http://pastie.caboo.se/195345

* Trimmed-down easy config file
* Lots of utility functions
* Smart log tail-er (cap util:logs:smart) that will show aggregate times, hits, errors, etc in pretty format!

Enjoy. :)

Edit 8:05pm: Added exponential weighted average for hits/min counter; fixed regex bug w/ multiple errors in one chunk

Whee.

I'm to start work as a Ruby on Rails developer for Zynga on Thursday, assuming that contract details work out.

It's 30-day-contract-to-hire - i.e. the first month is under a temp contract, so we know if we're good for each other.

Hopefully it goes well; looks like it will. I'm pretty excited. ^^


(I'll still be doing my Medtronic work part-time [yay flexible telecommute gig], and of course I've got a half-dozen projects of my own, not to mention the LCS and such, and moving to Berkely next month or so... looks like I'm going to be pretty damn busy. o.o)

Went pretty well.

Expected to be 3:30-4:30, but actually ran 3-5:50. Good sign. (I got there early, since I wasn't sure how much time to allocate for driving & parking and erred on the cautious side. Planned to arrive at 3, left at 2, almost got lost but didn't quite.)

Took a while to find parking; I succumbed to using the public garage. Grr expensive, blah. But IIRC UCSF has transportation reimbursement or somesuch as a benefit, and if I start working there there'd be workarounds anyway.

Went up to the office, Dr Rosen was right in; waited a short bit for him to finish up something and we started talking.

The conversation took quite a while and covered a lot of ground, in large part due to my asking a very large number of questions (per my usual) and him actually answering them all, cogently and interestingly (per unusual, and which scores him ultra bonus points [aka "mad props"] in my book).

Started covering the program in general (memory.ucsf.edu); it's an NIH "program project" (metaproject of interrelated components, 5 year renewal cycle, long term, large scale, multi site) geared broadly toward investigating memory & aging. Then Rosen's component thereof - on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in various ways - emotional 'issues' in self and recognition of others', frontal lobe and anterior cingulate gyrus degeneration / shrinkage, awareness of own dementia or the scale thereof (a la prosopagnosia), memory loss, etc.

I'm here glossing over a lot of tangential discussion - etiology, treatment, diagnosis, & effects of FTD vs Alzheimer's; pragmatics of running a couple-hundred-subject trial with only 10 subjects per location; interrelationship between clinical and research aspects of Rosen's job as well as UCSF & its neurology division(s); social vs neurological possible reasons for symptom denial; subject disposition across trials; details of various testing methods (fMRI, sMRI, galvanic skin response [GSR], psychometric surveys); function and use of the software they use (brains2); possible automation thereof; typical and atypical subjects; semantic aphasias (eg subject forgets what a notepad is for, or what the word for "eating" is); episodic vs other memory preservation;...... and so on.

So, circling regions of interest on sMRI scans... He estimated it'd be not more than 40% of my time. Involves opening up scans in brains2, finding the anatomical chunk in question (e.g. anterior cingulate gyrus) using the 3 orthogonal views plus rotatable 3d model, picking one view to be the baseline (typically coronal), and literally outlining it with a mouse or stylus. Repeat for every slice. Takes a few hours per brain. Plus finding various baseline stuff for each brain (e.g. samples of white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] so it knows what's what), which takes an hourish. Seems like a straightforward, if tedious, process. Will keep eye for ways to make faster, automated, semiautomated, and non-RSI-prone... but enh it's not too bad, and it's brain-multitasking compatible once learned.

The other 60% of my job would involve scheduling, psych testing subjects, etc etc.

Interview went very well AFAICT; went happily over time, good rapport, body language positive, engaged, & synchronized, etc.

Then (eventually) on to interview with the RAs. Seemed like a pretty typical lab - lots of nice monitors and keyboards with desks side-by-side on the perimeter of the room (dubbed "the fishbowl", ha). A couple people working, and six of 'em taking time out to interview me. (Notable point of amusement: everyone I met there is female, except for one token male who showed up at the end.)

