student courses

[mph4ever]

since lots of people on here have lots of well supported opinions, i just thought i would ask for a little direction, perhaps.

hypothetically, i am considering going back for more education. i opted out of corporate life when i was 32 and during my career i pretty much hit the heights in the world of management, technology and business achievements. i don't plan on going back to work in any way to do with business since i have some personal interests that i manage for myself.

i want to do something stimulating for me but have difficulty thinking through the whys and the why nots of certain courses.


why a thread? well, i would like to hear what course you think is worthwhile doing and why you think this? if you had the chance to do any subject available, what would you pick?

[cometuesday]

do you mean simply worthwhile for the sake of education? if that's the case i would assume just learning more about something you're interested in would be the obvious answer.

[rasputin]

Political theory. Simply can't be beat :D

[mph4ever]

do you mean simply worthwhile for the sake of education? if that's the case i would assume just learning more about something you're interested in would be the obvious answer.

i thought about that and it could be something where i get a greater appreciation for an area but it could also allow me to be active in the particular discipline. like i have written off my ambition to be an astronaut but it doesn't mean that i shouldn't study something in the area of space flight or astrophysics

[mph4ever]

Political theory. Simply can't be beat :D

participating in pwni covers that one extensively :)

[cometuesday]

well yeah i mean do what moves or interests you.

in a practical sense you could always take a language, if you don't know any already (or a new one even if you do)

[mph4ever]

well yeah i mean do what moves or interests you.

in a practical sense you could always take a language, if you don't know any already (or a new one even if you do)

thats certainly one to consider although i have enough languages to get by. i do endeavour to learn as much as possible about local culture, including trying to speak the lingo, when i travel.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

I'm studying engineering, which is pretty badass, but I'm not sure it would really be a "fun" thing to study unless you're looking for a career.

It sounds to me like you should take either a year to dabble in all sorts of courses and see what you like or start reading about subjects that interest you before you decide. Pick up a bunch of specialty magazines and see what you might actually like to study. Look at everything from astrophysics to anthropology. There are jobs in everything if you're willing to bust your butt for years and make it happen.

[Reaganista]

do something creative everything else is pointless if you're independently wealthy and dont want to go back to work

[PerpetualBurn]

You mean this guy's not 16?

[Reaganista]

i figured he was too im still suspicious that this is some bizarre joke

[mph4ever]

no joke

genuinely

just interested in what other people would do given the opportunity. what would interest them and why they find it interesting. it can be from experience or ambition. i don't want to put myself at the mercy of people who think they know me and what i might be interested in. so i have asked you all since there is a faiirly eclectic mix on here and lot of different disciplines and enormous amounts of knowledge.

[cometuesday]

doing music, myself

[mph4ever]

doing music, myself

thats one i never thought of. i love music, all sorts. do you have to be a capable musician to study it?

[ashman]

Here's the things I'd do purely from an interest point of view;

Electronics: So you can make you're own 42" LCD HDTV

Physics: So you can sound more intelligent then you are and get Hareems of beautiful women.

Astronomy: Discover a badass comet that's coming to kill us all and name it after your blood sucking spouse/relative.

Or

Philosophy: 'Cos we all know, people who do this course just wanna get laid all the time :thumb:

[cometuesday]

you don't have to be a musician to study music, no. some of the higher level stuff, perhaps.

[Futue te Ipsum]

medicine. Women love doctors.

Oh, who am I kidding...

*spends another lonely night between textbooks*

[beso negro]

do something creative everything else is pointless if you're independently wealthy and dont want to go back to work

tway that was stupid.

study physics bro. i am planning on getting a degree in physics after i'm done with comp sci.

[1338 h4x0r]

physics can be cool. I find it kind of tedious myself and prefer other kinds of applied math :(

[monkeysonmars.]

If i got to choose again I found definitely do international relations, all my favourite units of my degree have been on international relations.

[mph4ever]

medicine. Women love doctors.

Oh, who am I kidding...

*spends another lonely night between textbooks*

already got one woman for life, any bloke that wants more than one needs medical help


study physics bro. i am planning on getting a degree in physics after i'm done with comp sci.


physics can be cool. I find it kind of tedious myself and prefer other kinds of applied math


i like math, i really like physics. thats definitely an option. thats such a vast field i could get lost for years in it.

[mph4ever]

If i got to choose again I found definitely do international relations, all my favourite units of my degree have been on international relations.

so are you thinking diplomat type stuff or what?

btw, i have also given up on being a professional footballer and a secret agent, theres more.

