pnt-blog

Seven weeks with Kindle Touch

2012-01-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

About 7 weeks ago I bought e-reader Kindle Touch from the Amazon.

I think it was right move, and I want to share my impressions.

Kindle Touch has 6" multi-touch E-Ink screen in 6.8" x 4.7" body.

There is only one button (let's name it "Home"), all other interactions through the touch screen.

Screen size (6") is large enough for comfortable reading.

Body size (6.8" x 4.7") is small enough to comfortably hold device in one hand or keep device in a large pocket. Very convenient to use in the bus, airplane and train.

E-Ink screen is black-white only and works more like paper (light reflects from the screen) rather than like computer/tablet screens (screen is a source of light itself). This means you see all colors as different grades of gray (more about this below), and you need external light for reading (same as for paper book).

Besides those inconveniences, I think E-Ink screen is more comfortable for the eyes when you read considerable amount of text.

Battery life is amazing (thanks to E-Ink screen).

I've spent whole vacation on one battery charge, including two long (about 20 hours) flights with a lot of reading and more reading between long flights (10 days).

Downloading

Kindle doesn't have Internet cable connection, only Wifi (and 3G if you want to pay extra).

I have Wifi version and no Wifi at home, so question was how to register Kindle and how to download books.

Coffee shop nearby helped with registration (must be done through Wifi) :-) , and Amazon helped with download :-).

Amazon provides Kindle application for every kind of device (PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad , Android), so book could be downloaded to any device with cable connection and copied to Kindle via usb cable (PC -> Kindle in my case). Amazon keeps everything on cloud, so you can download same book as many times as you need.

Dealing with colors

You can read books on any device (Kindle app provides this), and for me it resolves "color problem".

As I mentioned above, E-Ink screen is black-white only - not so good for magazines and books with color illustrations.

So, I used PC to look through the only book (so far) with colors, and technically it was after reading this book in the airplane from cover to cover on my Kindle (content was way more important than colors). Such "process" worked good enough for me.

E-reader actually promote reading

Kindle Touch has 4GB of memory for downloaded materials, and according to Amazon it's enough for 3,500 books. Even if it is less than 3500, it's enough for me to have on Kindle all books I want to have access to at the same time.

Currently I have about 10 books downloaded, and I read three of them - which one particularly depends on my mood at the time :-). Without e-reader it wouldn't be possible.

All books I downloaded so far were either free or within $1.99 (only one was $4.99). However, I feel like my books expenses are going to increase.

What Kindle Touch doesn't do (or does not so well).

Internet access: I wouldn't consider "Experimental Browser" as something serious. It doesn't work well, and I don't use it.

Applications: Amazon has apps for Kindle, but all of them either for Kindle Fire or for Kindle models which have "physical" keyboard. I haven't find apps for Kindle Touch (I looked for notes taking apps, something like Notepad).

Movies - no way.

Why not Kindle Fire?

Kindle Fire is much less expensive than tablets, and it provides way more functionality than Kindle Touch (and other Kindle models).

With Kindle Fire you have screen with vibrant colors, you can browse Internet, download movies and games, use applications, etc.

However, I decided to get Kindle Touch instead.

Kindle Fire costs $199 vs $99 Kindle Touch, but cost wasn't defining point.

There were other reasons.

I need device to read. Reading books was the main reason to get e-reader.
My reading amount is considerable (at least in my scale), and bright vibrant screens at some point start to irritate my eyes. Black-white E-ink screen is better for the reading.
Kindle Fire has only 8 hours of battery life (with Wifi turned off), which makes it much less useful for me (see above about Kindle Touch battery, travel, etc.).
I think it would be better to invest in full scale tablet functionality rather than in very limited (compare to tablets) Kindle Fire functionality.

Chicago Marathon 2011

2011-10-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Spent 11 hours yesterday (Oct. 9th) taking photos on Chicago Marathon for charity organization.
Why 11 hours?
Came to Charity Village at 5am. Shortly after runners started to come. Took photos of them stretching, socializing - everyone in good mood and look fresh :-).
At 6:30 runners went to the start point, and I went to 14th mile cheering point. There I took photos of runners actually running.
After this back to Charity Village to take photos of runners returning from marathon. Last runner from charity organization team came at about 4pm.
It was great fun day.

