P.A!
My shout turns heads. Even in the Golds Gym parking lot where, by virtue of being a part of the gym, people seem required to act cool and aloof. I'm just stoked to see my friend and get a workout in.
We hit the freeweight section and I'm chatty Kathy. The fake tanned fitness contestant is looking at me sideways, probably wondering how this unshaven neanderthal who she has only managed to elicit gurnts or single syllable greetings from for the past 2 years is suddenly speaking in complete sentences. Multiple sentences. About heavy stuff like infinite loops, women, fights, & movies. And who is this poor man's Billy Baldwin responsible for this transformation?
Paul, mutherfukin' Arrington that's who! He wanted to get his legs in shape for ski season so we're meeting at Gold's twice a week. The other 3 days I'm doing Yoga.
So yeah, ArdAtak's back.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Boxes Inside Boxes
I recently had to write a piece of software that calculated the most efficient way to pack boxes (products) inside bigger boxes (boxes). It seems simple enough but as we zoomed in on the scope I realized that much of the spacial engineering that we, as humans, do so effortlessly is very difficult to program into a computer.
I remember how much pride my dad used to take in packing the trunk just right on those family vacations. Which suitcase goes in first? Do you lay it flat or stand it on it's side? Is it better to stack these 2 on top of each other or side by side? What about those skis that had to go in at an angle? What about that bit of left over space on the left that I can't fit anything into? Now imagine you have dozens of parts and dozens of boxes to choose from and you have to figure out how to pack those parts into into the least number of boxes and do it most efficiently by using the smallest boxes possible. Now write a software that does it. Yeah ... not so easy.
This was further evidenced by the fact that when we decided to just buy an off-the-shelf software for the project, we still couldn't find a practical solution. One guy on my team said if I manage to pull this off we can all go into a new line of business.
I built the back end data structure that stored all the product info (Length, Width, Height, Weight, etc.) and also the available boxes (Length, Width, Height, Weight Capacity, etc.). Next, I built a test harness where you could quickly add a bunch of parts to your cart and hit a button to run the Boxing process. It was my first 100% object oriented app. I've been demo'ing the harness for managment, IT, and warehouse peeps around here and everyone loves it.
One warehouse guy came up and gave me a fist bump after the demo. I guess that's why I do what I do. Once every few years you build something that matters to someone. You get to see them smile and you get some appreciation.
I remember how much pride my dad used to take in packing the trunk just right on those family vacations. Which suitcase goes in first? Do you lay it flat or stand it on it's side? Is it better to stack these 2 on top of each other or side by side? What about those skis that had to go in at an angle? What about that bit of left over space on the left that I can't fit anything into? Now imagine you have dozens of parts and dozens of boxes to choose from and you have to figure out how to pack those parts into into the least number of boxes and do it most efficiently by using the smallest boxes possible. Now write a software that does it. Yeah ... not so easy.
This was further evidenced by the fact that when we decided to just buy an off-the-shelf software for the project, we still couldn't find a practical solution. One guy on my team said if I manage to pull this off we can all go into a new line of business.
I built the back end data structure that stored all the product info (Length, Width, Height, Weight, etc.) and also the available boxes (Length, Width, Height, Weight Capacity, etc.). Next, I built a test harness where you could quickly add a bunch of parts to your cart and hit a button to run the Boxing process. It was my first 100% object oriented app. I've been demo'ing the harness for managment, IT, and warehouse peeps around here and everyone loves it.
One warehouse guy came up and gave me a fist bump after the demo. I guess that's why I do what I do. Once every few years you build something that matters to someone. You get to see them smile and you get some appreciation.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
... more dreams ...
Our 2 bedroom rental has over 30 people in it.
I only know the 4 I came with.
So it all came to a head.
I called him out and he snapped back.
Admit it Ardi ... you're just as shitty as I am when it comes to letting them go.
I wither.
I never let her go. I'm just not as clingy as you.
I only know the 4 I came with.
So it all came to a head.
I called him out and he snapped back.
Admit it Ardi ... you're just as shitty as I am when it comes to letting them go.
I wither.
I never let her go. I'm just not as clingy as you.
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