Comments on: The change of life http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life Everything I used to bore people on newsgroups and mailing lists with, now in one inconvenient place. Wed, 14 May 2008 00:52:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Stephen Harris http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-83131 Stephen Harris Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:01:31 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-83131 I used to be a good book reader and learned TurboPascal during an Easter vacation simply through reading a book on it. I still have the book :-) But these days I tend to learn more through "hands on", and this causes unexpected gaps in knowledge which a book would probably cover. I start reading a book and _itch_ to use the knowledge and when I can't think of any project which would make use of it then I tend to drift away. Maybe I should force myself to learn from books again. I keep meaning to learn python (a language that promises to be useful, but for which I have no actual need) or DHTML and AJAX (I could even smarten up my crudtastic html2 web page). In my CFT. I used to be a good book reader and learned TurboPascal during an Easter vacation simply through reading a book on it. I still have the book :-)

But these days I tend to learn more through “hands on”, and this causes unexpected gaps in knowledge which a book would probably cover. I start reading a book and _itch_ to use the knowledge and when I can’t think of any project which would make use of it then I tend to drift away.

Maybe I should force myself to learn from books again. I keep meaning to learn python (a language that promises to be useful, but for which I have no actual need) or DHTML and AJAX (I could even smarten up my crudtastic html2 web page). In my CFT.

]]> By: Anthony de Boer http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-83007 Anthony de Boer Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:17:19 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-83007 Sounds much much too much like me, modulo having the long-ago CS degree, but at 45 I've learned enough to be intimidated by the magnitude of all that's still out there, and especially between jobs and really *hoping* to find a new gig I'm a bit worried about the lack of youthful exuberance to carry me through. And then there's the Sysadmin Decade, taking me a ways off the pure programming track. Sounds much much too much like me, modulo having the long-ago CS degree, but at 45 I’ve learned enough to be intimidated by the magnitude of all that’s still out there, and especially between jobs and really *hoping* to find a new gig I’m a bit worried about the lack of youthful exuberance to carry me through. And then there’s the Sysadmin Decade, taking me a ways off the pure programming track.

]]> By: Joe D http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82964 Joe D Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:54:39 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82964 I do the same thing. I have a pile of books that I've skimmed at best. I have found that if I don't have an immediate need for whatever it is that I'm trying to read up on, then chances are I'll drop it. I do the same thing. I have a pile of books that I’ve skimmed at best.

I have found that if I don’t have an immediate need for whatever it is that I’m trying to read up on, then chances are I’ll drop it.

]]> By: lauredhel http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82889 lauredhel Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:50:14 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82889 I'm the reverse - I can't concentrate and focus on an audio stream with looking at or creating text at the same time. It's important to discover and work with your learning style. I have the same issue with mounting unread books and magazines. I blame (and simultaneously embrace and hold dear) the Internet. I’m the reverse - I can’t concentrate and focus on an audio stream with looking at or creating text at the same time. It’s important to discover and work with your learning style.

I have the same issue with mounting unread books and magazines. I blame (and simultaneously embrace and hold dear) the Internet.

]]> By: jonesie http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82820 jonesie Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:41:30 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82820 I've always learned better by listening than reading texts. Of course, so much depends on who's doing the teaching. I hope your recent luck in finding interesting profs continues. I’ve always learned better by listening than reading texts.

Of course, so much depends on who’s doing the teaching.

I hope your recent luck in finding interesting profs continues.

]]> By: OldGrover http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82788 OldGrover Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:07:40 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/2008/03/21/the-change-of-life#comment-82788 Can you give me a pointer to the lectures? I need to brush up on this stuff too. Can you give me a pointer to the lectures? I need to brush up on this stuff too.

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