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User: xdotx

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  1. Re:Awesome on New York's Video-Game-Based Public School · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What you describe was my summer job two years in a row. https://projectfun.digipen.edu/workshops/courses/video-game-programming

    My favorite was teaching the level 2 course where I taught kids about making 2D sprite based games in C#. We basically give them a very simple 2D engine and then teach them all the programming and math required to move things around, detect collisions and perform general game logic. It's really fun to teach because I love programming and (almost) every kid there is very eager to learn. It's really cool to see how fast many of them pick things up simply because they're motivated and truly curious.

    Oh, did I mention they do this in 2 weeks? The first week is heavy teaching and the second week they make their own games. These kids were anywhere from late middle school to high school.

  2. Re:Really good ideas... on New Zealander Invents Segway Alternative · · Score: 1

    My thoughts exactly. 12.5mph and a 6 mile range? My bike can go at least 7 times as far, and faster. Plus I get a little exercise and don't waste electricity. With a 6 mile range doesn't this mean you have to charge it wherever you're going? Or if your round trip is less than 3 miles one way can't you just walk (and then not have to worry about carrying this thing/locking it up)? Are people that lazy - I mean "busy"?

  3. Re:Group Labor on Collaborative Filtering and the Rise of Ensembles · · Score: 1

    Untrue, a group of people is NOT necessarily a strength. Groups encourage slacking off and discourage taking responsibility. Or in short, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

  4. Re:Frankly on Musician Lobby Terms Balanced Copyright "Disgusting" · · Score: 1

    Name me ONE FUCKING ARTIST who started out with 100% original music.

    My first thought is Afterlives - http://www.last.fm/music/Afterlives

    "William Barrett, the musician behind this sometimes dreamy, sometimes jarring collection of songs, had recorded no previous work. In fact, he had never written anything else, never played music. He simply decided to record an album one day, and did it. He had no preconceptions, no precedent. He just did it."

  5. Re:What a good idea on UK Police Raid Party After Seeing "All-Night" Tag On Facebook · · Score: 5, Informative

    Raving is not a crime.

    TFA: "[...] section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which grants police powers to remove persons attending or preparing for a "rave" (defined as playing amplified music "wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats," during the night)."

    Well, apparently it is.

  6. Re:Obesity & Bacteria on Are Human Beings Organisms Or Living Ecosystems? · · Score: 1

    [pet peeve alert] All good points, but BMI is a bullshit scale.

  7. Re:OMG Ponies on NASA In Colbert Conundrum Over Space Station · · Score: 1

    don't worry, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2175 has the classic pink theme, for great justice.

  8. Re:Methane on Mars, 2004 on Methane On Mars May Indicate Living Planet · · Score: 1
  9. Re:That's a terrible headline? on Oldest Nuclear Family Found Murdered In Germany · · Score: 2, Funny

    it could have been carried.

  10. Re:Tutorial on Using apt-p2p to Upgrade on Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) Released · · Score: 2, Informative

    The latest deluge release is fantastic. Got the features you want but still nice and light weight.

  11. Google knows your pain on Geeky April Fools' Day Prank Roundup · · Score: 1
  12. seinopgmo on Clandestine Operations at Google · · Score: 1

    couldn't find a "formal" publication, but

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

    close enough, right?

  13. Re:Decades of experience is not jumping the gun. on Microsoft Hyper-V Leaves Linux Out In The Cold · · Score: 1

    You mean like the fox guarding the hen house? or maybe, hens guarding the fox house?
  14. Re:Mobil card ms are NUTS... on Ads With Your Name On Them · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Merriam-Webster defines Paranoia as: "a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others."

    Maybe give that some thought?

