-12/13/02-
Okay, that last update was extremely depressing. My life isn't that shit, it was just given an extended "swirly" in the toilet of life. I still don't quite feel motivated to finish the entire update, but I've made a few changes that were in the works.
I've changed the Jobs section, and made my resume into a zip file for the time being since I was starting to get some spam from companies that use web-bots to hunt down online resumes. I'm currently updating my resume, so it's still my old version.
Possibly due to karma, I finally managed a full recovery of my old hard drive, so I'll soon be able to put up some of the projects and essays I've been holding. There was also one incredibly small change to the Photo Album.
Merry Christmas, and a happy Friday the 13th!
-12/11/02-
Apologies for such a long time in between updates, but life hasn't been too much fun lately. In fact, it's been pretty horrible, and it will probably stay that way for a while. It kind of takes the motivation out of you.
Anyway, have a Merry Christmas.
-11/04/02-
This is actually the third update since September; the previous update was an update that never was. Not much of consequence was posted, aside from a commentary that I didn't really like, so I decided to keep it to myself for awhile. It's now available, along with what I consider a suitable continuation.
I've renamed Geekspeak to Geeker's Corner and updated its Plummer's Hymn section. University of Alberta's song was added (thanks, Wade), as well as University of Regina's. I also put up some history about the hymn from the U of R site, although it's more background to the song rather than details about its origin.
The Past Updates section received some reoganization.
The Job section is currently being fleshed out. I might not have time to finish it today.
I also celebrate 3 years of writing on the web. Yay me.
-10/09/02-
The job I now have is boring. That's about all I can say about it. At least the place I'm staying at is still as nice as I had originally thought.
I may or may not be attending the CAISU NSAW 2002 conference (do a search for caisu and conference; I'm not going to insert the link in order to avoid unnecessary search engine cataloguing). The conference itself is only $50, but it'll cost at least $120 to get to Ottawa and back, plus up to $100/night for accomodations. I'm looking into getting that last part free, which would make the trip much more feasible. Of course, I still need to register, and that's not a guaranteed possibility (registration is limited to 100).
Did I mention my job is boring?
For now, you can entertain yourself with a short little Discourse I just wrote. I'm in the process of trying to find a hobby for myself, so if you have any ideas, please let me know. And I'm proud to say that this is a blarg. :)
-10/2/02-
I've got a job now. I also have a place to live. I should be happy.
My Resume and Discourses have been updated. In fact, the discourses have been updated not once, not twice, but three times (!) for your personal enjoyment. One of the reasons for this unprecedented spurt of literacy is that I really want to dust off my writing skills and put them to work, while the other reason is that a lot's happened in the last month or two (or four or five). Anyway, nothing too intellectual, but rather more heartfelt this time around. Bear with me, please; I'm not used to writing with raw emotion.
In somewhat related news, I received an email from a fellow engineering student in Alberta commenting on the site. Unfortunately, I don't have the email in front of me right now (I have no internet at home, for shame!), so I don't recall the engineer's name, but there was a suggestion to build on the Plummer's (Engineer's) Hymn. Maybe a little bit of history and such. I'll try to work on that for my next update.
-8/24/02-
I've switched webhosts. Littlesputnik, and hence the entire commune, is now on ICDSoft. I switched because the rates are better. I'm a student, and money talks.
I'm also still technically unemployed, but not because I'm unemployable. I have a job almost setup back in Vancouver, but it's pending top-level approval from the VPs. Well, it's not that my being employed is in itself subject to approval, but that the company was under a hiring freeze (much like everyone else this year) until just recently, so HR requires the go-ahead to resume hiring. This is good news for me, especially since the company and I seemed to have a mutually enjoyable experience, but unfortunately the VPs are out of town for a couple of weeks. So, I wait.
And fret, because I'll be far from Karolina once more. It shouldn't be as bad this time around, for reasons I can't really explain ("we just know"), but that doesn't make it any more bearable. Going home makes perfect sense one day, then seems completely ridiculous the next. Sigh, 'tis love.
