Niels Hoven http://www.nielshoven.com they always said I was different... Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:37:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 47.630648-122.346756nielshovenhttp://feedburner.google.com I’m working for Disney now! http://www.nielshoven.com/2010/08/03/im-working-for-disney-now/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2010/08/03/im-working-for-disney-now/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:37:01 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1408 It’s official - Disney is acquiring Playdom! Actually, it’s been official for a few days now, I’m a little behind the times. And as official Disney cast members, we all get free passes to Disneyworld. Sweet! I’m still waiting to find out if they’re valid in Disney Tokyo or Eurodisney (does that even exist anymore?) I’m hoping [...] It’s official - Disney is acquiring Playdom! Actually, it’s been official for a few days now, I’m a little behind the times.

And as official Disney cast members, we all get free passes to Disneyworld. Sweet! I’m still waiting to find out if they’re valid in Disney Tokyo or Eurodisney (does that even exist anymore?)

I’m hoping that as we move out of “crazy startup” mode into “part of an actual company” mode, I might actually have some time to start posting here again. We’ll see.

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2010/08/03/im-working-for-disney-now/feed/ My email’s been down for two days http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/19/my-emails-been-down-for-two-days/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/19/my-emails-been-down-for-two-days/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:56:49 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1406 It’s back up now, but if you’ve been trying to reach me, please don’t give up… It’s back up now, but if you’ve been trying to reach me, please don’t give up…

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/19/my-emails-been-down-for-two-days/feed/ Happy summer, I’m back! http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/08/happy-summer-im-back/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/08/happy-summer-im-back/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:46:05 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1387 Wow, it’s been over three months since my last post. How embarrassing. I’ve been busy. In the beginning of April, I decided I wanted to start exploring applications for the iPhone. So I taught myself Objective C. And then the iPhone SDK. Four months later, I’m very excited and almost ready to launch. I usually use this [...] Wow, it’s been over three months since my last post. How embarrassing.

I’ve been busy. In the beginning of April, I decided I wanted to start exploring applications for the iPhone. So I taught myself Objective C. And then the iPhone SDK. Four months later, I’m very excited and almost ready to launch.

I usually use this blog as a bit of a personal journal, so I’m kinda bummed that I missed recording the past few months. But as launch nears, things should get a bit more interesting, so stay tuned.

For now, it’s off to bed. I’ve got a tour of Seattle’s sewage treatment plant tomorrow mornning!

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/08/08/happy-summer-im-back/feed/ Visual proof that God loves you and wants you to be free of traffic tickets http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/24/visual-proof-that-god-loves-you-and-wants-you-to-be-free-of-traffic-tickets/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/24/visual-proof-that-god-loves-you-and-wants-you-to-be-free-of-traffic-tickets/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:07:02 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1385 I took a break from the sex data this week to play around with religion instead. It turns out that religious people get fewer traffic tickets than nonbelievers (See data visualization here.) But you can’t half-ass it - the correlation only holds for people who believe the Bible is the literal word of God. People [...] I took a break from the sex data this week to play around with religion instead. It turns out that religious people get fewer traffic tickets than nonbelievers (See data visualization here.) But you can’t half-ass it - the correlation only holds for people who believe the Bible is the literal word of God. People who think it’s just the inspired word of God get just as many tickets as people who think the Bible is a merely a collection of ancient fables and legends.

Yes, the post confuses correlation and causality a bit. Isn’t it fun?

(And of course, if you enjoy the post and would like to Digg/Reddit/Twitter/Facebook it, it’s always appreciated…)

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/24/visual-proof-that-god-loves-you-and-wants-you-to-be-free-of-traffic-tickets/feed/ Losing your job might get you laid http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/18/losing-your-job-might-get-you-laid/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/18/losing-your-job-might-get-you-laid/#comments Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:47:43 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1381 It’s days like today that I feel fortunate to have my job. I spent the last week combing through data from the General Social Survey, an survey of over 50,000 people’s opinions on social issues. Including sex, of course. And I found some interesting stuff, all summarized in my recent blog post at Tableau. Turns [...] It’s days like today that I feel fortunate to have my job. I spent the last week combing through data from the General Social Survey, an survey of over 50,000 people’s opinions on social issues. Including sex, of course. And I found some interesting stuff, all summarized in my recent blog post at Tableau. Turns out that more money = less sex.

Now that your taxes are done, we thought we’d explore the sexier side of financial insolvency. Those of you excited about a little more recreational activity in your bedrooms should keep reading. It turns out all these financial disasters may have a bit of a silver lining.

Check out Tableau’s blog for the sexiest data visualization you’ll ever see. And if you like it, I of course encourage you to Digg/Reddit/Twitter/Stumble/Facebook/etc it…

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/04/18/losing-your-job-might-get-you-laid/feed/ Six years after graduation, I get a job http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/03/29/six-years-after-graduation-i-get-a-job/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/03/29/six-years-after-graduation-i-get-a-job/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:40:37 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1379 Last Wednesday, nearly six years after graduating from Rice, I signed the paperwork for my very first full-time employee position. It’s been a good run, with a solid mix of grad school, self-employment, unemployment, and contracting positions, but with the economy going to hell in a handbasket, I feel like now is a good time [...] Last Wednesday, nearly six years after graduating from Rice, I signed the paperwork for my very first full-time employee position. It’s been a good run, with a solid mix of grad school, self-employment, unemployment, and contracting positions, but with the economy going to hell in a handbasket, I feel like now is a good time to be gainfully employed.

