![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Interview meme
So here's the interview meme. If you wish to be interviewed by me, just add a comment. You probably know how this works by now...
Questions from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hfnuala:
1. What's so interesting about energy deregulation?
I sort of need to be interested in it because I work for a company that's developing energy management products for utility companies. So I have to understand what's happening in the industry.
But beyond that, energy deregulation in the US is interesting because it's a giant mess. Utility companies basically get paid to deliver energy to consumers. But at the same time they've got to control demand to keep the cost of production low because it's hideously expensive to build new power plants. Consumers want lots of cheap electricity and they don't want to have to think about conservation on a daily basis, but they also want the environment protected and they want the industry to do well enough because it's a big part of the economy. Meanwhile, the government has to keep all this under control because otherwise there'd be chaos (like the California energy crisis) and once you've got chaos its expensive to fix it.
So with all these factors to consider, everyone needs lots of information about what's really happening in the system. Utilities need to make sure they've got power when they need it, at an affordable cost, which involves a combination of good long-term planning and effective short-term trading with other utilities. Consumers need to figure out how to conserve power while minimizing the negative impact on their quality of life. And the government needs to be able to figure out what's going on so that it can keep everyone honest and avoid long-term or short-term crisis situations.
Technology comes into the picture because when you've got the right stuff for collecting and analyzing data about this whole system (from the generators through the grid to actual energy use at homes and businesses) you're much better prepared to understand the consequences of the decisions you're making. Right now there's a lot of government-sponsored drive for trying out new stuff and a lot of different companies are developing and testing new ideas. It's really a fun industry to work in, although I wasn't entirely sure it would be when I started.
2. Why are you doing the grad school thing and what do you want from it?
I'm doing it for a few different reasons. I think it's going to be fun. I also think it's going to help me avoid getting stuck in a rut career-wise. Right now I don't get a lot of professional interaction with folks who're doing different kinds of development. An academic program where I'm studying with lots of other professional software developers will help with that and coursework will give me a chance to do some stuff that's different from my daily routine.
The reason I'm going for a degree is that it'll qualify me to teach at community college or trade school programs and I think that may be a good option for future employment.
3. Do you think you can be a coder after 35?
Maybe. If I'm not, it's more likely to be because of family stuff or other professional opportunities than because of burnout. There's been a lot of media discussion of software jobs leaving the US lately, and I'm trying to keep an open mind about other career options in case I need them. Writing and teaching both have some potential, as does getting more involved in energy industry stuff.
4. If you had to leave Boston where would you live?
If I had to leave Boston alone, probably Tel Aviv. Possibly California. If I could take Kelly, probably a non-NYC city on the east coast, maybe Philadelphia or something.
5. Do you have a fixed 5/10 year plan or do you play things by ear?
I have a strong sense of direction for the next 5-10 years (more so for the 5 than the 10) but not a fixed plan.
Questions from
hfnuala:1. What's so interesting about energy deregulation?
I sort of need to be interested in it because I work for a company that's developing energy management products for utility companies. So I have to understand what's happening in the industry.
But beyond that, energy deregulation in the US is interesting because it's a giant mess. Utility companies basically get paid to deliver energy to consumers. But at the same time they've got to control demand to keep the cost of production low because it's hideously expensive to build new power plants. Consumers want lots of cheap electricity and they don't want to have to think about conservation on a daily basis, but they also want the environment protected and they want the industry to do well enough because it's a big part of the economy. Meanwhile, the government has to keep all this under control because otherwise there'd be chaos (like the California energy crisis) and once you've got chaos its expensive to fix it.
So with all these factors to consider, everyone needs lots of information about what's really happening in the system. Utilities need to make sure they've got power when they need it, at an affordable cost, which involves a combination of good long-term planning and effective short-term trading with other utilities. Consumers need to figure out how to conserve power while minimizing the negative impact on their quality of life. And the government needs to be able to figure out what's going on so that it can keep everyone honest and avoid long-term or short-term crisis situations.
Technology comes into the picture because when you've got the right stuff for collecting and analyzing data about this whole system (from the generators through the grid to actual energy use at homes and businesses) you're much better prepared to understand the consequences of the decisions you're making. Right now there's a lot of government-sponsored drive for trying out new stuff and a lot of different companies are developing and testing new ideas. It's really a fun industry to work in, although I wasn't entirely sure it would be when I started.
2. Why are you doing the grad school thing and what do you want from it?
I'm doing it for a few different reasons. I think it's going to be fun. I also think it's going to help me avoid getting stuck in a rut career-wise. Right now I don't get a lot of professional interaction with folks who're doing different kinds of development. An academic program where I'm studying with lots of other professional software developers will help with that and coursework will give me a chance to do some stuff that's different from my daily routine.
The reason I'm going for a degree is that it'll qualify me to teach at community college or trade school programs and I think that may be a good option for future employment.
3. Do you think you can be a coder after 35?
Maybe. If I'm not, it's more likely to be because of family stuff or other professional opportunities than because of burnout. There's been a lot of media discussion of software jobs leaving the US lately, and I'm trying to keep an open mind about other career options in case I need them. Writing and teaching both have some potential, as does getting more involved in energy industry stuff.
4. If you had to leave Boston where would you live?
If I had to leave Boston alone, probably Tel Aviv. Possibly California. If I could take Kelly, probably a non-NYC city on the east coast, maybe Philadelphia or something.
5. Do you have a fixed 5/10 year plan or do you play things by ear?
I have a strong sense of direction for the next 5-10 years (more so for the 5 than the 10) but not a fixed plan.
no subject
no subject
1. What inspired you to start making wine? (And how is the green stuff coming along?)
2. As a singer, what do you most want to perform that you haven't had a chance to do yet?
3. What advice would you give to someone who was looking to set up their own business?
4. How have your relationships with close friends from college changed since you left Amherst?
5. At softball games, do you really yell things like "go Sputum" and if so is it hard to keep a straight face while you do?