One of the things that I've been working on and off (with more off than on) has been programming my game. It's not so much the programming that I like, but the ability to create things and the experience of tackling any challenges that come along the way.
Lately I've come up with excuses on why I haven't made much progress; I had a move, a job search, had to learn the systems at the new job, and make new friends. It's been almost two months since I moved out here and I think my excuses are wearing off. I'm settled in and I'm going to get back to creating.
The technical me needs to think like the survival me. I remember being out in Ha'apai and I couldn't climb a particular coconut tree. My friends and I needed to drink something (since we only brought rum to the island), but the smaller trees that I could safely climb only had hollow shells. So I improvised by poking at the tall tree with a very long branch. It wasn't the most efficient method, but it worked and we got our drinks. I just need to take that thinking and apply it to technology.
One of the many challenges of developing an independent game is the very limited amount of resources. Compared to others, I'm not a talented programmer or artist/animator and I certainly have no idea when it comes to music theory. On top of that, I have the manpower of a single person who can't even devote full time hours to develop. So instead of crying "If only I had X and Y...", I'll break down one problem at a time and improvise with what I have on hand.
Right now, art is an issue. Well, art isn't so much the issue as animation is. I want to tell a visually compelling story, but I'm limited by time. Animation takes each piece of art, then painstakingly requires recrafting frame by frame. There's a reason why there's usually as many artists as programmers.
How can I easily create (animatable) art quickly?
I typed out my thoughts and then I laughed. The answer was right there. The answer is right here. Text.
Used typography to make the models of your art. Draw a tree using the letters T R E E. Draw the hero using the letters H E R O. You get the idea.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
NYC - I love you!
Coffee. We need coffee. A coworker and I were busy with a 26 page web site that had a turn around time of two weeks (from mock up to final document - which is an incredibly tight schedule). It was one of many projects. 2pm, third coffee. I wasn't heavily involved with the web site, but I'm glad to be a part of it (doing design mockups and brushing off my ancient html skills).
The number and variety of projects at work have been really interesting. I feel challenged and I get to use a lot of different skills (data analysis, report coding, design). While analyzing data, sometimes I just think "Wow, that's fucking neat!"
As an example, say someone is giving out a survey. We know that the location and time will affect the responses. Now what if we throw in factors like the surveyor's race and the type of questions they ask? Are you likely to have the same response to a question about racial inequality if asked by a black woman as you would a white male? Now how do you quantify that data? If you can, how? If not, why not? How do you remove these outside factors from your survey? Are any outside factors present in your dataset? You get the idea.
So that's work.
Outside of work has been just as interesting. I feel like your experience in NYC can vary so much depending on who you are and who you're with. I feel like this city makes your personality come out, whether that's staying in or going out.
Some people say you need a lot of money to have a good time here. While that certainly helps, I think you don't need it. If you know how to have fun, you will have fun.
Lately I've ditched the expensive bars and have been going to a lot of 'underground' events. If you're good at searching the Internet and adventurous enough, you'll find gems like these:
- 4 Portions of Brooklyn - I arrived at this random guy's apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He was hosting 4 events at his place that night; an art gallery, a classical band (singing Grimm's Fairy Tales jamming out in the living room), an interpretive dance sequence, and an acoustic set. The people ranged from Couchsurfers to a New York Symphony Cello player. There was a small bonfire out in the backyard and the conversation was amazing. I left feeling the need to read "A History of Love"; iif it could make a grown man cry on the subway, it must be good. This was a (free) Thursday night.
- Stories about online dating - If you've never been to a storytelling event, I highly recommend it. I believe the Moth is the most famous one here in NYC (though I haven't been to it yet). I was a huge fan of "So Say We All" when I lived in San Diego. People basically pour their hearts out in stories (usually around the night's theme) and it's simply beautiful. This event had me laughing, emphasizing, and even feeling like "the right girl" is somewhere out there. This was a (free) Tuesday night.
The city does get expensive though. There was a free secret concert by the Black Keys that I knew was going to happen on Monday (but they gave them away on a Monday morning when I had work). I did manage to get two tickets to the Black Keys at Madison Square Garden (about $70 each after Ticketmaster). I'm not sure why I bought two, but I figured I'll meet someone that wants to go by March.
There's also a "Sleep No More" event that I want to check out once I get enough money. The move from CA, buying furniture, getting a new laptop, and buying winter clothes has put a huge dent in my savings.
All I have to say is, I love this city.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A very nice change of pace
A year ago I was sitting at a remote hostel having Thanksgiving in Canoa, Ecuador. My friend Diego and I just finished our second surf session of the day and we found ourselves drinking wine, staring into the beach and thinking life can't get better.
Then it does. A year later, I'm visiting my friends Jason and Carrie in Vermont at an off-the-grid farm, which is their latest caretaking gig. About five years ago, I met the two in Los Angeles for our Peace Corps staging event. Throughout the years, I'm glad to have stayed in contact as they traveled from NYC to Palau to Shanghai.
If you list where they've traveled, you would say they find great places to go. I think they make the places they go great and Vermont was no exception. The food was amazing and the company even better. We hiked untouched snow, went fishing/canoeing, built a snowman and continued to fill out our days and evening.
Among the many things I learned...
Updated with pictures!
Then it does. A year later, I'm visiting my friends Jason and Carrie in Vermont at an off-the-grid farm, which is their latest caretaking gig. About five years ago, I met the two in Los Angeles for our Peace Corps staging event. Throughout the years, I'm glad to have stayed in contact as they traveled from NYC to Palau to Shanghai.
If you list where they've traveled, you would say they find great places to go. I think they make the places they go great and Vermont was no exception. The food was amazing and the company even better. We hiked untouched snow, went fishing/canoeing, built a snowman and continued to fill out our days and evening.
Among the many things I learned...
- How to use snow shoes
- How to use gaiters
- How to play 31 (cards)
- How to play Chinese Monopoly
- How to play Bananagrams
- How to split firewood with an ax
- How to use a chainsaw
- How to sharpen a chainsaw
Updated with pictures!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Ice cream for dinner, one of the many benefits of being an adult!
I love being an adult, I get to have ice cream for dinner :)
Plus I get to have my own place! This is two weeks after moving into a place in NYC (I was living for a week in a hostel looking for jobs, exploring the city, and finding a place to live)
The place I ended up finding is a small studio in Queens and it's about a 35 minute ride to get to work, which is over on Wall St. in Manhattan. I guess I'm starting to grow up because when I sign a lease now, I feel happy (that I snag a sweet place) instead of getting depressed (that I'm stuck somewhere).
I can't believe that just a couple weeks ago I only had two backpacks and now I'm almost settled in! Big thanks to Josephine for helping me out with her car in a crazy Costco run! :)
Plus I get to have my own place! This is two weeks after moving into a place in NYC (I was living for a week in a hostel looking for jobs, exploring the city, and finding a place to live)
The place I ended up finding is a small studio in Queens and it's about a 35 minute ride to get to work, which is over on Wall St. in Manhattan. I guess I'm starting to grow up because when I sign a lease now, I feel happy (that I snag a sweet place) instead of getting depressed (that I'm stuck somewhere).
I can't believe that just a couple weeks ago I only had two backpacks and now I'm almost settled in! Big thanks to Josephine for helping me out with her car in a crazy Costco run! :)
 |
| There's a small kitchenette, which I've used to do some cooking already. |
 |
| I put together this bed from IKEA; it looks simple, but there were so many parts and it was a little difficult building it solo. I love the swivel LED lighting; there's something about functional and clean designs that really intrigues me. I still need to put up some posters when I get a chance. I'm thinking of getting another "upside down world map" poster similar to the one I had in San Diego. |
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| I plan on programming a lot (as a side hobby) now that I'm settling in. I can't wait for Android's Ice Cream sandwich to come out. I've also looked at the things I own in a whole new light; how often do I use something? Depending on the frequency, I should spend my resources accordingly. At least that's my justification for getting an Aeron chair... |
Sunday, October 30, 2011
First Snow and First Visitor!
I'm getting settled into my new place. I have my mattress, sheets, and most of my kitchen setup. I still need furniture, curtains and Internet, but I'm working on that. I'll probably rent a U-Haul this weekend and buy a lot of stuff at the IKEA in Brooklyn (I went there today to scope it out).
