I actually been reading lately.
1) The Blind Side. Amazing one can write an entire book about the Left Tackle position. Its quite a good read. This silent position is apparently the 2nd highest paid player on the team... who would have thought. ?? According to the author it all started w/ LT (the original LT)... who created such fear of blind side QB hits that it revolutionized game tactics and created the need for an ultimate Left Tackle to protect your most important player.
2) Masters of Doom. A story about the id software guys (who made Doom, Quake, etc), namely Romero and Carmack. I am a big fan of Carmack, mainly because he is a true genius. Self taught, quirky, mean, single minded, and brilliant.
I talked before about single mindedness (focus) and how I often wish I could be more like that. Carmack is a perfect case study. While others at id would get distracted by fame, fortune, gaming, girls, and etc, Carmack maintained perfect focus despite all distractions for 80hrs a week, adjust his entire life towards a single goal, and produce like nobody's business. Don't get me wrong, he had all the faults of a guy w/ a single purpose in life -- like an insensitive jerk and being overly demanding at times.. but as noted, it somewhat goes w/ the territory of living a life of meaning and purpose.
But yeah, the guy single handedly created 3-d gaming and is single handedly kept OpenGL alive. Only a few guys on the planet are at his level.. someone should give him an honorary PhD in CS, but perhaps he couldn't care less about that.
At age 24 the dude was writing the Quake 3D engine all by himself -- a totally cutting edge invention that had no parallel in the industry. What the hell was I doing at that age....? Reading about a genius like this makes me realize I'm more suited for less technical tasks. I was never the greatest programmer/engineer but I've always been good -- but more because of my flexibility and multitude of talents, not because I was great at one thing.
Its good to recognize your limits. But I guess you should try not to let them limit you. Ironic.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Of Fat and Colds and Jobs and Stuff
1) I'm getting a bit fat. I see it. My neck is expanding for one thing. I really gotta focus on this. A few items are killing me.
- Starbucks Chocolate Chunk Scones. Oh man.. they are the bomb. 500calories of bomb!
- Generally great food in Tokyo, but all high starch. Rice, noodles, etc.... and I discovered the ultimate pizza shop near work which is crushing me.
- Drinking beer. I am drinking less this year but still more than in SF.
- Lack of regular gym -- i play tennis.. but not really doing hardcore workouts
2) I'm a bit sick. Being sick means forgoing healthy diet in favor of beating the cold. I'm so close to beating it... I can feel it. I admit I get sick alot. I probably have HIV.
3) Look at this article about how WallSt Firms have cut 34,000 jobs this year... phew I am one lucky bastard and I know it.
4) Thats my update for now. Been going to work @ 8am. I was so sleepy today at 1030am.. geez what the hell is wrong with me at work.
I might go shoot pool tomorrow night at a tournament.
- Starbucks Chocolate Chunk Scones. Oh man.. they are the bomb. 500calories of bomb!
- Generally great food in Tokyo, but all high starch. Rice, noodles, etc.... and I discovered the ultimate pizza shop near work which is crushing me.
- Drinking beer. I am drinking less this year but still more than in SF.
- Lack of regular gym -- i play tennis.. but not really doing hardcore workouts
2) I'm a bit sick. Being sick means forgoing healthy diet in favor of beating the cold. I'm so close to beating it... I can feel it. I admit I get sick alot. I probably have HIV.
3) Look at this article about how WallSt Firms have cut 34,000 jobs this year... phew I am one lucky bastard and I know it.
4) Thats my update for now. Been going to work @ 8am. I was so sleepy today at 1030am.. geez what the hell is wrong with me at work.
I might go shoot pool tomorrow night at a tournament.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
I shall attempt to focus.
I am marking the words... I will attempt to focus...
So I have embarked on a new journey at work. I've been put on a new project and it has alot of career potential with it mainly because it is with a flailing project and its soon to be quitting/fired project lead/manager (note the last 2 people under him were fired, the guy before that asked to move to another team). Seems there is great concern this is going to crash so they duped me into working on this but there should be a reward in the end for it all.
So I probably should focus. .. Its a technical project I know I can handle, its nothing any more complex than my background can handle. It simply requires focus that I need to regain. But if I can focus and get this done.. then by Jan I should be promoted one level and in line to run a team (step to the next promotion).
At times I feel I should have taken the YouBS jobs because I'd have been running a team there.. but alas.. what can I do, I wasn't ready for the HK jump. I had to skip to TKY first. So I gotta bust a little ass to get to square-1. Oh well so be it.
