[Launch School] Community Update - July 27, 2023

Hi everyone, it's Clare here with another update. I don't have any cute kitten photos, so I can't compete with Brandi's last update, but, I have got more news on classic British teatime treats (as well as a smattering of Launch School news). Moving on from scones (remember: cream, then jam), I now bring you jaffa cakes* - are they a biscuit or a cake? This was inspired by Shane's brilliant [question]( about whether British websites use biscuits instead of cookies. Now, you may think this is all just playful banter, but let me tell you, us Brits take our biscuits very seriously! In fact, cakes and biscuits in the UK are exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT - sales tax in UK-speak) because they are considered a staple food. But, if biscuits are covered in chocolate they become a luxury food, and they're no longer exempt (oh, the horror!). Chocolate cakes though, a staple all the way (happy days). This brings us to the intriguing case of jaffa cakes. In 1991, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (HMCE) challenged McVitie's classification of jaffa cakes as cakes rather than biscuits for tax purposes (thus avoiding pesky VAT). In HMCE's defence, these scrumptious treats are the size of biscuits, sold in biscuit-like packaging and found alongside biscuits in stores. But, after a nail-biting court battle, McVitie's successfully argued that jaffa cakes are indeed cakes because they go hard when stale, just like cakes do (and baked a ginormous jaffa cake to prove their point - any excuse, huh?!). HMCE's quest for additional tax revenues was defeated, and jaffa cakes remain a VAT-exempt British staple to this day. Hurrah! [jaffa_justice] Weighing up jaffa cakes So, what would happen if that court case was held today? Dr. Heloise Stevance has recently used AI to settle this debate once and for all. And guess what? AI agrees with McVitie's! [Jaffa cakes are cakes, not biscuits](. AI may strike fear into the hearts of many, but I embrace it - how much time and money could have been saved for the British taxpayer if ChatGPT had been around in 1991? Open AI, I hope you’re listening, my cv is in the post and I'm happy to commute to London on a biannual basis. (I’m trying to create a bidding war with Google, who strangely haven’t got back to me yet, but I’m sure they’re just waiting to see what I’ll do next, plus, they don’t know about my secret weapon (right Graham J 😉). Alright, let's do a little Launch School news. *For the uninitiated, jaffa cakes are a delightful British treat that perfectly balance the flavors of sweet and tangy. There are a small, round sponge with a thin layer of zesty orange jelly on top, all covered in smooth chocolate. --------------------------------------------------------------- Important Updates New Data Structures and Algorithms Course - coming soon! A brand new course on Data Structures and Algorithms is on the horizon, and it's coming your way soon. Get ready to dive in and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Stay tuned for more details, and check out this [post]( for a sneak peek! I’m living the life of Riley. I’m loving being a TA (writing regular community updates about British teatime treats is a dream come true) and moseying my way through Core. After passing JS211, Chris was worried that I might pick up some momentum and actually get to the end of Core. However, no need to have been concerned because Launch School are adding new courses faster than I can complete them. Honestly, I’m in snail heaven taking the slow path to mastery. [self_portrait] Self portrait --------------------------------------------------------------- Routine Updates Meetups It's been a quiet one for meet-ups since the last update, so I don't have any photos (not even photoshopped ones). But don't be sad, there is a meetup planned in for SoCal students on Sunday, July 30th, at 12pm, see here]( for more details. Don't forget to browse through the slack channels to find a region near you, and start one up if you see a gap in the market. If you do plan a gathering, consider adding it to our [events calendar]( to advertise to a wider audience. There are loads of lovely communities within Launch School and I just wanted to give a quick shoutout for a [new slack channel]( that has been set up by students 'to enable trans and non-binary folks to find each other and have a dedicated affinity space!'. Women's Group We recently had another fantastic meetup with our Launch School Women's Group. This time, we had the opportunity to have more in-depth conversations about study techniques and share valuable tips and book recommendations. These gatherings are truly precious, providing a supportive space for like-minded individuals to connect and grow. Looking ahead, our [next meeting]( is scheduled for Sunday, August 13th, 2.30pm EST. And guess what? We have an extra special guest joining us - none other than Launch School founder, Chris Lee! You won't want to miss this focused Q&A session, so if you have any burning questions, such as whether the chocolate side of a jaffa cake is the top or bottom (just kidding, I've already submitted that question), don't hesitate to [put them here]( before July 30th. [questions] Questions, questions, questions Student Articles This month, we have a treat for you - not biscuits or cakes, but two insightful articles by Andrew that you won't want to miss: - [Class Inheritance vs. Interface Inheritance in Ruby](a6macleod/class-inheritance-vs-interface-inheritance-in-ruby-855919b04248): Andrew delves into the fascinating topic of class inheritance versus interface inheritance in Ruby, providing valuable insights for all you Ruby enthusiasts. - [Method Access Control in Ruby](a6macleod/method-access-control-in-ruby-b9a091e66f1): This article covers method access control in Ruby, an essential concept for maintaining clean and secure code. Additionally, Karis has written a lovely [article]( on how to get unstuck when programming. This is a must-read for all coding adventurers! --------------------------------------------------------------- On the Lowdown As always, our Slack channels have been buzzing with interesting discussions: Keep It Moving Callie reached out for resources on short exercise routines, and the community delivered! If you're looking for ideas to keep active while coding away (or to offset teatime treats), this [thread]( is filled with suggestions to get you moving. Recursive Crows Just when we thought AI was our biggest worry, Mitch introduced us to a new potential adversary - crows that use recursion! Yes, you read that right. Check out the fascinating article [here]( to learn more about these clever birds. [crow] Stern-looking crow Taking the Plunge A topic that frequently comes up is whether to transition to full-time studies at Launch School. Ymhan initiated a [discussion]( about this very dilemma, and it's worth checking out if you're contemplating a similar move. --------------------------------------------------------------- Clare's Job Hunt update While I'm still eagerly awaiting that call from Google (fingers crossed!), I couldn't resist exploring other opportunities. Inspired by my jaffa cake research, I've taken the initiative to use ChatGPT to settle the age-old question of cream-then-jam on scones. My opus magnum is sure to make waves in the UK tech recruitment landscape! OpenAI coming to London is just the beginning. I'm open to ideas for future British teatime treat AI research - feel free to share your suggestions! (My husband and I have only just finished watching the US The Office, so it's worth noting the lengths to which I can be goaded...) [teatime_research] My husband checking out my thesis As always, it's a pleasure sharing this tasty journey with you all. Until next time, happy coding and happy teatime snacking! --------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to stop receiving emails from us, you can use the one-click link below to unsubscribe. [Unsubscribe From All Email]( [Unsubscribe From Weekly Summaries](