What is a Power User?

I was reading an article by some techie about a week ago (I really don't remember where) that caught my attention. He was talking about how he built himself a Macintosh computer from scratch, and noted that he needed more processor power because he was a "power user." By which he meant that he had many applications open at once. This got me thinking, what does it mean to be a power user?

Wikipedia, of course, has an answer. But for phrases like this, connotations change and they mean different things to different people. I grew up in a household with a programmer and a math professor, both of whom were more than capable computer users, and certainly power users. My parents have been programming since the early 80's, and though recently my mom has only written basic shell scripts to automate her processes, they have kept up with the evolution of programming and computer applications as they have changed. My mom never really closes applications because she needs them for her work: 8 terminal windows (each one has its specific task - one for mail, one for her TEX files, etc.), her PDF reader, internet, a TEX editor, and Finder at the absolute minimum. My dad can have a lot of stuff open, depending on what he's doing. But neither say that having 12 applications open means you're a "power user."

Just looking at applications I have installed, I could have the internet, iTunes, Stickies, Terminal, Messages, and Twitter open without even thinking. When writing a paper, I could easily have a PDF reader,  Pages, and OpenOffice (in fact, when OpenOffice is open I can almost guarantee Pages will be open) open, as well. Maybe even Evernote. And if I'm working on some computer science assignment, add in Sublime Text 2 and Xcode. I guess I could be waiting for a call, so throw in Skype. That's 13 applications. And I can't see myself using more than that for anything. Usually I close things if they're not being used. Just because I only have Sublime, the internet, Finder, and one or two Terminal windows means I'm not a power user? I like to think of myself as a power user. I have Terminal and Alfred shortcuts for everything. I can do basic programming tasks, I know my basics of debugging, and I can help others figure stuff out (though I get really impatient).

So what is a power user? I don't know. But it's not having applications open. It's a knowledge of how your computer works, automating your most common workflows, and being able to navigate applications and operating system without having to reference the help guide repeatedly (but please read the manual when you get the thing), even knowing some tricks and easter eggs here and then (I'm going to exclude my knowledge of word processing applications here - never can find those stupid table settings...). It's taking an interest in learning more about the technology you have, wanting to find ways to improve it. But most importantly, it's knowing exactly when to read the fucking manual.

The Best Time of Your Life?

People say that college is the best time of your life. You get to still be a kid, but you're on your own. It can be tough at times, but the overall experience is a greatly positive one. For my mother and many others, it is a time that can be relived over and over in memory. I would like to be able to say that this will be true of me, but at the rate I'm going I will be happy to leave college and not think about it ever again.

It's true that we usually only remember the good things in life. After all, we like those warm, fuzzy feelings. It's nostalgia. So it's likely my memories have been skewed, and what I'm going through right now is worse only by comparison. But I do remember my moody issues from sophomore year of high school, and what I'm experiencing right now is very similar to those. Only now I'm on my own.

My mom visited me last week. It was Mother's Day weekend and Scav, so I had a good excuse to avoid Scavving too much. This was the first time in a very long time that I got along with my mom. A very long time. We've been bickering at each other since at least 4th grade, however many years ago that was. For a few years I tried to avoid my house, and I was looking forward to leaving for college for quite a while now. And I love being out of my parent's house. They're still paying for a very sizeable portion of my education, but the physical distance between us has eased all the tensions. Maybe I just needed to not be in constant contact with her to calm down. Who knows. Regardless, I had a great weekend, just hanging out with my mom and my girlfriend. It's a little scary how well they get along, actually. Best friends forever, as they say.

But since then all the emotional and mental stress has come flooding back, and it's worse than ever. I knew it would, and so I started working out more often (working out releases endorphins, or so I'm told) to help ease the transition. But I'm still not happy where I am.

Where to begin? Every day when I wake up I have to stare at an ancient ceiling in an ancient building with ancient carpets. It was kind of pretty, but that charm wears off quickly when you start to deal with mice, silverfish, no central air, and other amenities common to old buildings. The new furniture this year was nice, but it was like putting lipstick on a pig. Once the University finishes building Campus North, or whatever they're going to call it, I hope they start to fix up Snell-Hitchcock.

