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Submission + - Stephen Hawking dies aged 76 (theguardian.com)

Submitted by SlaveToTheGrind
SlaveToTheGrind writes: From the Guardian:

Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died aged 76. His family released a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning confirming his death at his home in Cambridge. Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. “His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. “He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.”

Comment a whole "half a day", eh? (Score 1) 220

by Tumbleweed (#56184387) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: How Would You Teach 'Best Practices' For Programmers?

If that's all the time you've got, you've got a systemic problem. This kind of thing needs to be an ongoing process of education. You can't cover anything like this in half a day. Or a full day. WTH.

Schedule "brown bag" sessions once a week for ongoing training and discussion, and get subject matter experts in for different things: security, TDD, algorithms, optimization, etc. And keep going; don't just do each of those once, because each of those is a full course full of stuff (at least).

If you're only going to get one day for this, collect a bunch of online resources for people and go over it. Then find a job at a place that values ongoing education, because HOLY CRAP. How can a *University* not value ongoing education?!

Submission + - The 2017 Hugo Awards

Submitted by Dave Knott
Dave Knott writes: The Hugo Awards, the most prestigious awards in science fiction, had their 2017 ceremony today, at WorldCon 75 in Helsinki, Finland.
The winners are:

Best Novel: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
Best Novella: "Every Heart a Doorway" by Seanan McGuire
Best Novelette: "The Tomato Thief" by Ursula Vernon
Best Short Story: "Seasons of Glass and Iron", by Amal El-Mohtar
Best Related Work: Words Are My Matter: Writings About Life and Books, 2000-2016 by Ursula K Le Guin
Best Graphic Story: Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening , written by Marjorie Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda
Best Dramatic Presentation: Arrival , screenplay by Eric Heisserer based on a short story by Ted Chiang, directed by Denis Villeneuve
Best Dramatic Presentation: The Expanse: Leviathan Wakes , written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, directed by Terry McDonough
Best Series: The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Ada Palmer

Just as they did last year, female creators have dominated the awards, with women taking home awards in the major categories—including N. K. Jemisin, who became the first woman to win the Hugo for Best Novel twice in a row since Lois McMaster Bujold did in 1991 and 1992.
This year’s slate of nominees, unlike the drama surrounding the 2016 and 2015 Hugos, was less impacted by the ballot-stuffing tactics of the “Rabid Puppies”, thanks to a change in the way nominees were voted for this year (including the fact no work could appear in more than one category) in an attempt to avoid tactical slate picks.

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: Where to go in IT today?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: In about a year I (hopefully) will have finished a bachelors degree in applied computer sciences, specializing in internet technology. The curriculum is rather broad, ranging from systems programming on a raspberry pi over HTML/CSS/Javascript/C/Java/JPA/Python/GO/node.js, software design patterns, basic network stuff (mostly Cisco) and various database technologies. With these skills under my belt, what career path should I pursue?

I'm looking for satisfying and rewarding work, pay is not that important. While the lectures are interesting and I am able to maintain good grades rather effortlessly, I'm not all that interested in doing a masters, at least not at the moment.

As a side note, I am working already part-time as a system administrator for two small companies, but don't want to stay there forever because it's basically a dead end position. Enjoying the job, though.

I hope for some insightful comments from the slashdot community. Thanks!

Submission + - Robert Heinlein Honored as Famous Missourian with Bust in State Capital

Submitted by HughPickens.com
HughPickens.com writes: The Joplin Globe reports that Missouri lawmakers have inducted science fiction writer Robert Heinlein to the Hall of Famous Missourians to a cheering crowd of fans who call themselves "Heinlein's children." State Rep. T.J. Berry says Heinlein encouraged others to "strive for the stars, for the moon" and "for what's next." Donors to the Heinlein Society and the Heinlein Prize Trust paid for a bronze bust of Heinlein, which will be displayed in the House Chamber at the Capitol where it will join 45 other Missourians honored with busts in the hall including Mark Twain, Dred Scott and Ginger Rogers, as well as more controversial Missourians such as Rush Limbaugh. In 2013 Missourians were asked to vote on who would go into the Hall. Heinlein received more than 10,000 votes. Heinlein was born in Butler, Missouri on July 7, 1907 and grew up in Kansas City. "Our devotion to this man must seem odd to those outside of the science fiction field, with spaceships and ray guns and bug-eyed monsters," Heinlein Society President Keith Kato said. "But to Heinlein's children, the writing was only the beginning of doing."

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