eggshellhammer

Meme: Me in one word.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:01:26 GMT

Got this one from leonard_arlotte , who in turn imported it from Facebook.

Leave a ONE WORD comment that you think describes me. It can only be one word. No more. Then copy and paste this on your LJ so that I may leave a word about you.

I am a consumer!

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:17:38 GMT

I bought myself one of them fancy new PS3's, and it turns out I can buy a tremendous library of extremely cheap games for it over the internet. Does anyone have any suggestions for games on the Playstation Store that I should really invest in?

Writer's Block: Not So Genius

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:42:30 GMT

Which modern invention do you think the world would be better off without?

View 500 Answers

Credit default swaps.

Can we blame these guys? Well, someone thinks so

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:45:05 GMT

http://zerohedge.blogspot.com/2009/06/goldman-sachs-engineering-every-major.html

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:43:38 GMT

My friend is, to the best of my knowledge, no longer in imminent danger of death. Let me tell you, nothing perks you up on a sunday afternoon like hearing a buddy is NOT going to die!

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:47:10 GMT

One of the players on my ExaltedMUSH is suffering liver and kidney failure. He is being transferred to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville VA, where there is a liver transplant clinic. They have no idea when they will have a bed opened up for him, or if he will be given a transplant. But he is very sick.

I'm unhappy and angry at the transience of existence.

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:47:55 GMT

My commision of my Exalted character is done! jnrajh.blogspot.com/

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:02:46 GMT

Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you.

Words from pyat :

Frostbyte
Frostbyte is, uh, not something I ever really intended to talk about on this forum, so I'm going to be vague. Frostbyte is a character I portrayed in a roleplaying game. If I had to sum up his story, it was this: Frostbyte was everything that a libertine 14 year old boy prone to power fantasies could ever want to be. Ultimately, it destroyed him utterly from within. This is a metaphor for the progress of growing up and realizing that the stuff you thought used to be cool really wasn't all that cool.

Exalted
Exalted is a game originally made by Geoff Grabowski and a whole shit-ton of talented (and not so talented) freelancers. Fundamentally, like most fantasy games, it was made in response and reaction to the tropes of dungeons and dragons, but the most important one is that it is a moral vacuum. It is fantasy real-politik; in that sense it forces more moral decision making than most anything else. Also, tremendous power fantasy.

Cambridge
Cambridge is where I live. I spent college here, and the economy here is pretty strong, plus all my stuff is here, so I saw no reason to leave. I live here in an apartment with my room-mate, who is infinitely more jaded and worldly than I. The weather is cold, and rainy, but the public transportation is top notch!

MIT
is a great place to go to college if you can get away with it, believe you me, but it's not quite as surreal and 'Real Genius'-esque as you might think. Most of the time, believe it or not, we pretty much do the same shit as any other college, we just work harder and find more exotic ways to goof off.

Hedgehogs
are easily among the cutest of rodents. I've considered getting one, because - well, let's be honest here, their maintenance needs are minimal. But ultimately, even that minor responsibility strikes me as hazardous to the pet in question, and I value my feckless life while I can manage it.

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:18:52 GMT

If you're on Twitter, set your location to Tehran & your time zone to GMT +3.30. Iranian security forces are hunting for bloggers using location/timezone searches. The more people at this location, the more of a logjam it creates for forces trying to shut down Iranians' access to the internet. Cut & paste & pass it on.

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:08:42 GMT

I have decided that that whole thing was a bad idea. Not going to quit my job.

Job

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:26:49 GMT

I made the decision today - pretty much irrevocably, though not rudely - to find a new job. I could talk about why for ages, but it wouldn't be productive. At this point, second-guessing would tear me apart.

And yet that's really what's driving me nuts right now. Did I make the right decision? Should I have stuck with it? Did I make a mountain out of a molehill? I don't know. And I'll never know. The conditions were just ambiguously terrible enough for me to be unsure.

We can't ever know if we're making the right decision, and if someone thinks they know - that they truly, absolutely, are assuredly correct in their decision - they're more likely to be confident from ignorance than competence.

Finances

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:04:58 GMT

I've been on a 20$ a day budget for... I dunno, maybe 4 weeks now. This budget includes does not include my rent, my medication, my commute expenses, my utilities - anything that's a regular expense that I've incorporated in to my larger budget. I've been keeping track of my expenses pretty thoroughly on my computer.

