300

I found this gif pretty damn funny.

Accenture, day 1

Today was my first day at my new company: Accenture. The office is pretty awesome. We're basically in a carpeted warehouse with 5 story ceilings and windows. I'm situated right by the window so I get a ton of natural light, rain or shine. Basically, IT is in one huge room full of cubes.

My work here will be concentrated on Event Handler and WebSphere MQ, both Greek to me thus far. The people here are really nice: one dude I met last week in training was "assigned" to go to lunch with me - probably part of a program to make me feel comfortable and not a loner on my first day which is something I haven't experienced before in any company.

My supervisor, Adam Edwards, says I'll learn a ton of good skills here @ Accenture which I can take on to other companies. Every person on his team is working on different technologies.

Even though I didn't do too much today, the day seemed to go by really fast. It's already 4:30, which is when I can go home, but I think I'll stay a bit later, just for a good impression.

Training

I've spent the first few days of my new job in a classroom in the IBM building on Canada Way. The bulk of time has been spent re-learning Java all over again. "This is a class. This is a variable." etc. etc. etc.

To fill the spaces in time where I don't have to listen, I've spent most of it on Gmail chat or Facebook.

New beginnings

To celebrate new beginnings, the geek side of me couldn't stop myself from installing Windows Vista, Microsoft's Windows XP with Aero (basically).



Wednesday, March 14 would bring me down to Redmond, WA for a second time. The first time I was going for a full time position at Microsoft. Getting down there for the first time was a true adventure, indeed. The plane flew down to Seattle after being delayed 2 hours. It circle Seattle and finally made its way back to Vancouver on an account of fog. So I had to taxi home and drive my ass down to Redmond in my Civic. My original 10am arrival time was transformed to 6pm - a whole day wasted traveling. Because I had woken up at 5:30am to catch my initially scheduled 8:30am flight, I had to pull over and catch some Z's on my way down.

Anyways, back to March 14th. I drive down once more for an interview with...Microsoft. Crossing the boarding was a pain in the ass. The told me to go to customs where a dude asked if I had narcotics and firearms twice. Twice. "Do you have narcotics? Firearms? Narcotics? Guns or firearms?" Do I look like a Triad member to them? They even went so far to confirm I had an interview with Microsoft (or more accurately, Volt.)

Anyways, this time they offer me a position on the Xbox Live team. And do I accept their offer? No. On Friday morning they call me and make me the offer, wanting me to give them an answer over the phone. (What's up with that? The first time they give me the boot. Second time they ask what it would take to make me say yes on the spot.) Because I had a final (4th) interview with Accenture to go to later on that day, I stuck to my guns and said I needed time to think about the offer. After the interview with Accenture, they offer me a position. And do I accept their offer? Yes.

Why?

Number one, they're 5 minutes away from home, while Microsoft is 2 hours away from home in another country. Second, I love Vancouver. It's the best city in the world. Period. Redmond is boring, but there's probably many things to do and explore if you're a local. They have pho for 5.15USD (large), 6.25USD (xtra large), and all you can eat Japanese buffet with unlimited sashimi and dungeonous crab for 25USD. Third, Volt is offering me a contract position for 24USD/hour. That seems like a lot, but after rent and living expenses, I'll be broke-ass, especially in Redmond, where rent is notoriously expensive. (Redmond is populated by Microsoft employees. Go figure). Accenture is offering salary which rivals Volt, minus the rent, and a full time position with benefits. I'd be a madman to reject Accenture. Fourthly, and not lastly, the parties at Accenture. 'Nuff said.



So March 19th, 2007 is the start of a new life, and a fresh beginning. But with every birth, there is a death. (Or is it the other way around? Well, in my case, it's birth then death). I miss Jess, and I believe I still have strong feelings for her. I hope she's doing well wherever she is, and staying safe from this mean world. I hope she finds someone who would love her the way she deserves, and who will marry her and take care of her forever. December 2, 2006 marks a death in my life, but life continues, and God continues to be gracious, merciful, and faithful.

