Scot and Miles, Kauai 2013
Center for Investigative Reporting
A year and a half ago, I left the Berkeley J-School to experience life in a high-energy web development shop with central campus. I learned a ton in that short time – the Agile process, Angular.js, building sites as Single Page Applications, strict separation between back-end and front-end systems, rigorous code review processes, and much more. And I had the opportunity to work with a crew of Java, Ruby, and Javascript rock stars, from whom I’ve learned so much.
Since my career to date had been as a web tech generalist (i.e. one person wearing all the hats), I found the experience incredibly illuminating. And yet… the project and I had some “creative differences” which ultimately resulted in me leaving the department at the end of May.
I’ve spent the past month working on personal and freelance projects, studying, and job hunting. I longed to work with journalists again, and really missed working with Django, which still feels like the most natural and effective way to build highly customized data-driven web sites I’ve ever encountered. At the same time, I wanted to make sure that my work had some kind of higher purpose – I wanted to be part of something with social and political impact.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find anything on campus that really fit my requirements, and finally made the tough decision to start looking off-campus.
Today, I’m thrilled to say that I believe I’ve found the perfect fit, as a full-time Django developer at the Center for Investigative Reporting in Berkeley.
At The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), we believe journalism that moves citizens to action is an essential pillar of democracy. Since 1977, CIR has relentlessly pursued and revealed injustices that otherwise would remain hidden from the public eye. Today, we’re upholding this legacy and looking forward, working at the forefront of journalistic innovation to produce important stories that make a difference and engage you, our audience, across the aisle, coast to coast and worldwide.
CIR recently merged with the Bay Citizen and California Watch, two excellent journalism organizations that have had myriad overlapping projects with the J-School over the years. In fact, walking around the CIR offices today, I’m meeting former J-School students and instructors I haven’t seen in years – kind of a homecoming!
I’ll be enthusiastically starting work in mid-July. Yes, it’s tough to say goodbye to the University, but it really is an ideal evolutionary step for me right now.
Onward!
Ziso gods
Very interesting conversation with my 10-yr-old son tonight about karma, gods, and belief systems. He was describing an aspect of his imaginary world Ziso, which he’s been constructing in his head (and in a wiki) for the past five years.
Me: What kind of economy do they have in Ziso?
He: None. But if you do good deeds, Zisocoins just appear in your backpack the next day.
Me: Who puts them there?
He: One of the Ziso gods.
Me: Tell me more about religion in Ziso.
He: There is no religion in Ziso.
Me: But you said there were gods!
He: Yeah, but you don’t need religion to have gods. In Ziso everyone knows they exist. The gods are real facts, so there’s no need for belief. And since there’s no need for belief, there’s no need for religion.
Happy
Wonderful, wonderful movie. What is happiness? What makes us happy? Probably not what you think. Spoiler: Your predisposition to happiness is:
- 50% Genetic
- 40% Being social, being kind, exercise, and slowing the hell down
- 10% Achieving success / accumulating money / status / fame
So many great stories in this, don’t even know where to begin. Couldn’t help thinking about the stranger on the frisbee golf course today who took us under his wing, gave us expensive discs to keep, tips and pointers. He wanted us to be happy. And in doing that, he made himself happy.
Super-duper recommended.
Jim Hacker Describes the Day He Almost Died
My absolutely amazing father Jim Hacker describes the day he almost died in the wilderness of frozen Sierras while snowshoeing. For the El Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association (for whom he volunteers).
Originally posted here.
Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table Build
A couple of months ago, a neighbor in the middle of a house remodel stacked a ton of wood in his driveway, free for the taking.
I’d been thinking our coffee table was long-in-the-tooth — legs squeaked every time we touched it, and not very mobile – wouldn’t it be great to have it on casters so we could wheel it out of the way to play Kinect games?
Decided to have a go at building some furniture.
Continue reading “Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table Build”
Miles Takes a Wrong Turn at Kirkwood
After a couple rides on the bunny hill, Miles and I ventured up a longer lift, where M promptly took a wrong turn and headed down a hill he wasn’t ready for and took off like a bat out of hell. Doing his full pizza, but running on the edge of control. I was scared as hell, but he held it together!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Ts65ZnLA8&feature=youtu.be
Havey Canyon Trail
We call the Havey Canyon Trail (hills above Berkeley, CA) hike our “reverse” hike because it starts at the top of a valley, descends quickly and steeply into Wildcat Canyon, then slowly up the other side of the canyon. Coming back, you end your hike with a major steep climb (most hikes start at the base of a hill, and you end by coming down).
The elevation map ends up looking kind of crazy.
Wonderful evening out with Amy, Miles and a friend doing this regular favorite of ours. Just four miles round-trip, but pretty strenuous on account of all the up/down.
The kids had a great time talking their way through an imaginary “Hunger Games” type world/scenario (they were from the “poison” district).
Farewell, Aunt Ellie
Feeling sad now because my dear Aunt Ellie passed away today, surrounded by her children and family. As a child, my brother and I spent many summer weeks at her house, being inspired by her kindness and cheer. She was a rock for the ages – a tireless mother of seven who dedicated the last few decades to the library where she served her community.
This evening, Miles and I hiked up into the El Cerrito hills, where we found a stand of eucalyptus at sunset. I said my farewell to Aunt Ellie through tears, thanked her for life, and offered blessings for her journey. Miles said he had never seen me cry before, and we walked back down the hill in silence.
Thank you, Eleanor Hastings, for all of your wonderful years. You will be sorely missed.
Aunt Ellie’s obituary in the San Jose Mercury News.
Little Farm –> Alvarado
A while ago, Miles and I discovered that the fire road leading from Little Farm in the Berkeley Hills led all the way to Alvarado Park (a wonderful old WPA park) in Richmond, near his school – around seven miles through winding, rolling hills. After working out a detour for the section that doesn’t allow bikes, invited a bunch of parents and their kids to gather for a multi-family ride, which happened yesterday in absolutely gorgeous post-Thanskgiving weather.
Generally downhill on the way there, generally uphill on the way back, kids only had to get off and push a couple of times – was so proud of them for having the gumption to go for it and complete the 14-mile RT. Wildcat Canyon Trail still a bit muddy from recent rains, but getting mud stripes up our backs just added to the fun. Such a fantastic way to start the day, and way more fun than fighting crowds in the Black Friday scene.
None of my photos came out that great, but did manage to capture a usable GPS track. Here’s the live version.
Group photo by Rachel Hollowgrass:
