Month: October 2014

About a year ago I purchased a cloud-enabled security camera. These cameras connect to the Internet directly, without needing a computer at all. This particular model also integrated with a smartphone app, so you can view the camera with your phone, theoretically anywhere you have access to the Internet. I purchased the camera for an additional layer of security. I was especially interested in the motion detection feature. I was under the impression the app would put a notification on my phone if the camera detected motion. During the camera setup, I configured it to upload a burst of images to my FTP server if it detected motion.

I placed the camera in my living room, facing my kitchen and the entry way. After setting it all up and turning on motion detection, I went to work. I came home and I thought that me opening the door would have triggered the motion detection. My phone, however, didn’t send me any notifications and I certainly had access to the Internet. The app worked though as a viewer because I could see a live stream from work. I didn’t really tinker with the motion detection much more and I just assumed that feature was broken.

Fast-forward to today. Having lots of time on my hands, I decided to revisit the motion detection feature in an attempt to see what was wrong. Just for fun, I connected to my FTP server and looked in the directory where any images would have been uploaded. To my surprise, there were over 60 thousand images in that directory. The motion detection feature was working actually working and it had been sending anywhere between three to five images anytime I crossed in front of the camera for a period of about a year. The only thing that was indeed broken was the notification feature. I never knew the camera was detecting motion and sending all these images to my server.

As I looked at the directory, it dawned on me how much the camera captured over the course of the year. The majority of the images were just me doing normal stuff, walking to my sofa, watching TV or a movie, or cooking food in the kitchen. Then I realized there was no doubt the camera captured some images of me naked. The reason for this is that I often put my freshly done laundry on my sofa because I’m too lazy to sort it and put it away immediately. So, I frequently come out of the shower into the living room naked, to pick up a fresh pair of underwear. I don’t know how many of those 60k images are of naked me, looking for my ginch but I knew there were in that directory.

I was so shocked at how much space these files were taking up that I immediately went ahead and started deleting the whole directory. In hindsight, it would have been interesting to see what those 60k images captured (other than naked me). My FTP program took over two hours to delete those files, which is crazy. I turned off the motion detection feature for now since I’m home all the time.

It’s amusing to think my security camera was documenting a whole year of my life in the living room and kitchen.

For many, many years now, I’ve followed a post-shower ritual that involved applying baby powder to my body after drying off with a towel. The baby powder would be applied to both my armpits, my butt crack, and a light dusting to my berries. I started doing this because I liked the fresh feeling of the baby powder on the clean skin. It also smelled great and would continue to smell great throughout the day. The powder also absorbed moisture on my skin, perhaps not as good as antiperspirant but it certainly helped in the warmer months.

As great as those things are, there was one very visible drawback. My bathroom would get covered in a white coating of residual baby powder right in the area in front of my bathtub where I applied it. The bathroom tile is where it would accumulate the most. Since I’m a lazy fat ass, I don’t clean my bathroom floors everyday so the accumulation would get fairly thick. When it actually does come time to clean the tile, it’s almost like shoveling a light dusting of snow or cocaine. It makes cleaning my bathroom that much more difficult.

In light of this, I’ve decided to conduct an experiment. I’m going to attempt to not apply baby powder to my body for the next several weeks. The goal is observe how much less messy the bathroom gets and to see if I can adjust to not having the powder on me post-shower. Tonight was shower one of the experiment. I made sure I dried myself off really well as I knew there would not be the powder to absorb any extra moisture that might be on my body. It felt sorta ok putting on my clothes back on after the shower. I am definitely going to continue the experiment for the next several weeks. Stay tuned for an update as the experiment progresses.

I woke up this morning after 11am and proceeded to peruse the Internet on my tablet while still in bed. At times I would put my tablet down and close my eyes, then begin Interneting after an unknown amount of time. I figured I should probably get up when the clock rolled over to 1pm. Once up, I answered a few e-mails and then checked on my EI application. I had submitted all my documents and now it’s up to the federal government to process my claim and make a decision. If my previous experiences with the Harper regime hold true, my application will be stuck in limbo and no one will tell me so.

It was at this point I got a bit lazy. I had planned on going out and getting a few household items but the Internet took over again. It wasn’t until 4pm that I dragged my butt outside to the store. I returned with my supplies and a slice of pizza which served as lunch. At 6pm, I decided to start the massive cleaning operation for my apartment. It was perhaps a few hours later than I had anticipated the start but at least it was happening. My bathroom is where I began the cleanse. After everything was sparkling clean in there I took a little break for dinner. I was tempted to end the cleaning for the evening but I trudged on. I took out the garbage and some recyclables and then started to clean my living room. I got halfway through that before deciding to call it a night.

Tomorrow I will undoubtedly get up after 12pm but when I do, the plan is tackle the rest of the living room and start cleaning the kitchen and my bedroom. Realistically, because I’m lazy, vacuuming and the Swiffering of all floors will happen on Thursday. Which means everything will be clean by Friday!

