Every project consists of a sequence of actions in pursuit of a particular goal.
While the goal is the entire purpose for the project, progress is only made by completing the actions.
A primary challenge with respect to the actions is that the most important actions are not always the most pleasant.
Some actions are more influential than [...]
For most people living in North America or Europe, almost all conceivable information is readily available.
The Internet, printed publications, and public libraries provide intellectual treasurers to all who are curious.
This is wonderful, but more information is not always better information. Availability of material can decrease competence when it is not actionable. Publication is infinite, but [...]
The following footage comes from a BBC TV series called “Fun to Imagine.”
I found it through the TED website.
The material is fascinating and I highly recommend watching and learning:
I had a piano lesson with a visiting pianist who regularly returns to Tulsa, having formerly taught at the University of Tulsa.
I performed two Chopin etudes for him and was given constructive criticism, for which I am grateful.
The lesson took an unexpected turn when the instructor asked me to play another piece for him, so [...]
Academic Earth provides free online lectures from leading universities.
Courses are available from these universities:
Berkeley
Columbia
Harvard
Michigan
MIT
NYU
Princeton
Stanford
UCLA
Yale
I am particularly pleased to see Computer Science courses from Berkeley, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
The lectures are excellent (or, at least the ones I have seen). There is now no reason for anyone not to be exposed to material from top universities.
Knowledge is a wonderful thing. It permits increased insight. It fosters informed discussion and collaboration. It empowers tremendous advancements. It solves many problems.
For all of its excellence, however, knowledge can also be problematic. It can reveal dearly held notions to be incorrect. It can foster an unwholesome sense of pride and arrogance. It does not [...]
What is your progress on your yearly goals?
If you were setting new goals for this month (and you should), what would they be?
Have meaningful contributions been added to your learning this year?
How will the last month of the first quarter be different from the first two?
Have you embraced risky new [...]
I collect books. While the Internet has many resources, printed books are still enormously valuable.
Most of the books I read are of a technical nature, and I am particularly fond of these publishers:
Microsoft Press (initially because of Steve McConnell’s books)
O’Reilly Media (tie for #1)
The MIT Press (tie for #1)
Wrox
The Pragmatic Bookshelf
I am preparing to take the Macroeconomics CLEP test.
Two figures that dominate the literature of economics are Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes.
While this is an oversimplification, it is generally accurate to describe Smith as a proponent of free market economics and Keynes a proponent of governmental economic interventionism.
Keynes believed free markets incapable of self [...]
Mastery of musical instruments is challenging.
The discipline of skilled music performance does not develop haphazardly.
What are essential considerations in its pursuit? Some candidates include:
Practice with definite objectives for each practice session.
Select learning projects based on need, not unrealistic ambition.
Establish a reliable personal practice routine.
Track progress in specific technical challenges.
Form a clear mental image of the [...]