Sums it up I think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfdZTZQvuCo

I think the big thing we need to do is figure out WHY the prices don't come down from domestic drilling. I would bet it doesn't have nearly as much to do with the cost of drilling, and way more to do with the fact that people on Wall Street decide what a barrel of oil is worth, it doesn't matter where it comes from.

A legitimate question. With a reasonable answer. While I live really close to this park, there are several in the area. As a playground there are other parks in the area that my kids prefer and so we go there more often. It's been maybe 2 years since we have been to that park. My oldest is now almost 9, so I'm sure he remembers going there, but I don't know if he really remembers the tree. My daughter just turned 5. I'm sure she doesn't remember going there.

While I agree it maybe doesn't belong on Slashdot, I actually live about 5 minutes from the park where this tree was and would take my kids there to see this tree. Pretty magnificent. So, I at least find it cool to see it on /. even if it doesn't "really" belong here. Also, disappointed to see it go. I don't know if my kids were old enough to really remember seeing it from the last time we went there. I had been meaning to get back there, but, you know, who expect a 3500 year old tree to be suddenly gone. Also, they now suspect arson and not natural causes as originally thought.

I agree Google is responsible for their employees and will have to pay whatever consequences comes with that. I am just saying that "I" don't think this action makes Google as a whole evil. They may do some evil things, and if this is actually a Google sanctioned thing then yes this is evil. But I have worked in remote offices for companies and we often did things that weren't corporate policy and that's what I see happening here.

I don't think anyone is saying that Google shouldn't be held responsible. Just that it's probably not Google trying to be evil, but some random employee breaking the law. If corporate deals with it accordingly I don't see how you can condemn the company as a whole for it. If the dude making your burger at the local burger hut spits on your burger does that make the whole burger hut corporation an evil business for having their employees spit in burgers? No, it makes the guy a jerk who doesn't follow corporate policy.

As far as coding resources, it doesn't have any in and of itself. All the GlobalGameJam is, is an event for people interested in game design to get together and build a game. What they do end up providing just by it's nature is programmers, artists, designers, sound engineers, and anyone else with a skill that can help in making games (and people without relevant skills that are just interested in games). Also, most of the games that come out of a thing like this are very small scale simple games. No real engine unless you decide to use something like Unity to make it. If it's something you are interested in, just sign up on the site (I think registration opens in November), list any skills you have, show up and have fun. As far as reference to a good simple graphics package, check out http://www.unity3d.com/ and http://create.msdn.com/en-US/education/tutorial/2dgame/getting_started/ Both are quite easy to use and have tons of great documentation and tutorials.

I don't know about Ludum Dare, but at the GGJ (at least the site that I go to.) The games are fully original creations, Not some preexisting game that has been adapted to the key words. Sure someone might reuse a physics library that they have written before, or some other module. But that happens in any development. But the games are definitely not premade. A large part of this is due to the fact that most of the team members don't even know each other before the event.

Go to http://globalgamejam.org/ it is the same thing, (a 48 hour design and build a game session) but it is organized globally. I have done it twice now and it is so much fun. You don't need any real experience in game development, but any helps. But, even if you don't know anything about coding, art, music, or anything like that, you can still help out by being a tester, or a gopher. It's free, and very fun. The one coming up is January 27-29 and chances are, there is a site near you. If there isn't, you can start one. All you need to know is on the web site I linked. Have fun, and game on.

http://www.lytro.com/picture_gallery