Back when I was in high school (1982-1986), I scored a job as a computer operator. The company provided stock quotes, and needed a computer operator for nightly refresh jobs (press a button here, change a backup tape there). It was a heaven-sent job as I got to sit in front of a pretty advanced computer system (Data Generals running AOS).
For you, I'd advise keeping your eyes opened for opportunities like these. Look at small offices and businesses that may need a computer handy-man. These little computer jobs are out there. They're a great start!
This article from Business Week is quite insightful and revealing because Mena Trott (co-founder of Six Apart) says that the biggest impact of the blog is the introduction of "a more personal voice." She says that blogs are not "main stream media", but rather each complements the other. She goes on to state that personal blogs are the future.
The infamous "long tail" is only going to get longer! The very popular blogs will only get more popular, but more and more "personal" blogs will get created because getting a blog up and running is already pretty easy (and Mena aims to make it even easier).
People who claim that blogging is about "taking over main stream media" are missing the point. Blogging is about your personal voice. It's why Rick Reilly and Steve Rushin are the first pieces I read in Sports Illustrated. It's why I read Sam Allis and Alex Beam in the Boston Globe. It's why I always check my brother's BLOG first. I want to know what they're thinking.
A few years ago, I remember the meme "micro-audience". I suspect most of the bloggers hanging on at the end of the long tail have got that micro audience. If these bloggers stick with it, maybe that audience will grow. But the real future for these bloggers is discovering that "personal voice", and exercising it in public. It's quite addictive!
There may be a market for watching top level gamers playing TV-friendly games on TV. I remember my video arcade days watching that uber-Defender or uber-Millipede player conquering the machine. I certainly would set aside a few minutes (a TV half-hour?) to watch him play levels beyond what I'm used too. Add snarky commentary, and "alternate views", and you've got something that looks like...well...the NFL or the World Poker Tour. (OK, snarky back in the Dennis Miller MNF days.)
Man! I finally get on the RSS bandwagon, and the shine is starting to fade!
I think of RSS as bookmarks on steroids. I have several dozen BLOGs that I like to check into now and again, but checking them by visiting their home pages is painful. Now, with RSS, I can place the feeds for all these BLOGs into one place, and then see who has new content.
I agree with others that some feeds are a little overwhelming (newspaper front page feeds), or out-of-sync (/.), but I agree with the OP: for tracking lots of BLOGs, RSS is it.
No.
I'm 37, but back in my early 20s I was with a few developers who purposely took the time to learn dvorak. They wanted to "type faster?" They even repositioned the keys on their DEC key boards into dvorak. I wanted to type faster back then (and I was already a touch typist), but the thought of learning a new keyboard layout seemed nuts. Now, many years later, I still think it's nuts, but I often wonder how those developers are faring with dvorak.
I agree with your post. Just wanted to go on the "proverbial" record.
For the past few weeks I've "picked up some books" and am teaching myself Windows MFC, just because I'm curious about this older technology. I've never done Windows programming professionally, but I'm heartened at how my background (general computer science) helps me understand it. I get the sense that most employers don't see the value of a generalists' background. They'd rather get the person with the certification and be done with it. It makes me frustrated and nervous!
Slashdot Mirror
Back when I was in high school (1982-1986), I scored a job as a computer operator. The company provided stock quotes, and needed a computer operator for nightly refresh jobs (press a button here, change a backup tape there). It was a heaven-sent job as I got to sit in front of a pretty advanced computer system (Data Generals running AOS). For you, I'd advise keeping your eyes opened for opportunities like these. Look at small offices and businesses that may need a computer handy-man. These little computer jobs are out there. They're a great start!
At this rate, Larry Wall might get a Turing in 2040. :-)
This article from Business Week is quite insightful and revealing because Mena Trott (co-founder of Six Apart) says that the biggest impact of the blog is the introduction of "a more personal voice." She says that blogs are not "main stream media", but rather each complements the other. She goes on to state that personal blogs are the future.
The infamous "long tail" is only going to get longer! The very popular blogs will only get more popular, but more and more "personal" blogs will get created because getting a blog up and running is already pretty easy (and Mena aims to make it even easier).
People who claim that blogging is about "taking over main stream media" are missing the point. Blogging is about your personal voice. It's why Rick Reilly and Steve Rushin are the first pieces I read in Sports Illustrated. It's why I read Sam Allis and Alex Beam in the Boston Globe. It's why I always check my brother's BLOG first. I want to know what they're thinking.
A few years ago, I remember the meme "micro-audience". I suspect most of the bloggers hanging on at the end of the long tail have got that micro audience. If these bloggers stick with it, maybe that audience will grow. But the real future for these bloggers is discovering that "personal voice", and exercising it in public. It's quite addictive!
Ah yes, the C on Win32 framework. :-) I like it! (Where's my Petzold?)
There may be a market for watching top level gamers playing TV-friendly games on TV. I remember my video arcade days watching that uber-Defender or uber-Millipede player conquering the machine. I certainly would set aside a few minutes (a TV half-hour?) to watch him play levels beyond what I'm used too. Add snarky commentary, and "alternate views", and you've got something that looks like...well...the NFL or the World Poker Tour. (OK, snarky back in the Dennis Miller MNF days.)
I think of RSS as bookmarks on steroids. I have several dozen BLOGs that I like to check into now and again, but checking them by visiting their home pages is painful. Now, with RSS, I can place the feeds for all these BLOGs into one place, and then see who has new content.
I agree with others that some feeds are a little overwhelming (newspaper front page feeds), or out-of-sync (/.), but I agree with the OP: for tracking lots of BLOGs, RSS is it.
No. I'm 37, but back in my early 20s I was with a few developers who purposely took the time to learn dvorak. They wanted to "type faster?" They even repositioned the keys on their DEC key boards into dvorak. I wanted to type faster back then (and I was already a touch typist), but the thought of learning a new keyboard layout seemed nuts. Now, many years later, I still think it's nuts, but I often wonder how those developers are faring with dvorak.
For the past few weeks I've "picked up some books" and am teaching myself Windows MFC, just because I'm curious about this older technology. I've never done Windows programming professionally, but I'm heartened at how my background (general computer science) helps me understand it. I get the sense that most employers don't see the value of a generalists' background. They'd rather get the person with the certification and be done with it. It makes me frustrated and nervous!