Today was my first day of work as a noob Web Developer for Motorola.  I’m still trying to understand the ideas and structures at this point, however from what I have learned from today’s training orientation, I am servicing small businesses whose sites are being hosted by AT&T (yes, the phone/cellphone/net service company).  The small businesses are from all around the country as far as I know of and all the tools that I need to create these sites are already readily provided for me, so I don’t have to spend the entire day searching around the net for images and other things.  Most of the stuff discussed regarding the quality of the sites are standard and direct to the point.  As a long-time web designing person, many of the ones discussed I’ve already learned on my own years ago.

I really love the location.  Though we may only have a 30-minute lunch, everything that we need is basically next door from the building.  We get Peet’s Coffee & Tea (perfect alternative to Starbucks), Borders Bookstore, and the ever-famous Emery Bay Public Market food court area.  My transportation of choice is good ol’ BART and a free shuttle ride via Emery-Go-Round.  Pixar Studios isn’t that much far away from my workplace either.  Man, Emeryville rules. o.o;

Today was just orientation and it was straightforward and it ended early, which is why I was able to get home early.  Tomorrow would be a whole day as training to use the actual propriety software to create these sites, so I’ll be home at the standard hours of a regular 8-hour work day.  We get two 15-minute breaks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and one 30-minute lunch period.  Since everything is conveniently located next door to the offices, I have no problem eating and enjoying lunch for 30 minutes.  The lunch period of my first job was also 30 minutes even if we had an option to take an hour lunch.  My only excuse as to why I was only taking a 30 minute lunch so I can go home early.

I think I’m really going to love working at Motorola.  This company doesn’t just do cellphones (cellphones are just one of their products), but they do a lot of networking services for business (big and small) as well.  I’m part of the MDG unit (Multimedia Design Group), so I’m guessing we will be doing customer (small businesses) service by creating and putting up a website for their business.  And not just web designing, but everything through a special software.  The people there are really nice and they seem so relaxed and they seem to enjoy what they’re doing there.  I do hope I get to enjoy my upcoming tasks as well.

That’s the brief summary of my first day on the job (sort of).  I felt comfortable while we were going through the introduction orientation bit.  Everything was just straightforward and readily available.  I feel really good right now.

So I did my homework and faxed all the necessary documents that I needed to read and sign to the temp agency (they sent me the documents via email).  Afterwards I went to an occupational testing center where there are medical people taking a sample of yourself to test for any drugs.  I’m not going to tell you what kind of sample that they require because they won’t poke you with needles to draw blood.  It’s something else that you have to do yourself and if you’re really “irky” at the smallest of things, you don’t want to know what they’re requiring from you.  Lately nowadays companies hiring are really going through all these drug testing.  When I had my first job I wasn’t required to have a drug test.  Now with Fireside and this job that I’m going to start, companies are really scrutinizing on drug testing.  Had there been more drug addicts getting hired in the past without getting tested or what…?

Tomorrow I may probably have to go to the store to buy train tickets.  As mentioned before I’m not going to commute on my own to Emeryville.  I’ve commuted to work (previous job) for over a year now and let me tell you that it’s a real headache.  Especially when you are just tired and weary from work you don’t want to doze off while you’re driving.  Not only that it’s a “no no”, but it’s for the good of yourself and for the other drivers around you too. Not this time— the train and the free shuttle bus are my best friends.  Why?  Since it’s a long commute, I get a chance to take a nap from early morning and going home (especially going home).  If I’m not sleepy I can just read my book peacefully with headphones on my ears, playing to the coolest music around. ^_^

I remember how I used to take the train on my first full-time job.  It was located in San Francisco, and because parking is not cheap over there the train was the only way to go.  Luckily my workplace then was only a two-block walk from the train station, so it’s all good.  It was really relaxing.  I really enjoyed myself then.

Okay.  No more babbling.  Other than that there’s nothing much interesting to write about for today.  I could write about what I had for lunch earlier today but… no one really cares what I have for lunch anyway. ^^

You are now looking at a brand-new Web Developer I for a company I never really thought or dreamt of working for— Motorola.  You know, the peeps who made the RAZR cellphones, all types of cellphones, and the HELLO MOTO! logo/slogan.  I start my first day two weeks from today.  I’m glad that I wouldn’t suffer and cry anymore for being unemployed.  On the other hand, I’m glad my unemployment period only lasted over a month.

The thing is, this is actually a contract job, meaning I don’t get benefits and the pay isn’t really that much, and since I’m directly an employee of a temp agency that I registered for I’m not exactly a direct employee of Motorola.  In fact, the duration period is three months to a year and I really do a good job with what I do then I have a chance to become a permanent employee of Motorola.

