As part of my job hunting I had to take an online Java test which is meant to adapt to the answers you give and adjust the difficulty accordingly. Since I've been in permanent employment for the past four and a half years and before that not really having to do any serious job hunting, it's been a while since I've done anything like this.
So, how did I do? Well, I don't get to find out yet, the results are sent only to the company who wanted me to take the test. I did remember some of the questions and so I've checked my thoughts on these and I did catch at least one or two of the sneaky tricks they had, though equally there are a few I think they tripped me up on.
One of the big features of these tests is code that no competent person would right; it's legal according to the language specification (or at least parts of it are) but it would immediately get thrown out by even the most cursory peer review. This is why I always valued working as a trainer or mentoring, essentially those with less experience generally do 'think the unthinkable' and ask questions that you just never dreamed of!
Anyway, just have to wait and see how I did and hope it was enough.
Aside: I was looking into Java generics, trying to understand how it worked from the JCP book I have. The book spent pages and pages with examples and comments intended to put the reader at their ease by admitting that this was all a little confusing and didn't really work how you would expect.
Too be honest this rambling list of the differences, exceptions and important notes concerning rules you MUST remember for the exam was confusing me and I really just wanted to know how it all worked, how did all this functionality get represented at a low-level. So I ran javad and decompiled java.util.List to see how the magic worked.
What I discovered was that all the generics functionality is simply a compiler 'trick' and there is no under-lying implementation. The information that pertains to the generics syntax is stored in attributes which are an extensible feature of the classfile format. This article gives a pretty good description of the mechanism, which is admittedly quite neat.
Now why couldn't the book have explained all this? Armed with this knowledge all the complicated rules and exceptions make perfect sense! Why burden the reader with a multitude of disparate facts when knowing the how and why of something makes it so much clearer?!
Erm, rant over I think.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Catching up
Just a quick post before I go to bed and hopefully the ones tomorrow will be a little more positive after a good nights sleep and some quiet reflection.
A lot has obviously happened over the past few weeks and months and I think, given everything, I've done remarkably well to stay unbelievably cheerful and positive and sooner or later everything was bound to get on top of me.
It is easy to fool others, and yourself, that everything is fine and there is nothing you need or are worrying about. But it's not easy to do that constantly, it eventually catches up with you and just needs something to push you over the metaphorical edge and things get too much.
I do have a few things lurking around in the back of my mind that I'm worried or confused about and have just not been facing up to. The thing that has added to my worries is the realisation the fact that today, after visiting my son (to give him his birthday presents), my parents would not be travelling the 2miles from his home to mine to pop in and see me.
I know it only sounds like a minor thing but imagine how you would feel if you were actually shunned by your closest family, the people who you thought would love and care about you no matter what.
I think I am probably too tired now to even consider my feelings, let alone describe them. I hope sleep will help bring some peace and order to my thoughts.
A lot has obviously happened over the past few weeks and months and I think, given everything, I've done remarkably well to stay unbelievably cheerful and positive and sooner or later everything was bound to get on top of me.
It is easy to fool others, and yourself, that everything is fine and there is nothing you need or are worrying about. But it's not easy to do that constantly, it eventually catches up with you and just needs something to push you over the metaphorical edge and things get too much.
I do have a few things lurking around in the back of my mind that I'm worried or confused about and have just not been facing up to. The thing that has added to my worries is the realisation the fact that today, after visiting my son (to give him his birthday presents), my parents would not be travelling the 2miles from his home to mine to pop in and see me.
I know it only sounds like a minor thing but imagine how you would feel if you were actually shunned by your closest family, the people who you thought would love and care about you no matter what.
I think I am probably too tired now to even consider my feelings, let alone describe them. I hope sleep will help bring some peace and order to my thoughts.
Modesty
I've always said that I don't look good, nor am I attractive in any way in relation to how I look (though I think, given hormones and selection of nice perfume I at least smell nice). But this, I maintained was a completely objective assessment and based entirely on a sensible and rational list of faults.
Now I'm beginning to realise, after lots of friends constantly telling me I look fine, that it's not just a rational thought it's that I don't, in any way, believe that I am attractive, nor will I ever be able to accept that notion. And it's not something that can be argued to shown to be an incorrect belief. I do know what things make be look better/worse, I actually do have some sense of style, coordination, and possibly even a degree of fashion sense (all of these even in small quantities representing a huge and worthy achievement). No matter how good I may be able to say that I look I don't really believe it though.
Something related to this occurred to me on my road journeys this weekend; the clothes I wore to travel in showed off my figure and, given that other vehicles on the motorway, e.g. vans, trucks, and such, have a higher viewpoint the occupants could actually be looking at me without, at least at first glance, seeing anything to make them think I was other than a genetic female.
The same could be true for anyone passing me in the street and not really looking at my face, or seeing me from behind. I do have definite curves now (particularly in tight jeans), and a chest and some cleavage (not the worlds best but still visible). So it seems logical at least that I might at least draw some attention because of that.
However, this is just something I'd never considered before. It never crossed my mind that anything about me would draw any gaze apart from for negative reasons! I think I'm reaching a point where I really need to think more about my outward appearance to at least try and come to terms with it.
Now I'm beginning to realise, after lots of friends constantly telling me I look fine, that it's not just a rational thought it's that I don't, in any way, believe that I am attractive, nor will I ever be able to accept that notion. And it's not something that can be argued to shown to be an incorrect belief. I do know what things make be look better/worse, I actually do have some sense of style, coordination, and possibly even a degree of fashion sense (all of these even in small quantities representing a huge and worthy achievement). No matter how good I may be able to say that I look I don't really believe it though.
