The whole Mac vs PC is a discussion I experience almost every day. Ever since I started working as the internal IT in a consulting firm (with some really fantastic people), the discussions are usually about usability.

It's like a tennis game, every feature played like a ball being hit back and forth between the PC and the Mac guy. So when Quicksilver was mentioned, my reply was Launchy. Although not as powerful, it still remains a decent tool to run applications (I'll be trying another one called Skylight). When I want to open Word, I just hit the shortcut combination, the box opens and I start typing W, O, R... and hit enter when the app I was looking for shows up. The same goes for Microsoft Expression Design: D, E, S, I... and there it goes.

The app is Open Source and I have to contribute to the project considering that I don't even let their ADs show up thanks to Add-Art and NoScript in Firefox and they know it, judging by the message in the AD placeholder...


I am happy that the keyboard is being given a chance to make work/life with a computer a liiiittle bit less annoying.

n.-

it took a while but I finally did it

Going up...

It took 3 years. 3 busy years to finally do what almost anyone from Bavaria or Munich experienced more than once.

One of the perks of working for a company owned by snow fans, is the nature of the team-building activities. So, with a couple of months of anticipation, came a great.. no, a fantastic weekend in the snow in Tirol, this time at the Stubaier Glacier.

The last time I expected to crash my nose in some snow was almost 2 decades ago, when at primary school, we'd travel to Fiesch in Switzerland for winter holidays. Back then, I basically learned how to do the snow-plow... and it sucked!

The plan for this weekend was to try to be part of the "cool" crowd and give Snowboarding a shot. Circumstances dictated that I'd be going for ski and I have to admit that it was awesoooome (to be spoken out with a high-toned voice)! Wow, what a rush. All of a sudden, those 2 plastic and metal laminated feet extensions just chewed that snow and took me down-hill. It was then that I realized that the whole secret of skiing is to know how to turn and brake.

One 2h ski lesson for beginners was a bit short for some of the stuff we exposed ourselves to and of course, we felt the consequences. They were just not bad enough for us to keep on doing it more and more and in the end, I am proud to announce myself as a skier! A basic one, but still a skier and I will NOT be looking into snowboarding for a while.

I am totally open to skiing now. Without any gear, it gets expensive: pants, gloves, goggles, jacket, boots, skis and helmet for the hardware. Then comes the ride TO the mountain and the skipass to be allowed all the way UP, around 3011m today.

My current leg muscle pain is attached to good memories so I don't think I'll be complaining about them.


Servus,

n.-

I learned what a Bloc is...

In England it's what they call a case of beer! I won't be going into details about what a bloc party is then. Last monday the band with that name delivered a great performance! It was a f'in great gig!

The joys of attending concerts are just unique. Everyone is there for the same reason, beer can fall on us but we won't really mind, there's a lot of pushing, pulling, jumping, grabbing, eyes-closed head banging, sweat, yelling... and all thos can be obtained fora a fair price at a Bloc Party concert. Just listening to the albums can give a glimpse of what it can be like to be in that crowd. I did get some nasty evil looks fromtrying to stay in the front (as in the 3rd row), but it's part of the game.

Oh, the video is here. The sound is much better than the film, it was a bit hard to keep steady in the crowd.

The upcoming gigs I am attending are totally different though, The Romeros, Bat for Lashes and The Dø. Everybody's welcome to join, you just have to be in Munich at the right date and time.



n.-

my bathroom needs pixels

CPLUV never ceases to amaze me with the best design ideas collected from all over the world.

The following reference just opened my eyes to a whole other application of pixel art!
http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/bathroom-art/

Absolutely brilliant! I'd love to take my morning (afternoon and evening) showers in a place with pieces of art like those!


cheers,

n.-

Downadup aka...

... Conficker.


It's the name of the latest and greatest evil to daunt Windows computers. Just ask the British DOD, Hospitals, a couple Million people what they think about it and you're likely to be smashed in the face.

Living in a German country and thus speaking the language does permit me to draw a smile every time I read another news about the Conficker.

he's sneaky - link
he's nasty - link
he's everywhere - link
he's skilled - link


n.-

how to go nuts about a white box

Dude, I love the Wii, but not the least as much as these guys do:

50 kids happy to get a Nintendo Wii for Christmas - watch more gamer videos

Those kids' reactions (hum, hysteria attacks) are just a blast!
Check out the crying one at 2:55...

I could have gotten a Wii and a Balance Board for a fair price, but then I realized I really don't have the space and don't really NEED that additional gizmo B)
This means I'll continue playing on Jana's and compete against her on Wii Sports and Wii Fit.


Wiiiiiiiii into the new year...

n.-

the good old times

Whatever happens, the past will always be the good old times.

I had a Lisbon flashback recently. Monday morning at work, I checked a personal mailbox and spotted a mail from the 59:1 indie club, a concert was coming up and they were giving some tickets away.

Alright, let’s reply and hope to win tickets for the concert of a totally unknown band from Canada, Attack in Black. The next day, the day of the concert, bing… “you got mail”… and 2 tickets for the gig. Next step, find someone to go with. That sorted itself out pretty fast and I ended up having a real cool evening with Manu.

Back when I was living in Lisbon, we used to win heaps of free tickets for ballet, theatre, movies and concerts – I could have won even more if I’d really put myself into it.

I so missed this. The occasional happy oportunity to go to a concert for free with a friend. I wish there were more such opportunities for that in Munich, I’ll keep my ears and eyes open.

Oh, the concert? It was fun. The band ran out of songs and started doing some covers. They were funny and entertaining. The bass player so reminded me of Jeanne, a fab CSer I had the pleasure to meet this year, which by itself is another situation I will add to my next “good old times”.

cheers,

n.-

aware of what the internet can be used for

The latest The Economist has a great article about a concept I never really idealized before.

Usually, when entities' website is suffering from a DDOS attack, this one is being commandeered by a malicious person controlling zombie computers, meaning, the computer's owners do NOT know they are actually attacking something/someone.

Now, common people, politically and socially motivated, are enticed or invited to join on DDOS attacks, just like Russians were asked to Georgian official websites.




http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12673385




The guerilla with its flying sticks and stones, comfortably from home.

n.-

it's cold outside. the bed is comfy and my laptop is warm.

When TV shows are just not enough.

When there is no interesting movie to watch.

When no one is distracting me in bed.

When there is no patience for youtube.

There are simple games to keep a member of the cyber-mankind entertained at night.

• www.fantasticcontraption.com
• www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/game.asp
• www.casualcollective.com

n.-

beeps and blips

- .... . .-. .- -.. .. --- ... .. .-.. . -. -.-. . .--- ..- ... - -- . .- -. ... - .... .- - - .... . .-. . .... .- ... -... . . -. - --- --- -- ..- -.-. .... --- ..-. .-- .... .- - .. -.. --- -. .----. - .-- .- -. - - --- .-- .-. .. - . .- -... --- ..- - .- -. -.. - --- --- .-.. .. - - .-.. . --- ..-. .-- .... .- - .. ...- .- .-.. ..- . - --- -.. . ... . .-. ...- . .- .--. .-.. .- -.-. . .... . .-. . .-.-.-


n.-