Understanding IT
I love reading articles about the mindset and habits of geeks/nerd/IT-people, but only when they’re right. In this case, I’ve found two worth reading (one is a short recap of the other):
Yeah? Yeah.
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You might be interested to know that there's two different kind of posts on this blog: "Thought of the Day" and "Normal". The "Thought of the Day" category is a once-a-day random tidbit, usually a funny video or picture, and the "Normal" is just what you'd expect from a blog like this:
Unicorn-Butterfly Soup.
--Kyle
p.s. the subscription options to the left (psst! <---- that way) reflect the same content options
A Lofty Goal
If you’re a geek/nerd/social-recluse-with-a-penchant-for-technology, chances are you either have a huge bookshelf, or you are known on a first name basis at the library, especially in the SciFi/Fantasy areas. I myself have recently started building a “library” of books for myself. I started with all the greats I’ve read over the years (Frank Herbert, Orson Scott Card, Larry Niven, etc.), and then have been slowly plodding through more currently respected authors (Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, Raymond Feist, etc). And all of this has got me thinking…
The Goal
What am I talking about? I’ll make it simple: I want to start a foundation, raise funds, and eventually construct a brick-and-mortar library that stores only Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, to be located somewhere in Silicon Valley. This is obviously something like 10 years down the road for it to come to fruition, but you have to get started somewhere.
Why?
It’s simple: I love these kinds of books, and almost everyone I’ve met in the geek/nerd category does too. And what is Silicon Valley, if not a bunch of geeks and nerds (maybe they call themselves ‘engineers’ or ’scientists’, but it’s the same thing)? I want to make all the books that we (that’s ‘geeks/nerds’ collectively) have read and love easily available to the upcoming generations of children who don’t read as much.
If the “Millennials” read less than “Generation X”, then whatever they’re labeling the current 10-yr olds as read even less. My generation was wrapped up in TV, video games, and the computer… but with a large helping of the, say it with me now, real world. Many of today’s children are growing up glued to their MMORPGs on either XBOX or the PC, and don’t even realize that the games they spend their lives on (World of Warcraft is a perfect example) started out as a way to visually interact with some books that people read.
How?
This is a big one. I’m not really sure yet, but I’m basing my plans for this off of a South Park episode:
- Steal Underpants
- ???
- Profit!
But instead, it looks like:
- Start a foundation
- Somehow get alot of donations and interest
- ???
- Library!
I’m hoping to appeal to all the inner readers of Silicon Valley that I’m sure are out there. I’d like to get interest, and money, from anyone who wants to donate, but the big proponents would be Presidents/CEOs, rich people [aka. Venture Capitalist's), entire corporate sponsorships, etc.
When?
As I mentioned, this is super-long term. I'm going to start figuring out the paperwork early this year (January/February) and go from there... but I'm assuming that short of some magic happening, 10 years is a good estimate. In this estimate I'm including what I hope will be a custom constructed building whose appearance will match the high flying ideals of this.
Ok...?
I just wanted to put my thoughts out there to the general public. If you're interested in helping, feel free to contact me. I'm also thinking about names for this foundation, and the eventual library, so "[post] ‘em if you got ‘em”.
Programmers/Coders ?= Rockstars
[I know it's been awhile since I wrote anything here, I've been busy. And it's Thanksgiving, so what better way to celebrate than a post?]
An article over at CenterNetworks made mention of something that gets alot of attention: programmers as rockstars.
Normal People
For the uninitiated, many see programmers merely as “hackers” through movies like Swordfish, The Matrix, and others like it. Think about the image portrayed… the standard uniform is long (or “short ‘n messy”) hair, black clothing, leather, a heavy night life, and an ego.
My…name…is…NEO!
Real Programmers
In real life, is this true? I’d argue that there are two kinds of programmers: nerdy-WoW-playing-geekoid-trekkies, and the programmer rockstar. I’d also argue that the non-rockstar types are usually the lesser programmers, who aren’t as talented, and probably came upon the occupation as a fallback because of their social life, more than a natural calling.
The Rockstars
Those of us who are rockstar programmers, myself included, usually have huge egos… but not without good cause. Able to knock out complicated working programs/functions in a very short amount of time, we find ourselves feeling akin to God, or other deities, because of our natural ability. We typically can visualize entire program structures and functionality inside our heads, which makes it very easy to “realize” it (like an artist!) on the computer.
