Probably won't get this job

So, yeah, I'm been working a job on a temporary basis, with the understanding that I might eventually be taken on as full time...  I wrote about this a few days ago.  Somehow, today, I really felt like I won't get get hired on. Can't say why, just a really bad feeling that I'm not needed.  The group used to have many more people in it then there are now.  The others are on temporary assignment to other divisions, and they are all experts in lots of different stuff.  I'm an expert in nothing.  I pick things up, but no expertise....  Anyway, by April (at some point) they will make their decision, and let me know.

Evolution

Forget, for the moment, the technical issues surrounding the following exercise.  I suppose, it can be run using a shell script, perhaps, but anyway...  Let's run some computational experiments on evolution.  Consider the following.  You wish to write a series of programs that do the following things to test evolutionary processes:

• Load it's own source code into memory.
• Search on the Internet (or through a large database) to find ways to make the program faster.
• Copy the new lines of code into the source code, and write it into a different file.
• Compile the new source code.
• Run the new code.

If the new code doesn't compile, then that "species" dies out.  If it does compile and run, then the new code starts repeating the cycle above again, finding new code to implement into it's source and recompiling it's new children.

Essentially, you will create a series of programs that try to reprogram themselves.  You will, in a way, create a new "ecology" populated by running computer programs.... (you could even go so far as to say that the "programming language" is the haploid part of the the life cycle and the running program is the diploid part)

You can measure how quickly a certain lineage evolves over time, how quickly it can reproduce itself, how complex (over time) the program can become.  And you could even try other variations, by adding limited resources to be shared within a community, or other needs that must be performed prior to reproduction.  

Supposed you introduced sex.  One running program encounters another running program and loads their source code as well as its own.  You could either pick out the best parts of both and load that into the next generation, or (supposedly like modern biology does it) at random, with half from the "mother" and half from the "father".

What about cannibalism?  Can a machine write code that not only makes itself more efficient, but also delete source code from other competing programs?  Initially, I would have said"no", there wouldn't be any evolutionary advantage, but what if there were something outside of the program that might cause it to compete.... an "environment" if you will....  

I'll bet someone has already done this.... I'm too lazy to search for it, though...

New Job

I haven't posted in a long time.  I don't know why, maybe there isn't much to say.  I started a new job this month, which is exciting.  I'm working as a "consultant" but with the hope of becoming a full-time employee at the new company.  The manager says "If you work hard, we could offer you a full-time job."  I'm taking him at his word.

But, to be honest, everyone there seems very friendly, including the manager.  My cubicle overlooks a river, and I'm right underneath the approach/take off pattern for the airport, so there are always interesting things to look at.  And, of course, it's not just me staring out the window, either.  There are interesting projects to work on, and I'm learning new things all the time.  For instance, I took a course in Java 8 years ago and never used it once since.  Now, I am developing Java code, so it's nice to "re"learn new things.  And, the group I'm working in is using Agile software development, so they are training me to us their method, which is nice.  Plus, everyone in the group has a PhD, and in similar fields to what I studied, so that's cool, too.

I do what I'm asked to do, quickly, which I hope is making a good impression.  But, I also sometimes screw around.  I do, sometimes, check out some blogs that I've been following (not much, but a bit) on the work computer online.  There are some sites that are blocked, such as Facebook, but that's ok.  And, I'm not surfing porn or anything.  A lot of the blogs I follow are science-y blogs anyway, so...

One person, the next cubicle over, seems to be streaming videos on his computer.  He's in a different division from me, under the same VP.  I noticed it a few times while I was going to get hot water for tea.  I thought it was funny, but paid no attention to it, except when I get up... He got fired today, for that.  Yeah, that sucks.  I mean, I can understand why since he did seem to be always streaming things.  And you have to work while you're... you know... "working."  But, still.  Did he get a warning?  He was a "temp" like I am, so maybe they just let him go rather then discipline him.  I hope I didn't screw up my chances by surfing too much.  I really like my job....

Fall of the Soviet Union

Soviet-Afghan war, along with the rest of the Soviet Union's defense budget, pretty much destroyed the country.  Gorbachev finally pulled the USSR out of Afghanistan a couple of years before the USSR finally collapsed.  Also, Gorbachev declassified a number of documents which exposed corruption in the government. The hard liners knew that the end was near and tried in a desperate attempt, to overthrow Gorbachev.  People resisted, and the end followed quickly thereafter.

Now, we have been in Afghanistan for quite some time.  The "hard-liners" believe that we are "overspending" (though they won't necessarily say that it is from a hyper-inflated defense budget and two wars that won't end). Many of the Tea Partier's say that we are in sovereign debt beyond any hope of being able to repay.  And now the people are coming out and protesting in something like 80 cities through out the country, saying they've had enough of the way that capitalism is being administered in this country.  Think we're near the end?  How did the normal citizenry feel the day before the USSR collapsed?  Did they feel like their country would last for ever, right up until the day that it wasn't?

