Comment Nice Markov Chain generator. (Score 1, Offtopic) 246
Wow, that last article looks like a really good Makov Chain generator (or whatever the kids these days are using).
Comment Re:Link to original discussion? (Score 1) 3
Comment nice to read the update (Score 1) 3
I remember reading the original discussion on this, and it's nice to hear what you decided to do and how it has worked out.
Comment Head First Java (Score 1) 4
I like the chapters about OOP in Head First Java so much that I use them in my Python class. Chapter 2 and Chapter 7 are the ones you want. Head First Python just skips over OOP for the most part.
Comment Re:Lies. (Score 1) 353
Ubuntu Linux
doesn't come with flash either
download directly
IBM's Plans For the Cell Processor 124
angry tapir writes "Development around the original Cell processor hasn't stalled, and IBM will continue to develop chips and supply hardware for future gaming consoles, a company executive said. IBM is working with gaming machine vendors including Nintendo and Sony, said Jai Menon, CTO of IBM's Systems and Technology Group, during an interview Thursday. 'We want to stay in the business, we intend to stay in the business,' he said. IBM confirmed in a statement that it continues to manufacture the Cell processor for use by Sony in its PlayStation 3. IBM also will continue to invest in Cell as part of its hybrid and multicore chip strategy, Menon said."
Comment Re:The Better Policy (Score 1) 2058
??? fine = fire department budget / # of fires ???
I've been thinking about this, trying to come up with what the "fine" should be. Obviously it has to be something substantial or no one will subscribe to the service. My thought is that the true cost to save his house is the entire budget for the fire department / the number of fires that they put out. Because the number of fires can vary, you'd probably want to use a running average for the number of fires.
Fine in theory (I'm guessing) but does anyone know what type of actual numbers this might produce?
WordPress 3.0 Released 79
An anonymous reader writes "WordPress 3.0, the thirteenth major release of WordPress and the culmination of half a year of work by 218 contributors, is now available for download and comes with 1,217 bug fixes and feature enhancements. Major new features in this release include a new default theme called Twenty Ten. Theme developers have new APIs that allow them easily to implement custom backgrounds, headers, shortlinks, menus (no more file editing), post types, and taxonomies."
EA Launches Ultima-Based Browser Game 106
On Monday Electronic Arts launched Lord of Ultima, a free-to-play, browser-based strategy game that's based on the Ultima universe. Quoting VG247: "Set in the new world of Caledonia, players start the game as conquerors raising an empire, and then move from developing a village to evolving it into a highly customized capital. Players can be peaceful merchants by trading resources over land or sea and using diplomacy, or become feared conquerors using armies of knights and mages to crush their enemies one by one in maniacal glee."
Sid Meier and the 48-Hour Game 58
MMBK writes "Sid Meier is possibly the most influential game designer ever, having developed the Civilization series, among others. This video documentary looks at his past while he travels to the University of Michigan for the 48-hour game design competition, which was hosted by his son."
Decrying the Excessive Emulation of Reality In Games 187
An editorial at GameSetWatch makes the case that game developers' relentless drive to make games more real has led to missed opportunities for creating unique fictional universes that are perhaps more interesting than our own. Quoting:
"Remember when the norm for a video game was a blue hedgehog that ran fast and collected rings and emeralds? Or a plumber that took mushrooms to become large, and grabbed a flower to throw fireballs? In reality they do none of those things, but in the name of a game, they make sense, inspire wonder, and create a new universe. ... We’ve seen time and time again that the closer you try to emulate reality, the more the 'game' aspects begin to stick out. Invisible walls in Final Fantasy, or grenades spawning at your feet when you go the wrong way in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are examples of kicking the player out of that illusion of reality, and letting them know that yes, this is a game, and yes, the rules are designed to keep you in the space of this world, not the real world. In reality, as a soldier I could disobey my orders and go exploring around the other side. I could be cowardly and turn back to base. Games shouldn’t have to plan for every eventuality, of course, but it’s not so hard to create universes that are compelling but where the unusual, or even simple backtracking, is not so unfeasible."
SCO v. Novell Goes To the Jury 67
Excelcia writes "Closing arguments in the six and a bit year old slander of title case between SCO and Novell occurred today and the case is finally in the hands of the jury. It's been an interesting case, with SCO alternately claiming that the copyrights to UNIX did get transferred to them, and that the copyrights should have been transferred to them. 'Judge Ted Stewart said, after the jury left to begin to deliberate, that in all his years on the bench, he's never seen such fine lawyering as in this case.' We're not going to find out the results until at least Tuesday, however, as one juror is taking a long weekend. Great lawyering notwithstanding, we can all hope next week that the Energizer bunny of all spurious lawsuits will finally go away."
Comment Donald Knuth (Score 1) 737
Comment Re:Wait... (Score 1) 582
It seems like you might be able to come up with a closer estimate than $2 to $400 dollars for something like a water bill.
Comment Re:Default is for wimps... (Score 1) 339
It's true. Even when I write my own software, I always make sure the setting that *I* will be using are not the default settings. Only wimps use the default settings.
