And with a whoosh!! Into the Metaverse…
I’ve accepted a role with META (Facebook) as a Collaboration Apps Engineer.
What does that mean, Matt?
What does what mean? The role? Collaboration Apps Engineer? Or the professional move? Or popping two pills at once? Coffee?
Or what does it mean for you and I and music and other things?
Well…. all good questions. Let’s explore them.
The Role: Collaboration Apps Engineer
I write software. I have for almost 32 years. WTF! That almost makes me sound old! I should have developed an app, made my Silicon Valley billions, and been buying politicians years ago.
I will be developing applications and tools for internal teams and employees of Facebook. Much of it will center on Google Apps Scripts and related technologies. In short, automating the collaboration between employees and teams. There will be lots to learn, lots to do, and I’m excited about it.
As far as the professional move - in many ways it is the same but also very different. I’ll be working as part of a team of developers. It re-introduces me to a more captured corporate environment and a lot of state-of-the-art tech. I’m excited about working with a team and about the learning.
And a part of me is so curious to take a look behind the curtain.
About Pills and Black Coffee
Okay - the only pills I’ll be ingesting regularly are the generic Zyrtec and occasional generic Sudafed for my newly developed allergies. The other morning I woke up sneezing and sneezed more than 20 times in 5 minutes. :-/
On the other hand, I start my mornings drinking coffee adorned with Trader Joe’s Vanilla Creamer. But I reduce the creamer as the morning progresses and by my third or fourth or fifth or _____ cup of coffee I’m drinking it black. Then I move to low-caffeine and then no caffeine tea. Because, gosh, I wouldn’t want to get the jitters.
About Music, Writing, and Other Shenanigans
First: I’m never giving up shenanigans. I’ve been shenaniganning my entire life. It keeps Deb on her toes and I do like a woman who stands on her toes.
Music
When I created my video and wrote this piece on making money and making music, I didn’t know I would be taking this role. I believe I had interviewed two days prior but had not heard back and I wasn’t really thinking about it much.
In reality, not a lot changes. Minus the fact that I am still committed to the goals I outlined in that piece. In fact, I’ve since interviewed/auditioned and hired a couple of musicians to record parts of songs.
And, since publishing that piece, I’ve written three new songs. I didn’t mean to write any songs, they just sort of happened. I let you hear a SUPER rough morning recording of, “The Sweetest Thing” - a song I really like! (I am allowed to like my own songs, right?)
Music and performing is on track. Plus our merch store is live.
Writing
Outside of writing songs, I’m working on lessons/pieces for my other substack, The Google Automator, and for “The Arrogant Sage” on LinkedIn.
And I’m certain you will be thrilled and relieved to know that I plan to continue sharing my rapier wit, irresistible charm, and razor-sharp intellect here, with you. Add to that a heaping of my understated humility and this will be a fun place to hang out!
The Rest of It
We (Deb and myself) will also be making videos - and MOST OF YOU have NOT subscribed to my YouTube channel. GET ON IT!!…. please..
I forgive you for this failing but my graciousness may run out and then there will be an ominous knock on your door at 3:45am. Just sayin’
I’m not against manipulative begging either!
“Freedom’s just another word…
for nothing left to lose” - Me & Bobby McGee, Kris Kristofferson
I was talking with my younger sister, the true rock star of my family, about taking a more defined role and the idea of losing freedom. She said, “You work all the time - either working or pitching work. A more defined role will feel liberating.”
I agree. Per my post (linked above) about making money, responsibility, and future plans, more strict control on time led to making more money. Making more money creates and reveals opportunity and, in truth, is a creativity enhancer.
The starving artist is an overrated trope.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to create: music, writing, code, and relationships. I’m grateful for you! Truly.
And with that…
Actually, it probably looks a bit more like…
Either way, let’s keep meeting here like this.
With Love and Gratitude!
Matthew Moran
ABOUT SUDAFED, ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRUGS
"A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet" Shakespeare
Generics are usually the same compound as the brand name version of the drug. (The fillers might be different)
But did you know that there are two versions of Sudafed, the original version, from whence my smart friends synthesized speed, and the less robust version, which came along later, which could not be used to make speed.
I would be curious to know if your "generic" sudafed is the same compound as original sudefed, which is a few reactions away from methedrine, or the tamer shit.
The original version is the chemical PSEUDOPHEDRINE HCL. As I said, it could be used to make speed. My doctors have also told me it is a more effective decongestant than the latter day stuff.
To buy the real thing, one must give the pharmacy personal information. You don't need a script to get the read deal, but you are only allowed to buy a certain quantum of the drug, per calendar year, per federal laws designed to curb the use of illicit drugs. I have bad allergies and an immature tendency to still get URIs (upper respiratory infections) as frequently as a five year old. Ergo, I go for the gold, the stuff that make your blood galivant through your brain like Niagra Falls.
My friend, Neal M, used to make methedrine. He could easily make 100 K worth of the drug in a few hours. WE both attended Columbia University in NYC, and had a blast. After we did his stuff, we would go on the subway and do chin ups on the horizontal poles that straphangers held onto, and while we did chin ups we would discuss the philosophical implications of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
We would talk and work out for 6 hours straight.