Today I also got hot water! It's helpful since it snowed early (about 4 inches of snow in a couple hours). I was in Target one minute picking up stuff for the place and when I left it was snowing! Luckily I had my gore-tex shoes on to walk through the slush.
Work has been great; the people are nice and I'm learning Crystal Reports (it's a pretty powerful tool). I feel like this is a place where I want to be for years.
I've been going to a few meetups (Android Developers, Reddit, and I'm trying to get into NY Tech, but the list fills up too quickly).
Last but not least, I had my first visitor on Friday night! A Peace Corps friend is in Jersey for work so we'll be meeting up again tomorrow.
Anyways, that's my update. I'll try to write something more interesting once I get more settled in.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Excited for next week!
Next week is going to be packed. Here's my list of to-do's:
Monday - I start my first day of work at Mental Health Association of New York City! I'm a little rusty on my SQL so I'm brushing up on that right now in case I need it.
Tuesday - Reddit meetup at Peculier Pub after work. I used to go to the Reddit meetups in San Diego (it's a web site where users can upvote or downvote links/posts to make them appear on the top). The people there were fellow geeks and it was easy to relate to them. We would do random social events like go play kickball or meet up at breweries.
Wednesday - I'm meeting up with a friend (that I know through an ex) and we're going to Costco and getting supplies. It's also the day that I'm moving out of the hostel and into my new place in Sunnyside! I'll need to call utilities and Time Warner to set things up. I've been tethering my Internet, but today I hit my 5 gigabytes per cycle cap and now the speed is throttled.
Thursday - I'm checking out a "Discussing Ice Cream Sandwich" session with the New York Android Developers meetup. I'm hoping this won't be like the San Diego Android group that consistently flaked.
Friday - I'm thinking about hitting up the Museum of Modern Art, but don't really have anything planned yet.
Weekend - I've been trying to get into a soccer pickup game or league, but the waitlist keeps going (about 40 people in, another 40 in waitlist). I'm also going to try to get a bed and some furniture this weekend. Maybe rent a zipcar or something for it.
So excited!!! :) I'm also thinking of hitting up the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers meetup and see if there's a rock climbing gym nearby. Lately I've been really interested in doing more design (photoshop, illustrator) and want to see if there's any classes for that.
Monday - I start my first day of work at Mental Health Association of New York City! I'm a little rusty on my SQL so I'm brushing up on that right now in case I need it.
Tuesday - Reddit meetup at Peculier Pub after work. I used to go to the Reddit meetups in San Diego (it's a web site where users can upvote or downvote links/posts to make them appear on the top). The people there were fellow geeks and it was easy to relate to them. We would do random social events like go play kickball or meet up at breweries.
Wednesday - I'm meeting up with a friend (that I know through an ex) and we're going to Costco and getting supplies. It's also the day that I'm moving out of the hostel and into my new place in Sunnyside! I'll need to call utilities and Time Warner to set things up. I've been tethering my Internet, but today I hit my 5 gigabytes per cycle cap and now the speed is throttled.
Thursday - I'm checking out a "Discussing Ice Cream Sandwich" session with the New York Android Developers meetup. I'm hoping this won't be like the San Diego Android group that consistently flaked.
Friday - I'm thinking about hitting up the Museum of Modern Art, but don't really have anything planned yet.
Weekend - I've been trying to get into a soccer pickup game or league, but the waitlist keeps going (about 40 people in, another 40 in waitlist). I'm also going to try to get a bed and some furniture this weekend. Maybe rent a zipcar or something for it.
So excited!!! :) I'm also thinking of hitting up the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers meetup and see if there's a rock climbing gym nearby. Lately I've been really interested in doing more design (photoshop, illustrator) and want to see if there's any classes for that.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sometimes I forget...
Oh fuck you Ghosts and Ghouls. That wasn't even fair. The zombie spawned right below me. Oh what?! You gotta be kidding me; as soon as I jump across the crevasse a ghost spawns, killing me instantly. I need another beer.
Frogger, I can do this. Jump, jump, jump, easy peezee lemon squeezy, jump, die. WTF?! I made it across safely. Nothing even hit me. Maybe that was a glitch, let me try that again. Nope, the game is just stupid. I need another beer.
And that's how I lost $15 in quarters, but played a variety of old school arcades from some bicycling newspaper delivery boy game to Rampage (where you're a monster that destroys the city). The beers were good and it was a fun night.
Even though tonight I was out with a couple of new friends, it's the first night where I felt a little lonely. I know that the feeling will pass, but I kind of wanted to see some of the new places with old friends. I get kind of sentimental like that; I like sharing experiences with people and the more they mean to me, the more I want to share the excitement that's going on. And it's been a long (exciting) week in NYC.
Sometimes I forget how supportive friends and family are. It's not that I don't appreciate it. It's that I don't realize the magnitude of the support they've given me over the years. I guess it's right, you don't realize something until it's gone.
I miss my old roommates Wayne and Martin; I wish we were going to get beers at the bars here. I miss Adrienne, an ex-girlfriend that later became a great friend and still shows her support through numerous text messages a day. I miss my friend Sara, whose always up to some outdoor activity and always there with an open ear. I miss my family, especially my older brother Mike.
Anyways, I know I'll meet new people and create new memories. I just wanted to say that I do miss everyone.
Frogger, I can do this. Jump, jump, jump, easy peezee lemon squeezy, jump, die. WTF?! I made it across safely. Nothing even hit me.
And that's how I lost $15 in quarters, but played a variety of old school arcades from some bicycling newspaper delivery boy game to Rampage (where you're a monster that destroys the city). The beers were good and it was a fun night.
Even though tonight I was out with a couple of new friends, it's the first night where I felt a little lonely. I know that the feeling will pass, but I kind of wanted to see some of the new places with old friends. I get kind of sentimental like that; I like sharing experiences with people and the more they mean to me, the more I want to share the excitement that's going on. And it's been a long (exciting) week in NYC.
I miss my old roommates Wayne and Martin; I wish we were going to get beers at the bars here. I miss Adrienne, an ex-girlfriend that later became a great friend and still shows her support through numerous text messages a day. I miss my friend Sara, whose always up to some outdoor activity and always there with an open ear. I miss my family, especially my older brother Mike.
Anyways, I know I'll meet new people and create new memories. I just wanted to say that I do miss everyone.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Found it!
Sunnyside, you are my neighborhood. I stepped off the 7 train and immediately liked the area. There is a warm, neighborly vibe with local supermarkets, parks, and small restaurants all nearby. The people are ethnically diverse from Hispanic to Asian to Irish. This is easily reflected in the stores, as I can just as easily walk down the street to get a pizza or a South American desayunos.
They say that in New York more than anywhere else, you need to make up your mind quickly. Apartments drop off the market as quickly as they come up. This one was posted less than 24 hours earlier. I called and met with the real estate agent (not a broker) early this morning. By the time I sent the email to when we met, it was less than 3 hours.
The place is in an apartment building located on the first floor and only three blocks from the train. It is just far enough so that the train doesn't make any noise and only about a 35 minute commute to work.
As soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the place and knew it was my new home. It was modern and clean, yet small and comfy. It was large enough to fit a queen sized bed and desk, but not so big that I would hate cleaning the place. It would be a tight fit for guests, but thanks to how much is always going on in NYC, I doubt that anyone would be staying inside much.
I'm very happy and can't wait to move in already. This is a place that I could see myself saving up for and eventually buying (and with this cost, I might be able to do that!) I'm still a far way from getting settled in, but I feel like I'm making a lot of progress every day. I'm getting to know the neighborhoods, how to navigate the train like a champ, and trying my best to make friends.
I don't plan on spending much time in the studio, but when I do, I want it to be completely comfortable (a feeling that is difficult to get with roommates). I want to be able to escape from the city and just be at home. It's rare to find someone that I think is chill and a good fit (which isn't to say that I haven't, my previous roommates were awesome).
Yesterday I met a friend of a friend (I knew her through Peace Corps and this was her friend from John Hopkins) and although she fit that description of being really cool, the location (hour and a half one way commute for me) didn't work out so well.
Anyways, I'm glad things are working out so well. I'm still waiting approval on the place; I did fingerprinting yesterday and that should clear me for work tomorrow or Thursday. That in turn should move the process of officially getting the place since then I'll have an income. I should be into the new place by October 26th!