I think HK is inevitable by Dec 2009 (or sooner) if I pursue a serious career path. I think maybe its about time to go for it so what the hell. Although I know work shouldn't be what life is primarily about... once you become management you have to go wherever they tell you to. Lotta people are moving to HK or elsewhere and if you are management u can't really say no w/o jeopardizing your career.
So I have embarked on a new journey at work. I've been put on a new project and it has alot of career potential with it mainly because it is with a flailing project and its soon to be quitting/fired project lead/manager (note the last 2 people under him were fired, the guy before that asked to move to another team). Seems there is great concern this is going to crash so they duped me into working on this but there should be a reward in the end for it all.
So I probably should focus. .. Its a technical project I know I can handle, its nothing any more complex than my background can handle. It simply requires focus that I need to regain. But if I can focus and get this done.. then by Jan I should be promoted one level and in line to run a team (step to the next promotion).
At times I feel I should have taken the YouBS jobs because I'd have been running a team there.. but alas.. what can I do, I wasn't ready for the HK jump. I had to skip to TKY first. So I gotta bust a little ass to get to square-1. Oh well so be it.
I think HK is inevitable by Dec 2009 (or sooner) if I pursue a serious career path. I think maybe its about time to go for it so what the hell. Although I know work shouldn't be what life is primarily about... once you become management you have to go wherever they tell you to. Lotta people are moving to HK or elsewhere and if you are management u can't really say no w/o jeopardizing your career.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Ippudo out cold
I tell ya these japanese dudes are out of control... look at this mad drunkard.
Pay attention to the details.
1. Gyoza barely eaten.
2. Bill is ready to be paid.
3. Spoon is almost in his ear.
4. Noodle is spilled out the side of the bowl.
etc...
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Interviewing -- steering
One of the fundamental concepts I have come up with (not an original idea but not directly stolen as far as I know), is to steer the interview.
The idea is to take some control and steer the conversation towards your strengths.
Idea here is based on a few premises
1) interviewers are often not that prepared, they'll take your bait.
2) good interviewers go with the flow because its easier to.
3) taking control shows dominance and confidence.
The trick really is to have a few really great things you've done in mind. Say you were lead on some badass project or helped close some crazy deal. You don't want to just blurt it out, but instead you want to get the interviewer to ask you about it this project. You steer them towards your strength and then blow them away with your answer. I'd do this all the time when I interviewed. I know one analytic (Theta) really well and I'd always mention it and they would always bite and ask me what Theta is and I would describe it in such great detail that they'd say, "damn this guy knows his shit".
You really have a lot of opportunities to do this. You can write about these things on your resume. You can answer those generic questions "tell me about yourself" to lead towards these "great stories" of your strengths. The idea is that you want to flow the interview to something that makes you look good. If left to the interviewer.. who knows what they may ask. You don't want to take that chance.
I am not quite sure how I did it in the past.. but I was almost always able to steer an interview towards some obscure article I read or some detailed tech things that probably made me look like a hardcore badass. In reality I duped them all. You can do it too. I have to analyze how to make it work....
More on my new interviewing workshop in the coming months.
The idea is to take some control and steer the conversation towards your strengths.
Idea here is based on a few premises
1) interviewers are often not that prepared, they'll take your bait.
2) good interviewers go with the flow because its easier to.
3) taking control shows dominance and confidence.
The trick really is to have a few really great things you've done in mind. Say you were lead on some badass project or helped close some crazy deal. You don't want to just blurt it out, but instead you want to get the interviewer to ask you about it this project. You steer them towards your strength and then blow them away with your answer. I'd do this all the time when I interviewed. I know one analytic (Theta) really well and I'd always mention it and they would always bite and ask me what Theta is and I would describe it in such great detail that they'd say, "damn this guy knows his shit".
You really have a lot of opportunities to do this. You can write about these things on your resume. You can answer those generic questions "tell me about yourself" to lead towards these "great stories" of your strengths. The idea is that you want to flow the interview to something that makes you look good. If left to the interviewer.. who knows what they may ask. You don't want to take that chance.
I am not quite sure how I did it in the past.. but I was almost always able to steer an interview towards some obscure article I read or some detailed tech things that probably made me look like a hardcore badass. In reality I duped them all. You can do it too. I have to analyze how to make it work....
More on my new interviewing workshop in the coming months.
new passion
I thought of a new business to do, more for passion less for money.
Interview coaching. I don't know if I'm the best or qualified, I just know that I have reviewed several resumes this month.. and feel many people don't have a clue as to what to write and how to present themselves.