Photos from 2011 Chicago Marathon

Photos from 2010 marathon.

Chernobyl days, 1986

2011-03-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Reading about Japan, and Chernobyl days are back into my memory.
Same feeling of “negative excitement”, I’d say. Something you definitely curious about, very dangerous potentially, already affected many people, and totally out of your control.

Another dimension: 25th anniversary of Chernobyl is in few weeks (April 26th). Not really reason to celebrate, but reason to recall those days.

So, some random memories.
Kiev, capitol of Ukraine, about 3.000.000 population, 60 miles south from Chernobyl.
Explosion happened at about 1:30am, April 26th, 1986.

As many others, I found out that “something happened in Chernobyl power plant” from coworkers who found out from other coworkers, etc., etc., etc. ZERO official information, only gossips.
During the day came more gossips based information: reactor exploded, everything is out of control, everything is under control, nuclear explosion had happened, nuclear explosion is not possible, nuclear explosion is very possible, we need to run out of city as soon as fast and as far as possible, no real reasons to worry about, etc., etc., etc.
I think later this day (April, 26th) or the next day, first official information came. Something about minor incident.
However, at that time “word of mouth” provided much more info about what is going on - thanks to foreign radio stations*, people who had friends or relatives in Chernobyl, or others who knew because of their work.

Next few days: no panic, everything looks as usual around.
Very little official information.

We knew that radiation is dangerous, but no one had any basis for comparison and, as became very clear, no one had any knowledge about radiation. You cannot see radiation, cannot taste it, cannot smell it, cannot feel it. Abstract knowledge “radiation is dangerous” doesn’t have any connection to everyday life. Very few realized danger**.
Feeling of “negative excitement” is on the air. At work people walk from room to room, from desk to desk and talk about what is going on in Chernobyl, what to do with kids, what could happen. Same time no one wears mask (I’ve seen only one or two people wearing mask on the streets), looks like no one is going to limit self-exposure to the environment.

May 1st, International Labor Day holiday. Usually official demonstrations (flags, music, flowers) and many people on the streets.
Something like “Probably government should cancel all official activities this time?” is floating around. Government did not cancel anything - many thousands went to the streets.

As we learned those days, in the Prypiat (city within few miles from Chernobyl, plant personal and families lived there) children played outside at the morning after explosion. Evacuation started next day afternoon, more than 36 hours after explosion. Now Prypiat is ghost town.

May 4th, World Bicycle Tour is going to Kiev.
Something like “I can’t believe they wouldn’t cancel this!” is floating around.
Nothing cancelled, thousands are on the streets, World Bicycle Tour is going as scheduled.

Many became very interested in what radiation is. Discussions about what those strange-sounding measurement units mean are all around. One day I noticed book about Nuclear Physics on the data entry operator’s desk.

I think at that time (around May 4th) became known that high government officials arranged airplane to send their children and grandchildren out to Bulgaria, just hours after explosion. People started to get really angry (“They KNEW how dangerous it is!!!”, “They didn’t tell US how bad is everything!!!!”, “They done nothing to save OUR children!!!”). Many started to take things much more serious than before.

More information became available from official sources - it was impossible to hide dozens of thousands people (engineers, workers, scientists, military personal) coming to Chernobyl, and all activities around.
Recommendations like “keep widows closed” started to come from official sources. However, weather is beautiful, and not so many people followed recommendations.

May 9th, Victory Day. Really big holiday for most of people (every family was affected by World War II). That year Victory Day went somehow unnoticed***.

Children evacuation started. Older ones (who could live without parents) were evacuated with their schools (a lot of resorts and summer camps were reserved for kids from Kiev and surrounding areas).
Families had to take care about young kids. Wives or husbands (whoever was able to go) with little kids went to any available relatives, preferably living as far from Kiev as possible. But many stayed in the city - if you don’t have place to go, you stay where you are.
Life around went as usual, work as usual, however everyone somehow stressed. But not depressed. I don’t remember any depression around.

Those days we learned about plant operators who managed to shot down whatever was possible to shot down, about workers who managed to close and seal doors, who went to deadly dangerous areas and done their job. About doctor who treated them right there, not having any protection.
All of them died, some within days, some within weeks.
Many firefighters came there****. Ones who came first died within weeks, however one or two of them survived.
Thousands of military people were brought to Chernobyl: to secure areas, to remove debris - very much radioactive debris. Few had protection. How many got cancer later?

