X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=MayBlog;h=64c86286fcafd9181dc4cfc5e0a80e4b44eeaa19;hp=541cc1cbd7ad0d28d9666cadf6c6aa50ee659596;hb=a058d9ffce496daaffb3580d914f88676606b6c5;hpb=c73dd0b7eb33df6028749d295fc4f76492727a87 diff --git a/MayBlog b/MayBlog index 541cc1c..64c8628 100644 --- a/MayBlog +++ b/MayBlog @@ -1,8 +1,235 @@ == May 2007 == +=== Tue, 29th === + +==== Tracking ==== + +And if you really have too much time on your hands, try helping me out on some of +these tasks: + + * XorgOlpcTasks + * http://dev.laptop.org/query?status=new&status=assigned&status=reopened&status=closed&owner=bernie&order=priority + + +==== Weekly OLPC Reports ==== + +If you're interested in our progess at the OLPC lab, we +publish weekly executive summaries here: + + http://laptop.media.mit.edu/laptopnews.nsf/latest/news + +This is the report that mentions me volunteering for +the project: + + http://laptop.media.mit.edu/laptopnews.nsf/2e76a5a80bc36cbf85256cd700545fa5/6709ac0696003ee3852572e00083567f?OpenDocument + + +=== Fri, 25th === + +==== 60 Minutes ==== + +In this episode of the popular American show SixtyMinutes, +our founder NicholasNegroponte reveals a lot of details +about the humanitarian role of the OneLaptopPerChild project: + + http://bender.codewiz.org/wikidata/60_minutes_2007-05-20.avi + +The part about us starts approximately at 1/3 of the show. + +You may also find the last part interesting as it specifically +addresses the controversial problem of private medical centers +trying to save on assistance to homeless people. Marco, you +should see it! + + +==== GreenishBitmaps ==== + +'''Warning''': This article is rated PG0xF00F, parents discretion *not* advised. + +I've been struggling for the last few days on a the damn X server. + +In the RedHat builds, we're still using a pre-release of 1.2, +labelled 1.1.99. Now, we need to leverage some upstream work +for input rotation that is landing on the Xorg tree right now. + +Backporting is not an option, and we want to stay up to date +anyway. We'll soon be moving to Fedora 7 anyway. But even +the just-released 1.3 that will be in Fedora 7 is not enough, +because it has been branched some time ago, we must work +from the tip of the git tree, which of course has become +very unstable recently. + +I've been fighting all the week against all sort of bugs +and build problems and, believe me, it's a very energy +consuming exercise. + +The funniest thing I'm still trying to track are +these GreenishBitmaps that nobody else except me +is seeing. + +It's probably a miscompilation of some kind, but I've +long ago ran out of obvious and less obvious ideas to try +and I'm now far in the land of impossible things. + +All this time I've been in contact with a few X +hackers on IRC, including the author of the AMD +driver, but even them couldn't come up with a +magical solution. + + +==== Chat Line ==== + + Bernie, I'm Easy... + +'''Bernie''': Hello Easy!!! It's good to be chatting here in the blog! + +I saw this two photo some row below... + + But all those OLPC at the roof, what doing?? Only for furnishing or for specific utility?? :) + +'''Bernie''': Hehe... they're part of the WirelessMesh, for testing +purposes. An hispanic guy called Miguel (not the same of De Icaza) +sometimes fiddles with them. He's lucky because he's very tall. +I'd need a ladder :-) + + The office is very beautiful and the Apple Cinema Display is really very big... + +'''Bernie''': Yeah, that's the personal screen of my boss/team-leader ChrisBall. +It's 30". One day or another I'll bring here my 24" wide-screen from home. + + Do you have some new news about your new work?? + +'''Bernie''': Sorry for not updating the blog... I've been *extremely* +busy. I will do it shortly... Promised. + +=== Sat, 19th === + +==== Trip to work ==== + +I still couldn't solve the problem of getting to work +quickly. I can't afford to waste over 2 hours every +day like this. + +By now, I've tried any possible solution: + + * Car: the office doesn't have a parking lot and there's + no way to park within one mile from KendalSquare for less + than $18/day. Monthly fees start from $250. + + * Bus: I need to commute in Dudley and take line no. 1 to + MassachusettsAvenue, then walk 15 minutes to KendalSquare. + + * Bus + subway combo: The red line would get me directly + to KendalSquare, and there are several routes to get there, + but all of them require commuting at least twice. The + monthly link pass costs $75. + + * Car + subway combo: there are some cheap parkings next + to the terminal subway stations where you can leave your + car for $5/day. Unfortunately, to get there I must + travel in the opposite direction. And the whole thing + will cost $75 + $5*30, about the same of the monthly + parking fee. + + * Taxi: Costs $11-$14 * 2 every day, which makes the + monthly parking cheap in comparison. + +And even worse, the red line stops running at midnight +and bus no 1 at 1AM. Which forces me to leave from +the office very early (for my standards). + +If you want to play with the possibilities, I just +discovered that the transportation company has a very cool +web service that would have saved me a lot of time: + +{{{ + http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/trip_planner/default.asp + From: 66 Maywood st., Roxbury MA + To: Kendall/mit Station, Cambridge +}}} + +At the end of the day, the ultimate solution is moving +closer to the office or at least close to the red line. +Maybe I could afford to spend $600 for a room, but I +don't feel like moving right now. I already have enough +things on my hands. + +''Have you considered to put a bicycle in your combo? You may replace a 10 km walk with it and open up new combinations (and ways to get wet...) -- PiroPiro'' + +==== Awful Weather ==== + +Today it's raining lightly. Yesterday I took an extra shower +in the evening :-( + +The WikiPedia was definitely right: weather in Boston can +change very rapidly. Must remember to buy a raincoat like +RichardStallman's and keep it in my backpack. + + +==== What Next? ==== + +{{{ +1. Get employed at OLPC +2. ??? +3. World domination! +}}} + +Just joking, but the truth is that I still need +to face a lot of new challenges now. + +My next problem will be improving my communication skills. +After one month of full immersion, I can still barely +understand people talking quickly to each and I clearly +express myself using an inadequately poor vocabulary and +too slowly in some cases. + +These things will improve over time, while my strong +Italian inflection is likely to remain forever. If +only I could find one, I'd attend to a course to +correct my diction now. Actors do them. + +Another crucial problem I need to solve quickly is +getting a visa that allows me to work here permanently. +There are many possibilities, but none guaranteed to +succeed. For now, I'm not thinking about it: my +employer knows better than me and will help as much +as possible. + +Last but not least, my job is not easy and requires a +good amount of commitment. All my colleagues are extremely +smart and more experienced than I am. So I need to work +twice as hard to keep up with them. + +A very nice workplace and very interesting assignments helps. +And, most importantly, I know that what we're doing here is +going to have a huge impact on the world. + +'''Andrea Grandi''': Your words give me no hopes for my future :( + +'''Bernie''': Are you planning to come here? Cool! :D + +> All my colleagues are extremely smart and more experienced than I am + +More than you? It's not a place for me then :D + +'''Bernie''': It's worth trying even if you currently think you're +not up to the job. It's a very valuable experience even if you +end up returning to your home country for some reason. + +'''Rasky''': But can you get a perm visa even without an university +degree? I thought that was absolutely out of question... I knew that +people without a degree could just get some 1-year temp visa. + + +=== Thu, 17th === + +==== More Pics ==== + +Here are some more pics of MyOlpcDesk. + === Wed, 16th === -=== Office Space ==== +==== Office Space ===== Here are a few pictures of the OlpcOffice!