The "Fairchild 8", a.k.a. "Fairchildren"

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Watched documentary. NY Times columnist Tom Friedman said in the film that "in Japan in the 1970's, Bob Noyce was [famous] like Brittany Spears. It's too bad that in America, Brittany Spears is Brittany Spears." :-P

Interpersonal dynamics

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I try to be a positive presence in my work environment. I think smiling helps. And posting artworks in my cube. And picking up fallen posters with thumb pins sticking up from the floor.

I also try to send updates to people. Network Protocol 101 (think TCP/IP... note the double-meaning here... I love entendres)... although I've been a little behind in updating my research advisor on my recent happenings. Mostly because I consider them to be the usual stew of big-company acclimatization.

Those Enneagram types... I seem to have a strong element of Types 4, 5, 6, moderate 1, 8, 9, and weak 2, 3, 7. Which is completely expected. I like the descriptions of what's the "best" version (i.e. self-actualization) of each type. And on the other ends of the scale too, guilty as charged.

It's good to have goals, hopes and dreams...

Like being Forever 22.

I wonder if my alum mentor thinks I don't like to admit failures. Although it turns out we failed at the same thing. He's an engineer -> entrepreneur -> venture capitalist. Back in grad school days he was a bona-fide lab rat, and loved it. Though his dad had always told him it's good to be self-sufficient, hence the move to start-ups.

I really want to learn more about start-ups from him... because I will likely do that at some point. It feels awesome to be among a group of kindred spirits united in the same goals (i.e. I knew these people by their screen names before meeting them IRL, ROFL.)

I suppose my high school guidance counselor might be right about me after all. Really few people understood me back in high school...

Sprinklers

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Shortly after sunset, the sprinklers near White Plaza synchronize their parabolic sprays in a misty, mystic dance. Very contemplative. Meditative. Dangerous for bikers with tendency to stare at such.

While I was admiring this choreography, I noted the streams of water running on the pavement. I'll bet if there's a way to not waste water like this, the university would save a good amount of money.

How about sensors that can adjust spray rate according to... say relative humidity?

Cell phone likes to run away from meee [UPDATE]

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I have been debating about getting a phone holder because today was the second time I almost said bye bye to my phone...

First time was in NYC LGA (airport) last year, though I got it back by asking the nearest staff at the spot where I thought lost it. Someone was nice enough...

Second time was today in the company cafeteria. I saw it next to a cash register of one of the cafe staff...

In both cases, it took me somewhere between 30 minutes to an hour before I realized I lost my phone. I was pretty fortunate, though I don't know how much more luck I can still stretch...

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Sooo........ the next day (2010.06.10), I went to the campus bookstore and got a phone holder. It has a Velcro strap that loops around one of my jeans' belt holder straps. Most notably, it seems to be made of grass-green cellulose hemp-type fiber. I'm falling for the whole "eco-friendly" deal, as the hemp one was $10 more than the leather one. Well... I anticipate that I might need to wash this at some point, so...

I also got another pair of earbuds that I'll just keep in my backpack so I can listen to my iPod or when I need audio in a public computer terminal. I hope these are worthy investments.

Awesome retro inkjet printer

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Fzz gave me the link - I was like, this makes a totally awesome 6.115 project.