Comment Re:The 2.5 Exponent (Score 1) 181
2012. Yes sir! That's when the really big attack is gonna be.
Inkscape 0.47 Released 225
derrida writes "After over a year of intensive development and refactoring, Inkscape 0.47 is out. This version of the SVG-based vector graphics editor brings improved performance and tons of new features, including: timed autosave, Spiro splines, auto-smooth nodes, Eraser tool, new modes in Tweak tool, snapping options toolbar & greater snapping abilities, new live path effects (including Envelope), over 200 preset SVG filters, new Cairo-based PS and EPS export, spell checker, many new extensions, optimized SVG code options, and much more. Additionally, it would be wrong to not mention the hundreds of bug fixes. Check out the full release notes for more information about what has changed, enjoy the screenshots, or just jump right to downloading your package for Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X." We've been following the progress of Inkscape for years (2006, 2005, 2004).
Computer Games and Traditional CS Courses 173
drroman22 writes "Schools are working to put real-world relevance into computer science education by integrating video game development into traditional CS courses. Quoting: 'Many CS educators recognized and took advantage of younger generations' familiarity and interests for computer video games and integrate related contents into their introductory programming courses. Because these are the first courses students encounter, they build excitement and enthusiasm for our discipline. ... Much of this work reported resounding successes with drastically increased enrollments and student successes. Based on these results, it is well recognized that integrating computer gaming into CS1 and CS2 (CS1/2) courses, the first programming courses students encounter, is a promising strategy for recruiting and retaining potential students."
While a focus on games may help stir interest, it seems as though game development studios are as yet unimpressed by most game-related college courses. To those who have taken such courses or considered hiring those who have: what has your experience been?
Comment Doesn't work behind proxies (Score 1) 289
Useless 300Mb worth of sh*t because it cannot authenticate my google id (I am behind a proxy). Why do I have to be connected to the internet to have a peek at the OS?
Modern Warfare 2 Not Recalled In Russia After All 94
thief21 writes "After claims that console versions Modern Warfare 2 had been recalled in Russia due to complaints from politicians and the gaming public over the infamous airport slaughter scene, it turns out the stories were completely untrue. Activision never released a console version of the game in Russia."
Instead, they simply edited the notorious scene out of the PC version. They did this of their own volition, since Russia doesn't have a formal ratings committee.
Comment Two common fallacies (Score 1) 572
It appears to me that most posters are falling prey to one of these two fallacies:
a) Moving jobs out of US is bad for the US economy. This is false because of two major reasons. First, when Indians spend their new salaries, they do it mainly on electronics and cars, and guess who owns a majority of these companies -- the First World nations. A significant amount of the money is coming back to the developed nations.
b) A jobless American worker cannot contribute to the US economy. That is partly true and that too in the very short term. It will be interesting to check what happened when most of the manufacturing was moved to China, Taiwan and Korea. The dollars involved there were much more than those in outsourcing, after correcting for inflation ofcourse. Seems to me that the US survived that phenomenon alright. Free market dictates that if others do not want your goods or skills, then you have to evolve and invent. Americans have been the pioneer in this, so I do not know what the hue and cry is all about. The Indian government, on the other hand, generally is much more conservative and highly averse to change and evolution. The poo will really hit the fan in India when the outsourcing is itself re-outsourced to places like Phillipines and Vietnam. It is already happening.
I say this with much conviction because I am an Indian myself and have had quite a few contacts in the contact-center industry over the course of 2-3 years.
America will ride this storm like it has before. The timing of all this with the Iraq thing and the oil prices make this appear much worse than it actually is.
Jim Gray Is Missing 283
K-Man writes "Jim Gray, Turing Award winner and developer of many fundamental database technologies, was reported missing at sea after a short solo sailing trip to the Farallon Islands off San Francisco. Gray is manager of Microsoft's eScience group. The Coast Guard is searching for his vessel over 4,000 square miles of ocean, and there have been no distress calls or signals of any kind. Gray is 63 and a sailor with 10 years' experience."
