My Learning Log

Blog

  • doing things

    Things are getting more andmore interesting at work. I just got pulled by a group to do some JS work. It’sgood that I’m considered the guy. My investment for fron-end technologies ispaying off. My investment to jQuery is paying off as well. Not bad. I likethat. 

     
    I like it when I have things onmy plate. Things are really interesting. Adrenaline is flowing. That’s when Ishine.
     
    I like to contribute. I like todo hard work and feel that I am needed. I still get that here, which is a goodthing.

  • getting better at writing

    I am getting back to writingblog entries again. I saw traffic pick up as well. I have a lot of things towrite on. I love to share information. I see that I have lost a lot of focus onwhat I do best. Focusing on improving things. Focusing on making things better.Learning how to improve the quality of my code. Reading and translating what Ilearn into simple, common sense language. That’s my strength. I have many booksto read. I have plenty of books on the subject already. Some of them, liek AgileSoftware Development, I need to reread. They have some fundamental principlesthat I still need a refresher on. I need to get a deeper understanding of thesepatterns and principles. What better way than to write an article or two on thesubject?

  • learning more

    I am still having hard timemotivating myself. On a day when there is not much to do, I do too much stuff Ishould not be doing. That means too much reading. I did read about housing todayand I wrote 2 blog entries as a result, which makes it somewhat explainable. ButI should probably focus on writing dev related blog entries at work. That’s notsuch a big issue.
     
    I need to deepen my pool ofthings I should try, things I should learn. That has to be my go-tolist.
     
    I am trying to find things towork on, which is a good thing. When I do have a project, I jump in right away.That’s a great desire to have.
     
    I do notice that writing aboutdoing things helps me. I should try to write my goals every night.
     
    I should also read somethingelse. I am interesting in finding out more about Lincoln and FDR, and maybe evenabout the more recent president, who was before Clinton? Damn, my memory isshort. Oh, yes, Reagan.

  • writing blog

    I have had an identity problemwith my pragmatic blog. What should I write? How often do I write? After aperiod of inactivity, I think I’m realizing that I should do what I do best.Concentrate on how I can become better. Write about good and best practices.Concentrate on craftsmanship. That’s what I like to de best. I also should writemore my opinions rather then just commenting on a story.
     
    As things ease at work, I amfinding it easier to write. I should try to write an entry or two per week. Ireally should have at least 2-3 per month. It will keep me on mytoes.

  • getting back to basics

    My son did not take it too wellwhen he started school today. He was getting used it more and more, even to thepoint where he was not crying, but today I guess he did not feel too well. Hewas crying and told me to leave. It wasn’t the nicest thing for him to say, butI understand he might feel frustrated.
     
    I am slacking off a bit athome. In the morning, I am watching TV for too long. And in the evening, I alsowatch TV and then fall asleep on the sofa. I don’t read tech or dev stuff athome anymore. I need to stop that. I will stop watching TV in the morning. Ishould revert back to reading the quotes. Or I should even start reading amagazine at the kitchen table. Then late at night, I should not lay down. When Ifeel too tired, I should wash myslf and go to sleep. Being tired is a sign thatI can’t take it anymore. Good time to get some rest and wake up refreshed in themorning.
     
    I understand that will want towatch some games in the evening, but I don’t want to spend  too much time doingit. If it’s boring, read a magazine or a book. Write some stuff. Get back tothings that make me better!

  • improving things

    We had another good releasetoday. I’ve been involved in some of the biggest items. I have helped creatingthe article redesign. It’s actually a very nice feature that we’ve been missing.It’s going to add a great deal of clicks to us.
     
    Another feature, which was myidea and I took it from inception to completion, was content type filtering onsection pages. I think this is going to be a big hit on our sites. I am curiousto see the usage, but I’m certain it’s going to be popular.
     
    It’s fun working on releases.It’s fun making things better. I think I’m a detail oriented person. I like tomake even the little things right. That’s my strength. I will continue doingthat.

  • fabian

    My son is starting to pick upon English. He understands almost everything now. Only after 3 weeks! Well, hehas been watching it on TV, but only really got exposed to it when he startedthe Pre-K school. Now, even the teachers say he is picking it up very quickly.He can even say some words that others can’t. He’s my boy. I talk to him inEnglish as well so that helps him as well.
     
    In the morning, he still criesa little bit. But after take off his coat, he runs to Jessica. He cries a littlewhen I’m still there, but shortly after I leave, he stops crying and startsplaying. This is really, really different than when he started. He cried reallyhard the first few times. It was hard to leave him. Now, it’s not a problem atall. He just has to get used to it. But he no longer cries in the car. Rightafter he gets to it, he says “call mommy.” He is still not sure that she’ll comefor him. I guess that’s why he cries. He does not want to be leftalone.

  • improving things

    I love challenges. They get myjuices flowing. I guess I just love to program. That’s plenty of challenges.There is always that needs to be fixed, always something that needs to improve.That’s where I’m the strongest. I think I’m a proactive guy, always trying toimprove things, and myself as well.
     
    I have had plenty of chances tocontribute here at NBC. That’s why I think this is a good place for me. I don’teven want to think about anything else for tne next year or so. With thiseconomy, are you kidding me. This is still a fairly stable place. At least forthe next year or so. I hope so, actually. But today we learned that we’re goingto do another redesign, so they’ll be plenty of opportunity tocontribute.
     
    In any case, I think I”m on aroll! Keep doing it!

  • ideas list

    Times and times again, I’ve haddays where I spent a lot of time reading. Nothing that interesting anyway. But Ifail to find something interesting to do. Similarly at home, especially now thatmy wife is studying. On nights when there are no games, I sometimes just browsethe internet or watch “whatever” is on. That’s a waste of time! I can do betterthan that.
     
    So I created a “Bored List” onmy wiki — perhaps I should call it Ideas Page. Yes, I should do that. I want tocompose a killer list of ideas or sayings that will motivate me to do somethingmore beneficial. So I will try that.
     
    One thing is for sure, I haveplenty to learn. I have plenty to read that is beneficial. I have more thanenough things to do. It’s a shame I don’t do it more often. That willchange.
     
    I am impressed with Marta’sdrive and determination to learn. She just wants to learn a lot; she wants to dowell. I am proud. I like to see that. She should continue doing that. If shedoes, I konw she’ll do well.

  • situation at work

    Is it possible that I will losea job soon? Judging by what’s going on in the economy, I should not rule thatout. But seeing things from an internal point of view, I think it’s unlikelythat it’ll happen. Why? We’re ramping up work on several different projects. Weonly have 3 backend guys available. So what, can’t we cut it down to 2? I guessit might be possible, but if they do that, they’ll have to cut a lot of otherguys that would be “unnecessary.” So even though I should prepare for the worse,I don’t think it’s going to happen.
     
    I just hope the situationimproves as we go deeper into 2009. Things are really, really, really bad.Hardly anyone is hiring. I hope house prices go down a lot more in NJ that wouldmake them more affordable. It could be a big year. If I sense things areimproving and more companies are hiring, I will probably buy a house. I amfinding more and more good houses in the nice areas. Towards the end of the yearor beginning 2010 I will take a serious look and will start looking “hard.”Perhaps I find something that I can afford. Perhaps I will know somebody thatcan work for me if I buy a cheap house that needs a lot ofimprovement.