What a week......
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Matt13.com - OpenOffice.Org or Microsoft Office
Matt13.com - OpenOffice.Org or Microsoft Office
This seems interesting. I use OpenOffice because first of all it is legally free and secondly it is not from M$ and last but not least it can export to PDF file which I find very useful when I am printing across platforms (Linux, Mac, Windows, Solaris, HP ...).
Since I do not care about most of the features, stability and performance are the main concern. So far I am pretty happy with my OpenOffice. It could be interesting if I can have a chance to try Apple's Pages.
This seems interesting. I use OpenOffice because first of all it is legally free and secondly it is not from M$ and last but not least it can export to PDF file which I find very useful when I am printing across platforms (Linux, Mac, Windows, Solaris, HP ...).
Since I do not care about most of the features, stability and performance are the main concern. So far I am pretty happy with my OpenOffice. It could be interesting if I can have a chance to try Apple's Pages.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Our Janitor
Our janitor came to my cube later today, after almost everybody had left, and asked if I was getting ready to move.
Our janitor said he never saw it coming, that our company is merged by another one and now we are moving. He said he though we are gonna stay for a long long time. He said he had worked in the previous place for 25 years.
Our janitor has the coolest car in our parking lot, a 90's black Vette. Cold and dark under the tree. No one else even come close.
Our janitor even rememberd my name, even though I don't exactly remember his and was too embarrased to ask again.
Our janitor is the only black people here, in this all Chinese-Russian shop. But he's cool.
Our janitor said good-bye and we shook hands. He's gone just like our receptionist, HR (yyyyes!), finace and my ex-boss.
Our janitor said he never saw it coming, that our company is merged by another one and now we are moving. He said he though we are gonna stay for a long long time. He said he had worked in the previous place for 25 years.
Our janitor has the coolest car in our parking lot, a 90's black Vette. Cold and dark under the tree. No one else even come close.
Our janitor even rememberd my name, even though I don't exactly remember his and was too embarrased to ask again.
Our janitor is the only black people here, in this all Chinese-Russian shop. But he's cool.
Our janitor said good-bye and we shook hands. He's gone just like our receptionist, HR (yyyyes!), finace and my ex-boss.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Back to the Dark Ages
Got dragged to watch the Star Wars the other day, such a waste of time - I feel better washing dishes for 2 and half hours.
In a country where Yoga is cool and Buddhism is spiritual, you kind of figured what people would do for such a long series of movies (yes, I just said it, it is too long, too much). It is simply a one-page, 5-minute story streched into a decades-long third-rated plastic cartoon, where pigs fly, elephants work in the government (...) and top guns flight with AA battery powered light bulbs - they call it "light sabre", a kitchen knife would have been far more leathal for advanced space age when people dress like homeless in Chinese Tang Dynasty (only a little more than 1000 years ago, about 4 times the age of America). Don't they just love retro? This trend has been noticed ever since the Matrix. People in the future just so dig the style.
I guessed (using the word guess here is almost an insult to myself) then entire "story" within the first 2 minutes. The rest of the time is just for ticking the boxes and checking the time.
Suck you must, if you like to speak backwards like a mystic, 320-year old some "lord" without underware, read this:
siht daer `erawrednu tuohtiw "drol" emos dlo raey-023 `citsym a ekil sdrawkcab kaeps ot ekil uoy fi `tsum uoy kcus.
Forget about Si-Fi. All you can do is reality TV, eating worms, 3-some, breast surgery, pimping $50 cars, UFOs, police chasing pickups and rap. Or do you have films, where I couldn't help thinking about LAPD talking to an illegal immigrant from eastern-Europe while watching this Star Wars thing... I also remember seeing Chinese villagers speaking Japanese in American movies as well. And there was one film where a bounch of Chinese policemen in a car chase with an American businessman in a Chinese city - remember, Chinese cops do not drive at all. Marked police cars are driven by chauffeurs used to send in-laws home, not out-laws to the station.