I wish I could do that when I am your age

Do you ever realize how "passive aggressive" phrases that end in "... when I'm your age!"  It's like, "what you just did means nothing to me, except that you did it when you're excruciatingly old."  I was watching "Oddities" on the Science Channel, and one of the hosts said something like that when an 80-something contortionist twisted herself into a pretzel.  I couldn't do it in my current age... in fact, I could never do it.

I think I'm going to die

I think I'm going to die.  Everybodys going to die, but I'd like to speed up the process.

My job sucks.  I don't really do anything that is productive.  My boss gives me things to do, then he does does them himself... in order to "double check"... and if my results are different, then I am wrong.  Which makes me feel like a third wheel.

I was thinking of looking for a different job.  I got an interview, actually.  We had a phone interview.  It went well.  Then we had an in-person interview over lunch.  Apparently it went well, so they invited me in for a day-long interview.  I'd be able to visit the labs for the group and discuss what sorts of projects they'd be working on.  Unfortunately, they also asked me to do a short presentation.  I had it figured out, what I would say.  I'd talk about my dissertation in which I simulated a clay using all-atom molecular dynamics.  Then I was thinking about using a similar set of simulations to look at this clay absorbing soil pollutants.  People are always looking at interesting ways to remediate pollution, and this would be one thing that no one as done before... using computer models, anyway.  You can look at changes in pressure or temperature for the clay to be used in a filter, or what not....

Anyway, shortly before the last interview I got really nervous.  What if I screw up?  My ability to communicate has greatly improved, but under stress I get easily confused or have difficulty finding words.  So, I called it off.  I told I got an offer for a different job and thanked them for the opportunity.  I knew I'd feel lousy about it after, and now I do.

I've been sort of self-medicating by taking piracetam.  Europe uses piracetam to treat the patients recovering from stroke.  It's supposed to help with memory, cognition and speech.  In the US, piracetam is not approved by the FDA.  So, I've been taking it myself.  You can buy it online.  They give you a bottle with these 800mg pills.  The typical dose in Europe starts at 4.9g per day broken up into 3 doses spaced 8 hours apart.  I only take 2 pills a day, until recently. I've upped my dosage to 3 pills a day (half of the usual dosage in Europe).  I'm a little bit scared because my doctor put me on a prescription for Plavix and aspirin, which are both blood thinners.  Piracetam is also a blood thinner, so I'm a little bit worried.   Gotta play it smart, but I also need to get back to where I was before.  Build up my self-confidence and improve my cognition..... or I bleed to death.  monitoring effects of stomach bleeding or hemorrhage, and if I bleed into the brain then ... well it was a good run.

I Took a Neuropsychology Test a While Ago

I took a "Neuropsychological" test a couple weeks ago, and just got the results back.... Well, I met with the neuropsychologist who I THOUGHT was going to give me the results. Instead I got this:

Fake doctor (because psychologists aren't real doctors): Well, you're a really smart man, and I'm sure you'll be back to nearly full capacity again. 


 Me: Well, I got a doctorate in a natural science, so the diploma sorta told me that already... 


 FD: Yes. I would say, based on your results you are probably 80-90% of what you used to be. 


 Me: How did you determine that? 


 FD: A number of factors. 


 Me: Such as? 


 FD: Well, there's a lot of technical jargon. I'd hate to bore you. 


 Me: So, I got an IQ result out of this? 


 FD: Yeah, but it's based on a number of factors... 


 Me: Can I see the results? 


 FD (turning to the side and shuffling his notes, never making eye contact): Well, like I say with all my patients [fuck this guy!], everyone as the right to access their medical records, but I would advise against it. Its a report about how bad your brain has been damaged. And there's a lot of technical jargon. Also, I don't write very well..... 


 Me: (I should have said that I had a stroke and am dealing with the brain damage now, so the report is secondary... and who the fuck cares how bad his writing is.. unfortunately, I didn't) OK. What sort of factors did I do poorly on? 


 FD: Well, some of what you messed up on had to do with language, and your language and communication is improving, so you're only going to get better. Your spatial reasoning is well above average.....You're like a marathon runner who has a sprained ankle. 


 Me: Ok.....


 FD: You need to be extra careful now. You need to take good care of your body. 


 Me: Yeah, well I'm doing ok. I get fatigued sometimes, but it's getting better. 


 FD: You shouldn't feel discouraged. Don't get depressed. 


 Me: Hmmm. OK. 


 FD: No, really. Don't get depressed. 


 Me: I won't. 


 FD: You're like the poster boy of stroke recovery. 


 Me: Yeah, everyone wants to be like me. 


 FD: I mean... Not like that... 


 Me: No, not really... Now, I'm depressed. 


 FD: Sorry. 


 Me: Anyway, are we done? I need to go back to work.... 


 FD: Take it easy with work. Don't push yourself to hard. 


 Me: What would happen if I did? Will it damage my brain? 


 FD: No, but if might make you depressed. 


 Me: (This guy is making me depressed). Well, ok. 

So, yeah. I didn't actually get the results from the test. It took me all day to complete the test, and I can't see what the results were. Psychology is a fake science... I'm requesting the results from my hospital's department of records.