They say that in New York more than anywhere else, you need to make up your mind quickly. Apartments drop off the market as quickly as they come up. This one was posted less than 24 hours earlier. I called and met with the real estate agent (not a broker) early this morning. By the time I sent the email to when we met, it was less than 3 hours.
The place is in an apartment building located on the first floor and only three blocks from the train. It is just far enough so that the train doesn't make any noise and only about a 35 minute commute to work.
As soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the place and knew it was my new home. It was modern and clean, yet small and comfy. It was large enough to fit a queen sized bed and desk, but not so big that I would hate cleaning the place. It would be a tight fit for guests, but thanks to how much is always going on in NYC, I doubt that anyone would be staying inside much.
I'm very happy and can't wait to move in already. This is a place that I could see myself saving up for and eventually buying (and with this cost, I might be able to do that!) I'm still a far way from getting settled in, but I feel like I'm making a lot of progress every day. I'm getting to know the neighborhoods, how to navigate the train like a champ, and trying my best to make friends.
I don't plan on spending much time in the studio, but when I do, I want it to be completely comfortable (a feeling that is difficult to get with roommates). I want to be able to escape from the city and just be at home. It's rare to find someone that I think is chill and a good fit (which isn't to say that I haven't, my previous roommates were awesome).
Yesterday I met a friend of a friend (I knew her through Peace Corps and this was her friend from John Hopkins) and although she fit that description of being really cool, the location (hour and a half one way commute for me) didn't work out so well.
Anyways, I'm glad things are working out so well. I'm still waiting approval on the place; I did fingerprinting yesterday and that should clear me for work tomorrow or Thursday. That in turn should move the process of officially getting the place since then I'll have an income. I should be into the new place by October 26th!
Just because
The last few days have been hectic. My first night I ran around from Flushing to Astoria to Manhattan's Wall Street (where I'll work). The second day I visited Brooklyn (Williamsburg area) and met a couple of cool guys at Barcraft (Starcraft 2 tournament) in Midtown. Yesterday I visited my future work to get finger printed, went to check out Harlem, East Harlem, the Upper East Side, and a friend of a friend in Flushing.
I've been doing this mad tour of NYC so I could find a place to live. Statistics and numbers are great for getting an overall idea of a place, but nothing beats walking around and relying on that gut instinct. I found myself thinking "I could live here and be safe" probably too often so I came up with a new test, "Would my family feel safe if they visited?" That put a whole new perspective on things.
One of the places I saw was in the Upper East Side, a studio/1 bedroom that was for $1600 a month. The location was great and the building was beautiful. I love the brownstone walls and the high ceilings. I did my calculations and I could barely pass the rule that rent should be no more than 1/3 of after-tax income or 1/4 of gross income. I thought about it long (as in I fell asleep for 4 hours and woke up with a decision).
I'm not going to get it. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. It's very tempting, but I don't need to live in a hip neighborhood. I just need a safe place that isn't an hour or longer for a one way commute on the train. I need to be more resourceful, should play it safe for the first year and save up what I can (or at least use it on funner things than a place!)
The previous days I've spent with a destination in mind. Tomorrow, I'm following the locals on the subway. Wherever they go, I'll go. There's gotta be a place that is affordable and safe. I just need to find this local secret!
I've been doing this mad tour of NYC so I could find a place to live. Statistics and numbers are great for getting an overall idea of a place, but nothing beats walking around and relying on that gut instinct. I found myself thinking "I could live here and be safe" probably too often so I came up with a new test, "Would my family feel safe if they visited?" That put a whole new perspective on things.
One of the places I saw was in the Upper East Side, a studio/1 bedroom that was for $1600 a month. The location was great and the building was beautiful. I love the brownstone walls and the high ceilings. I did my calculations and I could barely pass the rule that rent should be no more than 1/3 of after-tax income or 1/4 of gross income. I thought about it long (as in I fell asleep for 4 hours and woke up with a decision).
I'm not going to get it. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. It's very tempting, but I don't need to live in a hip neighborhood. I just need a safe place that isn't an hour or longer for a one way commute on the train. I need to be more resourceful, should play it safe for the first year and save up what I can (or at least use it on funner things than a place!)
The previous days I've spent with a destination in mind. Tomorrow, I'm following the locals on the subway. Wherever they go, I'll go. There's gotta be a place that is affordable and safe. I just need to find this local secret!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Bye West Coast!
Currently listening to "No Way" by the Naked and Famous, sitting at an airport terminal in Denver, Colorado. The past couple weeks in CA have been intense, but the last 48 hours have been really emotional.
Thursday October 13th - Finish up work and pick up treats for my family at Whole Foods, meet some friends for dinner. Come back at 11pm and see roommates, grab beers. Fall asleep at home sometime around 1am or 2am.
Friday October 14th - Wake up early at 6am to finish packing. Say goodbye to roommates (they're going to San Francisco) and I head to work. Drink coffees to finish wrapping up work projects. Come back and clean up apartment. Off to a later start than I'd like, drink more coffee and meet up with a cousin at 9pm for dinner in Oceanside. Drive 5 hours straight up to Reedley while consuming yet more coffee.
I get back around 3am. My family and a high school friend are home so we stay up talking and catching up. We unload the rest of my stuff in the truck (mostly books but also random things like a collapsible fishing spear). I say goodbye to my family; my mom makes me tear up because she starts crying first. I get dropped off at the Fresno Airport by 7am. I have two check in bags and one carry on (combined weight of about 100lbs). I catch my flight and so I find myself in Colorado.
I'm going to get some lunch and a beer. Then I'll catch my flight to La Guardia Airport in New York. If I take a nap now, I won't wake up in time. Plus, it's so interesting to people watch at airports.
Will get to NY about 7pm. I'll catch a taxi to the hostel I'm staying in, drop my bags off, then will go out to explore New York City!!! I heard the bars don't close till 4am. I wonder when the coffee shops close...
Thursday October 13th - Finish up work and pick up treats for my family at Whole Foods, meet some friends for dinner. Come back at 11pm and see roommates, grab beers. Fall asleep at home sometime around 1am or 2am.
Friday October 14th - Wake up early at 6am to finish packing. Say goodbye to roommates (they're going to San Francisco) and I head to work. Drink coffees to finish wrapping up work projects. Come back and clean up apartment. Off to a later start than I'd like, drink more coffee and meet up with a cousin at 9pm for dinner in Oceanside. Drive 5 hours straight up to Reedley while consuming yet more coffee.
I get back around 3am. My family and a high school friend are home so we stay up talking and catching up. We unload the rest of my stuff in the truck (mostly books but also random things like a collapsible fishing spear). I say goodbye to my family; my mom makes me tear up because she starts crying first. I get dropped off at the Fresno Airport by 7am. I have two check in bags and one carry on (combined weight of about 100lbs). I catch my flight and so I find myself in Colorado.
I'm going to get some lunch and a beer. Then I'll catch my flight to La Guardia Airport in New York. If I take a nap now, I won't wake up in time. Plus, it's so interesting to people watch at airports.
Will get to NY about 7pm. I'll catch a taxi to the hostel I'm staying in, drop my bags off, then will go out to explore New York City!!! I heard the bars don't close till 4am. I wonder when the coffee shops close...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Patagonia
Today I got a job offer to be a Data Manager for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a nonprofit agency that is an extension of New York City's Mental Health Agency. I'll help with data analysis and report creation.
I still have a couple interviews lined up next week including a contract position as an Android programmer for webMD and a second interview for a contract Business Analyst (in mobile applications) at Morgan Stanley. I'll go to my interviews, but I think I'll ultimately stick with the nonprofit (despite a Morgan Stanley 6 figure salary).
As a treat for securing a job, I ordered myself some nicer cold weather clothing (Patagonia Men's Tres 3-in-1 Parka). It's a bit pricey, but I've had excellent experiences with the company and their products.
When I was in San Francisco, a friend wanted to pick up a down vest and asked if I knew about Patagonia. Initially I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I then remembered that I was wearing one of their hoodies! My old black hoody was so beaten up that I had forgotten about it's label. It was used relentlessly the last couple years from camping trips to substituting as a last minute "rashguard" in Ecuador.