[mightygod]

ELECTRONICS! you can make lots of cool inventions. Its good if you are creative.

[1338 h4x0r]

i like math, i really like physics. thats definitely an option. thats such a vast field i could get lost for years in it.

Well, yeah ... like Paul Erdős pointed out, there is no end to new findings in math

[Der Übermensch]

Since you seem to not be needing something that takes potential career options into play for this, I would say Philosophy or History.

Really studying a foreign language couldn't hurt either.

[mph4ever]

yeah, i was thinking history, maybe ancient history but i am not too sure where they draw the line between that and pre-history which also fascinates me

and languages are an option too

[Der Übermensch]

I think 4000 BC is often the cut off. Rise of Civilization in the fertile crescent.

[mph4ever]

ELECTRONICS! you can make lots of cool inventions. Its good if you are creative.


i love electronics but then all my qualifications are in electronics, radio or computers. if i were to start again, as a kid i think this is where my focus would be, but i've done all that so i'll leave it to others to innovate there

[Smokey D]

It really depends on what your interests are, of course. If you enjoy the kind of stuff that goes on in PWNI, then political theory, history, philosophy and related subjects would be a good idea.

I wouldn't recommend learning a language unless you're doing it specifically as a mental exercise since you won't become fluent at your age, especially with minimal immersion.

[mph4ever]

yeah, i think you are right on about languages. i know enough french to get by comfortably, although i should brush up on my english.

political theory, history and philosophy seem to be at the top end of any list of options.

[Smokey D]

That probably reflects the biases of the forum.

Don't forget about related subjects like sociology, anthropology etc.

[1338 h4x0r]

I think 4000 BC is often the cut off. Rise of Civilization in the fertile crescent.

Is it true that the Harappan civilization might have been earlier? I heard this but the source seemed biased, so I don't know.

[Der Übermensch]

It was probably revisionist hogwash. Only sources I have ever seen place Indus valley stuff at the same time or slightly after Fertile Crescent.

[1338 h4x0r]

yeah that doesn't surprise me

[thedeadwalk!]

Don't forget about related subjects like sociology, anthropology etc.
I was going to mention these since he said he was interested in the local cultures of his travels. It would certainly help business relations but also gives great insight into the nature of civilization and the crazy things people do when they get together.

[cometuesday]

i'm taking an anthro course right now and i've been really into it, it's interesting as hell

[mph4ever]

anthropology.....hmmmmm, that seems to open up all sorts of avenues

[1338 h4x0r]

Mainly in the food service industry

[mph4ever]

I think 4000 BC is often the cut off. Rise of Civilization in the fertile crescent.

if i was doing that i would like to start after the last ice age, maybe even 12,000 to 10,000 bc or there abouts.

[Futue te Ipsum]

already got one woman for life, any bloke that wants more than one needs medical helpyou'd be in a great position to give it to yourself!

[Der Übermensch]

if i was doing that i would like to start after the last ice age, maybe even 12,000 to 10,000 bc or there abouts.

Civilization is defined (as far as I know) as a complex human society that practices agriculture and habitats in cities. The former perhaps, but I think the latter wasn't evident that early on.

[mph4ever]

hehehehe

but seriously, medicine is not a direction i could consider. i see it as an honour to be trained, a vocation actually. i'm not cut out for that, plus a&e would wreck my head, repeat offender junkies coming in and taking up time that is better afforded to people that don't desire to be sick, that and government budgets being slashed such that i would not be able to stick rigidly to my oath.

[mph4ever]

Civilization is defined (as far as I know) as a complex human society that practices agriculture and habitats in cities. The former perhaps, but I think the latter wasn't evident that early on.

i've read about the founding of jericho at almost 10,000 bc. and the rise of hunter-gatherer sedentism was 12,000 bc. so the foundations for it were there. they just never managed to settle down quickly enough. i would find it very interesting to focus on piecing together exactly what might have went on. i've read the books but i would enjoy looking at the material upon which the authors make their assumptions, perhaps some of it is wide open to further interpretation.

[Der Übermensch]

Thats still Neolithic era - the New Stone Age.

Sumer is generally considered the first civilization because they practiced year-round agriculture - and are the first evidenced to have done so (4500 BC or so I think).
Earlier population centers were trading posts and/or seasonal.

[Dr Hooch]

Electronics is pretty satisfying.

I wouldn't recomend any physical sciences; unless you know that's what you want to do, don't bother.