In a country where Yoga is cool and Buddhism is spiritual, you kind of figured what people would do for such a long series of movies (yes, I just said it, it is too long, too much). It is simply a one-page, 5-minute story streched into a decades-long third-rated plastic cartoon, where pigs fly, elephants work in the government (...) and top guns flight with AA battery powered light bulbs - they call it "light sabre", a kitchen knife would have been far more leathal for advanced space age when people dress like homeless in Chinese Tang Dynasty (only a little more than 1000 years ago, about 4 times the age of America). Don't they just love retro? This trend has been noticed ever since the Matrix. People in the future just so dig the style.
I guessed (using the word guess here is almost an insult to myself) then entire "story" within the first 2 minutes. The rest of the time is just for ticking the boxes and checking the time.
Suck you must, if you like to speak backwards like a mystic, 320-year old some "lord" without underware, read this:
siht daer `erawrednu tuohtiw "drol" emos dlo raey-023 `citsym a ekil sdrawkcab kaeps ot ekil uoy fi `tsum uoy kcus.
Forget about Si-Fi. All you can do is reality TV, eating worms, 3-some, breast surgery, pimping $50 cars, UFOs, police chasing pickups and rap. Or do you have films, where I couldn't help thinking about LAPD talking to an illegal immigrant from eastern-Europe while watching this Star Wars thing... I also remember seeing Chinese villagers speaking Japanese in American movies as well. And there was one film where a bounch of Chinese policemen in a car chase with an American businessman in a Chinese city - remember, Chinese cops do not drive at all. Marked police cars are driven by chauffeurs used to send in-laws home, not out-laws to the station.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
First DELL Impression
Not that I wanted to buy one, I got one from work which was delivered today. It's a proper machine, solid, functional with all the usual stuff (4 USBs, wonder who would ever need that many in a laptop, but no 1394). Yet it looks 5 years old in its dreary gray plastic right from the box ... yes the IT guys have had them for a while to install the system, but for a one-day-old computer, the Latitude D610 looks pathetic, and feels that way too - it is so hot that it makes the one-year old T41 feels refreshing.
One advantage: it won't be stolen from the office, who would bother to do that? It is a smart choice in that way.
One advantage: it won't be stolen from the office, who would bother to do that? It is a smart choice in that way.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Final Gear Final?
This happened only 3 weeks after I found this nice site.
Even BBC did not say a word! The ISP just gave an ultimatum to Final Gear, demanding that all downloads to be taken away or they will take action.
It sucks. Think about this, even Top Gear (BBC) did not say a word, you really think they do not know this?
Lucky me. I have downloaded all available episodes till now. Time to burn a few DVDs.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Top Gear & Fifth Gear
Nice TV programming. Wonder Americans could ever produce anything close to that. I can now really hear some engine noise and human voice, not electrical "music" or redneck screaming. And finally, I can watch a car show without pickups... or at least, a show that test drives a pickup in the correct way :D
Monday, April 25, 2005
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Got MCS Today!
Well, actually, yesterday, March 22nd. We were too busy driving it around town as well as on a few streches of 280. It was raning heavily but the Mini just went like a magnet.
Yes.
Yes.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
MCS Arrived at Distribution Center...
Eventually!
IttookonlyaweektobuiltyettookalmostamonthtoarriveinAmerica!
WhoknowshowlongitwouldtaketogettoMtV!
IttookonlyaweektobuiltyettookalmostamonthtoarriveinAmerica!
WhoknowshowlongitwouldtaketogettoMtV!
Monday, March 07, 2005
Sunday, March 06, 2005
New Features In Picassa 2
This image is generated by Picassa from four pictures I picked from a library. the original photos are not square by Picassa managed to crop a square out of each photo and it looks not bad.
photo collage generated by Picassa
Another good feature is to generate a web page from selected foder. I write code every day but I really hate to write HTML or XML or any web-related code. The page is very simplistic but in a very pleasant way. A photo webpage should not contain anything more eye-catching than the photos themselves, which kind of follows the Google Way.
