Comments on: The road to…

by: ragin' lion

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I never thought I'd see the day where you listed so many C++ books ... Incredible! The world must surely be coming to an end! 8P

The nasty thing about C++ is the books ... or rather having to buy books to figure out what not to do or what to avoid when using the language. What an expensive pain. :(

While you're loading up on C++, you may want to eventually consider some STL in your life. 8P But one thing at a time though. ;)

I think I will have to buy that book you mentioned (or maybe just borrow it from you!). Reading does take time and is a pain. In the last 4-5 months, I basically "threw" myself into reading more and suddenly I realized that I really didn't see my friends much or go out (but was able to save a little more money!). I have been considering taking some time off from work to just read since I'm usually exhausted after working and at times don't feel like reading when I get home. Having said that, it's nice to finally start catching up on my reading though.

With all the work and reading that you're doing, I hope you're finding time to actually relax. All work and no play makes Kaz a dull boy. 8P

by: Davide Pasca

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

ehehe I think that the excitement has blinded you again (^^;)
I actually meant to say that I consciously deciced not to buy those books suggested C++ books, because I found the to be rather boring.
Instead I got a book which is dedicated to math and physics.
Infact, I think that math is the most important language ever. On my list clearly there is Japanese after that.. and actually I think anyone would be better off studying math and Japanese (or any another spoken language of choice), rather than spend excessive amounts of time with C++.
OK to learn a computer language, but not to the point to be assimilated by the constant study.. I find that to be academic for most programmers.

by: Anonymous

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

FYI Davide, there is a book “Dating for Dummies. You may want to check that
out.

by: ragin' lion

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I could say that the fact you’re looking at C++ books shows there is a secret interest somewhere! 8P You probably just haven’t found a C++ book that you like!

You might want to put Japanese as #1, then math (or whatever language) … You surely won’t be able to communicate to many people in a mathematical language. ;)

by: Davide Pasca

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

ragin' lion: You might want to put Japanese as #1, then math (or whatever language) ... You surely won't be able to communicate to many people in a mathematical language. ;)

First comes my knowledge, only after come "the other people".

Anonymous: FYI Davide, there is a book "Dating for Dummies. You may want to check that out.

How about "Blog-stalking for Dummies" ? I haven't seen that around, perhaps you could write one ?

by: ragin' lion

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Angry Davide says: First comes my knowledge, only after come “the other people”.

えぇ？！

Dude, you know what I’m talking about. It won’t do you much good if you can’t communicate with the folks who you see on a daily basis (work and other places). Besides, having more command of the language will open more opportunities to you … and perhaps those opportunities will contribute to your knowledge!

by: Davide Pasca

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I wans’t angry 8P
I agree with you. But there is a reason why we have been living in Japan for a while now and still our knowledge of the language isn’t so good: we have other things to learn about.
My passion and my job, require me to be a skilled programmer, someone that has a broad knowledge of things related to possible duties. If I were a game designer or a secretary (and if that was my actual goal) then I would have put all my free time into studying Japanese.

So here comes another choice: become a C++ master or refresh my math and extend it into physics ?

..I dunno.. I’ve been (trying to) read physics books since I was a kid. Math is the most logical language that humands have ever developed, it’s got to be my true goal.. it’s just the way I’m made.
One thing that I know for sure, is that I should always follow my passions… I’m lucky enough to have some strong interests, some goals, many people don’t have that.. so I shoudl be tankful and cultivate what I can do best.

I don’t suggest that you should put yourself through a book of math. If you like to study C++, or some field of software development, or Chess, music.. do that… as long as you are using your “braing cycles” 8)
However, I know full well the recipe for achieving myself, and that’s to do what I like to do, rather than doing what one should normally do.

by: ragin' lion

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Well, if you’re choosing between C++ and math, then that’s a different story; I’d do what in my heart.

I was just pointing out how the language thing is important … say you have to go to the hospital or something or there’s a situation where being able to communicate is essential; the math skills (or any other) won’t necessarily save you then.

I think it’s really a balance. My Japanese is definately not on any level of fluency, but I’m struggling to get it to a point to where I can be more independant and be able to do things (like go to the Ward Office, fill out complex forms, and whatnot).

Unfortunately, all the studying (of Japanese and job related reading) means that I don’t have much time to socialize … I guess that’s a short-term sacrifice I can deal with in order to protect my long-term investment.

by: ragin' lion

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

More knowledge for you: DIVINE PROPORTIONS: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry

You'll never escape Planet Math! Mwaha ha ha ha!!!

by: Anonymous

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Hmmm divergence from pure programming into physics and maths… It might sound like a very strange coincidence, but while on vacation in Hawaii last week, my attention was drawn at some torches that are used at night to light up the pathways around the hotel where we were staying. I was looking at the flame and wondering what makes fire behave like it does? I know that somewhere at the base of it all there is basic laws of chemistry and physics, but what are those laws and why do I not know them, but just accept the fire for what it is? There are so many things in this world that we dont have time to learn about, because we are required to specialize in just one or two fields to do our job. What if a person spent all his time from birth till death studying the way things work? Starting from the basic laws of physics and chemistry, languages, socio economics, politics, etc etc… Would such a person reach a point where he will see start seeing connections between the basic laws and how they translate into more general patterns that control the way universe works?