It's interesting. I get a lot of satisfaction out of saving money (although I'm uncomfortably aware that I'm not saving money for anything in particular) and a lot of irritation out of spending it. I was so riled up by the expense of purchasing new clothes for my job that I had to move it to a 'one-off expenses' account to avoid being constantly enraged by how deep in the red it sent me. Happiness through creative accounting?

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:07:38 GMT

Quick summary of my life:

Joined a gym, plus actually working out at said gym. Am astonishingly out of shape, yet I look like an athlete. Conversely, my room-mate looks like a fatto, but can out-run, out-endure, out-lift, and out-fight me with contemptuous ease. Genes lie.
Work is going smoothly. There were some bumps but they were minor - they only seemed big because frankly I fall to pieces at the drop of a hat when it comes to freaky stressful scenarios. suffice to say, I am my khakis, and it turns out they're really comfortable.
I recently beat all three PRince of Persia Sands of Time games. The second one was surprisingly fun given it's reputation and I'd recommend it without hesitation to anyone who can laugh at the juvenile dialogue. The third one ends on a sublime note that reconciles the virtues of the first and second game beautifully.
I recently picked up a copy of Persona 4. It's quite good, and as a friend of mine noted, linking progression to time instead of space makes everything feel way more urgent than it does in space-oriented games where time only progresses if you travel across the world map. Bitch incinerated me. >:C

That's all.

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:05:26 GMT

http://fixcnbc.com/p-caf

The Hughes Report

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:21:28 GMT

So, how am I doing?

Financially I'm back on my feet. I have employment with a temp agency called Addison Search. Since I am an employee of theirs, I don't have to worry about self employment taxes and I will get health benefits, though not for another month or so. Addison is paid by a company called Edison Mission Marketing & Trading to provide them with temps. I work at Edison Mission Marketing & Trading for enough money that I can live in a way I find pretty pleasant, doing a job that I find interesting enough to engage my brain. The commute is pretty nice too. So I'm happy there.

I've decided I need to get more exercise, and frankly I always got the best results at a gym, because I am extremely boring and not a big fan of outdoor activities. (Sorry mom.) I'm planning to check out a local club called Planet Fitness - it's affordable, it's got a monthly option instead of a yearly option, and importantly, it will always, always be on my commute, because it's at the Government Center Mall and I'm at the Lechmere end of the Green line.

Recent Developments

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:30:20 GMT

I have a new job. I am... A TEMP!

Which would be more degrading if one of my fellow temps didn't have a Ph.D., and if I didn't get benefits from the temp agency after a couple months. However, this job will require some serious adjustment from me, in that I have to learn to do a 9-to-5 routine and not use the internet for personal things during those hours.

I know, I know. I'm doomed. But somehow I'll defy my own nature and behave appropriately.

I actually set up a budget, did some thinking. Each month, I've got $750 for rent, around ~$150 (that's a very high estimate) for electricity and gas, and $80 for phone and internet. So that's ~$1K per month, or ~$12K yearly. I put some thought in to it and realized that if I spent $20 on food, snacks, entertainment, etc. - every day - I'd be adding ~$7K to my yearly budget. So, total is ~$19K yearly for living expenses plus discretionary food and toys.

By linking my 'food' budget to my 'fun' budget, I hope to encourage myself to eat at home more and learn to cook.

I plan to take everything I don't spend and put it in a saving's account, perhaps in my retirement fund, and try to donate a decent chunk of money to Doctors Without Borders, who are basically what I would be doing with my life if I had any cojones.

continuing the prior entry

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:29:30 GMT

When I was in college, during my second year, my mother - who is an alumnus from that same college - was going to give a speech to the alumni foundation. It was in the early morning, but I promised to attend.

I slept through my alarm. She didn't forgive me for almost a year.

Every time I'm late for something, every time my lazy sleep-in bullshit comes back to get me, I feel like she's there, and she knows. And I'm ashamed.

--------

I have an appointment tomorrow at 12:30 at Addison Search to look in to the possibility of a six month 9-to-5 contract with Edison Mission Marketing & Trading to clean up and upgrade their Python code-base. As a contract job, I'd have to pay self employment taxes, I wouldn't have as many (if any) benefits, and my employment after the contract... eh, maybe they'd hire me, maybe they wouldn't. Additionally, I'd probably need to pick up a lot of my skills on the job, and I wouldn't be part of a team - I'd be an outsider, a mercenary. I wouldn't have as many people to turn to for guidance or advice during the shaky first few days.

