hassing

Again. These are classes for _beginners_. I'm not suggesting that you should never learn these things. They should also learn functional programming, estimating how algorithms perform, concurrent programming, binary trees, and a few hundred other things. But Programming is not something you master overnight.

You need to understand that 2+2=4 before you can understand that 2+i^2=1.

I agree - in fact the problem was solved by removing some unnecessary type-checking code.

The point I was trying to make is that it's easier to learn the basics of types and logic in a strict system. Implicit type conversion and polymorphism can easily result in misunderstandings when you've just started learning to program.

I spent a lot of time trying to track down bug in a system once (in php) that was caused by this. I don't remember the exact problem but basically it did something like "if(x == 5)" which is true for both 5 and "5" - but later in the code it was important that the value was actually 5 and not "5".

But I think the main thing is that for people beginning programming it's better to have less flexibility. In most production system it might not matter that 5=="5" but it's important for beginners to understand how different types work. And it helps give a better insight into how if statements, and boolean logic in general, work.

It's not about an "inferior API". The web version of Instapaper is free - but if you want to use a native client on your phone then you either have to pay a subscription fee to get API access, or buy the official iPhone client.

That really depends on how far you stretch the term "often".

I think the number of unprofitable free websites vastly outnumber the "hugely profitable free websites".

That might be. But that still doesn't change the fact that your children aren't you. If you're hire your son or daughter to work for you then they still have to pay taxes.

I don't like taxes anymore than the next guy. I just don't like the idea that Mr. X should be better of than Mr. Y because Mr. X's grand parents where more successful. You should be able to provide for your children, but it should not excuse them from participating in society themselves.

It's really not that strange that inheritance is taxed. People get emotional about it because of death is involved. But in the end it's a matter of money changing hands - even if one of them is cold.

Indeed. How dare they advertise a book by giving advice that relate to it.

The important things to remember when reading books like Getting Things Done and 4 Hour Work Week is that they are not written specifically for you. If you read them, take the advice that fit /your/ life from them - then they're pretty good books.

I read this article as basically: If you feel unproductive at times then don't panic. Which seems like good advice.

Reading it and getting mad because it wasn't exactly what you hoped is not very zen. :)

I think the problem is the exact opposite. It's easier to blame everything on some single, specific thing like high fructose syrup or saturated fat.

If you eat varied and in moderation (and don't sit on the couch all day) then you wont be obese. But politically it's better to blame McD, Coca Cola, and friends than say "You're fat, and it's your own fault".

That was my first thought as well. But it I'm afraid the "right now" is the key part of your first sentence.

It doesn't really seem like TC is trying to help startups with the prize. It looks more like an attempt to push out DEMO so they can become the only major startup demo-event.

The article is written as if DEMO added the prize money as an attack on TC50 and as if DEMO is trying to trick entrepreneurs with fake rates and hidden expenses. None of it backed up in any way.

To me the article look like FUD and the TC50/DEMO war fairly one sided.

Godin, or maybe Gladwell (haven't read the book), is missing the point of the "10,000 hours" theory. It is about being "good" at a subject, not being famous for it.

Tiger Woods has spent thousands of hours practicing and is one of the best in his field (and is famous for that). Miley Cyrus is (afaik) not considered among the best actors in the world - she's just famous for landing a disney role.

If the site contains any sort of CMS or code generated html then don't remove padding and margin with a wildcard (unless you plan to specifying it manually for every tag).

Some things are supposed to have margin and padding.

These criteria fit almost anything that requires dedication.

Anything from starting a family to funding a company to joining a professional sports team.

(except maybe "They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives, and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled." but I don't see how startups are isolated and have their access to information controlled.)