what would you like to be expert at?
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This is a good question, and the answers are interesting. My first thought is, "why not do it?" Take pool lessons or guitar lessons or a driving course or martial arts lessons or whatever. For some things, like wood working, YouTube has a lot of great videos (yeah, got to weed through the even more numerous bad videos), so things like wood working can be learned through videos AND practical experience. Recently my clothes dryer stopped heating; the drum turned but no heat. I watched a few videos on dryer repair, then my son and I tore it apart. Turns out the dryer is old enough and the parts that failed are expensive enough that the solution is to replace the unit (fixing old washers & dryers can be a money pit). But our time was not wasted, as I know that replacing the unit is the financially correct solution. And we know how to disassemble a dryer and put it back together. [I don't foresee a lot of need for this skill, but we never know ...]
I have been in the same situation with a clothes dryer. When you take one apart you discover that there is very little to it. 1) Drum 2) motor to turn drum 3) thermostat unit 4) heating element 5) timer circuit 6) outer shell That's about it. It's fairly simple. Of course it is usually the heating element that goes out and getting to it is the worst part. The only other issue is that you can determine that the heating element is the thing that is broken and not the thermostat. You learn a lot and YouTube is so fantastic because you can take a look at what it will be like before you ever try it. I've done this type of repair (YouTube) with a number of things. Once my son's older vehicle suddenly "popped" and the PRNDL just slid around in the steering column. Uh oh. To YouTube!! Discovered that it was probably the cable that connects to the engine. Checked it and discovered a connector had just popped. Took about 78 cents for parts and then some time to reach it and clamp it back on. It's a lot of fun when you can fix things this way and you feel like a Genius-Hero! :laugh:
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
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I would love to be able to complete an advanced course in physics. I dropped out of the M.Sc. course because I couldn't make head or tail of some of the maths we were taught. :sigh:
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
I studied advanced physics also. I didn't quite understand it as well as I should have. That was many years ago. I came back to it last year and found it more comprehensible. I presume it took time for me to become accustomed and to accept the then presented new ideas. I have the belief that reading other authors is helpful but must admit have not attempted same. Kind Regards - Cheerio
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In one of the episodes of the BBC series "Doc Martin" it was documented that the preferred algorithm is to devote your life to making her life happy. I once knew a beautiful woman. She was everything I knew she would be even before we met and then some.
PaltryProgrammer wrote:
In one of the episodes of the BBC series "Doc Martin" it was documented that the preferred algorithm is to devote your life to making her life happy.
Tis, but why and how did that grow from bacteria from which we evolved?
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
The Jedi Arts.
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
Fishing! I am 63 years old and the last time I caught a fish was in 1996. Before that lots of trying but nothing. This year I have purchased a Sea Eagle STS10 inflatable fishing boat with trolling motor, a nice fish finder, a couple of poles, and some lures/bait. I live in Michigan and we have a lot of inland lakes for small fish like Bass, Bluegills, Crappie, etc. I built a 100 amp hour Lithium Iron Phosphate battery for my trolling motor and fish finder. I have been watching YouTube fishing videos all winter. I am ready to catch fish (and mostly release). Hurry up warm weather!
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Fishing! I am 63 years old and the last time I caught a fish was in 1996. Before that lots of trying but nothing. This year I have purchased a Sea Eagle STS10 inflatable fishing boat with trolling motor, a nice fish finder, a couple of poles, and some lures/bait. I live in Michigan and we have a lot of inland lakes for small fish like Bass, Bluegills, Crappie, etc. I built a 100 amp hour Lithium Iron Phosphate battery for my trolling motor and fish finder. I have been watching YouTube fishing videos all winter. I am ready to catch fish (and mostly release). Hurry up warm weather!
Quote:
Give a man a fish; You feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; You won't see the bugger for weeks!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
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Piano, I would love to be able to play Mozart's as well as Bach's keyboard works.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Piano for me too. But I want to play Lounge lizard music in a smoky bar, and Rock and Roll keyboards on stage. I would make it a career, if musicians were paid better, but you might as well try to make a living by buying lottery tickets.
Wear your mask. The life you save could be your own.
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Been playing since the day after the Beatles made their American debut on the Ed Sullivan show. I'm pretty good but a long way from expert. I could go for this too.
Wear you mask. The life you save may be your own.
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Piano for me too. But I want to play Lounge lizard music in a smoky bar, and Rock and Roll keyboards on stage. I would make it a career, if musicians were paid better, but you might as well try to make a living by buying lottery tickets.
Wear your mask. The life you save could be your own.
Sounds good too, as long as you don't accept to play blindfolded at a late night event(reference to Kubrick's excellent film Eyes Wide Shut).
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Fishing! I am 63 years old and the last time I caught a fish was in 1996. Before that lots of trying but nothing. This year I have purchased a Sea Eagle STS10 inflatable fishing boat with trolling motor, a nice fish finder, a couple of poles, and some lures/bait. I live in Michigan and we have a lot of inland lakes for small fish like Bass, Bluegills, Crappie, etc. I built a 100 amp hour Lithium Iron Phosphate battery for my trolling motor and fish finder. I have been watching YouTube fishing videos all winter. I am ready to catch fish (and mostly release). Hurry up warm weather!
Come down to Louisiana. You can go after Tarpon, Speckled Trout, Red fish, Black Drum and Flounder, to name a few.
A bad day fishing beats a good day at anything else!
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
Singing. I had excellent vocal music teachers back in high school so I know basic technique, breathing, etc. pretty well. Until my stage fright kicks in. I can speak to hundreds (and have) with no problem. Ask me to carry a tune, and all that technique goes away. I even have a hard time singing the national anthem at events where that's a thing. I have to replace the steering wheels in my cars every couple of years they're so traumatized by listening to me, as that's the only place my voice works :sigh: .
Software Zen:
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
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I want to say poker. I enjoy playing and learning. However, I suspect being an expert would end up being like a card counter at blackjack, where it becomes a very boring grind.
agolddog wrote:
where it becomes a very boring grind.
The very reason why I dropped playing chess in competitions.
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
Great Question and wonderful answers that tell us a lot about the people who post answers For me it is a new Hobby Wood Working with being as proficient as these guys https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCckETVOT59aYw80B36aP9vw/videos[^] OR This fellow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaWR_UvszqJ0xIJYXcep3_w/videos[^]
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I am not certain if this is an appropriate question for the Lounge but I will accept the risk. Namely if you could be proficient or even expert at something other than programming and related technical subjects which of course you already are what would it be? For me it would be shooting straight pool. It's a great feeling when those balls go kerplunk. There are other skills I would like to be more proficient at but I enjoy the effort in trying to make it so while missing shots in straight pool is a frustrating and painful experience.
