Computer Programming Prodigy, Dies at 16

[Princess Luna]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120114-dl-arfa-3p.380;380;7;70.jpg
Arfa Karim Randhawa, the computer programming prodigy who became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at 9 years old, has passed away at the age of 16, according to reports out of her native Pakistan this weekend.

She had been in the hospital for nearly a month after reportedly suffering an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest. Two weeks ago her outlook appeared to improve. In recent weeks, Microsoft had stepped in to help provide expert medical care.


As explained in this earlier post, I met Arfa and wrote a story about her in 2005 as a newspaper reporter covering her visit to the Microsoft campus in Redmond, when she was 10 years old. After seeing the reports this weekend, I went back and found some of the audio clips from my interview with her, including her talking about meeting Bill Gates, learning to program and what she planned to do when she grew up.

I've pieced together the highlights in this audio file, to provide a better sense for what she was like. One of the most remarkable parts, apart from her recounting the conversation with Gates, is hearing her talk with such authority about developing Windows applications.

As you'll hear at the end, Arfa at 10 years old had also settled on her philosophy of life, and committed it to memory. She told me about it after our interview, when she was having her picture taken outside, so I turned my recorder back on and asked her to repeat it for me on tape.
"If you want to do something big in your life, you must remember that shyness is only the mind," she said. "If you think shy, you act shy. If you think confident you act confident. Therefore never let shyness conquer your mind."
http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/14/10158059-programming-prodigy-passes-away-at-16-hear-her-philosophy-of-life

[Misanthrope]

Very sad.

[Zav]

A teenager died of causes that probably could have been prevented had there been proper medical care. Yes, it's sad, but does it truly deserve its own thread? It happens every second. Did she do anything we should celebrate? No, she was a corporate lackey for one of the most powerful businesses in the world (that produces some of the worst products). I'm going to assume that this is not posted because she was cute out of respect for Karmorda. That leaves us with the erroneous idea that she should be celebrated just because of her intelligence. Has she done anything to help people with it? Probably not. Judging by the stereotype of the OP's tendency, I find it possible that the thread is an expression of technophilia. :thumbdown: Next thread, please.

[Revolutionair]

an expression of technophilia. :thumbdown:

While I agree with the rest of your post, what's wrong with technophilia? I'd say it's likely that the future is going to be more technocratic than today. This will provide huge bonusses for the human population.

[PhoenixAsh]

Soooo what company do you work for?

I assume you are either unemmployed, selfemployed or part of the bourgoise since you feel confident to smack anybody, let alone a 16 year old girl, for being a corporate lackey.

Now personally I think it is very sad news indeed that somebody with such high intelligence and apparantly a structured and stable personality would die at such a young age.

Now I am not entirely sure how this news is relevant to radical leftwing politics but it sure as hell is relevant to science and technology...and therefore IMO appropriately posted seeing as it is posted in exactly that sub forum here.

Now I have two mayor issues with your post:

1). Smacking somebody for being a "corporate lackey"...seeing as most of the working class is in some way or another a "corporate lackey" of some kind I think this is a highly specious comment

2). You think you can berate a 16 yo for high intelligence which you find necessary to ask about "Has she done anything to help people with it?". So I am tempted to ask you what you have recently done wityh your intelligence that was such a great advantage to human kind? But lets not go there. The girl is 16 year old. She was by far more intelligent and knowledgeable than most users here...and I think that given time and opportunity she would have accomplished something worthwhile. Now I am not exactly sure about you or the vast mayority of this site...including me...but we probably will never be able to do that merely based on out intelligence.

haters gonna hate.

[Zav]

While I agree with the rest of your post, what's wrong with technophilia? I'd say it's likely that the future is going to be more technocratic than today. This will provide huge bonusses for the human population.
Semantics. By that I meant an an over-obsession with technological 'progress' (real progress or not. See iPad.). As for the future, I wouldn't count on it.


Soooo what company do you work for?

I assume you are either unemmployed, selfemployed or part of the bourgoise since you feel confident to smack anybody, let alone a 16 year old girl, for being a corporate lackey.

Now personally I think it is very sad news indeed that somebody with such high intelligence and apparantly a structured and stable personality would die at such a young age.

Now I am not entirely sure how this news is relevant to radical leftwing politics but it sure as hell is relevant to science and technology...and therefore IMO appropriately posted seeing as it is posted in exactly that sub forum here.

Now I have two mayor issues with your post:

1). Smacking somebody for being a "corporate lackey"...seeing as most of the working class is in some way or another a "corporate lackey" of some kind I think this is a highly specious comment

2). You think you can berate a 16 yo for high intelligence which you find necessary to ask about "Has she done anything to help people with it?". So I am tempted to ask you what you have recently done wityh your intelligence that was such a great advantage to human kind? But lets not go there. The girl is 16 year old. She was by far more intelligent and knowledgeable than most users here...and I think that given time and opportunity she would have accomplished something worthwhile. Now I am not exactly sure about you or the vast mayority of this site...including me...but we probably will never be able to do that merely based on out intelligence.

haters gonna hate.
You assume correctly. I suppose being an employed worker makes you superior? Perhaps 'lackey' wasn't the best word to use. I don't know of a better one to convey what I think of the subject.

I think her life is worth the same emotion as any other. There's no point debating this.

So when another random MicroSoft certified tech dies, they should get a thread? Some people have a higher intellectual capacity than others. Who gives a shit?

There is a difference between being forced to work for a company and voluntarily being a symbol for it.

The only time I mentioned her intelligence was to say that I didn't find it important. I don't get a thread because I haven't done anything important. Don't turn the question at me, the point is that she hasn't.

Sure, maybe she could have done something significant, but she didn't. Why do you mourn what never was? Most of us will become armchair revolutionaries or abandon Leftism in the next twenty years. If any of us do accomplish something, they could be a Marx or Kropotkin, but it's more likely it will be through hard work and luck (lots).

I'm not hating on anyone, this child least of all.

[Q]

So when another random MicroSoft certified tech dies, they should get a thread? Some people have a higher intellectual capacity than others. Who gives a shit?

1. Who are you to determine what should and should not get a thread?
2. No one asked you to read this thread or reply to it.

[black magick hustla]

rip, haters gonna hate. "corporate lackey" lol, u use laptops with microchips made out of minerals that cause civil wars in africa gtfo

[Zav]

rip, haters gonna hate. "corporate lackey" lol, u use laptops with microchips made out of minerals that cause civil wars in africa gtfo
I use a desktop which I put together from perfectly good parts people threw out, lessening the demand for said minerals, so no.

[Ocean Seal]

So when another random MicroSoft certified tech dies, they should get a thread? Some people have a higher intellectual capacity than others. Who gives a shit?

This girl died at 16, she was famous so it gets reported. Its a sad story regardless.



There is a difference between being forced to work for a company and voluntarily being a symbol for it.

I'm pretty sure no one forces me to work for a specific workplace, but I am nonetheless forced to work.




Sure, maybe she could have done something significant, but she didn't. Why do you mourn what never was? Most of us will become armchair revolutionaries or abandon Leftism in the next twenty years. If any of us do accomplish something, they could be a Marx or Kropotkin, but it's more likely it will be through hard work and luck (lots).

I'm not hating on anyone, this child least of all.
She was 16.


I use a desktop which I put together from perfectly good parts people threw out, lessening the demand for said minerals, so no.
How about your
1.)clothes
2.)food
etc.
You can't boycott capitalism.