Anyways, the store saw how beat up my hoody was and said they would repair it for free (no need to show receipt or proof of purchase). Not only that, they would ship it back to San Diego for free! Today I received it back in the mail just in time to make it out to NYC :)
I still have a couple interviews lined up next week including a contract position as an Android programmer for webMD and a second interview for a contract Business Analyst (in mobile applications) at Morgan Stanley. I'll go to my interviews, but I think I'll ultimately stick with the nonprofit (despite a Morgan Stanley 6 figure salary).
As a treat for securing a job, I ordered myself some nicer cold weather clothing (Patagonia Men's Tres 3-in-1 Parka). It's a bit pricey, but I've had excellent experiences with the company and their products.
When I was in San Francisco, a friend wanted to pick up a down vest and asked if I knew about Patagonia. Initially I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I then remembered that I was wearing one of their hoodies! My old black hoody was so beaten up that I had forgotten about it's label. It was used relentlessly the last couple years from camping trips to substituting as a last minute "rashguard" in Ecuador.
Anyways, the store saw how beat up my hoody was and said they would repair it for free (no need to show receipt or proof of purchase). Not only that, they would ship it back to San Diego for free! Today I received it back in the mail just in time to make it out to NYC :)
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, you are addicting. Just a week ago I never saw this show and now I'm finishing up Season 3.
The plot is good, but what really shines is that the characters are all so beautifully flawed. No one is perfect; there are no good guys, only people making excuses for themselves and trying to justify their actions. One thing leads to another and it quickly becomes a twisted story of lies between family, drug cartels, and the DEA.
The show is based on cooking and distributing crystal meth so shit hits the fan pretty often. I don't think you really ever see the qualities of a person until you see how they handle life's unexpected events.
Anyways, I should get back to looking for a place to stay and a job...
The plot is good, but what really shines is that the characters are all so beautifully flawed. No one is perfect; there are no good guys, only people making excuses for themselves and trying to justify their actions. One thing leads to another and it quickly becomes a twisted story of lies between family, drug cartels, and the DEA.
The show is based on cooking and distributing crystal meth so shit hits the fan pretty often. I don't think you really ever see the qualities of a person until you see how they handle life's unexpected events.
Anyways, I should get back to looking for a place to stay and a job...
Friday, September 30, 2011
2 Weeks before NYC!
Friday October 14th is my last day in San Diego. I'll finish up work, do the 6 hour drive up to Reedley, drop my truck off, and then get picked up/dropped off at the Fresno airport for a 5 am Saturday flight to New York. I'll arrive around 7pm EST and figure out life from there. I still don't have a job or a place lined up yet. I don't even have a warm coat. I should probably work on that.
Overall I'm really excited, slightly nervous and even a bit stressed out. All I know for now is that after this move, I'm going to be calling NYC home for quite a few years. In terms of a career, I hate job jumping. I hate the job search and the sheer amount of work it takes to get caught up to speed in order to be a good business/data analyst. (Luckily?) I don't know anyone there so I won't have many distractions (other than the most exciting city ever!).
I think I've found some areas that I like in Astoria (Queens), Prospect Heights (Brooklyn), and Harlem (where I stayed with Jason and Carrie from Peace Corps!). Depending on what I make, I might even try to get my own studio. I know some friends from the West Coast will be visiting and I might even adopt a cat or dog! I've always wanted a Husky. The general rule of thumb is to follow the formula of: Annual Salary = Monthly Rent * 40.
I'm excited for all the things that I'll see in NY, to live in actual weather and to meet new people. The people I've met in San Diego have been amazing and it's sad even thinking about saying goodbyes. I'm staying optimistic and I hope I'm as lucky in NYC as I was in San Diego in meeting genuine people.
Overall I'm really excited, slightly nervous and even a bit stressed out. All I know for now is that after this move, I'm going to be calling NYC home for quite a few years. In terms of a career, I hate job jumping. I hate the job search and the sheer amount of work it takes to get caught up to speed in order to be a good business/data analyst. (Luckily?) I don't know anyone there so I won't have many distractions (other than the most exciting city ever!).
I think I've found some areas that I like in Astoria (Queens), Prospect Heights (Brooklyn), and Harlem (where I stayed with Jason and Carrie from Peace Corps!). Depending on what I make, I might even try to get my own studio. I know some friends from the West Coast will be visiting and I might even adopt a cat or dog! I've always wanted a Husky. The general rule of thumb is to follow the formula of: Annual Salary = Monthly Rent * 40.
I'm excited for all the things that I'll see in NY, to live in actual weather and to meet new people. The people I've met in San Diego have been amazing and it's sad even thinking about saying goodbyes. I'm staying optimistic and I hope I'm as lucky in NYC as I was in San Diego in meeting genuine people.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I just got back from a nice vacation. I went camping out in Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite, wine tasting in Napa, and eating great food in San Francisco. Tomorrow I'm putting in my notice to quit my job at the hospital. I don't have a job lined up in New York, but I think I'll try it out anyways! Until I get out there, I'll keep programming and working on my side projects.
I started visiting Stackoverflow again and just got my first reputation increase! I went from 1 reputation to 26!
Edit: Added a couple pictures from the trip
Friday, August 26, 2011
Bad Economy
So I've been pretty selective on the jobs that I'm applying to. I sent about 15 in the past three weeks. I haven't heard back from any yet. Supposedly it's a tough job market and especially so if you're trying to relocate across states.
I guess I'll have to make my own job!
I guess I'll have to make my own job!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Quick update
1.) I started up www.williamqliu.com as a place for my web/tech projects.
2.) This past weekend I surfed in Manhattan Beach, the last time I'll be surfing for a while. I gave my board away to a friend since he moved to the West Coast and I'm going East!
3.) I started applying to jobs in NYC. I talked to my current boss and she's super supportive; my company knows that I'm looking around and I'll still be on payroll if they need me.
4.) The end of my lease is this month. Gonna couchsurf in San Diego until I can get a job in NY.
5.) Going on a road trip in the middle of September.
2.) This past weekend I surfed in Manhattan Beach, the last time I'll be surfing for a while. I gave my board away to a friend since he moved to the West Coast and I'm going East!
3.) I started applying to jobs in NYC. I talked to my current boss and she's super supportive; my company knows that I'm looking around and I'll still be on payroll if they need me.
4.) The end of my lease is this month. Gonna couchsurf in San Diego until I can get a job in NY.
5.) Going on a road trip in the middle of September.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Learning how to code again
While working on 'Happily Ever After', I found that the scale of the project requires better coding. I've temporarily stopped work on it and I'm going through some incredible resources that have helped my code immensely. In the last week, I've reviewed topics from polymorphism to multi-threading.
For Java, I'm using Bucky's free online videos over at http://www.thenewboston.com/
For actual coding practice, I'm using a site that gives you problems and allows you to code within the web site: http://codingbat.com
The information presented in these tutorials are a thousand times better than my college experience (though to be fair, we concentrated on Assembly, an almost machine language that's more difficult than object oriented languages). Even when I learned C# or Java in college, the information was presented in a terrible manner.
I've decided that someday, I'd like to start a nonprofit site that teaches kids to code through simple, short, and fun videos of the game mechanics found in old school NES / Super NES games.
For Java, I'm using Bucky's free online videos over at http://www.thenewboston.com/
For actual coding practice, I'm using a site that gives you problems and allows you to code within the web site: http://codingbat.com
The information presented in these tutorials are a thousand times better than my college experience (though to be fair, we concentrated on Assembly, an almost machine language that's more difficult than object oriented languages). Even when I learned C# or Java in college, the information was presented in a terrible manner.
I've decided that someday, I'd like to start a nonprofit site that teaches kids to code through simple, short, and fun videos of the game mechanics found in old school NES / Super NES games.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Google Fusion Tables / Earth Test
1.) Use Google Fusion Tables and import your KML file as a new table (this table contains the boundaries of your shapes). I found this free program Shp2kml (http://www.zonums.com/shp2kml.html), which takes shapefiles and converts to Google Earth KML files.
2.) Use Google Fusion Tables and import your data file (the column that determines the 'intensity' - for this example I used a sample count)
3.) Merge the Tables (for my tables I used the ZIP codes as the common column)
4.) Google Fusion Tables > Visualize > Map
5.) 'Configure Styles' > Change your bucket values (so that 0 to 1 displays as this color, 1 to 10 displays as that color, etc.)