Middle of May, our first Chernobyl project came (I worked for the company specialized in design of civil buildings: schools, hospitals, residential buildings, supermarkets, etc.).
People worked around reactor 24 hours, however no one had 8 hours shift - too dangerous. As closer to reactor as shorter shift. Some had shift less than 10 min per day. To keep everything running around the clock a lot of people were necessary.
Temporary settlement within few miles from the plant was set for them, and they needed a lot of water. Settlement needed sewer and other infrastructure. This project came to us. Temporary pipe lines wouldn’t handle this, so it was decided to build permanent grade water pipe line, about two dozens of miles long. No one ordered or asked us to work extra hours - we just knew that we must do everything fast and very well. Long hours in the office. I wouldn’t name this enthusiasm (this term usually associated with something positive), we just knew that people THERE somehow depend on us, and we must do our part. I don’t recall such level of cooperation as was those days.
As any construction project, this one required geological survey (drill, get samples, test samples, some hydrology research, etc.). Company had field team to do this, but that time their department manager went to the field together with them. He was in his sixties, in retirement age already, he was WWII veteran. He didn’t have to go anywhere, he could get retired “effective immediately”. He spent all necessary time there with his people. Two of them - department manager and drill master (man about forty years old) died from cancer within few years. Survey group manager (also went to the field himself) died from cancer few years later.

Generally, life during that summer was somehow interesting, I’d say.
Some realities of that time:
Summer, great weather;
Many people got more free time (kids sent out);
Many temporary singles (wife or husband is out of city with kids);
General stress and worries from the situation itself;
Long work hours for many (a lot of people got involved in Chernobyl related projects);
Many had to cancel summer vacations;
Liqueur became a little bit more available *****
From this combination of factors - whatever direction your imagination is taking now, you are probably right :-) :-).
Several times during the summer group of coworkers went after work to someones place, just to relax. We talked, listened to the music, of course liqueur was involved. I wouldn’t name those events as “parties”. I think under the circumstances it was just comforting to get together with people you know.

30 km security zone around Chernobyl was established within days after explosion. All residents had to be relocated, permanently. Many of them weren’t allowed to take anything from their homes, they had to go as is. Many people came to existing villages and small towns and got settled in temporary houses. As came, it was not enough bathing facilities around, no places to take shower. Since relocation was permanent, government decided to build dozens of small public bathing facilities in villages and small towns.
At the end of June we got our portion. Such kind of project may sound somehow not very serious, but no smiles and no jokes were around. It was our part, and we had to do it.

At the end of August construction of protective concrete container around Chernobyl reactor was under way, it was clear that things are not going to be worse, no more Chernobyl projects came to work, people get used to the situation. I think at that time level of stress went down.

My college class mate, met him year ago on the Internet (have not seen him since college).
“How are you?”
“Retired already”
“Why?”
“Chernobyl.... We did some work there”

G-d saved Kiev.
I’m not religious, but this is the only way how I see it.
It was strong wind from the South (Chernobyl is north from Kiev) during the first four days. Wind moved contaminated clouds out from Kiev to the areas with magnitudes less population.

Let’s pray for the people in Japan.

-----------------------------------------
Notes:
* Those years many people listened to foreign russian-speaking radio stations. Government tried to make it impossible (using technical and not only technical measures), but someone always knew more than government told.
Particularly in this case, first information about elevated radiation level came from Sweden (they assumed that it was THEIR research reactor leaking). Hours later Soviet government had to admit that something happened in Chernobyl.
Of course, all foreign radio stations re-translated this news.
** “F*** radiation! I’m going to the beach anyway!” - it was amazing how often you could hear something like this those days and during the summer.
*** My both parents participated in WWII, and May 9th we usually had many guests. That year I don’t remember many people coming. Not much “holiday spirit” around.
**** According to emergency protocol, firefighters from all around of Ukraine went to Chernobyl as fast as they could.
***** In 1985 Gorbachev established sort of “Prohibition”. It wasn’t real prohibition - government just closed most of liqueur stores. Many wine producing plants were closed, many grape plantations destroyed, huge anti-alcohol campaign in press launched. To get bottle of Champaign you had to spend hours and hours in lines. There were cases when old people died in those lines. It was bad. People got upset, angry and innovative: from drinking any kind of substances containing alcohol (e.g. lotions) to making high quality liqueur at home.
After explosion, topic of how alcohol helps to fight radiation became THE TOPIC in many conversations around (“What kind of BS government is going to tell us NOW?”). In fact, after explosion liqueur became more available, at least in Kiev.

