Archive for April, 2008

first thing in the morning

April 23, 2008

The first thing I found this morning in office : an email

Happy Birthday Scooby,

I know two things about you,

  1. You love pineapple -> obviously since you always eat them from my fruit bowl
  2. Obsessed with Cate Blanchet, and you would watch her in the theatres … perhaps Indiana Jones

I have presents that corresponds to the two things ….so take a look at your drawer

(WARNING! It could be cheesy and if it is please forgive me)

Once again happy birthday!

-Johann

And this!

星期天@图书馆

April 14, 2008

DP二层要装修了, 从四月底到八月底. 真是噩耗.

我对于SUMMER TERM的预期里一直包含着”在DP二层靠窗座位边看书边喝咖啡”这一项. DANA PORTER基本可以算是我在滑铁卢的第一个据点儿, 那时候谁也不认识, 就知道这么一个图书馆, 下课以后也没地方去, 周末也没人跟我玩, 我就天天来泡DP, 对DP二层的靠窗座和台阶上的松鼠产生了很深的阶级感情. 二层还有个卖咖啡和点心的小地方, 1A的时候在课与课之间就拎着书包电脑跑来买一杯咖啡一块CROISSANT, 一个人看书等着上下一节课. DP的巧克力起稣面包特别好吃, 能够满足我在压力下对糖和黄油的全部需求, 而且除了SLC很偶尔会有卖, 其它的地方都没卖的. 加上一杯香草咖啡, 简直就是我在苦闷的SCHOOL TERM的一剂灵丹妙药. 后来跟我们系的人混熟了, 他们都喜欢泡在DC, 因为他们武断的认为”DP是ARTS学生聚集的地方”, 其实他们的嘈杂也的确与DP格格不入. 之后学习就在DC比较多, 因为有问题方便找同学讨论, 而且相对来说离家比较近. DC的确在硬件上较DP更先进, 无线网的信号更强, 电源更多, 但是在DC大多数是痛苦的记忆. DC的人之多, 在高峰时段空气简直令人窒息; 环境之嘈杂, 不戴上耳机简直就无法学习; 在里面基本上都是在赶作业, 赶PROJECT, 考前临时抱佛脚, 所有与之相关的回忆都带着紧张和焦虑. DC是我对学校熟识之后的印象, 而DP则是我对滑铁卢的最初印象, 不管在DC磨过了多少不眠之夜, 初见总是最美, 这也是没办法的事.

最近开始写工作报告, 周末和张破筱+季帕怒这一对邻居泡在DP. 前些天心血来潮玩豆瓣, 把张破筱也给忽悠了进去. 留言板上基本上就我自己, 张筱和老水母在活跃着, 三个金牛座. 说起来也巧, 张破筱和老水母是我认识的两个最不得瑟的女孩, 写东西也不矫情, 特别考虑观众感受, 每次看完她俩写的东西都会特别开心, 然后就会特想批判自己, 觉得自己特得瑟, 特矫情, 特拧巴, 特没事儿找事儿, 特什么都不懂还摆一凹造型儿. 看看人家, 好好说话, 不装大尾巴狼, 多好.
话说那天一醒来发现张破筱给我做了首诗, 我特感动. 诗里这样说到:

蛎蚯,请你醒来
别忘了我们的约定

蛎蚯,请你醒来
虽然外面下着雨

蛎蚯,请你醒来
别错过大好的morning

蛎蚯,请你醒来
别睡到黑暗的evening

蛎蚯,请你醒来
我要写诗送给你

蛎蚯,请你醒来
想要押韵不容易

蛎蚯,请你醒来
我发表了第一篇日记

蛎蚯,请你醒来
你的名字充满生机!

———————

哦, 忘了说了题目叫”蛎蚯, 请你醒来”. 诗读完了, 我也没话说了, 不如让大家读一篇老水母写的上了豆瓣首页的小文章吧(请点击):
正巧那时看上去很美

更新面试LIST

April 14, 2008

新添:
Employer: RIM (CO-OP Internal)
Position: Software Developer for blackberry browser application
Required skills: java mainly
Type: Mainly Behavior with technical chat

今天的面试我几乎没准备. 我觉得面试这个东西, 之前要好好读一读job description, 大概了解一下他们做的是什么, 有可能的话看一看他们的产品(比如这次的BLACKBERRY BROWSER), 然后准备一两个问题, 其它就不要过多准备了, 技术性问题要是不了解, 准备了也没有多少用. 昨天做了下人肉搜索, 调查面试的人, 发现他自己也是个DEVELOPER, 我就连正装都懒得准备了, 世界上大概没几个DEVELOPER知道自己穿的什么, 更别提挑剔别人了. 象征性的套件白衬衫了事, 只是把残留的指甲油擦掉了, 不然也太不尊重人.

