Well yes, the issue is not where the metadata of sorts is stored, but how it is expressed to the user.

Though at the moment executables can select their own icon and make it appear like a file icon from some other application. The idea would be to have some element of the icon that is based off the exention but which the file has no other control over, so if something is a file that doulble-clicking it will execute code, there would be some visual cue as such.

"Intellectual Property" does not muddle the lines between copyright and trademark, it is a catch all term that includes the two legal concept along with others. Individual cases still need to reference the actual legal frameworks in question.

At 11 minutes they could probably make that argument, but it would be stretching it. The line between parody and derived work often sits somewhere around how long it is and how easy it is to identify as not being produced by the original.

Yeah, there are some areas where it could really use some improvement, though striking a 'do what I mean' balance has proven somewhat tricky.

Mod wise, BuildCraft's flood gate introduces some fun new water mechanics, though wow can it make a mess if you do not think through your placement. Luckily many packs also include some expanded sponge mechanics to clean up the mess.

Need? No, but it does have one significant advantage, and that is cost vs return. The game is not that expensive, the hardware to run it is not that expensive, and the flexibility within it is pretty significant. Mechanical and electrical projects both require obtaining raw materials per project and tools can be quite expensive. Minecraft also has a significant multiplayer capability which allows collaborative projects on scales a child hobbyist is less likely to have access to.

I would not call it a replacement for other craft projects, but then again I would not consider mechanical/electrical projects a replacement for fiber crafting or vice versa. Different tools, different experience.

Any project, wood, writing, music, is going to have limitations on it due to the tools or physical laws.

Ah, the old 'if something is popular and it is not my thing, it is bad!' argument. Why exactly something that draws people in and gets them creating stuff bad? People gravitate twoards the tool and platform that suit them best, so while it is possible if you remove the option they would find other outlets, those outlets have already been rejected by them for not being what they are looking for.

Not sure where you are paying attention, but I see a vibrant kit marketplace well in excess of what was available 20 or 30 years ago. I envy kids today and the options they have at just a few clicks of a mouse and a little shipping time. I have even been ordering kids projects or reading plans lately because there are so many and they make great little lazy saturday activities. The only place I can think of that is more limited today would be chemistry sets, which were a small market in the first place and their removal impacts a tiny number of (enthusiastic) people.

But on the whole I have seen the market for beginners and experiment kits in pretty much every domain explode, with more variety easier to obtain than ever.

Heh. I remember when Mojang experimented with realistic water behavior. It did not go over well.

One of the old lessons in game design is sometimes realistic is not the best solution, and sometimes outright hurts playability.

How is giving them a sandbox to build whatever they want tearing their imaginations from them? Are you against writing too? Or music? Are only 'maker' projects acceptable acts of creativity?

Not sure where you are bringing regulation into it since that has pretty minimal impact on the types of projects a child is going to be able to build unless their parents shower them with resources.

I had a similar thought. While there is focus on the file extension, if the goal is to make sure users are only double clicking files they should be, having them memorize a bunch of magic 3 letter codes probably will not improve things much.

A better solution would either be something obvious about the icon (runnables bordered in red or something), or even have two different mechanisms for 'load this file in its proper application' and 'run this application'. Having the same action for both behaviors was probably a mistake in the first place.

I guess one lesson to take away is that it is dangerous to think you know what you are doing, or how a little experience can be worse then none. This was their second product, so they went through all of this before and were successful. This time it got away from them.

I am really curious how the BoM got so bad. Earlier in the project they were actually starting to get quotes going downward due to the increased volume of orders they were going to have.

It should be noted though that this particular project was also set up with microinvesting (EU only), so while the Kickstarter platform did not allow for investment, the project itself did actually have a way to invest in it.

In this case, they already had done it once before. This was their second kickstarter for the same basic project, with their previous one being successful and for general sale. They wanted to improve the design and take it from a 'hacker friendly' packaging to something 'consumer friendly'. So their track record was actually pretty good for a very similar device.

To be fair, they did name their project REALLY close to another company already in the field.

Sounds like the way it has been for all 40 some odd presidents so far.

Things have to be really bad for there to be a revolution, and that is just not the case for the majority of the population, at least a majority with power. Most of the people who keep dreaming of revolution are pretty well off but pissed over idealogical reasons, which is not enough for mass revolt. If we do see something, it will probably come from black citizens after they become a majority yet still have a minority stake in the economy/politics, which I am guessing is not the revolution you are picturing.

Unfortunately, beyond the attractiveness of the work, good and noble people just don't get the votes needed to get office. We decry the behavior and tactics of politicians, but they work, at least from the perspective of elections.