I’m now the Analytics and Search Manager at Tableau Software, where I’ve been working as a full-time contractor for a while now. My work focuses mainly on driving lead generation through the website - testing and optimizing the website experience, as well as increasing traffic through search engine optimization. I’m excited about a few of the projects I have on the horizon, though it’s frustrating that I can’t be as open about my work as I was when I was just working for myself.

In other news, though, I’m thrilled to have great health insurance again, for the first time since leaving graduate school, which means that it’s time to start looking around for a Brazilian jiu jitsu gym again…

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/03/29/six-years-after-graduation-i-get-a-job/feed/ Baconfest and neuroplasticity http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/02/28/baconfest-and-neuroplasticity/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/02/28/baconfest-and-neuroplasticity/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:41:18 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1377 1. Baconfest 2009 was spectacular and bacon ice cream is delicious. God bless the Vita-Mix. 2. Reading an interesting book on neuroplasticity. Craig points out this means I may be able to cure my own faceblindness. More on this soon… 1. Baconfest 2009 was spectacular and bacon ice cream is delicious. God bless the Vita-Mix.

2. Reading an interesting book on neuroplasticity. Craig points out this means I may be able to cure my own faceblindness. More on this soon…

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/02/28/baconfest-and-neuroplasticity/feed/ Catching up http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/01/17/catching-up/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/01/17/catching-up/#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:14:13 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1363 With my new full-time job (which I’m loving, by the way) it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with this blog. I plan to make more of an effort, though I do feel somewhat stifled by a need to present a more “professional” image. Though the devil’s advocate in me might point out that’s [...] With my new full-time job (which I’m loving, by the way) it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with this blog. I plan to make more of an effort, though I do feel somewhat stifled by a need to present a more “professional” image. Though the devil’s advocate in me might point out that’s it’s too late for that.

I’ve been trying to use this blog mostly as a journal for myself, something to look back on in thirty years and remember what my life was like now. To that end, here are some things from the past few weeks that I want to remember:

  • Sledding down Queen Anne Hill
  • Giving an random runway model a 4am tour of Seattle
  • Changing my first flat tire
  • Trying online dating (hilarity ensues)
  • First solo potluck
  • Validation of edible googly eyes
  • Trying and failing to sleep through dogs barking

Like I said, just notes to myself. Sorry, I’ll try to make the next post more interesting…

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2009/01/17/catching-up/feed/ Seattle’s winter wonderland http://www.nielshoven.com/2008/12/24/seattles-winter-wonderland/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2008/12/24/seattles-winter-wonderland/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:29:29 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1361 Despite nearly getting stuck in Seattle for Christmas, I’ve decided that I love the heavy snow. With Safeway, PCC, and my office within walking distance of my house, I really don’t need to drive anywhere. Apparently others in my neighborhood felt the same way, because after the recent snowfall, the streets in Queen Anne were [...] Despite nearly getting stuck in Seattle for Christmas, I’ve decided that I love the heavy snow. With Safeway, PCC, and my office within walking distance of my house, I really don’t need to drive anywhere. Apparently others in my neighborhood felt the same way, because after the recent snowfall, the streets in Queen Anne were empty of cars but full of people. There were people walking up and down the streets, filling the bars - all of a sudden I lived in a walking city!

There were snowboarders riding down my street, snowmobiles and cross country skiers zipping around my neighborhood, and the south side of Queen Anne hill was full of sledders. It seems like everyone in Seattle turns into Macgyver on snow days. I saw people sledding on cardboard, rubbermaid lids, recycle bins, trash can lids, and even tables. I’m actually a little sad that I’m now in Maryland, missing the tail end of it all.

]]> http://www.nielshoven.com/2008/12/24/seattles-winter-wonderland/feed/ I like Seattle in the winter http://www.nielshoven.com/2008/12/19/i-like-seattle-in-the-winter/ http://www.nielshoven.com/2008/12/19/i-like-seattle-in-the-winter/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:37:20 +0000 Niels http://www.nielshoven.com/?p=1359 The snow was just beginning to fall when I drove my roommate to the airport at 4:30 am. When I woke back up for the second time, there was a good two or three inches on the ground and Seattle had shut down. I tried the “working from home” thing, realized I couldn’t live without dual [...] The snow was just beginning to fall when I drove my roommate to the airport at 4:30 am. When I woke back up for the second time, there was a good two or three inches on the ground and Seattle had shut down.

I tried the “working from home” thing, realized I couldn’t live without dual monitors, and headed out the door to walk to work. It took less than a minute for me to discover the layer of ice underneath the snow, resulting in me sliding a good 200 feet down my hill. (Mostly on my feet, but not entirely.)

The situation hadn’t changed much by the time I left work, so I ended up walking to the top of Queen Anne hill to meet a friend for happy hour. The roads were still covered with ice and empty of cars. But people were out anyway - walking their dogs, carousing at pubs, or just wandering around the frozen winterscape. All of a sudden, I lived in the middle of a walking city. It was fantastic.

I also took this opportunity to sled down Queen Anne hill, one of the longest, steepest hills in Seattle - now closed to traffic for the night. We tried cardboard boxes from Trader Joe’s to start, but found that the trashcan lids from Kerry Park made much better sleds. Hot cocoa followed and I’m now typing away in front of a roaring fire. A good day, overall.

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