[sown]

> Indeed. So all the talk about C and C++ vs Java and C# was just an excuse. I am willing to bet there are more excuses hiding.

Maybe. That was another poster, though. :) For me, I've spent most of my career fixing bugs. not much new code development. I'm trying to do more in that direction but I lack real honest development experience, even several years into it. I didn't even know design patterns were a thing until recently. shrug.

> By the way, I'm happy to give mock interviews and refer people to my employer.

I might do that. Thanks for the offer.

> I'd be immediately put off by you not learning on your own.. > ...was just an excuse. I am willing to bet there are more excuses hiding.

However, I get the impression you'd hate working with me or near me. I'm kind of slow; I have to take things in kind piece wise until I understand them. It appears to people on the outside that I am a dullard, I suspect. I try to work hard as I can, but people at Google, and you I bet, are smarter and harder working than me. :)

[eru]

I'm lucky that I'm good at technical interviews. That doesn't correlate very much with being an effective developer, but it gives a leg up in the job market. (And even somewhat makes up for dropping out of college.)

> I might do that. Thanks for the offer.

My email is in the profile.