IJMC - California, Here I Come!

Well, it's been a day. Time to quit talking about the server, and well, 
talk about me again. Or something like that. Anyway, today was my first 
day at my new job...they almost sent me home in the first hour. Of 
course, that was because I dared to wear a tie. I think I'm going to like 
it there...pay me to fix stuff and wear jeans...shucks.             -dave

P.S. Tonight's post hits too close to home....only I'm on the East Coast!




YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM SILICON VALLEY WHEN:

 
You make $180,000 a year, but can't find a place to live.

You see nothing but expensive cars because of  <above.

Your commute time is 45 minutes and you live 8 miles from work.

You stop asking how much things cost and start asking "How long will it take?"

Two-thirds of the people you know are from Boston, Austin, Raleigh-Durham or New York, but you are living in PST. 

You know vast and subtle differences between Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese, and Korean food. 

Your home computer contains mostly hardware/software that isn't on the consumer market yet.

You go to "The City" on weekends but don't live there because you like your car. (I still have problems calling SF the city.)

You think that "I'm going to Fry's Electronics" is an acceptable excuse to leave the office for a while. And your boss does too.

You /lost/never had/don't know how to set/ the alarm clock.

You'll just get to work when you get there.

You go to an industrial-heavy-metal bar and see two guys get into a fight over what flavor of UNIX is better.

You own more than 10 articles of clothing that have hardware and/or software companies printed on them. (Bonus for embroidered stuff.)

You know where Woz Way, Resistor Ave, and Floppy Drive are located.

You know where Woz is.

You know Hwy 280 North runs west, and Hwy 680 North runs East.

Even though Microsoft employs quite a few programmers in the Bay Area, they only work on Powerpoint, and the company is still the embodiment of Satan. (Even if their stock IS worth more  than yours.)

You see a billboard that says "FGPA2ASIC" and aren't fazed.

When you need the updated Diamond Monster 3D drivers, you just walk across the street.

You have more bandwidth in your apartment or condo than most major universities.

You have to hire security to keep the panhandlers off your terrace. (Oakland/Berkeley).

None of the people you work with are bible thumpers.

You scan yard sales for back issues of "Dr. Dobbs."

Your favorite computer reseller speaks only Cantonese.

Your workplace vending machines dispense "100% natural twig-bars" right next to Jolt cola and Instant Espresso mix.

No one brings radios into work - they just use RealAudio and listen to the dj.com, rebelradio.com, or other out-of-state stations.

You don't understand how the carpool lanes work because you normally don't commute during those hours.

You meet a friend for lunch and the first topic is where they are working now.

You go to the movies and EVERYBODY claps along with the SciFi theme music.

You entice prospective employees to join your company by bragging about the speed of your internet connection.

You've replaced your box of floppies with a box of Zip disks, but that's just until you get your box of Jaz disks.

You have completely forgotten how to write longhand.
 
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Beware of geeks bearing gifts.