Greetings!
I'm Johan Paul. You can call me Jp. Quite right —
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. At the moment, I'm rediscovering myself by working on projects and conducting research.
University
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 investigating the noise. Possibly he thought, "This is a noise cancellation laboratory, why... that?"
Well at first, he had that quizzical expression when he saw me, because I was startled, with my guitar. That was around 8-9 PM at the laboratory. I thought nobody was around. Outside office hour. Very comical. But then, he nodded and smiled, as for me too. — "Outside academia fascination is yours." — he perhaps concluded.
Guitar and Music
The guitar knowledge I got first came from the intensive courses I did.
My first session was taught by a substitute. I was in fifth grade. I thought he would do "plink-plunk" classical routine. Instead, he played... a brilliant rearrangement of a pop song. I watched and listened to that with my jaw stayed opened. He casually did the moving-chordal melody. My very first time witnessed that, I was absolutely amazed. It was an excerpt from one of David Foster's bits if memory serves. He didn't teach that bit, just to amuse me.
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.
Drawing
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.
♟️ Chess
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.
🥋 Martial Arts
I trained in various martial arts back in my teenage years. I have knowledge and experience in taekwondo and karate — and bits from kempo and aikido.
I did plenty of gyeokpa and tameshiwari back then — controlled breaking of inanimate objects using precise martial strikes. Quite rigorous.
You can read more about my comical experiences related to this on Monkey Raptor, in the About page.
Anyway, here's my vintage nunchaku. Bought it 25+ years ago.
Still a menace, that.
🍳 Culinary
Cooking is interesting to me. I know one cuisine — fried eggs. AND SUCH.
Did you know the taste came from the oil? Fried eggs, I mean.
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.
🗺️ The Realm
I observe history, cultures, and languages. They're grand — some of the tensors holding the cosmos together.
I have other two blogs and a website for educational and amusement purposes:
Consists of various things. From maths to Blogger tips. Essentially, anything I've found fascinating. I post music too here.
Consists of frontend applications. Ranged from a simple unit converter to music-related tools.
Consists of both frontend and full-stack applications.