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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by christophrejmc on February 22, 2002, at 2:10:08
> I haven't asked much of my son lately as they're working on a big program now putting in tremendous hours. Two of the programmers actually pitched pup tents at the company to sleep in! At least, the company feeds them very good - different ethnic foods every night or whatever they want. And the bonuses when it's all over are good.
>If you don't mind me asking, what kind of programming does your son do? It was always assumed that I would pursue a similar career, but the kind of programming I do (POSIX C, mostly -- i.e. NOT windows programming) is not exactly in high demand, unless I'm multidisciplined. I also don't always work well with others, which is sometimes a problem for those kinds of jobs. The kind of job your son has sounds nice. Is he the son who has depression/ADHD?
> I really like the idea of buzzers going off. Or maybe I'll set it up with a deep voice saying "Are you doing your REAL work, Judy??!!" "Get back to it!!"But what will the neighbors say?! :)
-chris
Posted by IsoM on February 22, 2002, at 13:40:12
In reply to Re: Just a thought ... » IsoM, posted by christophrejmc on February 22, 2002, at 2:10:08
Chris, my son programs in a multitude of languages, most of them self-taught. There's Assemby language, C, C++, Visual Basic, HTML, Java (not Java script), & COBOL. I'm missing 2 more as I know he knows 9 diff languages but can't think of the last two. At least, he can't program in binary or hexadecimal, whew! ;-)
Right now, he's busy learning to program graphics with either Java or C using OpenGL or XGA. That's part of a course that's needed for his degree, not for his work, though he's having lots of fun with it.
I think he appreciates sharing a place with me. (No bragging - just stating a fact) but both of us are very brilliant in somewhat different areas. He loves the fact that while I don't have the mind for a programmer (I'm not linear enough), I do understand his work & his very clear, simple explanations. Then there's the flood of questions I have afterwards about it. Not many people other than programmers like to discuss it, but I do. (Remember me saying that just about *everything* interests me?)
Does POSIX have much application in industry or software today so that you could use X Windows? NOT Microsoft-based, but "a windowing system developed at MIT, which runs under UNIX & all major operating systems. It lets users run applications on other computers in the network & view the output on their own screen."
If you love programming, I'd really suggest you learn Java. It's the programming language of future applications for the next while till something better gets developed down the line. My son started learning Java on his own & learned lots, but now his company's going to pay the costs of him getting certification from Sun Microsystems. Pretty sweet, huh?
He doesn't have ADHD, that's another son who doesn't quite know what to do with his life (like me) & moves from one thing to another. I'd imagine ADHD to be a handicap in programming, but I'm only looking at it from my standpoint - could be wrong. My programming son has Asperger which really makes it difficult to interact much with people. Despite that, all his contact with fellow workers, bosses, & clients seem to come off very well. Probably because he does it more by 'rote', following strict standards of politeness. He's gotten so he can read people a little, I've really tried to teach him from when he was young & he was always a willing student. He was called into one of the bosses' office the other day & told how impressed some clients were with him, not only on his knowledge but his whole demeanor, & then was given a bonus!
Finding a niche for him has done so much for his depression - more than meds ever could alone. We were discussing it the other day & he mentioned what an enormous change there's been over the last four years. From being hospitalised for wanting to commit suicide & being on welfare for a handicapp (depression coupled with Asperger) to being a highly valued programer with other people's respect! He told me that when I'd stopped him from suicide that time (bundled him into the car & drove him straight to the hospital), he'd never believe that something this good would happen to him. I think he gives a strong ray of hope to many.
Chris, I'd strongly encourage you to buy some programming books & take it from there. Programming sounds like an ideal career for your social shyness. Start playing around with learning - with no pressure, deadlines, exams, etc. Regard it as fun. If you can get a comfortable feel for some languages like Java, when you do need to learn more, it'll be familiar & not so stressful.
I read a post of yours where you felt so dull & thick compared to being younger. I did when I went back to college too. But it did clear up with some studying & effort. Think of our brain like a muscle which hasn't been used for that particular work for a while - it's hard till we build strength in those muscles again. Same with the brain. My son went through the same thing too.
Even being depressed makes our thinking *so* sluggish - like trying to swim uphill in a river of molasses. Do you take any stims? He takes Dexedrine regularly & I need adrafinil, otherwise the river of water starts to thicken.
---Deep voices & buzzers going off --- what will the neighbours think?
