Comments for Midwest Developer Insights

Comment on How I Enjoyed the Rock Paper Azure Competition by Chris

Chris — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:53:13 +0000

I think I remember this game back in school as well…I miss those programming assignments.

Comment on “6 Simple Steps to Getting Certified” – a Toastmasters Presentation by Sam Schutte

Sam Schutte — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:09:36 +0000

Been thinking about getting SCUBA certified myself – it’s something I think I might be able to convince the wife to do!

Comment on Mind Map Software – a Great Tool for Brainstorming by Peter Bautista

Peter Bautista — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:18:53 +0000

Let me know what mind map tool did you end up settling on

Peter

Comment on Is there any hope for the ideal bookstore? by Stu

Stu — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:29:32 +0000

I appreciate the thoughts and I am on board with a 2 drink minimum and advertisements. Or, at least a 1 drink minimum because who really drinks 2 cups of coffee at a time.

Comment on Is there any hope for the ideal bookstore? by Allen Nisius

Allen Nisius — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:04:18 +0000

This is nice Stu, I especially enjoyed the use of “crickett pitch” as a term of distance. This is a good idea that you have and they should be able to incorporate a seperate room to fulfill your ponderous thought. It could even be rented out to companies to use for conferences as long as they can also provide “vital nutrients”. In order for his place to be profitable, there will probably have to be something like a 2 drink minimum, be it coffee or beer, so you don’t have campers that feed off your internet. Also, there will probably have to be some sort or advertisement the first time you log into the internet there (as long as it is truly restricted to while you are on the premises) similar to what VEVO is doing to Youtube. You could also team up with Starbucks on this similar to how they are in current bookstores or you could be different and stick a Caribou Coffee in there (I think they are better anyways). Otherwise you could chage a flat fee for all day access to their internet. Sadly, I think there is a better chance of seeing “Book Boxes” popping up next to Red Boxes outside my Giant Eagle than seeing this thing built. Although… in you profile you would like to learn more about programming, technology, marketing, and how to run a business. Sounds like all the things needed to get this thing up and running. So when you are ready, I will be sure to make a stop by “Stu’s Ideal Bookstore” and buy my drink tickets while I watch you climb Forbes list for “Richest People in America” over your internet while people watching off the balcony.

Comment on Why are there no programming books at the bookstore? by Is there any hope for the ideal bookstore? « Midwest Developer Insights

Is there any hope for the ideal bookstore? « Midwest Developer Insights — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:27:10 +0000

[...] store that I frequented. You can find details about the filing here. As I have explained in a previous post, I love to work at bookstores. They offer a great way to stimulate my mind while also offering the [...]

Comment on Were my Microsoft Certification Exams Worth it? by Stu

Stu — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:13:30 +0000

I think the issue of studying to the test is one of the main reasons why some are cynical about the value of certifications. Mostly, I agree with what you say. I guess it’s just a matter of personal philosophy. If we’re talking about self-directed reading about technical topics, I personally find it easier to be motivated when the certification is the end goal. Sure, I read about topics that do not even have a certification as the end goal, but I usually go about it more passively. In those cases, I tend to assume I know the material after just reading it versus developing sample projects and practicing like I would in preparation for a test.

In regards to internal training, I agree that those types of sessions usually are more focused and therefore more effective. One of the drawbacks of working for small companies as I have lately is that those types of opportunities are more rare. I get a lot of my training from podcasts and local .NET user groups.

Comment on Were my Microsoft Certification Exams Worth it? by Brad

Brad — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:28:48 +0000

I started down the MCSD path back when we worked together, since it was paid for and I thought it might be worthwhile. But I found myself studying to the test, not to really learn the material. So I was not really learning anything. I just thought it might help me get my foot in the door somewhere else, but later found out in talking with a lot of other people that no one seemed to care about certifications anymore.

So after leaving that job, I stopped after having passed 2 of the tests. My current employer does not pay for certifications, though there is always talk from time to time that they are considering it. But we do have internal training programs for specific skills that I find to be much more useful for learning what I need to do my job better, rather than studying to pass a test in order to get another resume line item. I would rather truly learn to do something than just get a piece of paper that says I know how. I realize I really should get to learn something when studying for one of those tests, but when the end goal is just to pass the test, there is the tendency to cut corners and just learn what you need to know to pass.

Comment on Contrasting 2 Job Rejections by Were my Microsoft Certification Exams Worth it? « Midwest Developer Insights

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:03:30 +0000

[...] described in Contrasting 2 Job Rejections, I was scared about my job prospects after graduating college. Once I got a job, I felt that I [...]

Comment on 5 Things I Hate about my Favorite Programming Language: C# by brian d foy

brian d foy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:12:53 +0000

Curiously, that's my favorite question, and maybe Jeff saw it in my Stackoverflow post from 2008. I actually started thinking about this when I was writing Mastering Perl in 2005, and it shows up in the introduction for that book. The trick from jumping from apprentice to master requires that level of thinking. I also mentioned it on use.Perl, in response to someone trying to push Ruby onto me, as I recall.