Anyway, I've updated the Job section, and posted a new resume. It's now streamlined and one page, but still not perfected. I should have some new Discourses over the weekend.
-7/27/02-
It's the weekend before exams. I have one every other day until the weekend, then it repeats until the 10th of August. Thanks to the four projects due over the last two weeks, I've gained a deeper understanding of most of my courses; we'll see if that understanding translates into exam success.
I have no job. Apparently, during the summer term, employers like to go on vacation prior to screening co-op applicants, and, when they return, they like to cancel the positions. This means that almost no one has responded to my applications, and those that have responded, did so with a "cancelled". My chances of being at home for the fall are steadily increasing.... It wouldn't be so bad, though; I'd have a nice little vacation and be able to spend some time doing whatever the hell I want to do. I could even go around setting up my next job. The possibilities are endless! On the other hand, I wouldn't be making any coin. With that in mind, I sent my resume off to some professors in the hopes that they'll understand my plight.
I just realized I have over two years of previous updates. Wow. What a useless revelation.
Now I must return to the dark pit from which I came to continue my studies.
-7/18/02-
I now know intimately how a hamster on a treadmill feels.
For the last three weeks, I've been coming home from school every day at 10pm, 12am, or even later, all because of projects and labs. Free time is a relative concept, something which is noted by its absence of impending deadlines. My body has now successfully adapted to less than 6 hours of sleep per night. Sitting on the brink of madness, my sanity is only barely preserved by what must be divine will. It's quite a thing to sit there listening to yourself laugh hysterically because your lab report won't fit underneath the professor's door, or because CHON was written on the chalkboard during a combustion lecture. I still don't know why reading "CHON" would make me gasp for air for over 10 minutes.
Yes, these are some interesting times. As one of my classmates said to me not 45 minutes ago, after leaving a 3 hour cam design tutorial, we can't get away with slacking off even a bit right now. It simply isn't possible. Six professors have tried to cram more information into our minds over the last 4 weeks than in any previous term. Why?? Why do they insist on subjecting us to this punishment?
But I have yet to give up. I've got one week before final exams start, I sure as hell am not going to let that be an impediment to my success. Even a lack of a job doesn't scare me. Afterall, it's only 10 weeks worth of material.
-6/11/02-
My Job Search is currently over, at least until this Friday. Final tally: Interviews = 1, Total and Flat-out Rejections = 12. 1 Cancellation. Note to self: don't apply solely to jobs for which I am not qualified. Corollary note: don't apply for electrical engineering jobs when I'm a mechanical engineer. I don't even know if I want the job I did get an interview for, not because it would suck (it would rock!), but because I would need to purchase a vehicle for the commute. Which would set me back a pretty penny, especially with the 15% tuition hikes which are now the norm, rather than the exception, around here. Did I mention that if we go through one more tuition hike like that at UW, then the students will be the primary financial supporters of this fine institution? Probably won't give us any more power than what we have now, though. Which is not at all, of course.
I almost made a new front page that used frames, but then I remembered how much I hate them, so I cancelled that project. Too bad, maybe next week.
Midterms are upon us once more. Thermodynamics 2 was yesterday -- nothing like a little Rankine and VCRC (that'd be Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle) to start your week off right. Today, I get to experience Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines, which seems an awful lot like last term's Dynamics course. Yes, I should be studying for that right now, but I'm still recovering from yesterday's debacle (thanks for the word, Nay).
Wow, this page has nothing but contentless content (ha!). Probably has something to do with the hundred projects, assignments, etc that are due next week. Or not.
-5/30/02-
No big changes, just a quick status update.
I am not dead, but school is keeping me busier than I anticipated. At least it's getting more interesting.
My job search is continuing, with a few rejections and one interview so far. Had it today, in fact: Cesaroni Technology. It went well enough, it sounds like an amazing company and there'd be plenty of work for me to do. I don't know what my chances are; I'm only one of two senior students, and there are two positions, but the interview seemed to be just a generally nice guy. Always hard to judge these things.
That is all.
-5/19/02-
It's about time I updated this thing. Over a month and a half it was this time... that's what happens when you take a big mouthful of school during the summer.
