Comments on: Expanding my thoughts on productivity gains and outsourcing http://www.billrini.com/2004/04/20/expanding-my-thoughts-on-productivity-gains-and-outsourcing/ Bill Rini's Poker Weblog Tue, 6 Jan 2009 13:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: span http://www.billrini.com/2004/04/20/expanding-my-thoughts-on-productivity-gains-and-outsourcing/#comment-61 span Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/?p=57#comment-61 first, let me mention that writing HTML isn't programming. HTML is a markup language, not a programming language. nobody is capable of writing an HTML program, because HTML programs don't exist. every time someone writes "HTML programmer," they are spreading untruth. second, i was going to disagree with your posts regarding outsourcing. while you make several points that i don't agree with, i think the spirit (rather than the letter) of what you've wrote is true. so thanks for the good read. "Six Rules For Contractors" is also helpful. i have to say that your credibility is diminished by all the posts on gambling though. first, let me mention that writing HTML isn’t programming. HTML is a markup language, not a programming language. nobody is capable of writing an HTML program, because HTML programs don’t exist. every time someone writes “HTML programmer,” they are spreading untruth.

second, i was going to disagree with your posts regarding outsourcing. while you make several points that i don’t agree with, i think the spirit (rather than the letter) of what you’ve wrote is true. so thanks for the good read. “Six Rules For Contractors” is also helpful.

i have to say that your credibility is diminished by all the posts on gambling though.

]]> By: Bill Rini http://www.billrini.com/2004/04/20/expanding-my-thoughts-on-productivity-gains-and-outsourcing/#comment-62 Bill Rini Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/?p=57#comment-62 To your first point, I would agree. I have always hated the term HTML programmer as it implies that the person knows how to program. In many of the organizations I've managed I attempted to structure the dept so that actual software engineers reported to me and HTML "programmers" reported to the graphic design head. I have nothing against HTML programmers but the term programmer causes others (i.e. CEO's and other non-tech executives) to think that they're technical staff but they are usually more visual people who belong with the graphic design and creative teams. On your point about gambling, it's my hobby much in the same way that people play golf or collect stamps. Technically, yes, it is gambling because there is an element of "luck" involved but poker is a skill game. It's a game of odds and you play hands based on the expected value of your move. I think it's best summed up in Matt Damon's character, Mike McDermott's quote from the movie Rounders: Why do you think the same 5 guys are at the finals of the world series of poker EVERY year? They're the luckiest guys in Vegas? I find that it sharpens the mind because you have to size up situations on the fly and you're forced to make decisions based on incomplete data. The better you can become at that, the better you do in poker and, IMHO, the better you do in many life and business situations. To your first point, I would agree. I have always hated the term HTML programmer as it implies that the person knows how to program. In many of the organizations I’ve managed I attempted to structure the dept so that actual software engineers reported to me and HTML “programmers” reported to the graphic design head. I have nothing against HTML programmers but the term programmer causes others (i.e. CEO’s and other non-tech executives) to think that they’re technical staff but they are usually more visual people who belong with the graphic design and creative teams.

On your point about gambling, it’s my hobby much in the same way that people play golf or collect stamps. Technically, yes, it is gambling because there is an element of “luck” involved but poker is a skill game. It’s a game of odds and you play hands based on the expected value of your move. I think it’s best summed up in Matt Damon’s character, Mike McDermott’s quote from the movie Rounders:

Why do you think the same 5 guys are at the finals of the world series of poker EVERY year? They’re the luckiest guys in Vegas?

I find that it sharpens the mind because you have to size up situations on the fly and you’re forced to make decisions based on incomplete data. The better you can become at that, the better you do in poker and, IMHO, the better you do in many life and business situations.

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