Random Stuff

A friend of mine is a serious car enthusiast. His list of cars include the following: Mitsubishi GT3000 VR4 Hardtop convertible, A 1950 something MG, a 1968 GTO that is as much of a work of art as it is a rare muscle car, a Ford pickup that is much much faster than mine, and a couple of Jeeps. All of which he did all of the work on to get them to the condition they are in now. Over the years, I have seen him with a number of cars including a Porsche, a Delorean, a corvette, and many others. At any given time he has had at least 5 cars at one time.

When it comes to cars, he knows his stuff. He’s had his cars featured in magazines and has written technical articles that have been published in various trade magazines. (this from a software engineer). So when it comes to cars, I respect his opinion and follow his advice.

So when he looked at my truck today while at his house and said “That thing is just beautiful.” It really means something.

Process, time, money…
In my line of work it’s not uncommon to start computer processes that take several hours to finish. I’ve owned a few projects that took days to complete. When I mean complete, I mean they were automated. I told it to go and it emailed me several days or hours later when it completed. Part of my job is to figure out how to make these processes take less time to complete. After all, time is money. One engineer getting paid $100k per year is roughly $50 per hour, waiting for this process to complete. Now multiply that times 100 (people waiting) and you have the approximate cost to run this process. $5000 per hour.

I had been fighting a process for some time. It took 18 hours to complete. It desperatly needed to be sped up because the data set was about to increase by 6 times. This would give it a linear increase in time. Totalling about 108 hours. That’s over 4 days.

I was up until 11:30pm last night trying to make it work better but I just couldn’t get it to go. My idea was correct in theory, but I actually made things worse. But this morning around 10am, the idea light went on. It was a simple timing problem. I fixed it and ran it. It worked WAY better than expected! It worked so good in fact, I had three people examine the final product to make sure it really did complete correctly. When asked why I was so happy about it, I told them how long it took. “NO WAY!!!” was the response. I took it down to under 1 hour. Now it cost’s $30,000 to run for the new larger dataset. That’s down from $540,000.

 Money and Stock…
I make a decent salary. Not 6 figures, but I make enough that I never have to worry about being able to eat, pay bills, feed or clothe my kids. I get to buy a few expensive toys here and there, and I get to travel. I recently thought about this and the fact that I am now working for a company that is making an excellent product, has some excellent investors, and seems to be a great investment opportunity. I sent an email to the CTO asking if it would be possible to get stock or stock options instead of a raise and bonus at review time should my performance merit such. Rather than get a %5 raise, give me the equivalent value in stock options. Instead of a bonus, do the same. Good for the company short term, good for both the company and me long term. The numbers work. The CTO was impressed. He stopped me in the hallway and said it was an excellent idea and was going to run it by the executive board. It was received better than I expected.

Performance Review
I asked my manager for a checkup on my performance. I like to know if there are any problems to correct well in advance rather than continuing on my merry way thinking everything is fine only to get hit at review time with a bunch of negative input. I like to know that I am doing a good job. Working at Microsoft has taught me that you had better be prepared for a bad review even though you did stellar work.  He had no complaints. His words were “Better than expected.” which is high praise considering that they had very high expectations of me when they hired me.

(btw: I still get email from people at MS asking how something works, as well as email from people who are pissed I left because they are still picking up the pieces).

All in all it’s been a better than expected day.

A good friend of mine gave me a 4 foot by 8 foot drafting table yesterday. It’s a professional model complete with all the bells and whistles you would want on a drafting table.

I don’t have a college degree. But I did attend college. Three of them in fact. Despite not having a degree I did learn a great deal, though some of it had nothing to do with the curriculum.My first attempt at college was Spokane Community College where I took Auto Body and Fender. I really went to meet girls and go to parties. Both of which I succeeded at, though arguably, I could have done that without going to school. I also learned how to paint cars. It turned out that I was actually quite good at it. Handling a paint gun came naturally to me. So much so that I was offered a job to work in a custom body shop by the instructor. But…(there’s always one of those), I became sensitive to the chemicals in the paint and could not walk into the paint shop without my throat wanting to swell up and trying to close. I am still sensitive to paint, I just have to wear a mask if I do paint. But it’s not something I can be around for a sustained period of time.

