jackson heavy industries, ltd.
This is long overdue -- I have about 5 different written entries i need to post, even though they're all quite stale. (deja vu)
Here's a quick update, though:
My 3-month temporary term at Gridpoint expired, and they decided to hire me full time. I have a new Official Title, which is "Algorithm Researcher & Developer," or something like that. It's pretty sweet. I do a fair amount of interesting math, and am teaching myself a fair amount more. I don't program all day. I get to talk to people. And the work i do is going to have an effect on the company and thus the world in some pretty cool ways. It is definitely a much better decision than the previous options.
With the new job comes health insurance again (hooray!) and with insurance, a motorcycle. A sweet little Ninja 250. I took it to the shop yesterday for the first time on the highways -- a terrifying but beautiful ride out of washington at sunset, on rt-50 -- which was kind of a trial by fire. I had an escort behind me, so it was moderately improved. Today, however, i picked it up from the shop and drove it back, sadly again at rush hour but a reverse commute, without the friendly tailing car, and it was still grippingly real but not as fear-tinged.
It's a beautiful bike and a wonderful bit of engineering. I intend to paint it white, for visibility, and get rid of the ridiculous "ninja" decals.
Oddly enough, my intention of riding it is mostly for the too-long-for-a-bicycle, so probably-on-the-highway driving. Highways are actually safer for cyclists because there aren't any cars who will turn out in front of you, which is public enemy #1.
Actually, i also really look forward to taking it apart and putting it back together. Or at least doing most of my own wrenching. I've already printed out the service manual and have been staring starry-eyed at the beautiful diagrams.
my other (and primary) ride is this beauty, which is exactly what you get when you type "beater" into craigslist's bicycle classifieds...
oh yeah, 'free spirit' -- she was a bit of a wreck :) Beautiful derailleurs & drive, though, just needed needs a bit lot of TLC. She's pictured *after* being mostly apart & put back together.
blah blah climbing, crossfit, cooking, etc. I'll get to it.
Here's a quick update, though:
My 3-month temporary term at Gridpoint expired, and they decided to hire me full time. I have a new Official Title, which is "Algorithm Researcher & Developer," or something like that. It's pretty sweet. I do a fair amount of interesting math, and am teaching myself a fair amount more. I don't program all day. I get to talk to people. And the work i do is going to have an effect on the company and thus the world in some pretty cool ways. It is definitely a much better decision than the previous options.
With the new job comes health insurance again (hooray!) and with insurance, a motorcycle. A sweet little Ninja 250. I took it to the shop yesterday for the first time on the highways -- a terrifying but beautiful ride out of washington at sunset, on rt-50 -- which was kind of a trial by fire. I had an escort behind me, so it was moderately improved. Today, however, i picked it up from the shop and drove it back, sadly again at rush hour but a reverse commute, without the friendly tailing car, and it was still grippingly real but not as fear-tinged.
It's a beautiful bike and a wonderful bit of engineering. I intend to paint it white, for visibility, and get rid of the ridiculous "ninja" decals.
Oddly enough, my intention of riding it is mostly for the too-long-for-a-bicycle, so probably-on-the-highway driving. Highways are actually safer for cyclists because there aren't any cars who will turn out in front of you, which is public enemy #1.
Actually, i also really look forward to taking it apart and putting it back together. Or at least doing most of my own wrenching. I've already printed out the service manual and have been staring starry-eyed at the beautiful diagrams.
my other (and primary) ride is this beauty, which is exactly what you get when you type "beater" into craigslist's bicycle classifieds...
oh yeah, 'free spirit' -- she was a bit of a wreck :) Beautiful derailleurs & drive, though, just needed needs a bit lot of TLC. She's pictured *after* being mostly apart & put back together.
blah blah climbing, crossfit, cooking, etc. I'll get to it.