Tag: programming

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Vital Statistics

Aches & pains: sciatica, ankles

Current reading: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide, Cracking the Code Interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell

Recent listening: Cop Killer by Body Count, Anthology 1964-1977 by Johnny Rivers, These Foolish Things by Bryan Ferry, Garcia Plays Dylan, Neon Bible by Arcade Fire, The Doggfather by Snoop Dogg, Slow Train Coming by Bob Dylan, S-Town (podcast)

Recent viewing: Big Little Lies, Homeland, Billions, Scandal, The Last Man on Earth, Dave Chappelle: Collection 1, Marvel’s Iron Fist, The Crown

Recent playing: n/a

Recently accomplished: Replaced CR-V, changed insurance agent, cleaned roof & gutters, job interviews, The Daily Bowie

Imperative To Do: Write Mother’s article, find a job

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The moon is in a phase and I guess that I am too

Last night Graham and Thomas had their final orchestra concert of the year. In anticipation of the event, several months ago I invited my mother to visit us at this time so that she could attend. Graham’s fourth grade orchestra was the first to play and they did a very nice job of showing how much they had improved during the year. After they took their bow, they all started off stage to make room for the fifth grade orchestra. As Graham stood near the edge of the stage waiting for the rest of the kids to move, he chatted and laughed with his nearby friends. I looked away for a second to talk to Tina and then we heard a crash in front of the stage followed by a gasp from the audience. Somebody fell. Tina asked, “Who fell?” Scanning the group near the commotion, I realized Graham was no longer on stage. “It’s Graham!” I told her as she stood and then rushed down the stairs to the stage.

Continue reading “The moon is in a phase and I guess that I am too”

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 2523
Van odometer: 154556
Aches & pains: miniature frost bite on my elbow (turned black), back in spasm for 3 days
Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Cross-platform GUI Programming with wxWidgets
Recent listening: Coverville, Live from Austin, TX by Neko Case, The 99 Most Essential Beethoven Masterpieces, Weird Al Yankovic, Final Boss by MC Frontalot
Recent viewing: The Thing, The Tick, Numbers, Coraline, The Daily Show, Battlestar Galactica, This Week with George Stephanopolous, Meet the Press, Firefly, Welcome to Macintosh, Fringe, Confessions of a Superhero, Lost (Season 1)
Recent playing: Chain Factor, Galcon
Recently accomplished: Can recycling for Scouts, Coldplay tickets for Thomas, found outlet for Boy Scout can recycling, yard debris, Valentine’s Day plans, volunteered to be Troop 820 Treasurer, visited Evergreen Aerospace Museum
Imperative To Do: Freecycle, get rid of MacRenewal Macs, recover network functionality on old Tivo. Read their multimeter reviews for more information.

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 2523
Van odometer: 154292
Weight lost (in pounds): 0
Aches & pains: n/a
Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Cross-platform GUI Programming with wxWidgets
Recent listening: Radiohead, Tom Waits, Beck, R.E.M., Willy & The Poor Boys by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Recent viewing: The Hoax, Heroes, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, Colts at Browns
Recent playing: Chain Factor, Guitar Hero, Lego Star Wars, Galcon
Recently accomplished: Quicken Online migration, purchased Xbox 360, Christmas shopping, mouse cleanup & execution
Imperative To Do: Get rid of office junk, freecycle, activate new Tivo, clean garage, get rid of MacRenewal Macs, trim bushes, pull blackberries

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 2523
Van odometer: 154235
Weight lost (in pounds): 1
Aches & pains: n/a
Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy, Cross-platform GUI Programming with wxWidgets
Recent listening: Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, R.E.M.,
Recent viewing: Next, Blowout, Indecision 2008, Grindhouse presents Planet Terror, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Blood Diamond, Colts at Steelers, Penn State at Iowa, Suns at Rockets, Fringe, Heroes, My Name Is Earl, The Office
Recent playing: Chain Factor, GlueFO
Recently accomplished: Cleaned garage enough to fit Scion again, foam recycling, doctor appointment, cat boxes, paid bills, packing for Foster City
Imperative To Do: Get rid of office junk, freecycle, activate new Tivo, clean garage, get rid of MacRenewal Macs, trim bushes, pull blackberries

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Safe Eyes 3.0 for Macintosh

In all the hub-bub over my departure from CPS, I missed this press release announcing the update to Safe Eyes that I worked on last year. I wrote the code for all of the new features and really enjoyed working with the people at InternetSafety.com. It’s a great product and provided a welcome respite from the difficult political machinations that went on at CPS during that time.

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I love to work at nothing all day

Yesterday was my last day at Critical Path Software. After a torturous month of soul-searching, I met with my managers and they decided that I can no longer continue with CPS. After 8 years of loyal service, I received a paycheck for January and $1300 for severance. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that I will be starting a new job on Monday, January 28, with Electronics for Imaging, the company that bought Splash back in 2000. They offer a much better compensation and benefit package than Critical Path does and the hours are much more regular. As I settle into middle age, I really think this is going to be the kind of job I need.

I’m still mulling over whether I should write about the whole CPS saga but you can probably tell it did not end amicably. It’s a shame, too. For a long time I really loved working there.

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1841
Weight lost: 40 lbs.
South Beach days in the last week: 4
Hours of sleep last night: 6
Hours billed last week: 40
Aches & pains: right wrist, lower back
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Writing Solid Code by Steve Maguire
Recent listening: News from Lake Wobegon, This American Life, KBOO Bike Show, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Fresh Air
Recent viewing: Monk, Dead Zone, Countdown, Sky High, Dead Zone, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report
Recent playing: Gimme Friction Baby, Guitar Hero II (XBox 360)
Recently accomplished: mowed lawn, cleaned cat boxes, swept garage, can recycling, trimmed hydrangia, pulled blackberries, foam recycling, Salvation Army, magazine recycling, can return, groceries, salary presentation, doctor appointment, CPAP appointment
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, finish garage, freecycle gorilla shelf parts

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1777
Weight lost: 40 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed last week: 43
Aches & pains: abrasion near left elbow, right wrist, lower back
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Writing Solid Code by Steve Maguire
Recent listening: Wolfmother by Wolfmother, Coverville, DrugMusic, NPR Story of the Day
Recent viewing: World Series of Poker, Hardball, Gilmore Girls
Recent playing: Gimme Friction Baby, Guitar Hero II (XBox 360)
Recently accomplished: Paid bills, fixed Thomas’ computer, scheduled doctor appointments
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, finish garage, freecycle gorilla shelf parts, Goodwill trip

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1282
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8.5
Hours billed last week: 10
Aches & pains: right wrist
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The STL Primer
Recent listening: Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta, Pure Pod For Now People Episode 20, Dolly Parton, Pictures at an Exhibition, Coverville, DrugMusic
Recent viewing: High Stakes Poker, Gilmore Girls, Countdown, The 4400, Dead Zone, Last Comic Standing
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Big Bang React
Recently accomplished: Paid bills, yard debris, weed eater, recycling, tried to help Graham’s friend’s mom start her jeep (fruitlessly), picked up bike, picked up new glasses, doctor appointment
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, sift through inbox, CDs to post office, return cans, book Iowa trip, expense report, vacation planning