Comments for NP-Contemplation http://versionthis.com/~npilon An approximation of super-polynomial thinking Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:08:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Ignoring Government by Alex Steed [of Make Something Happen] http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/07/23/ignoring-government/#comment-20 Alex Steed [of Make Something Happen] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:24:10 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/?p=72#comment-20 Lessig's work is well worth the attention of anyone seriously interested in engaging in governmental change. His comments here, especially, are interesting - especially in the context of how much freedom we are potentially given with the use of the Internet - and Lessig's statements about the potentiality of the government taking over the Internet in an authoritarian fashion in the next decade (according to Fortune, covering his statements today). "He said he believes this digital disaster – a major hacker attack or other act of cyber-terrorism in the next 10 years – will prompt the U.S. government to clamp down on Internet freedoms in an online parallel to the Patriot Act." Lessig’s work is well worth the attention of anyone seriously interested in engaging in governmental change. His comments here, especially, are interesting - especially in the context of how much freedom we are potentially given with the use of the Internet - and Lessig’s statements about the potentiality of the government taking over the Internet in an authoritarian fashion in the next decade (according to Fortune, covering his statements today).

“He said he believes this digital disaster – a major hacker attack or other act of cyber-terrorism in the next 10 years – will prompt the U.S. government to clamp down on Internet freedoms in an online parallel to the Patriot Act.”

]]> Comment on The World of Warcraft and the Third Place by kindli http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/04/27/the-world-of-warcraft-and-the-third-place/#comment-15 kindli Tue, 13 May 2008 22:35:43 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/?p=54#comment-15 <i> volunteering at a charity, joining a book group or local club that shares your interests, going out on the weekend and attending local events</i> are not necessarily <i>religious</i> activities. Small towns & suburbs need people to volunteer and take part just as much as other places do, if not more! I know of several groups in Sebastopol who are *always* looking for more volunteers. volunteering at a charity, joining a book group or local club that shares your interests, going out on the weekend and attending local events are not necessarily religious activities.

Small towns & suburbs need people to volunteer and take part just as much as other places do, if not more! I know of several groups in Sebastopol who are *always* looking for more volunteers.

]]> Comment on The World of Warcraft and the Third Place by Nick Pilon http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/04/27/the-world-of-warcraft-and-the-third-place/#comment-14 Nick Pilon Thu, 08 May 2008 20:25:34 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/?p=54#comment-14 Mmm... But that's the point, really. For a lot of people, particularly those living in suburbs or most small towns, there aren't other places to meet people. There used to be, but they've been systematically exterminated since WWII. (That's one thing Oldenburg got right) Particularly for people who aren't in to organized religion. Mmm… But that’s the point, really. For a lot of people, particularly those living in suburbs or most small towns, there aren’t other places to meet people. There used to be, but they’ve been systematically exterminated since WWII. (That’s one thing Oldenburg got right) Particularly for people who aren’t in to organized religion.

]]> Comment on The World of Warcraft and the Third Place by kindli http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/04/27/the-world-of-warcraft-and-the-third-place/#comment-13 kindli Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:12:06 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/?p=54#comment-13 World of Warcraft is awful. It destroys relationships, strains marriages, and acts as a reasonable form of birth control (actually, that last one is probably a good thing). The "group" needs the individual for "just one more raid" and the person feels horribly guilty for letting the group down... never mind the fact that they're letting down their wife/girlfriend/children/significant other, and are late for dinner, missing out on sex, and not partaking in their share of household cleaning, etc. WoW also has a cult-like following and "OMG drama!" and bickering are frequently issues. There are plenty of 3d places to meet people w/o resorting to WoW, volunteer at a charity, join a book group or local club that shares your interests, go out on the weekend and attend local events, put down your computer, step away from teh internets, go forth and meet people! World of Warcraft is awful. It destroys relationships, strains marriages, and acts as a reasonable form of birth control (actually, that last one is probably a good thing). The “group” needs the individual for “just one more raid” and the person feels horribly guilty for letting the group down… never mind the fact that they’re letting down their wife/girlfriend/children/significant other, and are late for dinner, missing out on sex, and not partaking in their share of household cleaning, etc. WoW also has a cult-like following and “OMG drama!” and bickering are frequently issues. There are plenty of 3d places to meet people w/o resorting to WoW, volunteer at a charity, join a book group or local club that shares your interests, go out on the weekend and attend local events, put down your computer, step away from teh internets, go forth and meet people!

]]> Comment on On the Need for a Good Computer Science History Course by Nick Pilon http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/02/28/on-the-need-for-a-good-computer-science-history-course/#comment-7 Nick Pilon Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:21:55 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/02/28/on-the-need-for-a-good-computer-science-history-course/#comment-7 I'm not so sure about that. I think it may depend on how the university in question's organized. The university I graduated from has changed its syllabus several times since I started there. And not only has the selection of required courses changed, but the number of required courses has changed too. I'm also not particularly enamoured with the structure of the first couple years of most CS programs, so I've got no problems with advocating wide-ranging changes to them. I'd be interested in knowing just how fixed the syllabus is at many universities. If it is, as you say, determined entirely by grants rather than educational concerns, that's a very sad state of affairs. I’m not so sure about that. I think it may depend on how the university in question’s organized. The university I graduated from has changed its syllabus several times since I started there. And not only has the selection of required courses changed, but the number of required courses has changed too. I’m also not particularly enamoured with the structure of the first couple years of most CS programs, so I’ve got no problems with advocating wide-ranging changes to them.

I’d be interested in knowing just how fixed the syllabus is at many universities. If it is, as you say, determined entirely by grants rather than educational concerns, that’s a very sad state of affairs.

]]> Comment on On the Need for a Good Computer Science History Course by Maros http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/02/28/on-the-need-for-a-good-computer-science-history-course/#comment-6 Maros Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:27:45 +0000 http://versionthis.com/~npilon/2008/02/28/on-the-need-for-a-good-computer-science-history-course/#comment-6 Just a note: Since the required courses are paid from grants, there is typically no chance to include a new one to the syllabus. Not required course must be enough. Just a note:
Since the required courses are paid from grants, there is typically no chance to include a new one to the syllabus. Not required course must be enough.

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