I graduated with a degree in operations management. I've probably done over 100 personal projects to gain experience, with maybe 15 being worth talking about. I've read quite a few books, actually a lot if you count the PAKT ones. When I lived in Seattle I went to the meetups and found a couple groups there I enjoyed hanging out with. I've had a really hard time getting interviews except from a couple of small teams, and I mostly feel ignored. At this point I'm taking a computer systems class and discrete structures at a CC. The systems class is helping my debugging skills in ways that I wouldn't have put myself through but the price tag for this knowledge is high, and it's beyond just money. I still learn a magnitude more on my own than directly from the coursework.
Do I think a degree is necessary? No. I do think you'll have a hard time getting a job without one so you might as well start your own company.
Yeah, I think people are also confusing grip endurance with grip strength. Pulling a 500+ lb bar off the ground requires more grip strength than climbing on the walls supporting your body weight.
Also, different parts of the finger. Outdoor climbers use tip, indoor climber the first two knuckles. Weightlifter use the whole hand, which is probably best for measured grip.
To add to that, lifting heavy weights causes the central nervous system to fire off huge amount of electrical signals to muscle groups. While this does cause fatigue which can leave you feeling "hazy", I would not be surprised if it improved cognitive endurance for other tasks. And I have to comment on the irony of sleep being the most important factor in muscle recovery, along with a good diet.
If you think the dreams are weird how about this. There was a period when I was was spending a lot of time writing code every day. And there were some nights where I'd fall asleep then partially wake up and look at the window to see light cast on the curtain in a way that would sometimes spell a message that helped me debug, figure out a problem, or discover a new technique. Or give me an idea for an operating system's logo...
Well, my guess is as follows:
Irish: big corporate tax breaks in that area.
India: outsourcing potential. Perhaps more liberal attitudes towards CS education?
Women: we really need more women in tech, though on a corporate level where money is the motivator I can only guess what the incentives are.
The above are my assumptions and may be wrong.
As for your girls-only code program comment, I have taught kids to create things using visual scripting tools. There is a difference in what the girls want to make and what the boys want to make. This was my first hand experience and is a limited insight into a small world.