[mph4ever]

yes, generally. there is some evidence suggesting that the people of the upper paleolithic period laid the foundations for this in the near east and that these peoples descendents that brought about the neolithic revolution. i suppose it is where we make the cut off and say this is the point that civilisation started. based on todays data, this is sumer. i reckon it was earlier than sumer but cannot be found in the archeological record i.e. it just didn't appear in sumer and some of their traditions indicate that they migrated from elsewhere, like the garden of eden, to establish their civilisation in sumer.

[Der Übermensch]

I would agree with you there. It's quite hard to make any absolute assertion given the inability to ever have the complete archeological picture. The data we have today points to Sumer, but who knows what we haven't found, or what simply has been erased completely.

[mph4ever]

I would agree with you there. It's quite hard to make any absolute assertion given the inability to ever have the complete archeological picture. The data we have today points to Sumer, but who knows what we haven't found, or what simply has been erased completely.

maybe we should buy a trowel and dust brush

[1338 h4x0r]

That'd be cool

[Der Übermensch]

Well, you pay for the airline ticket, I'll buy the trowel

[ashman]

Electronics is pretty satisfying.

I wouldn't recomend any physical sciences; unless you know that's what you want to do, don't bother.

Yea, the worst thing about sciences is the fact you have to study and do exams in lots of different things.


At Uni, I had to do Optics (I hate frigging optics), Electronics, Quantum Physics, Eletronics, Electro-Magnetics, C++, Maths and practical physics (labs) in 1 semester! Was horrible, didn't start Astrophysics until the second semester.

[1338 h4x0r]

C++ is the pits dude

[mph4ever]

That'd be cool


wouldn't it just

where to next indiana?


C++ is the pits dude


i can remember learning c for the first time from a book called "c for yourself". we had systems running fortran and cobol. i've covered the computer stuff in my career already. theres no point in going back there, i pretty much did it all. theres nothing left that challenges me.

[1338 h4x0r]

Things have changed quite a lot since the C, FORTRAN and COBOL.

If you want a real mind****, take up Haskell ... the only programming language I know that uses applied category theory to represent state.

[mph4ever]

haskell, currying....wtf?

things have changed but the basics are still the same. once you have the basics then it is easy to pick up the rest

[guitarded_chuck]

Political science/theory or History would be the two I'd be most interested in. I'm taking Environmental Studies to lead me into a environmentally related career (hopefully environmental law), but if there were two other degrees I wish I had time to take it would be those two.

A language could be beneficial too, but I would only do it if there was something I could get out of it. Maybe learn German/French/Italian/whatever and then go work in the country for awhile, that'd be cool. But you said you want to stay out of business so that might not work.

[1338 h4x0r]

haskell, currying....wtf?

things have changed but the basics are still the same. once you have the basics then it is easy to pick up the rest

Even the basics have changed in Haskell. It's like learning ****ing Korean.

[mph4ever]

Political science/theory or History would be the two I'd be most interested in. I'm taking Environmental Studies to lead me into a environmentally related career (hopefully environmental law), but if there were two other degrees I wish I had time to take it would be those two.



history is one of those subjects that really allows you to appreciate and understand your surroundings. good luck with your career choice, its a brave person who wants to get involved in the greener issues, most especially in the knowledge that you are fighting corruption every step on the way. ever need support, just give me call


Even the basics have changed in Haskell. It's like learning ****ing Korean.

and pray tell, what might be wrong with that?

[1338 h4x0r]

and pray tell, what might be wrong with that?

Nothing wrong with either

One of my bros is Korean

[mph4ever]

just testing :naughty:

i just used to love making the little led man walk across the display in machine code

[1338 h4x0r]

One time I was writing a program and I farted

True story

[mph4ever]

nothing like expressing your core library during a little old coding session

[Reaganista]

i drew a picture of an amusement park on my AP C++ exam in high school

[1338 h4x0r]

lol

[guitarded_chuck]

good luck with your career choice, its a brave person who wants to get involved in the greener issues, most especially in the knowledge that you are fighting corruption every step on the way. ever need support, just give me call

Thank you very much! Its nice to hear that someone appreciates what I'm striving to become. I think that right now environmental issues remain controversial, but I believe that in the near future they will not, and people are going to be banding together to find solutions. I hope to be a part of this change in attitude and then a part of the necessary changes to society.

Good luck to you as well! :chug:

[mph4ever]

like a lot of things, i reckon the only way to fight these issues is actual infiltration. whether it be working the green agenda whilst also working your way up the corporate ladder or joining political parties and pushing it there. it really is the only way that change can take place. otherwise its direct confrontation and that has never worked out, the fu'ckers always get the last say.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

As much as I'm in favour of sustainable development and so on, I really don't see the majority of people being willing to do what it takes to make a difference. It sucks, but people will only start being green when green alternatives are cheaper than polluting. Nobody's going to leave oil in the ground until it's cheaper to use hydrogen/solar power/tidal generators/whatever else there may be.