But the commute is easily an hour shorter each way. That's important. It gives me time.

That was fast.

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:31:03 GMT

On tuesday two weeks ago, I interviewed at TripAdvisor's Newton office.

On wednesday last week, I received a job offer which I accepted.

On friday last week, I came in and met my co-workers and set up my cubicle.

On tuesday this week, I was an hour late.

On wednesday this week, I met with human resources to review the benefits package, my insurance, etc, and finally got my programming environment up and working. I was excited and eager.

On thursday this week, I slept through my alarm, was four hours late, and was politely fired.

I'm so ashamed.

Public Works Administration

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:08:35 GMT

Or, a musing on prior solutions to problems.

http://bradhicks.livejournal.com/422902.html

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:22:34 GMT

Postmodernism is often described as being about synthesis and impurity - combining media in to hybrid forms, like peanut butter and pickles.

Is this postmodern? http://james.nerdiphythesoul.com/bennyhillifier/speedup.php?id=u_Osc1OWipY

boo to rush limbaugh

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:00:01 GMT

Rush Limbaugh is a douchebag, etc

http://www.dccc.org/page/petition/rush

Financial TMI

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:42:15 GMT

JANUARY 17

- Castiron skillet, 20.00

JANUARY 19

Bought a bunch of ingredients for a recipe I wanted to try.

- 1.20 lb Green Peppers, 1.90
- 0.25 lb garlic, 1.00
- Bay leaves, 2.40
- Celery bunch, 2.19
- 1.38 lb Onions, 1.78
- 3 ltr Max cola, 1.34
- Tub of mini chocolate chip cookies (my current major vice), 5.30
- 0.90 lb sausage, 4.49
TOTAL: 20.44

JANUARY 21

@ Four Burgers:
- Burger, Fries, and Soda, 10.24. It was a good burger. It wasn't a ten-dollar good burger. Would not purchase again until I have a lot more money coming in.

JANUARY 22

@ Apple Store:
- Quicken 2007, 73.45. This will make it easier for me to keep track of this stuff.

@ C-Mart:
- Rice-cooker, 3 cup. 33.00
- Ladle, 2.50.
- Korean pear, 3.50. (Not quite worth it, but still some serious nostalgia value. A second one would not be worth it.)

@ GameStop:
- Dynasty Warriors 5, pre-owned, 20.00. (I've been having cravings. It's been worth every dollar so far.)

Also, got a call-back from TripAdvisor.com. Apparently, my interview was a success.

Financial TMI

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:47:06 GMT

Yesterday:

I nipped off to Central Square and got three duplicate keys made (~6 dollars) and spent ~8 dollars at Toscanini's on a root-beer float. (I should have just bought some ice cream and took it home.)

On the way back I stopped at Shaw's and bought some post-it notes, a decent big chef's knife for meat, and three tupperware-ish bowls to store leftovers in. Set me back 30 dollars.

Today:

I bought the table, plus a bed frame, plus the six chairs, and got it delivered. Total cost is 570 dollars, of which my share is 300 dollars.

Bedroom furniture

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:44:08 GMT

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30088671

Thinking of getting these.

Financial TMI

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:02:17 GMT

Expenses:
   15.00 for Guanfacine refill.
   2.25 for a loaf of bread from Central Bakery.
   2.25 for a dozen eggs from Mayflower Poultry.
   2.00 for a pound of chicken tenders from Mayflower Poultry. (This will be an interesting culinary experiment.)
   2.50 on 5lb potatos.
   3.40 on a bag of marshmallow cereal.
   3.40 on a bag of frosted shredded wheat cereal.
   7.00 on an ultra-jumbo Shaw's Creamy Peanut Butter.
   3.20 for a spray can of canola oil.
   1.35 for a 3-liter of Max Cola.
   3.00 for a jumbo of Strawberry Jam.
   3.30 for a gallon of 1% milk.
   4.30 for 2 pounds of flour tortilla.
   8.00 for 2 pounds of shredded cheddar.
   2.30 for a half-pint of half-and-half.
   5.30 for a bowl of cookies.
   2.50 for a set of 3 bowl-scrapers.
   6.30 for an egg-beater. (It's not a very good one. The 6.30 was not well spent.)
   2.00 for an insulated bag.
   3.00 for 3 re-usable bags.
   4.00 for a pair of oven mitts.
   1.00 for hand soap.

A very expensive day! But I think all the money was well spent. I need a plancha/griddle