Operation Bill Gates - Day 1

My day was ruined.

I just spent the longest time on an airplane in the air without going anywhere. My 830 plane was re-routed back to Vancouver on an account of fog. Yea, we circled Seattle for 20 minutes before the captain said, "Um, it seems like the weather's not cooperating, so we're going back to Vancouver." This is after a boarding personnel said, "It is very unlikely we'll be re-routed back to Vancouver."

WTF? Who's in charge here?

Anyways, I decided to rush home and drive down myself. Friggin' fog...

It took me 3 hours to get to my hotel. When I arrived, I found out that a plane which left YVR @ 230, which also had a high probability of turning back, arrived in Seattle @ 354. I arrived in Seattle @ 515. I guess it's only by an hour, but still!

I have a few hours before my interview(s). And I'm starving. I will go eat Korean food with Mr. James Tao tonight, and maybe the Enemy of Bill Gates himself - Mr. Johnson...er, I mean John Sun.

Where do you want to go today?

Redmond, Seattle!

Yes, sirs, I'll be heading down to Redmond on February 5 for an interview with the software behemoth: Microsoft. The position I'll be interviewing for is Software Engineer In Test. Oooooh.

And yes, sirs, I'm extremely excited. I'd never thought I'd get an opportunity like this. Ever. I thank God.

My trip will be all paid for my Mr. Gates; everything from my airplane ticket to my hotel and my food. Can anyone say "Red Lobster!"? I'll be flying back late on February 7th, so I'll have ample time to sightsee the city I may work in for the next few years. Yes, I also get a rental car!

At the same time, I feel devastated. The interview can last anywhere from half a day to a full day. I'll most likely be interviewed by 2 teams - Office Shared Services and Customer Representative Management. Why these two teams need software testers, I have no idea. However, between now and then, the teams may change, and I may find myself going after a position with the Windows Mobile team or Xbox 360 team.

Also, I'll be very sad to leave Vancouver. My friends and family are here, and it'll be tough for me to make new friends, being the shy person that I am.

Whatever, I don't know if I'll get the job. I'm thinking too far ahead. Rent down in Redmond I hear is overpriced, just like here in Vancouver. Again, I'm thinking too far ahead.

Nerds Unite!

It seems like the perfect setting for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to make his next appearance. Who knows, maybe tonight on Conan, you'll see Triumph at the long lineups at Best Buy or Electronic Boutique, jabbing people with nerd jokes and exposing the sad reality of what MMORPG's have done to this demographic. I mean, look at this guy...



Yeah man. You're the bane of our society.

If he'd won the lottery, I don't blame him. If he passed the SAT, good for him. If he got a girlfriend, he'd have reason to celebrate. But if he got his hands on a computer game that will be widely available without the billion hour lineups in the near future (perhaps next week), puh-leez.

Why do people do this to themselves? Has anyone not seen the South Park episode where a fat ass slob kills off players in WoW? Look waht became of Stan, Cartman and Eric! That is exactly what's going on in our society now. It's also what I observe at the Magic Card conventions. It's a whole new breed of male.

Children of Men

*****

I can't emphasize how much this film kicks ass. Not only because I got a free ticket (the projector shorted out and we had to wait 5 minutes in suspense to see what happens next), but the cinemtography and directing were stellar - Alfonso Cuaron is the next Spielberg. Mr. Spielberg, step aside for Alfonso Cuaron!



One thing that I noticed that was strikingly similar to Spielberg's style was the long shots and the numerous events which took place in the shots. There were two continuous shots which lasted for at least 5 minutes each. If Cuaron doens't get a Best Director nomination, there is injustice in Hollywood.

I tip my hat to Mr. Cuaron for the best directing I've ever seen (2nd to Schindler's List) and Clive Owen who carried the picture with an amazing performance.