Eric's Weekly Post #1

Message boards : SETI@home Staff Blog : Eric's Weekly Post #1
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

AuthorMessage
Eric Korpela Project Donor
Volunteer moderator
Project administrator
Project developer
Project scientist
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 3 Apr 99
Posts: 1382
Credit: 54,506,847
RAC: 60
United States
Message 508752 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 2:35:13 UTC


My name is Eric and I'm a workaholic.

I'm not complaining and I'm certainly not bragging. I'm not looking for pity. I just want some you to know why I don't answer my email for days on end, or keep up with what's going on in the forums.

It sucks sometimes, but its what I am. I've become what I, as a child, vowed never to become. My father, in other words. I guess it happens to us all.

How do I know I'm a workaholic? I know the warning signs. My vacation pot is full at 384 hours. If I don't use vacation days, I don't earn any more. (But my grants still get charged for them). I would like to use them, but when I dream about vacation, I usually dream about using the time to do the work I don't have time to do when I'm at work (i.e. the parts of work I enjoy).

And my cats don't remember who I am.

I could have picked a better substance to become addicted to. Maybe if I added in amphetamines... Then I'd really get some work done. No? I guess caffeine will have to do.

That's not to say I don't enjoy my job. I do... Some of the time. Not really this week. I spent the entire week pounding the keyboard trying to get a proposal done in hope that I can convince a committee of my peers (read: people who don't want to see me get any money if what I'm doing might compete with their work) that I'm worthy of getting enough money to pay a bit less half my salary for the next three years. It goes with the turf, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

A fortunate part of aging is that you can't put in the hours like you used to. As a grad student I used to sleep at the lab 2 hours a night for weeks on end. Now that would kill me, and if it didn't my wife would.

The unfortunate part of aging is that after a 16 hour work day you can't do much of anything. My desk is so comfortable that I can barely turn my head. Does it look to you like I'm developing a shoulder hump? I think I can sleep face down without my chest touching the mattress.

The proposal is due on tuesday, so there are only 4 more 16 hour work days before I can get back to work.

But I can't. My parents are coming into town on Wednesday night and won't be leaving until Tuesday morning. Looks like I'll get to use 20 hours of that vacation time after all. Unless I count my actual work hours that is. Think there's any chance I won't have put in 40 hours by the time I leave work on Tuesday?

Sorry for the downer. I'll try to be a bit more upbeat next week, after a decent night's sleep.

Well, back to work... It's not quitting time yet.

--
Eric


@SETIEric@qoto.org (Mastodon)

ID: 508752 · Report as offensive
1mp0£173
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 3 Apr 99
Posts: 8423
Credit: 356,897
RAC: 0
United States
Message 508793 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 4:22:24 UTC - in response to Message 508752.  


My name is Eric and I'm a workaholic.

(group responds) Hi Eric....
ID: 508793 · Report as offensive
Profile Dr. C.E.T.I.
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 29 Feb 00
Posts: 16019
Credit: 794,685
RAC: 0
United States
Message 508841 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 6:49:01 UTC


@ Eric - from this Cruncher's Perspective, You're doing a Fine Job

ps - get the rest when you can - Health is a Priority Sir . . .

ID: 508841 · Report as offensive
Wander Saito
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 7 Jul 03
Posts: 555
Credit: 2,136,061
RAC: 0
Brazil
Message 508971 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 17:42:49 UTC

Hi Eric,

As indicated by Ned, certainly there are a lot of us (workaholics) here :)

I just saw a post on the Beta forum noting that there is Astropulse app version in the applications page of that project. I though we still had some way to go testing the Multibeam WUs. Is that what you're working on lately? (or maybe just one of them!)

Regards,
Wander
ID: 508971 · Report as offensive
Profile Es99
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 23 Aug 05
Posts: 10874
Credit: 350,402
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 508979 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 18:00:54 UTC

wow..I was just thinking about how tired I was from work before I read that. I think I need a nap.
Reality Internet Personality
ID: 508979 · Report as offensive
Eric Korpela Project Donor
Volunteer moderator
Project administrator
Project developer
Project scientist
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 3 Apr 99
Posts: 1382
Credit: 54,506,847
RAC: 60
United States
Message 509019 - Posted: 26 Jan 2007, 20:33:59 UTC - in response to Message 508971.  


I just saw a post on the Beta forum noting that there is Astropulse app version in the applications page of that project. I though we still had some way to go testing the Multibeam WUs. Is that what you're working on lately? (or maybe just one of them!)


Josh is mostly doing that. I need to get him to come here, (and on the beta forums) to explain what he's up to.

Eric
@SETIEric@qoto.org (Mastodon)

ID: 509019 · Report as offensive
Profile Geek@Play
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 31 Jul 01
Posts: 2467
Credit: 86,146,931
RAC: 0
United States
Message 510942 - Posted: 30 Jan 2007, 21:42:09 UTC

For Dr. Eric Korpela,

Will the Allen Telescope Array project and Dr. Seth Shostak make our efforts here meaningless in the near future?

Thanks

Boinc....Boinc....Boinc....Boinc....
ID: 510942 · Report as offensive

Message boards : SETI@home Staff Blog : Eric's Weekly Post #1


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.