6.) If you want to share with others or display on the web site, load the table, click on the top right 'Share', and imbed the HTML
7.) I'm trying to figure out how to display the intensity map on Google Earth. When I transfer it, I lose the bucket values.
Edit: Choropleth and Thematic mapping! Those are the keywords I was looking for. Now time to scour the Internet for a plug-in for Google Earth! :)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Computers not allowed
In a few hours I'm off camping for the weekend with friends. I don't want to think about code or see a computer.
Updated with a couple pictures.
Updated with a couple pictures.
Monday, June 13, 2011
New Project: "Happily Ever After"
Today I'm starting a new project called "Happily Ever After". It'll be a game designed for Android. The game play will mix a few different genres, but focuses on the classic RPG elements.
The last week I've been playing with a few different story line ideas and have come up with a foundation for the design. I've pitched it to a few friends and so far they all think it's a good idea. I don't think this project will be able to wow anyone with its programming or art, but the combination of simple features and solid story might make this stand out.
The only description I have is that "This is not your typical RPG".
The last week I've been playing with a few different story line ideas and have come up with a foundation for the design. I've pitched it to a few friends and so far they all think it's a good idea. I don't think this project will be able to wow anyone with its programming or art, but the combination of simple features and solid story might make this stand out.
The only description I have is that "This is not your typical RPG".
Need to ignore things around me
I'm at a coffee shop sitting next to one of the most annoying women. The place is packed and I can't escape anywhere else. Hopefully she doesn't look over while I write this; that could make it really awkward really quick.
She's calling people on her cell phone (sounds like she wants to buy a bookshelf on craigslist). So far every call she's made, it goes something like this "Hi, I saw that you were selling your bookshelf. My fiance and I are looking for a bookshelf because after we get married, we're going to move in together in Spring Valley. He has a lot of books because he has his Masters degree and we need a new bookshelf to hold all of our books together. Blah blah blah going on about the wedding. Anyways, I'm interested in buying it so please call me back soon at XXX-XXX-XXXX."
Every. Single. Call.
Girl is crazy. To add to the annoyance factor, she has this irritatingly high, nasally voice. I feel bad for her fiance. Hopefully they're equally annoying and are made for each other.
Annoying is one thing, but when someone is being a jerk, it really gets under my skin. It gets to the point where I can't help but do something about it.
Earlier this week, a nice Mercedes pulled up into a handicap parking spot at a busy restaurant. The driver was a young guy, well built (obviously not handicapped), and had no visible handicap parking sign. He walks into the restaurant and waits in the long line to place his order; it was going to be longer than a minute.
I wrote on my receipt how he was an asshole for parking in a handicapped spot. I was about to place the note on his windshield when a friend stopped me. She said it would prompt a fight. I didn't care about the fight, but since it was putting her in an uncomfortable position, I didn't do it. (Though in my opinion, if I was being confrontational, I would've walked straight up to the stranger and said it)
I get why people don't speak up when strangers are annoying. I don't get why people don't speak up when strangers are deliberately being jerks.
She's calling people on her cell phone (sounds like she wants to buy a bookshelf on craigslist). So far every call she's made, it goes something like this "Hi, I saw that you were selling your bookshelf. My fiance and I are looking for a bookshelf because after we get married, we're going to move in together in Spring Valley. He has a lot of books because he has his Masters degree and we need a new bookshelf to hold all of our books together. Blah blah blah going on about the wedding. Anyways, I'm interested in buying it so please call me back soon at XXX-XXX-XXXX."
Every. Single. Call.
Girl is crazy. To add to the annoyance factor, she has this irritatingly high, nasally voice. I feel bad for her fiance. Hopefully they're equally annoying and are made for each other.
Annoying is one thing, but when someone is being a jerk, it really gets under my skin. It gets to the point where I can't help but do something about it.
Earlier this week, a nice Mercedes pulled up into a handicap parking spot at a busy restaurant. The driver was a young guy, well built (obviously not handicapped), and had no visible handicap parking sign. He walks into the restaurant and waits in the long line to place his order; it was going to be longer than a minute.
I wrote on my receipt how he was an asshole for parking in a handicapped spot. I was about to place the note on his windshield when a friend stopped me. She said it would prompt a fight. I didn't care about the fight, but since it was putting her in an uncomfortable position, I didn't do it. (Though in my opinion, if I was being confrontational, I would've walked straight up to the stranger and said it)
I get why people don't speak up when strangers are annoying. I don't get why people don't speak up when strangers are deliberately being jerks.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Good News Bad News
I got a call from my buddy Laske. There's good news and bad news.
The good news is that he'll be graduating with his Masters and was already offered a job in Monterey. He'll be moving out to California in a couple months. The bad news is that the day he starts his new career is the day that Burning Man starts. He'll be selling his two tickets.
I have two tickets as well and now I'd be going alone. I've asked around to see if anyone's available, but people are busy. It's the first week of school or people aren't able to take a whole week off of work. I'm not sure what I'll do with the tickets, maybe even sell them.
It's one of those events that I've wanted to go to, but maybe this isn't the year.
Edit: There's more good news than bad. Gonna be meeting a few Peace Corps friends over the next few months (Justin, Jason, Carrie, and Laske!) :)
The good news is that he'll be graduating with his Masters and was already offered a job in Monterey. He'll be moving out to California in a couple months. The bad news is that the day he starts his new career is the day that Burning Man starts. He'll be selling his two tickets.
I have two tickets as well and now I'd be going alone. I've asked around to see if anyone's available, but people are busy. It's the first week of school or people aren't able to take a whole week off of work. I'm not sure what I'll do with the tickets, maybe even sell them.
It's one of those events that I've wanted to go to, but maybe this isn't the year.
Edit: There's more good news than bad. Gonna be meeting a few Peace Corps friends over the next few months (Justin, Jason, Carrie, and Laske!) :)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Great weekend!
Classes are done. My first programming competition is submitted. I'm relaxing for a little bit. This past weekend I had time to hang out with friends, chill out, and sleep.
I watched the first 7 episodes of the new HBO series Game of Thrones. It came as a recommendation from a friend and he was right, I got hooked right at episode 1. It's pretty much a mature Lord of the Rings. It's done nicely in that every fight or sexual act is done to further the plot instead of 'just because'. HBO's been coming out with a lot of good shows lately (like the Living Dead, which still needs to come out with Season 2).
I also started and finished the game Portal. The first thing that stands out is that the design and game play mechanics are innovative; you can shoot a blue and red portal, you enter from one and exit the other. Combine this with physics and puzzles and there's a lot to do.
The part that I find fascinating is Portal's reuse of the same, limited resources to keep the game fresh. I believe the game was originally designed by two DigiPen students and given the small team, it makes sense using the same models (sentries, companion cube) and design elements (acid ground, moving tiles). They didn't overextend themselves, they knew their limits.
I got to see an interesting "battle of the random bands" this weekend. A group of people were picked (based on their instrument), placed in a lotto, and randomly selected to form a band. They had a month to come up with their songs and practice. As expected, some groups worked surprisingly well and some were plain terrible. The one that did work out really well was a group that had an older man singing with a younger girl playing some sick banjo.
Another thing I finally noticed is that I get frustrated driving. I hate it. It's not that I'm bad at it, I just get really irate when I drive around congested areas (like LA or any downtown areas).
Anyways, I'm going to be brainstorming new ideas this weekend. I want to get started on my next project.
I watched the first 7 episodes of the new HBO series Game of Thrones. It came as a recommendation from a friend and he was right, I got hooked right at episode 1. It's pretty much a mature Lord of the Rings. It's done nicely in that every fight or sexual act is done to further the plot instead of 'just because'. HBO's been coming out with a lot of good shows lately (like the Living Dead, which still needs to come out with Season 2).
I also started and finished the game Portal. The first thing that stands out is that the design and game play mechanics are innovative; you can shoot a blue and red portal, you enter from one and exit the other. Combine this with physics and puzzles and there's a lot to do.
The part that I find fascinating is Portal's reuse of the same, limited resources to keep the game fresh. I believe the game was originally designed by two DigiPen students and given the small team, it makes sense using the same models (sentries, companion cube) and design elements (acid ground, moving tiles). They didn't overextend themselves, they knew their limits.
