Comment Re:PHP? (Score 2, Informative) 962

by bluecrux on Thursday December 11, 2008 @05:10AM (#26072345) Attached to: Best Introduction To Programming For Bright 11-14-Year-Olds?

Then why not:
print "Hello world"

Python would be great choice. Procedural could lead right into OO programming. Functional programming could be touched on as well.

The greatest advantage to python is how similar to English it is. When 'while a equals b print c' involves swapping only a single word for a symbol and adding a colon:
while a == b: print c
the students wouldn't feel like they where learning a new language, just a new way to express one which they already knew. Using a language which has an interactive environment would also be a plus since code the kids could quickly test code they write. Also, using a dynamicly typed language would remove the kids from having to deal with type specifics. The kids don't need to learn why a number is anything but a number in an introduction to programming course.

A Hidden Loop In the Carbon Cycle Discovered 310

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday August 06, 2008 @09:11PM from the hot-and-heavy dept.

Googlesaysmysiteisdangerousanditisn't! writes "A recent article in Science says that researchers in China and the US have found massive carbon uptake in the world's deserts. The effects of this are huge. 35% of the Earth's land surface is desert, and the uptake equates to 5.2 billion tons of carbon sequestered each year. This is more than half of the carbon released by humans. In these 'dry oceans,' the grains of sand allow the carbon dioxide to enter and react with alkaline soil to become carbonates. Another scientist suspects that biotic desert crusts, alkaline soils, and increased precipitation may be driving the uptake."

Tufts Tells Judge, We Can't Tie IP To MAC Addresses 419

Posted by kdawson on Wednesday August 06, 2008 @05:21AM from the we're-cooperatin'-here dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Protesting that Tufts University's DHCP-based systems 'were not designed to facilitate forensic examinations,' but rather to ensure 'smooth operations and to manage capacity issues,' the IT Office at Tufts University has responded to the subpoena in an RIAA case, Zomba v. Does 1-11, by submitting a report to the judge (PDF) explaining why it cannot cross-match IP addresses and MAC addresses, or identify users accurately. The IT office explained that the system identifies machines, not users; that some MAC addresses have multiple users; that only the Address Resolution Protocol system has even the potential to match IP addresses with MAC addresses, but that system could not do so accurately. For reasons which are unclear, the IT department then suggested that the RIAA next time send them 'notices to preserve information,' in response to which they would preserve, rather than overwrite, the DHCP data, for the RIAA's forensic benefit."

MIT Team Working On a $12 Apple (II) Desktop 401

Posted by timothy on Tuesday August 05, 2008 @09:54AM from the guide-kids-worldwide-to-oregon dept.

Barence writes "A new project to create a $12 computer is underway at MIT, the same University that spawned the One Laptop Per Child non-profit laptop. The PCs will be loosely based on Apple 2 machines, first unveiled over 30 years ago, and the team are actively recruiting enthusiasts of the retro computer to help develop the new PC." Update: 08/05 14:13 GMT by T : The original story at the Boston Herald has more information, as well as a photo of the team.

Knights Templar Sue the Pope 675

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday August 04, 2008 @11:27AM from the trade-ya-for-the-grail dept.

pdragon04 writes "According to The Register, "the Knights Templar are demanding that the Vatican give them back their good name and, possibly, billions in assets into the bargain, 700 years after the order was brutally suppressed by a joint venture between the Pope and the King of France..."." I wonder what a holy grail goes for with 700 years of compound interest.

Senate Passes Bill Targeting College Piracy 157

Posted by Soulskill on Saturday August 02, 2008 @08:08AM from the since-colleges-don't-have-anything-better-to-do dept.

An anonymous reader brings news that the College Opportunity and Affordability Act has passed in the US Senate and now awaits only the President's signature before becoming law. Hidden away in the lengthy bill are sections which tie college funding to "offering alternatives to illegal downloading or peer-to-peer distribution of intellectual property as well as a plan to explore technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity." The EFF issued a statement expressing concern over the bill earlier this year, shortly before the House of Representatives approved it. We discussed the introduction of the bill last November. The Senate vote was 83-8, with 9 not voting. The full text of the bill is available. The relevant section is 494, at the end of the general provisions.