If you are studying topic X, generally speaking, it is easy to find an online course that will take you through the basics, and maybe even a little further. I, personally, wont step through an entire online course, I will skim until I find something interesting. However it is nice to occasionally work through an [...]]]>

If you are studying topic X, generally speaking, it is easy to find an online course that will take you through the basics, and maybe even a little further. I, personally, wont step through an entire online course, I will skim until I find something interesting. However it is nice to occasionally work through an entire course, either for reference purposes, or just to broaden my thinking. Browsing through my rss feeds on Google Reader today there was a link to lecturefox: Basically a list of free online course materials, from various university courses. Some courses come with a webcast (i.e. video) of the lecture, others just the audio stream, and some universities appear to be offering a rss feed for their courses.

Now, truth be told, most of these courses appear to be math, physics or computer science based. However, there are a few topics, from other fields, which I think might be interesting. For example: “Psychology of Personality” is one topic I might try and at least look through. It’s good to have a wider knowledge base, and also I like to examine how people (generally society) think, and some psychology might not go astray in that regard.

Anyway, I thought it might be a nice list to share.

In my previous post, which rambles a lot near the end, I was trying to say “I’m not interested, but want to be”. This evening I’m asking myself if I should look at a different direction for my career. Comp. Sci. + Web development is great, but is it what I want? (Wait, don’t skip [...]]]>

In my previous post, which rambles a lot near the end, I was trying to say “I’m not interested, but want to be”. This evening I’m asking myself if I should look at a different direction for my career. Comp. Sci. + Web development is great, but is it what I want? (Wait, don’t skip just yet!!!) What I want, with some impatience, is something meaningful, something that needs doing. What needs doing?

I decided to sleep after writing the above, and have a fresh look in the morning.

It is often said that we should put things to the Lord with prayer. No matter what the problem is, if you are patient, it will be dealt with. Sometimes I forget to do this, mainly because I don’t think I have a problem. Last night while laying in bed drifting to sleep I clued on.

This morning the very first thing I thought of was:

The Lord provides everything we need. Everyday. Prue and I are in a relatively comfortable position, the Lord has provided what we need for day to day life. In this position I can say to myself, what is something that needs doing, and I can do it. It’s nice how you can always read the scriptures and find an answer .

What you can do, you should.

Each day (i.e. v34), if I see something that needs doing: If I can, I will.

This year I’m starting the honours component of my degree. However, it seems that not too long ago, I sat down for my final exams in 2006, now its a new year, and I’m starting a new program. I don’t think I was quite ready to start again. My predictions after the first week: this [...]]]>

This year I’m starting the honours component of my degree. However, it seems that not too long ago, I sat down for my final exams in 2006, now its a new year, and I’m starting a new program. I don’t think I was quite ready to start again. My predictions after the first week: this is going to be tough.

In first semester I am studying two subjects:

• Distributed Computing
• Network Optimisation

I couldn’t yet do either subject justice in a summary, so I wont try. I am, however, looking forward to the research involved. My project / thesis will rely heavily on the materials covered, so the sooner, the better. More on that another time though.

This will be a challenging year, and normally I’d be jumping at it, but I’m not feeling it this time. Maybe I’m just tired, it has been a busy month. I have always planned to complete the honours program, and that hasn’t changed, I just wish I could be more excited about it.

Andrew