Something related to this occurred to me on my road journeys this weekend; the clothes I wore to travel in showed off my figure and, given that other vehicles on the motorway, e.g. vans, trucks, and such, have a higher viewpoint the occupants could actually be looking at me without, at least at first glance, seeing anything to make them think I was other than a genetic female.
The same could be true for anyone passing me in the street and not really looking at my face, or seeing me from behind. I do have definite curves now (particularly in tight jeans), and a chest and some cleavage (not the worlds best but still visible). So it seems logical at least that I might at least draw some attention because of that.
However, this is just something I'd never considered before. It never crossed my mind that anything about me would draw any gaze apart from for negative reasons! I think I'm reaching a point where I really need to think more about my outward appearance to at least try and come to terms with it.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Sunday lunch ... on Wednesday
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Away this weekend and just fancied a roast dinner for a change so had it tonight instead of on Sunday. Not conventional I know but it still tasted fab. And the smell was amazing - cooked the chicken with olive oil and black pepper coating it and half a garlic bulb inside. Potatoes and parsnips par boiled and with some oregano as well.
I actually really quite enjoy cooking and you shouldn't infer from this blog post that I'm new to it at all. Thankfully my Mum had my sister and I cooking tea as a way to earn extra pocket money and also passed all she knew about baking as well. Also credit to being at university for four years (you soon learn to cook when you have to) as well as B for some advanced cookery experience as well.
Now if only I had a dishwasher!
Sunday, 9 August 2009
And I thought I had plenty of padding!
But apparently my bum is not as well-cushioned as I thought it might be because it still hurt a bit after returning from a 30km (20mile) cycle ride today! As I mentioned in the previous post Sunday had to be a more active day to fend of certain boredom and also to get some exercise! Got all the ironing done before hopping on my bike.
I had another ride around Rivington reservoir and the countryside surrounding Chorley. There is something about cycling, I think it's the fact that it's simple and I can focus almost everything on it and forget anything that is bothering me, or at least give consideration in a somewhat detached way. I've also taken to cycling with my headphones on and 'happy' music playing at loud volume - helps make me feel happier and also works as an aid for getting up hills or speeding along, peddling in rythm to the beat.
I actually wish I'd got pictures of me on the bike and from the various sights along the route but I haven't for several practical reasons, the main one being that I don't like to stop unless I have to because I always think it's best to keep going in case a break too long means I seize up and can't start again.
I have to say that there were alot of people out cycling along the same routes; I know this because most of them seemed to be over-taking me! In my defence most were on road bikes and also clearly had muscles tuned for serious cycling. I did manage to pass one mountain biker and whizzed away, spurred on by some particularly up-lifting music! Small victories can make a big difference!
The other thing which I find so pleasant and disproportionately cheering to me is just the politeness and acknowledgement of people you meet on your way. I couldn't hear exactly what one older gentleman, out for a stroll, said as I cycled past him. I guess it was something simple along the lines of "good day" or maybe "good luck" with cycling up the hill ahead of me, but just his cheery demeanour and attitude was so nice.
It's the same with the other cyclists to see along the route as well, most will nod a greeting or smile and acknowledge your presence even when distracted by the arduous peddling up a particularly steep hill.
It occurs to me that my love of cycling and shopping, particularly in the Trafford Centre, have something in common and that is being around people who are, on the whole, happy, cheerful, alive, and quite often, polite, good-mannered, and just radiate a certain optimisim about the activities they are engaged in whether it be enjoying the fresh air and exercise or the enjoyment of retail therapy!
The bottom line is this: just get out and about, that in itself can be the most enjoyable thing in the world.
I had another ride around Rivington reservoir and the countryside surrounding Chorley. There is something about cycling, I think it's the fact that it's simple and I can focus almost everything on it and forget anything that is bothering me, or at least give consideration in a somewhat detached way. I've also taken to cycling with my headphones on and 'happy' music playing at loud volume - helps make me feel happier and also works as an aid for getting up hills or speeding along, peddling in rythm to the beat.
I actually wish I'd got pictures of me on the bike and from the various sights along the route but I haven't for several practical reasons, the main one being that I don't like to stop unless I have to because I always think it's best to keep going in case a break too long means I seize up and can't start again.
I have to say that there were alot of people out cycling along the same routes; I know this because most of them seemed to be over-taking me! In my defence most were on road bikes and also clearly had muscles tuned for serious cycling. I did manage to pass one mountain biker and whizzed away, spurred on by some particularly up-lifting music! Small victories can make a big difference!
The other thing which I find so pleasant and disproportionately cheering to me is just the politeness and acknowledgement of people you meet on your way. I couldn't hear exactly what one older gentleman, out for a stroll, said as I cycled past him. I guess it was something simple along the lines of "good day" or maybe "good luck" with cycling up the hill ahead of me, but just his cheery demeanour and attitude was so nice.
It's the same with the other cyclists to see along the route as well, most will nod a greeting or smile and acknowledge your presence even when distracted by the arduous peddling up a particularly steep hill.
It occurs to me that my love of cycling and shopping, particularly in the Trafford Centre, have something in common and that is being around people who are, on the whole, happy, cheerful, alive, and quite often, polite, good-mannered, and just radiate a certain optimisim about the activities they are engaged in whether it be enjoying the fresh air and exercise or the enjoyment of retail therapy!
The bottom line is this: just get out and about, that in itself can be the most enjoyable thing in the world.
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