Borscht

2011-02-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

I know how to cook Borscht.
I picked recipe and attitude from my mother - she described this process as "Building Borscht". She took it very seriously - simple, vegetables only Borscht was the only food my mother's family survived on during the Hunger in Ukraine (1932 -1933).
There is no "standard" Borscht recipe, every village in Ukraine has own borscht style, actually every hostess has own vision what Borscht is.

How to make Vegetables only Borscht.

First of all, what taste and flavor of Borscht mostly depends on:
How sweet beet is
How ripe and juicy tomato is
How sweet carrot is
Amount of water
As riper vegetables are - as better.
How to handle if Borscht is too sweet described below in the #7-b

Main Ingredients:
Green cabbage (~ 8” diameter, or a little bit larger)
Larger than average size red beet (or 2-3 small ones)
Average onion
1-2 not large carrots
Average red ripe tomato
2 reasonably large potatoes
Small bunch of dill + parsley (tie bunch with white thread)

Optional ingredients:
Lemon juice
Vegeta (or other seasoning)
Butter

Initial Preparation
Clean and peel beet, cut by half
Cut out 1/3 of cabbage as one piece
Cut carrots by half
Chop onion – as smaller as better

Execution
1. Boil water (make sure water initially takes ½ of the pot).
Amount of water depends on how thick you like borsch to be.
I usually start from a little bit more than 1.5 liters (48 - 50oz) – depending on actual size of cabbage, size of beet and size of potatoes.
Sometimes I add a little bit of hot water later.
2. Put beet, carrot, onion and large piece of cabbage (prepared before) in the boiling water.
3. More preparation (time spent for this is enough for borscht to be ready for the next step):
-- Chop remaining 2/3 of cabbage
-- Grate tomato on coarse grating blade
-- Peel and cut potato
4. Remove cabbage (large piece) from the water (everything else stays there).
Large piece of cabbage is not going into the borscht anymore (could be eaten separately).
5. Remove beet from the water (everything else stays there).
Warning: beet is hot!!! Put it in the cold water for a few moments.
Cut beet on small pieces (chop, grate – depending on your taste).
6. Put into the bowl: beet, chopped cabbage, potato and salt.
7. When potato is ready (“fork ready”):
a). Put grated tomato in the bowl
b). Taste borscht. If it is too sweet – add few drops of lemon juice.
Sweetness mostly depends on beet and carrot.
c). If you like: tea spoon of Vegeta (or other seasoning according to taste).
d). If you like: tea spoon size piece of butter.
8. Put bunch of greens (dill + parsley) and boil 2min.
9. Turn off the hit.
Greens could be removed or left. More or less flavor - as you like.
Cover the pot and put towel on the top.
Keep in this way hour or so, or until cold enough to put into refrigerator.

How to eat Borscht
Borscht is much more tasty and flavorful after few hours (overnight).
Borscht could be served cold or hot (cold Borscht in hot summer day - WOW!).
Add sour cream to the Borscht - almost mandatory :-)
Add cucumber to the Borscht - totally optional (I like it with hot and with cold Borscht).
Bread to eat with Borscht:
-- If you have Russian store around - ask for Ukrainian bread (round shape loaf).
-- If not - rye bread (like Polish rye).
Garlic - great addition to the Borscht.

Borscht and Meet
Borscht could be cooked with beef or with chicken.
Key point - Borscht should not have too much "meaty" taste.
So, cook (a little bit under-cook) meat separately and add to the Borscht between step 6 and 7. You'll get reasonable meet flavor and meet.
Could be added a little bit of meet broth.
There are recipes of Borscht based on meet broth instead of water, however I don't like such implementations.

Unleash you creativity and just make Borscht ! :-)

Blizzard, Chicago

2011-02-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

It was bad.
Two buses and few cars just stopped in the middle of the street, probably from the evening before.