My second attempt was for Mechanical Engineering. I started at Spokane Community College for my GURs(General Undergraduate Requirements) then transfered to Spokane Falls Community College which was a liberal arts school as opposed to a trade school. This is when the real learning began.

Things I learned in Advanced Chem:

• Despite the stereotype, not all blonds are dumb. I had the luck of having two very attractive study partners. Between the three of us we took places one, two, and three for all three quarters of the class.
• Magnesium burns bright enough to make you see spots.
• Gummy bears don’t dissolve in hydrochloric acid. I haven’t eaten one since.
• Making beer is a great way to study chemical reactions and measuring alcohol content. (yes we made beer in chem)
• Building a nuclear bomb is easy, getting the enriched uranium is not. The process for a nuclear explosion is really quite simple.

Things I learned in Physics:

• Dropping an iron magnet bar will in fact change it’s polarity.
• Always make sure weights are secure, either that or wear steel toed boots.
• I’m not really sure what I learned with this one, but me and one other person accidentally hung our prof. The classroom had a very high ceiling. There was a projector screen attached to the ceiling with a long thin rope for pulling it down. It was the kind that retract when you gave it a quick tug. It came down just behind the professor’s podium. We pulled down the screen and tied a noose in the string. The hoop for the noose hung directly behind the professor as he was talking. He turned to write something on the board, caught the noose with his chin, causing the latch on the screen to release and lift, snapping the noose tight around his neck. It was not intentional. “Oh shit!” was what came to mind. A couple of students in the front row helped him out of it, and class continued. The next day the screen was gone.

Things I learned in Mechanical Drafting:

• I love to draft and draw. This perhaps goes back to my days of drawing in art class in high school.
• Versicad at the time had a very different combination of keys to use for things like saving and printing. This caused me to swear a lot as I yet again hit the key that caused an exit without saving.
• Even though the teacher says that this is just a sketch and dirt on the paper doesn’t matter, you will be docked points just the same for dirt on the paper.
• The backs of the mechanical arm on the school drafting tables always have dirt on them causing smudges.

What I learned in Fortran 101:

• One computer programming class was required for a Mechanical Engineering degree. The recommended course was Fortran 101. This was the class that showed me I really should be in Computer Science instead of Mechanical Engineering.

What I learned about Teachers Unions:

• They don’t really care about students. A teachers strike in the last quarter of the school year got me a refund on tuition, but because I was in three different courses that required all three quarters of the year and the last course was only offered in the last quarter of the year, I was set back an entire year.

What I learned about independent study classes:

• You will have to take your own class at some point. I took an independent study class. This class was a CS class where you picked your own topic, then wrote a curriculum on that topic, then did the assignments and tests as you laid out. It really was a great learning experience. My topic was on local area networks. When I transfered to Eastern Washington University, my credit for independent study did not transfer. One new class that was required for all CS students was Local Area Networks 101. (Can you see where this is going?) About a week into the class I recognized the material and asked the professor where he got the course work from. It was from my independent study professor. I talked to that professor and he said “Why yes, that is the class you wrote.” Not that I care too much that my material was used, but I could have spent my time elsewhere in a class I really needed instead of the one I wrote.

What I learned about professors:

• If a professor is also a customer of yours, he will monopolize your time with customer questions rather than helping you understand the course or answering your questions.
• Professors don’t really care how it’s done in the real world. Just do what they say and don’t argue. Your grade depends on it.
• Math professors who ride Harley Davidson motorcycles or Honda Gold Wing motorcycles are better than those who don’t. This may be a stereo type here, but when you are a double major of CS and Math, you have a lot of different math professors. Two of these professors gave classes that were actually fun to attend, if you can imagine calculus being fun. One rode a Harley, the other a Gold Wing. Both had a passion for life that also showed up when they taught. When someone is actually excited, it gets the students excited and they learn more. The rest of my math profs would teach in a way that required a 56oz cup of coffee to get through 90 minutes.

