Terminally Incoherent

I’m not sure if this is from reliable source but it seems that the feds just went into red alert mode because of terrorist threats of Don Emillo Fulci - a video game character from Headhunter!

How are we supposed to feel safe if these idiots cannot distinguish between a fictional terrorist and a real one? This is just ridiculus…

I found this the hard way. Did you know that the exec method from the Java runtime library forks the external app instead of waiting for its termination? Of course I assumed that it doesnt fork, and it took me ages to figure out that this was exactly the eason why my software was not working. Naturally the API is very clear about this - it actually spells it right out in plain english. I just didnt bother to read it, and assumed that sysadmin is an asshole and he put some kind of upper bound on number of ssh/scp connections…

There is actually no direct way to run a process in a subshel with Java - or at least I don’t think so. The best workaround I found is the waitFor() method from Process class. It will actually stop and wait for the termination of a given process. The same class also has exitValue() which I found extremely usefull way to check if the external app craps out or exits naturally.

Leson learned: do not make assumptions - double check everything, and read API carefully. I could have saved myself a major hedache and considerable amout of time if I havent had assumed that all will work just fine…

Patenting software is the most ridiculus concept in existence. I have yet to see ONE benefit of having them. So far they have been extensively used for frivolous, profit oriented lawsuits that never achieve anything…

Kodak is suing Sun over (out of all things) Object Oriented concepts which they patented in 91-93… These are as follows:

Integration of data between typed objects by mutual, direct invocation between object managers corresponding to object types

Multitasking computer system for integrating the operation of different application programs which manipulate data objects of different types

Integration of data between typed data structures by mutual direct invocation between data managers corresponding to data types

To me these sound extremely vague to the point of being incomprehensible. I guess one could apply these to any object oriented product.

We should really get rid of this type of patents. They are not doing anyone any good!

I’m reading the April 02 post on scummvm.org and I’m not sure if I should be laughing or weeping… I really don’t get why people get into this type of arguments in the first place. Who cares where the guy puts the curly braces? Personally I think curlies should be placed on a newline and aligned for easy editing, but if someone likes to append them to the end of the line - what’s the big deal?

And if you can’t deal with that, why not write a simple script that goes through the code and puts a newline and some tabs before each curly? Come on, if you are to 1337 to use anything but vi, you can hack a 5 liner that does that!

Of course every project must begin with a huge argument between vi and emacs people. If I use both does that make me a blasphemus, twofaced whore? God forbid I admit to using nano in public - that’s almost worse than being caught masturbating! I wonder what would happen if the guy said he likes notepad - would they spit on him or something?

I understand the geek factor, and the fact that there can be only one true editor but come on. Let’s lay of the kid stuff till the lunch break - if you let placement of curly braces, or editor arguments get in the way of real work, it means you are an idiot. Grow up, and get a clue!

I saw a poster at school today which claimed the grade system is unfair for both students and instructors. That we should have a pass/fail system instead. This got me thinking… What kind of retarded idiot came up with that idea? How demented does one really have to be to even make a poster like that?

Pass/Fail system is the last thing we need! I know way to many slackers who cost on D range levels and get a degree without learning anything in their major. Why should we provide an easy ride for these assholes, and take away the main incentive for the people who actually want to do the work? Especially since it is actually not all that hard to keep your GPA close to 4.0 at an average state university like mine. Hey, I did it without even trying all that hard - so it’s not impossible…

Can we please stop whining! There is nothing wrong with the grading system, and if you had actually been to half the lectures, and handed in half of the assignments you would know that!

People piss me off sometimes…