And more buses got trapped.

Lake Michigan didn't look like lake at all - more like snow desert.

However, things got much better after blizzard, at afternoon of 2/2/2011.
Many people came outside to enjoy sun, snow and to celebrate the end of the blizzard. It looked like everyone had camera to get photos of themselves in the snow, on the snow, around the snow, etc., etc., etc.

Even a little-blizzard-after-blizzard didn't affect elevated spirit

We are great! :-)

And latest news: Lake Shore Drive is running, both directions.
Life is back.

All photos are in this set

"Linchpins" meeting, Chicago

2010-06-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Interesting people, but one of the strangest meeting I’ve ever attended.

• About 50 people from different backgrounds and industries, different occupations, different interests, etc., etc., etc.
• People came to the bar, but drinking wasn’t a goal.
• Meeting had no agenda, no predefined topics, no directions.
• Although everyone read Seth Godin’s book(s) or follow his blog, it was clear that just pronouncing/repeating statements about his ideas would not be very much appreciated.

So, what was in common?
I think state of mind and interest to see like-minded others.
And probably hope to find a way of using own creativity and ideas.
Some clearly looked for inspiration and moral support, something like this.

Many interesting conversations around, but two questions behind each of them:
• What do we have in common (besides sharing interest to same ideas)?
• How this collective creative power could be used?

Was this meeting successful?
From amount of exchanged business cards point of view, probably yes.
But in more deep level – I don’t know.
I’m not sure how many people would attend second meeting (if second meeting ever happened).

Anyway, it was interesting and fun.
Since this “tribal movement” just started, let’s see. And probably even participate.

Onion and Flu

2009-11-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me this.
I don't know if this will help, but it will, definitely, not hurt.
Worth a try.

Onions

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case.

Timeless Design - Alvar Aalto

2009-09-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Looking through the photos from my last trip to Finland.
Beautiful city of Jyväskylä, Alvar Aalto Museum.

Building designed by Aalto himself (originally for city museum):

Beautiful interiors:

A lot of examples of great design:

However, one exhibit grabbed my attention - stool with L-shaped legs (designed in 1933):.

I remember such stools from my friends' kitchens in Kiev (my hometown). Stool was more convenient that regular square stools, however I've never thought about it as about something "designed". Just a stool.
Aalto didn't design things to be exclusive. All his pieces are simple and very functional, all of them are things for everyday life.
And museum took this approach.

Stools below are not exhibits (and not from 1933, of course). They are regular furniture for visitors' convenience:

How better designer's work could be recognized?

Just Timeless Design.

See all photos here.

Photo Inspiration

2009-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

Couple of year ago, when walking near Copper Harbor (Upper Michigan), I found this survey sign from 1864.
Last week I've received email form another Flickr user about this sign:
"Just returned from CH [Copper Harbor], and after much hunting found the rock! I have been on edge waiting to get back up there after seeing your photo AFTER our return from a prior trip. I see that you noted that it was a survey mark from 1864, do you have any more information on the markings? I assumed it was the United States Lighthouse Service, but the mark pre-dates them. If you have any info please shoot me an email."

Nice when your photo inspired someone :-)

My answer:
"I don't know purpose of this sign for sure (and people in the Fort Wilkins didn't know either :-) ), however I think, there are two possibilities.

Version #1:
First light tower has been built in 1848. Current lighthouse building has been built in 1866, current light tower has been built in 1930s.
So, I think you are right: survey is related to the construction of lighthouse - just two years difference (1864 - 1866).

Version #2:
It's not possible to get to the CH port directly from the lake - too many underwater rocks. Boats (even now) have to go close to the shore in the area of lighthouse, and after this go along the shore to the port.
When you are looking at the survey sign, there is navigation sign (large white board) behind your back. Survey could be related to this navigation sign.

Actually, I think that both versions could be right same time: survey done by United States Lighthouse Service to build navigational infrastructure there.

I didn't know about survey, I walked around taking photos, and it was very nice surprise when I've noticed this sign.
Copper Harbor and around is amazing place. I've been there once, and I definitely will visit this place again."

