One thing that is not mentioned, that needs to be, is the difference between an education and a college degree. Right now, some employers look very hard at a college degree as an important factor in hiring. Actually, it's only important to get your foot in the door. Once that happens, the interview becomes the overriding factor. I postulate that this terrible economy will make the lack of a college degree less of an issue. However, the lack of an education or relevant experience will still prevent you from getting the job. The reason I point this out is that there are now alternatives to a traditional college education. These alternatives are capable of competing directly with college in helping one receive a quality education.
The example that comes to mind is the free website www.khanacademy.org, which Bill Gates has recently publicized. No, you don't get a college degree by finishing the coursework, but I would argue that as much or more learning takes place here as with any traditional college education. Take out the sorority parties, the textbooks, the professors, the football games and general socializing, but as far as learning goes, what's left is not so different. As more and more topics are added, the difference will be even less. One difference might be the ability to look at a professor and raise your hand to ask a direct question. You can still ask questions with some online learning solutions, and it has the added benefit of not being potentially embarrassing.
There are other things to consider. In the programming world, the best résumé is an active github account. A potential employer can go there and actually peruse some of your source code and other contributions you've made to an open source project. No college degree can do that. As more and more employees make use of this, the less important a college degree becomes.
The point is, the real difference right now is a perceptual one. Once that goes away, an expensive college degree will not be the only option. Colleges and Universities should be very afraid, IMHO.
Umm, Your iPad can sync with your computer. You can buy music from Amazon or elsewhere from your computer. So, unless you don't have a computer, or you can't WAIT until you get to your computer, you're not exactly forced to use ITMS, right?
postscript: Hang in there. Resist the urge to be an asshole. Assholes are simply people who view themselves more highly than others.
Control what you can control -- yourself. Don't worry about things that are beyond your control. You can change how you respond to people, but you can never expect to change the people. Instead, invest your energy in learning what makes these people happy, and try to do those things. You'll never please everyone, so don't be surprised or upset when you don't.
To keep people from attacking you, divert the attack. As others have mentioned, focus on the problem, and try to get them to do the same. If they continue to attack you, calmly state that it doesn't help when they do this. Maybe they'll back down. If they don't, just get away from them, if possible. Better to walk away than to go out swinging. You're simply justifying their bad behavior if you replicate them.
Wow, what a timely question. As a 20+ year veteran and one who's made my share of mistakes along the way, allow me to offer you some advice.
The only way to gain respect is to show it and to earn it. If you ever want (or get) a position of leadership, you should remember this every day. Pound it into your head with a ball ping hammer.
I know too many assholes, in positions of power, who don't understand this. They think they deserve respect because of their position alone, and then just expect it to happen. When they don't get it, they pound their fists, wave their dicks in the air and MAKE it happen. They somehow think that complaining more loudly will get a problem fixed sooner.
Needless to say they still aren't respected; even less so. But they get the appearance of respect, so they keep doing what they think works. They don't care that it's really fear, and not respect, that they're gaining.
What results from this atmosfear is that they become surrounded by babysitters. These babysitters (yes men/women) become preoccupied with placating their boss, rather than doing what's best for the company. They only express their real opinion if they think it lines up with what the asshole wants to hear. This leads to bad decision-making. Any good leader needs people around him/her that will challenge their ideas (though not publicly). Without good consultants who aren't afraid to tell the King that he's not wearing any clothes, he's bound to go out in public that way.
So, my point is, just follow the Golden Rule. It sounds quaint, but it's the right thing to do. You'll learn how to sway people you disagree with (if you're right), but NEVER make them feel inferior to you. Not even the janitor or a waiter at a restaurant. Treat everyone as an equal and then you'll be in a position to earn their respect.
Another thing. Don't just stay in your cubicle and 'do your work'. As hard as it may be, and as much as it feels like "kissing ass" (and to some degree it is), you need to make yourself available to those who need you. At LEAST once a week, get up and go talk to your users. Even if it's just talking about the weather. If you don't, you'll seem unapproachable to them, and that's also a very bad thing. I've made this mistake and have paid a significant price for it. To some degree, life is political. Ignore that fact at your own risk.
Wow, we sure put a lot of people in jail here in the U.S. We must be incredibly uncivil! I suppose we could just shoot 'em. Isn't that what they do in a lot of those yellow countries in Africa?
If you think Apple cares about anything but your money, you must have drank all the Kool-Aid.
