Practical wisdom. In their new book “Deep Smarts”, Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap explore the cognitive and competency practices that enable swift decisions, explain master level experience and examine ways to transfer these exceptional skills. * Deep smarts take time to mature – 10 years * Transfer is best facilitated by self-selected mentoring, practice and… Continue reading Practical wisdom
Looks like they ARE useless!
Looks like they ARE useless!. Remember my issues with the Linksys wireless range extender? By the looks of the discount table inside my local computer store, I'm not alone — there were easily between one and two dozen of them arrayed in a stack, all with labels saying that they were returns that were being… Continue reading Looks like they ARE useless!
The present and future value of Python
The present and future value of Python. The universal database is just one example of the kind of next-generation platform service that will be used primarily through managed interfaces. As operating systems consolidate around managed interfaces — to data, to middleware, to graphics — they're going to tend to prefer the Java and .NET and… Continue reading The present and future value of Python
The future of IT jobs — looking good
The future of IT jobs — looking good. In my InfoWorld column this week, I respond to yet more reports that IT jobs are going to disappear in the coming years. I agree that certain types of IT jobs are likely to disappear, but the problem-solving skills required in IT will never go out of… Continue reading The future of IT jobs — looking good
Bye-bye, Bernie
Bye-bye, Bernie. The White House tried to slip the Bernie Kerik story into the news black hole that is late Friday night, and yet it's Monday and everyone is still talking about it. For the Bush administration, the first major botch of a second-term Cabinet pick — unless you consider choosing as attorney general the… Continue reading Bye-bye, Bernie
Tip: Getting the budget out of a client
Tip: Getting the budget out of a client. Carlos (recent winner of a Red Dot Award — go Carlos!) gave me a great tip last year about how to get a project budget from a client. First you should just ask them for it. Be blunt: “What's your budget or budget range for this project?”… Continue reading Tip: Getting the budget out of a client
The Doghouse: Internet Security Foundation
The Doghouse: Internet Security Foundation. This organization wants to sell their tool to view passwords in textboxes “hidden” by asterisks on Windows. They claim it's “a glaring security hole in Microsoft Windows” and a “grave security risk.” Their webpage is thick with FUD, and warns that criminals and terrorists can easily clean out your bank… Continue reading The Doghouse: Internet Security Foundation
Is your Panther password really secure?
Is your Panther password really secure?. macosxhints: Fix password security in 10.3.x for upgraded accounts. A useful, and slightly scary, hint that points to some lingering issues in password handling in OS X. Briefly: old versions of the OS, from the public beta through 10.2.x, only allow passwords up to 8 characters in length, but… Continue reading Is your Panther password really secure?
Are We Puppets or Free Agents?
Are We Puppets or Free Agents?. Interpretations of the insanity plea have changed through the ages, but advances in neuroscience promise to redefine free will and personal responsibility, and change the way we think about punishment. By Rowan Hooper. [Wired News]
Elephants! Doing the Impossible
Elephants! Doing the Impossible. Margo Baldwin of Chelsea Green Publishing writes to me about George Lakoff's book and how she turned it into a bestseller. Thought I'd share the riff: … [Seth's Blog]