My Twitter Psycho Profile

2009-06-15T12:19:00.001-07:00

Tried TweetPsych (http://tweetpsych.com) to get my psychological profile based on my tweets:

Cognitive Content

1. Positive emotions
2. Senses
3. Time
4. Present tense
5. Similes
6. Number
7. Education
8. Tentative
9. Past tense
10. Motion

Primordial, Conceptual and Emotional Content

1. Constructive behaviors
2. Oral fixation
3. Abstract thought
4. Visual sensations
5. Affection
6. Glory
7. Social behavior
8. Temporal References
9. Cold sensations
10. Order
11. General Sensation
12. Restraint
13. Taste Sensations
14. Hard sensations
15. Positive affect

Enjoying

2009-02-21T13:12:00.001-08:00

Fin_swim_Jan_09_11_m1_screen
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

Saturday morning. Weather is not really optimistic. Salad for breakfast helped to improve mood.
Let's share salad info.
Ingredients: red tomato, green lattice, red reddish, olives, red onion, alfalfa sprouts, red bell pepper (marinated in white wine left in the bottle in refrigerator + leftovers of balsamic vinegar + water + a little bit salt).
Dressed/seasoned with flax oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Bragg sprinkle seasoning, kelp, Celtic sea salt, flax seeds, celery seeds and a little bit of horseradish.
With slice of sprouted bread.
NICE.

Running Pilot Project :-)

2008-10-28T15:37:00.001-07:00

_Hotels_Map_Reykjavik_m1
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

Running pilot project.........
You have to do everything below (and much more) just by YOURSELF:

listen to users
generate idea
provide design (useful, not cool)
develop everything
test (it's VERY IMPORTANT)
provide documentation for users
provide training, if necessary
analyze results
prioritize
be polite
be agile
listen to users (again and again)
document everything (wiki)

"Twittering" in Enterprise - 2

2008-05-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

After one year of micro-blogging in our department, I brought Russian style "hard bagels" to celebrate . Point of celebration? Micro-blogging in work environment with only 30-35 potential participants is useful, and after one year and about 900 posts, still alive :-)
See my blog post about this: http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

Actually, there were other goals. "Hard bagels" have been served in floor kitchen, so people from other departments could enjoy them. Also I was curious how many people (if any) would ask us about our "twitter".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481294834/in/photostream/

Hour or so later unexpected things started to happen - posts directly on the bagel box.
First post: "IGNORING". Ignoring "Hard bagels"? I don't think so - they were pretty tasty. Ignoring our "twitter"? Ignoring whole idea of sharing? OK......
A little bit later - second post. Link to one of the Beatnik Turtle songs, probably somehow related to the fact of ignorance :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481295214/in/photostream/

I think it's just great that people had something to express about the subject.
This IGNORING individual actually has not ignored :-) . He/she POSTED something to let others know about his/her opinion, whatever opinion is.... :-)

Going back to my goals: one person from other departments asked for access to our "twitter".

My blog post about "Twittering" in Enterprise:
http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

"Twittering" in Enterprise

2008-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

One year ago we (3 guys from one of the groups in our department) started “something-like-twitter”. We didn’t have any specific goal, just wanted to try how idea of micro-blogging could survive in work environment with very limited amount of potential participants (something around 30-35 people).
It took almost no time to set simple SharePoint list, and first post has appeared. There was no question “What are you doing?”, there were no “friends” and “followers”. Only available options: post and get notifications (RSS or email alert – both provided by SharePoint). From beginning we decided not to tell anyone, we wanted to create initial content, so new participants (if any) would see something (instead of blank page). Plan: “Let see in 3 weeks” . We posted interesting links, question to each other, notes about current projects, etc. To our surprise it was useful even for 3 people.
Two weeks later we have been discovered through our intranet search – and we’ve got 4^th participant (post content looked interesting to him). At this point we’ve sent email to everyone in department about our “something-like-twitter”. Nobody joined.
Three more weeks later we’ve got 5^th participant. After our email she started to read posts, and at some point started to post herself (“this was so 2 weeks ago... i know of this technology but i thought it was a bit "stalkerish".. TRG Twitter just rolls off the tongue. ”).
And so on, and so on (“so on” still within 30-35 people department).
During one year 17 people posted at least once. However, most of content have been created by 5-7 participants. We’ve got about 900 posts.
What is in content:
-- interesting links and other internet findings (somehow technology related);
-- very few posts about current projects;
-- general notes, opinions, etc.
-- several discussions started there, and have been moved to email or in-person conversations (where you can put longer content );
-- very few “What I’m doing now” info;
-- blog posts announcements;
-- jokes and links to funny stories/photos/videos;

Conclusions:
-- micro-blogging is useful even with very limited amount of potential participants;
-- group of enthusiasts is “mast have” condition;
-- initial content (I prefer “Engaging content”) is extremely important.

