Hello Again, Japanese

I mentioned in my previous post that I am returning to my work on Japanese.  No, I do not have some mad plan to catch up in a few weeks.  As far as I'm concerned, I'm still on day 61 of the 595 day program instead of day 157.  It's a bit of a hit, missing over three months, but if I try to force myself to catch up, I'll just lose enthusiasm for the language. 

As of right now, I have 450 kanji in the Surusu system.  As I don't have my kanji book with me to add more, I'm going to get back in the habit of reviewing those that I do have.  As the new ones tend to build off of the old, this is perhaps the best way for me to do it. I'll report back in a couple of weeks with any progress that I make.

Of Mice and Men

To paraphrase a saying, if you want reality to laugh at you, make plans.  I've often talked about moving this coming summer.  While that will still occur, it's not quite what I had in mind. 

Right now, I really want to leave the state of Michigan and settle down somewhere.  That somewhere is currently Boston.  I had plans to change my career to something I would enjoy doing more while at the same time getting in shape, learning Japanese, and completing several other goals, all by June.  When I put it like that, I really just want to slap myself upside the head.  After all, this is while working full time, which is currently includes a good bit of travel.

To change careers, I need to get established in that new field.  While the field is still software development, it's of a different kind, related to Linux-based embedded systems.  I need some kind of track record.  As my current career won't give me it, I'm looking at getting into an open source project related to me new field.  It needs to at least include C programming.  Six months isn't quite long enough to get into an open source project enough to earn a respectable reputation.  Granted, a year and a half isn't the best, either, but is still better. 

There are move benefits to putting off my big move.  I have a sister who will graduate from high school next year, so I'll now be available to go.  I'll have more time to build up economic resources.  I'll have the time to complete my guided self-study of Japanese (more on that later).  And it gives me time to make sure that I'm moving to the right place.

The downside is more psychological than anything.  I'm 31 years old and I feel my life is on hold.  Now I'll be nearly 33 when I make the move.  If there's one thing I want, it's to have my own family.  I just don't want to do it here.  If I get serious with someone, I will probably stay here in Michigan.  While this isn't bad in and of itself, it makes other goals difficult.  There are next to no jobs in embedded programming here.  Hmmm...  Ok, fine, that's mainly it.  I could start a family here and do embedded programming on my own time.  The downside is that it takes time away from my many other interests.  I guess I need to think about it some more...

2012, The Journey Continues

Goodbye, 2011.  We had our highs and lows, but it's time to move on.  I wish you all the best.

Hello, 2012.  Where have you been all my life?

It's been a fun year.  A lot of things have happened, both good and bad.  This blog officially went from 250 posts to just over 350.  My previous post has the all-time hit count high of 57 page views.  I know that's not very high, but it's not bad for a personal bog that isn't actively seeking readers.  If you Google "polymath", you will see a post of mine in the number ten spot.  That's not too shabby, since I wasn't working toward that, either.

Away from the blog, I took Piano II and enjoyed it.  I decided not to take classes this previous semester nor this coming semester, as my job is requiring more travel than ever, and I wanted to focus on other things.  Sadly, the main "other thing", Japanese, has fallen behind by a wide margin.  I set up a schedule at the beginning of the year to make room for a lot of interests.  That also fell behind, mostly because it was too formal; I don't do formal very well. 

I spent some time trying to decide where to live.  My short list currently includes Boston, Indianapolis, and Orlando, in that order, though Orlando is about to fall off the list (I enjoy having seasons far too much).  Indianapolis is quite a bit lower in the standings than Boston, as Boston gives me far more opportunities.  I did spent some time thinking about moving to Japan, but that put me against some of my other goals.  I still want to visit, sooner rather than later, but I don't think I'll ever live there.

