My Life is Office Space Post #2

Office Space is my new bible.

Lets list off all the managers and manager types I work with.

1. My Actual Manager (Mgr) - Doubles as Execution Lead #1. Speaks to me occasionally, thinks I'm doing only things he told me to do.
2. Project Manager #1 (Mgr) - Has been talking to me a lot recently since paranoia is high and our deliverables are coming due.
3. Project Manager #2 (Mgr) - Wants me to work on only his project full time. Doesn't seem to understand that this is actually priority #3 for me.
4. Execution Lead #2 - Only guy who actually talks to me on a consistent basis to get updates. Sits 1 cube away.
5. Logic Manager (Mgr) - Drops by when issues are already getting fixed. Gets the updates 3rd hand. Seems to think I know whats going on.
6. Circuit Architect - Assumes I'm much more competent than I probably am. Leaves me alone until he wants to review things. Doesn't understand how much work some of my tasks are.
7. Logic Architect #1 - Hard as hell to get a hold of. Need his input on just about everything. Only drops by when he thinks there is an issue with my stuff. 
8. Logic Architect #2 (Mgr) - Likes my work, thinks I know things I probably don't. Comes to my cube directly for updates which I like.

So, every few days, there is some issue which comes up, such as a simulation breaking, and I hear about it from some subset of these (at least 2-3). This, is my TPS report.

Current Mood : Annoyed
Current Music : Need to find a new band.

Currently trapped underneath a sleeping baby.

How NOT to put Liana to bed.

Step 1 - Try to get some sleep myself.
Step 2 - Place Liana flat on her back in her bassinet.
Step 3 - Don't make any noise.
Step 4 - Don't swaddle the baby.
Step 5 - Step out of the room
Step 6 - Shut the door behind you.
Repeat.

If you haven't guessed. My little girl has been causing me to get no sleep. Jessica deals with her all day, so when I'm home, I try and give her a break by letting her sleep, and only waking her up when it is time to "Feed the Beast" as we've now started calling it.

My secret to putting Liana to sleep? Pretty much resigning to doing everything exactly the opposite as above.  She seems to sleep just fine when swaddled directly on my legs with some constant noise, and of course, when I would like to sleep myself.

Current Mood : Too many things
Current Music : Green Day's Dookie album

New Life

Well, we've created a little poopie monster. In other words, I had a little girl. Liana Rosalyn Scott. She's awesome. This week's been hectic. I've been taking care of both Jessica and Liana since she had to have a c-section. Things are finally settling down though. Got 5 hours of sleep last night. Pretty good. Grooves are getting settled into and what not. You can check my facebook or actually hit me up through email/phone/IM if you really care about other people's kids.

In other news, I finally purchased some music legally after quite a long time of not buying anything. I'm getting into the Chiptune genre of music recently. Here is one that is stuck in my head currently.

Current Mood : Exhausted
Current Music : Superpowerless - Monsters

Pets and Children

Let me start by saying that I realize that every situation is different. Times and circumstances may change and force a persons hand. 

Now that I have said that, it is time to rant on people who have pets, but purposefully move into places where pets aren't allowed. I often see some people trying to get someone to take care of their cat or dog because the new apartment they are moving into does not allow pets. 

This irritates me. 

I am of the opinion that if you have acquired a pet, such as a dog or a cat, you have made a commitment to that animal that you will be taking care of it for as long as humanly possible. Not just when it is convenient for you. I have 2 cats, and want a dog to round things out. I made these choices knowing full well that not everywhere will allow cats and dogs. It is the same kind of commitment I made when deciding to have a kid. Your life isn't the same with a baby, just like it isn't the same when you have pets. I wouldn't even consider a living situation which wouldn't allow me to take my precious furry friends with me.

In summary, if you aren't going to be able to take care of a pet, or aren't responsible enough, don't get a dog/cat. 

Current Mood : Rain!
Current Music : Mad Men Intro

The Pain

So I've finally started to workout again for the first time this year since I sprained my ankle and had a small fracture a few months ago. Taking baby steps since I don't want to hurt it again. Still feels a little weird after a long day of standing on it, but it feels a ton better after working out. I've really needed to stretch the muscles a little. Going to try and lose all that damn weight that I've gained since Jessica became pregnant.

Also started eating breakfast every morning and drinking a crap load of water. It's the little things. 

Current Mood : Worked out... tired.
Current Music : Exai by Autechre

How I Relax

Today was a long day. This weekend was a long weekend. Now I'm staying up way too late, just because I feel like relaxing for a good long while. I picked up some Habit Burger on the way home, took a bath, played a lot of guitar, and watched mindless action on TV. Now I'm wrapping this up by reading about movies that are in various stages of production.

