Asymptomatic

I've had the occasion over the past few years in my capacity as a long-time developer to interview candidates for jobs within my company and for clients I've contracted for. As a result, I've had some time to formulate some opinions about what questions to ask developers who are applying for a position, and the types of answers to expect from a candidate that you'd want to hire.

Sadly, I think the market of good developers is far, far too small. I do subscribe to the philosophy that great developers are born, not made, although I also believe that you can produce adequate developers with good training and persistent oversight. It is really unfortunate that coders who want to get jobs aren't as versed in what makes a great developer great, and it's a frequent topic of discussion when hiring rounds begin.

I'd like to share a few of the qualities I like to look for in a web developer to both educate would-be coders as to what I expect, and educate would-be interviewers who wouldn't know a good developer if he hacked into his bank account and stole all his cash. ...

We heard back from our house buyers yesterday. I tried to write about it as soon as I heard, but WordPress ate my post. (There's a whole new article on conflict, let me tell you...) Essentially, the deal sucks.

They basically want $10,000 to replace the windows and HVAC in our house. We don't think it's reasonable to request these repairs, much less ask for so much money to perform them. I seriously question whether these folks actually want the house or if they're just toying with us.

This mortgage stuff is going to seem complicated later when we look back at it and wonder why we are living in a cardboard box, so I'll try to record what the deal is as clearly as I can. more

Well, I have no reason to expect that you would know I wear glasses.  It's actually a very light prescription.  You can barely tell that there's anything going on.  At least, that's what I've been told by people who apparently have stronger prescriptions.

So I went to the eye doctor last week for a checkup (I figured I'd fit that in after all of my family doctor visits) which was a long time coming.  I think my last visit was three years ago, because we were just on our way to Palm Springs.  So I've been slacking.

The last time I went,  I told the doctor that I might be interested in contact lenses, and we tried out a couple pairs. more

What if, in a series of strange genetic accidents, pairs of Springfield residents produced offspring?

My CD collection is all blocked away with stuff in the basement from the repairs we're doing down there, so i downloaded Matthew Sweet's "Sick of Myself" (my copy is not this poor - WMA9pro) on a whim. I had the window open and somehow managed to click on the "M"s (don't ask me, I don't know).

After I downloaded it and played a minute or two of it, I looked over to my left and saw the guitar and remembered that it was Matthew Sweet (among some others) that had originally spawned my interest in guitar at all. I picked up the guitar and started to play a little. And I sucked, as usual. Sucked so bad, in fact, that I broke my E string trying to play a D chord. Bah.

So if anyone knows the process (and I suspect that I might have one reader who does) required to most easily fix my poor busted guitar, I'd be much abliged. Right now, I'm going to download some more Matthew Sweet and perhaps some Steve Vai. ...