Saturday, July 28, 2012
Being a finisher..or not
You know how it begins. Your pondering life and checking your Facebook at 2am when suddenly it hits you. "Man I got such a great idea," you think; wanting to share it with the world. You start going over the what if's, the how-to's and the I cans in your mind. You find a way to start the project. You tell people close to you about it. Your getting and excited and pumped up about your great idea. Well most of us know what happens 2 weeks later. Your great idea becomes just another one of those cool what ifs that were never carried out. You may have even started the journey to making your project a reality. You get positive feed back. You were on fire. So how did you lose all that steam? The sad thing about steam is that any small hole will cause your reserve tank to lose its pressure unless you are constantly making more steam. You must stay on fire. I am still trying to figure out how to keep producing that steam. I'll be the first to say it: At this moment, I am a pretty terrible finisher. You know what though? At least I know my weakness.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Top 5 Languages: #1 & #2
#2 English- Obviously if you are reading this blog entry you already have a decent grasp of English, but it never hurts to improve your ability to write or communicate effectively which is one of the reasons why English made it on the list. It is estimated that over 1 billion people in the world speak this language. English as a second language has built a reputation of having difficult grammar and containing many irregular spellings or pronunciations. English may be a difficult language to grasp, but its the means through which much of the academic world communicate their findings. This makes understanding the ins and outs of English extremely vital to many career paths such engineering, medicine, astronomy, and architecture. English may have been beaten out by Chinese as the most spoken language of the world, but English does claim the title of "most used language on the Internet." With how quickly modern society has adopted the Internet and the how massive a role that the Internet plays in global communication, the "Most used language on the Internet" is indeed quite a title.
#1 C++(or any other related computing language)- You may be wondering why English did not claim the #1 spot as the top language. With the recent forthcoming of computers and the Internet, technology has quickly embedded itself deeply into our daily lives. These days its hard to find anyone who doesn't use Excel to budget, Google to..well..google, or Facebook to socialize, but many don't think about what it actually takes to make all of these pieces of software run. A computer language is required to translate the abstract ideas we humans think up into the sets of 1's and 0's that machines know how to execute. I'm not sure if anyone here remembers geometry proofs, but writing things for a stupid little CPU to understand is alot like those proofs. Let's see if this little exercise sparks any memories. Imagine you are hungry and want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What would you do? You would walk out of your room, go into the kitchen and make yourself some PB&J. Most would be able to do this simple task without even thinking. Now imagine how you would explain making a PB&J sandwich to a photosynthesizing alien who has no understanding of what food even is. If anyone has ever taken Mrs Sharpe's geometry class at Powell Highschool, you will know that this task is not easy as it sounds. In order to get the alien to under stand the process of making a sandwich one would have to give a detailed set of instructions to the alien defining each of the actions he should take. You would need to tell him where the bread was located, how to get the bread out of the bag, and how to seal the bag up. In order to prevent redundancy you would tailor your set of instructions to what basic actions the alien already knows. If the alien already understands how to open the fridge, then you would not need to explicitly state that he/she/it needs to place its appendage on the fridge handle, grasp firmly, and pull. A detailed set of instructions similar to that given to the alien is what is needed to be sent to a computer when people decide they want create major applications like Excel or Facebook. Basically all a machine knows how to do is very rudimentary operations like addition or looping. In order to get a machine to understand what "Open this window" or "Post my status" means, someone has to explicitly define it in simpler terms using a language like C++. Now one might feel that professionals take care of programming and learning it for yourself is pointless, however, when computing begins to surround you, knowing at least a little bit of a computers language becomes almost becomes unavoidable. I am not saying go out and be the next Bill Gates or Steve jobs, but obviously, they did something right with their careers by learning to program. It is something that will come out to be very useful for anyone in our technological future.
