The Legit Baines Blog

  Why Passion and Personal Investment Create Better Problem Solvers One of the biggest mistakes organisations make when hiring is focusing entirely on technical ability while overlooking whether the person actually cares about the problems they are being asked to solve. Technical skills are important, but genuine investment in the outcome is often what separates average employees from exceptional ones. A person who emotionally connects with the purpose behind the work will naturally go further, think deeper and stay motivated for longer than someone who simply sees the role as a pay cheque. This becomes especially important in analytical and technical roles. For example, if a company is hiring a data analyst to work with information related to medical conditions, ideally they should look for someone who genuinely cares about helping people affected by those conditions. A technically skilled analyst may be able to produce dashboards and reports, but someone who is personally invest...

 Why We Need to Rethink Feedback, Criticism, and Being Told We’re Wrong  There is something fundamentally broken in the way many of us think about feedback, criticism, and being told we’re wrong. For a lot of people, these things feel uncomfortable, even personal. We tend to avoid them, soften them, or remove them entirely. But in doing so, we are also removing one of the most important mechanisms for growth. If no one ever tells you that you’re doing something wrong, how are you supposed to get better at it? I’ve experienced this problem firsthand through applying for a wide range of roles with Sheffield City Council . These roles span different departments and skillsets, and on paper, many organisations like this emphasise inclusivity and openness to candidates from alternative backgrounds. That sounds great in theory. But in practice, I’ve consistently received little to no feedback when unsuccessful . Just a rejection and that’s the end of the process. The issue here isn’t...

Hallam University Taught Me New Things Plus Also How to Learn Even More Now that I've finished my university journey, I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve grown, not just in terms of knowledge, but in the very process of learning itself. University has opened my eyes to entire worlds of technology I never imagined exploring, from databases to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and from the Internet of Things (IoT) to programming. But what stands out most to me is how university has taught me not just new things, but also how to learn new things, even on my own. The New Things I’ve Learned When I first walked into university, I had a basic understanding of technology and programming. But the subjects I’ve encountered throughout my studies have completely transformed my perspective on what is possible. Here are just a few of the most exciting things I’ve learned: 1. Databases Learning about databases has shown me how the power of data is structured, stored, and retrieved. I never tr...

Sample of my Python Code https://github.com/cuthbert86/RiverProject/blob/main/datetime1.py This is an example of some of my data management work.  I wrote a python code that combined date and time columns into a single date-time column and then formatted it into .ISO format. import pandas as pd # Load your data from a CSV file (adjust the filename and path accordingly) file_path = 'riverdatacsv.csv' df = pd.read_csv(file_path) # Merge Date and Time columns into a single DateTime column with the ISO 8601 format df['DateTime'] = pd.to_datetime(df['Date'] + ' ' + df['Time']).dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S') # Drop the original Date and Time columns if needed df = df.drop(['Date', 'Time'], axis=1) # Display the DataFrame with the new DateTime column print(df)    

      One of the simple joys in my life is going on walks . There's something incredibly refreshing about stepping out into the fresh air, whether it's a stroll through the park or an impromptu exploration of a new neighborhood. Walking gives me time to reflect, clear my mind, and discover small moments of beauty—like a perfectly blooming flower or the sound of birds chirping. It’s my form of meditation, grounding me in the present and helping me recharge for whatever comes next.        The cinema is another escape I hold dear. There’s an undeniable magic in watching a story unfold on the big screen. Whether it’s a thought-provoking indie film or the latest action-packed blockbuster, the cinema provides an immersive experience like no other. I love the way movies can stir emotions, spark ideas, and sometimes, even change my perspective on life. It’s one of those rare places where time seems to slow down, and you can get lost in someone else’s world f...

   Hello, and welcome to my corner of the internet! I'm Cuthbert Baines , a seasoned computer programmer with a passion for solving complex problems and building efficient, scalable software. With years of experience in the industry, I’ve honed my skills to not only deliver high-quality code but also to contribute meaningfully to projects that push the boundaries of technology. My Journey into Programming I’ve always had a deep curiosity about how things work, which led me to the world of computer science and programming. From my first lines of code to tackling challenging algorithms, the journey has been a rewarding one. Over time, my focus has expanded to include full-stack development , machine learning , and software architecture , but the heart of my work remains in solving real-world problems with clean, maintainable code. What Sets Me Apart? As a professional programmer, I pride myself on a few key principles that guide my work: Attention to Detail : Whether I’m...