Monday, April 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Budgeting Life
It doesn't matter how much you make, you can just as easily spend it; this statement is especially true living in NYC. Lately, if there's been anything I wanted (food, event, clothing, or stuff in general) I just buy it without thinking twice.
I don't like this feeling. I feel like I'm living in a perpetual state of consumption. It doesn't matter what I consume, I'm just not satisfied and I'm immediately ready for the next thing. For example, I'll have a bite of some rich Belgian chocolate and yet it won't taste half as good as the Reese's peanut butter cups I had in Ha'apai.
I'm learning that budgeting a checkbook is easy. Budgeting life so you can still appreciate the small things, now that's difficult.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Update!
Life has slowed down; I haven't gone to as many new events recently and instead I've been enjoying the downtime either at home or at a familiar event.
One of the events that I regularly attend is the NYC Tech Meetup. For the biggest meetup in the world, it has a surprisingly small community. I regularly see the same developers and startup entrepreneurs. The passion that these groups have for their work is contagious and inspiring (this time I was awed by a guy presenting an open source geospatial database).
Another one of my regular events is an Android developers meetup; this month's meeting was over at the Google offices. A Google Advocate went over the new Ice Cream Sandwich update. I learned a few interesting things, but most of all is that Google has free catering for meetings! :)
After these events, I felt inspired and got a few programming friends together. We brainstormed ideas that ranged from a Google Plus Friend Finder (location based) to random game ideas. We looked at the Google Plus API and decided it wasn't a good idea (due to querying cost). We're looking into the details of game programming so I'll be reading up about collision detection in the next couple weeks. (It's much different game mechanics than the one I was working on previously)
Besides computer stuff, I did some home decorating this weekend. I created a 4ft by 10ft chalkboard wall (only cost $20). I used my phone's panorama shot to try to capture how large the area is. The chalkboard is on the left hand side.
I also finished the Game of Thrones books, which was an enjoyable read. I started reading the series shortly before moving to NYC. I'll either finish the Steve Jobs book or start on Band of Brothers next.
I would have checked out the unknown destinations event this weekend (previous post), but they ran out of tickets.
Work's going great. We got a function repository and a report scheduler, which I need to figure out how to use next week. I almost forgot to mention, a few of us started a work bowling team (our team name is 'Lifesavers').
Oh, and I started seeing someone! She's really cute, smart, and chill.
One of the events that I regularly attend is the NYC Tech Meetup. For the biggest meetup in the world, it has a surprisingly small community. I regularly see the same developers and startup entrepreneurs. The passion that these groups have for their work is contagious and inspiring (this time I was awed by a guy presenting an open source geospatial database).
Another one of my regular events is an Android developers meetup; this month's meeting was over at the Google offices. A Google Advocate went over the new Ice Cream Sandwich update. I learned a few interesting things, but most of all is that Google has free catering for meetings! :)
After these events, I felt inspired and got a few programming friends together. We brainstormed ideas that ranged from a Google Plus Friend Finder (location based) to random game ideas. We looked at the Google Plus API and decided it wasn't a good idea (due to querying cost). We're looking into the details of game programming so I'll be reading up about collision detection in the next couple weeks. (It's much different game mechanics than the one I was working on previously)
Besides computer stuff, I did some home decorating this weekend. I created a 4ft by 10ft chalkboard wall (only cost $20). I used my phone's panorama shot to try to capture how large the area is. The chalkboard is on the left hand side.
I also finished the Game of Thrones books, which was an enjoyable read. I started reading the series shortly before moving to NYC. I'll either finish the Steve Jobs book or start on Band of Brothers next.
I would have checked out the unknown destinations event this weekend (previous post), but they ran out of tickets.
Work's going great. We got a function repository and a report scheduler, which I need to figure out how to use next week. I almost forgot to mention, a few of us started a work bowling team (our team name is 'Lifesavers').
Oh, and I started seeing someone! She's really cute, smart, and chill.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Randomness of NYC
The randomness of NYC... I found an art project where you show up, get a free train ticket to a random destination, then you document your travel. I'm going to check this out next week. Seems neat!
http://unknowndestinations.org/
http://unknowndestinations.org/
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Dating
I recently joined okcupid, an online dating site that matches people based off their answers to random questions. The questions range from relationship specific (e.g. "Is it mandatory for your significant other to have a college degree?") to some that are just interesting (e.g. "What's worse, starving children or starving animals?")
