I’ve just been reading an interesting paper on teaching programming. First, the data regarding rates of attrition on computing courses is startling. Between 30% and 60% of the total CS intake fails the very first programming course! The paper’s authors postulate 3 programming hurdles to be negotiated: sequencing and assignment…
That new olympic logo – what?
I didn't even recognise that it was supposed to be saying “2012”. I just thought it was some kind of abstract jagged mess representing the shape of London. Or something. I suppose spending £400,000 becomes a powerful incentive to accept whatever the marketroids feed you. “It's not a logo, it's…
It's my birthday
I got a nice card from mini-Elbeno. And some gifts: Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords I Am A Strange Loop An Inconvenient Truth (the book) Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero 2 and a wireless controller Good day so far!
The Gamer Test Revisited
By popular demand… with ratings! The Gamer Test: How much of a gamer are you? Score one point for everything you can answer “yes†to. Technicalities count. (Warning: spoilers exist below!) Miscellany. 1.I’ve played a game. 2.I’ve played a game continuously for more than an hour. 3.More than 4 hours….
Back from vacation
Went to see the family in MN. Had a good time. Details to follow on the mini-Elbeno-blog no doubt.
Games to play before you die
As somewhat of a followup to my earlier “are you a gamer” post, I’ve been thinking about the “50 games to play before you die” sort of idea. This isn’t 50 (I haven’t bothered to count, and I may add more) but here are my first thoughts about a gaming…
Haskell wibblings
Well, this weekend I dived in with Haskell and started to make my way through The Haskell School of Expression. So I’ve been exercising neural pathways that haven’t seen a treadmill in a while, C++ programmer that I am. Overall, it’s been going well, and it’s giving me the feeling…
new watch
I got a new watch: my 10-year anniversary gift from my employer. I need to take some links out of the wristband.
how much?
I've long been of the view that it's worth spending more on your keyboard, monitor and chair than on your computer (and that's not so hard to do these days, if you go for an Aeron chair and a couple of decent flat panels). But I think $1500+ is going…