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Ask HN: Plans for 2010

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Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#71

Post by gabriel-coarna »

jacquesm wrote: post #34
gabriel-coarna wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. Spanish is also a good choice. I could have went on and on enumerating interesting languages and interesting reasons to learn them (like reading history, philosophy, or great literature in their original form). As for your second point, as far as I know, Romanian's ties to Latin aren't only reasonably strong; Romanian is actually the most like-Latin language that is still spoken -- however, Spanish and French s…

I think any language is worth learning. Right now I'm at 5, Dutch (my mother tongue), Polish, German, English and French (the latter poorly through inactivity). I very much want to learn more languages and I find that with every language added the next one becomes easier. So there is no such thing as a language 'not worth learning', almost all of the languages spoken on the European continent are related in some way…

That's actually a rather cool point of view.

However, I don't share it. I believe that one should spend most of one's time trying to do something awesome in one language -- as opposed to wasting time by learning 5.

Now, don't get me wrong, the fact that you now 5 languages is very cool; however, I don't think I'll ever use up that much time to gain those particular skills.

You see, I believe that if one were to draw a graph illustrating the relationship between the "awesomeness" of what one has done and the effort one has put in, the effort axis would be on an geometric scale, while the "awesomeness" one would be on a linear one. In other words, one has to put in a hell of a lot more effort to get something just a little more "awesome".

On the other hand, maybe learning languages is an integral part of what you "do"; or, maybe, it helps you relax.

Either way, and as in most arguments between somewhat-intelligent people, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree -- please note that I'm using the "somewhat" prefix as it pertains to me; I'm pretty sure that you're just plain intelligent.

Oh, and: Merry Christmas. And a very happy New Year.

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#73

Post by gcheong »

gabriel-coarna wrote: post #27
vishaldpatel wrote: post #18

Existing things: MobileFolk - my current project / startup. Swim, run, workout. Keep learning Spanish and practicing guitar. Read books. New things: Learn basic Romanian. Meet more iPhone (and Android) developers in the Bay Area and in / around Toronto / GTAA - always looking to grab a beer or lunch :). Learn more about market research (you can never learn enough).

Why in God's name would you want to learn Romanian? 1. It's a silly, silly language -- I've been speaking it all of my life, and, most of the time, I still find I express myself better in English. 2. It's only spoken in a small, god-forsaken country that'll probably never amount to much of anything. If you insist on learning another language -- it is my opinion that one should try to say something smart in one langua…

My reason for wanting to learn more Romanian is that it is a natural side effect of having Romanian friends. It always gets a good laugh anyway.

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#74

Post by gabriel-coarna »

gcheong wrote: post #73
gabriel-coarna wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why in God's name would you want to learn Romanian? 1. It's a silly, silly language -- I've been speaking it all of my life, and, most of the time, I still find I express myself better in English. 2. It's only spoken in a small, god-forsaken country that'll probably never amount to much of anything. If you insist on learning another language -- it is my opinion that one should try to say something smart in one langua…

My reason for wanting to learn more Romanian is that it is a natural side effect of having Romanian friends. It always gets a good laugh anyway.

Yeah, that pretty much makes sense.

However, if they're already your friends, you probably communicate just fine in (most likely) English.

My (unsolicited) advice: keep it that way, and spend the time you were going to spend learning Romanian by doing something way cooler.

Anyway, ... Merry Christmas. And a very happy New Year.

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#75

Post by martythemaniak »

I wish they had derivatives with your plans as the underlying asset. I'd leverage myself, go short and make a killing.

In other words OP, you'll fail and it'll happen because of your ridiculously ambitious goals. Let me break it down:

1 and 2: If by "learn a language" you mean gain some proficiency in it and not just run through the introductory tutorial, then you're gonna have to spend a fair amount of time writing a reasonably big project. I would say, spread out, about 1hr a day every single day for each language, so that makes it about 2-3hrs/day.

3. Unless you're already proficient in some instrument (preferably stringed), you're gonna need several hundred hours of solid practice to learn, so plan for about 2hrs a day,every single day.

4. That would mean a serious workout, 3-4 times a week, so average that out to 0.5hrs a day, every single day.

5. That's pretty vague, but I'll put you down for 0.5hrs a day averaged as well.

6. that's too vague

7. If you're speaking in the sense that Mathieu Ricard talks about, again you're looking at at least 1hr day.

So in order to achieve your goals, you're looking at a commitment of about 8hrs/day. And that's 8hrs of hard work where you are pushing yourself, so unless you have nothing going on in your life and have amazing power of will, you will fail.

You should instead pick 1 or 2 of those goals and follow up. Start working out and learn Clojure. You can manage that and a year from now you'll have 2 solid achievements behind your back, rather than 7 failures.

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#76

Post by vishaldpatel »

gabriel-coarna wrote: post #27
vishaldpatel wrote: post #18

Existing things: MobileFolk - my current project / startup. Swim, run, workout. Keep learning Spanish and practicing guitar. Read books. New things: Learn basic Romanian. Meet more iPhone (and Android) developers in the Bay Area and in / around Toronto / GTAA - always looking to grab a beer or lunch :). Learn more about market research (you can never learn enough).

Why in God's name would you want to learn Romanian? 1. It's a silly, silly language -- I've been speaking it all of my life, and, most of the time, I still find I express myself better in English. 2. It's only spoken in a small, god-forsaken country that'll probably never amount to much of anything. If you insist on learning another language -- it is my opinion that one should try to say something smart in one langua…

I like Romanians. Always gotten along with em'. Never met one I didn't like (seriously). So I figured, why not ;)

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#78

Post by gabriel-coarna »

vishaldpatel wrote: post #76
gabriel-coarna wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why in God's name would you want to learn Romanian? 1. It's a silly, silly language -- I've been speaking it all of my life, and, most of the time, I still find I express myself better in English. 2. It's only spoken in a small, god-forsaken country that'll probably never amount to much of anything. If you insist on learning another language -- it is my opinion that one should try to say something smart in one langua…

I like Romanians. Always gotten along with em'. Never met one I didn't like (seriously). So I figured, why not ;)

Because you could use that time to do something way more awesome.

That's pretty much the summary of what I said below, but in a lot fewer words.

Anyway, ... Merry Christmas. And a very happy New Year.

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#79

Post by frisco »

tokenadult wrote: post #72
allantyoung wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or infinitely more achievable.

LESS achievable. Multiplication by zero still gives a product of zero in the real number system.

>> Multiplication by zero still gives a product of zero in the real number system.

Yeah which is why its more achievable:

  factor = final / initial

         = 3 customers / 0 customers = ZOMGx more customers

Re: Ask HN: Plans for 2010

#80

Post by frisco »

tptacek wrote: post #48
cubicle67 wrote: post #37

Well, they say confession is good for the soul... I've got four great kids. They're bright, curious, fun and I love 'em to bits. Thing is, I absolutely suck at being a Dad. I'm lazy, vague, inconsistent, moody and I find it all to easy to go hide in the study and respond to interruptions with "Go and play. Can't you see I'm busy". I don't want to be like this, not one little bit, so my one goal for this year is - no…

Wasn't your dad like this sometimes? Mine was. I'm the same way sometimes too. Not that I'm arguing with you. Spend more time with your kids. But don't beat yourself up. Are your kids happy? Good on you. 2010 is my year of teaching my kids to play Go.

Teaching your kids to play Go or teaching them to code in Go?
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