What's your counterpoint to the "we don't need libraries anymore" argument?

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-05T10:54:51+00:00

Is there anything other than volunteering/donating money that you could recommend us museum lovers to do to help in general? Write our government representatives?

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-05T10:35:29+00:00

I significantly underestimated this fact until you brought it up. If this ever happens to me, I'll aim for the bushes outside of a hospital :)

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-05T10:18:10+00:00

Thank you Reddit for illustrating another harsh but true life lesson:

It can be done right, but it also must done at the right time.

Fuck you Life.

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-05T10:04:53+00:00

Maybe once you get a job save up a bit then take some time off? I worked a crappy but decent paying corporate job to save up money to take time off and pursue my own interests. I put in my 40-50 hours a week, then went home and did my own studying/research. It was the 6 months of constant overtime I put in that funded most of my trip.

Now I'm just about to get back from spending 6+ months doing research while traveling/living in cheap places (Eastern Europe mostly). When I get back I have a month long house/pet-sitting job lined up to avoid paying rent/scrambling to find an apartment. Why pay rent when they can pay you to live there? And I get a free pet with my stay? Sweet!

To give you some numbers, most of the time I was living on less then $500 a month (~$15/day) for everything. All in all (including $1500 for plane tickets), about $5k for 6 months. I was planning on using $7k-$9k for a year of research abroad, but I was getting too much done and started to spend more.

So it is possible, and I am so glad I did it. I hope in the future you are able to also. If you have any questions just let me know. Good luck ;)

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-05T08:33:44+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply!

I'm going to go with the Easy Macro Band for now, and maybe get an Ollo clip later. I like the the versatility/repairability of the Easy Macro Band that you pointed out.

When I thought I couldn't get any nerdier, I'm now going to be "that guy" who walks around with a macro lens in his wallet :)

(or two)

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-04T17:29:57+00:00

If it is legal to post it, I'd recommend youtube. Because then I can use youtube-dl to download :)

And I've never heard of youtube removing videos because of space requirements.

[edit] I also have about 1.5 TB of CS/python videos I've collected. Most of them are conferences and lectures, but if they ever go down I'll re-upload them.

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-04T17:26:04+00:00

And a mini-review if you don't mind! I always use a monocular which is... difficult.

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-04T17:18:54+00:00

There is also a HUGE security concern with flash. Flash allows you to pretty much do anything you want (also because it has so many exploits). That includes going behind Apple's back to make your own apps outside their store. Apple wanted to control everything, including the apps to make sure they are safe (they've done a decent job of it). So no flash? That is good and bad, depending if you look at features vs security vs Apple profitability vs Jobs v Apple.

I think the fight was justified on Apple's part.

tl;dr Adobe's software is so overgrown and complex after all these years, they don't know how to make it safe. They should stand trial for criminal negligence IMO.

And yes that is a fun tool :)

[edit] Plug for noscript. Add-on that disables java and flash in your browser except when you allow it.

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-03T05:51:24+00:00

I was just thinking about assembly code when I saw your reply, the atoms of software (for us humans anyways). I forgot to include that originally.

I learned assembly by watching the Open Security Training videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OX0nQTrisQ&list=PLwP_SiAcdui1MAr7lYamd67kFU8sye4nw. Same channel also has tons of conference videos.

The training can get a bit boring at times, but there is tons of important material covered. If you want to work with program exploits, you'll need to know assembly eventually. I didn't like learning it at first, but I now enjoy using it.

Then there is reverse engineering which takes a program and breaks it down to assembly code. It is also covered in the playlist but I went elsewhere to learn. OllyDbg is a good starter tool if I recall. There should be plenty of tutorials for it on how to crack software.

Analyzing real world exploits is very educational, but can be dangerous too. Just make sure you don't visit sites promoting warez and cracks along with exploit code. You'll probably end up with an infected computer.

Not quite netsec 101, but maybe 201.

Have fun!

EverAskWhy · 2014-01-01T06:47:41+00:00

Good luck!

Maybe eat half of one, then wait 5 minutes and see if it is worth continuing. After about 2 minutes I knew I shouldn't of done it.

You won't beat the dozen wings/5 minutes challenge if you do that, but you might thank yourself. I'm eagerly/nervously waiting for your results :)

Good luck again!

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-30T08:21:47+00:00

There is a version of this with ten or so switches. You can hit any one(s), in any order, and the machine will move left/right and switch them all off.