I got to see an interesting "battle of the random bands" this weekend. A group of people were picked (based on their instrument), placed in a lotto, and randomly selected to form a band. They had a month to come up with their songs and practice. As expected, some groups worked surprisingly well and some were plain terrible. The one that did work out really well was a group that had an older man singing with a younger girl playing some sick banjo.
Another thing I finally noticed is that I get frustrated driving. I hate it. It's not that I'm bad at it, I just get really irate when I drive around congested areas (like LA or any downtown areas).
Anyways, I'm going to be brainstorming new ideas this weekend. I want to get started on my next project.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Flu Aware App published!
After much programming, I released my first app!
Please vote for my app here for the CDC Flu Challenge:
http://fluapp.challenge.gov/
It's available for free on the Android Market:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.wliu.cdcfluaware&feature=search_result
Here's a few screen shots:
Please vote for my app here for the CDC Flu Challenge:
http://fluapp.challenge.gov/
It's available for free on the Android Market:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.wliu.cdcfluaware&feature=search_result
Here's a few screen shots:
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
It's so obvious, duh... oh wait...
This is how I feel when I'm programming.
This pretty much describes my next month. I have work (possible go live of a physician search for the hospital - will be putting in extra hours there), classes w/ two finals, and a programming competition deadline.
I'm pretty much writing off my social life (or what was left of it). I'll make up for it next month by taking a trip, possibly to New York City or somewhere in the East Coast, I'll see if some Peace Corps friends want to get together.
The programming has been slow in terms of completed/finalized code (and I doubt that I can finish the program before time's up), but I've learned so much in the meantime.
My idea's to download live data through an XML feed, get the phone's current location, convert that location from geocode to an actual usable location, run the location against the parsed XML data, and return with info pertinent to the user.
I haven't been able to parse all the XML data correctly and I've only got the geocode locations to return from the phone. I found an API that takes in geocode locations and converts them to real addresses. Still so much to do...
The deadline is starting to get stressful. When did hobbies get stressful?!
This pretty much describes my next month. I have work (possible go live of a physician search for the hospital - will be putting in extra hours there), classes w/ two finals, and a programming competition deadline.
I'm pretty much writing off my social life (or what was left of it). I'll make up for it next month by taking a trip, possibly to New York City or somewhere in the East Coast, I'll see if some Peace Corps friends want to get together.
The programming has been slow in terms of completed/finalized code (and I doubt that I can finish the program before time's up), but I've learned so much in the meantime.
My idea's to download live data through an XML feed, get the phone's current location, convert that location from geocode to an actual usable location, run the location against the parsed XML data, and return with info pertinent to the user.
I haven't been able to parse all the XML data correctly and I've only got the geocode locations to return from the phone. I found an API that takes in geocode locations and converts them to real addresses. Still so much to do...
The deadline is starting to get stressful. When did hobbies get stressful?!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Reminds me of...
Saw a good web comic that's a bit depressing, but it reminded me of an old relationship and made me think about life.
http://imgur.com/a/mTWpc
I love how the comic can be interpreted in so many ways.
* You can take it at face value as someone struggling to get their dream job
* It might be that the dream job is so out of reach and ridiculous that it's akin to applying to be a walrus or lighthouse
* It could be seen as some guy's pride and a sense of entitlement (deserving more than a Wendy's job)
* Maybe it's idealism versus realism (some people take Wendy's job first because they're realistic, then apply to their dream jobs whereas this guy does the opposite)
* It could be the guy struggling against depression
* Or this might just be a crazy man with some serious mental issues
Hopefully he doesn't stay at Wendy's. I guess there comes a point in our lives when our day job becomes our only job and we stop looking for other things, whether for better or worse.
Side note: Neat technology with http://www.tineye.com/ where it allows you to do a reverse image search.
http://imgur.com/a/mTWpc
I love how the comic can be interpreted in so many ways.
* You can take it at face value as someone struggling to get their dream job
* It might be that the dream job is so out of reach and ridiculous that it's akin to applying to be a walrus or lighthouse
* It could be seen as some guy's pride and a sense of entitlement (deserving more than a Wendy's job)
* Maybe it's idealism versus realism (some people take Wendy's job first because they're realistic, then apply to their dream jobs whereas this guy does the opposite)
* It could be the guy struggling against depression
* Or this might just be a crazy man with some serious mental issues
Hopefully he doesn't stay at Wendy's. I guess there comes a point in our lives when our day job becomes our only job and we stop looking for other things, whether for better or worse.
Side note: Neat technology with http://www.tineye.com/ where it allows you to do a reverse image search.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
This weekend's google searches
android dev sqlite
android sqlite rawQuery
sqlite browser
cdc influenza rates
US census
united states map
creative commons license
photoshop eyedropper toolbar display
stock paper image
propaganda posters
photoshop vintage effect
android logo andy
cheap plane tickets chile
how to make fried twinkies
how to make beer batter
how to make mimosas
giacomo puccini
android sqlite rawQuery
sqlite browser
cdc influenza rates
US census
united states map
creative commons license
photoshop eyedropper toolbar display
stock paper image
propaganda posters
photoshop vintage effect
android logo andy
cheap plane tickets chile
how to make fried twinkies
how to make beer batter
how to make mimosas
giacomo puccini
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
f(x)
Sometimes I think in terms of math. It's kind of funny because I'm not too good at it.
So when I'm thinking of relationships and soul mates, it's weird that I default to formulas and statistics.
Let's say two people are together. At that very moment, I'll think "x = y". Well, people are more complex than a simple x or y, but I think we're all slaves to our genetics and life's experiences (for simplicity's sake let's say that sums up to a nice equation of sorts).
Then we need to factor time into our equations. People aren't constants, people change. Johnny started drinking and Susie really let herself go. We're more like f(x) and y(x).
What's the odds that you'll grow out of your partner and want something completely different? Were you the same person you were a year ago? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? How will your partner react if you're not the same person he/she married?
So we're each a unique formula that's changing, some more so than others. Not only do we have to find the right formula that matches us, we also have to make sure we're on the same timeline. I could be a x^2 and she could be an x^2, but if I'm at x=3 and she's at x=5, we're at different places in life.
Communication and time helps manage expectations and solidifies who you are, but maybe some formulas are too different. Maybe some people don't have any single soul mate.
Maybe some of us are a variation of pi. Or maybe this is all crazy thinking and I'm just being irrational.
So when I'm thinking of relationships and soul mates, it's weird that I default to formulas and statistics.
Let's say two people are together. At that very moment, I'll think "x = y". Well, people are more complex than a simple x or y, but I think we're all slaves to our genetics and life's experiences (for simplicity's sake let's say that sums up to a nice equation of sorts).
Then we need to factor time into our equations. People aren't constants, people change. Johnny started drinking and Susie really let herself go. We're more like f(x) and y(x).
What's the odds that you'll grow out of your partner and want something completely different? Were you the same person you were a year ago? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? How will your partner react if you're not the same person he/she married?
So we're each a unique formula that's changing, some more so than others. Not only do we have to find the right formula that matches us, we also have to make sure we're on the same timeline. I could be a x^2 and she could be an x^2, but if I'm at x=3 and she's at x=5, we're at different places in life.
Communication and time helps manage expectations and solidifies who you are, but maybe some formulas are too different. Maybe some people don't have any single soul mate.
Maybe some of us are a variation of pi. Or maybe this is all crazy thinking and I'm just being irrational.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Challenge Accepted!
A coworker sent me a link to an interesting programming challenge. It's a project from the CDC trying to raise awareness of influenza through innovative technological means.
They supply the datasets and from there pretty much let you run with the idea. I like how this type of challenge inspires real thinking.
This weekend I drew up some design documents and started on the User Interface programming of my application. I'm trying to remember to keep it small and to scale the project up only after I meet my previous goals. I already know that the database portion will be the most challenging aspect.
It's a little difficult working on a project by yourself. I find it really fun to cut sounds, draw graphics, and program the same project. However, I'm pretty terrible at Photoshop now and it is kind of frustrating when you're stuck debugging code that you've been staring at for hours. And for some reason, the worst part is that it always gets lonely doing this.
I'm sure other people have teams, but I can't seem to interest any of my friends. They either seem pretty content working for someone else or they don't have a relevant skill set (and lack the motivation to pick one up).
