I'm picking back up an idea that I'd played with a while ago, and fuck it, I'm just gonna do it, and see what happens and if it works. So!
Want to learn Node.js (plus other webdev stuff where applicable) from an expert? I'll be doing free tutoring sessions weekly. These will be in a group setting (max. 4 slots for now), but otherwise modeled after the 1-on-1 tutoring that I've done professionally in the past.
You choose a project that you want to make (free choice, not from a list), and I help you with it; and hopefully there'll be mutual help within the group too! You will be mostly doing (guided) self-study, and we will have a weekly session where we review the things you got stuck on, and I help you get back on track.
(I have 20 years of software development experience and 5+ years of teaching experience, and I've worked on a very wide variety of things including niche and unmonetizable things, so obscure and/or radical project ideas are not a problem!)
This approach of self-study may sound daunting, but I have found it to work for 100% of my past students, regardless of existing experience or even learning disabilities. That doesn't mean it's easy; it will still be hard work, as learning something new always is, but I will support that process where I can.
There are a couple of ground rules:
Absolutely no "AI" of any kind. Not for writing your code, not for researching topics, not for 'review', not for anything else. I am offering to help you; I am not offering to debate a statistical model built for labour exploitation.
You are expected to be motivated and take the sessions seriously, the same way you would for sessions you'd paid for. I have limited spoons, and I do not want to waste them on people who don't really care. That said, I am very familiar with ADHD and other disabilities - I can accommodate these and they're not an issue, as long as you do your best!
You cannot be a bigot. As an easy test: if the ideas of 'social justice', 'intersectionality', or 'affirmative action' make you uncomfortable, then this is not for you.
Your motivation for these lessons cannot be anything startup-related, in the Silicon Valley sense. I'm not here to help spawn more extractive tech companies. "Learning to find a job" is fine (though keep in mind the IT job market is not great right now).
Leave your contempt at the door. If you "hate JS" and are hoping to be convinced otherwise, you probably have some work to do on yourself first. Language bashing (of any language) is not tolerated in the sessions, and if you constantly push back on advice, you'll probably be asked to leave.
What to expect:
One 3-hour group session each week. Tentatively scheduled for Wednesdays at 19:00 GMT. It's recommended that you are there for the whole session, but not strictly required.
The sessions are text-based, over Matrix. Video/audio calls are not possible due to auditory processing issues on my end.
Free choice of project, whether small or ambitious; we'll work out a path regardless of what you come up with. As long as it's ethical, anyway!
The sessions have no end date; assuming this works out as planned, they will continue indefinitely and you can attend for as long as you need them.
The sessions are free and will remain free. There will not be any upsells, special offers, premium plans, or whatever other hidden bullshit I often see people come up with. I'm not doing this to pay the bills, it's volunteer work!
Your level of experience is not important; I have tutored everyone from beginners to people with a 10+ year career in software development. We work on whatever is the thing that you want to learn!
This is an experiment for me (in a group setting anyway), so there may be rough edges.
What you'll need at a minimum:
A Matrix account and client.
A screenshot tool of some sort.
Very basic programming experience in any language; basically, you should know what things like 'variable', 'loop', and 'function' are, and how a conditional (like an if statement) works. If you've ever written a script for a game or tool, that qualifies!
A code editor that you like working in. Anything with syntax highlighting and a file tree should do.
Preferably some kind of Unix-y environment. In practice, that mostly means Linux, macOS, or Windows+WSL.
Send me a DM to apply; for now I'm sticking to 4 slots since doing this in a group setting is new to me, and marginalized (especially non-white) folks will have priority. Likewise, there is priority for people who intend to use their new skills to support (their) community!
The sessions will start shortly after all slots are full, or if I decide that no more applications are likely, whichever comes first.
Next question: how the fuck do I play this sexy thing?
Any video channels for (effectively) absolute beginner electric guitar players? I'm looking to play punk/grunge/classic rock/metal (probably in about that order).
I'm planning on searching around YouTube, but if anyone has specific links or channels they highly recommend, I'd love to hear them!
Lessons on How to Draw by Hokusai via Kottke [Shared]
In 1812, Japanese woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai, who would later become famous for his iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa prints, published a three-volume series called Quick Lessons in Simplified Drawing. All three volumes are available online: one, two, three. Even if you’re not in the market for drawing lessons, the pages are wonderful to flip through.
The image shows an open book with two pages filled with detailed black and white sketches. The left page features two drawings of animals, possibly dogs, with geometric shapes and lines used to outline their forms. The top drawing shows a dog with a black and white coat, sitting with a circular and oval shape around it. Below, another dog is depicted with a similar geometric approach, including a diamond shape. Japanese text is present next to each drawing.
The right page contains a drawing of a mouse among grapes, with geometric shapes and lines used to depict the mouse and the grapes. The mouse is positioned on a vine with large leaves, and the grapes are clustered around it. The page also includes a hexagon and other geometric shapes, along with Japanese text. The paper appears aged, with a yellowish tint, suggesting it is an old document.
Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B