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The Kenny Rogers Rule
The Kenny Rogers Rule states: When building anything, especially something as complicated as a robot, the build can sometimes turn ugly. If you try and just power your way through, you can often dig yourself into an even deeper hole. Frustrations can mount, and with it, mistakes, even accidents can happen. So here’s what you do: “Put the soldering iron down, Poindexter. Step away from the steaming robot entrails!” You’ll be amazed at what an hour away, vegging in front of the TV, rolling around on the floor with the cat, or sleeping on your problem will do. It almost never fails. Here’s a corollary: The extent to which you don’t want to drop what you’re doing and take a break (“I know I can fix this, damn it!”), is inversely proportional to the extent to which you need to take that break. Why is it called the Kenny Rogers Rule? ‘Cause as country Kenny wisely tells us: “You got to know when to hold, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, know when to run…”
From Tips of the Week: Silencing a Leaky Air Hose, Women’s Work Pants, and the Kenny Rogers Rule | Make:
CSS initial Keyword
Note to self: The initial keyword is not supported in Internet Explorer 11 and earlier versions. Just use auto!
Things That Happened in 2016
This is super overdue, but 2017 has been busy!
Celebrated being bed-bug free after a harrowing couple of weeks.
Blizzard!
I got a standing desk setup at work.
Kyle and the kitties got me an All-Clad pan for Mother’s Day.
I squatted 175lbs.
I started doing CrossFit.
Shortly after starting CrossFit, my face got into a fight with a 20-lb ball. My face lost.
Kyle and I started planning our 2017 trip to Japan.
I started learning about React, Redux, and functional programming in JavaScript, and using these skills at work.
We all survived Dad’s hip surgery, part IV.
I spent a week in Miami to celebrate my best friend’s birthday.
Mom and I spent a day exploring Philadelphia’s Market St (and adjacent areas) from 30th to 3rd.
Another great year of teaching with ScriptEd.
Many walks and foods around NYC.
Visits from parents.
Met some family members from another branch of the tree.
Saw Fully Committed.
I shaved my head for the first time.
And probably a lot of other stuff I can’t remember right now!
JavaScript Code Kata
Dave Thomas was recently on the CodeNewbie podcast and talked about code kata for a few minutes.
A kata is an exercise in karate where you repeat a form many times, making little improvements each time.
The code kata is a way to bring practice sessions into programming.
In my day-to-day work, the problems I solve with JavaScript are not complicated:
- sticky nav
- add/remove class based on behavior
- handle click tracking
- carousels
- form validation
- lightbox
So this seems like a great way to stretch my JavaScript legs, so to speak. There are many places online to find code kata; I signed up on Codewars. Even at the beginner and novice levels, I’m working through problems that extend my abilities.
But also, math.
If you’re interested in doing code kata yourself, LMGTFY. If you happen to sign up on Codewars, I’d love to know so we can compete against each other!