X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=MayBlog;h=6b58375d53dec9715bdd1cc0f9ac75d083761340;hp=86a3223a197dd03f8c08a7ed87fe94675845976c;hb=b9c11ae2e84960bef9bcf22dbeace9661ebecada;hpb=6a42761dc0cacf2ea85937df6156a317cd53df3e diff --git a/MayBlog b/MayBlog index 86a3223..6b58375 100644 --- a/MayBlog +++ b/MayBlog @@ -2,7 +2,161 @@ '''Tip:''' as always, start from the bottom and proceed bottom up to keep time flowing in one direction. -=== Thu, 4th === +=== Fri, 10th === + +==== Business Visa? ==== + +Today I've re-read detailed information on the +available US visa options: + + http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html + +Looks like a ''B-1'' Business Visa would do. To get one, +I should go to a US ambassy, and ambassys are usually +located abroad. Instead of returning to Italy, maybe +I could get an appointment in MontrealCity, which is +near to the border and also an interesting place to see. + + +=== Wed, 9th === + +==== Zip Car ==== + +Yesterday I applied for this great service: http://www.zipcar.com/ . +Isn't it a good idea? Costs less than renting a car and is almost +as versatile. + + http://www.carsharingfirenze.it/ :) + +Today I walked to their offices to give them my documents +and get the magnetic card. They said they will enable it +first thing tomorrow *if* the "insurance risk declaration" +I got from Italy suffices. + + +==== Simple shopping ==== + +Consumers must be very simple minded here. First, most +shop names are simply dumb: '''Pay Less''', '''Save-A-Lot''', +'''Big Deal''', and so on. + +Second, they try to subtle deceptions such as: "take 2 for $24.xx", +and, next to it: "take 3 for $21.xx", Which of course is +impossible. It's a trap! The little figures placed +exactly where you would expect to see the cents, are +indeed a small notice: ''EACH''. + +Today I bought a dozen of razor blades ($1.50), a +bottle of shampoo ($1.50) and shower gel ($1.50). +But I spent $12 for adjusting the two pair of +trousers I had bought a few days ago in the mall! +$12 ''EACH'', I mean. + + +==== Bad Neighborhood ==== + +Walking home alone in the night, I may encounter some ''bad'' guys: + +http://bender.codewiz.org/wikidata/text/FunWithWeapons.jpg + +Better be careful :-) + + +=== Tue, 8th === + +==== Veni, Vidi, ???? ==== + +This morning I shown up at OneLaptopPerChild's headquarters. It's again next to KendallSquare, +in OneCambridgeCenter. + +JimGettys was very kind: he took me to LegalSeaFood for lunch, repaired my ExOh's keyboard (two +keys were dead) and introduced me to the team members. + +They left me with the usual Hollywood formula: "don't call us, we'll call you". +But in this particular case, I felt they were sincere :-) + +I hope to be soon a member of the OLPC core team! + + +=== Mon, 7th === + +==== Alea Iacta Est ==== + +As promised... Yes, indeed. Everybody please cross their fingers. + +Babbo:Pregherò perchè tu possa ottenere quello che cerchi. + +Camy: Mannaggia a voi due ( Bernie e Alberto ) siete cosi..."teneri". Come ho già detto tante volte a Bernie, è fortunato ad avere un babbo cosi! Lo so, lo so che non c'entra nulla con lo stile di questo blog, ma io sono cosi, impulsiva e Bernie lo sa e mi perdonerà. +A dire il vero anch'io sto in ansia per lui :-) speriamo bene... + +Bernie: Via, non fatemi venire il magone voi due :-) + +=== Sun, 6th === + +==== International Dinner ==== + +FedericoLucifredi and his wife Irena were so kind to invite me at their place for a +fine dinner with appetizers, SirloinSteak (see pic below), several side +dishes and... Even a PinotNoir! + +http://www.fairburysteaks.com/images/bci-sirloin-round-bone.gif + +There were also Mauro -- Federico's colleague at Ximian -- and Irena's +friend who's a physics professor from Providence and could speak perfect +French and, surprisingly, even Italian! + +What can I say? I think I got a pound or two that night, but it was +worth it! :-) + + +=== Sat, 5th === + +==== Cinema ==== + +There's a cinema in building 26 @ EmAiTee, and it's cheap. +I'm going tonight. + +==== Cursious? ==== + +If you're curious, my room rent is $500 per month. Utilities, + forniture and DSL Internet access are included. + +It's not cheap, but it's also not too expensive for Boston. +They told me that only Manhattan is more expensive here on +the east coast. + +==== CurriculumVitae ==== + +...is almost ready. A friend told me that I'd better have +also a synthetic resume of 1-2 pages for the impatient. +I think he's right. + +Well, I said I'd be finished by last Monday, but then I +managed to slip past my own deadline visiting NewYorkCity, +moving in my current room and in other frivolous ways. + +Now I have no excuses: the time has come. Next Monday I +''will'' write my proposal. Seriously. + +=== Fri, 4th === + +==== Exchange Rates ==== + +Looks like I'd better convert all my money to dollars *now*: + + http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/graph30.html + +What do you think about it? + +Babbo:penso che $ continuerà a svalutare. Perderai soldi. + +==== StataCenter ==== + +I forgot to tell you about the kewlest building in EmAiTee: + + http://www.eecs.mit.edu/images/big-stata12.jpg + +See also: http://www.eecs.mit.edu/stata-link.html ==== Fast night ==== @@ -87,6 +241,7 @@ Massimo: Since Bernie could not give us any picture, I had to use flickr: here t http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bernardo+innocenti +Piro: what in the heaven is RMS doing dressed like a camp tent? :D === Wed, 2nd === @@ -147,7 +302,7 @@ some international friends here and none of them could read Italian. Writing in English is also what I need to improve my writing skills. For the few of you who barely know English, some more reading surely won't hurt! If you're real lazy, -[[http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbender.codewiz.org%2Fwiki%2FMayBlog&langpair=en%7Cit&hl=en Google Translator]] +[[http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbender.codewiz.org%2Fwiki%2FMayBlog&langpair=en%7Cit=en Google Translator]] is your friend. As always, I'd very much appreciate being told about any mistake I make.