…when I was talking to the senior developer we just hired on our team and explained that we do ASP.NET/ASP and use SQL Server.
And he replied with
“Uh, just so you know, I don’t know any JavaScript”.
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And then I realized…that not only did this senior developer not know JavaScript but that he didn’t know there was a difference between ASP.NET and JavaScript.
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O_O
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That was a hard day. And the days that following, ever realizing this “senior” developer was not at all qualified.
I’ve been doing a lot of design for my freelance and I realized something: My design sense has gotten considerably better despite the fact that I don’t actively improve it very often.
From worldofwarren.com to warrenshea.com to this freelance project. While I still struggle with different design sense (I’m not that versatile), I’m getting stronger in my conceptual and overall design. And I think that it all comes the fundamental principle that less is more. Subtle is better.
I used to design with lots of heavy drop shadows, bevel and embosses, noticeable outer glows and inner shadows (man, do I love those Blending Options in Photoshop). I still like those things…well, drop shadows and strokes, but I think the key is that I use them subtly now. Between noticeable and barely visible. And I think therein lies the key to my design.
I very much like the stuff I’ve been designing lately, for my freelance job.
Anyways…I’ve spent like, 40 hours on Photoshop in the last 7 days doing design and I’ve really been proud of the work I’ve been doing. Maybe I gave up on a design career too soon….although on the other hand, I do still love development so much more. I can’t wait to start developing the designs I’ve been doing :D Can’t wait!
Alas, I did not with my 32-person Connect 4 Tournament :( 2nd place….boourns.
The 6 games went down like this:
Warren, Ackley, Ackley, Warren, Draw, Ackley
A draw in Connect 4 is somewhat rare, especially if two people are fairly skilled and try to trap each other.
Here is my post-game photo
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^ reminded me of
I have a more pouty face…but I held back a bit since that picture went all over my department :/
Next tournament, I shall not attempt to win…because I had to deal with a lot of unwanted attention….i hate attention focused around me…*cringe* and *sigh*
I’ve never been a fan of source control, checking things in and out, locked files, merging files, etc. I always found it more tedious than beneficial. After all, I make my own backups during project milestones. And I was one of the 5 or so developers that didn’t properly use Source Control at my work when they tried to implement it, and if one person doesn’t use it, the whole thing crashes down. LOL so basically, I ruined it for everyone else /flex. And no, I don’t feel bad, our team still got along great without it.
I know I’m playing devil’s advocate here. I know Source Control is good. There are few drawbacks and using a few seconds here and there can save hours if something goes wrong.
I think it’s basically just that I’m arrogant, so arrogant in fact that I don’t believe I’d ever make such ridiculous mistakes. After all, I’m perfect. Or at least close to it. Or…more accurately I just try to be. But I guess WE ALL make mistakes…..and when those mistakes happen (as they have in the past), I won’t be ready cuz I’m too arrogant to have used Source Control. Sorry, that was some kind of cyclical argument. Basically, I admit I’m flawed and my arrogance is one of my downfalls.
I was in a meeting last Friday and wrote down “Source Control” and “Arrogance” (beside my doodle of Cyclops from the X-Men) I guess as something to blog about. So here it is. :/
What have I done? I wish I could run.
Away from this ship going under
Just trying to help, hurt everyone else
Now I feel the weight of the world is
On my shoulders
What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
‘Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just want to fix it somehow
But how many times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take for me?
To get it right
To get it ri-igh-ight
Can I start again with my faith shaken?
‘Cause I can’t go back and undo this
I just have to stay and face my mistakes
But if I get stronger and wiser
I’ll get through this
What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
‘Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just wanna fix it somehow
But how many times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take for me?
To get it right
So I throw up my fist
Throw a punch in the air
And accept the truth, that sometimes life isn’t fair
Yeah, I’ll send down a wish
Yeah, I’ll send up a prayer
And finally, someone will see
How much I care
What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
Cos’ my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just wanna fix it somehow
But how many times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take?
To get it right
To get it ri-igh-ight.
I’ve been listening to this song lately…it’s a…sad song I guess. When I rewatched Glee, listening to this song was really emotional.
“What can you do when your good isn’t good enough? When all that you touch tumbles down?”
These lyrics starting to pop into my head whenever I see someone failing at something.
I’m looking at my peers.
One of them put 100% into a relationship and it still failed.
One of them tries to work really hard but still struggles at their job.
One of them tries to work really hard but doesn’t get recognized for their work.
I’m just listening to this song as those lyrics (the entire song almost) apply themselves everywhere.
When I listen to this song, I think: desperation
Trying impossibly to do, to get or fix something. But maybe you can’t. Not this time.
I’ve dealt with my own share of personal desperate failures in the last few years. Times where I feel desperation…because what I’m doing just isn’t good enough to get what I want or fix situations.
It’s a horrible feeling to have…this desperation. And when I look around me at those who have had or have this feeling, I wonder:
How could they not see it coming?
How could they not prepare for it?
But…I’m guilty of the exact same thing. Sometimes…these situations just happen.
I’ve been thinking hard about myself and that I always need to be prepared.
Prepared to lose things. My girlfriend. My job. My possessions. My family.
Ugh. Even writing that is almost like…admitting that I can lose something. I mean, on one hand I want to be prepared for failure. But on another hand, I should strive for success and failure should never even be an option. I shouldn’t even consider preparing because I *know* I’m not going to fail. But that’s not it…it’s that as much as I try not to fail, sometimes it just happens. That’s the point I guess.
(Knowing you’ll never fail is a confidence and arrogance in yourself that defies logic. A younger me was very guilty of that. Even now, I’m somewhat guilty of it…but I’m more vulnerable now than when I was younger. I have much more to lose.)
So I need to always be on my toes. And make sure I never fall into a situation where this desperation applies to me.
If I lose my job: what do I do? I need to constantly keep my skills up so that I can get another job ASAP. I can’t ever fall behind so much that I don’t have the skill to do something.
If I lose my possessions: what do I do? I need to remember that money and material things aren’t what make my life. And that my family is there to support me.
If I lose my girlfriend: what do I do? I die a horrible death alone. I think this is the one I’m probably least prepared for…
Anyways, this song and the lyrics have been floating around my head lately…seemingly popping up everywhere and applying to everything. I just wanted to…remind everyone that sometimes you fail, despite your best efforts. And that everyone needs to not only be prepared for it, but to accept this reality and be prepared to move past it. To accept that sometimes you fail. To accept that you have to try again.