I talked to a young gal today who was searching for jobs and I said damn u r so unprepared it is sick. Can't answer the basic questions.. terrible focus, no idea what she is doing. I gave her some basic tips and actually kind of scared her into realizing how unprepared she is. But really alot of candidates have a long way to go.
I am going to talk to my recruiter about this idea. My thought is that he can pass a few people my way who have no clue. I can charge them a small fee to coach them. Money isn't my motivation, because a few hundred that I could charge isn't going to do shit for me, it'd be more for the fun of coaching someone and helping humanity. Something like that. And if it goes well and I get busy enough w/ it then I'd have to charge just to get hacks off my back.
At work.. there is something going on. Got a new project... and its jacked up. More on that later.
Interview coaching. I don't know if I'm the best or qualified, I just know that I have reviewed several resumes this month.. and feel many people don't have a clue as to what to write and how to present themselves.
I talked to a young gal today who was searching for jobs and I said damn u r so unprepared it is sick. Can't answer the basic questions.. terrible focus, no idea what she is doing. I gave her some basic tips and actually kind of scared her into realizing how unprepared she is. But really alot of candidates have a long way to go.
I am going to talk to my recruiter about this idea. My thought is that he can pass a few people my way who have no clue. I can charge them a small fee to coach them. Money isn't my motivation, because a few hundred that I could charge isn't going to do shit for me, it'd be more for the fun of coaching someone and helping humanity. Something like that. And if it goes well and I get busy enough w/ it then I'd have to charge just to get hacks off my back.
At work.. there is something going on. Got a new project... and its jacked up. More on that later.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Death of subprime.. hits me
I got reorged or at least I am getting reorged. Hmmm... not sure how I feel about it.
My current job on the MBS desk has been great for a few reasons.
+ cool boss
+ short hours for asia/japan
+ learning stuff slowly at a leisurely pace
+ niche domain to conquer
Bad for the following reasons
- this desk makes no money
- maybe not really pushing myself, learning is slow
- not high profile, not gonna get promoted here, not enough quant/research work
So they've suggested a group (not sure if 'suggested' means they are telling me how it is, but sounds more like i have leeway to choose). Its more of a traditional IT role rather than analytics, but does have alot of interface w/ traders and risk management so I'd probably learn the business flow better than my current role.
In the end, I have to consider what I should be working on and what I would like to work on.
I have this dream of becoming an analyst... but really can it happen? I don't know, I think its unlikely given:
a) my lack of focus, ie I haven't done anything other than show up to work...
b) my age and inability to focus and learn quickly at this point in my life
c) my lack of proper educational background (phd, ms in math)
d) my lack of just being good at this stuff.
So I do ponder at times if I should go back to tech where I am better and more productive. But even in tech I often 2nd guess myself during a project when I'm writing crappy code .. I think to myself, gawd.. I suck. But in reality I am probably pretty good.
My manager told me today to take this job (he wont be my manager afterwards) because I have sr.management potentially and everyone sees it. He doesn't see me as a pure techy person not because its a waste of material but because he doesn't see that passion in me. I should be living breathing and eating analytics and models if I was into it, and its true.. I'm in love with the dream but not with the work.
Thus I think I shall take my managements heeded advice and work on this risk project.. knock it out of the park and get to VP level ASAP. Use my god given talents.. whatever they are and develop some different skills.
Thats my sudden thought.... its not so sudden, but I am a recluse, unwitting, and unwilling leader at times and my managers have noted that (startup and BigHQ). So I guess I should stop fighting destiny and try my hand at something different. I wonder if I'll fail at times.. it is much easier doing technical work because getting to absolute correctness is often easy compared to driving/managing a project.
Anyways this role is in Credit and Credit is mostly in Hong Kong. So at some point I may move to HK. As early as this Dec, and as late as next Dec 2009. We'll play it day by day for now.
My current job on the MBS desk has been great for a few reasons.
+ cool boss
+ short hours for asia/japan
+ learning stuff slowly at a leisurely pace
+ niche domain to conquer
Bad for the following reasons
- this desk makes no money
- maybe not really pushing myself, learning is slow
- not high profile, not gonna get promoted here, not enough quant/research work
So they've suggested a group (not sure if 'suggested' means they are telling me how it is, but sounds more like i have leeway to choose). Its more of a traditional IT role rather than analytics, but does have alot of interface w/ traders and risk management so I'd probably learn the business flow better than my current role.
In the end, I have to consider what I should be working on and what I would like to work on.
I have this dream of becoming an analyst... but really can it happen? I don't know, I think its unlikely given:
a) my lack of focus, ie I haven't done anything other than show up to work...
b) my age and inability to focus and learn quickly at this point in my life
c) my lack of proper educational background (phd, ms in math)
d) my lack of just being good at this stuff.
