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Comment Re:illogical captain (Score 1) 937

So should everyone lend credence to any claim that is made? Should every old book of fairy tales be taken as truth until it is systematically proven as false beyond any shadow of doubt?

If I say there is an invisible tiger patiently waiting behind you ready to eat you the second you did something he doesn't like, would you believe it? I offer you no real proof other than my word that it is written in an old book that I found. Is it arrogant to assume that it is just plain superstition at best and probably just outright lies on my part at worst until some semblance of proof was offered on my end?

As for the Higg's Boson, it wasn't something whose only basis is, "some guy said it is true". There are mathematical models that suggest its existence which warrants testing (Just as any search for a supposed deity warrants testing.) Few people claim that the Higg's boson is a certainty and those who do are scientific extremists jumping to conclusions.

A line must be drawn somewhere. The burden of proof is on you to prove the claim is true, not for me to prove it is false. I understand there must be a modicum of faith in a belief to actually test the idea in order to generate evidence. The problem is that too much blind faith in any idea makes it easy to go down a destructive or self-defeating path. What makes things worse is that to question those who believe is heresy, dissent to be destroyed at any cost because those who request evidence are a threat to the faith.

Science

Why Atheists Need Captain Kirk 937

New submitter anlashok writes: Atheism and science face a real challenge: To frame an account of science, or nature, that leaves room for meaning. According to this article, atheists have pinned their flag to Mr. Spock's mast. But they need Captain Kirk. Quoting: "I'm pro-science, but I'm against what I'll call "Spock-ism," after the character from the TV show Star Trek. I reject the idea that science is logical, purely rational, that it is detached and value-free, and that it is, for all these reasons, morally superior. Spock-ism gives us a false picture of science. It gives us a false picture of humankind's situation. We are not disinterested knowers. The natural world is not a puzzle. ... The big challenge for atheism is not God; it is that of providing an alternative to Spock-ism. We need an account of our place in the world that leaves room for value."
Education

Harvard's CompSci Intro Course Boasts Record-Breaking Enrollment 144

alphadogg writes: Harvard College's CS50, the school's Introduction to Computer Science course for undergrads, has attracted about 1 in 8 students this fall — a new record for the school and yet another sign of just how hot this field is becoming for the job-hungry. Overall, 818 undergrads (or 12% of the student body) signed up for the challenging course this semester (PDF), and nearly 900 students are registered when factoring in graduate and cross-registered students. Topics on the syllabus include Linux, cryptography, HTML and JavaScript. David Malan, a Harvard CompSci grad, teaches the course.

Comment My advice...RUN! (Score 1) 120

Stay away! Long hours, crappy pay working for a company that will use you for everything you are worth, chew you up, and when you turn 35-40, will spit you out. Only those few who specialized in now ancient technologies will have any prospects beyond age 40. The worst part is, there is no such thing as job security. No matter how much of a rockstar you are, at any time you are at risk of being replace by a kid from India or China, if for no other reason than the CTO needs a few extra dollars to get a new company Lexus.

Sure, the idea of joining a startup and becoming an overnight billionaire sounds appealing, but except for a very small handful, IT WONT HAPPEN. If you want to join the Video Game Industry, all this same stuff applies, only cranked up to 11!

For your own sake, stay away. Don't make the same mistake that I made. Get a real job, spend time with your family, go outside and enjoy life.

Comment Re:Amazing (Score 1) 276

Really? Here is my anecdotal datem point on the subject. I have been a gamer since the Atari 2600 and NES era. I have been involved in the gaming culture since there was gaming culture (same with the computer and internet cultures as well). Thus far, I have owned and played every major Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft platform made (except the PS4 and XBone due to the still lack of games) as well as many others. My current library spans well over 500 games between consoles and PC (especially Steam). When I go on business trips, my laptop with my Steam library and 3DS goes with me.

For all intents and purposes, I consider myself a gamer. Being on the backside of the 18-34 demographic, I have a full time engineering job with its own hours and obligations. So while I don't put myself in the league of those who play games as their main and only hobby, I am still part of the core gaming audience.

With that out of the way, between professional and personal obligations, I am lucky if I can actually play games for 2 hours a week. This is usually when I can block out one night just to sit down with a game until I have to get to bed. Sometimes, I might get lucky and have a lazy Friday night or Saturday to just sit down and play. Meanwhile, my Mom, Dad, Girlfriend, Grandma, and Step-Mom have kindle tablets, and iPhones and can play one of their dozens of free-to-play casual games for 5-15 minutes a piece whenever they have a few minutes downtime. My girlfriend also occasionally plays a few rounds of Mario World or Mario Kart with me on the Wii U.

Now the question, who is the real gamer My family or myself. Certainly, I buy more games, am a part of the gaming scene, and play hardcore games. Meanwhile they just play games in short bits and pieces many times a day. They don't care about the latest shooter, the next Civ game, what EA is doing to piss-off gamers this week. They don't know who Tim Schafer, Reggie Fils-Aime, Jim Sterling, or Master Chief is, they just play their games.

Comment Re:Even more disturbing (Score 1) 421

The most disturbing news in all of this is that his neighbor is breeding raptors. The kid was justified in his heroic actions, the deranged neighbor needs to be indicted for crimes against humanity.

God creates the world. God creates dinosaurs. God destroys the world to get rid of the raptors. God creates man; Man kills god. Man brings back raptors. My god, what have we done!?

Comment Re:Really? (Score 1) 441

As an American engineer working for a large multinational electronics company, I have worked with people from every continent. Many are polite, have good communication skills, know their stuff and are very pleasant to work with. I have also worked with incompetent PhDs with huge language barriers who act as if anyone who doesn't have a PhD is a complete moron who doesn't deserve to be on the same planet as them. This pretty much applies to everyone, everywhere.

The point is, people who are smart and easy to work with are a great asset and I don't care where they come from. I hold nothing against foreigners or Americans. I hate incompetent assholes, both foreign and domestic.

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