fohlin

I would instead suggest the subsequent "Think Python - How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" by Downey: http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkpython.html

Your idea sounds like an automatic version of SuperGenPass: http://supergenpass.com

I've been running it for years, which feels quite nice when sites start leaking passwords left and right.

I have used that exact Wake-Up light model for about a year. It has had a marginal effect, in that I wake "naturally" (before the sound alarm goes off) about 1 night in 20. As a simple source of bright light, it performs as you would expect -- with the extra benefit that my tired morning self does not have to bother with turning it on.

I would rank its usefulness above 0, but below a consistent bed time, and so far, below vitamin D (3250 IU in the morning).

"You teach them." Well, no. You set up a framework of information and activities which allows the individual to learn.

It could be beneficial to adopt this view, prominent in education, for software documentation as well. (The article seems to agree, but it is useful to have you language reflect the student as the active party.) We could actually look educational strategies such as constructive alignment [1] here: define the measurable learning outcomes, and provide activities aligned with those outcomes.

The tutorial comes to mind as a potentially successful component of documentation. Executed well, it gives at a glance information, while simultaneously providing natural entry points for hands on activity. Add more options for self-assessment and soon you will have a very pedagogically sound learning instrument.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructive_alignment

Everything in your comment really resonates with me—except I feel mostly powerless on getting to the second state. It either happens or it doesn't.

I can easily recognize the down periods, but like segmondy, I can't (or won't) do anything about them. In a free work environment, it's easy to rationalize not working right now with "I'm listless, it's better in the long run to rest." But too many of those occasions point to larges issues, such as not really caring about the work.

I self-identify with being intrinsically driven, as well as caring about my work. So now there's the meta-guilt of not being interested and motivated enough. Along with the normal guilt of "why won't you just harden the F up and do something."

Anyway, if you have written anything else along these lines, please post a link. I'd be very interested in reading it!

Though, keep in mind the potential conflict with /.well-known/ - <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5785>.

You just described the core of the analogy: experience.

There are many cases where I and others choose much more expensive applications to which there are fine inexpensive (or free) alternatives. Just knowing the amount of “unnecessary” design or development work may be enough to increase pleasure of use.

Of course, the extra work may also have directly beneficial effects, functional, esthetic, or otherwise. Fine dining tends to be tasty.

As a data point, 15 percent of Swedish university funds come from private donations [1]. That's supposed to be equal to the US, though I imagine that other types of educational institutions get considerably less in Sweden.

[1]: http://www.sulf.se/Universitetslararen/Arkiv/2011/Nummer-101... (sv)

While 4G isn't available here, I was at least happy to see 15 mbps reliably on 3G. For my typical use case, e.g. checking tweets and casual browsing, I don't miss a better connection. (For tethering it sure would be nice, though.)

About 30 more invitation tokens:

  crqxRa92AsTW42wW
  eAEypkhan8JhBg75
  cVPKJCEUg632gWhT
  eJc8u8Jqufuz6Kxb
  aTu4K6qyWD3GhCYM
  eHw5utyRzpLF2Rmx
  aYFdzLzDRNq55WTK
  b7y87pY8Ry5VLDLa
  ceGpd2BFRLdg9cYa
  chBsfX6CMYBYsxhG
  bBxxdJTau9Z2rqsf
  fFUxzbcVP9rrpusG
  cSErqzguVSV9dRb9
  aTzUNLBugwryHhkF
  fADBzdRCym398wGr
  esZzPqeG6cHaF6G9
  etnG4HRxe8VywcKC
  ekTzkGumzFLYANx2
  aJm4LBUuSnMTh2qz
  fxzRKNRPWB3JCVeY
  by2T2bDCbgRKTSYc
  cDWzBNEcPrFSfR42
  escp33EhqCuxFLhS
  ecm9KCFVckNAcxSZ
  aFfLcP3DUWrKMNU4
  cKx46TDeJs66N67F
  eMh5tTdUBDtyBXrt
  bhTSJPCfhSuGuyTq
  e9wxkdSHKbLg9x3e
  enL2MRmySrNgKXUV
  da2zqXpbrkaYPqGP
  bxxh3Bb9F9rM5dYY
  eTkWs35GFxkfyWRF

That's very interesting! With that hindsight, can you identify any quick wins that could have lowered the drop-out rate, or helped your personal understanding of programming?

I've just left a workshop at our CS department, where we discussed new and old issues with teaching programming. Tutorials and assignment, based on completely made up cases and requirements, are still very much at the core of introductory programming courses. This is in sharp contrast to what DHH says in the post, as well as comments here and elsewhere.

May I be slightly selfish, and ask a question to all of you who have a CS degree? Did you learn programming as part of your CS education? Regardless, what's you opinion about the way programming was taught?

I can't decide if I like it or not, but one commenter really takes the opportunity to promote his website:

> I believe "crowdsourcing" is the future of how we'll tap into and retrieve much of the information we desire, in real-time. We designed our entire web site/application (liveskiconditions.com) around the fact that people want to know the current snow conditions [...].

Spam or not?

After about two weeks of usage: It seems to work very well, at least in the sense that my movements are registered correctly. I would estimate that it causes a noticeable difference waking up about 1/3 of the time.

You should use software in the language of its authors, given that you speak it, of course. This language just happens be English most of the time. Localization is, in my experience, almost always poorly done.

Check out this week's MacBreak Weekly for more Gruber tablet speculations: http://twit.tv/mbw174

The way I read it: "Make good stuff" or "Content is king", or somesuch.

The rant on Lifehacker just about sums up my feelings: http://lifehacker.com/5336382/digsby-joins-the-dark-side-use...

"Optional" crapware in the installer just takes advantage of the fact that most people just click through. It's bad and it should be discouraged.