An interesting article on slashdot about whether kids still learn to program computers.
I remember starting with an Acorn Electron that mum and dad bought. Spent lots of time typing in programs, including "Frogger" which covered multiple pages of code printed in a magazine. Of course at that time I had no idea what I was typing. The commands were primarily in assembly language, but it was still fun seeing (and playing) the end result.
The article on slashdot asks whether kids still learn to program. One response makes a valid comment about the high barriers to entry. These days if you want to achieve something useful on the web you need to download lots of software (say Apache, PHP, mySQL, Java SDK, an editor like Eclipse) and then figure out the architecture and how to make it work. For sure there are tutorials available, but it can be a long road to travel before you complete the old "Hello World" starter example.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Long Weekend
Ahhhhhhhhh......
The start of a long weekend. It's actually one of three weeks that will be four-day-weeks - in a row! This Monday coming is a national holiday in Malaysia. Friday of the following week is also a holiday, plus we're taking the following Monday off.
On the four-day weekend we're heading to Tioman island to a place called Japamala. It looks good on paper, we'll have to see what it's like in reality. It should be a good time - driving from KL.
Another missive from Dad today - spend 15 minutes struggling to decipher his infamous handwriting. Good to see what's happening back in NZ.
Friends from NZ (living in India) are coming to visit in June. It will be good to see them, but we've got to work out how to fit the kids into the bedrooms in the best way. They should enjoy the pool, and there are a few things to do that are close. I expect the best part will be the food choices available in KL when compared to Ooty in India. Of course it will be much more focussed on Chinese, and generally much spicier. We'll see what happens.
The start of a long weekend. It's actually one of three weeks that will be four-day-weeks - in a row! This Monday coming is a national holiday in Malaysia. Friday of the following week is also a holiday, plus we're taking the following Monday off.
On the four-day weekend we're heading to Tioman island to a place called Japamala. It looks good on paper, we'll have to see what it's like in reality. It should be a good time - driving from KL.
Another missive from Dad today - spend 15 minutes struggling to decipher his infamous handwriting. Good to see what's happening back in NZ.
Friends from NZ (living in India) are coming to visit in June. It will be good to see them, but we've got to work out how to fit the kids into the bedrooms in the best way. They should enjoy the pool, and there are a few things to do that are close. I expect the best part will be the food choices available in KL when compared to Ooty in India. Of course it will be much more focussed on Chinese, and generally much spicier. We'll see what happens.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Sunday
Another week gone. Time moves so quickly sometimes - it's not long since the start of April, and suddenly the end of the month is within sight.
Sitting in the Coffee Bean (again), looking at stuff on the notebook, generally passing the time. Not a bad way to start the day.
We're planning the trip around the world (in somewhat less than 80 days). Today's task was to find the cheapest way for 5 adults and 1 kid (4 yr-old) to get from Toronto to Niagra for the day. Turns out it's as you would expect - rent a car. VIA rail is more expensive (approx C$ 28 per adult) and the bus can be even more so.
The other interesting task is working out what clothes to pack for a two-month trip. Coming from KL (day-to-day temperature is 32 degrees centigrade) and visiting Europe (UK and Scandinavia), then Canada and finally Los Angeles. The cooler temperatures are going to present some challenges. And all to be packed in one bag each. Interestingly there are lots of websites that offer advice on packing for trips around europe. One site purports to show how to travel with one carry-on sized bag. Good if you can swing it, I guess.
Sitting in the Coffee Bean (again), looking at stuff on the notebook, generally passing the time. Not a bad way to start the day.
We're planning the trip around the world (in somewhat less than 80 days). Today's task was to find the cheapest way for 5 adults and 1 kid (4 yr-old) to get from Toronto to Niagra for the day. Turns out it's as you would expect - rent a car. VIA rail is more expensive (approx C$ 28 per adult) and the bus can be even more so.
The other interesting task is working out what clothes to pack for a two-month trip. Coming from KL (day-to-day temperature is 32 degrees centigrade) and visiting Europe (UK and Scandinavia), then Canada and finally Los Angeles. The cooler temperatures are going to present some challenges. And all to be packed in one bag each. Interestingly there are lots of websites that offer advice on packing for trips around europe. One site purports to show how to travel with one carry-on sized bag. Good if you can swing it, I guess.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Travels and other stuff
The last three weeks have been filled with trips - a trip to Bangkok to meet Wendy (friend of the family living in India), a trip to Penang, and in the week just gone, a trip to Hong Kong. It's been good to be home this weekend.
Bangkok was fun - found a great seafood place, (excellent lobster, and a spicy chilli fish dish). Got a couple of suits made at a place recommended by some people from work. Sam at Gulati's did a great job of minimising my round stomach. The shirts look good as well...
Penang was a bit of a whitewash. A day off turned into a day of working from a hotel room. Still, a good meal at an Italian cafe, and a good Thai place the following night salvaged some of the weekend.
Hong Kong was all about work- two days of work surrounded by a good day-and-a-half of travel. However, HK is a great city and very much alive. Cuisine-Cuisine is an excellent restaurant in the IFC Mall.
KL Conference Centre is hosting an PC Fair, and part of today was spent fighting through the crush of the crowds to see what is happening. Ended up buying a laptop (Sony Vaio), and then of course we needed to buy a wireless router to connect up to the broadband connection. It's amazing how the money just keeps going into the same black hole... The laptop will be great for keeping in touch on the trip around Europe and North America.
Now watching the DVD of "Mrs Henderson Presents". It's a great movie, in the same style as "The Calendar Girls". Well worth watching.
Bangkok was fun - found a great seafood place, (excellent lobster, and a spicy chilli fish dish). Got a couple of suits made at a place recommended by some people from work. Sam at Gulati's did a great job of minimising my round stomach. The shirts look good as well...
Penang was a bit of a whitewash. A day off turned into a day of working from a hotel room. Still, a good meal at an Italian cafe, and a good Thai place the following night salvaged some of the weekend.
Hong Kong was all about work- two days of work surrounded by a good day-and-a-half of travel. However, HK is a great city and very much alive. Cuisine-Cuisine is an excellent restaurant in the IFC Mall.
KL Conference Centre is hosting an PC Fair, and part of today was spent fighting through the crush of the crowds to see what is happening. Ended up buying a laptop (Sony Vaio), and then of course we needed to buy a wireless router to connect up to the broadband connection. It's amazing how the money just keeps going into the same black hole... The laptop will be great for keeping in touch on the trip around Europe and North America.
Now watching the DVD of "Mrs Henderson Presents". It's a great movie, in the same style as "The Calendar Girls". Well worth watching.
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