the longer I live, the more I want to automate
the more I realize the shell is all I need
…
I mean, I just spent 15-20 minutes optimizing some stuff I do every day about a hundred times in windows only to realize that most of it would have been easier to do if I were just running a unix-based system. Without a GUI. :/
Working all night at school sucks, because you’re far away from home and you inevitably run out of snacks. And you get lonely! Sitting in a dark lab hacking all night feels great sometimes, but it can totally be a drain to be in a cave.
Working all night at home means there’s plenty of snacks around and you’re comfortable – there’s housemates, too! But there’s one showstopping bug in this solution: bed. It is so, so easy to wander over to that comfy, warm bed and nap. And naps when you’re tired and it’s 4-5 AM turn into sleeps. Often, they turn into missed stuff you were supposed to do.
If only there were some compromise… For me, as of very recently, there is. It’s a place I never liked when I was a kid; a place designed to trigger impulses and grow fat on people. Billions and billions have ‘been served’ by it. Yes, my local McDonalds restaurant is what I’m talking about. They’ve just moved to 24 hour service. Let’s break this down.
Cheap tasty-but-not-healthy food (unlimited free coke refills.)
A slow trickle of people all night long
background music and noises and things
Washrooms
Power outlet
free wifi
2 blocks from home
This is literally the sweet spot. I want to zoom in on the ‘2 blocks from home’ bit for a second. It’s probably the most magical part of this. You see, school is awful in large part because it’s a 30ish minute walk from my house. At 4AM when I decide I’m done, and I just need sleep, there’s this awful choice between waiting for buses, walking the whole way home, or sleeping at school (not fun any more.)
At home, if I hit a good momentary stopping point and lean back onto my bed, I wake up in the mid-afternoon. The 2 block distance is about 5 minutes’ walk. It’s not terrifying, but I wouldn’t pop back home without some serious thought.
And around 6AM, they switch over to the breakfast menu and I get to have hash browns.
I’m lovin’ it. Also, I’m really tired. 🙂
Given the present date, I feel it’s the perfect time to remind everyone that, yes, while Pi is a wonderful thing and an interesting curiosity to be thought upon, perhaps there’s an even better way. Since reading the Tau manifesto a year or two ago, I’ve come to be quite convinced that it’s just .. well, right. It’s a deep down feeling – so I’m going to link anyone that happens across this and ask that if you are willing to do me a favour today, make that favour be to read this fantastic bit of mathemeaningful sensism: The Tau Manifesto.
Right all the way ’round.
In the face of a hectic schedule, motivation sometimes falters, and one may wonder why they have to have such a busy life. A simple mental exercise helped me shrink my problems to a much more manageable size. (so I can continue working on amazing things!) Continue reading
I’d like you to go check out The Guelph Seven. From March 5-11th, 7 students will spend 7 days writing 7 apps, in Guelph, Ontario. We’ll compete on friendly terms with our Waterloo counterpart, 7^3. It’s going to be really fantastic.
Three months ago, I heard about a cool application called QuickCite. My friend Paul pulled it up on his laptop while browsing HackerNews, and we talked about it being a cool idea. We thought the idea to have 7 Students spend 7 Days writing 7 Apps together – and publicize the heck out of it – was an even cooler idea. They called themselves 7^3.
By the new year, we’d talked to some of the 7^3 students (who turned out to be friends of ours!) and decided to go on our own adventure. Planning commenced – we had many short meetings, email threads, and gtalk conversations – and we’re still at it! But enough information is solid that we’re certain this will happen, and we’re excited as heck.
We’ll be working round the clock from March 5th to March 11th, taking the week away from school and all other responsibilities (at least, every one we’re able to), and producing a new application each day. ThreeFortyNine has amazingly sponsored us by providing us with workspace, and all that’s left now is to find sponsorship for food and to hone our skills.
We’ve got a website. We’ve got twitter. We’ve got an email address, and ideas, and energy, and we’re going to make amazing stuff and have a great time doing it. Soon there will be a short bio detailing the epic quests of each of member of the team, and not long after, descriptions of our daily struggles and beautiful results.
Catch you on the flipside – don’t miss us.