Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Post 101: Robots

I didn't realize I have written 100 post prior to this and now this is post 101; is almost binary and the subject of this post.

I think I brought this up before, either in person or have I blogged it once before. Anyways, today after a lunch at Millennium Park with the design team and the walk back to the office. My friend described me to the freelancer working with us as, "He's a robot with a heart." Is nice people recognize me as a nice guy, no matter what attitude I give them, one of the designers inserted, "a robot that is full of sass"; I think that is something to be proud of. Though, I'm commonly associated with some type of machine. I just find it...offsetting, for lack of a better word. Maybe, they see me work too hard.

I don't know, I'm always associated as some type of machine, is depressing. Then again robots can't be emo. Though, I'm glad I think my characteristics do translate through all groups of people. Like my friend Tony pointed out once, I'm a person without enemies.

I digress.

-David M.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Biking...

I love my Miyata 2-10; it even marks my date of birth.

My experience with my bike has been memorable as I...

-Brushed against a car in downtown traffic.
-Almost fell on a cop car trying to balance it, during Critical Mass
-Biking on a completely worn out pulley wheel.
-Getting completely soaked in the rain and hydroplaning in downtown traffic.
-Gotten a flat somehow.
-Dodging taxis downtown.
-Riding against the wind as it pushes me side to side.

All these experiences has been memorable, if not difficult at time.

As of Now...

I haven't really been blogging as much, as such. I would think summer would be a great opportunity to be witty and explore. However, it has hardly been the case. Working 9-5 has taken is toll. As much as I feel like a working professional at the end of the day, it seems kind of grim. Maybe, I'm just not use to it.

I do, do things on occasions on other days. Though, I feel like my life needs to be a lot more interesting, I don't know why, I'm happy with the ordinary. Though, some part of me looks for something just a bit more interesting.

Summer is winding down. I'm trying to close as much unfinished tasks I left open a couple weeks ago, and a couple summers ago. I keep finding new distractions and never coming back to old distractions. This is kind of depressing in a way.

Half-way through summer also, I haven't made much contact with much people. I don't know if is much of my responsibility as it is with others. I think I'm a very lazy person when it comes to keeping in touch, as I feel like I shouldn't make idle conversation from long distances; I've always preferred to make idle conversation within a 10 feet radius. Just a thought...at least this summer I have been spending more time with friends I made in college oppose to previous summer, so, that is some effort.

Communications has always baffled me...

-David M.

Interning...

So my life as an intern. In some sense I wouldn't put miserable as the word, but I feel like I much rather be doing nothing than oppose to working. I guess this is me becoming more responsible... I suppose. Though, it is nice to have people value my skill. As stated before my turn-a-around time for projects is impeccable and the people in the office are happy. Victor, one of the managers mentioned that the programmers would like for Victor to hire me, as he persuaded me to stay with Morningstar throughout the semester. I declined at the moment, hoping to do more collaborating work with the EVL as it is my last year at UIC; hopefully. Though, he did offer the possibility of freelancing.

My last day is the 14th of August.

-David M.

Summer...

Am I the only one that hasn't been too fond with the weather. I would much rather be sweating and complaining about the heat right about now. Instead is been pretty mild and sometimes a bit chilly. We've only turned the A/C on during that one week, throughout the course of summer.

Things has really been odd.

-David M.

Friday, June 12, 2009

What Have I've Been Doing...

Is been a while since I posted. One would think free time would lead to more posts...My only rebuttal, I've been busy.

The first month of summer really flew by. Without being too productive, I manage to dabble away my time; sadly. Though, I did started my internship finally, so, I'll jump right into that.

I just finished up my second week interning at Morningstar (no not the food thing), though, I'm not necessarily a design intern, I work more on making the sketches possible for the web. I mainly sit at a desk troubleshooting some code. Is either gut out a page and put in the new layout, or troubleshoot across browser; IE6 is a terrible browser. It hasn't been too exciting, but at least is fun. I can't believe I already know so many people working there before I started, I would say I knew 5 people when I started. My manager is a Korean lady (she's from UIC, a lot of people are from UIC), and I had a funny thought in my head, I realize most of my major related jobs, my higher up is Korean; James in the B.A.T cave. Maybe I should pick up the Korean language on my spare time.

Some reflection on my internship. I'm definitely not familiar with having a 9-5 job, is odd, and strangely unbefitting of me. I doubt I'll continue with them after summer if an extension was offered. Not to say, is a bad place, the people I work with a great, I just can't see myself doing this day in and day out (DIDO I realize is an acronym for that, and it does play some relevance). Though, a lot of the coding and troubleshooting will help me out with my coding side of academia, I can't see myself flourishing there in a way I want to.

Though, I think I've integrated quite well into the group. Though, I've been working diligently at my desk, it seems today I've been told by the team I work at quite a quick pace. I was actually asking for work after my lunch break today. The product manager joked about me being half machine, though the sad part is, this isn't the first time I've been told that. However, next week will prove to be a week where I'll be put to the test.