Just "oh, it's only Judy. That's okay." There's a young couple in their twenties just beside me. They are the BEST ever. They're everything I am - into the same sci-fi shows, loves aquarium fish, gardening, Renaissance fairs & history, computers & similar games, same bizarre off-the-wall humour. Their dog I've played with from when she was a puppy (she's a mix & looks like a wolf). She thinks I'm her big sister, just another funny looking dog who's good to romp with. They think nothing unusual of me when they hear strange noises from my place & vice versa!Just a short story:
Once in summer with windows wide open, I had some trance opera on loud, singing happily along with it. The doorbell rang & opening the door, a young police officer, female, stood there. She said "Your music is too loud & you have to turn it down" & then cracked up. I started laughing too & put my hands on my hips saying "No!" She'd actually come to inquire of neighbours if they'd seen anything suspicious in the area but couldn't resist a wise-crack like that. How many funny, cheerful police do we get to meet like that? She made my day.Emma Shapplin links:
http://www1.bigcelebrities.com/celebs/emmashapplin.html
I'd highly recommend you check out her songs - she takes your breath away.
Posted by christophrejmc on February 22, 2002, at 20:29:35
In reply to Re: Just a thought ... » christophrejmc, posted by IsoM on February 22, 2002, at 13:40:12
> Chris, my son programs in a multitude of languages, most of them self-taught. There's Assemby language, C, C++, Visual Basic, HTML, Java (not Java script), & COBOL. I'm missing 2 more as I know he knows 9 diff languages but can't think of the last two. At least, he can't program in binary or hexadecimal, whew! ;-)
I bet he can. If he knows assembly, he probably knows some of the opcodes in base-16 or base-2 (e.g. int = "0xCD"; not enough to write a useful program, but it's fun to write little executables from scratch ;). COBOL? COBOL is a fun language, but I can't imagine writing a large program in it -- he must have some kind of patience (EXCLAMATION SECTION.)!
> Does POSIX have much application in industry or software today so that you could use X Windows?
Well, Xlib (the basic library used to communicate with the X server) is written in C, but most of the applications and application libraries are written in C++. I know C++ fairly well (I took three years of it in high school), but a lot of C programmers view C++ as blasphemous (especially because it's "C++" and not "D" -- BC*D*L). I've never been much of a fan, and I tend to use mostly C in my C++ programs (driving my teacher nuts :). It's hard to make the switch when you learn C first.
> If you love programming, I'd really suggest you learn Java. It's the programming language of future applications for the next while till something better gets developed down the line.I've used the Java application language before, it's nice, but I don't know if I'd be able to do it for a living.
> He doesn't have ADHD, that's another son who doesn't quite know what to do with his life (like me) & moves from one thing to another. I'd imagine ADHD to be a handicap in programming, but I'm only looking at it from my standpoint - could be wrong.
I think it depends. My ADD prevents me from concentrating on one set of functions for a long time; luckily, most programs are broken up into several source files. I skip around a lot -- some programs get finished, some get half-finished, but I usually get to everything eventually.
> Finding a niche for him has done so much for his depression - more than meds ever could alone.
I think it would do the same for me -- giving myself a "purpose."
> Chris, I'd strongly encourage you to buy some programming books & take it from there. Programming sounds like an ideal career for your social shyness. Start playing around with learning - with no pressure, deadlines, exams, etc. Regard it as fun. If you can get a comfortable feel for some languages like Java, when you do need to learn more, it'll be familiar & not so stressful.
I think part of my problem is that I only learn what I want to. I can code in quite a few languages, but I don't know all the basic functions for every one; I make do, but optimisations for speed & size are really important.
> Do you take any stims? He takes Dexedrine regularly & I need adrafinil, otherwise the river of water starts to thicken.
I don't right now. I'd like to try adrafinil. Stimulants usually make me hyperfocus, which isn't always good.
> Just "oh, it's only Judy. That's okay." There's a young couple in their twenties just beside me. They are the BEST ever. They're everything I am - into the same sci-fi shows, loves aquarium fish, gardening, Renaissance fairs & history, computers & similar games, same bizarre off-the-wall humour. Their dog I've played with from when she was a puppy (she's a mix & looks like a wolf). She thinks I'm her big sister, just another funny looking dog who's good to romp with. They think nothing unusual of me when they hear strange noises from my place & vice versa!
I'm not one to make generalisations, but why are Canadians usually so much cooler than USAmericans (I'm Canadian, but born/raised in USA)? Maybe I just need to get out of the suburbs.
> I'd highly recommend you check out her songs - she takes your breath away.I listened to some of them -- they're good, but I'm having trouble imagining you singing them!
-chris
P.S. - I know what a slide rule is!
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