No, this does not mean I will be getting any free RAZR phones and all that.  I had one before but it died really early on me.  I’m still loyal to my cheap (but seriously works well!) LG TRAX phone.  I also like the atmosphere that Motorola has… it’s so cozy and the people seem so down to earth… and did I see everyone wearing jeans and sneakers?  Hmm… well I better stick to business casual as I’m unfamiliar what the real dress code is.

And that’s about it.  To be honest I haven’t received any payment for my UI (unemployment insurance) but on the other hand, thanks to this glorious day, I wouldn’t need it anymore.

Heading to bed.  Goodnight to you all.

Summer is almost here, but if you’re living in the Bay Area, it’s been up and down between Spring and Summer.  Lots of things are happening in May and I do hope that May is the month where something really good truly happens to me.  I admit, first few weeks of being unemployed and staying home was a total vacation.  Lately it’s becoming really boring.  But I have been doing my employment-related homework and doing some freelance work on the side for a family friend’s business firm.

But, besides praying and hoping that I can finally get a job (a REALLY good one that’s challenging, rewarding, and pays more than my previous job with good benefits), I’m anticipating the following things to happen in May…

• May 5th - Cinco de Mayo.  Mexican food for dinner! ^_^
• Some weekend in May - Northern California Asian-American Festival.  More volunteer work.
• May 17th - Middle sister’s birthday.  Party…?
• May 20-ish - East Coast/Jersey Folks officially become SF Bay Area folks. ^^;
• Sometime in May - hire me… someone hire me…

Very short (and relatively boring) entry as always.  I could write a lot more interesting stuff but it’s late and my brain is currently fried right now.  Maybe tomorrow or something… ^^;

I am not a huge biology buff (although I actually wanted to be a biologist when I was in high school at one point), but I really have to write something about this.

A friend of mine shared this particular site of an ongoing scientific research and experiment regarding proteins called the Folding@Home project.  This particular project was started by a group of biology scientists and biotechnicians who discovered that scientists are able to analyze protein folding processes through endless processing of a computer (with the help of a specifically written software designed to calculate analysis of the protein foldings).  But because of the protein sequence’s complexity the experiment needed a lot more power from a major “super computer” in order for them to continue their protein folding research.

The goal of this experiment is once these scientists at the private university across the bridge from where I live are able to understand and figure out how or why these proteins fold that they would be able to determine a cure or a possible natural process that can fight today’s deadliest diseases from many types of cancers to Altzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.  The only problem is that because there’s millions and millions of these folding steps that it’s really impossible for scientists to get caught up with them and even the most powerful super computer that they could ever use is not even enough to power up their analysis.

The only solution that the scientists have come up with was to have the entire world support their protein folding research, which means, even the biggest idiot in the world would be able to help them succeed their research.  The only thing that an average joe would require is a good, stable PC (Mac, laptop, whatever) or even a PS3 console (yup— PS3 as in PlayStation 3— that thing where you play video games with).  Second thing that an average joe would require along with a PC or a PS3 is internet connection.  You go to the Folding@Home website and download the software that the scientists are using for their calculations.  You install that software in to your PC or PS3 and run it.  One final thing that you need to do though is to not turn off your system.  What the software does is that it will generate power and energy from your system and channel it through the Stanford super computer and the software will display proteins folding right in your screen as a screensaver.  In other words, while your computer or your PS3 is doing all that scientific calculation work on the scientist’s side, the software is also helping your system conserve energy all at the same time, so it shouldn’t worry you too much on wasting energy and such.

Being that Stanford U. is located right smack in the middle of Silicon Valley, they have sponsorship support and advantage.  Major Silicon Valley buffs such as Google, Apple (yeah, the iPod/iPhone/MacBook Air people), Intel, and (no surprise) Sony, have been donating and providing discounts on their computer systems to support the scientists’ super computer.  They also earn their funding from major scientific organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, so that should be an indication that this project is straight-out legit.  The folks behind this project have also won several science awards and also posted papers and analysis reports on what they have found and discovered as proof that this project is a success.

Now, as the common people who are slowly becoming tech-savvy, here’s our chance to actually make a difference in our community.  Help the Stanford scientists with their ongoing research by downloading their “screensaver” software and install it in your PC (or PS3) and simply not turn off your computer.  If you think about it, an entire world can be its own super computer, overpowering the current super computer that they use.  Be a part of that global super computer and show the world that you do care about the world’s population by finding a cure for non-curable diseases of today.

You don’t need to sign up for anything in their site.  All you have to do is just download the software and on you go.