The video above was performed by a recently hired employee at Chez Theo.

A friend and I was discussing about how pizza makers get hired at minimum-wage jobs, and we determined that in order to be a successful pizza maker, you need sufficient hand-eye coordination, along with a bit of dexterity. I guess this would also apply to working as a frontline cook at Benihana’s.

However, we couldn’t figure out how one determines who is suitable for the job. I think a lot of this is due to my ignorance as I’ve worked in minimum-wage jobs, but they were all of the technical kind, and not necessarily the physical kind. I’m sure they don’t ask questions like, “How good are you at juggling spatulas?“, or “How good is your ability to toss pizzas?“. Maybe they ask interviewees to perform on the spot and base hiring decisions on that.

Anyways, my friend and I determined that there should only be one test in scenarios like this, and that is to complete the NES game Battletoads (play!) wind tunnel stage. Starting pay scale is sliding and is based on your performance in completing the level.

For those who complete the level by taking the warp shortcut at the end of the stage without consuming a life, they are automatically hired (pending a drug test)  and will start employment with the highest pay for their class; for those that do not use the warp and do not consume a life, they get the 2nd best on the scale. The third tier is those who can complete the level either by warp or the finish line before exhausting their final two lives.

In the event where an additional life is possible, if one completes the level with more lives past three, they will earn 25 cents to their base wage per additional life up to a maximum of $1.00. For those that have been on the third tier, will be promoted to second tier without possible advancement to top tier.

Why Battletoads, and specifically level 3?

Completing level 3 of the NES Battletoads is no easy task. One can liken level 3 to the most recent episode of Hell’s Kitchen, where the walls in Battletoads are like incoming orders that each chef must execute with accuracy and precision, and smashing into said walls are metaphorical manifestations of Gordon Ramsay’s outbursts for poor performance, while the loss of all lives indicates failure to deliver and ejection from the kitchen.

One can immediately determine environmental adaptability by the prospect’s ability to complete BT level 3 on the first or subsequent runs. As wall-crashing, or pit falling mistakes are incurred, the prospect should be able to understand and apply corrective measures on subsequent runs in the level. Memorization of the timing of the placement of walls, and the ability to execute proper maneuvers demonstrates quick-thinking and reaction under the pressure of potentially being hired.

Given that this one level can bring significant value to understanding a prospect, it is strongly recommended that the Battletoad Battery Examination(TM) be administered in many minimum-wage interviews that require physical dexterous labor.

In reading my chemistry book, there’s this section called Chemistry and Life: The Improbable Development of Lithium Drugs, along with a picture of an ancient bottle of 7-UP, where label says “Lithiated Lemon Soda”.

Just seeing that image intrigued me enough to read the entire article.

Here’s an excerpt from it:

“In contrast, the lithium ion (Li+) has no known function in normal human physiology. Since the discovery of lithium in 1817, however, salts of the element were thought to possess almost mystical healing powers; there were claims that it was an ingredient in ancient “fountain of youth” formulas. In 1927, Mr. C. L. Grigg began marketing a lithium-containing soft drink with the unweildy name Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon Lime Soda. Grigg soon gave his lithiated beverage a much simpler name: Seven-Up.

Because of concerns of the Food and Drug Administration, lithium was removed from Seven-Up in the early 1950s. At nearly the same time, it was found that the lithium ion has a remarkable therapeutic effect on the mental disorder called bipolar affective disorder, or manic-depressive illness. Over one million Americans suffer from this psychosis, undergoing severe mood swings from deep depression to a manic euphoria. The lithium ion smooths out these mood swings, allowing the bipolar patient to function more effectively in daily life.

… Because lithium overdose can cause severe side effects in humans, including kidney failure and death, lithium salts were not approved as antipsychotic drugs for humans until 1970. Today, Li+ is usually administered orally in the form of Li2CO3, which is the active ingredient in prescription drugs such as Eskalith. Lithium drugs are effective for about 70% of the bipolar patients that take it.” – Chemistry: The Central Science Volume 1, p. 284

(A primer on Oekaki boards)

If you have not noticed from my projects section, I am working on a new Oekaki board which I call BlueJot. The origin of the name spurs from my desire to see/hear people say, “I want a BJ“, or “I’m going to get a BJ“, kind of a double entendre. I know, very immature of me, but it’s probably one of the few remnants of who I used to be back then. In fact, the slogan for BlueJot might as well be, “Get a BJ now!”

I got inspired to make a new one after reading Kotaku and seeing that Atlus Online (yes, the video game company) set up an OekakiPoteto (which was developed by me 8 years ago). I said to myself, “Surely there has to be something better than my piece of crap oekaki board!“, but after a search on Oekaki boards, I didn’t find anything that could really be OP’s successor, other than the closed-sourced 2draw, which is developed and run by my friend Marcello. (Note to self: prod him to allow use of his Lascaux applet when I see him tomorrow!)

I’m not really surprised since the board is an art board, for an art community, you can’t expect star programmers in that pool since their primary skill is most likely not programming.