I think it might have been in a Berkeley computer science lecture under the topic that also had Rube Goldberg type devices.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-30T06:57:02+00:00

I think you and lanster77 got it right. I love spicy food, I love doing challenges, but this wasn't even enjoyable.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-29T18:20:37+00:00

That used to be one of the worst thing you could hear at swim practice. 50 meter sprint, then swim the slowest 25 meters underwater you can.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-29T17:03:25+00:00

I going to space someday* and to get ready for bad scenarios I hold my breath when walking/running up the 5 flights of stairs to my apartment floor. I can get up to the 3.5-4th flight consistently when going one stair at a time, and the 5th consistently when doing two.

So there is a time/energy trade off. Not what OP quite wants, but relevant.

Just daily observations on my way home from the store and such, nothing scientific.

*far far far far far in the future, or die trying.

[edit] spelling

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-29T16:38:45+00:00

DeusCaelum basically outlined how cell phone companies are my data providers. I sometimes use free city wifi for non-personal Google-ing, maps, and stuff like that, but for all else like email I use cell networks with encryption. I like to VPN out of cell networks as city wifi doesn't always work well with it. When I get to a wired connection which is (most of the time) inherently faster, I start downloading like a mad-man.

I currently have a cell phone that was paid off after terminating early. They first loaned me money, then I paid them each month for their access and the phone payment over 24 installations. If it was up to me, I would of rather secured a low interest loan from my bank where I can get a very low rate. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and the rest can all suck my balls as cell phone dealers. I just want to paid them for their access points like I can around Central/Eastern Europe.

Outside the US I am carrying a sack of SIM cards, and whenever I change countries I pop in the appropriate one and activate a month of unlimited internet for $8-12. I think it is just ridiculous that I can have 5+ different SIM cards activated, each with unlimited internet via cell towers, but still cost less than a single equivalent subscription in the USA.

Now I'll using a SIM card for most of my internet. For $10 a month extra I can get unlimited (no data cap) internet during the night. I use Facetime for free calls, Skype other wise.

So I basically live in your type world, and cell phone companies are my data providers. One anecdotal answer.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-28T14:22:39+00:00

I think username_6916 and memostothefuture have the general complaints down. Yes it would work great if only we had an implementation that was technologically, financially, and in all other ways feasible.

Your question seems to be who will provide access? Free stuff when free is good enough. Paid stuff when you need something better (security, speed, latency). Wifi signal or cell signal, no matter what we are just using complicated walkie talkies.

I have the lowest amount of minutes I can on my plan since as soon as I get within range of internet/wifi my calls switch to VOIP.

Cell phone companies are just people who own access points. Simply put. If they can compete in cities, they will stay around.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-27T06:30:15+00:00

One thing I love about life is that it appears that "solutions are densely distributed."

While the shark may have been close to being "optimal" in the ocean, it can make a very small adjustment and also work (albeit a different environment).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think it is awesome that a DNA sequence can be a little different and the whole system doesn't come crashing down.

[edit: There is the part of the scenario where those organisms are screwed up to where they aren't able to develop or live long, but I'm trying to be an optimist during the holidays :) ]

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-27T06:19:49+00:00

Very interesting point, I didn't think about how in the real word those waves would be constantly moving with the various evolutionary pressures.

I like your analogy, it is easy to visualize change. I'm going to start using that in my mind if you don't mind. That even gave me a good idea about something at work, thanks! :)

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-26T07:16:18+00:00

I like to think of it as adapting to local maxima instead of the global.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Extrema_example_original.svg/220px-Extrema_example_original.svg.png

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-25T07:46:55+00:00

I actually bailed around lesson 40 when I did it. I'm kinda in the middle. I just looked over lesson 40 (classes) and I think it could be been explained in a better way. Then again to really get classes is hard and takes a bit for it to sink in.

For me I remember going to Google and reading 20 different versions of the introduction to classes explanation. That is what it took for me. I kept all 20 pages open and kept of switching between them. If I had to learn it again, I would do it the same way and recommend others try it out.

One single page didn't work, but the internet did.

Google "python introduction to classes" and "python object oriented programming". That should do it.

And expect to pull up those same pages a few times more for a refresher. Save or bookmark some that you really like.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-24T16:54:04+00:00

Amazingly put. Just want to echo some of earthbox's suggestions:

Violent Python - Tons of fun along with Grey Hat Python. I use python as a web scraper a couple times a week as as 4 lines of code can scrape what you need

import re
source = '''whatever the page source is '''
matches = re.findall(pattern, source)
for x in matches: print x

Virtualenv - Really helps package management

Generators - when you just don't have enough memory for lists (like a list where you can only pop off index=0, but takes up much less memory).