I've revamped this here front page, just because I felt like it. I guess I just tire easily.
I'm back at school, which means I'm back in co-op. Check out I am Job! for a listing of my applications to date. Only 4 more days left before interviews start... and I still don't have my suit! Also, I've got my latest resume posted.
I was hoping to do some other stuff, but stupid Frontpage took up too much of my time. There's too much work this term for me to keep spending my time on this page or other similarly non-academic pursuits.
4/06/02 - Spring has Sprung
Another month without updates. Who am I kidding? That's the norm this year... other things have simply taken priority, probably for everyone. Just to give everyone something to look at, check out this link for some classic works one can read whilst bored. Includes "The Art of War" and "Flatland", one of my personal favourites. The listing's pretty limited, but it's quality. It also opened up the possibility to me of reading more out-of-copyright books online.
Work hasn't changed a bit. This has been my first workterm where the corporate culture was one of ignoring problems, cutting payroll while buying other companies, and treating co-op students like dumb technicians or even high school students. My co-worker is in fourth year and is doing stuff a frosh could handle. Our ideas are met with indifference at best, hostility at worst; this is over and above the normal requirement to defend your hypotheses and convince your peers of your correctness. C'est la vie: only 3 weeks left!
But 3 weeks means I've got to get my work report going. Four topics have presented themselves to me: o-ring material and performance analysis, product enhancement study, PLC tutorial development, and a research project. The PLC development would take too long, I'm sick of o-rings so I don't want to do that one, the research project would require some serious effort, and the product enhancement isn't extremely technical. Gotta make a decision, though.
UW decided its Engineering undergrads weren't paying enough, so tuition's been hiked another 15% (the maximum allowed). What will my fee statement demand this term? No less than $3744. Jeezus.
In related news, the probability of my returning to Vancouver this summer has narrowed further. With airfare going up and the cost of simply living here, never mind studying here, going up, it'll be a stretch to go home for a reasonable sum of money.
I guess I should mention that I visited my relatives two weeks ago for the first time in 12-15 years. Good times were had, but only after the initial discomfort of having near-complete strangers giving you hugs because they're family. Weirdness.
God, my room's messy. I'd write something like a discourse, but really, this room must be cleaned up.
3/17/02 - Reprieve...?
Over a month without updating. I think I may have set a new record for myself. Although it wasn't entirely due to my negligence. At the end of February, there was a lot of work required for Frosh Week; applications had to be collected and put in the database, interviews were held, and the background/structure of the week was put in place. Then, at the beginning of March, a lot of work -- of the overtime variety -- was required at GFI. I put in an extra 10 hours per week earlier this month, which meant I was coming home at 8 or even as late as 9 in the evening. Combine this with the usual maintenance activities of life, and there wasn't a lot left over for Daren. But oh well, "it doesn't get any better than this".
I'm suddenly regretting returning 'Fight Club' after Christmas.
"So how is work," you ask? It's not too bad, mostly a lot of dealing with middle-management. 'Dilbert' was funny as a comic strip, but it's a different story when it's real-life. I've also been introduced to the world of o-rings... surprisingly interesting stuff, from an engineering perspective. I'm not learning a terribly large amount of new stuff, though. Well, at least nothing tangible. With only <6 weeks left in the term, I'm not really concerned about it either.
By the way, Thursday was Pi day. Hope everyone celebrated with some pie, like the Mathies did (mmm, free cherry pie).
You're probably wondering by now if I actually added anything to this page, or if this is just another update on my life. Well, yes and yes... I wrote a new discourse that's turned out to be slightly more confessional than I intended, but hey, that's life.
2/14/02 - The Life of Daren
Happy St. Valentine's Day!!
And what a happy one it is. Karolina is now in Perth, Australia, and is enjoying life immensely: 40 degree weather, sun every day, white sandy beaches, snorkling... and let's not forgot the newly developed gluten allergy that's not an allergy. For the past few weeks, Karolina's been suffering severe hives to the point of suffocation seemingly after every time she eats something that contains wheat. She went to the doctor and came back without any conclusions. She ain't feeling too good about that.