Anyways, I’ve been drawing an initial set of wireframes on how I think this Oekaki board should look like in the end run, and I thought about the intention of the Oekaki board, and what it means for those that use it: exposure of art, communication/feedback from that art, and collaboration of artistic works.

So, in my wireframes, I’ve decided to make the art as prominent as possible rather than the artist profiles themselves.

A lot of inspiration for this design comes from Flickr, and a bit of 2draw as well. No navigation is present in the wireframes, since I’m unsure how to design that portion yet.

If you look in the project repository, I have been working on the core modules and libraries, which is built in a custom build of Symfony that I’ve developed. My decision to use Symfony was based on my almost two-years experience with it from my Notemine project, and at work. Anyone who’s a decent programmer would be able to easily extend the system, and write plugins for it as well.

I’ve seen Cheetos that were twice the size of the normal Cheeto, most likely due to a manufacturing defect, but I have never witnessed a purposely-made Cheeto the size of one’s head. Not only that, he also consumes it over the world’s most expensive keyboard.

World’s Largest Cheeto and the Optimus Maximus from Gizmodo on Vimeo.

Source: http://i.gizmodo.com/5224528/i-ate-the-worlds-largest-cheeto-while-using-the-worlds-most-expensive-keyboard

This year, I’ve made it a goal to purchase a home by the end of the year. Whether that goal will be satisfied is unknown, but I have been saving lots to reach 20% down by that time.

Abnormal is how my life goes, and my living environment doesn’t seem to be any different. This is going to sound strange, but I live in a hotel room that’s pretty furnished with things like a gas fireplace, a whirlpool tub and a bathroom. I’m here because it’s extremely close to work, and I don’t pay rent. (Why I don’t pay rent is something I’m going to withhold from this article, and is totally irrevelent.)

As great as it sounds, I can’t really do what I’d like to do. At the apartment I used to live in (when work was an hour away), I played with the chemistry set I bought, cooked a bunch, had lots of open space to be creative and be ‘free’, and freely had friends over and had room to hold nice parties.

I really miss all of that. I want to be able to explore the chemistry kit more, without fear of setting off a fire alarm, for example; or, buy this home genetics lab kit that requires a kitchen to use. On most nights, I end up browsing Wikipedia reading about things I don’t understand at my current level of knowledge, but things I look forward to learning in genetics and chemistry. I feel that if I don’t do something with what I do currently know in it, I’m wasting potential and opportunity for experience. There’s lots of things that I have in my head that I want to do, but this isn’t the place for it.

This is my choice to be here though. I think if I was elsewhere, I can’t save as much, or at least, it would take much longer to save to get a home.

I think a lot about people who have the ability to become or do great things, and how they maybe cannot because of their socioeconomic status, or the environment they live in. I’m really glad I have family, both external and internal that care about my well-being and development, and assist in facilitating my growth as much as possible.

But, being where I am right now, is honestly a bit lonely. I’m unsure if the lonely I feel is the lack of contact with friends, or the worry that parents work too hard, or that I feel hindered by the environment I’ve forced myself into.

My mind looks back towards to what I probably felt was one of my most important classes, Creating a Meaningful Life, where I learned that it was okay to not be a genius as long as you’re equally curious, and it was okay to not know where you’ll be ten years ahead of time; that creativity was one of the keys to being happy.

I just need to keep it up, keep studying hard in my chemistry class, keep saving hard from work, and months from now, I’m sure this goal will sprout forth.

I want to be inspired again by someone or something, and have the environment to implement said inspiration.

The reason a one person fight feels hollow…
… isn’t just because it’s one person.
The eyes of the audience hurt. – White Album, Page 10

Aya Hirano – White Album

Lyrics Translation by Eclipse Subs
Though the number of days we miss each other is growing,
The feelings we have for each other are just by our sides.
To say that it’s okay for us to not see each other
It’s a facade, ‘twined with a sigh.

A gift left behind the seasons that have passed.
It must be a puzzle missing an important piece.
Like snow gently piling over a snow-white town,
Let it fill all the emptiness in this album.

I’m about to lose to the loneliness falling on me,
Even as I spend the worry-filled days all alone.
“It’ll be fine,” you say smiling.
As you pat my shoulders and cheer me on.

Even if we are separated, I have your words,
And I can say I am blessed from my heart – it’s so amazing.
The faint snow holds my emotions
And taints the pure white album with its colors.

A gift left behind by the seasons that have passed.
It must be a puzzle missing an important piece.
Like snow gently piling over a snow-white town,
Let it fill all the emptiness in this album.

Bonnie Bassler discovered that bacteria “talk” to each other, using a chemical language that lets them coordinate defense and mount attacks. The find has stunning implications for medicine, industry — and our understanding of ourselves. – TED

Anti-Quoroum Sensing drugs may be the next step in pathological prevention/antibiotics as current antibiotics are now being resisted by bacteria that survive via selection. If one cannot destroy bacteria via antibiotics, what if one can block bacterial communication between its own species and other species of bacteria? Bonnie Bassler explains how this all works in her research, and what these findings mean for our own bodily cells.

