So, as I wrote earlier, I am in charge of an NSF grant proposal, and today was the deadline, which meant me and my professor had to work the entire day from 10 to 9 on writing the proposal, which meant I had to arrive late and miss on playing Agricola with my awesome new friend. We did play other games though, and I came back home tired but happy.
You could have known all this in real time, because I have signed up for Twitter, where I make short updates on my whereabouts and actions. You can follow my twitter by signing up, by looking at the twitter box on the right of this blog, or by signing up for the RSS feed.
For example, if you read my latest Twitter, you’d see that Tanga has sent me trash, which I paid good money for. Oh well, you win some you lose some.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:58
Posted by
epsalon |
Gaming, Academia |
one comment
I made a new girl (space) friend this week, and together we have founded the awesome peoples’ league (Bay area chapter). She and her fiancé are into boardgaming in addition to using free operating systems. They also watch many similar TV shows and enjoy hanging out and playing the same games I do (and in a good level).
As part of my ongoing commitment to resurrect this blog, I’ll tell you all that I’m happy. It’s amazing how happy a friend could make you when you need one!
In other news, I am in the process of writing an NSF grant proposal, which basically means write something about your research and beg for money.
One of the great things about being a postdoc is that you have students who do all the work, so I will have at least two papers submitted to IJCAI (probably more), and all of them in collaboration with different authors, both here and in Israel.
BTW, If you like my blog, please comment so I’ll be encouraged to write more!
November 24th, 2008 at 09:04
Posted by
epsalon |
Daily Life, Personal, Academia |
8 comments
After finally submitting a paper to the Computational Social Choice workshop in Liverpool, and some advances with our computational pool player, I decided to head North to the Hiller Aviation Museum at San Carlos Airport. I arrived just on time for a guided tour of the museum and went on to use the flight simulators to try and land a Cessna 172.
Now, you probably ask why this post is titled SQL. Well, it turns out that SQL is the IATA code of San Carlos Airport (and no, it’s not because Oracle’s head office is nearby). Anyway, I managed to fly a simulated airplane from SQL to SFO and then under the golden gate bridge and finally land at PAO (Palo Alto Airport).
Speaking of museums, this Monday I have visited the Computer History Museum, which was closed, and finally donated our old DRAGON-32 computer for display there.
June 8th, 2008 at 01:18
Posted by
epsalon |
Leisure, Academia, USA |
3 comments
My 11B seat in the KLM 747 was comfortable, but the flight was delayed for about an hour while they tried to fix the broken entertainment system. The entertainment system on the KLM 747 economy cabin consists basically of TVs around the cabin that play some bad movies — not a big loss. In fact, it’s easier to concentrate without those stupid TVs.
However, KLM thought this was a serious discomfort and offered all passengers compensation vouchers for 2000 miles and a 50 EUR discount on a future KL/AF/NW flight of 150 EUR or more. I already cashed in the miles voucher, and will try to sell the discount voucher on eBay.
In between the flight I had a long layover (about 11 hours). I started my layover by visiting the KLM lounge and checking my e-mails and stuff. Then, I left my bag behind and took the train to Amsterdam, where I started to walk aimlessly among the canals. At that point I decided I have to actually go somewhere, and looked up the address of the ILLC using an open wifi hotspot, and using Google Maps mobile, I got directions on how to get there.
After about half an hour of walking I arrived, uninvited, at the ILLC. I walked among the corridors looking for recognizable names, and found a former colleague and co-author of mine, Khalil Sima’an, who was meeting with an Israeli student of his. After they concluded their meeting, they came over to talk to me. We talked about my whereabouts and my current academic direction, and concluded when they both had to leave. I finished my visit by walking towards the general direction of the train station, and then back to the airport.
In the airport, I rested at the lounge and went (too early, as usual) to the gate. After a small delay, the plane was boarded and took off. However, as the plane was almost full and lots of people were religious jews, it took forever for the cabin crew to hand out all the special (mostly Kosher) meals. The problem was, that they would not start beverage service, or even give water until this was over, which means I was basically dehydrated for more than two hours. I have written a complaint to KLM.
In the flight itself, I was seated next to two young women who were flying alone. One was connecting from New York to visit family for passover, while the other was a dutch citizen coming to visit her long-distance Israeli boyfriend. The nice conversations and sleep compensated for the lack on an entertainment system on this flight (which is standard for KLM 737s).
Now I’m in my brother’s house in Hertzeliya, and will come home for the “Seder” tomorrow afternoon.
For my detailed travel plans and locations, see my travel calendar.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:40
Posted by
epsalon |
Frequent Flyer, Family, Academia, USA |
2 comments
It’s been a while since I’ve posted to my blog. The reason is a combination of lots of things happening (so I don’t have time or will to blog) or nothing happening (and thus nothing to blog about).
The news in short: I have missed submitting papers to two major conferences, had some medical trouble (more on the US medical system in a separate post), and my postdoc was extended for a second year.
The title of this post does not refer to a mistake by an admirer, but rather to the message my laptop displays shortly after starting up. I have to send it in for repair, and remain laptop-less for 7 business days or more. I’m writing this post from my green OLPC laptop, after I made it work with the encrypted network at home.
Speaking of home. my next visit to Israel is in two months from now. I can’t wait to be back and meet my family and friends.
February 15th, 2008 at 09:34
Posted by
epsalon |
Tech stuff, Academia |
one comment