It’s almost 2:30am as I write this and normally I’d be in bed right now, trying to get some sleep before the start of the new work week. Of course, all of you know that I currently don’t have a job right now. Tomorrow is the official start of my latest stint with not being employed.

I’m looking forward to getting as much sleep as I want every day, so I anticipate getting up around noon tomorrow. I don’t have any concrete plans for my first day of freedom. I might have to send a few e-mails and make a few calls but I have nothing else pressing on the agenda. I could order a new power supply for my new computer setup. I also could do some research into local plumbing companies since I need to fix my garbage disposal that’s been broken since early summer. I easily could just play video games all day but I feel like I should be more productive on my first day.

What I really should probably do tomorrow is clean my apartment thoroughly. It hasn’t been properly cleaned since late August. I could probably spend the whole day cleaning as there is that much to do. I will most likely break up that task into two or three days. I’d consider it a huge win if I had a sparkling clean apartment by the end of the week.

It’s the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend which means this weekend is a long one. Since everyone has Monday off, it doesn’t seem like I’m no longer employed. I’m staying up late on Sunday night but then again, so is everyone else. I’m sure when everyone is prepping to go back to work on Monday night, that’s when it’ll seem like I’m an unemployed bum.

Unlike my previous stints with unemployment, I applied for EI benefits right away. In fact, I put in my application on Friday, while I was technically still employed. I’m not desperate for money, it’s just that I’ve learned there’s no real reason to wait to apply. The only consequence of waiting is that you delay getting your money.

The one slightly awkward order of business for this week is to explain to my parents that I’m not currently working anymore. When I took the contract job in March, I didn’t tell them I quit a full-time job for a contract one. Perhaps it would have been better to do it back then as I wouldn’t have to do it now. Oh well. My Mom is currently in Calgary visiting relatives and she gets back this week. I think I’ll wait until next weekend to tell both my parents at the same time.

I made it to the end of my contract job. As many of you know, three years ago I took a six month contract job at UFG, which wound up being barely two and a half months after I got laid off. This time around there were no game cancellations and no layoffs.

This was a tough and grueling project to be on but I’m still very thankful I had a chance to work on it. Beyond the seven months of employment and the ability to pay my bills, it was my chance to get out of a very bad situation at my last place of employment. The new job was just down the street from the old one. It was so easy to transition to my new role. I also got to work with some great people on a small team of about ten people. The last seven months would have been way more difficult if I had to work with people I didn’t enjoy hanging out with but there were some really cool cats on my team. Some of these people I’ll continue to hang out with after tomorrow.

I’m so looking forward to chilling out for the next little while.

At the end of the work day, I had my exit interview with HR. It was pretty standard stuff as far as exit interviews go. I also started to throw stuff out and see what I had to bring home with me. In my previous post, I mentioned how I was going to bring home my massage cushion. I decided to loan it to one of my co-workers. He’s had a much more stressful time on the project than I have. He’s sat in my chair and tried the massager a few times and he’s always said how good it felt. I think he needs it more than I do now. I’ll grab it from him once the project is done for reals.

The reality of my contract coming to an end is hitting home. I have my exit interview today with HR. I also realized I need to start bringing home my stuff with me. I think I’ll take back my chair massager with me today. I didn’t throw the box away when it was delivered, so it’ll be convenient to use that to carry home.

The interesting thing is my collection of condiment packages. I have a large collection on my desk of various ketchups, salsa, soy sauce, honey, and hot sauce just to name a few. People have asked me if I’ll be taking that home. I don’t think so for a few reasons. First, I don’t want to make my home any more messy than it already is. Second, I want my co-workers to use the condiment collection after I leave. If there’s a plain french fry asking for ketchup, my collection will help. If there’s a piece of sushi needing some soy, the collection will be the answer.

Only a few more days left!

Today marks the release of Edge of Tomorrow on home video. The movie starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in my opinion was easily one of the best movies of the summer. I would say it was either this film or Days of Future Past that holds the #1 spot for me. Edge of Tomorrow was well-written, featured strong performances by Cruise and Blunt, and just was downright entertaining. It was one of those rare action movies that made you think but not too much.

People have said this movie had a disappointing box-office performance, especially in light of how good the movie was. It “only” made $100 million in North America which I guess is disappointing for a supposed blockbuster. I think it’s an absolute shame that more people haven’t seen this movie. Some attribute this to the loss of star power of Tom Cruise. Once an almost sure-thing at the box office, in recent years, his personal life and association with Scientology has tarnished his image. It’s clear that some people have stayed away from his movies just because of him. I personally don’t share any of his religious views but that didn’t stop me from enjoying his movie.

If you missed Edge of Tomorrow when it was in the theaters, I encourage you to catch it now that it’s on additional formats. Rent it, buy it, stream it, or download it (through whatever means you like), I believe you’ll find a thoroughly entertaining movie.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the last week of my contract at United Front Games. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented people since March. Their ability to make me enjoy the work day has easily been the best part of my time at UFG.

I’m looking forward to some time off!