Coming true...

I had a dream, that there one day... might be a cheap flight from Stockholm to Kiev.
Since the end of 2010, the dream has come true. Now, I can get to Ukraine for €30 one way (bus tickets excluded). That's what I am about to do later today.

About truths on evils

It may take many iterations of error-making to realize some truths*.
Truth: Premature optimization is the root of all evil.
Rule #1: Do not optimize!
Rule #2: If you are an expert, see rule #1.
* it does not mean one should stop seeking...

Wireless

I turned out, I can connect to the Internet in Denmark. Right now, I am sitting in a department of Copenhagen University, where my computer automatically connected to the eduroam network. This it the wireless network that I used at the KTH in Stockholm, as I still was a student. I was able to use my old account, saved on my compter, despite being at a different university in a different country, and despite me having finished my education one year ago. Nice...

Background

This is a part of the output in one of my early programs. I am calculating the processor time and writing the result to a text file. Apparently, my background in laser optics make itself known. 

mobile

using my phone with java based opera mini to right this post. i seems to work.

Slippers

It is indeed an ingenious idea to use slippers in the office. Instead of sitting around in winter boots all the day long suffering from foot sweat, I am now enjoying life wearing the new fresh soft slippers. I should have come up with the idea months ago... And well, my boss does not mind. He is using slippers himself...

Winter

The winter is supposed to end soon. That makes me glad...

Most expensive

The Latvian 2 lats is the most expensive regular coin that I currently posses. At the time this post is being written, according to forex, you can exchenge it into 26,15 Swedish crowns (SEK). It is closely followed 20 DKK (Danish crowns) = 24,34 SEK, 20 NOK (Norwegian crowns) = 23,45 SEK and 2 Brittish pounds (21,62 SEK). This coin used to be much more expensive just a few years ago. The last of the top-5 coins is the Czech 50 crowns, with a value of 19,08 SEK.

Snow

Try to dig me out... (Snow chaos in Stockholm)

Nice

This is just a picture generated by my software. I think it look cool. But I do not comment no what it is supposed to show.

CO-neutral house

This is a house I have been to in Denmark. It is prototype that is supposed to be CO-neutral. Whatever that means. But is looked really cool, both from outside and inside. Lots of windows, solar panels and solar collectors. Modern interior. And lots of advertising for the potential customers. I almost started to want such a cottage for myself...

Blue Screen

Today, I got blue screen on my computer for the first time.

I did it the following way. I wanted to archive some pictures and divide this archive into files of 180 Mb. Instead, I set the part file size to 180 bytes. As I discovered the mistake, I had already 80000 of these files. The zipper hanged itself. So did the Explorer. Finally, my old computer made his last "peep" and faded away.

After restarting, I found Explorer unable to delete such a great number of files. I used cmd to do the dirty work... Now I feel good about my computer crisis handling ability.

Night Train

The night train from Stockholm to Malmö is very convenient. It starts its journey after 11 p.m. However, boarding begins at 9 p.m. Thus, one may have time to fall asleep before the train starts to roll and shake. Also, the scheduled arrival time is shortly after 6 a.m. However, one may stay in the car until 7 a.m.

Ikea Ukraine

Ikea is coming to Ukraine...

I thought they would not. I thought it was impossible. I thought the Ukrainian way of doing business seemed too dirty to Ingvar Kamprad. I was sure he has got enough headache with Russia...

Hence, I was extremely surprised to find an Ikea store in Dnepropetrovsk. I was even more surprised by the size of the store: I occupied only two stores of a house corner. No huge parking lane. No blue-and-yellow mega-building. No adjacent restaurant with cheap hot dogs and Swedish meat balls. It did not look like Ikea. It did not feel like Ikea. But the sign said it was...

Maybe this is the new way for clean guys to expand into dirty areas. They don't do it directly. Instead, they cooperate with local dealers. Hence, they feel no responsibility for all the corrupted schemes going on under the surface. Every one's happy, every one wins: Ikea makes profit. The dealers enjoy their business. The Ukrainians get their cheap furniture. Smart...

Dnepr

This used to be the view from my window as I stayed in the city of Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine for a few days.

Odessa

I am back in Odessa now... This time at winter...

New Year

That's the way I spent the morning 01/01 2011

2010 vs. 2011

I have discovered a funny thing: At the time this post is being written, on 11:55 (central European time), Dec 31, 2010, the Wikipedia says:
2010 (MMX) is a common year that started on a Friday and is the current year.
2011 (MMXI) is a common year starting on Saturday and is the current year.
Well, the Wikipedia seems to be one step ahead of its time. I suppose that's good.


Anyway, happy new year to everyone!!!!!!

Laundry

Making laundry this morning. While the dryer is running, I have time to blog...

I am not always happy about the Swedish socialism. But  I consider this one to be one of its most useful achievements: the Laundry room. Several really powerful wash machines and dryers are installed and can be used for free by everyone in the house. Perfect for everyone who can't afford a wash machine by himself.

The laundry room is also the only place where you can actually meet and talk to your neighbors. Today I actually met one elderly Swedish couple. There are not many real swedes living in my ghetto, so the fact I met them is almost surprising in itself. But having swedes starting to talk to you, that was beyond my expectation. Well, I guess that's the social code of this socialist country...

X

Merry Christmas to all readers of my blog and all the accidental visitors!!! Greetings from the northern Stockholm ghetto of Husby. God loves you!!!