As I previously mentioned, I’m doing some work on RentACoder.com.  I’ve noticed a few trends there though. Unreasonable maximum bids: Emergency!  Expert needed!  Must fix absolutely everything wrong with my system!  $25 maximum bid Unreasonable communication requirements: Bidder must be reachable at all times, 24 hours a day, Antarctica time zone Unreasonable experience requirements: Bidder [...]

As previously mentioned, I’m doing some coding for clients, something I haven’t done in some time.  One of the projects works with the Facebook API.  Specifically, it allows users to set their status through another website. However, hunting through the docs was painful.  The official docs aren’t organized in a logical way (I had to [...]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted.  As previously promised, there is no set schedule. Anyway, I’ve re-found the site Rent a Coder, where programmers (such as myself) can find projects to work on, without dealing with the hassle of advertising, accounting, management, etc.  In other words, for an administration fee (taken from my payment), [...]

The beginning of the fiscal year was also the beginning of a new training year for me.  And year it almost is, as I have now embarked upon my 8 1/2-month long QL5 journeyman course. On the plus side, this means that I have 6 months of (mostly) 8-to-4 days, located here in beautiful Esquimalt.  [...]

As I am a member of the military, PT is a fact of life.  Both personal and organized PT are supposed to happen on a regular basis. This morning, we played water polo.  For my ship's CSE department, water polo has the following rules: In the water is in bounds Out of the water is [...]

I'm giving a couple new workers a tour of the ship today, when the following comes over the PA system:   Hear there, officer of the day speaking. The worker who came aboard with a white hard hat marked "Bob" report to the brow immediately. We thought this was a bit odd, but didn't think [...]

So there I am, warming my seat in the MCR, reading a book (the computers having been taken offline for a server upgrade), when the morning cook comes in. "Hey Lacqui," he says.  "Is there anybody doing hot work1?" I look at him, then at the clock.  "It's 5 in the morning.  Why would anyone [...]

Here I am, yet again, sitting in the MCR, waiting for duty to end. Not sure who I pissed off, but I managed to get two duty watches this week. On the plus side, with my compensatory days off, I’m done for the week now. With my copious spare time (I sit here for six [...]

As a member of the Canadian military, I have been hearing alot about Olympic security.  A task force has been stood up, specifically for Olympic security.  But is this all smoke and mirrors? In response to concerns about high-profile event security, Bruce Schneier, an internationally-recognized security expert, has this to say: This is certainly the [...]

I spent the day today in the damage control school, learning how to use our new breathing apparatus.  As always when I wear an air pack, my shoulders are now killing me. Anyway, I got a bit of writing done during lunch.  495 words (about a page and a half, handwritten), which brings me up [...]