Gosh, if someone would just give away some of that same tasty Kool-Aid, we wouldn't have to pay for it. That would be really nice. By all means, please cure me of my cultish behavior.
I wouldn't focus on ANY language. I'd focus on the OTHER things that go with being a good programmer. Good programmers aren't necessarily smarter than bad programmers. Most often, they just have better habits. Buy a copy of "Code Complete" by Steve McConnell and study it. DO WHAT HE SAYS TO DO.
2. Learn the Tools
Learn and use Git (preferably) or Subversion with every project you work on. Most projects don't happen in isolation or without screw-ups, so don't pretend otherwise. Learn to take advantage of a good text editor. You'll be using it for a while, you may as well know it thoroughly.
3. Diversify
Diversify your portfolio a little. Learn a couple of scripting languages, like Python and Ruby. Haskell and Erlang might come in handy, too. Learn why.
4. Practice
There's no substitute for experience. So, take a given pet "project" (one that you're familiar with what it should do) and implement it multiple times, using a different language each time. By doing this, you'll learn why certain languages may be better suited for certain projects. Join an open source project of a tool that you use and enjoy.
I don't think you have to remove one thing to attain the other. Asking a school to subdue their emphasis on sports is tantamount to saying "Ignore the millions of dollars you'll get from selling tickets to your football games. Instead, let's sell tickets to the next math olympics."
You can do both. Now, getting people to attend and appreciate great math students -- that's another story.
Yes, the government really should get involved. It takes FAR too long and is way too unpleasant for people in LA to blow their money as it is. It's just traffic -- err tragic.;-)
Seriously though, why shouldn't the casino owners pony up for this?
Slashdot Mirror
...will be COBOL programmers.
...but who will be around to maintain it?
I would like a doorbell that shocks the hell out of Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and pretty much anyone that weighs more than 100 lbs.
Most of Europe would be 70 years old, and speaking German (twice over), if not for your younger brother.
Us too! So, we just threw out our old grandfather, and rented a nice new one.
For some reason, my computer marked this article as SPAM. :-/
They're not just rich. They're Richie Rich rich.
Looks like George Orwell was off by three decades.
... a janitor frees up the wrong plug, so he can polish the server room floor.
One thing that is not mentioned, that needs to be, is the difference between an education and a college degree. Right now, some employers look very hard at a college degree as an important factor in hiring. Actually, it's only important to get your foot in the door. Once that happens, the interview becomes the overriding factor. I postulate that this terrible economy will make the lack of a college degree less of an issue. However, the lack of an education or relevant experience will still prevent you from getting the job. The reason I point this out is that there are now alternatives to a traditional college education. These alternatives are capable of competing directly with college in helping one receive a quality education.
The example that comes to mind is the free website www.khanacademy.org, which Bill Gates has recently publicized. No, you don't get a college degree by finishing the coursework, but I would argue that as much or more learning takes place here as with any traditional college education. Take out the sorority parties, the textbooks, the professors, the football games and general socializing, but as far as learning goes, what's left is not so different. As more and more topics are added, the difference will be even less. One difference might be the ability to look at a professor and raise your hand to ask a direct question. You can still ask questions with some online learning solutions, and it has the added benefit of not being potentially embarrassing.
There are other things to consider. In the programming world, the best résumé is an active github account. A potential employer can go there and actually peruse some of your source code and other contributions you've made to an open source project. No college degree can do that. As more and more employees make use of this, the less important a college degree becomes.
The point is, the real difference right now is a perceptual one. Once that goes away, an expensive college degree will not be the only option. Colleges and Universities should be very afraid, IMHO.
I thought that was because you were a pretentious wanker?
His wanker is only 2-bit. Can't beat that!
... one of the more interesting features: mobile video conferencing!
Driving while texting is so 2009, now.
Umm, Your iPad can sync with your computer. You can buy music from Amazon or elsewhere from your computer. So, unless you don't have a computer, or you can't WAIT until you get to your computer, you're not exactly forced to use ITMS, right?
Here lie my remaining bits -- all nicely reformatted. 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000...
postscript: Hang in there. Resist the urge to be an asshole. Assholes are simply people who view themselves more highly than others.
Control what you can control -- yourself. Don't worry about things that are beyond your control. You can change how you respond to people, but you can never expect to change the people. Instead, invest your energy in learning what makes these people happy, and try to do those things. You'll never please everyone, so don't be surprised or upset when you don't.
