Hello! It’s been quite some time since I last wrote on astronomine; although, I think this is an artifact of positive changes in my life over the past while. In some ways things have become a lot more busy and hectic compared to when I started this blog, and in other ways it has become … Continue reading 6 Months in Turku
On the Topic of Being Irrational
This is a Boeing 747(-8), "Queen of the Skies". It is the second largest passenger plane in the world, with a max capacity of 467 passengers in standard configuration. The 747 is one of the most successful products in the history of commercial aviation, with over 1,500 built since its maiden flight in 1969 - … Continue reading On the Topic of Being Irrational
Batteries – Understanding the End
It’s been a while since I last wrote on here – life at Sandvik has been quite busy. For those who are new to astronomine, here’s an introduction: I’m Haley Blinn, a Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) Applications Engineer at Sandvik. I am 25 years old, and battery electric mining vehicles have been the backbone of … Continue reading Batteries – Understanding the End
Entry 35: House of Gold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlNLiiAYvSg Ever since I was able to conceptualize the future, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in this world. I felt that that the most straightforward way to do this was through my career and the type of professional I hoped to become. This is why my career has always been my … Continue reading Entry 35: House of Gold
Week 34: Cinnamon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x7jORhJntM Cinnamon Music Video - Hayley Williams Today's blog is going to be a little bit different than my usual content; perhaps readers could take this as an opportunity to get to know me in a more casual way. I've chosen to dedicate some time writing thoughts I've had about a song I've been into … Continue reading Week 34: Cinnamon
Week 33: The State of BEV in Mining
The automotive industry is undergoing a technological renaissance - but I don't need to tell you that. We all have a buddy with a Tesla, or perhaps you are the buddy with a Tesla. Societal pressure influenced by the desire of a greener and sustainable future has led to the next generation of vehicle drivetrain. … Continue reading Week 33: The State of BEV in Mining
Week 32: I Think I am Pissed Off
"The moment I develop confidence, it's over for all of you" - Me, sometime in 2020. My favourite movies are the Ocean's trilogy - the quotes and themes from these movies always find a way to be relevant in a myriad of everyday situations. No, I do not rob banks or plan elaborate heists with … Continue reading Week 32: I Think I am Pissed Off
Week 31: Underground Tuesdays
Happy Wednesday everybody! I hope your week has progressed well so far. As like every week recently - this one has been sufficiently busy. Every day is different, which I suppose is to be expected when working in a maintenance department in a facility like ours. If the same things broke down in the same … Continue reading Week 31: Underground Tuesdays
Week 30: “What Good Looks Like”
Howdy everyone! It is October and I am thriving. I've always loved fall - I seem to be most myself on gloomy, cooler days. I've always detested summertime as I find it quite uncomfortable; I feel the most at ease when bundled up in sweaters and jackets. Additionally, the start of the school year is … Continue reading Week 30: “What Good Looks Like”
Week 29: Confidence (Reprise)
"All I ever wanted was to know what to do." - Dave Eggers I swear to every god I know that I did not plan this - I've actually been writing (and re-writing) this blog for about 2 months now. However, almost exactly a year ago (Sept 8th, 2020), I posted this blog titled Confidence. … Continue reading Week 29: Confidence (Reprise)
Week 28: Me
I can't say there's ever been a time in my life where I could attest with absolute certainty that I knew who I was or that I had a substantial sense of self. Of course, I do know some things about myself; my hair is brown, I dislike seafood, my favourite colour is red. Everything … Continue reading Week 28: Me
Week 27: People and Spherical Cows
"Everything would be easy if it weren't for people." "Well - I'm not sure that I feel the same way" I thought to myself while sitting in my second-level supervisor's office. What about technical problems? Surely, I thought, tasks such as data analysis and solving technological problems would never be easy, even without people; What … Continue reading Week 27: People and Spherical Cows
Week 26: Soup
Last week I sat in my 1st mine-wide weekly production meeting. Much like any other new venture I partake in, I left the meeting with a million questions and thoughts pertaining to a variety of subjects. It wasn't long after the meeting started when I realized that I would have a lot of things to … Continue reading Week 26: Soup
Week 25: One Year of KLG Macassa
Holy smokes! Yesterday, May 19th 2021, marks one year of working full-time at KLG Macassa Mine. To say that this year has "flown by" is an understatement. So many things have transpired over the last 12 months, and every single one of them being (somehow) more exciting than the previous one. I've learned all kinds … Continue reading Week 25: One Year of KLG Macassa
Week 24: “One of the Boys”
Throughout my life, most of my closest friends have been men. This has never been deliberate and certainly not for a lack of effort - it's just that most of my interests and passions tend to be ones that are "traditionally male": interests such as hockey, baseball, video games, aviation, aerospace, physics, math, engineering, mining, … Continue reading Week 24: “One of the Boys”
Week 23: Nature Abhors a Change in Flux