... go go gadget nuclear energy?

[beso negro]

people will only start being green when green alternatives are cheaper than polluting.

and this isn't possible in the future?

many corporations power their entire headquarters with 100% green energy already.

[Dr Hooch]

and this isn't possible in the future?

many corporations power their entire headquarters with 100% green energy already.

it's the attitude that such a thing can even exist that's part of the problem.

[guitarded_chuck]

New technology needs to be developed, and is being developed, so that these changes can take place. There is going to be a massive global oil shortage in the upcoming future, on top of the environment continuing to be harmed. So it is not a matter of people choosing one way or another, but a matter of not having any choice.

As oil becomes less abundant, it will be much cheaper to generate power through solar, hydro and other means. You don't have to pay for the sun's power, and don't have to pay much for hydrogen/water-based fuel, but have you seen the price of oil these days? The prices are growing at an almost exponential rate, and this will continue until changes are made.

[Dr Hooch]

don't have to pay much for hydrogen/water-based fuel

Hydrogen is no more of a power source than batteries are. having an electric or hydrogen powered car will only be "green" once energy production is sustainable.

[beso negro]

it's the attitude that such a thing can even exist that's part of the problem.

http://www.crn.com/hardware/207001295

[guitarded_chuck]

Hydrogen is no more of a power source than batteries are. having an electric or hydrogen powered car will only be "green" once energy production is sustainable.

Neither of your points are true in the least.

Hydrogen powered automobiles are completely sustainable. They run on hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant element on Earth, and the exhaust is simply droplets of water...

And they have made both electric and hydrogen powered cars that run as fast or faster than many fossil fuel powered automobiles.

To prove both of my points:

The Sequel's biggest single advance, Burns said, is a compressed-hydrogen storage tank that can hold enough fuel to give the car a range of 300 miles. That is twice as far as the range of older versions of fuel-cell cars, and is considered the threshold distance to be marketable. With liquid hydrogen, the range could extend to 450 miles, Burns said.

The Sequel also has a more powerful stack of fuel cells than previously possible, cutting 0-to-60 mph acceleration time to fewer than 10 seconds, comparable to most conventional cars.

I encourage you to read the whole article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59890-2005Jan8_2.html

[Dr Hooch]

http://www.crn.com/hardware/207001295

"energy driven by methane and wind-based power sources, the company announced in conjunction with its analyst meeting on Wednesday."

Methane is not "100% green". Wind power is not "100% green".

It's like going from kicking puppies to kicking less cute animals like reptiles and calling it "100% ethical".

[beso negro]

how are they not green prey tell

[guitarded_chuck]

Yea really though. I'm not completely familiar with menthane power but wind power is about as clean as it gets.

[mph4ever]

its ok folks, i'm not going to study the energy world or green world.

[Dr Hooch]

Well methane is just a fossil fuel that happens to burn cleaner than coal does

wind turbines are made from metals torn out of the ground which then have to be smelted and stuff before taking up vast quantites of greenfield land

"100% green" is as stupid a concept as "100% heterosexual"

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

and this isn't possible in the future?

Not only is it possible, it's inevitable. We have about 30 years of gasoline left, and some time before that, the price will be so astronomically high that no matter how undeveloped other energy sources are, they'll be cheaper. The only question is whether or not the world will wisen up soon enough to invest in sustainable infrastructure so we don't revert back to the stone age when gas hits 30 bucks per litre.

[Dr Hooch]

Hydrogen powered automobiles are completely sustainable. They run on hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant element on Earth, and the exhaust is simply droplets of water...

:lol:

hydrogen is not a natural resource they have to produce it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_production

Do not think for a second I am not all in favour of continual development of sustainable fuel sources (and continuous research into fusion power) and do not think that i don't want cars to use hydrogen cells

BUT

I can not stand

naive false optimism and people thinking that all they have to do is put up with an extra 1% of tax and switching off the light when they leave the room and all of a sudden our horrible civilisation will be like a zen animal giving more back to mother earth than we take away

[mph4ever]

Not only is it possible, it's inevitable. We have about 30 years of gasoline left, and some time before that, the price will be so astronomically high that no matter how undeveloped other energy sources are, they'll be cheaper. The only question is whether or not the world will wisen up soon enough to invest in sustainable infrastructure so we don't revert back to the stone age when gas hits 30 bucks per litre.

i find it hard to buy into the idea that we have about 30 years left of oil. there is something very sinister about it all. its a very closely held cartel that runs oil worldwide and i really don't trust what they say to justify high prices.

