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Education

Submission + - Ask Slashdot: The Best Way to Learn to Start Codin 1

Submitted by Turbine2k5
Turbine2k5 writes: I work only 4 nights a week, so I have a lot of free time to do whatever. I'm looking to occupy some of that time with something more productive, and I thought learning a programming language is a great time-occupier. There are a ton of different languages out there, and a lot of them seem almost intimidating to even start. I'm having troubles picking one out that may help me in the future, if I decide to go out towards a different career path. I don't have a lot of cash, and I'd really like to hit the ground running. Any suggestions?
Education

Journal Journal: The Best Way to Learn to Start Coding

Journal by Turbine2k5

I work only 4 nights a week, so I have a lot of free time to do whatever. I'm looking to occupy some of that time with something more productive, and I thought learning a programming language is a great time-occupier. There are a ton of different languages out there, and a lot of them seem almost intimidating to even start. I'm having troubles picking one out that may help me in the future, if I decide to go out towards a different career path. I don't have a lot of cash, and I'd really like

Submission + - Portable Fuel Cell Battery Charger (mashable.com) 1

Submitted by wbr1
wbr1 writes: Mashable reports on a device being debuted at CES this year that is a portable fuel cell to recharge your devices. According to the article and the company's website, the device has a fuel cartridge and also uses a small amount of water.

Per the website: "PowerTrekk uses eco-friendly fuel cell technology which cleanly and efficiently converts hydrogen into electricity. The ability to simply insert a PowerPukk fuel pack and add water provides users instant and limitless power on the go."

This seems to not match up to my understanding of fuel cells, which use hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen to produce electricity and water. My guess is that the water is used to somehow activate the fuel which is stored as 'flexible stickers' not hydrogen gas.

This would be a nice thing if the fuel is cheap enough over time and it doesn't turn out to be vaporware.

Comment Re:Also (Score 1) 865

by Turbine2k5 (#38583660) Attached to: Ebert: I'll Tell You Why Movie Revenue Is Dropping

Almost all multiplexes will show both 2D and 3D versions and YOU get to choose which one you want to pay for. 3D is an additional option that DOES attract wider audiences by providing an additional choice.

I don't care for 3D, and it can stay, as long as the motherfu**ing theater would stop only giving me 4 times for 2D and 12000 for 3D...

Comment Re:Prices ARE different (Score 1) 464

by Turbine2k5 (#38583630) Attached to: Why Do All Movie Tickets Cost the Same?

If you go to the grocery store and see milk priced at $8.95/gal when you saw it the day before at $1.98/gal, then you'll remember that higher price vividly. If it happens often enough for something you planned on purchasing, then you're likely to start shopping for milk somewhere else, even if the average is a little higher, because the security of being able to make the planned purchase is worth the higher stable price.

Actually, if I see milk for $8.95 one day, and $1.98 the day before, the next time I see it at the lower price, I'm gonna buy 3 or 4 gallons even if I don't need that much. People do this all the time! They're programmed to hoard, even if they don't need it right there and then. Why do you think that frozen pizza that's on sale (for almost half price) and that you love so much is a hole on the shelf? They think they're getting a deal! They'll do the same with a dynamic pricing system (which is why I wait the month or two and go see whatever I want in the cheap $2 theater.)

Comment Re:You had your turn, buddy (Score 2) 435

by Turbine2k5 (#38561738) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Re-Entering the Job Market As a Software Engineer?

So what 20 something year old is going to have 10 years experience? What person with 10 years experience is perhaps not going to have 3 years experience with C++ or Java? How do you manage to miss the two of the most predominate programming languages out there?

My father, who is 50, and a retired Marine, knows all sorts of languages from FORTRAN to SAS and SQL, but never learned C++ or Java.

He's looking for a job now, but between his age and archaic knowledge, just can't seem to find work. Languages change, but not everyone can keep up.
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Submission + - Google Used its 'Mad Men' in Google+ Testimonials

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: Reuters reports that the growing importance of social networking to Google is reflected in its 'L' Team (short for Larry's Team), the influential group responsible for plotting the search giant's strategic priorities. Earlier this year, Google CEO Larry Page tied 25% of Googlers' annual bonuses to the success of Google's social strategy in 2011. So it's not too surprising that Google recently released online and TV commercials providing testimonials from Google+ users to encourage web users to consider the benefits of the platform. What may surprise some is that Google tapped its own 'Mad Men' — internal and external ad agency types — to portray happy Google+ users in testimonials for its more-like-real-life social network. For example, in the ad Larry Page shared to introduce Google+ Pages (video), the loyal bike shop customers hanging out include Google Creative Lab employees and ad agency staffers. And the cast of 'Sharing But Like Real Life' (video), which aired during the Packers-Lions Thanksgiving Day game, featured a number of Google advertising and marketing staffers. Google+ users in 'Search' (video) also sport the same names as real-life Googlers. And in 'Circles Love Story' (video), in which the guy gets promoted from the girl's unfortunately-named 'Creepers' Circle to her 'Keepers' Circle, the cast coincidentally shares names with individuals tied to Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, a reported Google hired-gun. Google no doubt knows where to draw the line so they do-no-FTC-evil. Still, one wonders how the ads would sit with the FTC's Mary Engle, who last year warned 'Advertisers should not pass themselves off as ordinary consumers touting a product, and endorsers should make it clear when they have financial connections to sellers.'

Comment Re:Android has many problems (Score 1) 614

by Turbine2k5 (#38391942) Attached to: Why Developers Still Prefer iOS To Android

Android is outselling iOs. Either what you say isn't true, or nobody cares.

Technically, yes. But you forget that, whereas, there's only one manufacturer using iOS, there's at least 4-5 using Android. Add the extra iPhone fee, and the fact that almost every phone that isn't an iPhone has Android on it, and it works. But if Google was just as restrictive as Apple, I'm sure those numbers wouldn't look the same.

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FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed -- it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer. -- A.J. Perlis

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