Entries this day: Image_dancing_code Stopped_by_cops Work free_hugs max_byebye_party_1 three_steps

Image dancing code

2:10pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

Semi getting stuff done at work, but I got sidetracked by some silly JS code 中谷さん showed me.

Stopped by cops

3:34pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

On the way back from lunch, I saw a trashcan that was overflowing, but had enough room for my tiny little wad of paper. I threw my paper away, but it bounced out and onto the ground.

I shrugged and started to go on, but then paused and thought I should pick it up. I considered how small my piece of trash was compared to the others that were already scattered on the ground, and how silly it would be to pick mine up, but not those.

But that's what I did, carefully got my little piece of trash, placed it into the trash can, and moved on.

Just then some cops went by, and several seconds later they came back up to me from behind.

They basically asked me to empty my pockets, which I was happy to do because my pocket contents feature Francois, so he got to sit in the cop's hat. Sorry, no picture, though.

After a bit, I asked them why they stopped me, and they said something about me taking something near the shop. I was like, "dawg, I was throwin' shit away," and thought there's no *shop* stuff near that trash can; I couldn't have stolen anything.

The one who inspected my ID card pointed out that it expires soon. I was like, "I totally know," but couldn't explain in Japanese what had happened yesterday. (We'll get it sorted quite soon.)

They saluted and let me on my way.

Meh; silly world.

Work

7:13pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

At the end of work today, I did a brain dump detailing that I had been working on the mission reporting portion; making the interface a bit more strict so that it will not let them choose which mission they want to report, but only allow the mission they most recently clicked. I think it was done the first way because it made the SQL queries easier; didn't have to distinguish the reasons they weren't allowed to select the mission.

I'm making the error reporting a bit more useful.. actually it isn't there at all now. If they click http://.......&mission=50, but they can't do 50 either because it doesn't exist, they've already done it, or the mission is closed, it simply won't show up in the drop down list.

Now instead of giving a drop down list that doesn't include what they wanted to do, it will give an error, and explain why they can't do it. Unfortunately it will only distinguish between Already-Done, and Other-Problems, because the way the first page is set up, the only way they would get Other-Problems is if they enter the wrong URL by hand.

Which reminds me we should be doing better (and by "better" I mean "") error checking on the user input on this URL. It's the only place I know of where we don't error check, and I'm not sure why.

free hugs

8:14pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

Did free hugs for about 40 minutes tonight. Pretty low turnout, and a foreshortened period because I have a chance to get a much higher ratio of free hugs per minute with Ami tonight than with random people in Shibuya.

The first woman to give me a hug tonight came back a few minutes later and said she would like to join. I gave her the sign and she held it for a while, but during that period we got an even lower turnout; perhaps because she was holding the sing lower than I usually do, and she was often engaged talking to her friend Mikan.

Mikan told me something about Korea in that he knows someone from Hana-Korea and he knew I had gone there a year ago and happened to meet them. Not sure who / how he knows, but that's what he said.

I can remember Abebe's name, but not yet remember the other girl.. dangit. Hers is a super common name and I know more than one with her name.

Naho gave the sign back to me and I held it for perhaps another 30 minutes. They stood next to me the whole time and kept me company while chatting together.

We got perhaps 10 free hugs in that period.

max byebye party 1

10:44pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

Ami ended up not coming over tonight, so I joined Max and Juergen at CoCo's Curry place near Motosumiyoshi station. I hadn't been there before though I walk by it basically twice a day. I had always imagined it would reek of smoke, but actually it was fine. And they have goma dressing there; yummmmmmmeeeeeey!

They told me about the differences between German and Japanese school system, and the job industry in Germany, which they indicated was harder to change jobs in Germany than the US, including harder to be fired from a job.

We got some pics and trekked back, using the shortcut I take every day, though they had never before used it.

three steps

10:53pm JST Tuesday 27 November 2007 (day 13761)

Juergen and I had a brief contest to see in how few steps we could get up the steps because I told him I had done it in four steps before. He easily tied (and actually bested) my record.

But.... he used his hands; I had not.

I was like, "aww, well, using *hands* I can probably get up in three."

We need to get this silliness on video: in three steps (plus copius arm/hand support), I got from the bottom floor to the second floor and in to his room. Three steps total.