What I learned about school computers and computer courses:

• School computers are always slow. You are better off having your own at home even if it is old and slow because it will still be faster than the school computer.
• School system administrators don’t appreciate it when you hack into their systems fix security problems.
• School books are often out of date. I learned assembly language for the VAX. No one has used a VAX in ages. I keep the text book just so someone can look at it and say “Wow! That’s old!”
• Software written for teaching software is often broken or incorrect.

Most of all I learned that experience in the field is far more valuable than a degree.

It’s not often that I remember my dreams, but for the last few nights they’ve been rather vivid. Confusing as well. The kind where you wake up and go “Huh?!?!” or “Wha?!?!” Not so much confusing because of the content, but rather the context. People I haven’t thought about in a long time in a place or situation that doesn’t match.

The boat I mentioned in my last post really is a work of art. When I first saw it I fell in love with it. I do not believe I will ever have the financial means to be able to purchase one. You can find the boat at alexanderboats.com

While I don’t think I will ever be able to purchase one, I got a chance to talk to the builder this morning on the phone. He told me a good deal about the boat including the price of just over $500,000. He told me why it cost that much and I reassured him that it was way out of my league. Regardless, we talked a bit about wooden boats and I got an invite to go see where they are built. It turns out they are put together just outside Spokane. A day’s drive or an hour flight.  I’m going to take him up on the offer.

I’ve been toying with the idea of building a wooden boat for quite some time. Years in fact. I have three sets of plans for boats that I want to build. The first set is for a small runabout to get familiar with building a boat. The second is for a 24 foot ski boat.

It’s really the third boat I want to build. It’s a serious speed boat. But along the way I saw a boat that really inspired me. It has allowed me to create a vision in my head that has evolved over the years. More detailed in it’s design and more clear. It won’t be cheap. It won’t be easy. But it will be a work of art.

I often think about what it would be like to take on such an endeavor as a way to make a living. I don’t know that I could really do it. After all, it would add a seriousness to a hobby that could take some of the fun out of it. Much the same way computers are to me now. I certainly have no plans of leaving my day job.

I’ve started on the runabout. I have the templates for the frames all cut. Next I am going to build a small deck in my yard to start building it on. I’m also going to buy a cover to work under. It will be an interesting exercise to say the least.

Have I ever mentioned that I really want to build boats for a living?

I’ve just returned from a long weekend with my girlfriend over on the East Coast. I saw North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Together we explored the Smokey Mountains, A tourist trap city which I forget the name at the moment, and spent a lot of good time together.

A few things that stick out in my mind from the trip.

A Chinese circus/ballet/drum show. It reminded me very much of Cirque De Sole. It was very impressive. But because there were only about 25 people in a theater that could fit 1800 I think appreciation for culture in the area is somewhat lacking. I talked to one of the people who worked for the show and asked him if there was some way they could make it to Seattle. No such luck. Too bad really. I don’t think the show will last where it is at. Not if there are more cast members than people in the audience.

Me being afraid as we drove up into the mountains. I hate driving next to cliffs. Even though I have a lead food, I drive like a grandpa when next to a cliff. But I wasn’t driving rattling my nerves even more. Debbie got a kick out of this and I don’t blame her, it is kinda funny. I don’t often show fear. Likewise we took a lift ride from a small tourist town up a mountain side. It was like a ski lift but no snow. Debbie who loves to ride thrill rides at the fair was kinda scared by this.

Driving at night, I let a semi truck pull in front of me. As a courtesy when he passed, I flashed my lights to tell him there was enough room to change lanes. He flashed his tail lights to say thanks. Several miles down the road, I passed him as he climbed a hill, but got behind a big SUV who wouldn’t let me pass and even slammed on the brakes in front of me. The truck that I was polite too came up behind me, flashed his lights, so I moved over. He got right up on the tail of this SUV and beside another semi truck. Both semi trucks chased the SUV down the freeway side by side at 80 mph until the SUV finally pulled off the freeway. I guess it pays to be polite to truckers. It also doesn’t pay to piss them off.

Bob Evans’ restaurant has an excellent breakfast. They had grits which I haven’t had in close to 20 years. The price was very reasonable. $16.00 for both of us. It still doesn’t compare to Georges in Kirkland, but that would be pretty hard to beat anyway.

