--- /dev/null
+== Brain backup for September 2007 ==
+
+The story continues at OctoberBlog
+
+=== Sat, Sep 22nd ===
+
+==== Compassion for Microsoft? ====
+
+Today Rafael and I went through [[MIT]] to have lunch at the
+StattonBuilding.
+
+Along the InfiniteCorridor, we've seen an ad inviting to a Microsoft conference
+on development tools. Scheduled for today and started a few minutes earlier
+in room 6-120. The ad said silly slogans such as "smart tools for smart people!"
+and "let's talk with Microsoft!" Clearly, they were trying to hire MIT grads!
+
+So we went to see what this was about. The room was not exactly crowded: only
+a young man eating pizza and a woman wearing a Microsoft T-Shirt.
+We asked if the conference was still planned, and the woman told us: "yes, I've
+just started introducing XAML, the new ''lingua franca'' for user interface description".
+
+So we got sited and watched a presentation which basically said they're still
+busy reinventing XUL and Glade... So they can deliver SilverLight, a Flash
+clone that depends on the .NET runtime.
+
+"Questions?". There weren't any. She offered us a free DVD with developer
+tools. Me and Rafael each took a copy to be polite. The other guy didn't
+bother. I had never realized how pathetic Microsoft has become. These days,
+very few people are interested in what they do and what they say.
+Unexpectedly, today I felt some compassion for them... or at least for
+their employees.
+
+
+=== Tue, Sep 11th ===
+
+==== Compatibility =====
+
+I've also been helping to enhance compatibility with BadVista.
+
+==== Ethiopian ====
+
+I'm currently adding support for the EthiopianLocale,
+which isn't as easy as you would expect.
+
+
+=== Sun, Sep 9th ===
+
+Some big updates to GeekiGeeki, the software that runs this wiki.
+Notabily, authentication is now supported.
+Log in as AnonymousCoward if you don't have an account on
+DevelerCompany's servers.
+
+
+=== Mon, Sep 3rd ===
+
+==== Trip to MontReal, day 3 ====
+
+Boring day. We visited the SaintJosephsOratory, then
+we quickly headed back to Boston. We spent a lot of
+time at the border and in the traffic.
+
+We arrived at night... everyone was quite tired.
+
+
+=== Sun, Sep 2nd ===
+
+==== Trip to MontReal, day 2 ====
+
+Day two of the trip to MontReal. They woke us up at 6 in
+the morning (groan) and we left for QuebecCity with no
+breakfast. This place's better be wonderful!
+
+Yes, QuebecCity was rather cool, but they gave us little time to visit
+it properly.
+
+Except for the old citadel, where we've seen the changing of the guard.
+Really a ridicolous cerimony: the soldiers wear a furry cap and a guy
+shouts orders in french. They have a live goat as a mascotte and they
+walk her around the plaza.
+
+On the way back to Montreal, we stopped at the MontmorencyFalls...
+nice place, but I almost got lost there! I wasn't paying attention
+when the guide said the bus would have moved to pick us back on the
+top of the falls, so I walked back to the lower parking lot.
+Luckly, Juliette convinced the bus driver to come and see if I was
+there.
+
+We had dinner again in the same chinese restourant. This time,
+the guide had silently arranged vegetarian food without me asking.
+Very kind of her. Unfortunately, Juliette found a black hair in
+her soup, and a few people left the table, disgusted.
+
+=== Sat, Sep 1st ===
+
+==== Trip to MontReal, day 1 ====
+
+On Monday, it will be labor day, so Juliette and Peter took advantage of this
+extended week-end to take a three day guided tour to MontReal:
+
+So this was the last chance to visit French Canada with Juliette as a guide,
+as she'll be leaving for Saudi Arabia in a few days and we'll probably not
+see her for some time. I was lucky enough to join at the very last minute.
+
+As usual, the bus departed from Boston's ChinaTown, but this time the cheap
+bus company of choice was SunshineTouring. The guide barely speaks English
+and is also not an expert of Canadian history and culture.
+
+Along the way, we did two stops:
+
+ * A cruise with the MinneHaHa on LakeGeorge.
+
+ * For water rafting in an impressive canyon (but the water flow was very calm: boring!)
+
+MontReal is as enchanting as they say. Approaching from the highway, you
+see the notorious bunch of skyscrapers in the distance, beautifully lit
+with colorful lights. Makes me think of U2's "The City of Blinding Lights".
+
+We had dinner in a crappy chinese restourant. Fixed menu, no
+vegetarian food for me except for white rice. Anyway, all the
+food looked crappy so I don't think I've lost too much.
+
+The hotel, at least, was ok. I shared my room with a retired
+man called Mr Chan. He's originally from HongKong, and moved
+to the USA before his city was given back to China. At that
+time, many people feared that communism would have taken over.
+Mr Chen arrived in the UnitedStates alone, and didn't speak
+English at all. He worked very hard for 15 years so he could
+retire at a reasonable age. His story makes me hope for the
+better.
+
+----
+CategoryBlog
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