Certification has gotten a bad rap at times, but I think there’s still value in pursuing certification. There’s no substitute for on-the-job experience with technologies, of course, but the curriculum and certification gives one an idea of the skills and knowledge needed in a subject.
Google Codelabs are small projects that provide hands-on experience with various parts of the Google Cloud and other technologies. Some of them look a bit obscure (well, compared to my interests), but a few look like must-sees, like Your First Progressive Web App or YouTube in Your App.
Since starting to work as a TVC for Google, I’ve gotten used to using a Chrome OS at work. One thing I’ve missed is a painting app for quick-and-dirty edits of screenshots and the like. I’m hesitant to search the Chrome browser store every time I want an app that I’m used see bundled into Windows, so mostly I’ve just taken care of where I carved out my screenshots before sending them to customers.
Well, those of us on the Chrome OS (and anyone who uses the Chrome browser) now have a quick drawing tool readily available, according to Mashable.
Canvas can be accessed at canvas.apps.chrome, without downloading an app. It’s got the basics – just enough to obscure an account number or other identifying information, or circle the single entry field that needs attention on a form, before forwarding a screenshot to a customer.
The Philosopher Redefining Equality , an article in the latest New Yorker, describes the work of professor Elizabeth Anderson (of the University of Michigan).
I’m still reading the article , but one takeaway for public speaking is Anderson’s advice to a new Ph.D worried about giving talks at conferences:
“Don’t write up,” Anderson advised. “Just do PowerPoint slides.” … She went on, “Give the big picture, make points to motivate the idea, and punt all the objections to the Q. & A. What ensues is a very lively Q. & A.”
Chuang knitted her brow. An esteemed philosopher at Oxford reads his talks, she said.
“Yeah, horrible,” Anderson said. “So retro.” The issue was that people were afraid of questions, and tried to address them all preëmptively. She laughed darkly: Hhhh-aahr-aahr-aahr. “Philosophers are too risk averse, and this makes listening to philosophers tedious.”
