Episode 14: Is Programming for Me?

This episode is part one of our discussion on the programming profession!

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_14.mp3

Show notes:

• Previous episode was the 13th episode and we didn't realize it because nothing blew up
• We talk about Chromecast setup woes
• Bart still likes AppleTV, Pete loves Roku
• What is programming?
• What do you ask yourself to see "Is programming for me?"
• Do you need to be good at math to program?
• Programming is problem solving
• Is there an aspect of programming that lets you know it's definitely not for you?
• What are programmers like (programmer culture?)
• "Brogrammers" - is it a programmer thing or a company thing?
• Female programmers
• Programming isn't a profession where you must be certified to gain employment

Episode 13: Bart and Pete Ramble About Programming

This episode we talk about a programming project Bart used to dip his toes back into the pond of programming and see if he enjoys it.

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_13.mp3 

Show notes:

•  What should Pete and Norma argue about?
• Blue Snowball...do I sound better?
• Bart worked on a personal project ending on New Year's
• Are programmers intolerant of new programmers?
• Pete doesn't think that's a problem at the company
• There's a bias against certain languages
• Seems strange since .NET compiles down to CIL anyway
• Use the "right" language for the job
• Bart talks about his limited programming background
• Bart relives his capstone of PERL and VB
• If you have a need, that's a motivating factor to learn to program
• The fundamentals of programming can get boring
• Specs are a good idea, or at least thinking ahead about the program
• Visual Studio is intimidating
• Some things aren't intuitive (async timer, I'm looking at you...)
• MS's tools are great for programmers, but overwhelming
• How do you debug?
• There's a lot of magic that abstracts implementation from execution
• Experience gives you a larger body of questions to ask and figure out how your program fails
• Are there materials on how to debug programs?
• Can you get stuck learning a particular tool?
• We might end up doing a multi-part discussion on learning to program
• Pete was looking at coming up with a curriculum for teaching a family member how to program and work in IT

Episode 12: Common Cores and Homeschooling!

This is an unusually focused episode...we primarily discuss the PA Common Cores with a little homeschooling thrown in. A public education geekout...

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_12.mp3

Show Notes: 

• We're recording on the old homestead again...
• Feedback...should we have a pet peeves segment?
• This generation will have a new media version of the embarrassing family photo album to deal with
• Repressed memories as a pop psych phenom in the 80's
• Pennsylvania Common Cores
• Homeschooling

Happy New Year!

Episode 11: Xmas Edition! (With some Twitter thrown in)

Norma and I discuss the holidays (given that it's the holidays) with small digressions into Twitter and NSA fun.

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_11.mp3 

Show notes:

• Home for the holidays!
• Norma traveled quite a bit
• Xmas shopping...still...
• Wealthy for Xmas?
• Sucking at vacation...thanks, Pete
• What is "wealthy?"
• What's spending over the holidays now?
• Viral airline joy
• I mention someone I know. Know-know. Not Twitter-know.
• Twitter and connecting to celebrities
• People wanting to get close to celebrities
• Twitter Warz
• What is fanfic?
• Twitter as advertising (only) sucks
• Amanda Bynes...we get ugly
• Toenail clippers for terrorists
• You're crazy and you're crazy and you're crazy...
• Climate change
• Holiday traditions - what do you miss?
• Programmers have horcruxes
• NSA - hello! Can we sue you?
• NORAD is tracking the Santa...

Episode 10: FaceBook Spying, Affluenza and Santa is White!

Norma fills in again...I think she's now a cohost at this point. Warning: if you believe in Santa, this is not the podcast for you...

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_10.mp3 

Show notes:

• Feedback: Pete's drunken hotel trip elicits laughter
• LinkedIn creeps Bart out
• Does knowing exactly who is looking at your profile make a difference?
• FaceBook stores the status you start to type but don't post
• NSA spying via metadata
• 'Murica!
• Obamacare vs. the ACA
• Hearing the wrong information still "sticks" in your mind
• Stereotypes are brain shortcuts
• Affluenza!
• Sex additions just means a bigger party...
• Wealth means no consequences?
• Why are people surprised?
• Get enough press, they might make an example...
• Fox "News" - Santa is white!
• This leads to discussing Doctor Who...
• The reason for the season?
• Teacher makes a comment that DESTROYS Xmas for a high schooler
• KRAMPUS!

Episode 9: Tech Campus Housing and Living Wages!

Norma fills in again as Pete flies home from overseas. We have tech companies creating housing for employees, talk of school stuffs and a discussion about living wages for striking fast food workers!

Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_9.mp3 

Show notes:

• A story of phallusies
• Voretaq7 tweeted feedback!
• Being fined for bad reviews of a business?
• Non-disparagement clauses in terms of use!
• Litigious society and liability
• Tech companies going too far with culture by creating company housing?
• Teachers work all the time, if you count good behavior...
• Haha..."doody pay."
• What good are contracts if you get fired for following them?
• Remember the "company man?"
• Companies will get rid of you, ethically or by other means.
• Is a campus housing community good?
• Golfing for promotions!
• Food strikes!
• Minimum wage...what was it for?
• Surely no one foresaw what exists today when making laws then...
• But fast food would cost SO MUCH!
• Living wages are evil why?
• Unskilled? Worthy of contempt? But they handle your food!
• We subsidize corporations paying low wages!

Episode 8: Sex Ed and Black Friday!

Pete's on a business trip, so Norma filled in.

Warning, we're a little more explicit than in past episodes...

 Direct Download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/geekingafterdark/Geeking_After_Dark_8.mp3 

Show notes:

•  Norma fills in as cohost!
• Feedback: none. But Norma did find the "training up" quote from the Bible (see previous episode)
• Focus on the Family article
• Discipline is necessary because people are horrible
• Abstinence education in school
• "Woody the Dong" story
• Remember the sex ed films?
• School sex ed presenters are crappy
• "Vaginas are like Hoover vacuums"
• I should have become a lecturer
• What is your dateability?
• Love vs. infatuation at first sight
• Check out Lookadoo for yourself
• Showing your paycheck on Instagram can get you fired
• Is it practical to just get a better job?
• His fault, or Streisand effect?
• "Responsible social media use"
• Are parents enabling kids now? No consequences for behavior?
• Black Friday!
• Why is it a big deal to be open on Thanksgiving?
• If there wasn't a demand for it...