The coming year holds much potential, though I do say that about every year.  This, though, will be the year when I move to where I might settle down.  That alone makes it important.  While Michigan holds much for me, namely in the way of family, it's not a place I really want to stay.  Boston, or wherever I move to, will give me more opportunities.  I'm also looking into moving into a different, yet related, field to what I do now.  I've mentioned before about C programming in Linux, and a few related ideas.  This is the year that I'm moving forward with that.  I've picked out my resources, both online and off, and have a plan to move forward.  I'll post more about that soon. 

Finally, I wish to give thanks to all those who read this blog.  It's fun to share my journey with you, even if the journey feels a bit mediocre at times.  I also enjoy the occasional comment I get, as it allows me to connect with you a bit.

Here's to a new year of opportunities and progress.

Achievement Unlocked

Lately, video games, or frameworks around video games (like Steam), have been adding something called achievements.  By collecting some set number of gadgets, you earn such and such an achievement.  By simply reaching this or that stage in the game, yet another achievement is unlocked.  I've played a bit of World of Warcraft in my time and have earned only a small number of the achievements available.  I'm fine with this, as I don't have enough free time to dedicate my life to it.

However, what about real life achievements?  Collect $1000000 and earn the Millionaire achievement.  Say, "I do" and earn the Married achievement.  Visit another country and earn the World Traveler achievement.  These are but a few 'titles' that our society throws at us. But how about achievements that matter only to us?  What achievements do we want to earn that society isn't prepared to recognize? 

What about the Mr. Jones a few miles away with the collection of hubcaps?  Epic Hubcap Collection achievement unlocked!  Or Ms. Covey in Chicago with 43 cats?  Epic Cat Lady achievement unlocked?  Ok, these are a few off the wall ones.  But what about you?

What achievements do you want to earn in your life?  Use an entire season pass to see the Yankees?  Walk the Appalachian Trail? Earn a PhD in underwater basket weaving?  Visit the south pole?  A trip to orbit with the Russians?  Um, actually, I'll take that last one. 

Here are my personal proposed achievements.  As always, these are a work in progress.  I know I won't earn all of them, as I'll continue to add and modify them.

• become fluent in a second language (Japanese) and visit the country
• become competent in a third language (ASL)
• publish a book (kid's book first - have one in my head)
• be a good father
• be a competent piano player
• be a competent singer (learn to sing and play piano at the same time)
• be a competent ballroom dancer (start with private lessons)
• be well read (pick 25 books for each year, from all subjects)
• be knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects (The Great Courses - Google it)
• visit at least ten countries on four continents (5/2 down)
• be a competent juggler (start practicing)
• be competent at yoga (take lessons)
• put on a solo Shakespeare play, record it, and put it online
• earn a black belt in Akido
• build a full robot
• create a backyard botanical garden
• help someone else achieve their dream

Some of these are probably unexpected for those that know me.  Earn a black belt?  I know I'm not Bruce Lee, but it's doable.  Anything can be done, within physical and mental limitations, given enough time and effort.  I firmly believe that.  My biggest hurdle is deciding what to do and what to do first.  Many of these will take years.  Some will take a bit of prep work and then a one-time push.  Some will take a bit of luck.  And some will require a bit of time, money, and craziness.

I've spent many years trying to decide what one big thing to dedicate my life to.  I've also spent time trying to force myself into a regimen of generalistic interests.  Right now, I have these as long term goals that will make my journey interesting.  I'm working on some right now and will hold off on others until I (finally) move to where I want to be. 

How well will my journey go?  Like all journeys, there will be dead ends, wrong terms, and occasional accidents.  Such is life.  If I were to easily achieve all of these goals, then they were too easy.  If I have a 10% success rate, then they were too difficult.  Life is a grand experiment in what to do and how to do it.  That's part of the fun.

The Matthew Effect

I was reading a blog post by Scott Young today and thought I would write my own take on it.  Basically, the post is about the Matthew Effect (see here and here), the inflection point (more on that in a minute), and getting your aimed in the direction you want after getting side tracked.  The Matthew Effect is named after a statement from the bible, specifically Matthew 25:29:  "For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."  While I don't agree with this in the general case (Those who have candles, more will be given???), I can easily point out how this is true in some cases.