Q&A here was much more stereotypical-interview-y. They talked about what they do day-to-day (several scheduling subjects & researchers; one person budgeting; various occasional psychometric interviews; brainscan frobbing; various miscellany as assigned), how they're assigned (each works for a specific project, which typically equals the PI but not always, and a fair amount of cross sharing). Was asked what I wanted out of it, opinion on my own strengths/weaknesses (geh, I can't answer that well), why switching from CS, what "asl music interpretations" meant, what I'd hate in a workplace, how I deal with anger, plans for future, why/whence language background, research interests, etc. etc.

Again, I think it went fairly well though not to the same degree; had everyone laughing and smiling by the end, and no obvious fumbles, so yar.

Returned to Rosen to get my bag & talk a few more minutes to wrap up. He suggested I email him my interest; I responded by saying "yes I'm very interested, when can I start?".

Answer is that he'll need to figure out other interviewdees etc per usual, please send him a list of references, I'll know within 1-2 weeks, and if yes then I start early January.

Oh and random, he's from the Bronx, looks like a (very kind) doctor I had a long time ago, and sounds just like ambyr's dad, with the classic Jewish accent. (I happen to find this rather pleasant for whatever reason; it feels like cookies and books. Don't think I have any actual memory associations on this point, but enh, there's phonaesthetics for ya. Plus with ambyr's parents that's really a very plausible association...)


Soooooo.... my feeling is that I scored it. Hopefully my references reinforce that. It'll be a nervous couple weeks 'till I find out. I should continue looking for other stuff in the meantime just in case, since... well, I really like-no-srsly-I'm-broke need money. I would drastically prefer that it be in something like this, where I can learn neuro on the job, have it be a stepping stone to graduate school, all that good longterm plan stuff.

But gah, no matter how well I feel I did with something like this, I don't like the feeling of being so dependent on stuff I can't control.

Ohwell. Hopefully it works out and come my birthday I'll have a new job, and be back on track to fulfilling all those grand goals of mine.

Stopped by Gazzaley lab yesterday. Talked with the postdocs there - very friendly - but didn't get Gazzaley himself. Did however get tipped off (by said postdocs) to a party someone was throwing to show off their molecular imaging software, which was neat (and good free food! PHD Comic is so true). Will evidently need to email rather than call and set up an appointment. Ahwell. Also finished reading 4-5 papers while there, so that's useful.

On the way out, got a call from another PI who'd gotten my app, who told me about his work. Uses sMRI, skin galvanic response to look at emotional impairment related to frontal/temporal dementia in old people. Said that 40% of the job involves circling regions of interest on sMRI images. Anyway, I have an interview for that next week, and am fairly sure I can have the job if I want it.

Same pay/benes moreorless within any of the UCSF gigs (unless they offer different starting steps within the same job descriptor; in which case salary can vary by ~5k/yr), but I think I should try to interview for at least 2-4 before deciding, given the variance in research topic and methods used. Would be good to get experience with EEG & fMRI, possibly TMS or PET. And there's bound to be variability in personality of the people and the atmosphere in various labs.

And another factor still is trying to evaluate how much I'd have published within the next year. (With my name how high in the authorship list, where published, how important, etc.)

But still, w00t.

(And thanks to funcrunch for encouraging me to apply to UCSF.)

Reading: 80/80
Math: 65/80 (?? must have made some arithmetic errors)
Writing: 41/80 (maybe they didn't like that I argued AGAINST the implicit premise in the prompt that old people contribute more to society than young ones)

Passed in any case. Next to get an Official Score Report (tm).

*stops banging head against desk in favor of dinner and sewing*


In other news, my apartment manager gave me a letter saying that to get my parking restored, I would have to submit an inspection report from an official Acura dealer oil change to prove that my car is drivable.

This is several MONTHS into things. Last time I talked to her she said nothing about it. And after I drove my car off the lot. And submitted requests 2-3 times 'cause she "lost" them.

What started it? I had to replace my battery. I fixed it by buying a battery at the local shop, and replacing it myself. And gave her a written notice that yes I had fixed it. She did not find this to be adequate proof that I had done so, nor was the fact that I could drive the car off the lot. (Which I did when they threatened to have it towed... for not being drivable.)

At this point I think she's just being intentionally obstructive.

At least I'm leaving soon.

Okay. So I've been up since 11am yesterday, coding.

BUT! It works. Finally. And just in time for the bossman to demo it to the bossbossman.