One awesome example is Actor/Director/Writer Shane Black. Looks like he has a working script for a Death Note movie. And apparently he is one of the few that "gets it". Hearing him talk about it gets me very excited. I watched the anime, and, of course, it is over the top Japanese. But the premise and feel of the show as a whole was very dark and awesome. The main character is basically the villain of the story, but things are definitely not black and white.

I have high hopes Mr. Black. Don't F*&$ it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftdcWA4IVc

Current Mood : Finally Relaxed
Current Music : Homesick by A Day to Remember

A Morbid Post

Due to the events of the Boston Marathon today, I got to thinking about a conversation I had with someone or other about how I'd like to die. At the time, I couldn't really think of a good answer, so I said, "In a blaze of glory fighting off zombies". Now, due to the unrealistic nature of this scenario, it probably won't happen.

Instead, I've come up with an alternate death. I have always found the deaths of the people who climb Mount Everest very interesting. Due to the extremely high altitude, bodies do not decompose well, if at all (depending upon location, etc...). Here is a good link describing it, dead-bodies-on-mount-everest. Dying there effectively immortalizes those who died, because it is too hard to recover the bodies, and they won't decompose. I think that would be my ideal answer.

However, there is no way in hell I'd attempt a climb like that. I have crappy lungs as it is, and an awesome wife and child on the way that would miss me.

Current Mood : Procrastinating...
Current Music : Dragon Warrior Castle Theme.

Tunnel Snakes and Toilet Frogs

This is way old. But I get a kick out of it. 

http://tunnelsnakes.com/

On a sort of related note... toilet frogs. Kinda like a tunnel snake. Apparently it is more common than you think.


Current Mood : "Uh, so I go through these thousands of lines of code and, uh... it doesn't really matter. I uh, I don't like my job, and, uh, I don't think I'm gonna go anymore."

Current Music : Ghostly - Music for Ideas

Realizations

So I realized that I probably have a few hundred Magic: The Gathering cards floating around my parents garage that I got when I was like, 10, or something... That is unless they got rid of them, like I probably said to do. Who knows. I might have gotten rid of them myself. But the fact of the matter is, I looked online to see if they were worth anything. Turns out I think I had maybe 2 cards worth $100 each. If I remember, I'll have to check with the parents next time I go down to visit... which probably won't be til after the baby.

Oh yeah, we are learning a little American Sign Language to do some baby sign language with. So far I know how to say "eat cat poop". It's the best swearing I can do so far with what I know.

Peace.

Current Mood : Procrastinating
Current Music : Harlem Shake. Yeah. You know it.

New Kid, New Camera

Looks like it has been almost a year since I posted on this blog. I'm sure nobody reads it anymore.So I can really do what I like with it.

Lets recap the big event in my life right now. I'm having a kid. It's crazy I know. But the time feels right. She is due in May. Hopefully all will be well. No, I won't say what the name is. Best advice we got was not to tell anyone until it is official.

Second piece of advice I'm taking. Get a good camera. So I did. I am now the proud owner of the Panasonic Lumix GX1. It is one of the new fangled Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system cameras. Halfway between a DSLR, and a Point and Shoot. I'm loving it so far. Very easy to get good bokeh compared to my trusty Canon P&S. I'm taking some tutorials on photography from a book I got. So hopefully I'll be a pro when the baby arrives.

Then I'll flood the internetz with pictures of her... maybe. I haven't decided on that. It might be nice to have some mystery for someone in this day and age.

Current Mood : Tired.
Current Music : Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds

I am now a part of the smartphone generation.

Ditto.

Fatty Day

Such a fatty day today. Went exploring more of Sacramento. Had lunch at the Flaming Grill Cafe. I ordered an Antelope Jalapeno & Jack Burger with Carne Asada Fries. Can't beat the fries. Burger was good, but probably wouldn't order that type of meat again. 


Spent some time wandering around Barnes and Noble and the Sunrise Mall to burn off some fat. We were going to see a movie, but the theater didn't have anything worth watching. We would have had to travel somewhere else. 


Since it was hot, we got some ice cream at Leatherby's Family Creamery. Very good milkshakes. 


Now I'm fat. It's too hot to go outside right now, but I plan on biking later. Hopefully I'll be able to get off my ass at that point.  


Current Mood : Fat  
Current Music : Air Conditioning

Erdős–Bacon Numbers

So I spent way too much time tonight figuring out that I am one of the "rare few" who have an Erdős–Bacon Number. If you've heard of the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, the original was figuring out how closely connected you were to some guy named Paul Erdős who was a famous mathematician. So instead of starring in movies, you had to be in a chain of co-authorships of published papers. 