#1 C++(or any other related computing language)- You may be wondering why English did not claim the #1 spot as the top language. With the recent forthcoming of computers and the Internet, technology has quickly embedded itself deeply into our daily lives. These days its hard to find anyone who doesn't use Excel to budget, Google to..well..google, or Facebook to socialize, but many don't think about what it actually takes to make all of these pieces of software run. A computer language is required to translate the abstract ideas we humans think up into the sets of 1's and 0's that machines know how to execute. I'm not sure if anyone here remembers geometry proofs, but writing things for a stupid little CPU to understand is alot like those proofs. Let's see if this little exercise sparks any memories. Imagine you are hungry and want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What would you do? You would walk out of your room, go into the kitchen and make yourself some PB&J. Most would be able to do this simple task without even thinking. Now imagine how you would explain making a PB&J sandwich to a photosynthesizing alien who has no understanding of what food even is. If anyone has ever taken Mrs Sharpe's geometry class at Powell Highschool, you will know that this task is not easy as it sounds. In order to get the alien to under stand the process of making a sandwich one would have to give a detailed set of instructions to the alien defining each of the actions he should take. You would need to tell him where the bread was located, how to get the bread out of the bag, and how to seal the bag up. In order to prevent redundancy you would tailor your set of instructions to what basic actions the alien already knows. If the alien already understands how to open the fridge, then you would not need to explicitly state that he/she/it needs to place its appendage on the fridge handle, grasp firmly, and pull. A detailed set of instructions similar to that given to the alien is what is needed to be sent to a computer when people decide they want create major applications like Excel or Facebook. Basically all a machine knows how to do is very rudimentary operations like addition or looping. In order to get a machine to understand what "Open this window" or "Post my status" means, someone has to explicitly define it in simpler terms using a language like C++. Now one might feel that professionals take care of programming and learning it for yourself is pointless, however, when computing begins to surround you, knowing at least a little bit of a computers language becomes almost becomes unavoidable. I am not saying go out and be the next Bill Gates or Steve jobs, but obviously, they did something right with their careers by learning to program. It is something that will come out to be very useful for anyone in our technological future.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Top 5 Languages: #3 & #4
#4 Mandarin Chinese-This language makes it onto the list for multiple reasons. Chinese is not only the #1 most spoken language in the world but it is also the official language of the US's top business partner. There are massive business opportunities that can arise from knowing Chinese. Many companies here in the United States have dealings with China and need ambassadors who know the language. If one takes the time to learn this complicated language, who knows, they may end up going on an unforgettable business trip to China. Another benefit to learning Chinese is the vast and diverse cultural experience that will come with studying the language. China is over 5000 years old and contains much history within its culture. Just that in and of itself is enough to want to learn the language.
#3 Spanish- Spanish has simple grammar, easy pronunciation, mega opportunities for use in the US, and BEAUTIFUL speakers. What more could you want from a language? There is a certain sexy vibe that comes along with Spanish. I probably could listen to Shakira roll her rr's all day long. Waka Waka! Anyways, back to the practical uses of Spanish. Besides wooing a Latino, Spanish can come in very handy in a human relations job. Everyone from doctors to accountants will benefit from knowing at least a little Spanish because America, being a melting pot of culture, is currently experiencing massive amounts of immigration from our neighbors to the South. This means an influx of native Spanish speakers into our country. As an American, if you desire to learn a practical second language, Español would be one of the best to start with. Luckily, Spanish has one of the fastest rates to fluency. With full immersion in a Latin culture, you could be well on your way to fluency within 6 months.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Top 5 Languages: #5
In a world full of individuals, it is absolutely necessary to be able to communicate effectively. The ability to communicate abstract ideas through words is completely unique to humans and it is what allows us organize our society in the way that we do. Just think about how little each of us would know about our world if we didn't have someone to teach us using words. While pondering about what society would be like without words, you should take a moment to think about how you are actually thinking right now. Chances are, unless you are some sort of alien reading this blog post, you are thinking in words. You are having a little conversation with yourself inside of your head at this very moment. Instead of speaking to your self in words temporarily try using just images to construct in your mind the ideas we are discussing; you will certainly fail.