Also, Ruki v Verh is great coding music. \m/ \m/


Edit: fucking optimistic locker and dependencies

Edit 2: fucking everything else that broke too. but now it’s all fixed. damnit. and I’m going to bed. goodnight world.

Just took it.

Let me say that was probably the single most insulting test I have ever taken. I would be embarassed to give that to 7th graders, let alone grown adults with a college education. Seriously.... *long division*? Asking me what 3/4 equals in decimal notation? WTF? And complete bullshit PC essay questions. Ugh.

I'm tempted to write a nasty letter to the CBEST people demanding my money back and compensation for my wasted time.

Is the state so desperate for teachers that the pass rate on such a test is still on a bell curve? If so, that's pretty damn depressing.

Yay: both my [dates? boys? I dunno what to call 'em yet] like each other. And pizza was good. And mrow.
Boo: rain at meet time tomorrow.
Yay: aliothsan agreed to take over organizating
Boo: I have to get up <s>too fucking early</s> early for CBEST testing tomorrow morning (edit: evidently it's 830 not 630.)
Yay: CBEST = job
Boo: ... hopefully. I think. and going to probably be boring and stuff
Yay: another possible part time job soon doing sorting for google
Complicated: all the other stuff

I think that's an overall yay.

Last night wasn't as bad as I was anticipating, probably 'cause I was exhausted. Tonight should be okay I think but am not going to enjoy having to get up so early. Me go sleep now. Goodnight world.

So today I deployed the huge set of changes I've been working on.

Took a mere 13 hours straight o.o but now it's mostly working. Mostly.

Some things are wonky and some are broken and some are working awesomely and I am too fucking tired and am going to bed.

Oy, if I see another bloody obscure bug having to do with little differences in production vs development mode that causes completely useless or outright false error messages that only crop up on the production server...

Oh, and the bossman wants to demo the NEW functionality - i.e. the stuff I've only barely started on - early next week.

o.o


Add to that a wide assortment of things going both wrong and right in other aspects of my life, and the fact that I'm pretty much out of time for moving so that needs to happen somewhere around NOW and that requires time too etc... mrr.

For some reason I'm not actually panicking, but I get the feeling that I would be if I were normaler.

I should get a button that says something like "will massage for skritches", or perhaps something more specific, e.g. "Professional massage / Later: $60/hr. / Now: skritches." to make clear that yes I do this pro and am waiving fees for a party type situation. Something that fits on a 3" round button... hm.

I'm sorta tempted to try massage-busking at coffee shops or somesuch; just walk up to someone who's tense, offer massage at $1/min, first minute free; just bring a timer of some sort and my business cards. And a different button for that. I wonder how well it'd work; would need a pretty good 10-second pitch.

I'm preparing a sort of primer to what our business group does.

It's kinda strange trying to do a full braindump of what I've learned over the last two years; the search path for it is occasionally weird. Lots of things to remember, especially when making a document that covers things from a very high level global-business sort of perspective down to the "dirty work" sort, and is intended to get someone who knows nothing about what we do up to speed quickly.

Neat though, too.

Anyway, time for me to go. Whee!

fling93: "[A]gain, the best massage I have ever had" (Totally unsolicited, and FWIW he's had several pros to compare to.)

So this reminds me: I want to start doing massage professionally. Given the total advertising glut on Craigslist, this will probably be mainly through word-of-mouth. That means you guys.

My rates:
* my place: $60/hr
* your place: $60/hr + meal or $0.30/mi one way (depending on how far you are from me)
* at a party: skritches and references :-)
- unless I'm "on the job" for the party, which I can definitely do - ping me and we'll work something out
* PayPal or real cash only please
* barter accepted in full or partial lieu of cash
* $20 off your next massage for each successful new referral
* every fourth massage free for continuing clients

My style: eclectic/syncretic shiatsu / theraputic / "Swedish" / sports / energy work / deep tissue / etc all rolled up seamlessly. 300hr official training (De Anza College), more unofficially. I can make you invigorated, relaxed, sleepy, or whatever you prefer; work on specific areas, flexibility / stretching, trigger points, etc. I can work around most injuries, ticklishness, skin problems, advanced diabetes, etc, but please warn me in advance about anything I should know. I can work equally well through light clothing (e.g. tshirt, light jeans/sweats) or on skin - whatever degree of nudity you are most comfortable with (strictly non-sexual / professional ^^).