The Erdős–Bacon Number is simply the sum of your Bacon and Erdos numbers. 


Here is my Bacon Number:

1. I was an extra in a movie called Clouds (2000) that starred Caitlin Hicks,
2. who was in a movie called Beer (1985) with David Alan Grier,
3. who was in a movie called The Woodsman (2004) with Kevin Bacon

Source: http://oracleofbacon.org/cgi-bin/movielinks



Here is my Erdős Number:

1. I have co-authored papers with my advisor Rajeevan Amirtharajah,
2. who co-authored papers with Anantha Chandrakasan,
3. who co-authored a paper with Vahid Tarokh,
4. who co-authored a paper with A. Robert Calderbank,
5. who co-authored a paper with Joel H. Spencer,
6. who co-authored a paper with Paul Erdős.

Source: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet/collaborationDistance.html

Therefore my number is 3+6=9. Not too shabby for a nobody. For comparison, Natalie Portman has a number of 6, and Carl Sagan has a number of 7.

Current Mood : Happy to not be at work.

Current Music : The rain outside my window.

Sock Bandit!

This post goes out to Jessica, who suggested I ask the internet for help in locating the famous "Sock Bandit" of the apartment.


So if any of you have seen this animal, call the authorities... Do not try to capture him. He is considered armed and dangerous. Just today he has stolen 6 pairs of my socks, had his way with them, and left them on the side of the hallway.


I may never be safe again.

Current Mood : Sleepy Time
Current Music : Hunky Dory, David Bowie

No Nuts

So this weekend I binged on watching "Life On Mars" (the U.S. remake) due to my hungover nature on Saturday/Sunday. The show had a good premise. However it was cut short due to ABC deciding to cancel it. Too many good shows have been cancelled while other $h1#y ones continue on... Don't even get me started on all the reality TV crap. I haven't watched the BBC version yet, but I can't imagine it being as immersive since they don't get the "Hollywood" level funding for TV shows. However it is critically acclaimed. So I guess I might give it a try once I finish the last few episodes of the US version.


Anyways, it's about a present day detective that was in an accident and wakes up in the year 1973. The best part is the music. I also dig the cars and a lot of the style that the show has in general. I guess I like the 70s. Harvey Keitel was also a main character on the show which means it can only be good. Check it out on Netflix streaming. 


Current Mood : Fat
Current Music : Windy by The Association

Dogs

I miss having a dog. Cats are cool and all. But dogs are awesome. As soon as I get a real house, I'm getting a dog. Momo and Mozart can deal. Until then, I'm adding a dog to some of our pictures.

Current Mood : Bored.
Current Music : Tron Breakdancing stuff.

TV Rants

So I'm trying out Hulu Plus for a while since it is now available to download on my Wii. So far so good. The interface isn't as good as the Netflix one. But I already know what shows I want to watch on it anyways. I do hate the fact that they still play ads. I mean, I'd pay another couple dollars to get rid of the advertising. Let the free version be ad supported. Sadly, both Netflix and Hulu Plus do not carry a few of the shows I watch. Damn those networks! I'm TRYING to be legit and legal about this stuff. Don't make it harder for me.


Another rant, The Walking Dead. One of my top TV shows right now. I like the fact that they kill characters pretty often in the show. You meet a person, next episode, BAM! They are dead. Not just new characters either, two characters were killed in the last two episodes who were there since the beginning of the first season. My rant comes in that they killed my favorite character, but also killed a character I wished would die from day one. However it wasn't an equal trade. They really need to kill the wife. Man I hate her character. Oh well...


Now here are some walking dead memes, courtesy of DIYLOL, MemeCenter, Quickmeme, and some random internet sites...

Current Mood : Damn them!
Current Music : Crystal Castles

Laziness... maybe it's a sign.

I was totally going to write something... then I got lazy. Here is a picture of a cat.





Current Mood : Ramen
Current Music : Sounds of my trusty J-Bert

Final Placement

Well, it looks like I'm officially done with my Rotation Engineer Program (REP). I'm now in the High Speed I/O group full time as a Design Engineer. Looks like I'll be doing some b*&@% work for a while in the labs. But there will still be fixes that need to be made, stuff to be redesigned, things to learn, etc... Plus, I think I'll be better at that than hardcore design stuff for a while. At least until I know the intricacies of the IP (Intellectual Property).


Now I just need to make sure I don't F*&$ up too badly.


In other news... it's a 3 day weekend!


Current Mood : Think I'm Getting Sick
Current Music : Animal Rights, Deadmau5