As computers become more a part of our lives, it is our responsibility to understand better how they work, and what they can be asked to do for us. In short, I think people who use computers should learn how to program.
Most of us use our computers for email and chat. We have what amounts to a thousand dollar pager. These little gray boxes are terrifically useful, if only we understood what they can do.
My invitation to you today is to try Python. It is a programming language devoted to being useful and nothing more. There aren’t any philosophical issues involved with it; it doesn’t have the security sandbox mindset of Java or the antiquated syntax of C. It’s just a new language, nothing more.
Best of all, the language, interpreter, and quite a few programming tools are all free. The documentation is quite good, and the tutorial is excellent. If you’re technically minded at all, give it a shot.
I realize it’s very unlikely that you’ve heard of Python before. However, unless you’re still living in the dark ages, you use it all the time on your favorite search engine.
I can’t rember where, but recently I heard a ‘soul brother’ sounding narrator reading: “…words like stones CAN break bones…” and I about threw up.
Which reinterprets my recollection somewhat:
“Staffs and stones may break my bones, but information can only make me nauseous.”
Since the ancient days of Egypt are long past, snakes and staffs no longer seem interchangeable; they weren’t terribly interchangeable even then. Today, snakes and information seem more interchangeable, on a semantic level at least.
Which brings me to my main comment: This title is disturbing, when placed in context with the content of your blog. Come to think of it, so was the title of your previous blog. I am curious to know if this was intentional. Can a man know what is most disturbing about himself? If he intended to be disturbing, then the intent to be disturbing would be more so, I submit.
Posted with : Bare with Me
Disturbing? no, of course not… Offensive? definitely. (who wasn’t expecting a symantic debate?)
And is it more offensive that I was trying to be offensive? Oh I most certainly hope so.
It is the impact, or at least the impulse which breaks bones… and information has had far more of an impact than any stick, excepting perhaps a particular one on a particular hill, and it has required more impulse than any snake, excepting perhaps a particular one in a particular garden.
As for stones… You know what they say… You can’t keep a good man down… Especially a really good man… Even with a really really big stone. Really.