My life is continuing with its relentless pace. I'm having about 4 hours of weekly meetings for orientation week now, and another 6 hours of work on top of that to get things going. Everything's flowing smoothly, so it's not a huge issue, but this work term's providing me with a lot less free time than any other. I can't wait for the school term! Oh boy, what a wonderful time it'll be, I can go through the stress of school and organizing a week all at once! Huzzah!
I knew I should have gone to the dentist before I left at Christmas, because now my teeth are hurting. My lower left wisdom tooth is being a pain in the neck as it slices its way to freedom, and it seems the coffee I drank in January has had an ill-effect on my ex-calcium coated teeth. Sucks to be me.
I thought about writing a discourse, but I have neither the time nor the inspiration. Instead, I give you an essay I wrote in about an hour for my Philosophy 100 class last term. Gotta love them 100 courses... stupid arts frosh....
Changed Technical to Geekspeak, and added a "Projects" subsection. I'll try to get the Job Hunt section renovated this month.
2/02/02 -
Happy palindrome day!!
In celebration, I wrote a brand new Discourse. It's a tend lengthy, so be sure to pour yourself some hot chocolate with amaretto first.
No other new news on my end. I like the title; it stays.
1/20/02 -
It's Sunday, January 20th, 2002, and this is the first update of the year, not to mention the first update in nearly two months. As I sit hear in my bedroom the size of some bathrooms (no joke), listening to Bach and editing this here webpage, I realized that I've never managed to turn this site into what I had originally envisioned. I also realized that I don't really care.
In light of these recent revelations, I'll be changing the page slightly to make it into something a little more practical. You may have already noticed that Meme Watch is gone due to lack of interest on my part, the Photo Album has finally been formatted into something that doesn't evoke feelings of disgust, and Colleagues & Cohorts has been taken out because it's job is already accomplished via the Soapbox. Since I'm on workterm now, and I actually have internet at home, I'm hoping to make a few other small changes as time goes on. Not too many, and not too big, but they'll be there.
Speaking of work, I'm now heading into my third week with GFI Control Systems. As much as I'd like to say otherwise, GFI just isn't my kind of company. I've been attempting to avoid automotive companies every term, and the second time I don't listen to myself, I suffer, just like the first. Although Lucerix wasn't too bad, because I was given a nice little design project, and there was a lot of travel, but otherwise it was my least favourite workterm. GFI (or, Gaseous Fuel Injection) is turning out to be my second least favourite workterm. The technology they deal with is pretty cool, and I can appreciate the technological challenges involved, but the corporate environment just isn't my cup of tea: their idea of a challenge is taking on 5 projects at the same time with a deadline at the end of the week. Not quite what I was expecting, or even wanting. From what I've been told, a challenge is supposed to be something that stretches your abilities and leaves you with new skills and worthwhile experiences. All I've seen so far is overtime, which any trained monkey can do. Oh well, at least I'm getting paid for it.
Besides, I'm not really here for the workterm this winter. I've decided that what I'm actually here for is planning frosh week. 33 weeks to go, and we've already had 2 meetings, one of which went from 9am to 7pm on Saturday. Crazy. But definitely challenging, unlike GFI. As Yaacov Illand, the president of Waterloo's Federation of Students and chair of the Federation Orientation Committee of which I'm a part, said to us on Saturday that we probably won't get another job for a long time that's as rewarding, nor one that comes with as much responsibility, as the one we hold as FOC members.
33 weeks is also approximately how long it will be until Karolina's back from her adventures around the world. So far, it's only been 2 weeks since we last saw each other, which isn't the longest time we've been apart, but it still sucks. Karolina's been sending periodic emails to her mailing list as part of a book/thesis project she intends to do after her travels, and these have been our only contact so far. I gotta say, what she's been doing down in Malaysia sounds pretty cool: climbing Mt. Kinabalu, immersing herself in the local culture, relaxing on tropical beaches where it isn't -20 degrees and snowing. Definitely somewhere I'd rather be.
Anyway, this update is long enough as it is. More to come as it develops.