Happy Monday, everybody! This year is ramping up pretty quickly - it feels as though the holiday season just ended, yet we are mid-March! Working a full-time job has really accelerated the passing of time for me. What's even more incomprehensible is that today marks one year since I was last at UofT campus and … Continue reading Week 23: Nature Abhors a Change in Flux
Week 22: The Nature of Expectations
Hi everyone, welcome to a new week full of fun and opportunities! Last time I wrote about my thoughts on "The Circus" (the political institution of the workplace) and how it informs decisions based on more than just facts, and why it may be important to do so. Since then, I've tried to do some … Continue reading Week 22: The Nature of Expectations
Week 21: The Circus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW3MIixEps4 The Circus - what I imagine it looks like in "the room where it happens" Hi everybody! It's been quite a while, hasn't it? I suppose this "Week XX" naming convention is becoming obsolete - though I'll continue to use it nonetheless. Over the past few months I've been very busy with a myriad … Continue reading Week 21: The Circus
Week 20: 3 Years
Happy Monday everyone! Today is December 7th, which means yesterday was December 6th - a very important day for me. Yesterday was my third-year anniversary of eating disorder recovery! I have previously written about my 7-year struggle with anorexia, though I didn't reflect much on the journey itself - mostly just present-day challenges. For the … Continue reading Week 20: 3 Years
Week 16: Fractals & Mine Organization
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Last week was kinda bananalands in Northern Ontario - we received a healthy dose of snow. It was a rude awakening and an unfortunate sneak-peak at what's to come in the next few months. I actually love winter, but mid-October is a little earlier than I think I'm ready for. Anyway, a … Continue reading Week 16: Fractals & Mine Organization
Week 11: An Ode to Dad
Happy Tuesday! I hope this email blog post finds you well. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't over-the-moon excited to write this one because I think it's pretty special, and different - this week I'd like to write to you about my Dad. It's his birthday on Wednesday, so I figured now would … Continue reading Week 11: An Ode to Dad
Week 10: A Scavenger Hunt for Information
What is "engineering"? To me, engineering as a discipline is a broad collection of affairs to do with design, efficiency, and problem solving; usually in the context of contemporary technology - but that isn't always the case. Okay, I realize that this isn't a very specific definition. To my credit, being an engineer can mean … Continue reading Week 10: A Scavenger Hunt for Information
Week 9: Confidence
Today is a big day. This is it - it's the day everyone is finally going to realize that I am truly, undeniably, a god-honest fucking idiot.Me, every single day What does it mean to become confident? This isn't rhetorical - I'm not sure that I know the answer to this. Of course, there is … Continue reading Week 9: Confidence
Week 8: The Room Where it Happens
The Room Where it Happens What career goals do you have? Are you okay with simplicity, or do you value a good challenge? Are you happy with where you are, or do you prefer to not stay in the same place for too long? There are no wrong answers to these questions - the only … Continue reading Week 8: The Room Where it Happens
Week 7: Overcoming Struggle
After 7 entries, you'd think I'd be able to figure out how to start a blog without being awkward but no, I haven't quite figured that out yet. So, what's up losers? Yeah? No? Let's cut to the chase: I have an eating disorder. I've struggled with anorexia for 6.5 years. Surprise! Since starting this … Continue reading Week 7: Overcoming Struggle
Week 6: Home?
Hello astronominers(?) (we'll workshop that), I write this bearing exciting news: over the weekend I moved into my very first home! It's the perfect little house in a new town and it's more than I could have ever hoped for. While I am super excited about this new home, I’ll admit that it’s not quite … Continue reading Week 6: Home?
Week 5: University Hangover
Disclaimer: this is a fairly personal/honest entry and some of the thoughts and behaviours I discuss in this are not exactly healthy, but I am working on it. If you came here looking for scandalous confessions of the effervescent parties I attended in university, well unfortunately you've come to the wrong place (but if you … Continue reading Week 5: University Hangover
Week 3: The Value of a Great Supervisor
Hi everyone! I hope you're having a great Monday. This week I'd like to write about the impact that good leadership can have on a student or an early-career individual (such as myself), as well as what I believe makes for a great supervisor. I feel like I've iterated this same point over and over … Continue reading Week 3: The Value of a Great Supervisor
Week 2: Greatest Superpower
Welcome back to blog number 2! This week, I’d like to discuss what keeps me motivated and optimistic about any work I do. It's related to a general philosophy I have about people, but it's not really something I came up with myself - just something I noticed. For the record, I’d like to make … Continue reading Week 2: Greatest Superpower
Week 1: New Horizons
Holy smokes, we're live! Welcome to my blog. I'm Haley, a 22-year old electrical engineer-in training at a gold mine in northern Ontario. I just graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in astrophysics & math. Just over 3 months ago I was a student living in a big city, doing astrophysical research … Continue reading Week 1: New Horizons
astronomine 