When starting a new path, it is often difficult to know which way to go. Some good advice I once received is that when people are starting something new, they need to be told exactly what and how to do it. It is only once they have a bit of experience that you can remove [...]

“I don’t want to be a code monkey.”  I’ve heard a few friends say this who are involved in programming.  I don’t get it. Wikipedia says that a code monkey is someone “who writes computer code for a living.”  That’s pretty broad.  I assume a code monkey refers to someone who mindlessly takes orders.  In [...]

Since summer 2008, I have logged over 600 hours of freelance programming work through the website odesk.com.  It has been an interesting experience.  I started freelance work because I missed programming.  In May 2008, I moved to China and ended up becoming an English teacher.  While English teaching is rewarding in its own way, I [...]