面试还算顺利. 面试官是个典型的开发者, 不太善沟通, 显得比我还害羞. 但是因为他也是滑铁卢毕业, 对我这种COOP学生也应该是知根知底, 所以一般的小伎俩也不会起作用, 干脆就坦诚相对算了. 我记得第一次面试前老于教育我说: 你就跟他扯, 扯到天昏地暗, 扯到你姥姥做的菜很好吃, 这个面试就算拿下了. 我发现这是条真理. 既然今天他话不多, 那不如由我来引导, 谈得都是我有准备的话题, 避免谈到我不熟悉的领域, 即使碰到了, 也要用其它话题带过. 最后局面变成我一直在问问题, 然后我们一起讨论各种浏览器的性能, IDE的优劣, 讲了一点微软的坏话, 又回忆起滑铁卢的UNIX LAB, 仿佛同仇敌忾的战友.

然而”扯”这一招, 只在人少的情况下对非HR专业的人管用. 假如对方有两人以上, 包括一个HR SPECIALIST, 还带着几大张表格记录你的表现, 你就别想用”扯”的了, 乖乖的集中精力对付他们的问题吧.

大量的面试经历最大的好处是让人不再害怕面试. 从第一次面试之前睡不着觉, 回答问题时出一脑门子汗, 到这次在面试开始前一分钟还在用BLACKBERRY和同事聊天, 其间不过一年的时间, WATERLOO真是”炼狱”啊.

倘若真得接下这个工作, 下学期会损失至少5个面试, 也是不小的牺牲呢.

附:
过往面试:

1. Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Toronto Pearson International Airport
IT Analyst (Airport System), Missisauga

Type: Technical/ Behavior
Requirement: IIS, HTML, ASP.NET, SQL, Visual Studio.NET

2. Morneau Sobeco
System Developer, Toronto
Type: Technical
Requirement: DATABASE, system integration, communication skills

3.CIBC
java Developer, downtown Toronto
Type: Technical/ Behavior (Both are very long and hard)
Requirement: java, SQL, NT, ASP.NET

4. Innovapost Inc
Application developer, Mississauga
Type: Mainly Behavior
Requirement: Engineering or Technology or similar field of study, problem solving and communication skills, Visual Studio .NET

5. Bloomberg
2008 Financial Software Developer Intern, New York City
Type: Hard Core Technical
Requirement: GPA >75% Unix, C++, Object Oriented Design and development

6. Research In Motion
Engineering support associate, Waterloo
Type: Mainly Behavior
Requirement: ASP.NET, database, communication skills and passion

7. Regional Municipality of Durham
Internet Coordinator, Whitby
Type: Hard Core Behavior with some technical
Requirement: web technology and internet safe

8. Scotiabank
QA Tester, Stratford
Type: Behavior
Requirement: Communication skills, Unit Testing skills, programming expereience

9. MAYA Heat Transfer Technologies Ltd
Software Testing co-op, Montreal
Type: Behavior
Requirement:C, C++, FORTRAN, CAD

10. Canada Site
Web Developer, Ottawa
Type: Hard Core Technical and behavior
Requirement: Web based technology and database

乐观的work term report project schedule

April 14, 2008
为了在工作学期结束后能过几天无忧无虑无脑的日子, 我要从现在开始发奋写工作报告

CASE: work term report for winter work term 2008

Duration: April 7th – April 25th, May 1st – May 4th, approximately 46 hours in total
Component:
1. Letter of submittal
2. Table of contents
3. List of figures
4. List of tables
5. Main Body
5.1 Executive Summary
5.2 Introduction
5.3 Main Sections
5.4 Conclusions
5.5 Recommendations
6. References
7. Acknowledgments
8. Glossary
9. Appendices
Phase I: April 7th – April 11th
- Determine contents in main sections
- Finish introduction
- Finish Executive Summary
Phase II: April 12th – April 13th
- Implement main sections
Phase III: April 14th – April 18th
- Finish implementing main sections
- Finish conclusions
- Finish Recommendations
Phase IV: April 19th – April 20th
- Organize reference page
- Organize glossary
- Organize appendices
- Finish list of figures and list of tables
- Write letter of submittal
Phase V: April 21st – April 25th
- Write table of contents
- Standardize format
- Proof reading
Phase VI: May 1st – May 4th
- Complete work term report
- Print and bind
- Case close
On going work from phase I – Phase III:
- Collect data, source code, figures, tables and references.
…好乐观…