Studies show that one of the most damaging disabilities in historical terms was deafness. Before sign language was invented, deaf people really had no language to think in. Not only were they unable to communicate ideas with others, but they truly could not communicate ideas within themselves. Without language, they had no inner voice to guide them through complicated and abstract ideas. This is why the word "dumb", which used to mean the inability to speak, now takes on the connotation that it does. Deaf people back in the day had mental handicaps because of their lack of language.
Obviously, language is quite important to our identity as humans. We use it every day and without it we are essentially dumb. It used to be that only one language was required to prosper in every aspect of life. Travel was slow and therefore the cultures that an individual would come in contact with would only have a slight variation to their own culture. Now, in this globalized economy, it is becoming ever more important to speak more than just your native tongue. This is why I am compiling a list of the Top 5 languages to know. Each day I will add another language to the list.
Starting with language # 5
Latin- It would have been difficult to choose just one romantic language to place on this list. They all sound uniquely pleasant and every single one is useful in various areas of the world. For this reason Latin, the language that spawned all of the romantics, was the one to make the list. Of course some will say there is no practical reason for learning this language. Honestly, not one person around today can speak it fluently so it seems like a truly dead language. Well actually, its not. Latin is about as dead as Benjamin Franklin. You certainly will not see the man walking around town, but chances are that you see evidence of his existence. Ben invented things like bifocals, swimming fins, and the urinary catheter. His two greatest achievements were the discoveries he made about electricity and the influence and political role he played in the development of our country. Latin is like Ol Ben, they may both be dead, but much relevant information can be learned from studying them.
Studies show that one of the most damaging disabilities in historical terms was deafness. Before sign language was invented, deaf people really had no language to think in. Not only were they unable to communicate ideas with others, but they truly could not communicate ideas within themselves. Without language, they had no inner voice to guide them through complicated and abstract ideas. This is why the word "dumb", which used to mean the inability to speak, now takes on the connotation that it does. Deaf people back in the day had mental handicaps because of their lack of language.
Obviously, language is quite important to our identity as humans. We use it every day and without it we are essentially dumb. It used to be that only one language was required to prosper in every aspect of life. Travel was slow and therefore the cultures that an individual would come in contact with would only have a slight variation to their own culture. Now, in this globalized economy, it is becoming ever more important to speak more than just your native tongue. This is why I am compiling a list of the Top 5 languages to know. Each day I will add another language to the list.
Starting with language # 5
Latin- It would have been difficult to choose just one romantic language to place on this list. They all sound uniquely pleasant and every single one is useful in various areas of the world. For this reason Latin, the language that spawned all of the romantics, was the one to make the list. Of course some will say there is no practical reason for learning this language. Honestly, not one person around today can speak it fluently so it seems like a truly dead language. Well actually, its not. Latin is about as dead as Benjamin Franklin. You certainly will not see the man walking around town, but chances are that you see evidence of his existence. Ben invented things like bifocals, swimming fins, and the urinary catheter. His two greatest achievements were the discoveries he made about electricity and the influence and political role he played in the development of our country. Latin is like Ol Ben, they may both be dead, but much relevant information can be learned from studying them.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Do something rewarding: Teach
There are very few things in this world (most of which are unmentionable in this blog) that feel as amazing as helping someone learn. Trying new things out on your own can get quite frustrating and its a real relief when there is someone you trust who is there to help. That someone could be a good friend who teaches you that leaning back on a mountain bike prevents face plants, a professor who illustrates that Newtons first law still applies when a paint ball is hurdling towards your face or a mother who teaches, well, just about everything. Now why do you think mothers go through the singular intense pain of childbirth and the not so occasional pain that comes with dealing with disobedience? Why would a parent even want children in the first place? It's a good question. The reason is that raising a child is REWARDING. Teaching is rewarding. Watching the light bulb that flares up in child's head and the brilliance in someones eyes when they finally reach an understanding brings a great sense of self worth to the mentor, parent, or teacher.
