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beej71

6,083 karmajoined 16 lat temu
Author of Beej's Guides, Computer Science instructor at Oregon State University-Cascades.

Identity claims: https://keyoxide.org/beej%40beej.us

[ my public key: https://keybase.io/beej; my proof: https://keybase.io/beej/sigs/plrv1S0-bVb3oNnF6pu5UaGSWvkQV5ZtYDByQ5pZmww ]

openpgp4fpr:CD99029AAD50ED6AD2023932A165F24CF846C3C8

comments

beej71
·5 godzin temu·discuss
I think people are better developers when they slow down. But I also think that makes them worth less in the market. Pretty clear from existing software quality that quality software is not requisite for successful business.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I do definitely watch TV and movies from time to time. Really my beef is with social media. TV and movies as media, that's a wagon I just largely fell off of at some point.

I'll still watch a good movie, for sure. Interstellar, Primer, Coherence, Run Lola Run, The Big Short, Contact, Excalibur... But The Expanse, Project Hail Mary, The Martian... I enjoyed the books more than than the movies, and the movies were good. Still haven't read Contact, shamefully.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
Maybe! I'm red-green colorblind and the shelf was stained dark, so I wouldn't have noticed. :)
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I don't have a good answer for kids breaking stuff.

And I do wonder what glues are used in the bamboo scrubbers, but I have no way of finding out. The scrapers are at least a solid single piece. They're either definitely bamboo or some very skillfully-engineered plastic to look exactly like it. ;)

There are a lot of cheap glass blenders on [ONLINE STORE]. But yeah, the high end ones--maybe they're trying to avoid that 50s look.

We just run with the plastic lids with glass tupperware. The only other sensible replacement we've found is reused jars and Ball jars, but all those lids have plastic liners, too. We don't cook the lids and food contact is limited. Would be nice to have something else. Silicone lids? We have some of those we picked up for Ball jars at some point. But this seems like a lower potential issue than cooking with plastic materials.

For really inexpensive stuff like blenders and glass containers is the second-hand store.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I don't get this whole attitude. Moving away from plastics in our kitchen was basically zero extra cost. Something busted, and we replaced it with non-plastic. Even bamboo scrubbers don't cost more than plastic (maybe even a little less) and I can't see any particular longevity difference.

I think the fact that I volunteer to clean up trash on public lands and know that weathered plastic is the period worst period to remove makes me move away from plastic in general.

Plus, a solid $3 wooden spoon is just a joy to cook with. They outlast the plastic ones, too.

Microplastic ingestion? Well, I'm not sure the effects or the relative quantity compared to tire shed and other industrial factors. But if I were forced by some diety to bet my life on if plastics in the kitchen or on clothing had a negative health effect, I'd make that bet.

But the main thing I don't get about the attitude stems from the fact that I don't really care what other people use in their kitchens. I recommend it.

Just please don't litter. :)
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
It's true that I'm in a place of privilege in the world. But it's amazing how much time gets freed up of one doesn't watch TV or read social media. Like the numbers show, it's hours per day.

I sympathize with people who truly do not have the time, but that's different from most people who simply choose not to spend their time reading or writing.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
As a CS instructor, I find this article extremely interesting, FWIW.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I couldn't attach my xteink to my phone because of a standoff around the camera on my phone case. I just now realized that the standoff could be removed and now the magnet works! :)

Did you install Crosspoint on it? I absolutely recommend it.

For reading on my phone Moon Reader is my go-to.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I know there are a number of us who read encyclopedias over our breakfast cereal as kids. Ours were World Book.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I read The Goldfinch a while back. Not at all my usual fare. The plot progressed at a snail's pace, but I enjoyed every page of it. (The movie treatment was horribly shallow in comparison, but there's no way they could possibly convey the depth in two hours.)
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
I just read this! Also recommend.
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
Can I ask why you hate reading? Is this a general statement or is it about the quality of programming-related reading in particular?
beej71
·przedwczoraj·discuss
GenX here... I thought this was a great read. I still hope for a young rebellion against the forces the presented in the article. And the author does point out some reasons to hope.

Personally, I read and write every day. I usually have 2-3 books I'm going through at any one time.

I've noticed that on long-haul flights, the movies typically hold no interest and I just read for hours—what a luxury to have nothing else to do!

We gave away our TV. The shows were just less compelling, we found. We don't miss it.

I feel like we tried to catch the wave, and almost did, but we were unable. It rolled out from under us and now we're floating once again in the calm sea beyond.

I have Moonreader installed on my phone, so I can reach for a book any time. This morning I was hypothesizing that since I use my phone for reading books, I'm fooling my brain into that association and maybe that's helpful in consuming long-form content online...?

I also read paper books, a Kobo, my computer, and an Xteink x4. Really anything, I guess!

That hardest part is knowing that more has been written than I will ever have time to enjoy.
beej71
·3 dni temu·discuss
It won't work for everyone, but I have a bicycle trailer for food shopping. 20 minutes ride each way. I go about once a week.
beej71
·5 dni temu·discuss
The penalties for police abusing the power we grant them should be severe.
beej71
·5 dni temu·discuss
I'm willing to change the name in order to not have this discussion. :)

Luckily now I'm simply a "computer science instructor", though many argue what I teach is "software engineering"... Doh!
beej71
·5 dni temu·discuss
I never regretted getting a BS and MS in CS. It was a lot of fun learning, landed me my first industry job with basically no extra effort, and it ultimately allowed me to be an instructor at a university after a couple decades at work.

But I did get my degree when it was 5x cheaper than today (inflation-adjusted). There is that.

One thing about on-the-job learning is that employers are increasingly reluctant to pay for that. So non-degrees will still have to get on their indy learning.

And, yes, networking is king more than ever now.
beej71
·6 dni temu·discuss
Fallacy of composition.
beej71
·8 dni temu·discuss
How do you figure? Do you know either of these people?
beej71
·9 dni temu·discuss
Usenet is coming back through the cracks. Google finally graveyarded support and all the spammers went with them. It's pretty low traffic except for some select groups, though. comp.lang.c and talk.origins will never die. :)