for some reason, minorities runaway from math and science like it is the new plague. why? come on people, it is not that bad. don’t believe me?
well….too bad. just believe me! 
chris pine, in 2003, has an excellent beginner’s tutorial on how to program, what programming is, and how to use a very easy language called Ruby.
while i will point out that other subjects like accounting and african-american studies differ in terms of the way you need to think when tackling a computer language, why not fulfill one of your lifelong goals of actually learning another language? you never said it had to be one you had to speak to a person!
the greatest benefit to learning how to program is it creates an efficiency in thinking. whether you’re a project manager chosen to tackle the task of implementing a new team workflow or social activist thinking about starting a gathering, the methods used in programming provide a structured framework that can be transferred to better outlines and project plans. sometimes the best projects fail because of ignorance to detail. programming hones this skill as well.
enjoy!
Eve Sheridan
Yes you are right…sometimes the best projects do fail because of ignorance to detail. That is why a formal project management methodology such as MPMM is important to use.
February 27, 2007 at 7:24 am
Fredric
duly noted. while software can help the logistics of a project, the people that are involved are still ultimately the key factors.
learning programming trains your mind to re-check, test, and evaluate the efficiency of how things are done.
while commercial software may benefit, there are also other robust, free open-source options.
February 27, 2007 at 7:51 am
James
great website, man, and i like how you’ve customized the blog template.
by the way, how exactly did you apply a background image? i’m using Cutline too, but i haven’t got a clue how (or where) to add that.
March 1, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Fredric
thanks James. cutline has the new custom.css file that allows changes without changing the source files. unfortunately, the key elements, like background, do not use the custom.css. i directly modified it and put the bg.gif image in the tag.
i suggest downloading the firebug firefox extension. it will show you exactly each element on the page as well as the css tied to it so you can see it.
March 1, 2007 at 2:30 pm
James
wow, Firebug is outstanding. thanks, Fredric, that’s exactly what I needed.
keep on writing…
March 1, 2007 at 2:56 pm
YBP Guide — web development for beginners
[...] up on my post about learning to program, i learned from digg today that microsoft has released a set tiered tutorials aimed at the beginner [...]
March 2, 2007 at 11:35 am
YBP Guide — throwback: howto’s
[...] learning to program – come on! you know you’re at least a little curious. this post just had one link, but what a link! definitely check it out for those looking to dip their toes (or refresh your love) for the realm of coding. [...]
April 2, 2007 at 6:02 am