To keep people from attacking you, divert the attack. As others have mentioned, focus on the problem, and try to get them to do the same. If they continue to attack you, calmly state that it doesn't help when they do this. Maybe they'll back down. If they don't, just get away from them, if possible. Better to walk away than to go out swinging. You're simply justifying their bad behavior if you replicate them.
Wow, what a timely question. As a 20+ year veteran and one who's made my share of mistakes along the way, allow me to offer you some advice.
The only way to gain respect is to show it and to earn it. If you ever want (or get) a position of leadership, you should remember this every day. Pound it into your head with a ball ping hammer.
I know too many assholes, in positions of power, who don't understand this. They think they deserve respect because of their position alone, and then just expect it to happen. When they don't get it, they pound their fists, wave their dicks in the air and MAKE it happen. They somehow think that complaining more loudly will get a problem fixed sooner.
Needless to say they still aren't respected; even less so. But they get the appearance of respect, so they keep doing what they think works. They don't care that it's really fear, and not respect, that they're gaining.
What results from this atmosfear is that they become surrounded by babysitters. These babysitters (yes men/women) become preoccupied with placating their boss, rather than doing what's best for the company. They only express their real opinion if they think it lines up with what the asshole wants to hear. This leads to bad decision-making. Any good leader needs people around him/her that will challenge their ideas (though not publicly). Without good consultants who aren't afraid to tell the King that he's not wearing any clothes, he's bound to go out in public that way.
So, my point is, just follow the Golden Rule. It sounds quaint, but it's the right thing to do. You'll learn how to sway people you disagree with (if you're right), but NEVER make them feel inferior to you. Not even the janitor or a waiter at a restaurant. Treat everyone as an equal and then you'll be in a position to earn their respect.
Another thing. Don't just stay in your cubicle and 'do your work'. As hard as it may be, and as much as it feels like "kissing ass" (and to some degree it is), you need to make yourself available to those who need you. At LEAST once a week, get up and go talk to your users. Even if it's just talking about the weather. If you don't, you'll seem unapproachable to them, and that's also a very bad thing. I've made this mistake and have paid a significant price for it. To some degree, life is political. Ignore that fact at your own risk.
Wow, we sure put a lot of people in jail here in the U.S. We must be incredibly uncivil! I suppose we could just shoot 'em. Isn't that what they do in a lot of those yellow countries in Africa?
The Twitter bird _would_ look a lot better with a drop shadow.
If you think Apple cares about anything but your money, you must have drank all the Kool-Aid.
Gosh, if someone would just give away some of that same tasty Kool-Aid, we wouldn't have to pay for it. That would be really nice. By all means, please cure me of my cultish behavior.
I wouldn't focus on ANY language. I'd focus on the OTHER things that go with being a good programmer. Good programmers aren't necessarily smarter than bad programmers. Most often, they just have better habits. Buy a copy of "Code Complete" by Steve McConnell and study it. DO WHAT HE SAYS TO DO.
2. Learn the Tools
Learn and use Git (preferably) or Subversion with every project you work on. Most projects don't happen in isolation or without screw-ups, so don't pretend otherwise. Learn to take advantage of a good text editor. You'll be using it for a while, you may as well know it thoroughly.
3. Diversify
Diversify your portfolio a little. Learn a couple of scripting languages, like Python and Ruby. Haskell and Erlang might come in handy, too. Learn why.
4. Practice
There's no substitute for experience. So, take a given pet "project" (one that you're familiar with what it should do) and implement it multiple times, using a different language each time. By doing this, you'll learn why certain languages may be better suited for certain projects. Join an open source project of a tool that you use and enjoy.
5. Profit :-)
I don't think you have to remove one thing to attain the other. Asking a school to subdue their emphasis on sports is tantamount to saying "Ignore the millions of dollars you'll get from selling tickets to your football games. Instead, let's sell tickets to the next math olympics." You can do both. Now, getting people to attend and appreciate great math students -- that's another story.
... but shortening it an inch to accommodate cooling? DAMN!
Yes, the government really should get involved. It takes FAR too long and is way too unpleasant for people in LA to blow their money as it is. It's just traffic -- err tragic. ;-)
Seriously though, why shouldn't the casino owners pony up for this?
If you're going to attempt profundity, check your facts.
Ahh, grow up. Astronomy is so 10 Billion light years ago.