One doesn't have to be a parent or a professor to indulge in the joys of teaching though. I am currently a track coach for the KTC (Knoxville Track Club) youth program and it so far has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Yes, it can really get frustrating when you have to turn the long jump sandpit into dangerous "lava" so that the 7 year olds will try to escape with their lives after jumping instead of immediately wanting to sit and play with the sand, but this frustration certainly does not diminish the rewards. It's great to see a child's excitement when they achieve 1st place in a 300m hurdle race or a parents relief when they know that because of track, their child will actually be tired enough to go to bed on time. In order to gain the true rewards of teaching one has to just be interested in teaching about a passionate area of their lives. If you love dancing, show someone how to tango. If you love photography, show someone how to shoot beautiful star streak photos (I'm still waiting on this one). Heck, if you know something as unique as unicycling there is still a great chance that someone out there would really like to learn. You may even acquire new knowledge in your own area of expertise during the process.
One of the best ways to set up an opportunity to both teach and learn is through Skype. If you are currently learning or wanting to practice a foreign language, the Skype forum has an entire category devoted to language exchange that can be seen on their website here.
On this site, you are able to find people from across the entire globe to converse with. Can you guess what the #1 desired language to be practiced is? Thats right, its English. You can use this site to talk to amazingly unique people all while helping them learn the language that most Americans take for granted. What's more is that once you have made conversation in English for a while, you can switch over to your partners maternal tongue and practice essentially what ever language you desire. I personally have about 5 South American friends on my Skype list who enjoy helping me with my spanish.
The point of all this is that you do not need to be an Oxford graduate or an astrophysicist (although I do know a couple) to be able to teach someone a skill and make a difference in that person's life. If you think hard about your likes, dislikes and the places or thing which you devote your time to, you can find where you truly excell. There will always be people who don't quite have a knack for the same things in which you excel at and would love to learn your ways. The benefits will not only be seen in the lives of those who learn but also of those who teach. The greater part of the harvest will actually go to those willing to sow the crop, the teachers. They are the ones who provide sustenance to the students who metaphorically glean the fields for knowlege. (biblical Ruth reference)
One doesn't have to be a parent or a professor to indulge in the joys of teaching though. I am currently a track coach for the KTC (Knoxville Track Club) youth program and it so far has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Yes, it can really get frustrating when you have to turn the long jump sandpit into dangerous "lava" so that the 7 year olds will try to escape with their lives after jumping instead of immediately wanting to sit and play with the sand, but this frustration certainly does not diminish the rewards. It's great to see a child's excitement when they achieve 1st place in a 300m hurdle race or a parents relief when they know that because of track, their child will actually be tired enough to go to bed on time. In order to gain the true rewards of teaching one has to just be interested in teaching about a passionate area of their lives. If you love dancing, show someone how to tango. If you love photography, show someone how to shoot beautiful star streak photos (I'm still waiting on this one). Heck, if you know something as unique as unicycling there is still a great chance that someone out there would really like to learn. You may even acquire new knowledge in your own area of expertise during the process.
One of the best ways to set up an opportunity to both teach and learn is through Skype. If you are currently learning or wanting to practice a foreign language, the Skype forum has an entire category devoted to language exchange that can be seen on their website here.
On this site, you are able to find people from across the entire globe to converse with. Can you guess what the #1 desired language to be practiced is? Thats right, its English. You can use this site to talk to amazingly unique people all while helping them learn the language that most Americans take for granted. What's more is that once you have made conversation in English for a while, you can switch over to your partners maternal tongue and practice essentially what ever language you desire. I personally have about 5 South American friends on my Skype list who enjoy helping me with my spanish.