Picassa can also send selected pictures using Gmail or some other email services. One good thing: it automatically resizes the pictures. Although I am no longer surprised when I open an email sent to me by a friend which contains pictures, 9 out of 10 times the pictures are over 1000 pixes on each side which blows up the entire screen. Yes, some people really do not know that they can resize their pictures!
photo collage generated by Picassa
Another good feature is to generate a web page from selected foder. I write code every day but I really hate to write HTML or XML or any web-related code. The page is very simplistic but in a very pleasant way. A photo webpage should not contain anything more eye-catching than the photos themselves, which kind of follows the Google Way.
Picassa can also send selected pictures using Gmail or some other email services. One good thing: it automatically resizes the pictures. Although I am no longer surprised when I open an email sent to me by a friend which contains pictures, 9 out of 10 times the pictures are over 1000 pixes on each side which blows up the entire screen. Yes, some people really do not know that they can resize their pictures!
Yet Another Guy Got Dooced
On NBC 11 News, a guy was fired by Google after saying that the comany was "doing very well" on his personal blog. He did not seem too upset about this on the TV. I am not sure if the lesson has been learned yet, but how hard is it to NOT talk about work on your blog? Come on.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Monday, February 21, 2005
At the End of President's Day
Did not go on vacation.
Yet we drove to 84-CA1 AGAIN. This route is perhaps the only one we would drive around doing nothing. It must have rained heavily yesterday in the mountian for the road was quite wet. I have not changed tires for over 20000 miles and the thread is almost gone. Result: figure skating on winding mountain roads of Highway 84. However I managed to go through without a skid.
The last 10% of thread on the Bridgestone went by at lightening speed. Last time I checked (about a month ago) it looked just fine. Now they are all bald. Hate to allocate 400 bucks for rubber again :(
Yet we drove to 84-CA1 AGAIN. This route is perhaps the only one we would drive around doing nothing. It must have rained heavily yesterday in the mountian for the road was quite wet. I have not changed tires for over 20000 miles and the thread is almost gone. Result: figure skating on winding mountain roads of Highway 84. However I managed to go through without a skid.
The last 10% of thread on the Bridgestone went by at lightening speed. Last time I checked (about a month ago) it looked just fine. Now they are all bald. Hate to allocate 400 bucks for rubber again :(
Thursday, February 10, 2005
It Does NOT Matter If You Come Later
Years have passed before Google touched online maps and driving directions, yet they can still make it refreshing and stunning in Google's way. We have been so used to the way we use Yahoo Maps, Mapquest and Maponus that people kind of forgot there are other ways to design an online map.
These guys are good at what they're doing. These guys are good at new ideas.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Scheduled for Production
Feb 5th 2005. Oxford, England
After 47 days of waiting, The Mini is scheduled for production. And it already has its VIN! Now I am starting to get worried about how to squeez a good deal from the bank. Anyway, this is a cornerstone.
Boom.
Friday, February 04, 2005
200k Miles, on the Go
Arriving at 200k miles, I-5, San Diego
The civic reaches 200 thousand miles on its original engine and 5-speed tranny, 2nd clutch plate. Still doing 37-plus mpg on mixed road daily commute. The numbers are even better on freeway. Oil changes are done more frequently now at intervals ranging from 1500 to 2500 miles. Runs strong.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
LA Sucks
Wife is taking a shower and I am blogging. The hotel has free wireless internet connection.
Things went up and down quite a few times in the past day and half.
First of all ever since the end of Chirstmas holidays, it began to rain like hell all over the Sunny State, from Tahoe all the way down to San Diego. Our plan A for new year's holiday is at the mercy of the weather as well as plan B - that's the worst part. Plan A is to visit LA (mostly Disneyland and Hollywood) and San Diego (a friend relocated there because of work stuff). If the rain does not stop, it will be quite the opposite of fun for sure. Plan B is going sightseeing and skiing in Tahoe. However due to heavy storm and the altitude of the Tahoe region, it is getting even worse... Our near 200k-mile Civic, although understated, will probably start loosing grip of the planet as we go further north in the snowing reagion, but renting a 4x4 is like... burning a hole in the budget.