And, kind of related/unrelated: Are we as humans, organisms or living ecosystems?

Many different kinds of bacteria live on us. Just like how we live in our own ecosystem as humans, because we provide a means to live for these bacteria, by extension, are we also an ecosystem as well, but for microbiological life?

It was difficult to tell if the lights were completely dimmed out, or if I or the rest of us were forcibly blinded. There were no audible shutters to the bulbs at that moment, but instead, a cacophony of the entire crowd in hysterics over their inability to see. Above the noise, an omnipresent voice filled the auditorium.

“The curtains has now risen. Please listen to my song.”

A melodic voice immediately tempered the mass into silence; I felt soothed, as if I had awoken during an early sunlit morning, next to my lover, amidst the harmony of the birds outside our bedroom window. For minutes, we were completely entranced, our lack of sight completely forgotten. And then, the aria ceased.

“I will now raise the curtains.”

The void suddenly became a lit blur, as if I had risen from first slumber. The stage in front became vivid and recognizable once again, but now occupied by what must be the singer. I gasped along with the audience, finding it difficult to match such a harmonious voice to such a disfigured woman. Her skin was lacking beyond youth; her hair was tangled like yarn hovering above her thick shoulders; and the dress, the kind of crimson that should only be reserved for the best of beauties.

“I’m sorry I took away your sight.”

The entire auditorium became blanketed with silence as she began to walk off the stage, and the curtains began to draw.

A clap echoed in response. Then another, and another, picking up in rhythm and pace. Whistles and cheers exploded throughout, with my own hands in synchrony.

I wished the curtains would never open again.

(Inspired by this video)

I’ve worked with many developers in the past year so far, and to my amazement, none of them have the ability to properly debug an application or a stored procedure. The #1 technique for these devs is to put in a series of messages such as “echo test” or “document.write(test)”, etc, which isn’t completely bad, but it’s at many times, inefficient.

I’ve interviewed people with these lengthy resumes that specialize in many types of languages, but in their actual practice, when I observe their debugging processes, they never use a step debugger.

Whether it be in mySQL, Oracle, PHP, etc, I always end up showing them how to use one. You would not believe their amazement when they see the code run through, line at a time with the variables exposed in the data window ready for examination.

Anyways, if you interview with me, that will be the first question I will ask, “Explain to me the tools and methods you use to debug your applications.”

What I hope to expect:
- The usage of test cases
- Using a step through debugger (breakpoints, trace stack, etc)
- The common method: writing to log files, displaying variables in output

And a complete sidenote:

How can someone with 5 years of Oracle dev experience not know how to work with CLOBs?

In my never ending frustrations with using Oracle (seriously, I loathe Oracle above all else), I could not find an absolute answer on how to stop or kill or delete data pump jobs being executed. I found the answer via Metalink, and I’m going to share it because I feel these answers should be easily accessible. It’s a two step process.

1. Get the list of datapump jobs:

SET lines 200
COL owner_name FORMAT a10;
COL job_name FORMAT a20
COL state FORMAT a11
COL operation LIKE state
COL job_mode LIKE state

-- locate Data Pump jobs:

SELECT owner_name, job_name, operation, job_mode,
state, attached_sessions
FROM dba_datapump_jobs
WHERE job_name NOT LIKE 'BIN$%'
ORDER BY 1,2;

The output might look something like this:

OWNER_NAME JOB_NAME             OPERATION   JOB_MODE    STATE       ATTACHED_SESSIONS
---------- -------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------------
SCHEMA_USER SYS_IMPORT_SCHEMA_01 IMPORT      SCHEMA      EXECUTING                   1

There are two things needed to perform the kill:
1. OWNER_NAME (Which is SCHEMA_USER)
2. JOB_NAME (Which is SYS_IMPORT_SCHEMA_01)

With that information, we can now stop and kill the job:

SET serveroutput on
SET lines 100
DECLARE
   h1 NUMBER;
BEGIN
  -- Format: DBMS_DATAPUMP.ATTACH('[job_name]','[owner_name]');
   h1 := DBMS_DATAPUMP.ATTACH('SYS_IMPORT_SCHEMA_01','SCHEMA_USER');
   DBMS_DATAPUMP.STOP_JOB (h1,1,0);
END;
/

Check that the job has stopped:

SQL> SET lines 200
SQL> COL owner_name FORMAT a10;
SQL> COL job_name FORMAT a20
SQL> COL state FORMAT a11
SQL> COL operation LIKE state
SQL> COL job_mode LIKE state
SQL>
SQL> -- locate Data Pump jobs:
SQL>
SQL> SELECT owner_name, job_name, operation, job_mode,
  2  state, attached_sessions
  3  FROM dba_datapump_jobs
  4  WHERE job_name NOT LIKE 'BIN$%'
  5  ORDER BY 1,2;

no rows selected