Public health survey

2008-05-04T13:13:00.001-07:00

public health survey
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

On my walk to vegan store (to get rejuvelac) I've been asked to participate in survey conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Quite interesting combination of questions: from safety of water activities in Chicago river to gastroenterology to contact lenses... Best part - 15 dollars gift card and nice T-shirt at the end :-)

San Jose airport and yoga

2008-02-14T14:25:00.001-08:00

See on Flickr

Spotted this yesterday in San Jose airport, on my way back to Chicago.
This lady looked much more comfortable than most of other laptop users in the airport (sitting on the floor in inconvenient poses, sitting in the airport chairs which are not exactly designed for people with laptops, etc.).
I think she practices yoga, and looks like yoga training and yoga equipment (yoga brick in this case) are helpful!

San Jose

2008-02-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

ODC 2008 begins tomorrow, so today I had several hours to walk around. Weather was just great, 60++ F, sunny, very nice. I got my shorts, sandals and camera, and started to enjoy life.
Streets almost empty. Beautiful St. Joseph cathedral - white on bright blue sky background. Cathedral gift shop - many religious souvenirs, religious and classical music. Very interesting, unusual, modern-design cross (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2253465607/). Very polite man agreed that cross is quite unusual and explained that cross is from El Salvador (“…there are many interesting things from El Salvador… ”). I asked how far is downtown (crowd, troops of tourists, traffic, etc., etc., etc.). Man in the store looked at me silently for approximately 12 seconds. Answer: “You ARE in downtown. Right in the middle….” Yes…… OK…... February, definitely off-season.
Streets of San Jose look nice, but there are not so many really distinctive buildings (my very subjective possibly wrong opinion just after several hours in the city). Really great City Hall, Beautiful example of modern architecture.
Went to the Art Museum. Exhibition of Goya and Picasso graphics – absolutely great. Three chandeliers by Dale Chihuly in the museum lobby, very similar to chandelier which I’ve seen in Columbus, IN visitors center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2137283494/in/set-72157603417353853/).
Little vegan café. Two vegetarians with tattoo all around the visible parts of their bodies (arms, elbows, shoulders, necks, etc.) sit in the corner. I got green tea and two healthy vegan deserts. Very tasty.
From all possible directions ladies and gentlemen are heading to hotel. Crowd of limos, tuxedoes and very nice evening dresses. Soft piano music in the lobby: Fransis Lai, Michael Legrand, “Stranger of the Night”….. Smell of Chanel #5 and/or something else very nice, all around the hotel lobby. My shorts, sandals, backpack and camera look not exactly……. I ‘m moving to my room and now I’m blogging about my first ½ of day in San Jose, California.

What else?..... More than 100 photos have been taken. Hope to upload them to Flickr soon.

Social Networks Surprises

2008-02-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

Recently I registered on www.odnoklassniki.ru (it's russian clone of www.classmates.com).
Of course, found some of my high school and college classmates. It was great to exchange messages with people who I've not seen many (MANY) years, very positive emotions.
My last name (Trebukov) is not very common in Russia and Ukraine, I've never met anybody with last name who is not known relative. Just today another Trebukov contacted me through odnoklassniki.ru, absolutely unknown for me person from Russia. Would be very interesting to "investigate" possible connections. Social Networks definitely work!

Poor news coverage

2008-02-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

Colleague from Bogota has sent those photos:

http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha05jb2.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha10qb1.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha16nj6.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha20xb4.jpg

10 millions Colombians (25% of country population) marched against drug cartels and against terrorism in Colombia. Quite amazing. It was four days ago.
I don't remember any mentioning in international news.

Starting blogging again

2008-02-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Third attempt to start blog........ Lets try to keep blog alive this time...