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2005-11-30

 

Middleware

Now I am in Middleware. It makes you wonder whether Middleware Conference is actually French meaning a "conference dans middle de nowhere." Another interesting question, of course, is whether there is such a thing as a "middleware community," maybe other than those from the ObjectWeb community. Most of the people seems to be here either because they are from here or they have a paper.

2005-11-29

 

Missing Switzerland

The ride from Saarbrücken to Grenoble, France could go through Switzerland for a better scene. Too bad, one of us doesn't have the visa to Switzerland... Instead, I just slept in the car for nearly the whole boring trip.

Now instead of being someone who can't speak German and order in a restaurant, I am someone who can't speak French.

2005-11-28

 

Another day in Saarbrücken

This is indeed an interesting day. Apart from giving the practice talk in MPI (which went pretty bad because of the lack of sleep and self-practice before), I had dinner in an Italian (?) restaurant. Of course, the menu is only in German, and the waitress didn't speak English a lot, I chose to risk and take today's special. Turned out to be goose leg. Interesting surprise. Too bad it tasted like a dry roasted duck, and I didn't like anything else on the dish.

The other thing was the bus ride from MPI back to my hotel. I was told that I could just wait for the announcement of my station, Johannisstraβe. Didn't work, because they screwed up the announcement system. I was told that I could look for a particular Turkish restaurant at my stop. Didn't work, because it was too dark and I was too unfamiliar with the environment. So I resolved to this radical idea, namely, the time. This is something probably very special about the German that they time everything accurately. I was told that the bus ride would take 13 minutes. So I got off the bus at a stop after 12.5 minutes, despite the bus had stopped at some stops for no apparent reason. Tada, that's my stop!

2005-11-27

 

Saarbrücken

Today is the first day of the trip, and also the shortest travel. It was only 4 hours to New York, 8 hours to Frankfurt, and then 3 more hours train to Saarbrücken.

There are a lot to hate even for the first day. Like cold weather. Snowing everywhere. Sucky movie. Twice. Pay toilet in the train station. No English menu. Hotel reception (or rezeption) doesn't speak English but got a lot to tell me.

2005-11-25

 

Electronic Dartboard

I received a gift of an electronic dartboard similar to this one (but better!). It is surprisingly fun. With the electronic parts, it gets rid of the worst part, namely, tracking the score.

When I play with it, I feel like I am a playing a character in a (MMO)RPG and training my throwing skills. So from now on, don't look like a monster to me, or I'll follow my instinct and throw anything I have on my hand at you!

2005-11-22

 

Busy

I've been too busy lately, not just because of G5 at office, but also due to my stupid decision of applying for faculty positions. I have updated my CV, made a short list of schools to apply, etc. Now what's remaining is to write the research/teaching stataments, and of course actually applying.

Meanwhile, I still found some time to decline the offer from the convicted monopoly...

2005-11-17

 

G5!!!

Finally, my 7-year-old sucky desktop in my office is finally replaced. Now, I have this beautiful PowerMac with 4GB of RAM with me. I don't even need to use the rack now!!!

2005-11-14

 

Back From Mountain View

So I'm back from interviewing with the non-evil company. They have a larger variety of questions, basically any kind of questions that can test your computer science knowledge and skills. And the food in their cafeteria really taste great. I wouldn't mind eating there every single day... I'm generally very impressed with their headquarter. The only disappointment I had was that my rental car is Ford Taurus instead of the suggested Hyundai Sonata. I like Hyundai.

Weird things do happen that day. Like before going to the interview, I got an email from the HR person from another company wishing me good luck. And during the interview, I got a phone call from yet another company wanting to schedule my interview...

2005-11-10

 

I Love Racks

No, not boobies, Mr. Dirty Mind. I mean our new rack of machines. A total of 11 machines with 4GB RAM, 70GB local hard drive on top of dedicated file server, each with dual Opteron 252's. The best part? Java 1.5 pre-installed. Finally I can start writing simulator in 1.5 and not worrying about memory, simulation time, or using 1.5 language constructs! Yay!

2005-11-09

 

Impressive Wade

Wow, Wade is so impressive! Despite O'Neal is injured, he still managed to get triple double! And this is points, rebounds, and... turnovers! And he did not even need to play as a point guard, with both Jason Williams and Payton in the 8-man rotation! And that is more turnovers than the whole Sonics team, even when they lost for almost 30 points to Cavaliers!

Can't wait to see how they play against the Rockets...

 

Lyon

Great. Just where I need it, when I need it. I planned to stay one night in Lyon and then fly back from there. I planned to check around the city with their subway system. And now, they are shutting down the whole subway...

2005-11-08

 

Traveling

I need to prepare a lot for traveling lately. It also made me realize that, while the HR people in the convicted monopoly are jerksnot the best people to deal with, at least they made the interview process worry-free. Everything is paid for, and I've got tickets for paying cabs. For the interview with the non-evil company, I'd have to sign for NDA, have to pay for hotel and car rental upfront and wait for reimbursement, and cab is not even an option! So I have to drive in the state with the most maniacs... Not to mention that they will reimburse only less than half what the other would for meals and pay less for mileages.

Guess I shouldn't complain. That's nothing comparing to the Europe trip, where I'd need to figure out how to get from the Frankfurt airport to Saarbruecken to my hotel, and then to MPI, and get to Grenoble in a car... And I'll insist on not driving; I'm not ready to drive in Europe yet.

2005-11-03

 

Planning a Waste

Spending so much time planning my trip is really a waste. I already need to change my itinerary. Instead of flying to Lyon, I need to leave 2 days sooner and go to Frankfurt instead, so that I can give a practice talk in MPI first...

Guess I can't complain too much. At least I don't need to apply for visas or buy another currency.

2005-11-02

 

People Not Showing Up Early

I've noticed this for the last three days.

Usually when you arrive our department early in the morning at, say, 6am, more than half of the administrative staff are already there. Not necessary working. Maybe chatting or smoking, but at least there. In the last three days, no one is around at 7am. Granted, two are giving birth to babies, but I don't think they need others to help in this realm, and one of them is not enough working in this department anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't understand.

Of course, you should not leave a comment asking me why I'm always there at that time.

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