Map of Senator Steinberg's district 02/09/2010
I like maps - they're great examples of how to visualize things properly. Some data just shouldn't be displayed except on a map.
We have maps of Senator Steinberg's district, of course, but most of them are printed out. The maps we do have electronically are images on websites, which aren't interactive.
So I decided to create a map of Senator Steinberg's district so I could not only visualize it, but also use it.
I used CommunityWalk, an excellent website that uses the Google Maps API. I could have created and saved a map on Google Maps itself, but CommunityWalk has many more features, including the creation of different categories of markers, which can be toggled on and off. (On another blog I've written up a comparison between Google Maps and CommunityWalk.)
What's great about this map? Well, as I said, I love maps. But besides entertaining me, it also has real uses. For example, the system we use to determine whether an address is in our district or not doesn't always work - sometimes it chokes on the address, and claims the address is invalid. I can look up the address on our map, however, and find out immediately whether it falls inside our boundaries.
The map also allows us to map other points of interest within our district - for example, mapping our office locations, the locations of community centers, the boundaries of the 9th Assembly District (which Darrell used to represent), libraries, schools, the boundaries of neighborhood associations, etc.
Creating the map was an extremely painstaking process - CommunityWalk cannot import the data format most maps are stored in (I'm not familiar with that format, anyway). I had to manually enter each bend and turn of the district's boundaries, using a large physical map for guidance. Whew! But it was worth it.
We have maps of Senator Steinberg's district, of course, but most of them are printed out. The maps we do have electronically are images on websites, which aren't interactive.
So I decided to create a map of Senator Steinberg's district so I could not only visualize it, but also use it.
I used CommunityWalk, an excellent website that uses the Google Maps API. I could have created and saved a map on Google Maps itself, but CommunityWalk has many more features, including the creation of different categories of markers, which can be toggled on and off. (On another blog I've written up a comparison between Google Maps and CommunityWalk.)
What's great about this map? Well, as I said, I love maps. But besides entertaining me, it also has real uses. For example, the system we use to determine whether an address is in our district or not doesn't always work - sometimes it chokes on the address, and claims the address is invalid. I can look up the address on our map, however, and find out immediately whether it falls inside our boundaries.
The map also allows us to map other points of interest within our district - for example, mapping our office locations, the locations of community centers, the boundaries of the 9th Assembly District (which Darrell used to represent), libraries, schools, the boundaries of neighborhood associations, etc.
Creating the map was an extremely painstaking process - CommunityWalk cannot import the data format most maps are stored in (I'm not familiar with that format, anyway). I had to manually enter each bend and turn of the district's boundaries, using a large physical map for guidance. Whew! But it was worth it.
I like maps - they're great examples of how to visualize things properly. Some data just shouldn't be displayed except on a map.
We have maps of Senator Steinberg's district, of course, but most of them are printed out. The maps we do have electronically are images on websites, which aren't interactive.
So I decided to create a map of Senator Steinberg's district so I could not only visualize it, but also use it.
I used CommunityWalk, an excellent website that uses the Google Maps API. I could have created and saved a map on Google Maps itself, but CommunityWalk has many more features, including the creation of different categories of markers, which can be toggled on and off. (On another blog I've written up a comparison between Google Maps and CommunityWalk.)
What's great about this map? Well, as I said, I love maps. But besides entertaining me, it also has real uses. For example, the system we use to determine whether an address is in our district or not doesn't always work - sometimes it chokes on the address, and claims the address is invalid. I can look up the address on our map, however, and find out immediately whether it falls inside our boundaries.
The map also allows us to map other points of interest within our district - for example, mapping our office locations, the locations of community centers, the boundaries of the 9th Assembly District (which Darrell used to represent), libraries, schools, the boundaries of neighborhood associations, etc.
Creating the map was an extremely painstaking process - CommunityWalk cannot import the data format most maps are stored in (I'm not familiar with that format, anyway). I had to manually enter each bend and turn of the district's boundaries, using a large physical map for guidance. Whew! But it was worth it.
We have maps of Senator Steinberg's district, of course, but most of them are printed out. The maps we do have electronically are images on websites, which aren't interactive.
So I decided to create a map of Senator Steinberg's district so I could not only visualize it, but also use it.
I used CommunityWalk, an excellent website that uses the Google Maps API. I could have created and saved a map on Google Maps itself, but CommunityWalk has many more features, including the creation of different categories of markers, which can be toggled on and off. (On another blog I've written up a comparison between Google Maps and CommunityWalk.)
What's great about this map? Well, as I said, I love maps. But besides entertaining me, it also has real uses. For example, the system we use to determine whether an address is in our district or not doesn't always work - sometimes it chokes on the address, and claims the address is invalid. I can look up the address on our map, however, and find out immediately whether it falls inside our boundaries.
The map also allows us to map other points of interest within our district - for example, mapping our office locations, the locations of community centers, the boundaries of the 9th Assembly District (which Darrell used to represent), libraries, schools, the boundaries of neighborhood associations, etc.
Creating the map was an extremely painstaking process - CommunityWalk cannot import the data format most maps are stored in (I'm not familiar with that format, anyway). I had to manually enter each bend and turn of the district's boundaries, using a large physical map for guidance. Whew! But it was worth it.
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Timeline 02/06/2010
Here's a timeline of my work and other projects.
If you want to see how much time I spent per week on various activities, see this post.
If you want to see how much time I spent per week on various activities, see this post.
How much time do I spend on school and work? 02/03/2010
I was surprised when I actually graphed this out - I hadn't realized I was so busy! Between work and school, plus Davis Dollars, it makes sense, though.
You can see the summer breaks when I was at UC Davis, and during which I increased my hours for my mom's business, Barryscientific. (You can also see a timeline of all this.)
As Davis Dollars ramps up, and as work and my studies at USC continue, I don't expect free time any time soon. Good thing it's all stuff I love doing...
You can see the summer breaks when I was at UC Davis, and during which I increased my hours for my mom's business, Barryscientific. (You can also see a timeline of all this.)
As Davis Dollars ramps up, and as work and my studies at USC continue, I don't expect free time any time soon. Good thing it's all stuff I love doing...
Management Experience 02/03/2010
At work, in Senator Steinberg's office, we have a swell of interns every summer. The same happens with Davis Dollars interns.
2008 was when I really started supervising and managing other interns at work.
I worked on Davis Dollars beginning in the Fall of 2008, but didn't bring interns on board until the summer of 2009.
2008 was when I really started supervising and managing other interns at work.
I worked on Davis Dollars beginning in the Fall of 2008, but didn't bring interns on board until the summer of 2009.