The power of the Matthew Effect can be seen most easily by the power of compound interest.  If you have invested $1000 at a set rate of 10% each year, you will earn $100 the first year, $110 the second year, and so on.  Conversely, if you have $1000 worth of debt set at a rate of 10% each month (cheap by credit card standards), you will owe an extra $100 the first month, $110 the second month, and have debt collectors after you the third month.  Those who have debt, more will be given.  The moral of this story is to avoid debt.

The inflection point, in light of the previous example, would be where you pay off your debt and start to invest.  Instead of incurring more debt each month, you gain more interest.  Unfortunately, this can, and often does occur, in the opposite direction. 

The Matthew Effect is not limited to money, however.  As per the second second Wikipedia article I linked to above, those who are poor readers early on in school will continue to do worse and worse in later years. 

Yet, all is not lost.  The inflection point can be reached.  Let's say you want to learn to read, speak, and generally understand Polish.  The longer you speak your native tongue, the more difficult it is to learn another language.  This is because our brains and vocal muscles are so used to speaking, in my case, English, that it takes a long time to retrain them.  It's an uphill battle, at first, to get to the inflection point.  Once we hit that point, however, our learning of Polish will take off.  We won't have to learn new Polish words through our native tongue; we can use a Polish dictionary and learn new things.  Compound learning.  The more you know, the easier it is to learn more.

But what about non-finance and non-learning?  Sure.  For the anti-social, meeting new people can be very difficult.  It's a challenge to just get out there and do it.  So much so, in fact, that socialites can't understand the trouble.  However, once you have enough experience in meeting new people, it becomes effortless. 

To summarize, if you want to learn a language, start learning the language.  If you want to become an expert in classical guitar, start playing classical guitar.  It'll be rough at first, but once you reach the inflection point, you're golden.

Family Matters

"Family" is typically the first of my five values that I list.  The reason is that I feel it's the most important.  The rest aren't in any real order.  I've also talked about how I want to start my own family and be a father.  And I've even talked a bit about what I tend to look for in a woman. 

Very recently, the best test I could ask myself about how I truly feel about a woman popped in my head:  would she make a good mother to our children?  As I've said, I want to be a father even more than I want to be a husband, and this is a very important question for me.  Can I trust her with our childrens' lives?  With all the various reports of parents killing their own kids, this question isn't all that crazy.  Can I trust her to teach our kids how to do well in life?  Can I trust her to raise them well if anything happens to me? 

I still feel that being a parent is the most important role one can play.  And that leading by example is the best method. 

Should I reverse the question?  Would she think I would make a good father to our children?  Would she trust me with our childrens' lives?  Can she trust me to teach our kids how to do well in life?  Can she trust me to raise them well if anything happens to her?

I know you never know what someone would do until they're in that situation.  But I still think these are very important questions. 

Other questions I would ask, ones that aren't directly related to children, include the previously mentioned philosophical compatibility, common interests, and open mindedness.

My, How the Time Flies

Sorry abou being out of touch for a while; work has been insane lately with twelve hour days and weekend work.  Oh, and a bunch of travel.  I barely have time to relax, let alone get things done.  I don't know when sanity will return.

My Japanese is in a holding pattern.  I still listen to Japanese podcasts and music, but my kanji practice has stagnated.  With work and the upcoming holidays, I foresee myself falling a bit further behind before catching up.

Other than work and Japanese, my mind is in turmoil.  Should one follow their heart even when it's crazy?  I don't know.  Sometimes the heart has bad ideas in the long run.  On the other hand, sometimes you just have to have faith.  As ironic as that last statement is coming from me, I can see both sides.  I want to follow my heart, even though the con list is as long as the pro list.  Good thing I have time before I have to act.