dxnn

Ping me if you know of an awesome conference that isn't on this list. 
Most of these cover the cost of conference, travel and lodging. 
Dates are currently almost all for 2015.

JSConf US           CFP: Jan 30       Conf: May 27-29  FL             http://jsconf.us
Clojure/West        CFP: Feb 11       Conf: Apr 20-22  PDX            http://clojurewest.org
LambdaConf          CFP: Feb 27       Conf: May 22     BLDR           http://www.degoesconsulting.com/lambdaconf-2015/
SIGBOVIK            CFP: Mar 15       Conf: Apr 1      CMU            http://sigbovik.org
PolyConf            CFP: Mar 28       Conf: Jul 2-4    Poland         http://polyconf.com
Curry-On            CFP: Apr 3        Conf: Jul 6-7    Prague         http://www.curry-on.org

dxnn

;; -*- mode: emacs-lisp -*-
;; This file is loaded by Spacemacs at startup.
;; It must be stored in your home directory.

(defun dotspacemacs/layers ()
  "Configuration Layers declaration."
  (setq-default
   ;; List of additional paths where to look for configuration layers.
   ;; Paths must have a trailing slash (ie. `~/.mycontribs/')
   dotspacemacs-configuration-layer-path '()

dxnn

start w/ apple ][+ simulation, show how it taught me to communicate with it: 'list' shows the full source of the current program, line number-based editing, 'run' to test changes and 'save' to store them. 
then cut to chrome's dev tools, show how they teach us to communicate -- start from blank page, build vibraphone.

- started programming when six -- first phase is learning to speak to the machine and have it do what you want
- ultimately that means building a little computer inside your head, since communication is heavily predicated on prediction

your first 100 programs 
  - like games of go: get them out of the way as quickly as possible
  - you're learning the language: practice practice practice