Yeah, not what I’m talking about at all.
Why?
Why are we so awesome (some would call that “cocky”)? I really have no idea, but I know that it’s never taken for granted. Every time I sit down to code for hours, I get what’s called a “code high”. Basically, it’s an adrenaline rush fueled by caffeine and a sense of abstract accomplishment that few others would understand. For many of us the joy of programming is not actually coding, but the efforts before and after: visualizing the entire thing, and then enjoying the aftermath of complete and total bug destruction (it’s like a giant puzzle… except you need a certain IQ level).
But we are.
Be Nice
So the next time you see “that guy” in your office, or at Starbucks, that is obviously dressed in the rockstar programmer uniform, and carries himself a slight air of superiority [but you're pretty sure he's not a "real" rockstar]… walk up to him (or, in the 2% chance it’s a woman, ‘her’), bow to them, and say “thank you for making my world much better, oh mighty Promaterus, God of Programming”.
They’ll appreciate it.
Why ‘Heroes’ Is Better Than Any Movie(s)
Heroes: the show that came out of nowhere has gained huge popularity on NBC based on a comic book-style narration… even with non-geeks. It’s better than any other action/drama TV series (past and present), and is better than any movie series (even those based on comic books) will be.
Length/Continuity
Movies typically adhere to the standard format: intro, body, and conclusion. Even if room is left for a sequel, almost all of the storylines are completed and tied together by the end of the 2-3 hour saga. Heroes doesn’t do that.
Season 1 was considerably longer than a movie, and even if Season 2 is cut short due to the awesome strike, it will be as well. Why is this important? Having a huge amount of time to tell your story, as long as it’s a good one, benefits everyone. Plus, when you don’t have to fit an entire story (including a “happy ending”) into a specific amount of time… that leaves many options open.
It’s the reason some people get up in the morning.
Characters
Heroes, as I mentioned before, is in the style of a comic book. For the uninitiated, this means that there are many characters being dealt with throughout the long and twisted plot, any of which may become the focus for any amount of time… or the writers may decide to bounce back-and-forth in tandem between a handful.
Movies don’t do this. There’s really no reason I can think of as to why, other than it’s the way things have always been done, and it’s a proven format. God forbid you do something new. Even the Spiderman movies predominantly follow one character (Peter Parker/Spiderman).
Reading… But Better
What it comes down to is that Heroes is like reading your favorite SciFi books or comic books, but with much more action and realism than you could ever make up in your head. George Lucas understood this when he made the Star Wars movies: a continuing story without a specific end is very attractive. It leaves the viewer wanting more.
All your base are belong to us.
Heroes will eventually have to end, since NBC cancels all the good shows anyways (The Black Donnelly’s anyone?), but all signs point to this lasting at least a few more seasons.
Character Types
All the other factors aside, there is one overwhelmingly important piece that makes the show so successful: the characters themselves. Whether or not the viewer likes certain characters, each one is realistic and true-to-life (as much as such themes of superpowers allow). The world is believable, as it is, for all intents and purposes, our world.
Every small boy (and maybe some girls?) wishes at one point that they have superpowers… there’s some people who don’t grow out of this. The idea that “average people” wake up one day and have powers, and apply them to a good vs. evil battle in a world much like ours, speaks to that same part of us.
Don’t Be Like Lost
For all it’s strengths, many viewers think the first half of this season was fumbled: tangential stories about Claire’s love-life, a multi-episode journey into ancient Japan… it wasn’t what was expected. But the writers apparently knew what they were doing, because with that slow setup, the series stands to have some of the greatest episodes yet.
It’s just not the same…
I hope that Heroes doesn’t turn into Lost…. I was a big fan until I got tired of all the boring drama/inaction and random nonsense. So far, we’ve seen a good tie-in of all the characters and plots, even if they don’t have definitive beginnings and ends.
Let’s keep it that way, and without any mechanical-but-alien-and-smoke monsters.
“Change the World”
I don’t know if this is a legitimate Apple commercial or not, and I definitely am not a fan of Apple besides the iPod/iPhone… but this video is very true either way.
[youtube YHineBZTpNw Change the World]