We finally took a gamble and took I-5 south, betting that the weather could not possibly get any worse if bay ares is drenched. We were delighted that it was sunny and almost charming after the clearing storm although sometimes we drove into under a raining cloud the size of a mile or two. But that's it. The clearing storm is much better than dull clear blue sky, with a few rainbows as a little surprise. Best part: LA has a snow-capped mountain. For a split of a second we were wondering whether we were driving to, Tahoe?
Disney was fun, especially when my wife made a mistake thinking that the Twilight Zone is some kind of haunted house. It is, as a matter of fact, a drop zone featuring multiple, irregular 1G-lauching and falling "elevators" in the so-called "hotel". I was never successful in tempting her to a test ride in the drop zone but this time, she dragged me with her into that only to realize the true story too late to call it quit. Result: freaking-out, testified by on-site monitoring camera.
Due to the last-minute decison of LA over Tahoe, we did not book and hotels. And there is no way we could have imagined how much Americans like to stay out of home on New Year's Eve. Yes, we planned our holiday so carelessly that we ended up going to Disneyland on the New Year's Eve and I only realized this AFTER we got there. Hotels are booked. 40-buck Motels are asking for 99 plus tax for one bed. Srew you! We are going somewhere else.
But where? Since the plan for the next day was Universay Studio, we figured if we were to spend so much for one night's sleep we better off staying close to Hollywood. And yes I took the Hollywood Blvd exit from North I-5. And it is Holly-shit. There is only about a 100-meter strip that does not look like a crime scene and the street is filled with drunk or black people screaming or flipping their car stereo with a volume good enough for half a mile. A black SUV filled with some rap-people were honking me and almost squeezed my small civic up to the sidewalk. I got angry and when another black dude ran a stop sign with his b*tch in a new Cadillac right in from of me, I stopped in his way nice and slow for 5 second and gave him a noise for another 5. I am a really nice guy, yo! I ain't no racist.
So I guess we are not coming back for Hollywood Blvd again, I am not a fan who come all the way to see some finger prints or ass prints on the side walk in front of a theater on a block which has no order. Any for the first time in my life I heard my wife saying that Hollywood actually sucks. She finally agrees on this!
3 am New Year's Day, still on the street! We decided to try one more time, at the Sheraton and Hilton at Universal Studio. Despite our painstaking resolution to pay a stupid amount of money for a sleep, there were all sold out, in a 8 mile radius. The closest vacancy is in LAX. Bye-bye.
So I suggested going to San Diego at 4 in the morning. And we did. It is a city, not like a swamp of maybe famous crap. And better part, since we checked in so early, we got two sleeps for the charge of one which means we do not check out until midday of tomorrow. And this is a real Hotel by the sea which happens to have everything and is "cheaper" than a shit motel in Los Angeles.
Things went up and down quite a few times in the past day and half.
First of all ever since the end of Chirstmas holidays, it began to rain like hell all over the Sunny State, from Tahoe all the way down to San Diego. Our plan A for new year's holiday is at the mercy of the weather as well as plan B - that's the worst part. Plan A is to visit LA (mostly Disneyland and Hollywood) and San Diego (a friend relocated there because of work stuff). If the rain does not stop, it will be quite the opposite of fun for sure. Plan B is going sightseeing and skiing in Tahoe. However due to heavy storm and the altitude of the Tahoe region, it is getting even worse... Our near 200k-mile Civic, although understated, will probably start loosing grip of the planet as we go further north in the snowing reagion, but renting a 4x4 is like... burning a hole in the budget.
We finally took a gamble and took I-5 south, betting that the weather could not possibly get any worse if bay ares is drenched. We were delighted that it was sunny and almost charming after the clearing storm although sometimes we drove into under a raining cloud the size of a mile or two. But that's it. The clearing storm is much better than dull clear blue sky, with a few rainbows as a little surprise. Best part: LA has a snow-capped mountain. For a split of a second we were wondering whether we were driving to, Tahoe?
