Archive for the 'Science' Category

Who needs a Computer Science degree?

Published on June 21, 2007 in Computar and Science. 1 Comment

Really, who needs it? Programmers don’t. To be a good programmer you need to understand how to construct a good algorithm, and some basics of data structures: what they are, and how to use them. You don’t need to be able to implement the ‘classic’ algorithms, as they’re almost always embedded in whatever language you’re using these days. You don’t even often need to know what data structure you’re using, as script languages like perl etc. will handle that for you. Taking a few CS courses can teach you these things, but so can reading a book or even just working on an Open Source project.

Systems administrators certainly don’t need it. Computer operators don’t need it. Even complex fields like security don’t need Computer Science—they need math.

What does a Computer Science degree give you? Primarily you get experience with some language or two that your school has chosen. Often that language is outdated (some schools still teach in Cobol). A good school will most likely train you in Java. Java is good, but what about the new wave of Ruby? How about next week’s language? Really, the targets move so fast, keeping up with them is almost impossible.

So, if anyone has a real use for Computer Science (aside from teaching it), let me know. I’d like to hear of it.

The Singularity Summit at Stanford, Part 1

Published on May 21, 2007 in Memes, Moving Pictures, Science, Technology, Tha Intarweb and The Future. Closed

I’ve been watching and enjoying the talks given at the Singularity Summit at Stanford. The talks are given by a group of very smart people who’ve been doing a lot of thinking about The Singularity. They’re really quite thoughtful and often insightful.

Wait, what’s The Singularity? From Wikipedia:

The Technological Singularity is the hypothesized creation, usually via AI or brain-computer interfaces, of smarter-than-human entities that rapidly accelerate technological progress.

Most speakers assume the Singularity to include Strong AI (as developed as human intelligence), Nanotechnology (the ability to manipulate atoms and build atomic-scale machines), and often some form of brain-computer interface, allowing regular humans to upload their consciousness into digital (and non-degrading) form. All in all, it’s a major event and one that will change humanity forever. As such it deserves a good deal of thought, and that’s what these people were there to talk about.

For those of you who don’t have the time to watch the talks (and you should, most are only 20 minutes), here’s my (lighthearted) summary of a few:

The Singularity: A Hard or Soft Takeoff?
Ray: Hey there, my book is great! Have you read my book? It’s really awesome. My book talks about all these really cool things. It’s quite convincing. See here I’ll show you some illustrations from my book. Oh by the way, I made a handheld device that reads text for blind people; wanna hear it? here it goes:

Reader: RAY KURZWEIL IS AWESOME. HIS BOOK IS GREAT. HAVE YOU READ IT? HERE’S SOME TEXT.

Ray: Yeah so read my book, not like you really need to because I’ve just presented all the major points. Did I mention my book is cool?

Trying to Muse Rationally about the Singularity Scenario
Doug: Hi, I’m Douglas R. Hofstadter. My name has a middle initial, so I’m more important than everyone else. In fact, I’m so important, I’m the one who organized this whole thing. I’m going to now bitch for 20 minutes about the fact that I organized everything and people screwed it all up last year. I really hope people don’t screw it up again this year, even though I’ve changed the name and everything. I’ve even made blood sacrifices upon the altar of Ray Kurzweil.

Ray’s Reader: ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY AND POWERFUL KURZWEIL.

Doug: So anyway, thinking about this new world of powerful AI and nanotechnology and stuff is really hard. Nobody, even Kurzweil himself can really know what’s going to happen. I even think Ray’s quite off his rocker on some of these things. In any case, I’ve assembled some really smart people to come here and talk about what’s going to happen to us. Listen to them because they’re great. I’m still the greatest though and I get to have my picture at the top of the page.

Personality Profile

Published on November 29, 2006 in Meta and Science. Closed

So while I was down in MD for Thanksgiving, my Mom had us all take a Myers-Briggs (or Jungian) Personality Test. I came out as ENTP. Mom’s book called the ENTP profile the ‘Inventor’ profile. A brief summary of my type:

Creative, resourceful, and intellectually quick. Good at a broad range of things. Enjoy debating issues, and may be into “one-up-manship”. They get very excited about new ideas and projects, but may neglect the more routine aspects of life. Generally outspoken and assertive. They enjoy people and are stimulating company. Excellent ability to understand concepts and apply logic to find solutions.

A detailed description of ENTP.

If you’d like to determine your own personality profile, I found what looks like a pretty good test. Let me know what you come out with! You can get your own short summary at this site.

A few links for today

Published on July 18, 2006 in Moving Pictures, Science, Technology and Tha Intarweb. Closed

Some guy made his own watch from scratch, and posted a bunch of stuff all about it. Pretty neat, and tough! That’s some hardcore fabrication skills.

This movie looks really neat. I guess it’s by the guy who did the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Free TV! streaming and stuff, worked 80% of the time for me ;)

Lastly, here’s an interesting disease: Argyria is caused by the ingestion of silver. Wikipedia has more on the subject.

That’s all for now, back to your daily grinds.

Jim Kunstler, Neo-Con

Published on July 29, 2005 in Politics, Science and The Future. 10 Comments

Wow, something finally makes sense. Jim Kunstler, longtime peak oil doomsday prophet, has always rubbed me wrong. Until now, I always felt it was just myself not liking to think about his rather dark predictions of the future after peak oil. Rationally, however, I do believe we’re on the road to a big problem with peak oil, so logically, my dislike of Kunstler didn’t make sense. Now however, Andrew Nimelman has posted a wonderful essay that poses the question ‘Is Jim Kunstler a Neo-Con?‘. The answer, according to this essay, is yes - although he is in denial about it. Aha! Now the pieces fit together for me! The basic neo-con world-view to me is so alien and (IMO) wrong that I instinctively cringe whenever I meet someone who espouses these beliefs.
Of course, this is only speculation. I however agree with the analysis - it just fits too well.
None of this is to say that the peak oil crisis won’t be a crisis. I’m still looking for solutions for my own life as well as the nation’s. I do refuse to despair however, I suppose I’m too much of an optimist for that. And if I’m wrong, well then I guess that’s when it helps to be prepared and accepting of change. Bend like the willow, don’t snap like the oak.

Talking to the Wall

Published on January 25, 2005 in Moving Pictures, Politics, Science, Technology and The Future. Closed

Saw this movie last night (see title), it was pretty good. It was kinda depressing and hope-inspiring at the same time. Really though, overall, I suppose it was depressing. Trying to fight these huge stores is nigh impossible. Especially since even if they don’t come to your home town, the internet is already there. You can mail-order just about anything you can imagine. Really what keeping these people out amounts to is depressing the buying power of the poor and technologically backward.

I suppose it’s more of a problem of globalization than anything. As long as companies can find cheaper labor, they’ll move their production facilities there. What we really need is some sort of even playing field across the globe, with people earning similar wages worldwide for similar work. I don’t think it’s something that can be solved by politicians either, with their tariff wars and trade negotiations. I think the only thing that could possibly solve this problem is a general reconfiguration of the way people think and live.

Seeing how this is pretty much close to impossible, I’m going to remain depressed about the state of the global economy.

Although instantaneous global teleportation would make a huge change.. I think that’s the true solution to globalization - remove the travel barriers (and language too, I guess). Information already travels instantaneously, and you can see how much things have changed since that’s come about. It’s half of what’s caused this globalization crisis.

This is nuts..

Published on January 20, 2005 in Science. Closed

It’s really amazing how much nature can change things. People always think they have everything under control, then BAM! Nature strikes and reminds us who’s boss.