Chambers wrote:

> Personally, I think this understanding is so important that I would say 
> *all* programmers should, at one point or another, learn to write 
> complete programs in assembly language, by hand.  Not that they should 
> use machine language for their jobs, but because knowing how computers 
> *really* work will help them write better programs in the long run.

This, presumably, is why my course included a module on microprocessors, 
machine code, binary representation, etc. It probably didn't help in the 
slightest that this module was taught by Mr Apothetic. Seriously, I have 
*no idea* WTF this guy's problem was, but damn...!

"Well this stuff is in the exam so I *suppose* I'd better teach it to 
you. But it's pointless really. You'll never actually *need* to know 
this stuff." Way to motivate your students, man! [Yes, these are the 
actual words he used. His emphasis.]

But then, his views on BP were quite similar. "Oh yes, I understand 
they're trying to 'rebuild Colossus'. Pointless really. The actual 
machine was destroyed, so it'll never really be exactly like the 
original. And what will they *do* with it anyway?" Jesus, dude, take a 
pill or something!!

It really made me sad. This _would_ have been one of the most 
interesting parts of the course... much more fun than learning Java or 
how to balance accounts...

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