RP's avatar function is broken and animated ones no longer work. I tried to make him festive around Christmastime or something, maybe St. Patrick's, but it didn't work. So I went with the suave and debonair Spalding cat aka Dinger. (pre-existing animated gifs still work, I think. If ptooey changes his pickle, he can't change it back.)
Inquiring minds want to know why you replaced your smoking cat avey with a licking one?
RP's avatar function is broken and animated ones no longer work. I tried to make him festive around Christmastime or something, maybe St. Patrick's, but it didn't work. So I went with the suave and debonair Spalding cat aka Dinger. (pre-existing animated gifs still work, I think. If ptooey changes his pickle, he can't change it back.)
The best programmers on my team had degrees or certificates, but it was mostly ancillary. They got them as a way to navigate they system, or because it interested them, their learning was broader.
I've complained here before about the campusifcation of high schools and the resulting property taxes in this area (and the resulting competition from neighboring cities).
I'll post more later on the need for trades, and how our demonization of them is hurting our country.
It is an interesting contrast, seeing how America views the trades vs. Australia. The respect for trades here is probably largely due to one of the 2 major parties being the Labor Party, having its roots in the union movement. That and the relative success of the unions so that tradies can earn a really good living. As a comedian said, "I want my children to have jobs with status - something in Hi-Viz."
The converse side is that the other major party gets in power and then cuts funding for trade schools. That and unions having too much influence over areas of policy where they don't belong. My Labor Premier gave paid firefighters power over the large, strong, capable, volunteer firefighting force. We depend on the volunteers in rural areas and lost a lot because of this, not to mention it is expensive. Too few people and too many trees to do it without volunteers.
"One day I watched a nine-year-old boy as he led a group of children scrambling over Vasquez Rocks, a great sandstone formation that slants up out of the California desert. He was one of those magnetic, electrical, radiant boys; kind to the younger ones, strong, quick, inquisitive, sharp as a tack, his eyes throwing sparks in the clear air. It was a joy just to watch him, I said to the friend standing beside me. She told me he had just been diagnosed with ADHD."
I sent this article to my kids in case they have children someday, but neither seems willing to take the chance.