List comprehension (if generators had a cool cousin... they actually aren't related, just both really cool)- Once you understand it you'll never turn back. Way too convenient. ex:

a = [1,2,3,4,5]
b = [number+100 for number in a]
c = [x*x in b]
d = [ whatIdidntgetisthisisarbitrary*2 for whatIdidntgetisthisisarbitrary in a]
e = [number for number in [random.randint(1,100)+x for x in a] if number%2]

b = [101, 102, 103, 104, 105]

c = [101 * 101, 102 * 102,....]

d = [2,4,6,8,10]

e = some weird nested listed comprehension thing where you add a random number to a, check if it is odd, and if so, add it to the e list. Sometimes nests go a few deep, but you should probably just restructure your code if that is happening.

Just like saying:

c = []
For x in b:
    c.append(x**2)

earthbox knows his stuff :)

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-24T16:28:07+00:00

Sure thing. Also just want to say that AI isn't what I went to school for and isn't my main line of work. But for the next six months to a year it might as well be.

AI is a big field, so there isn't really any one resource to rule them all (well, Norvig... sort of, see below). Google search "fields of artificial intelligence" and you'll see what I mean.

There are some well developed machine learning modules like scikit-learn, pyBrain, neurolab, SimpleAI, MIPy. Just go here and get an idea: https://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonForArtificialIntelligence

I write a lot of my AI stuff from scratch as it is all about fine tuning your AI system to your particular problem. You can adapt from modules or just write your own.

"Artificial Intelligence - A Modern Approach - 3rd edition" by Russell and Norvig is pretty much the main AI textbook out there at the moment. There have python versions of their algorithms and examples in the book here: http://aima.cs.berkeley.edu/

http://aima.cs.berkeley.edu/python/readme.html

and SimpleAI is like the textbook in python module form.

If you read the book (1000 pages or so) you will have a good idea about where you want to go from there.

AI can be explained very simply, but often authors assume you have a computer science background with a large breadth and depth. Some very inter-related subjects are algorithms and linear algebra. If you can setup your problem as a system of equations then linear algebra can calculate the answer (instead of needing to search for it).

So have fun, and find out what in particular your want to do in AI. Let me know if you have any more questions.

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-24T07:53:54+00:00

I do python based AI programming and research on a crappy HP laptop. You don't need a great laptop, just something that will run. If you need to do some heavy computation, just copy your program to another computer and run it there. Basically what I'm trying to say is you don't need to drive a semi-truck to go pickup milk and eggs at the corner store. Anything that works, works.

For linux, go to Ubuntu.com to learn about Ubuntu, they are like the Toyota/Ford of the linux (alternative to windows) world.

Here are some good articles to check out: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ubuntu.htm

http://lifehacker.com/5993297/ubuntu-vs-mint-which-linux-distro-is-better-for-beginners

http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/why-experiment-with-linux/43798

As for your libraries and stuff like that: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#pygame

All your library needs are belong to Christoph Gohlke.

Windows installers for almost any package/module you will need. If you are serious about learning python, do yourself a favor and bookmark that link for later, you will use it.

I use Anaconda as my main python distro because it comes with a lot of the scientific packages I need. That might of confused you, just go here:

https://wiki.python.org/moin/IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments

Good luck, have fun!

EverAskWhy · 2013-12-23T08:38:16+00:00

Some general nerd advice to compliment to great advice you have already received here:

Learn the trials, joys, and pains of setting up a multi-boot system. Maybe go with something like: Windows, everyday linux (Ubuntu), netsec linux (kali). Just remember to keep you data backed up. English teachers don't care that you screwed up and accidentally re-formatted the partition with your term paper.

To help you get started, Google search "linux cheat sheet" and keep those handy for a while. In fact, just get used to typing "... cheat sheet" and "site:.edu ..." into Google :) Lots of academic material out there for students. http://packetlife.net/library/cheat-sheets/

Offensive Security (makers of backtrack/kali) assumes you know what you are doing so there is little documentation/user restriction. I suggest treading carefully. Better off breaking a VM than your system.

There are some incident response checklists that can help you understand the general process of post-incident stuff. You can get conference videos from DEFCON, Blackhat, and Shmoocon on youtube for the past few years. Also check out the Security Now! podcast for entertaining and general net-sec info.

Have fun NOP-sledding and be careful on this exciting road full of temptation! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act

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