Except every time a computer programmer writes a program, an artisan loses his job (roughly speaking)
801 karma · joined August 11, 2011
I should clarify for other readers: __sinpi() is an Apple-created addition to Math.h, what it does is multiply the argument by M_PI before calculating. When you consider that my calculator has a key which inputs the constant pi (which is, of course, not actually pi, but M_PI), it all comes out in the wash (cosmetically speaking).
However, what would you do instead? Test before each trig function whether the argument is a multiple of M_PI and then choose which function to use? I would imagine this would fall apart at higher values...
Also consider that 'cosmetically satisfying' is not an unreasonable goal (in my mind) when the calculator really only has horizontal space for 12 digits in 36-point Helvetica, but you're right, as the user could arrive at arbitrary values by other means.
It does return the correct value for sin(π) though (you gotta call __sinpi(x / M_PI) if you don't want to return -8.74e-8 or some ridiculous value).
When the ice caps are melting, walk uphill.
I also like the 'TorSlaver' scenario he paints, it's a good bit of scaremongering[1]. It is probably not unwarranted however, as the more people who respect the terrifying power bitcoin holds, the better.
> At some point, we collectively with our governments face a difficult choice between trying to survive this deadly storm or attempting to destroy all decentralized computer networks (including the internet). The former seems unthinkable, the latter, impossible.
I would say it's not impossible to shut down the existing internet, but you'd have to replace it with something else[2] in order to avoid complete socioeconomic collapse.
What I want to know, is how long does it spend doing this? Does the duration of one of these cycles have to be manually chosen, or is it smart enough/self-aware enough to realise, okay, if I spend forever thinking about something, then nothing will happen?
I guess what I'm asking is, is the algorithm smart enough to eventually internalise its own model of itself?
Starting this late, they never reached the level of proficiency required to close the hedonistic feedback loop and learn how to saturate their minds with awful internet memes (and harmonise with the hivemind's sense of humour). They also never adopted the socially calculating mindset that you see in the kind of person who grew up on MySpace and Facebook.
I totally agree with you and would go so far as to say there's probably a kind of upper bound to the rate at which a human can translate an original idea in their head into an unambiguous logical construct of the kind which can be executed by a computer.
However, I would also say that the narrowest bottleneck in this process is the rate at which someone can comprehend the current state and structure of a given program, and I would say that anything that tries to improve on the status quo of text files in a directory is pretty cool.
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2013/07/31/the-quality-of-life/
> When you actually meet people living in tough conditions, you realize that they don’t exactly make up dreams for their lives in some UN-approved sequence; water first, food next, healthcare third, money fourth, philosophy when I am rich, alcohol and marijuana never.
It's better than this, go and read it.
http://practicaltypography.com/times-new-roman.html
Times is great! I would say that any hate for Times is a repressed memory from the days when it was the default font in Microsoft Word. I mean, wow, remember this?
PS If I was a Cantabrian farmer and I saw one of these above my property I'd have my shotgun out, quick as.
What?! Surely you don't mean scoop.co.nz?