Kids now show up to Kindergarten not knowing how to color or hold a pencil. Kids in my daughter's grade 7 class where computers were mandated destroyed on average one laptop a year each and spent their class time playing games and watching videos. So, maybe 18?

Software Vendors are switching from offering perpetual licenses to subscriptions because the EU stripped them of the right to prevent resale as part of the software license agreement. It is hard to survive when software prices are anchored at low values which are unsustainable in a market where vendors are forced to compete with perfect second hand sales. https://www.computerworld.com/...

Let's ignore Transportation (28.9 percent of 2017 greenhouse gas emissions) Electricity production (27.5 percent of 2017 greenhouse gas emissions) and Industry (22.2 percent of 2017 greenhouse gas emissions) and instead focus on guilting people who have to worry about breathing.

StackOverflow not Racist/Sexist/Ableist. As a middle aged white guy with 35 years experience as a programmer, let me assure you, StackOverflow isn't welcoming to ANYBODY. Every single interaction I've had with the site has been negative. Also, it's not just questions that get beat on, it's answers as well. Nothing like getting crap for answering a question the moderators don't want answered.

" criticing tech companies which 'continue to deny services to Iranians'" Do your research. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the countries US companies are forbidden from having business dealings with. If you're unhappy with tech companies not being able to service Iranians, you might want to talk to your representative. Here's a handy list: http://smallbusiness.chron.com...

Mona Lisa Overdrive is my second favourite book of all time (after Lord of the Rings.) He's the only author I haven't read my daughter because I want her to read him herself when she's old enough to appreciate his unique writing style.

That's your scary headline.

Now I'm building a seamless open world massively multiplayer real time strategy game in the style of Command & Conquer BY MYSELF. How could one guy do that? Dedication and licensed art and sound effects. Big team or little the job is no different. Yes, I should have picked something easier - but what fun would that be?

The Imperial Realm::Miranda: [theimperialrealm.com]

I hated math in university, I still hate it now, but over a 25 year programming career math has turned out to be the single most surprisingly useful thing I learned in university. Calculus, statistics, trig, I have needed them all in my programming work. I wouldn't have the cool job I have now if I couldn't do the math.

I have visited slashdot several times a day for years, but I'm switching to RSS, the new layout is too annoying. I actually took the time to look for a setting to fix the appearance, but there is none. Too much whitespace, not enough contrast, annoying bar at the top, the more stories button messes up constantly, reading a story in a new tab scrolls down automagically, rather than starting at the top. Just so awful. FAIL.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-05/stripper-s-college-degree-profitable-for-goldman-finds-70-000-was-wasted.html Seriously, tell them to get a real degree so when they are tired of making games, they can get another job (not as a dancer.)

I can't touch a mouse without pain. I've found a touchpad causes the least strain for me. I don't use the buttons, I tap the surface to click. Almost no strain doing that. I can use it all day. I have a synaptics one on a HP Pavilion laptop. I also have a small bamboo stylus which I can use for a couple hours, but if I use it all day it bothers me. Get an ergonomic keyboard like the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard for typing. Spend the money on a good chair, like an Aeron. If you can touch type, any typing assistance software is likely a waste of time. Speech recognition is only good if you can talk all day. To see if it will work for you, read a book outloud, see how long you last.

Apparently the guys at Petroglyph haven't been checking out the competition. There's a nice list at www.mmorts.com including such cool titles as Beyond Protocol, Dreamlords, and Battleforge.