So I do ponder at times if I should go back to tech where I am better and more productive. But even in tech I often 2nd guess myself during a project when I'm writing crappy code .. I think to myself, gawd.. I suck. But in reality I am probably pretty good.
My manager told me today to take this job (he wont be my manager afterwards) because I have sr.management potentially and everyone sees it. He doesn't see me as a pure techy person not because its a waste of material but because he doesn't see that passion in me. I should be living breathing and eating analytics and models if I was into it, and its true.. I'm in love with the dream but not with the work.
Thus I think I shall take my managements heeded advice and work on this risk project.. knock it out of the park and get to VP level ASAP. Use my god given talents.. whatever they are and develop some different skills.
Thats my sudden thought.... its not so sudden, but I am a recluse, unwitting, and unwilling leader at times and my managers have noted that (startup and BigHQ). So I guess I should stop fighting destiny and try my hand at something different. I wonder if I'll fail at times.. it is much easier doing technical work because getting to absolute correctness is often easy compared to driving/managing a project.
Anyways this role is in Credit and Credit is mostly in Hong Kong. So at some point I may move to HK. As early as this Dec, and as late as next Dec 2009. We'll play it day by day for now.
Monday, March 10, 2008
boarding!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkFW7HIbP9E
yes a video!?!? i could do without the commentary.. but whatever.
yes a video!?!? i could do without the commentary.. but whatever.
Fish Book and cash flow update
I have a new idea that I will attempt to work on. I'm doing research on sushi and am going to produce a book (online at first) about sushi. Yep its my new thing. First fish will be Yellowtail (Skipjack). I find this one fascinating because for sushi this fish goes by several names including Hamachi, Kampachi, Inada, Buri, and several others. My research shows that there is a vast amount of folklore around the proper naming of each fish, depending on farm raised, age, size, genetic species, etc. I will clear up the mess for this and all other sushi fish!!!
Anyways we'll see how this project goes.
I bought a new apple keyboard for my laptop so its hooked up to my 24.1" display. I really am not a fan of this apple keyboard.. it has kinda pudgey keys.. but guess what in Japan its hard to find a keyboard that is US format so I had the choice of this one for $60 or a wireless Logitech for $220. I thought... naaaaah... go cheap. Maybe I'll get something else another day.
In other news my lifestyle is getting out of hand. I know it. I love it. I live it. Some of the excesses of my life now includes....
Daily:
Anyways we'll see how this project goes.
I bought a new apple keyboard for my laptop so its hooked up to my 24.1" display. I really am not a fan of this apple keyboard.. it has kinda pudgey keys.. but guess what in Japan its hard to find a keyboard that is US format so I had the choice of this one for $60 or a wireless Logitech for $220. I thought... naaaaah... go cheap. Maybe I'll get something else another day.
In other news my lifestyle is getting out of hand. I know it. I love it. I live it. Some of the excesses of my life now includes....
Daily:
- Taxi to work ($9)
- Eating breakfast at work everyday ($4)
- Eating lunch out everyday ($10)
- Eating dinner out everyday ($10-40)
- Been going for massage every week lately, $50 /1hr
- Tennis lesson: $50-75, may start going weekly
- Snowboarding and travel: $200+ a pop!
- Dating, $100-150 a pop!
- Gym membership: $120 / month
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Shigakogen
I went snowboarding again, perhaps the last time in Japan this year. Not sure just yet.. this was supposedly the biggest resort in the greater Kanto area (specifically in Nagano). I must say it was big but the snow quality was not that great. It was like a good tahoe day. My last trip blew this one away.
One thing I do find is that I may want to just hit it alone sometime. Being a loner is good on a mountain because it is peaceful, serene and you can go at your own pace. Similar concept in life if you are alone.. you do what you want. While its lonely, it has its benefits too.
I went w/ a bunch of expat girls. The expat girls in Tokyo don't have as much fun as the guys. Funny though to talk to them and hear about their lives. Anyways I'm tired.
I may retire from boarding, I don't know. I was doing some jumps and doing off trail stuff. One of the gals is really into off-trail. New dimension to it all, pretty interesting. One time she said lets go in here.. we follow.. and the trail sucks. Really icy, steep, horrible. Got stock alot. I had to revoke her trail leader privileges after that.
One thing I do find is that I may want to just hit it alone sometime. Being a loner is good on a mountain because it is peaceful, serene and you can go at your own pace. Similar concept in life if you are alone.. you do what you want. While its lonely, it has its benefits too.