[Dr Hooch]

i find it hard to buy into the idea that we have about 30 years left of oil. there is something very sinister about it all. its a very closely held cartel that runs oil worldwide and i really don't trust what they say to justify high prices.

That's a fair thing oil cartels are awful

BUT

can you begin to imagine the sheer volume of oil that your country or my country is using on our own and then put that in the context of "china and india exist"

[Give me Beer]

Since you seem to not be needing something that takes potential career options into play for this, I would say Philosophy or History.

Really studying a foreign language couldn't hurt either.

lol, I actually study History with a minor in Philosophy. :0

BTW, History can actually get you quite far as far as career options go, unlike the conventional view. I'd wager about half the people working for the European Parliament, to name something, have a degree in history.

Also, you need not become fluent in a language to want to learn some of it. Thinking in another language actually changes your frame of reference and makes you think about familiar concepts in different ways. Every language is a different way of thinking.

[mph4ever]

That's a fair thing oil cartels are awful

BUT

can you begin to imagine the sheer volume of oil that your country or my country is using on our own and then put that in the context of "china and india exist"

i know, i would really like to see someone lay out the numbers so that we can appreciate what is happening. this map makes for interesting reading.

http://www.lastoilshock.com/map.html

(really, i shouldn't be posting on these topics when my avatar is such an obvious waste of an oil by-product)


BTW, History can actually get you quite far as far as career options go, unlike the conventional view. I'd wager about half the people working for the European Parliament, to name something, have a degree in history.


i didn't take it that he meant people who study history or philosphy don't get jobs, but that those subjects are very enjoyable and can be taken for an appreciation of what is around us with regard to civilisation and culture, where it comes from, where its heading, and the mechanics fundamentals of how it develops.

[Smokey D]

Yea really though. I'm not completely familiar with menthane power but wind power is about as clean as it gets.

I recall that it takes a turbine like 20 years of operation to make up for its environmental footprint, especially the massive concrete foundation turbines that are large enough to be economically feasible require.

[Dr Hooch]

(really, i shouldn't be posting on these topics when my avatar is such an obvious waste of an oil by-product)


self immolation is the best use of petrol there is =)

[mph4ever]

yeah, that and setting yourself on fire

[1338 h4x0r]

Thoughts of sex distracted me and now I have to immolate myself to subdue the buzzing in my head!

[Dr Hooch]

I feel that the time has come to project my own inadequacies and dissatisfactions into the sociopolitical and scientific schemes


let my own lack of a voice be heard...

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

i find it hard to buy into the idea that we have about 30 years left of oil. there is something very sinister about it all. its a very closely held cartel that runs oil worldwide and i really don't trust what they say to justify high prices.

30 years of oil isn't coming from the oil companies though. The oil companies are actually saying the opposite ("we're having a bit of a hard time finding oil right now but that'll pick up soon") because they don't want alternative technologies to be investigated. If people were to actually realize how close we are to oil being impossibly expensive, the race to make oil obsolete would start tomorrow.

[mph4ever]

i paid the equivalent of $10.25 a gallon yesterday for diesel, i wish they would fire the starting gun and let the race begin

[Danish]

since lots of people on here have lots of well supported opinions, i just thought i would ask for a little direction, perhaps.

hypothetically, i am considering going back for more education. i opted out of corporate life when i was 32 and during my career i pretty much hit the heights in the world of management, technology and business achievements. i don't plan on going back to work in any way to do with business since i have some personal interests that i manage for myself.

i want to do something stimulating for me but have difficulty thinking through the whys and the why nots of certain courses.


why a thread? well, i would like to hear what course you think is worthwhile doing and why you think this? if you had the chance to do any subject available, what would you pick?

Take Labour Studies.

[mph4ever]

you'll have to explain what exactly you mean. for a minute i thought you meant medicine!

[Dr Hooch]

Take Labour Studies.

Perfect for a career in Being A Communist :p

[mph4ever]

i think i might just go to anarchy camp

[guitarded_chuck]

I recall that it takes a turbine like 20 years of operation to make up for its environmental footprint, especially the massive concrete foundation turbines that are large enough to be economically feasible require.

20 years? If they were that inefficient at creating power they wouldn't be constructed in the first place. Think about it for a minute.

[Dr Hooch]

There's a difference between "energy" like the energy used to build the thing and "energy" as in useful electricity that goes to the grid.