X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=blog%2F2007%2FSeptemberBlog;fp=blog%2F2007%2FSeptemberBlog;h=6cb3385dc6e770c23fc7447008b0957fe6c27989;hp=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000;hb=20332db49d81018287a68bce389d75c6088e7207;hpb=97878c5fad26db8a17a0027132505c800a35d9e8;ds=sidebyside diff --git a/blog/2007/SeptemberBlog b/blog/2007/SeptemberBlog new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cb3385 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/2007/SeptemberBlog @@ -0,0 +1,132 @@ +== 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 \ No newline at end of file