One thing about working 9-5 offers me, is the alertness. I've actually been more productive when I get home when I'm normally do. Even though by productivity I mean play games, and by that I mean I take into consideration the time I have left and how many days I work factored by how many weekends I have to myself definitely helped pushed me along. I clocked in efficient hours on my RPG.

Speaking of which, Persona 4 is a nice game. Though as corny and cliche some of the plot and characters could be, it offer some nice insight on people. The game revolves around a murder mystery where people are thrown into a TV and later on turns up dead. The protagonist tries to foil the murderer by saving people in the TV. However, the victims are confronted with their true self; their dark side. Instead of brandishing something as evil and bad, and must be dealt away with. The victims learn to accept their flaws, as by denying oneself of who they are, they will be thrown into peril. Yes, is cliche, but I like it, so, boo to you.

Saw Up on opening day. Great movie. Though, I didn't cry during the movie, I was really touched; they were getting there though. I'm always a sap for sentimental movies. Even though I didn't talk about it when it came out, I'm sure most people saw it and loved it. No need to expand.

I really don't know what more to talk about, but I'm getting a new bike tomorrow. Hopefully, I find one I like.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Ketchup! (Here's to cheesey titles)

So I haven't updated in quite a while...so I'll just give you a run down. I just thought I had an odd or eventful (whichever floats your boat) week; for a summer break at least.

5/11: Morningstar interview, after not hearing them for a week and a half I assume they probably overlooked me and I was prepared for a barren summer. I got to go in neck and tie attire to the interview. Wasn't able to show my working sites cause of weird wireless, and was not able to show them a solid web template.

5/12: Joyee's with AARCC/AAMP people. Random moments and conversations. Had to go home and get dressed for a CPS event; recognition for perfect attendance. All students with 8 years get a digital camera and a lucky few get a laptop via lottery. The lady next to me who apparently attended all of them cause her entire family got freaking perfect attendance (she has 4 kids mind you). She kept bragging... Me being a college student felt like I was the overgrown kid in the bunch. I don't think I'll attend any more of these; future note.

5/13: I got to dress down for a day. Thought the scheduled appointment for my grandmother at the Eye Clinic was today, turned out it wasn't. The lady just said Wednesday, I thought this Wednesday, turns out it was next Wednesday; comes back and bites me in the ass much later, wait it was today.

5/14: Follow up interview at Morningstar, with some other guy. He seem impressed, but also overly optimistic of me. I couldn't help the feeling of being a false paraiyah in there.

5/15: Had to dress up and go to City Hall and meet the mayor yet again. This time in the mayor's office. Got the tour of it from the man himself. I never knew why people see him as a bad man, as far as Chicago politics go, everyone should be skeptic. Though, I was genuinely sold on his idea of bettering CPS. Chicago has changed a lot because of him, though not a lot that is worth praising, but Chicago is definitely a lot further ahead then it was a couple years ago. His office is pretty awesome.

5/16: Biked around the neighborhood to UIC, through Chinatown and in my old neighborhood. Trying to break in my legs for an LSD trip the following day. Ran into an old friend, Steven. Convinced me to bike LSD with him; I'm too easily swayed. We ended up getting to the end of the trail, hungry, cold, and tired. We found a Greek place where we grabbed a hot dog to refuel ourselves only to take the Red Line back to Chinatown. That day I biked 21 miles.

5/17: Planned LSD trip. Met up with Rachel, biked all the way to North Ave. As I explained to her, I did the whole route and I would probably kill myself if we did the whole dam thing. We didn't, thank god. Hung out at the beach, ran into my cousin Julie as we got there. On the way back I can feel my ass in pain from the terrible seat and my legs getting worn. Though, we made it back. On my way home, I ran into Annie Mei, an old acquaintance of the family. I ran into a couple Meis that day, haha. Distance biked 14 miles.

5/18: Went bike shopping with my friend, Anna. Had a long discussion of CPS on the drive as we went looking around for bikes. I'm no bike expert, and I didn't felt like pressuring her into getting anything way over her head, we settled for a reasonably price cruiser for $85. It was hell to get in and out of the car. Lent my bike to Danny to bike to x-sport, he couldn't even make it through 5 blocks on that bike; sometimes I think I might just be a bit more tolerable than most.

5/19: Bike down to campus to do some work at the B.A.T cave, a bit down to have not heard back from Morningstar, and I was planning on just coming into the EVL to do some work. Talked with James and it seem like there are quite a bit of neat projects that I can get myself involved in. James apparently is doing stuff for the Planetarium and another group in EVL is doing a disaster scenario simulator for some organization to prep high school students. Was building up excitement for that. Distance biked 4 miles.

5/20: Woke up at 7 to prep for the AAMP picnic event just so I would have my part complete, before having to take my grandma to the Eye Institute. What I thought would be an simple eye exam (1 hour and half) turned to a 3 hour ordeal cause they kept doing further exams because she apparently has pigmentosis or something like that, forgot the name. Was not able to make it to the picnic being slightly late, but being completely late. Though, it didn't end when I got there. Anyways, it was still fun despite half the crowd. All I have to say is, "So long seniors, may the real world treat you kindly."

I had some more specific thoughts to put down, but over the course of the day it drowned out.

-David M.