We'll see how this goes. I gotta remember; think big, but take small steps (and compile frequently).
Once I'm done with this, if anyone has an Android phone, I'll buy you a beer to download and test the program (on anything other than a Nexus One).
They supply the datasets and from there pretty much let you run with the idea. I like how this type of challenge inspires real thinking.
This weekend I drew up some design documents and started on the User Interface programming of my application. I'm trying to remember to keep it small and to scale the project up only after I meet my previous goals. I already know that the database portion will be the most challenging aspect.
It's a little difficult working on a project by yourself. I find it really fun to cut sounds, draw graphics, and program the same project. However, I'm pretty terrible at Photoshop now and it is kind of frustrating when you're stuck debugging code that you've been staring at for hours. And for some reason, the worst part is that it always gets lonely doing this.
I'm sure other people have teams, but I can't seem to interest any of my friends. They either seem pretty content working for someone else or they don't have a relevant skill set (and lack the motivation to pick one up).
We'll see how this goes. I gotta remember; think big, but take small steps (and compile frequently).
Once I'm done with this, if anyone has an Android phone, I'll buy you a beer to download and test the program (on anything other than a Nexus One).
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
People need to get mad
I want kids. Not now, but maybe someday. I wanted to put that out there since it might make me a little biased for what I'm going to write.
I'm mad. I'm frustrated. I'm most of all sad.
The last couple of days I've been working on a report that compares hospital data across California. I'll limit this post to four factors.
Cost - Cost for the hospital (staff, equipment, etc.)
Charge - How much someone is charged for services rendered (whether it's billing the insurance company and/or the person)
ALOS - Average Length of Stay (for the person staying in the hospital)
Discharge - Number of cases seen
In California (2009), rough figures put the average case for a children's hospital charges $8000 a day, with an average of 5 days stayed, which comes out to a whopping $40,000 a year. (I don't want to mention how much it costs actual hospitals)
We need to keep in mind that:
1.) A children's hospital isn't just for normal newborns. These are specialized children's hospitals that treat the most severe cases. Costs and charges are expected to be higher.
2.) We're also looking at the average cost/charge/length of stay when the median is probably a better indicator.
3.) Insurance may cover some/most of the costs.
Most likely insurance will only cover a partial amount and if they do, I'm sure they'll fight tooth and nail for every penny. Even if they don't, how do normal people afford the rest?
You take out a loan and setup a payment plan while some guy is gaming the healthcare and insurance system? If it's not the financial market, its the healthcare market or some other market. It just seems like the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.
The people representing us in Congress have net worths starting in the millions. They don't have my interests at heart. When will people get mad and say enough is enough?
I'm mad. I'm frustrated. I'm most of all sad.
The last couple of days I've been working on a report that compares hospital data across California. I'll limit this post to four factors.
Cost - Cost for the hospital (staff, equipment, etc.)
Charge - How much someone is charged for services rendered (whether it's billing the insurance company and/or the person)
ALOS - Average Length of Stay (for the person staying in the hospital)
Discharge - Number of cases seen
In California (2009), rough figures put the average case for a children's hospital charges $8000 a day, with an average of 5 days stayed, which comes out to a whopping $40,000 a year. (I don't want to mention how much it costs actual hospitals)
We need to keep in mind that:
1.) A children's hospital isn't just for normal newborns. These are specialized children's hospitals that treat the most severe cases. Costs and charges are expected to be higher.
2.) We're also looking at the average cost/charge/length of stay when the median is probably a better indicator.
3.) Insurance may cover some/most of the costs.
Most likely insurance will only cover a partial amount and if they do, I'm sure they'll fight tooth and nail for every penny. Even if they don't, how do normal people afford the rest?
You take out a loan and setup a payment plan while some guy is gaming the healthcare and insurance system? If it's not the financial market, its the healthcare market or some other market. It just seems like the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.
The people representing us in Congress have net worths starting in the millions. They don't have my interests at heart. When will people get mad and say enough is enough?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Coffee and Code
We got a cat! Her name's Reddit; she's a stray that my roommate's friend (a vet) found out on the streets. She's about 2 years old, has an odd fascination with paper, frequently jumps on keyboards, and loves to wake us up at precisely 6 am on weekends. She's so cute though!!
I've been hanging out with friends a lot more lately. We've been playing frisbee golf and softball, hiking, climbing, watching movies, and some social drinking. The interesting part is that the different groups of friends I know are 'mixing together' and it's creating a surprisingly fun dynamic. Usually I'm with one group or another since their interests seem so different.
Last week I did a 12 hour workday because of a new system implementation. I've been feeling a little burnt out so I asked for today off. Today's a coffee and code (for fun) day!
Can't wait for Spring Break! I'm hoping for better weather so I can start surfing again.
 |
| From Drop Box |
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| From Drop Box |
I've been hanging out with friends a lot more lately. We've been playing frisbee golf and softball, hiking, climbing, watching movies, and some social drinking. The interesting part is that the different groups of friends I know are 'mixing together' and it's creating a surprisingly fun dynamic. Usually I'm with one group or another since their interests seem so different.
Last week I did a 12 hour workday because of a new system implementation. I've been feeling a little burnt out so I asked for today off. Today's a coffee and code (for fun) day!
Can't wait for Spring Break! I'm hoping for better weather so I can start surfing again.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Blessing in Disguise
I haven't logged into my RSS feed in a while. I forgot to take someone off the list (that I've been debating whether I should talk to) and curiosity got the best of me; I read a post of theirs and matched it up with the time. Yep, I'm never talking to that person again.
It's like in Ecuador; if you meet someone that borrows $20 and never returns it, be happy that it only took you $20 to realize they're a waste of time. Sometimes bad luck is really good luck in disguise.
It's like in Ecuador; if you meet someone that borrows $20 and never returns it, be happy that it only took you $20 to realize they're a waste of time. Sometimes bad luck is really good luck in disguise.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Love is a verb
Love is a verb, an action occurring in the present. Without working on it constantly, it just becomes the past.
New Hardware
Last weekend I splurged and upgraded my Macbook Pro from the 2009 version to the latest 2011 version. Although there's no real differences aesthetically, the internal switch from the old Core 2 Duo processors to the new Sandy Bridge i5 processor has made a huge difference in compile/run times.
The only other bottleneck was the 5400 RPM hard drive, which I promptly switched to a 256 GB Sata III solid state drive. Even though OSX doesn't have TRIM support yet, I'm hoping the hard drive performance won't degrade too much before Lion is released in June (which should have built in third party TRIM support).
In terms of what I'm using the hardware for, I've been documenting what I've learned about Android programming over at code.google.com/p/wliu/ under the 'Wiki' section. I'm still not sure how to use collaborative software like github, but it doesn't really matter yet since I'm still a one man team.
Right now I'm working on the framework for a flashcard program; I figure I can study for my Medical Terminology class and learn how to program at the same time. There's a lot of possible neat twists on how people learn, but for now my goal is a simple working application. Basics first I guess.
The only other bottleneck was the 5400 RPM hard drive, which I promptly switched to a 256 GB Sata III solid state drive. Even though OSX doesn't have TRIM support yet, I'm hoping the hard drive performance won't degrade too much before Lion is released in June (which should have built in third party TRIM support).
In terms of what I'm using the hardware for, I've been documenting what I've learned about Android programming over at code.google.com/p/wliu/ under the 'Wiki' section. I'm still not sure how to use collaborative software like github, but it doesn't really matter yet since I'm still a one man team.
Right now I'm working on the framework for a flashcard program; I figure I can study for my Medical Terminology class and learn how to program at the same time. There's a lot of possible neat twists on how people learn, but for now my goal is a simple working application. Basics first I guess.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What do you do?
Yesterday I met up with some Peace Corps friends for dinner. It's interesting seeing what everyone's done since then, it's kind of what I imagine a college or high school reunion would be (except with more awesome people). Anyways, it seemed so long ago since Peace Corps and I distinctly remember how I thought then compared to how I think now.
When I graduated college, I remember that the last thing I wanted to do was work in a cubicle slaving away on some type of Office Space "TPS report". Thus I joined the Peace Corps and went out to 'do good'! I was 20 years old and although I wasn't sure how or where, I had an intense passion to do something, anything. I wanted to change the world for the better, even if it was only a small footprint in the remotest corners.
