Just a 4D6 Chart

Just a 4D6 chart.

There Are Better Programming Languages Than C

I just read an article, called Are All Programming Languages Based On C?, that says basically what I been saying about C since 1984 (maybe even earlier). That C is a programming language one uses to make much better programming languages with. People used C, back in the day, to avoid programming in Assembly code (aka ASM languages, or HEX code). So, C was a welcome programming language at the time.

ANSI C was kind of a big deal. For it allowed C code to run on any computer that had a C compiler. C programs ran much faster on computers that were usually programmed using BASIC or Pascal. And since C was so closely tied to the Assembly code it could produce, many programmers wrote hardware drivers using C. Even Operating Systems could be written in C.

Anyway. Thirty-plus years later, I still see people learning how to program a computer using C. Today, it's C++ or C# programming. But it is still the same thing. Basically, it's people writing typo-filled code and trying to compile and debug it. The code is clumsy to type, hard to look at, and is harder for others to follow through one's logic. This is what the schools are teaching though. It's like they want to keep computer programming as complicated as possible so that students think they are getting their money's worth out of a class.

As I said earlier, C is used to write much better programming languages. And there are a lot of much better programming languages available. And since nearly all programming languages are free now, it is much easier to access them for trying out.

I Couldn't Sleep

My first Django-powered page.

In my feverish state, I've been following a video on YouTube that shows how to get started using Django 1.4.22 with Python. I'm surprised it works with Python 2.5.4.

The video is using the usual newer versions of everything. But that is ok by me. I even got virtualenv 1.9.1 installed and working. Another program oldie.

This is what happens when I can't sleep. I do historical programming. Actually, I prefer Python 2.5 over later versions because it's closest to being the spirit of what Python was created for.

I'm curious what happens in the next video.

Cosmology: Andromeda's Rotational Velocities Can Be Explained By POND

I wasn't really sure which of my blogs to post this topic on. It sounded tech enough though to enter it here. My dad wrote an article explaining how the Andromeda galaxy's rotational velocities can be explained by POND.

"DD" Damage

Today I decided to add "Damages" to my Skill Check app. This is an app I wrote that performs die rolls for Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition game sessions. I don't use it much because I have dice right here on my mousepad (within reach). But some people own zero dice. So maybe this app comes in handy for them?

Technically, I'm not sure if I can even release this app. So it may just be me using it for awhile.

So anyway, version 2.0.0 (beta) now has a Damages section. I had to shrink the bar graph to make room for that new area, rather than increase the footprint of the app. I haven't decided though if I should rename the app to something else, now that is does more than just task checking for Traveller. But, we'll see.

I still need to design what the Damages section looks like, as far as what die roll buttons to place in it. By the way, damages are the dice one rolls to determine how much damage a Traveller does on something or someone (or both). For now, I'm testing the new DD die rule from 2nd Edition for scaled-up damage against vehicles and ships. So far, so good.

Windows Techs Need Our Credit Card Numbers (as if)

Everyday for a little over a week now, I've been getting a call from a "Windows" tech company regarding my Windows computer. Today it was some guy named Alex, with a hindi accent, who wanted my credit card number, etc. I just tell them I don't have a Windows computer and they hang right up.

This has been a thing now all summer I'm finding out. And my name is coming up on their "to-call" lists now it seems. It's weird that they call me everyday at 10:30am. I guess I'll be expecting another call tomorrow from them.

NASA is Missing the Moon

NASA 360 talks about going to Mars. I think they're missing the Moon on this one, because an asteroid is no substitute for playing in space dirt. But if the whole purpose of a Mars trip is to just land a couple people there for a few hours and then head back to Earth, I can see why NASA is skipping over the Moon.

The Moon is only three days away. Habitat building on the Moon can give us the experience needed for building them on Mars.

As it stands now, the best NASA 360 can do is a 180 for its Mars trip.

TECH: Science Ovens Were Kind of a Big Deal in the '70s

Looking Forward to Robotics

In the end, machines replace people simply because it is cheaper for business. Humans have too many political excuses for suing everyone. And the government control and paperwork involved in dealing with humans is a b*tch. So replace them. Humans are really only good at consumerism anyway. I'd be curious to see which robots in the future get the most richest, and which get the most dangerous. And if they even bother with politics or governments at all like humans seem to hang onto.

Life After Computers

Simulated intelligence can be used to replace customer service and sales people. Then later used to replace managers and IT people. The more advanced creative intelligences would replace hardware/software developers. This is the point where machines are making themselves better, and leaving humans out of the loop. Humans would be delegated to whatever it is that humans will still do that machines won't or don't do.

But the even more advanced creative intelligences... who's to say what they will be thinking about. Maybe a completely new form of life. Not biological. Not mechanical. Not chemical. God atomics, maybe. The guiding hands of planet building for infant stars.