Events

People just starting out in software often ask me what they should learn. I submit for discussion the contents of my desk: Some of these books are more valuable than others. I leave the ranking of those books as an exercise for the reader. Actually, that's not true. Anyone who wants to be a professional software developer (as loaded a phrase as has ever appeared on this blog) needs to read all of these books. Every one of them.

Duke University business professor Jordan Etkin found evidence they might: "In general, tracking activity can increase how much people do," Etkin said. "But at the same time, measurement has these pernicious effects. Enjoyable activities can became almost like a job, by focusing on the outcomes of things that used to be fun." In another study, researchers had 310 participants read for eight minutes. One group read additional text that described reading as fun an enjoyable; for another group it was...

The Apollo Chorus performed Händel's Messiah yesterday and Saturday both, which explains the radio silence here. This is my second year with the Chorus. Though last year's performances were really good, this year's were better. Here's the view from the stage to our sold-out crowd yesterday afternoon: And those who have followed The Daily Parker for a while know that I have had a troubled relationship with bow ties. For this weekend's performances, I might have gotten it right:

(There are really only three.) I saw Episode IV on its premiere day, 25 May 1977. I've waited a long time for this. In three hours...Episode VII.

Via Fallows, whose series on our "Chickenhawk Nation" should be required reading before talking about U.S. defense policy, comes a recent poll showing that 60% of young Americans believe we should send troops to fight ISIL, but only 15% say they, personally, would enlist: The disconnect in joining the fight comes down to how millennials feel about the government writ large, according to Harvard IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe. "I'm reminded of the significant degree of distrust that this...