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kiva loans

2008-12-12T09:43:00Z

a while ago I mentioned I am trying out kiva, and i thought i’d give a bit of an update + some pics so you can check it out. I put in 100$ and so far have gotten 36$ back, which I re-lent out. here is my portfolio of 5 loans of 25$:

unfortunately, all of them are behind schedule with my money! i don’t wanna get all stewie on them, but a deal’s a deal ;) i seem to be doing under average for repayments but these guys are still trying to repay, even if its late. truthfully, i’m not really expecting to be paid back.

I’m approaching it more just out of curiousity, but I gotta say, it’d be a lot more fun if you had to manage the portfolio to get some kinda return. at least then you can turn it into a game, and have more fun with it. as it is right now, I don’t receive any interest and actually donate to Kiva almost every loan – so this is just leaking money, but in a good place.

for gmail users

2008-11-27T20:01:00Z

I blogged about how email is becoming a standard for identity on the web and I think i’ve seen more trends that agree. in short, when you want a password reset for another account, they use your email. anyway, here are two quick security tips for gmail users:

1) if you click the settings link on the top right, then scroll to the bottom, you’ll see this:

Https roughly means use a secure, encrypted connection. so it’s always good to use it.

2) this one requires a little more manual involvement. at the bottom of your inbox page, you’ll see this:

If you click on the details link, you can see a popup with a table of all the account activity by time and IP address (which for simplicity, is just a number that identifies a computer). At the bottom of the pop, it’ll tell you the IP address of the computer you are using. So if there are other IP address on this table, you might want to click on “sign out all other sessions”, and then change your password, if you think someone has access to your account.

I have two IP addresses in my table, but i just verified the other is my itouch. this is also useful if you aren’t sure if you left yourself logged in on someone elses computer.

pictures from florida

2008-11-26T19:27:00Z

genius!

2008-11-26T07:53:00Z

does this look broken to you?

just incase this picture doesn’t capture the exposed metal wire and broken covering, that’s what happened.

so naturally, still being under warranty and having paid 300$ for my extended coverage, I goto the local apple store and show them the wire. get this – I have to book an appointment… with an Apple Genius.

When you have questions or need hands-on technical support for your Mac, iPod, Apple TV, or iPhone, you can get friendly, expert advice at the Genius Bar in any Apple Retail Store.

Thanks, Apple. Expert advice? Really? I need to waste more time so I can talk to your geniuses, so they can explain to me that my broken power cord is broken.

I tried to take the issue up with the customer service agent who wanted me to book the appointment.

“Oh are they going to fix the cable?”
“Oh no, they can’t fix that. They’ll look at it and check if the part is under warranty. Then they’ll just give you a new one.”
(stupified face)

staying young at heart

2008-11-21T21:10:00Z

This was a nice Stanford podcast that I recently listened to. It is a bit long, but there a several good points throughout.

Young at Heart: How to Be an Innovator for Life.

Also, I wanted to play with this new yahoo music player! ;)

It’s dead simple to put on your blog,

link to an mp3
put 1 line of html on your page (see link above).

sitting on the fence

2008-11-20T19:17:00Z

stuff and montreal

wow, it has been a while since i’ve updated. and even longer since I put a real meaty post up. I guess i got really caught up in the day to day. and the few big things i can’t really post about.

sigh. it feels like i’ve just finished mentally sprinting for the past couple weeks – lots of thoughts running through my mind but having to just focus on the immediate tasks at hand to get through – but i think i’m through it now.

actually, in thinking about recapping, i realize i still can’t really talk about anything. no wonder i’m not updating anything. well I can say this much i’m planning on coming back to montreal on the dec 19th and probably staying for 4 weeks. can’t wait to be back. i think i’ve been waiting since I left chase to come back and have a really long stay… that was 2 months ago.

sitting on the fence

i’m really not sure what my long term plans are yet – i think i’ve hit a big fork in the road with too many choices. i don’t think i’ll be anywhere permanently, montreal, columbus or elsewhere. i do know i will try hard not to jump into any situations right now. i’m in this position where i can’t commit to anything; in fact i’m in the exact position, i want stop for a bit and really carefully think about my next moves. sometimes its good to just sit on the fence… you can see farther from there.