So I can't stand my home. I wake up and sigh. I walk in the door and sigh. To say I'm unhappy with where I live is an understatement. I love the people, but when you can't stand the place itself, it's hard to make up for it. My hope was to get a job as an RA. I've wanted to be one since before I came to college. I've dealt with being the new kid many, many times in my life. I'm a passable cook, and I like to think I'm diplomatic enough to handle the stickier situations. But I wasn't selected (read last post). I still haven't recovered from that. Devastated might be the best word to describe it. I've only ever had the "heavy heart" feeling a few times in my life (that I remember): my last high school baseball game (I blame Jace Fry for the feeling there) and when I found out I was not selected to be an RA.

The baseball feeling went away quickly. I've lost plenty of games before. This one stung a lot more than normal, but not anything a drive home couldn't fix. But I'm still feeling it from the RA selection process.

I tried to get a room with a friend of mine in another dorm to fix part of the problem (staying in my current dorm), but that didn't go through. So I reserved a room in Snell and tried to think positive thoughts. The problem was: there weren't any besides being closer to my girlfriend. That was reason enough to consider staying, but when that feeling continued after my mother left, I went to the general lottery (stressful) and got a room with someone I'd met at the gym a few times before (stressful). It's not that I made the right decision. But I needed to get out more than I wanted anything else. That was last night.

I've been a train wreak all day today. I couldn't sit through class. I left the classroom to sit in the hall for a few minutes about halfway through to calm myself down. I was breaking into tears randomly for no reason. As soon as class was over I ran to the housing office to see if I could switch back. Not that I would, but I thought it would make me feel better to know. No chance, they said. So I walked back to my room and just, well, cried. Not full on bawling or anything, but welling up every few minutes.

Since this has been going on for a few weeks now, I scheduled a appointment with a counselor and my advisor (not at the same time). If it's anything like that counselor I had sophomore year of high school, this will not be much help at all, but I just need to vent to someone who's not my girlfriend right now (she's seen me sad enough these past weeks). And I'm talking to my advisor about the possibility of taking a leave of absence. I want to finish this quarter, but we'll see what happens.

I've been unable to form any real coherent thoughts all day. I've taken two trips to the grocery store to get fruit and have been staring blankly at my math textbook for a few hours. I went to discussion session for math (since I have a midterm on Monday - oh, joy!) and was sort of able to pay attention. My mom wants me to try to take a medical leave before the quarter is over. I'm going to wait on my appointments next week, but we'll see what happens.

I hate to make this blog a venting place, but sometimes it just happens. I'm still really looking forward to this summer, so that's one positive thing I have going for me. Just right now it feels like one of the only things.

It's the Little Things

It's been a very long time since I've posted, but that's because a lot has been happening.

First the disappointments: that math midterm a few weeks ago went absolutely horribly, I have a nerve contusion that is keeping me from throwing a baseball, and I was not chosen to be an RA next year. I'm particularly upset about the RA situation because that was something I was really looking forward to doing, but I guess now I'll just have a lot more free time than I had planned on next year. Also, I will still help out with Orientation regardless, so I'll still feel helpful.

The successes outweigh the failures. Well the one success: I will be an intern with Major League Baseball's Commissioner's Office this summer. It happened right when I thought I wouldn't be able to find a job for the summer, so that was both exciting and relieving. I already have housing reserved in New York, and I cannot wait for summer to start. I also had my first non-phone interview (well, if you don't count video chatting as a phone) and they had me solve a Rubik's cube at the beginning. Apparently quite a few people watched, making this the first time I've ever solved a cube for someone over video. The solve was pretty bad (I thought they were joking when they mentioned it before so I wasn't really prepared). Actually, it was acceptable until I got a Ua PLL. That 1.5 second algorithm took closer to 10, and I've been practicing it at every opportunity since then. Next time someone asks, I'll be prepared!

As for the post title, I recently jailbroke (jailbreaked?) my iPod, and it was the best thing I've done with it since I bought it. Apple really does a great job with it's products, and it's always the little things that impress: uniform icon sizes, a responsive UI, the very nice notification center, etc. But there are things that I would like to have. For example, I don't want to be restricted to Apple's folder size limit, or be forced to deal with 12-15 default apps that I never use. So I fixed that, and I love it. It's still the same amazing core features, but it's the little things that make it so much better now. I love how the Calendar app displays the current date, and with a jailbroken device you can do the same with the weather (and clock, but I don't use that). I can remove app names and don't have to follow Apple's forced grid placement. And I can hide those pesky system apps.

It's been a long few weeks, but it's only 5 more till the end of the quarter.