DA Observations

Pen with a paper full of solved math problems

10.02.23 // Core Reflection²

With the Core Studies taught at Dev Academy I think it’s most important to keep an open mind. You only get as much as you give. Personally, I’ve found I can only take on the lessons taught when I relinquish a little of my natural scepticism to the learnings and allow for the possibility of positive progress.

30.01.23 // Core Life is a Highway. And so is Your Brain.

Hit The Road Jack. And don’t you come back. Until you’ve embraced your capacity for intellectual development. Neuroplasticity is the capacity to change neural networks in your brain through growth and reorganisation.

28.01.23 // Tech It's a backend... It's a frontend... It's Javascript!

JS is the dominant force behind website development. With it you can add smooth animations, pop-up error messages, autofill, or live-update text on screen. Without it, websites like Facebook, Google, and YouTube (amongst "others") wouldn't be possible

A bunch of eggs, each with a cartoon face displaying a common emotion. Eg: happy, sad, etc.

24.01.23 // Core EQ: don't get in treble without a bassis of emotions.

In the most general sense, it is a sensitivity to one’s mood and the moods of others. A person with a high emotional intelligence might recognise when a fiery outburst might actually contain a plee for help. They might have a healthy scepticism or pessimism of common strong emotions such as: love, desire, anger, empathy, envy, or anxiety.

23.01.23 // Core Learning?
Plan.

After 19 years working in hospitality and reaching the highest achievements within the occupation, I have become disenfranchised with the industry at large. The sector only thrives through rampant abuse of workers, spontaneous but constant harm to local communities, and promotion of alcohol - the most harmful drug widely available in Aotearoa/New Zealand. I opened my first restaurant, Civil & Naval, at 21. I am proud of my accomplishments as a young entrepreneur – and my reputation in the community as someone who cares deeply about employee well-being – but after selling my business last year I could not see a way to make significant positive change chasing further success in the field.

23.01.23 // Core Identity & Values Matter.
CHANGE MY MIND.

I used to run a small restaurant. In a field where every challenge is hard fought and seldom rewarded, we bucked the trend. Whilst I put my initial success down to a relentless personal dedication, I am proud that the company truly became an anomaly when we developed a whanaungatanga and embraced a different management style, what I called at the time “full Communism”.

21.01.23 // Tech POV: You Still Don't Understand Margin, Border & Padding.

In this – our first genuine post – I will describe these three elements and how they interact with the content of our pages. Understanding the box model and positioning is key to create aesthetically salient and visually pleasing websites.

19.01.23 // Tech Whatever happened to Te Houtaewa?

Te Houtaewa was the fastest runner of his day and played many pranks on his peoples enemies. One morning his mother wanted kumara for the hangi (earth oven) and asked Te Houtaewa to go to the gardens at Te Kao, a short distance away. He agreed to fetch the kumara and told his mother to prepare the hangi.