel exclusive to light rail)
3. Seattle used to have another hill near downtown. They didn't like it so in 1897 they actually leveled half of it. It wasn't until the 1930's that they actually decided to remove it all. Here is an informative link with pictures.
4. Seattle's history of poor public planning also took place downtown. After fires and horrible sewage problems, they decided to put the sewage at street level and move the entire street up on story! For an entire neighborhood!
So Seattle, the town that actually raised its street level, lowered its hills, removed its light rail system only to have it cost in the *billions* to replace it, and when they try to replace it, it is only a bunch of unused tracks, is now spending 1.4 billion on a monorail. No one rides the monorail now, and they think that making it longer is going to change that? Hmm, did anyone tell them monorails are ugly?
-Sean
-Sean
Uranus jokes aside, I think the conversations will go like this:
Potential Girlfriend: Wow, what's this?
Geek: A satellite
Potential Girlfriend: Gee, has it been to space?
Geek: Nope, but its built to spec. I build 'em in my spare time.
The Woman Formerly Known As The Potential Girlfried: That's, um, pretty dedicated.
Geek: Yup. Want share a Mt Dew with me?
-Sean
www.imdb.com
-Sean
We get spammed and verizon gets paid. Sounds like the American economy is working normally.
Too bad there are too many spammers in the world for this approach to actually work.
-Sean
What exactly do you want to do with a PhD in physics. Jobs after the fact are extremely competitive, more competitive than other scientific PhD's like chemistry or molecular biology.
That said, I have found the best way is to ask academic laboratories near where you live for a job (one by one). The pay will be crap, but it would be experience for the resume that won't require a physics background like an internship.
-Sean
I'm usually a solid skeptic, actually. This case seems to be at least at some level, legit. I'm really surprised this wasn't national news a few days ago when the story broke. It seems with the controversy surrounding other incidents and the current political climate would motivate more attention to this.
-Sean
I like music, and I like /. I don't, however like /.'s music.
Why not post some real stories like missles being shot at airplanes and being caught on tape by a news cameraman? Or perhaps the coming cyberwar.
-Sean
I'm a moderator, and I was going to moderate this post, but then I realized there wasn't a "-1 Illegal" option...
-Sean