Greetings!
I'm Johan Paul. You can call me Jp. It looks like "Jeep" but without the double e's.
I am a senior developer — both web and non-web applications — and a former lead engineer. I work mostly with JavaScript and Python. As in, "That's Richard JavaScript and this is Theodore Python." At the moment, I'm rediscovering myself by working on projects and conducting research.
I have a degree in Electrical Engineering with a sub-major in Control Systems. Most students in that field pursued Robotics, but I chose to focus in the Active Noise Control (ANC) laboratory. For my final project, I implemented analogue ANC on headphones. First of all, it was an audio-acoustic-signal related subject. Second, large room. Third, large room.
Back in university years, I had an awkward experience in the laboratory. I played a nylon guitar out of boredom and confusion, alone. Suddenly, in the middle of my fingerpicking smooth-pop serenade, my professor barged in. His office was far away from the laboratory. So, I suppose he was checking out the noise. As in, "This is a noise cancellation laboratory, why... that?"
So then, he nodded and smiled, as for me too. — "Outside academia fascination is yours", he perhaps concluded. I passed the final project presentation with grading negotiations punctuated by mutual wit and amusement.
The guitar knowledge I got first came from the intensive courses I did. My first session was taught by a substitute. I thought he would do "plink-plunk" classical routine. Instead, he played... a brilliant arrangement of a pop song. I watched and listened to that with my jaw stayed opened. And that's when I realised my jaw sensor wasn't working.
After I graduated from university, the first thing I did was auditioning for a pop guitar instructor. I was accepted as an electric guitar instructor (default) — but also taught acoustic/nylon (fingerstyle) by request — Yamaha licensed.
As time went by and I got older, I developed the habit of trying to translate what I heard into my guitar playing. It's something I still do. When I hear something that catches my interest, I try to replay the notes. It usually starts with humming or whistling, since I don't always have my guitar with me.
I taught guitar class from the middle of 2006 to around 2012 — electric, classical, and acoustic guitar classes. I also performed at places.
For some reason, I also play other musical instruments besides guitar. I guess it's because I just really enjoy music.
From an early age, I've liked drawing cartoons, or just drawing in general, as you can see from the characters I've included here.
My Other Interests
Chess is my amateur interest, it's something I enjoy and practice regularly, but not at a professional level. Thanks to Lichess, I can watch games, study and broaden my knowledge about it.
I trained in various martial arts back in my teenage years. I have knowledge and experiences in taekwondo and karate — plus a bit in kempo and aikido.
I did plenty of gyeokpa and tameshiwari back then — controlled breaking of inanimate objects using precise martial strikes. Quite rigorous.
But then, I realised, hm, those bottles, bricks, planks, I can build meself a pub.
Cooking is interesting to me. I know one cuisine — fried eggs.
Did you know the taste came from the oil?
I did fry eggs with polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) coated pan — no oil. I tasted the result. Well I never!
If there's a good honest boiled or steamed meal nearby, I'll take that over fried every time.
I observe history, cultures, and languages. They're grand — some of the tensors holding the cosmos together.
That's a brief about me, Jp. Thank you. 🫡