A test for computer programming aptitude?

Two researchers in the UK claim to have found a test to discover aptitude for programming that works even before the students have had any education in the field. Fascinating stuff if it really works...

Doing my bit for science

I spent part of Friday and Monday being a guinea pig for a Harvard neuroscience study. It involved playing a simple video game where you could win or lose money (you got to keep the winnings at the end) while hooked up to machinery: fMRI on Friday, an EEG net on Monday. A bit tedious at times, and having to keep so still leads to the odd ache and pain, but hardly the worst way in the world to make $200 ($140 base for my time plus $60 from the games), and it does help keep me solvent while the job search slowly continues.