Willing to Drink the Koolaide - Just Want a Different Flavor

I.  Am.  Excited.

Not super excited.  It is the same level of excitement as I usually am, when I point and say "this is my excited face" in a dry manner that most people take for sarcasm, sometimes rightly.

I hate my job.  I think I've always hated it and just never admitted it to myself.  For the first year, I regretted my decision to take the job during every single on call shift.  We built a new workflow system.  That was awesome.  Then I got loaned to some transportation teams on a nightmare project that blew up in my face.  During those days I would stare for weeks at the code other people had written, trying to figure out why it would compile for them and not me, or why it would finally compile for me and then silently fail.  That was the first time I remember staring at the clock, hoping it would speed up, since being in high school.  That is also when our ordering system, and all of its software, ceased to be interesting, at all.  I don't care who is doing what with tax or accounting or whatever, and I have completely lost interest in our abysmally poor testing practices and the ducktape-and-spit procedures we must do to test our software.  After the failed project the team split and some of us were sent to a team who owned services composed of the nastiest c++ code I've ever seen.  I should have put a lot of effort into learning the space.  I didn't, because I was bored, and it showed.  Instead I actually tried to avoid learning anything.  Then I started looking into switching teams, but only half-heartedly, because there was always something better on the horizon.  And switching teams also didn't pan out, because thanks to my lack of ambition (within the company) I was still and SDE I, and SDE I's only get shit work, regardless of team.  More team shifts happened but the rest of that story is boring--save for the little fact that every time I opened up this journal to bitch about it, I realized that everyone reading it would probably roll their eyes because of all the posts I had written previously, bitching about my job.  That is when the cracks in the wall of denial widened.

Fortunately, now, all of the cool shit on the horizon that I might hang around for has evaporated and though I don't necessarily hate the day-to-day elements, or at least what I do with the day-to-day elements, looking at the carreer management materials (my company has a move-up-or-get-out policy) and having frank discussions with my managers has made me realize that I actually just hate all of this.

That being said, here is the part that might shock you:  I am thinking about working for Microsoft.

Shocking, I know.  I am also planning on being nicer to people.  Its just talk for now.  I've talked about moving on before, however before, I was always planning on having the other job in hand before I decided to quit.  This time I'm certain about quitting, and am simply hoping to find another job so that I can line up the health insurance and everything.  The weirdest thing is that as soon as I decided that, tasks that had seemed mildly interesting before suddenly became more boring than I thought imaginable--it was as if a switch had been flipped, or a rose colored pair of glasses had been broken.  I had to actually drag myself through everything I did.

I've been day dreaming all day about working somewhere that I can write code and not deal with this on call bullshit, and I'm getting excited.  Honestly I don't know who I'll work for.  Maybe something on the east coast, west coast, somewhere else...who knows.  Where I go next is just a big beautiful question mark.

Paragon of Historical Accuracy

I'm sure we have all griped about the movies, at one time or another, for their dismissive attitude towards even the most basic observable laws of physics, and a portrayal of computers that is so innaccurate you'd think they were being dumb on purpose.  However, there is that rare movie, that rare exception to the rule that keeps us hoping that things will be better.

There was the realistic unix interface in the Matrix sequels (Maester Luwin dies).  There was...ok that is the only one I can think of.  Well, Wargames, I guess.  Anyway.  Now we have another.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is the film that brings class and historical accuracy to the movies.  (Ned Stark dies)  Not only was this an honest, uplifting, honorable portrayal of one of our nations most well known presidents, but its historical accuracy rivals even the history channel.  There wasn't a single scene with an incongruous detail, or a single moment that spat in the face of physics.

But Abraham's triumph is not just for (Yoren dies) historical accuracy;  the entire movie is a masterpiece of well thought our plot, believable characters, meaningful character development and well timed action scenes that are completel congruous with the rest of the work.

Sometimes we forget about history, about where we (Renly Baratheon dies) come from.  It was nice to be reminded of the past, and I think I learned a few interesting details along the way.

Seriously, if you like shitty products like Gay of Throne*, and don't like Abraham Linlcon Vampire Hunter, you fail as a human being.


