Culture

Make It So: Code At Cons

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Discussion Communication

Coding is vitally important in our high-tech world. It’s not just a skill you use in a career, but something that is vital for empowering people. Being able to do a web page on your own, making a helpful macro, understanding a script is the key to using modern tools and understanding how the world works. I’m guessing you’ve coded at least a little bit if you’re reading it -just think what you wouldn’t know without it.

Imagine every time you have to explain something technical to someone with no experience.  Imagine how disempowered they are.

This is why I’m glad to see organizations and events promoting coding, such as:

So I got thinking. Coding is important. We’re geeks and we probably know it or should know it. We’d like to empower our fellow geeks – and ourselves.

There’s something we can do, and I want to suggest we Make It So.

We need to hold Learn To Code Events at conventions.

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Geek Job Guru: In Defense Of Remakes

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Whirlpool

Back when I was writing on nostalgia, Jason Sacks had commented that we should be aware remakes provide constraints and constraints can be virtuous creatively.

That idea got me to stop in my mental tracks and think this over. Now I’m not fundamentally opposed to remakes, but I’m getting a bit tired of seeing them so often. But his comment made me think that, yes constraints are valuable and indeed I’ve been a bit (only a bit) unfair to remakes in our modern culture.  Certainly there are ones I like, agree are good, or want to see.

So I think it’s time that I, geek job guru, culture commentator, and creative guy, give some thought to when I think remakes are legitimate and even good. It may give you some food for thought, inspire you, or make you think “He’s full of it” and ignore me – but at least you’ll ignore me for a reason.

So without further ado, Steve’s List Of When Remakes Are A Good Idea.

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An Interview With Courtney Plante of the International Anime Project

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Courtney Plante, aka “Nuka” is part of the International Anime Project. In short, they study Anime fandom – as part of a larger series of groups that study fandom. Yes, he has grant money to study fandom, so of course I’m going to interview him. Oh, and scientific curiosity and geek citizenship. But also the grant part.

So let’s find out what’s up – and what you can to to help!

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