Now I'm here, a few years older, and doing reports. I'm a 'Business Analyst' and I have trouble explaining my job sometimes; I bounce around projects implementing software systems, pulling statistics, and creating reports. And I'm content with what I do because I think differently; reports aren't a waste. If done correctly, I think reports supplement 'doing good' by making it as efficient as possible. In fact, I think 'doing good' is almost wasted if it's not correctly implemented.
Here's an example:
As I'm about to leave on Friday, I'm asked to help on another quick project; our Business Development department needs to know the types of hospital operations and its frequency for the Tijuana and San Diego area. Ok, I'll look it up.
Here's some context behind the report. The children's hospital that I work for helps every child, even if they can't pay for the operations. Because of it's reputation as a top notch hospital, people will cross the border to receive the best care possible. Usually, a lot of these across the border operations fall under the 'parents can't pay for it' section.
Tijuana's hospitals are planning to upgrade their facilities, but don't have the analysis capabilities that we do. This research helps them make an informed decision on what types of operations are likely to be needed and thus what types of facilities to build.
By helping them out, the result is that parents don't have to drive all the way up to San Diego for good care, Tijuana hospitals can offer better immediate care, and we have less 'no pays'. Win for everyone.
I get to play a very small part of this and I think it's neat. I like being part of an efficient system in 'doing good', even if it is doing the reports.
When I graduated college, I remember that the last thing I wanted to do was work in a cubicle slaving away on some type of Office Space "TPS report". Thus I joined the Peace Corps and went out to 'do good'! I was 20 years old and although I wasn't sure how or where, I had an intense passion to do something, anything. I wanted to change the world for the better, even if it was only a small footprint in the remotest corners.
Now I'm here, a few years older, and doing reports. I'm a 'Business Analyst' and I have trouble explaining my job sometimes; I bounce around projects implementing software systems, pulling statistics, and creating reports. And I'm content with what I do because I think differently; reports aren't a waste. If done correctly, I think reports supplement 'doing good' by making it as efficient as possible. In fact, I think 'doing good' is almost wasted if it's not correctly implemented.
Here's an example:
As I'm about to leave on Friday, I'm asked to help on another quick project; our Business Development department needs to know the types of hospital operations and its frequency for the Tijuana and San Diego area. Ok, I'll look it up.
Here's some context behind the report. The children's hospital that I work for helps every child, even if they can't pay for the operations. Because of it's reputation as a top notch hospital, people will cross the border to receive the best care possible. Usually, a lot of these across the border operations fall under the 'parents can't pay for it' section.
Tijuana's hospitals are planning to upgrade their facilities, but don't have the analysis capabilities that we do. This research helps them make an informed decision on what types of operations are likely to be needed and thus what types of facilities to build.
By helping them out, the result is that parents don't have to drive all the way up to San Diego for good care, Tijuana hospitals can offer better immediate care, and we have less 'no pays'. Win for everyone.
I get to play a very small part of this and I think it's neat. I like being part of an efficient system in 'doing good', even if it is doing the reports.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hello 2011!
It's been a while since I've last posted. Life's been busy, but I guess it's precisely these moments when writing is important; it gives me a chance for some much needed self-reflection. Sometimes I get lost in the details of life..
Let's see...
The readjustment from Ecuador was slightly difficult, something that I didn't expect. One minute I'm in my board shorts and flip flops speeding down an unlit mountain road and clenching the handle bars of my bike for dear life... my eyes are wide open and I'm peering into the pitch darkness of night, desperately trying to make out the outlines of a road.
I'm silently praying that the next pothole won't knock me off and that cars can see our bikes' reflectors. I can see myself there, thinking how a grueling three hour ascent was less than a half hour decent. And the moment where I finally realize our speed when we surpass a gas powered scooter going downhill...
Then the next moment I'm sitting with a dozen other analysts in a meeting room discussing the rating and ranking of our hospital in the U.S. News and World Report. I'm sitting there watching how quickly and efficiently the group dissects the report and appropriates out tasks. Conversations lasting 30 seconds went like this:
Person 1: "Question X"
Person 2: "I'll get it. I can pull X data from Z system."
Person 3: "Is A data included in Z's system? I can pull from B system to get A data, you need that to calculate X"
Person 2: "Does A get pulled if happens?"
Person 3: "A gets pulled if + "
Person 4: "Ok, pull patients from both and cross reference discrepancies"
Person 5: "Don't forget C data was added to X system last month. Contact D person, he can pull C data from W system. Clients are probably in both systems so be sure to find unique"
Person 6: "Person D is new, he replaced E and can verify those numbers"
Person 1: "Great. Next Question"
I'm finally catching up to the incredibly fast paced work schedule. I'm currently working on three system implementations (helping lead two) and I'm learning how challenging it is to juggle multiple projects successfully.
One of the projects is to switch to a new physician referral system and put it online; what it means is that if you're trying to find a doctor, now you can search for one yourself through the web site (instead of having to call people at the hospital). There's so much involved from data scrubbing to testing.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Work is good. Let's see what else...
Christina and I are still together; we're trying our first long distance relationship. She moved out to New York City last week and I plan on joining her there in 9 months. Living in New York City is one of those things that I've always wanted to do, but always had some excuse not to. Now I can't wait to get there.
I also got my 2011 Burning Man tickets! It's another one of those events that I've wanted to experience, but never followed through. Tickets were either out of my price range or unavailable by the time I remembered. When tickets went on sale at 10:00 am, there was an immediate server failure.
A few hours later, there were over 40,000 people in the queue. Thanks to Christina for waiting 'in line' online for me. She was able to buy them at a little past 8:00 pm. Christina and I will be meeting up with my friend James Laske there.
That's it for now. I'll have to remember to update more regularly since I'm sure I missed out on a lot of other things.
Let's see...
The readjustment from Ecuador was slightly difficult, something that I didn't expect. One minute I'm in my board shorts and flip flops speeding down an unlit mountain road and clenching the handle bars of my bike for dear life... my eyes are wide open and I'm peering into the pitch darkness of night, desperately trying to make out the outlines of a road.
I'm silently praying that the next pothole won't knock me off and that cars can see our bikes' reflectors. I can see myself there, thinking how a grueling three hour ascent was less than a half hour decent. And the moment where I finally realize our speed when we surpass a gas powered scooter going downhill...
Then the next moment I'm sitting with a dozen other analysts in a meeting room discussing the rating and ranking of our hospital in the U.S. News and World Report. I'm sitting there watching how quickly and efficiently the group dissects the report and appropriates out tasks. Conversations lasting 30 seconds went like this:
Person 1: "Question X"
Person 2: "I'll get it. I can pull X data from Z system."
Person 3: "Is A data included in Z's system? I can pull from B system to get A data, you need that to calculate X"
Person 2: "Does A get pulled if
Person 3: "A gets pulled if
Person 4: "Ok, pull patients from both and cross reference discrepancies"
Person 5: "Don't forget C data was added to X system last month. Contact D person, he can pull C data from W system. Clients are probably in both systems so be sure to find unique"
Person 6: "Person D is new, he replaced E and can verify those numbers"
Person 1: "Great. Next Question"
I'm finally catching up to the incredibly fast paced work schedule. I'm currently working on three system implementations (helping lead two) and I'm learning how challenging it is to juggle multiple projects successfully.
One of the projects is to switch to a new physician referral system and put it online; what it means is that if you're trying to find a doctor, now you can search for one yourself through the web site (instead of having to call people at the hospital). There's so much involved from data scrubbing to testing.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Work is good. Let's see what else...
Christina and I are still together; we're trying our first long distance relationship. She moved out to New York City last week and I plan on joining her there in 9 months. Living in New York City is one of those things that I've always wanted to do, but always had some excuse not to. Now I can't wait to get there.
I also got my 2011 Burning Man tickets! It's another one of those events that I've wanted to experience, but never followed through. Tickets were either out of my price range or unavailable by the time I remembered. When tickets went on sale at 10:00 am, there was an immediate server failure.
A few hours later, there were over 40,000 people in the queue. Thanks to Christina for waiting 'in line' online for me. She was able to buy them at a little past 8:00 pm. Christina and I will be meeting up with my friend James Laske there.
That's it for now. I'll have to remember to update more regularly since I'm sure I missed out on a lot of other things.
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