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Project Insomnia

Project Insomnia is many things, but in this context it is simply a "braindump" of whatever I happen to be thinking/reading/watching/doing at the moment. Parental guidance suggested.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

New Job

Started the new job yesterday. So far so good. Three miles/10 minutes is definitely nicer than 40 miles/75 minutes, especially in the age of $3 gas.

The office is located in Palo Alto's "California Avenue Business District" which on one hand is good because there are a bunch of restaurants (not to mention a Radio Shack in walking distance :geek: ), but not so good in that parking is restricted to two or three hours at a time. The company reimburses the cost of a parking permit, but the wait time to obtain one is currently eight weeks. So until then I either get to move the car every couple of hours, park in the residential areas, or ride my bike to work.
That last is looking pretty good, but since I haven't been on the bike in two or three years it'll need an overhaul first.

Meanwhile I'm missing my corner window cube a bit; here I'm in a corner cube, but the corner is formed by two interior walls and the closest window is across the office. Nothing has come close to beating the 11th floor corner office in the Bayview Building when Network ICE was still Network ICE.

We spent the weekend at Disneyland, and I actually felt motivated to write a trip report.
|| Andrew, 9:29 AM || || link

News

An underground transformer exploded in San Francisco's central
financial district on Friday, injuring at least one woman and
prompting police to close several city blocks. While city workers
searched to find a cause, Optimus Prime of the Autobots said, "It
wasn't one of our Transformers -- it must have been a Decepticon.

(TopFive.com/James Floyd)
|| Andrew, 9:28 AM || || link

Thursday, August 04, 2005

US firm to market breast milk | The Register

US firm to market breast milk | The Register
A US firm has announced that it wants to buy breast milk and then flog it to hospitals for the treatment of sick babies. LA-based Prolacta Bioscience has set its sights on stocks at independent milk banks which it will pasteurise and supply for the treatment of underweight rugrats, the BBC reports.

Naturally, Prolacta's primary concern is the welfare of said mewling infants. It also intends to 'carry out research to develop breast milk-based therapies'. As Prolacta supremo Elena Medo notes: 'Human breast milk is really an incredible therapy. Let's try to develop processes where we can preserve every bit of its nutrients and the potent antiviral and all of its diseases fighting properties.'

I know I can't be the only person who immediately flashed back to Piers Anthony's short story "In the Barn" (included in Again, Dangerous Visions as well as his own Anthonology) when I read this on The Register. The idea of selling human breast milk bothers me for some reason I can't quite articulate, but has nothing to do with the fact that I have dropped cow milk entirely in favor of Soy milk.
|| Andrew, 11:33 AM || || link

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Only notable because I worked for a sub-sub-subsidiary at the time

Former Cendant Executive Gets 10 Years
Former Cendant Corp. Vice Chairman E. Kirk Shelton was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for his role in an accounting scandal that cost investors more than $3 billion.

Of course he'll serve a fraction of that, and probably in Club Fed, but it's good to see a tiny bit of justice for people who lost due to this guy.
|| Andrew, 1:29 PM || || link

But I thought they were "worthless IOUs"?

Treasury Says 30-Year Bond Is Coming Back
The Bush administration announced Wednesday that it is bringing back the 30-year Treasury bond next year, a move that would help finance the national debt and should hold appeal for investors looking for a safe, longer-term investment option in their portfolios.

Which is funny, because earlier this year our Commander-in-Chimp said "There is no trust fund, just IOUs that I saw firsthand, that future generations will pay" [Knight Ridder, 4/5/05] So which is it? Sound long-term investment or worthless IOU? Oh wait, I'm asking for honesty and consistency from someone who knows nothing of either.
|| Andrew, 10:20 AM || || link

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Lastday minus 8 (workdays) and counting...

Having been the recipient of quite a large number of very dirty looks from the boss, I've taken the initiative and proactively begun packing and cleaning out my desk and office. I would not be at all surprised to arrive tomorrow and be shown the door.

Which would be fine, of course, since I'd (by law) immediately receive a cheque for all monies owed and already have a new job lined up. I'd just get a head start on my well-deserved vacation. I'd be disappointed at not being able to finish a number of tasks still on my plate, but then it wouldn't be my problem anymore, would it.
|| Andrew, 6:43 PM || || link

Monday, August 01, 2005

Everything is different, but the same... it's computers...

After a year at Loansoft, I'm changing jobs again. Last time it was because I was laid off by those researcher-suing office-closing lying bastards at ISS; this time it's because I've found a really good new opportunity that will let me learn and grow while working much (much) closer to home.

My last day at Loansoft will be August 12. I'll be taking a week off, during which time it looks like we'll be at Disneyland for a couple of days, and starting at Avvenu on August 22.

The boss here took it fairly well. He wasn't exactly happy, but I think he got that I'm trying to do this on the best terms possible, including making myself available after my last day to answer questions or help solve problems.

Change is scary. I think this is going to be a good one, though.
|| Andrew, 5:04 PM || || link

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