> I am starting a class this week, so I will be in read-only mode on the
> piclist for the next few weeks.  Besides, this list is CLEARLY WAY OVER MY
> HEAD.

Definitely not!
The level varies from the very very simple to the very complex. There's
somethinhg for almost everyone here.

> I have LOADS of archive reading to do.  I'm not throwing in the towel
> (yet) but I hate pointing out publicly how stupid I am.  Time for me to
> reconsider my activities, and see if I'm really up for the journey into
> electronics I've been fantasizing about.

If electronics is a serious aim then you can definitely make it. The fact
that you are "starting a class" (regardless of what level that is at) means
that you are willing and able to learn. (ie everyone is ABLE to learn
something (ability varies but is always there) - doing something is the
crucial step).

What you are capable of in electronics is as yet unknown. That you are
capable of achieving something useful and satisfying is obvious from your
posts so far. You don't have to become an expert overnight - just take it at
a pace that suits. Soak up what's interesting and learn from it. Seek to
understand the explanations that people provide to other's problems - don't
just skim over the bits you don't understand but follow what the "3experts"
are saying. (Also be aware that even "experts" explanations are sometimes
wrong :-) ). The more you assimilate the easier it will seem. Like most
things its mainly layer on layer on layer of not too hard stuff. There ae
some 'quantum leaps' required but ou can go a long way on slow easy steps.

>The mind is NOT a limitless resource, as some would have us believe.

No. But rather less limited than most believe. Repeated application makes
many apparently impossible tasks much more achievable. (Riding a bicycle,
driving a car, target shooting, WALKING!, playing a musical instrument and
much more are tasks that are literally impossible to the uninitiated and
literally seond nature to the trained.

> I will never tell my children "you
> can do anything" because that's just not true. :)

But do tell them that what they can achieve will surprise them if they allow
it to!
And be sure to tell yourself as well :-)




        Russell McMahon

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