Here's my thought process when answering questions. The web site asks "Are you intense or carefree?" I'm intense in some ways; I watched two seasons of Breaking Bad in one weekend... does that count? Oh man, am I really on a dating web site? People do say I'm laid back. Maybe I should delete my profile before someone I know recognizes me. Maybe I'm more carefree. All right, I'll keep the profile and play it by ear. Okay, carefree it is.
Anyways, I tried okcupid out for a few weeks while in San Diego, but it didn't really stick. I went on one date, which went okay, then I disabled my account. During that time, I think I had about 15 profile visits a week.
A few weeks ago I went to reactive my account. I looked through my previous answers and found that I think a lot differently now than I did just a couple years ago. For example, one question asked "Would you be okay with your significant other seeing their ex as a friend?" My previous answer was a flat "No". Now, my thoughts are "Sure, go for it".
Most of my answers were slightly different so I just deleted the account and started from scratch. Since 2012, (around when I reactivated the account), I've gone on four dates and I already notice a huge difference between West Coast (San Diego) and East Coast (NYC) dating.
In San Diego's dating scene, the odds were against straight men. I thought it was pretty difficult to find a girl my age that was thoughtful, intelligent, into the outdoors, and passionate about something. At bars, the girls were always being pursued; you could always see a group of men swarming around the girl. The girls either loved the attention (usually the type that I didn't like) or they hated the attention (and didn't go back to bars). That's why we couldn't have nice things in San Diego.
In NYC's dating scene, the odds are heavily in favor of straight men. It's a good mix between girls and guys. The guys are just as likely to be gay as straight, thus the odds being in favor of straight men (from my experience, I haven't met as many lesbians).
The NYC girls seem a lot more substantial too. We have the rock climbing programmer who does non-profit hackathons, the yale grad going for her JD and PhD in political philosophy while TAing at Princeton, the RPCV teaching at a charter school, and the sociology professor that loves the outdoors.
So yeah, NYC is better in the dating scene too. I love this city.
Here's my thought process when answering questions. The web site asks "Are you intense or carefree?" I'm intense in some ways; I watched two seasons of Breaking Bad in one weekend... does that count? Oh man, am I really on a dating web site? People do say I'm laid back. Maybe I should delete my profile before someone I know recognizes me. Maybe I'm more carefree. All right, I'll keep the profile and play it by ear. Okay, carefree it is.
Anyways, I tried okcupid out for a few weeks while in San Diego, but it didn't really stick. I went on one date, which went okay, then I disabled my account. During that time, I think I had about 15 profile visits a week.
A few weeks ago I went to reactive my account. I looked through my previous answers and found that I think a lot differently now than I did just a couple years ago. For example, one question asked "Would you be okay with your significant other seeing their ex as a friend?" My previous answer was a flat "No". Now, my thoughts are "Sure, go for it".
Most of my answers were slightly different so I just deleted the account and started from scratch. Since 2012, (around when I reactivated the account), I've gone on four dates and I already notice a huge difference between West Coast (San Diego) and East Coast (NYC) dating.
In San Diego's dating scene, the odds were against straight men. I thought it was pretty difficult to find a girl my age that was thoughtful, intelligent, into the outdoors, and passionate about something. At bars, the girls were always being pursued; you could always see a group of men swarming around the girl. The girls either loved the attention (usually the type that I didn't like) or they hated the attention (and didn't go back to bars). That's why we couldn't have nice things in San Diego.
In NYC's dating scene, the odds are heavily in favor of straight men. It's a good mix between girls and guys. The guys are just as likely to be gay as straight, thus the odds being in favor of straight men (from my experience, I haven't met as many lesbians).
The NYC girls seem a lot more substantial too. We have the rock climbing programmer who does non-profit hackathons, the yale grad going for her JD and PhD in political philosophy while TAing at Princeton, the RPCV teaching at a charter school, and the sociology professor that loves the outdoors.
So yeah, NYC is better in the dating scene too. I love this city.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Guitar!
I wish I had my guitar here! Edit: I just picked up a ukulele! :) Edit Edit: My older brother just sent me my Takamine guitar!
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