  15. Re:At last, and end to "Year of the Linux Desktop" on Linux And Unix Devices Popular On Amazon's 'Best of '07' List · · Score: 1

    I don't see why these devices should not support pc-like behaviour. Because they are not designed with that functionality in mind. Modern handhelds are designed for relatively short term, specific use. Also, unlike a pc, these devices are marketed with software-based features. It simply wouldn't be worth the effort on the designer's part to make something as esoteric as switching the OS easy. Much less can I imagine someone wanting to attempt to boot from an external devices - you're talking about a handheld after all.
  16. Not just fired... on Startrek.com Shutting Down · · Score: 1

    but beaten up too, and pretty badly. In fact, most of them died from their injuries... and then they were ground up into a fine pink powder...

  17. Re:Temporary Problem on Vodafone Move Invites Web Development Chaos · · Score: 1

    Great, now I'm going to spend all day contemplating the implications of a cell phone with horsepower.

  18. Re:Because we all know on Why Are So Many Nerds Libertarians? · · Score: 1

    I call bullshit on the no-choice bit.

    I've been smoking various tobaccos on/off for a couple years now and frankly, have never felt addicted. I'm a casual smoker with WILLPOWER and have had no trouble what-so-ever stopping whenever I feel like it (i've "quit" 4-5 times now). The drug only does what you let it.
    "Know your body; know your mind; know your substance" - erowid.

    An informed individual should have every right to use a substance in a manner that affects only themselves.

    PS: the secret to quitting: QUIT BUYING THE SHIT and deal with it.

  19. Stylus? on Open Source Linux Phone Goes On Sale · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wasn't this originally supposed to be all touch screen... as in with fingers, no stylus and what-not? They're providing a stylus which seems to imply they've given up on the idea (I know they were having a lot of trouble with it previously). I'd rather the stylus-free approach than an overpowered stylus; although, I can't say I'd complain much if I got the latter.

  20. Re:Yeah well... on Judge Deals Blow to RIAA · · Score: 5, Informative

    California legalized pot


    No, they did not.
    California decriminalized pot, it it still illegal. Cannabis is still a Federal schedule I controlled substance.


    " Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation." - www.norml.org

  21. Microsoft too actually... on Best Places To Work In IT · · Score: 1

    In all honesty I expected Microsoft up there, but of course after Google. All MS bashing aside, everyone I know that works there, or has recently, generally loves the place. In addition to brainwashing, they have flexible/short work hours (except crunch times), a really nice campus, good cafeterias, challenging and/or interesting work, salary(!), optional travel... Of course all of that depends on who you are, what dept. (most I know are in the xbox dept.), etc.

    Ps - the brainwashing was a joke (i think they just put something in the water)

  22. Re:When you buy a new PC... on Man Sues Gateway Because He Can't Read EULA · · Score: 1

    I disagree. The sale is for ownership of the machine. The EULA is in regards to the uses of the machine. Buy it, but don't use it if you don't agree with the EULA.

    Besides, expecting an EULA to be read prior to purchase is generally even more ridiculous than expecting it afterwards.

  23. Re:lbs to kg? on "Bear" Robot to Rescue Wounded Troops · · Score: 1

    Since I can't find anyone else that's mentioned it...

    The article quotes both 135kg (300lb) and 227kg (500lb), for two different things. Apparently, it lifts 135kg with it's arms, and supports up to 227kg on its upper body.

    So the answer is yes, it lifts 135kg and 500lb.

  24. Re:Google operating system? on Zero Day Hole In Google Desktop · · Score: 1

    Reportedly, they indeed have many. They don't just have their own distro; apparently they have internal, customized versions of MOST of the main distros. Don't worry, they send all (or most) bug reports, fixes, etc back to the main branch.

  25. Re:This could make for a cool video game controlle on Scientists Demonstrate Thought-Controlled Computer · · Score: 1

    Just what we needed- another common, practically effortless idea being patented for profit via monopoly.

    Otherwise, yes, I agree, this would make an interesting game controller. But honestly, I'd be surprised if the technology was able to evolve to the point that it would be feasible as a good replacement for regular, hand-held controllers. At least, by the time -my- kids would be here. Although, that's not to say a somewhat primitive version of the technology might not work in small-to-medium doses- eq the Wii controller.