*I just realized I should probably refer to is as "Gay of Throne" to avoid contributing to its popularity via google keywords

**Side note:  while doing research for this article, I got bored reading through the plot lines of the Gay of Throne story, and I don't even recognize these other characters, so Just check this out:

A Game of Thrones - 54

Ser Waymar Royce
Will
Gared
Jon Arryn
Lady
Mycah
Ser Hugh
Jyck
Kurleket
Mohor
Morrec
Chiggen
Lharys
Wyl
Heward
Jory Cassel
Wallen
Hali
Stiv
Tregar
Ser Vardis Egen
Viserys Targaryen
Robert Baratheon
Fat Tom
Varly
Cayn
Hullen
Desmond
Othor
Jafer Flowers
Lord Vance
Ser Raymun Darry
Masha Heddle
Ser Jaremy Rykker
Khal Ogo
Khal Fogo
Ulf son of Umar
Conn son of Coratt
Torrhen Karstark
Eddard Karstark
Daryn Hornwood
Quaro
Qotho
Haggo
Cohollo
Eddard Stark
Septa Mordane
Veyon Poole
Rhaego
Eroeh
Khal Drogo
Andros Brax
Mirri Maz Duur


A Clash of Kings - 72

Maester Cressen
Praed
Beric Dondarrion
Ser Burton Crakehall
Hendry Bracken
Lyman Darry
Allar Deem
Ser Hubard Rambton
Doreah
Woth
Dobber
Qyle
Gerren
Koss
Yoren
Kurz
Lommy Greenhands
All-for-Joffrey
Medger Cerwyn
Chiswyck
Stafford Lannister
Rupert Brax
Roland Crakehall
Antario Jast
Lymond Vikary
Renly Baratheon
Stevron Frey
Reek
Donella Hornwood
Emmon Cuy
Robar Royce
Todric
Benfred Tallhart
Weese
Poul Pemford
Myles
Aron Santagar
High Septon
Ser Preston Greenfield
Alfyn Crowkiller
Ser Cortnay Penrose
Leo Lefford
Alebelly
Mikken
Ser Amory Lorch
Septon Chayle
Drennan
Squint
Gelmarr the Grim
Aggar
Gynir Rednose
Farlen
Ser Mandon Moore
Ser Guyard Morrigen
Maester Tothmure
Lucan
Goodwife Harra
Bryce Caron
Ser Bryan Fossoway
Ser Edwyd Fossoway
Ser Rodrik Cassel
Leobald Tallhart
Cley Cerwyn
Red Rolfe
Kenned
Black Lorren
Ulf
Squire Dalbridge
Ebben
Qhorin Halfhand
Poxy Tym
Maester Luwin


A Storm of Swords - 97

Iggo
Ser Jacelyn Bywater
Guncer Sunglass
Dale Seaworth
Allard Seaworth
Matthos Seaworth
Maric Seaworth
Jate Blackberry
Lord Chyttering
Hookface Will
Hal the Hog
Gladden Wylde
Lothar Mallery
Maslyn
Ser Ottyn Wythers
Thoren Smallwood
Small Paul
Ser Helman Tallhart
Tion Frey
Willem Lannister
Delp
Elwood
Rickard Karstark
Cleos Frey
Ser Imry Florent
Monford Velaryon
Kraznys Mo Nakloz
Grazdan Mo Ullhor
Jarl
Symon Silvertongue
Brown Bernarr
Hake
Bannen
Craster
Garth of Oldtown
Rolley of Sisterton
Ser Byam Flint
Jeor Mormont
Alyn
Hoster Tully
Kyle
Septon Utt
Bodger
Sallor the Bald
Prendahl Na Ghezn
Balon Greyjoy
Lord Botley
Lark the Sisterman
Softfoot
Ryles
Chett
Robin Flint
Ser Wendel Manderly
Lucas Blackwood
Donnel Locke
Owen Norrey
Dacey Mormont
Smalljon Umber
Robb Stark
Aegon Frey
Catelyn Stark
Grey Wind
Deaf Dick Follard
Rast
Young Henly
Old Henly
Easy
Dornish Dilly
Styr
Quort
Stone Thumbs
Ygritte
Oznak Zo Pahl
Mero
Joffrey Baratheon
Ser Dontos Hollard
Vargo Hoat
Donal Noye
Mag the Mighty
Red Alyn of the Rosewood
Ser Endrew Tarth
Ser Aladale Wynch
Oberyn Martell
Harma Dogshead
Polliver
The Tickler
Watt of Long Lake
Dalla
Shae
Tywin Lannister
Eon Hunter
Lysa Arryn
Petyr Frey
Ser Garse Goodbrook
Ser Tytos Frey
Merrett Frey




ALL THOSE PEOPLE DIE

Comcast

Comcast Rep:  "What do you use the internet for?"

Me:  "Its the internet!"

Comcast Rep:  (mumbling) "...but what do you use it for?  What do you do on the internet?"

Me:  "Its the internet.  Its like electricity."


Then he tried to get me to pay more money.