The point of all this is that you do not need to be an Oxford graduate or an astrophysicist (although I do know a couple) to be able to teach someone a skill and make a difference in that person's life. If you think hard about your likes, dislikes and the places or thing which you devote your time to, you can find where you truly excell. There will always be people who don't quite have a knack for the same things in which you excel at and would love to learn your ways. The benefits will not only be seen in the lives of those who learn but also of those who teach. The greater part of the harvest will actually go to those willing to sow the crop, the teachers. They are the ones who provide sustenance to the students who metaphorically glean the fields for knowlege. (biblical Ruth reference)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
How to: Not live in a bomb shelter
Do you ever wake up and ask yourself how the heck a tornado managed to fly through your house and ravage your room. If your like me, your personal space can sometimes look as if WW3 was fought over a dispute of your land. My room currently does not look like the Trinity nuclear test site, which is usually the vibe it gives off, but there is still quite a bit of clutter laying around. As for my car, it is a complete disaster. My Ford ThunderChicken looks like a suitcase that was rummaged through and robbed by a homeless man. Honestly, that man could still be living in there for all I know. It has been in this state of disaster since I moved out of my UTK dormitory two months ago! Boy do I need to learn how to clean and get organized. Well luckily, with a little determination and a lot of ingenuity I (and hopefully you as well) will be able to conquer this messy space syndrome.
I'll explain my plan by starting with a quick question. Who likes losing money? Better yet, who likes losing money because of their own stupidity or laziness? I think just about everyone will hold the same opinion to this question. Here is another question. Who would like to gain money because of someones stupidity and laziness while helping that person at the same time? Well my proposed plan for better organization involves turning the root of all evil (I know the bible says its the love of money, not just money) into a blossom of potential growth. In this case the thorny vine will actually produce a rose and that rose is a benificial organizational habit. All you need to do is find a brother, sister, or just a friend that loves to have a bit of healthy (or sometimes not so healthy) competition with you. Find that kid who shows his love by beating on you and then propose an offer to him. Tell him that you intend on keeping your room clean and that if you fail in doing so, it could mean a little money in their pockets. Tell them that at the end of the night, if your room isn't clean and they call you out on it, you will pay them 5 or 10 dollars. Money is the PERFECT incentive in this case. I promise you that it will be a very sad sight to see that money leave your pocket because you didn't spend the 15 mins required to pick up the day's mess.
This system is actually a major improvement on having the standard accountability partner for 2 reasons. First, no accountability partner will ever forget to check up on you when they have the potential to earn a little cash. Second, you will hardly ever forget to keep up with your crap. The first time you forget and have to pay, you will probably be cussing yourself out and that is good motivation!! Well as long as you keep your self esteem while doing it. This system isn't just useful in helping your organization skills. It can help develop many beneficial habits. Currently, I have my brother hounding me every night trying to collect money for a failure to keep up with my personal diary (more on this in another blog post) and to practice my Spanish every day. I tell you what...I so far have not had to owe him anything. Now that is a good system.
I'll explain my plan by starting with a quick question. Who likes losing money? Better yet, who likes losing money because of their own stupidity or laziness? I think just about everyone will hold the same opinion to this question. Here is another question. Who would like to gain money because of someones stupidity and laziness while helping that person at the same time? Well my proposed plan for better organization involves turning the root of all evil (I know the bible says its the love of money, not just money) into a blossom of potential growth. In this case the thorny vine will actually produce a rose and that rose is a benificial organizational habit. All you need to do is find a brother, sister, or just a friend that loves to have a bit of healthy (or sometimes not so healthy) competition with you. Find that kid who shows his love by beating on you and then propose an offer to him. Tell him that you intend on keeping your room clean and that if you fail in doing so, it could mean a little money in their pockets. Tell them that at the end of the night, if your room isn't clean and they call you out on it, you will pay them 5 or 10 dollars. Money is the PERFECT incentive in this case. I promise you that it will be a very sad sight to see that money leave your pocket because you didn't spend the 15 mins required to pick up the day's mess.
This system is actually a major improvement on having the standard accountability partner for 2 reasons. First, no accountability partner will ever forget to check up on you when they have the potential to earn a little cash. Second, you will hardly ever forget to keep up with your crap. The first time you forget and have to pay, you will probably be cussing yourself out and that is good motivation!! Well as long as you keep your self esteem while doing it. This system isn't just useful in helping your organization skills. It can help develop many beneficial habits. Currently, I have my brother hounding me every night trying to collect money for a failure to keep up with my personal diary (more on this in another blog post) and to practice my Spanish every day. I tell you what...I so far have not had to owe him anything. Now that is a good system.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)