i’ll try not to stop for too long. i’m aware that indecision is something i already tend to have too much of. i think i’ll timebox myself; give myself 3 months to stay here. that sounds like a good start. i gotta make a few lists of what i want to do in the next year and 4 years (will try to put those up). and most importantly, i think i need to experiment with more stuff. i’ve done all the thinking i can do. i want to spend a couple months in san francisco, i want to go all over europe, i want to find something that really motivates me. i’ve been really lucky in too many ways to be in this position and i feel like i’d be wasting it if i dont fully take advantage of it. So,

3 months
make list of todos
do.

seems simple enough. thoughts?

cool stuff this week

2008-10-31T02:12:00Z

There are a bunch more that I just get added to my ‘Recent Bookmarks’ list on the right. Also, I created a iTunes podcast with some of the more interesting podcasts I find. Just click here.

things I want to do...

2008-10-29T03:19:00Z

Family and friends aside, of course.

drop in on some physics classes again
- assemble a solar panel kit
walk the streets of some city in the UK that I don’t currently know of
- preferably on a tight budget to keep it fun
volunteer some time to tutor math to some high school students
stop. read. and think for a couple weeks.

I just felt like dumping this list here. Let’s see if I can do it by end of 2009.

free the airwaves - short version

2008-10-29T03:06:00Z

cable companies will now broadcast only in digital
because of this, there is a spectrum of airwaves unused
issue: should the government license those airwaves or let some if it be public
- like wifi but better
- these airwaves can go further and through more obstacles like trees
- having these airwaves be public will provide opportunities for new devices, innovation and entrepreneurship
vote happens nov 4th (a big day)
broadcasting lobby filed an emergency request to stop the vote from happening

For a fuller story, checkout:

Yes, you can

2008-10-22T04:40:00Z

No, you can't

2008-10-22T04:38:00Z

star wars - deleted scene

2008-10-12T17:05:00Z

Old Man Gang: the introduction

2008-10-04T00:25:00Z

3 old friends are sitting on a bench at park – passing the days, without a care, playing music. The slow, calming rhythm that pours out from their instruments seems to bring a sense of peace and joy to all those hearing it as they pass by. The sounds seems to carry the collective wisdom of their many years of life experience. The old men pause for a moment and break into conversation:.

Old Man Jones:
Nice day Jimmee…
Crazy Jimmee:
What?
Old Man Jones:
‘said, nice day Jimmee!!
Crazy Jimmee:
Oh… yeah. nice day.
Old Man Jones:
So I hear we are off to Montreal…
Crazy Jimmee:
What?!!
Old Man Jones:
SOO I HEAR WE -
Crazy Jimmee:
I heard you! Montreal…!? Jimney crickets Jonesy. I never thought I’d come all the way to Canada.
Old Man Jones:
Yeah, Jimmee. Never thought it! A lot of travel these days… a lot of travel…
Crazy Jimmee:
I sure hope I don’t lose my other leg this time…

worldwide airtraffic simulation

2008-09-29T05:00:00Z

I just thought this was cool – almost as if you can see how the world is connected.

short visit to montreal

2008-09-27T03:46:00Z

I just bought my ticket, but it is going to be a short one. =(

arriving: Oct 4, Sat 3:30 pm
leaving: Oct 6, Mon 12:00 pm

I wish I could have given more notice, but things have really been up in the air lately.

I want to make the most of the short time but at the same time, want to avoid having a bunch of stress – after all, I am looking to relax and feel at home. I’m thinking this is my rough outline, although I haven’t planned anything with anyone yet.

Sat supper with my family. Thinking sat or sun evening might just hang out at a bar downtown, if you can make it, you can make it; no biggies otherwise. Let’s say trois brasseurs for now.

Sunday probably has another family lunch in there.

And Monday has an early breakfast, but I have to be at the airport by 10 am.

Let’s see how that works… montreal!!