Watching Debbie take pictures of butterflies and humming birds in a field of red and yellow flowers. How can you beat that?

Dieing trees and pollution in the Smokey Mountains are rampant. The trees are being killed off by beetles and weakened by acid rain. It seems all the pollution up and down the coast blows into the Smokey’s and stays. Visibility on a sunny day is rather bad.

Brick houses everywhere. And they were cheap. When I say cheap I mean, if I sold my house I could spend the same amount of money and buy a small mansion with an acre of property, complete with a shop and three car garage. My house would sell for around 80 thousand. (It’s valued at 320k here).

Churches EVERYWHERE. Worshiping God and Jesus really is a part of everyday life there. I don’t think I would fit in too well in that aspect.

Speaking of fitting in. Everyone there was either white or black and a few in between. While I think I would fit in by my skin color, I found the lack of diversity quite surprising. The extent of diversity I saw there, other than people being black or white, was one couple from India, and the cast of the Chinese ballet.

NASCAR. Bigger there than football. Except of course the local college football team. Bristol racetrack was already filling up with motorhomes and there were “Welcome Race Fans!” signs out all over the place by the time I left. The race isn’t until next weekend. We got to sit in an empty Bristol Raceway Stadium, which is an experience all it’s own.

And of course, sitting next to one of the America’s Top Model contestants for season 9 on the plane ride home. Nice girl, very pretty, but way way way too skinny. Good conversation and certainly better than talking to a salesman. And no, I didn’t get her number. (I must be losing my touch ) I might have to watch an episode if it happens to catch my attention.

I don’t think embarrassed is the correct word. A little uncomfortable maybe? I’m not sure.

Whenever someone  goes out of their way to expresses appreciation or thank me for something I did, I’m not sure how to react.

This goes back as far as I can remember.

And now that I’ve written this, it sounds a lot more important than it really is.

I’m guess I’m trying to figure out why I feel that way.

Suit Cases are one thing that I can’t remember having a shortage of over the last few years. But it seems that all 6 of them are off traveling somewhere without me. Where’d they all go? I don’t think I sent them all off, only a few.

Off to the luggage store again.

I’ve posted some of my pictures of the Blue Angels up on my Flickr account. Be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

One more week and I get to go somewhere!!! It wont be much and I think I’ll be spending as much time in the air as on the ground, but at least for a couple of days I get to see someplace new!

“Pinks! All Out” is a bad show for me to watch. I’m addicted to acceleration. I’ve got a motorcycle that can accelerate with so much force that I can barely hang on. I’ve got an old 1970 Ford pickup truck that has left a number of BMW’s, embarrassed at the on ramp to the freeway.

Now I’m sitting here watching this drag race show contemplating just what I’m going to build to drag race.

I’m hooked.

I need more.

Two loaves of garlic bread (french bread with garlic/butter spread pre-made from safeway). $3.00
One pound of shredded mozzarella cheese, I used a mozza-provolone mix. $4.00
One package of sliced pepperoni. $1.40
One can of pizza sauce. $1.20

Cut both loaves in half
Separate loaves where split for garlic butter. You should now have 8 pieces all about the same size
Spread 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce on each.
Spread cheese evenly across all of them.
Place pepperoni  slices on top of each.
Preheat oven to 375
Put bread on cookie sheet (cheese will run off slightly, you don’t want a fire)
Put in oven for 20 minutes.

I just made this and it fed three teenage boys and me. I have one left over for lunch if I can remember to take it or don’t eat it before then.

Cheap and easy just like me!

…wait

…I meant that in a good way.

Her family just suffered a major loss. Her nephew was about to get married when his fiance committed suicide. This happened very recently. It is probably one of the reasons that she went manic. Everyone there is still mourning. I found out that she called her sister (the one who was going to be a mother in law) in the middle of the night last night and blamed the suicide on her.

Uhg! This makes me angry! Not having to deal with it directly is certianly a relief, but my god. I know exactly how she is behaving and what everyone is having to deal with. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.