p4lto

Same, sounds like a good idea.

I just started studying a year or so ago, I looked around and saw more suggestions to start with Python than others. I don't remember seeing much about Ruby but I'm reading up on it as I get deeper into Python, they're relatively similar but I haven't had enough time with Ruby to understand it's philosophy.

Python is fun! I expect Ruby to be just as much, if not more so, I'm looking forward to it. Ultimately, I advise that you play around with different languages until you find one that you enjoy, that's a pretty significant factor to learning imo.

Same deal for me, usually after work is when I don't interruptions but there are days that work is slow and I can get a couple hours of hacking in. Yeah, having a day job sucks in some ways, my sleep schedule is pretty average right now though.

By intellectual property I'm sure they mean products of R&D or things reminiscent of that.

Isn't reverse engineering what hackers are largely about? Taking things apart and figuring out how they work, or does reverse engineering have a more specific definition?

RE to me is not, and has never been, a bad noun/verb though I often see others frowning upon it.

I say controversial because racism is still openly expressed in certain circumstances, for example Westboro Baptist Church, though that's the U.S. Most racism, in my opinion, comes from fundamentalists or those associated but of course they aren't the only ones.

I'm probably using out of context example here but WBC protests at dead soldiers funerals regularly, everyone knows that, and they're not touched. Though I suppose protest and direct prejudicial comments aren't in the same ballpark entirely.

It's all circumstantial I guess.

Understood, I should know better than to put everything on one distinct level. Thanks.

I don't know how the laws are in the UK but damn, jail-time for racists comments? I'm 100% against prejudice but being sent to jail for saying something controversial seems like a bit much.

I don't know much about the government there or what people have rights to, any clarity would be much appreciated.

Thank you for that.

The way they're beaten is through the people that harbor them, turn the citizens on the terrorists and they won't support them. Support of the population is one of the more important exploits that terrorists use.

I was never really aware of the reason Wozniak left Apple, I figured it was because Jobs was mostly in it for the money and their relationship inevitably went downhill. I remember an interview with Wozniak, something I'll always remember, it went something like this: "I went to Steve and showed him this awesome new system I had been playing with, 'Isn't this awesome?!', I said and he replied 'Holy crap, we could make so much money off of this!', 'I suppose you're right'".

Edit: bad grammar.

I've heard of the Summer of Code but didn't look into it, I shall. I'm just now getting the basics of github down, adding whatever random code I have around etc.. Also, getting involved in an open source project has crossed my mind but I never did anything about it. Think I'll look for a relatively small program to get involved with, nothing like django or rails at least for now.

HN people are way too reasonable, supportive, and professional... It's a disgrace to the internet and I'm glad to be part of it.

Good luck, have fun.