hello $friend,

my name is rob whitaker, though you may know me by one of many nicknames and diminutives, which i tell myself are bestowed affectionately. some of these include:

• robiño     (“raw bean yo”)
• robinho    (“ho bean you”)
• robalogna  (“raw baloney”)
• robster    (rhymes with “lobster” or “mobster”)
• bert       (companion of Ernie)
• berto      (“bear toe”)
• bear       (no toes)
• jung rob   (à la “Carl Jung”)
• robwhit    (“rob whit”)
• whittyrob  (i think i’m funny)
• robbie     (limited time offer, expired in 2010)
• spaghet    (don’t toucha)

however, i do not respond to the following names:

• mr. whitaker (i hope to never get to this point)
• robert       (what, am i in trouble?)
• robby        (i can hear the difference, don’t try me)
• bob          (‘twas my grandfather’s name)
• bobby        (i have a friend named bobby; he can have this one)

i am a software engineer by trade, and currently work on “cluster bootstrapping” and “disaster recovery” as an sre at google, though i promise i’m fun at parties. i currently live in san francisco, ca.

i love a lot of things, especially food, art, music, and existing, and i like to do all of them as often as possible. i do not consider myself particularly good at any of them.

i like to spend unhealthy amounts of my free time finding new tunes and telling my friends about them. sometimes i also make my own tunes, but i rarely tell my friends about them. you can find the kind of stuff i like on spotify, and stuff i mix on mixcloud. one day i might show you the stuff i make. today is not that day.

i often post pictures of the food i make on instagram.

finally, i’m a proud alumnus, former officer, and member of the board of governors of terrace f. club. food is love.