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Comment Re:First programming course? At Stanford?? (Score 2) 255

Javascript coding was a key part of Stanford's CS105 (Intro to CS for non-majors) 10 years ago when I TAd it... same reason - the goal was to show fuzzies as much as possible and hopefuly spark an interest or at least rudimentary appreciation of the topic. Parlante is indeed a fantastic lecturer, but I'll never forgive him for pre-Java BunnyWorld. ;)

Comment Re:The Jews trying to get RMS at bargain prices? (Score 1) 609

How many bulldozers in US construction sites need to be armoured 'cause they're being shot at? Armour tends to cut down on your visibility, as well as your inclination to get out of the cab. Lying down in front of an armored 'dozer exposes you to risk - nuff said. Even then, the death was accidental, unlike what the Palestinians do with their heavy construction equipment (http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2008-07-02-voa7-66670317.html). As always - if the Israelis were genocidal, they've been the most ineffecitve practitioners in history. Take a look at the extremely broad nature of Israeli politics, Israeli media, the judiciary, and their education - there's absolutely no basis to accuse Israel of genocidal or even murderous intentions. They want to live in peace in a dangerous neighborhood, and the day the Arabs decide they want peace, Israel will make extraordinary concessions to achieve it (see Sinai, Gaza).

Comment Re:Key lesson (Score 1) 609

Read your own link... immediately following the assasination, Lehi (the militant group in question) was forcibly disarmed and dismantled. If only the PA would do the same with Hamas. The day the Palestinians have their own Altalena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altalena), choose to centralize their authority, and reject terrorism is the day negotiations should begin, and not a day sooner.

This of course doesn't even consider the other big caveat to your point... Bernadotte saved Western European nationals (starting in May '45, when the biggest threat was friendly fire from Allied bombing) , a very few of which happened to be Jews, and he did nothing to save the vast majority of concentration camp victims, who were Eastern European Jews, and who were left in the DP camps, with nowhere to run. Nor of course, the complete utter failure of the Red Cross (of which he was the Swedish VP) to monitor and publicize the atrocities in the camps during the war.

Comment Re:We need to fix our regulations. (Score 1) 446

and how many kibbutzim are thriving? The movement is dying as its children don't buy in to its system. Sound like any (every) other communist society tried so far. Kibbutzim are/were small enough to maintain incentives to work through social pressure better than larger systems, but ultimately, human nature wins out. Communism/Socialism just aren't designed for people.

Idle

Directed Energy Weapon Downs Mosquitos 428

wisebabo writes "Nathan Myhrvol demonstrated at TED a laser, built from parts scrounged from eBay, capable of shooting down not one but 50 to 100 mosquitos a second. The system is 'so precise that it can specify the species, and even the gender, of the mosquito being targeted.' Currently, for the sake of efficiency, it leaves the males alone because only females are bloodsuckers. Best of all the system could cost as little as $50. Maybe that's too expensive for use in preventing malaria in Africa but I'd buy one in a second!" We ran a story about this last year. It looks like the company has added a bit more polish, and burning mosquito footage to their marketing.

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