Field-Notes on Coderrob

The Problem With Floss

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:03:18 -0500

You ever have it where you’re flossing, and the floss just won’t go between the teeth?

You’re standing there, doing your routine, nothing unusual. Then suddenly, the floss hits a wall. Just stops. Like your teeth have closed ranks and decided to become one unified tooth.

So now you’re forcing it. Slight adjustments, different angles, one side, or another. Gonna getcha getcha. Nothing. It’s not even about personal hygiene anymore. It’s about sheer principle and an overwhelming feeling of something wedged permanently between your teeth. You’re not going to let your own mouth get the last word.

In Da' Tub

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 09:56:46 -0500

Go, go, go, go get in the tub,
With a laptop, start that remote club.
We gonna soak while we on the job,
Look, team, I got the foam, let’s multitask and bub'.

You can find me in the tub, Zoom on with no flub,
Working hard, but in water, that’s my kind of hub.
I’m into sending emails, not the office hubbub,
So come join the call if you’re into scrum.

Alienware Laptop: The 'Good Place' of Laptops

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:02:45 -0500

The world of gaming laptops has given us beasts, titans, and powerhouses. And now, let me introduce to you - the Alienware R1 M16 or as we affectionately dub it, the “Lapchonk”. Never has a device so brilliantly merged the design concepts of a laptop and 1960s Dodge Coronet vehicle.

Tech Specs

Processor: AMD 7845HX is nice.
Storage: Doesn’t matter. Just go buy handfuls of Samsung 990 drives on Amazon
RAM: Save the cost of a second new laptop by upgrading to 64gb for $130USD on Amazon. Not $700USD from Dell.
Graphics: RTX 4080. Stunning visuals, for the most part, when not distracted by the lightbulb with a moth stuck it.
Display: 240hz QHD display. A screen almost as bright as the bug light. The bezel corners double as wire cutters.
Ports: Comes with oddly placed ports back there somewhere near the rear thrusters. HDMI feels like a USB port in the dark.
Trackpad: Sensitive enough for a man, tough enough for a woman. Not usually where you think the button press would be.
Keyboard: Nice.

Design

Upon first gaze, the Lapchonk gives you the unmistakable feeling of looking at an iPad Pro glued to a Roomba. Sleek, efficient, and almost as heavy. This thing screams “take me to your desk, if it can even hold me!”

How to Setup Custom PowerPoint Templates in Office 365

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 12:45:16 -0700

Solving PowerPoint Missing Custom Templates

Recently went through setting up a new development machine. The one tool that gave the most grief ended up being PowerPoint.

Specifically setting up custom PowerPoint templates. I tried everything, at least twice, and was still either unable to see a “Custom” link, or when PowerPoint finally showed a custom link it kept saying it couldn’t read any templates right now.

I understand the challenges that can arise during this process, and I’m here to help you with clear and concise instructions on what worked for me.

File > New

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 18:56:09 -0600

As I reflect on my time as a professional developer, I realized recently that the only real thing I created was the act of sharing my knowledge with my colleagues. While we developed some impressive products and achieved significant milestones, the truth is that the real value of my work lies in the relationships I built and the knowledge I could impart to those around me.

As a professional, I am aware that it can be easy to get caught up in the deliverables and tangible outcomes of a project. However, I have learned that the knowledge we share, the connections we make, and the relationships we build are what truly shape our careers and the companies we work for. I am humbled by the impact that sharing my knowledge has had on the team, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned from my colleagues as well.

The Last Lesson

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 23:05:48 -0600

I lost my dad in April of 2020.

It was exactly one week after my family and I should have been with him for Easter. We had planned a visit, to sit by his side, to hold his hand during the Easter service he loved so much. But then the world changed.

COVID-19 swept across the globe like a silent storm. Travel restrictions snapped into place overnight, and his nursing facility went into full lockdown. The virus was dangerous, especially to the elderly and vulnerable.