I occasionally use oil or cream (almond oil, almond oil w/ nag champa scent, shea butter, or Biotone deep tissue lotion) but usually don't need any.

I currently lack a massage table or chair, but I can do just fine with whatever you have around - bed, couch, floor, chair, etc. Yes, I want to acquire one of each (fully adjustable, collapsible, in good condition); if you can get me one, let's barter.

So, ask artistic_chaos, banjomensch, aaangyl, caesia, denist, fling93, funcrunch, pigrew, riela, solgod, starlightforest, theduckisback, tyrsalvia, vvvexation, whimsywanderer, or anyone else I've massaged if you want an opinion about quality. Try me out. Tell your friends & point them to this post; it'll be linked in my profile.

Contact info & my schedule is in my profile, or just leave a comment here.

Migrating to Rails 1.2, REST, ActiveScaffold, ... wheeeee.

A bit of a PITA but hopefully will make for a nice DRY Saibase that functions better (perhaps even more leanly... right now all the ruby instances are 30mb, which with a 100-200mb mem cap and multispawning ruby instances can get a bit ugly). :-)

And then I get to fix various bugs, and add stuff, and tweak it, and add the new email-based interface, and stuff! The email thing might actually be easier with REST; dunno if it could do responds_to or not. But it'd make it eas(ier) to do a crackberry/treo specific interface, which is what all of middle/upper management and almost all of sales are tied to (and guess who my clients are).

Huzzah work geekery anyhow.

But in the meantime I get to wait for gem update -y to finish. Looks like I'm fairly behind...

Hopefully most of the code I already wrote should port to the new version relatively easily (or perhaps even not be needed).

Edit: Yay, massive bugs on framework updates. Oy. Looks like I'll be redoing the login/authentication stuff too. Fun.

Hmm... interesting problem for how to do it elegantly.

My project management system is expanding; it'll need to communicate with people inside and outside MDT who are outside our little group, both sending and receiving information.

And the majority of them operate off of a Blackberry or equivalent, so HTTP is cumbersome.

This means that it basically needs to be a very compact text-based system that can take responses, updates, etc via email response.

*ponder*

One is hired by the individual school district.

Prereqs vary only a little: all require bachelors' degree, CBEST passing, fingerprinting (can be done once and shared) + fee (~$75), recommendation(s), and a permit fee (~$55). Few (e.g. Berkeley USD) require CSET too. Plus various paperwork, interview, maybe an hour long orientation. CSET is generally only required for a full-time teacher-of-record.

The standard seems to be an "emergency" 30-day credential, which means you can teach anything k-12 for a year (renewable), with the caveat that you can't sub more than 30 days for any specific teacher in a year, cumulative. There is some way to get around that if the district wants to; not sure what the extended version is. 90 days I think.

Pay is per 6-hour day, ranges from $90 (Alameda) to $143 (Fremont) for "short term" and $100 (Alameda) to $183 (Fremont) for "long term". That, as far as I can tell, is based on consecutive days subbing for the same teacher, and kicks in after x days (5, 10, 20, or 30 depending; possibly stepwise) and is retroactive through day 1 of the assignment.

Additionally some districts have cumulative incentive pay, e.g. Fremont: $143.42/day for first 60 days (cumulative); $150.60 for next 60; $164.94 thereafter; that's presumably counting # days worked for the district overall. There doesn't seem to be a cumulative + longterm benefit, but longterm pays better anyway.

One can also be assigned half or otherwise partial days; not sure how common it is but in Palo Alto at least it's a half day's pay minimum if you're called out at all.

Callouts seem to be done at the last minute; anywhere from the day before to the morning of (or even later). You schedule whatever you're going to take, decline the rest, show up. There doesn't seem to be a regular "called on standby" sort of system.

AFAIU at the moment (not had it yet) when you show up you basically get (in the ideal case) a summary of the teacher's lesson plans for the day, a teachers' edition textbook if applicable, and that's about it. With maybe 5 minutes to prepare before you get tossed to the wol^Hnderful children.