I went w/ a bunch of expat girls. The expat girls in Tokyo don't have as much fun as the guys. Funny though to talk to them and hear about their lives. Anyways I'm tired.
I may retire from boarding, I don't know. I was doing some jumps and doing off trail stuff. One of the gals is really into off-trail. New dimension to it all, pretty interesting. One time she said lets go in here.. we follow.. and the trail sucks. Really icy, steep, horrible. Got stock alot. I had to revoke her trail leader privileges after that.
Monday, March 3, 2008
discriminating + no game = no action
Nuff said!?
So there is this girl I met in Nov or Dec last year.. cute gal, I wanted to ask her out but was thinking nah I'll run into her again first.. so I decide to just e-mail her already and ask her out. My new thing for 2008 is closure. None of this "I wonder if.." it should be a clear no-go, or been there done that.
I propose getting together and she says sure she'd love to but is really busy. How about 3rd week of March (this is like at the end of Feb...). So I'm thinking geez wtf, should I just forget it? But alas.. what am I gonna do. How lame is that. More later gotta run.
So there is this girl I met in Nov or Dec last year.. cute gal, I wanted to ask her out but was thinking nah I'll run into her again first.. so I decide to just e-mail her already and ask her out. My new thing for 2008 is closure. None of this "I wonder if.." it should be a clear no-go, or been there done that.
I propose getting together and she says sure she'd love to but is really busy. How about 3rd week of March (this is like at the end of Feb...). So I'm thinking geez wtf, should I just forget it? But alas.. what am I gonna do. How lame is that. More later gotta run.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Girls
Two serious playas below w/ the new U30 secret handsign.
After lots of analysis.. and talk, and bullshit, my boy VIG and I find girls are hard to figure out.
I been living w/ girlfriends for what 10 yrs.. VIG been hitting random girls for the past years. Together we have alot of combined action but yet, we are still pondering it all everyday and still sit dumbfounded over it all at Stoorbicks on a late sunday afternoon.
Yes they are en enigma. I feel men are easier to understand. They want hot girls and want to have sex. Some want to get married. Its really quite easy to distinguish the two in most cases. Although I am disturbed that one of our female friends Bunko keeps saying I look like a playa and VIG looks honest. In fact she said Oldman J is a graduate of the playa school, I am a student, and VIG couldn't get in! Haha, man that girl is nuts she has it all wrong but it goes to show the perception of girls is whacked. But perhaps thats the problem, I have some dishonest, conniving look of a playa but have no game to support it. VIG is a playa but has the wrong look. Who the hell knows. Amusing and disturbing.
You hear random things like how they like nice guys but in reality are never attracted to them. They like guys who don't seem too interested in them. Whats up with that???
Anyways I think I have a 2nd date lined up w/ the young gal from last week. I'm quite puzzled because I don't think it was magic or anything so I wasn't too sure it'd go anywhere (although I thought she was really cute, so of course I'm happy if it does). I've had dates that I thought went really well, but ended up going nowhere, and vice-versa. The morale is.. u never know what turns on/off a gal. Thus, the old saying just be yourself is the way to go because its hard to predict what an insane female will think.
After lots of analysis.. and talk, and bullshit, my boy VIG and I find girls are hard to figure out.
I been living w/ girlfriends for what 10 yrs.. VIG been hitting random girls for the past years. Together we have alot of combined action but yet, we are still pondering it all everyday and still sit dumbfounded over it all at Stoorbicks on a late sunday afternoon.
Yes they are en enigma. I feel men are easier to understand. They want hot girls and want to have sex. Some want to get married. Its really quite easy to distinguish the two in most cases. Although I am disturbed that one of our female friends Bunko keeps saying I look like a playa and VIG looks honest. In fact she said Oldman J is a graduate of the playa school, I am a student, and VIG couldn't get in! Haha, man that girl is nuts she has it all wrong but it goes to show the perception of girls is whacked. But perhaps thats the problem, I have some dishonest, conniving look of a playa but have no game to support it. VIG is a playa but has the wrong look. Who the hell knows. Amusing and disturbing.
You hear random things like how they like nice guys but in reality are never attracted to them. They like guys who don't seem too interested in them. Whats up with that???
Anyways I think I have a 2nd date lined up w/ the young gal from last week. I'm quite puzzled because I don't think it was magic or anything so I wasn't too sure it'd go anywhere (although I thought she was really cute, so of course I'm happy if it does). I've had dates that I thought went really well, but ended up going nowhere, and vice-versa. The morale is.. u never know what turns on/off a gal. Thus, the old saying just be yourself is the way to go because its hard to predict what an insane female will think.
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