Disney was fun, especially when my wife made a mistake thinking that the Twilight Zone is some kind of haunted house. It is, as a matter of fact, a drop zone featuring multiple, irregular 1G-lauching and falling "elevators" in the so-called "hotel". I was never successful in tempting her to a test ride in the drop zone but this time, she dragged me with her into that only to realize the true story too late to call it quit. Result: freaking-out, testified by on-site monitoring camera.
Due to the last-minute decison of LA over Tahoe, we did not book and hotels. And there is no way we could have imagined how much Americans like to stay out of home on New Year's Eve. Yes, we planned our holiday so carelessly that we ended up going to Disneyland on the New Year's Eve and I only realized this AFTER we got there. Hotels are booked. 40-buck Motels are asking for 99 plus tax for one bed. Srew you! We are going somewhere else.
But where? Since the plan for the next day was Universay Studio, we figured if we were to spend so much for one night's sleep we better off staying close to Hollywood. And yes I took the Hollywood Blvd exit from North I-5. And it is Holly-shit. There is only about a 100-meter strip that does not look like a crime scene and the street is filled with drunk or black people screaming or flipping their car stereo with a volume good enough for half a mile. A black SUV filled with some rap-people were honking me and almost squeezed my small civic up to the sidewalk. I got angry and when another black dude ran a stop sign with his b*tch in a new Cadillac right in from of me, I stopped in his way nice and slow for 5 second and gave him a noise for another 5. I am a really nice guy, yo! I ain't no racist.
So I guess we are not coming back for Hollywood Blvd again, I am not a fan who come all the way to see some finger prints or ass prints on the side walk in front of a theater on a block which has no order. Any for the first time in my life I heard my wife saying that Hollywood actually sucks. She finally agrees on this!
3 am New Year's Day, still on the street! We decided to try one more time, at the Sheraton and Hilton at Universal Studio. Despite our painstaking resolution to pay a stupid amount of money for a sleep, there were all sold out, in a 8 mile radius. The closest vacancy is in LAX. Bye-bye.
So I suggested going to San Diego at 4 in the morning. And we did. It is a city, not like a swamp of maybe famous crap. And better part, since we checked in so early, we got two sleeps for the charge of one which means we do not check out until midday of tomorrow. And this is a real Hotel by the sea which happens to have everything and is "cheaper" than a shit motel in Los Angeles.
Friday, December 24, 2004
What Is Going On
In holiday time when people do not have a schedule, this is what happens:
Movies, TV, beef jerkey, wine, Cola, Vodka, orang juce, old schoolmates, potato chips, bacon, onions, sausage, Firefox, emails, etc.
My wife asked that we go to Fry's. And my wife asked if we should buy a Play Station 2.
I realized that I have NEVER seen a Play Station 2 or X-Box in my ENTIRE life. I could not identify them (or another brand starting with the letter "N") from the stuff on the shelfs at Fry's. I know nothing about computer games more than an idiot although I get paid wrting industral-strenght programs all day long.
I had one glass of Zinfandel after coming back from Fry's and The Phantom of Opera because I was thirsty. The glass turned out to be sort of a measure cup, it says "8 oz". And I am still thirsty.
My wife did not eat anything until 3pm (neither did I). Things like this usually happen when I am at home.
This is holiday.
Movies, TV, beef jerkey, wine, Cola, Vodka, orang juce, old schoolmates, potato chips, bacon, onions, sausage, Firefox, emails, etc.
My wife asked that we go to Fry's. And my wife asked if we should buy a Play Station 2.
I realized that I have NEVER seen a Play Station 2 or X-Box in my ENTIRE life. I could not identify them (or another brand starting with the letter "N") from the stuff on the shelfs at Fry's. I know nothing about computer games more than an idiot although I get paid wrting industral-strenght programs all day long.
I had one glass of Zinfandel after coming back from Fry's and The Phantom of Opera because I was thirsty. The glass turned out to be sort of a measure cup, it says "8 oz". And I am still thirsty.
My wife did not eat anything until 3pm (neither did I). Things like this usually happen when I am at home.
This is holiday.
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