Shad

Interesting pictures of a wall of ice that some people in Alaska built over the couse of a number of months.

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Take a look at the program that you’re using to view this page. Look in the upper right hand corner, do you see a little “e” there? That means you’re using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) as your browser. Some of us have been using the internet long enough to remember that there was a time when you actually had to choose which browser you wanted to use. Then one day, Microsoft started bundling their browser with the Windows Operating System. Most people didn’t really notice or care. To be honest, I didn’t either. As long as I could get to the internet, I really didn’t care much about how I got there.

The problem is that IE has some issues. A lot of issues actually. Many of these issues stem from the fact that Microsoft, in their attempts to make your life better, made it possible for web sites to embed executable code directly into their web pages. This was supposed to make it possible for sites to create more dynamic, useful and interesting content. A noble goal.

Unfortunately, Microsoft didn’t really think through all the repercussions of this decision. And, as is usually the case, bad people have found the “loopholes”. Some of them just want to show off (hackers). Others are openly malicious and reek havoc on your machine (viruses). Some just want to make money (adware). There are even some that want to watch your every move (spyware).

Internet Explorer has become the platform which all of these people use to exploit users of the internet. Microsoft knows this. They’ve tried to fix it, but the code behind IE is immense and they have not yet been able to fix it. Actually, it seems to just keep getting worse. Fortunately for Microsoft, even with all of it’s warts, IE was still really the best browser on the market.

That has now changed. There’s now a choice. It’s called Firefox and it’s been created by a community of developers from around the world. It’s safe and secure (no popups, adware, virus or spyware). It’s sleek and easy to use. It has some really great features and comes in a relatively tiny package. It’s easy to install and even remembers all of your IE Bookmarks. Best of all, it’s free. Take a look. It really is that good.

Yes, I am a geek. Thank you.

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If you enjoy sculpture, then I would highly recommend Vigeland Park in Oslo. I spent a couple of hours there yesterday and was thoroughly amazed by the shear volume of sculptures. And when I say volume, I mean both size and number. There are on the order of 1000 sculptures throughout the park. They were all produced by one sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, and his army of assistants. Some of the sculptures are 20-30 feet tall. In the center of the park is a sculpture known as “The Monolith” which towers above the park.

On the highest point of the park, on the Monolith Plateau, rise circular stairs towards the Monolith. The figural part, with 121 figures, is 14.12 m and the total height, including the plinth, is 17.3 m high. The Monolith was carved from one single granite block, hence the name (mono: one, litho: stone).

This sculpture was carved in place by 3 men over the course of 3 years based on an exact plaster replica. Pretty incredible. I wish I had pictures to show you. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me. “Why?” you ask. Well, a pickpocket managed to get my camera on Saturday. I went out for a little lunch and while I was eating (I think) the guy next to me managed to nip it (I think). I’ve replayed the whole morning in my head and it HAD to be that guy. But I had no way of being absolutely sure. So here’s what I did.

I left the restaurant. Then I went back… and sat… and watched him. After about 10 minutes he got up to leave. As he was leaving, I looked him square in the eye… and he looked me square in the eye. And we just looked at each other as he passed. I wanted him to look away. That’s what a “normal” person would do when a stranger stares at them… right? A normal person would think, “Why is that person staring at me” and look away, right?

This guy did not look away. He stared me down. I’m sure it was only 3 seconds or so, but that’s hours in “eye time”. After enough time had passed that I felt the message was clear, “I know it was you, but I can’t prove it” I looked away. He went into the grocery store and I walked home.

Wow, cooooooold this morning.

16°F
(-9°C)

Guess that’s not too bad. It gets that cold in VA sometimes, I ’spose. But still. Pretty friggin cold :)

Amazing thing about Norway. As expensive as everything else is, the fish is super cheap. I got a quality cut of Salmon this weekend for 50kr/kg… that’s roughly $3/lb. I cooked it up last night and it was some of the best I’ve ever had.

In other news, I spent most of the weekend just walking around and exploring. Didn’t find too much interesting. This is a surprisingly small town. I walked way up north in about an hour or so and then hopped the tram back home.

Was pretty cold all weekend, so I also spent a lot of time in the apartment. I’m finally starting to get comfortable there. It felt like someone else’s house there for the first couple of days.

Also, put together some pictures of the last week or so. Most of these are of Troux people that were here for the week to work.

Anyway, Happy Valentines Day to all… and to all a good night!!!

I’m finally moved in to my new apartment. It’s a pretty swanky pad right down by the water. There’s a little park across the street, and the trolley stops right out front. I’m still figuring out the best way to get to/from work. This morning I took the #13 trolley and transferred to the #31 bus at Harvensenfjordsenhimersgaten (or something like that). Took a bit longer than I would have liked, though. I think I can optimize by taking one of the other busses, or taking the trolley all the way to Skoyen where I can transfer to the train. So many options.

Last night, I went to the grocery store so stock up on the essentials. Salt, olive oil, spaghetti, rice, ice cream, cheese, bread, etc. Also got some caviar (it’s cheap here, why not give it a try). Tried a little when I got home. Jury is still out on that one.

Also found a nice little sushi place right down the street. Cheap beer (only $7 bottle) and some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. Nice.

So I finally got around to putting together some photos (and a video).

My last week in Austin - Pics
My first week in Oslo - Pics
Shad & Bill go to Lillehammer - Pics Clip

The product that was developed in Oslo is called Metis. The original project was started 20 years ago to fulfill a vision. The people here have spent much of their lives developing a single product. I’m now seeing that it’s an extremely elegant product at that. It’s opening my eyes to what is possible with computers. There are some things missing still, it needs some wrapping and a bow, but the core product is stellar. The fact is that they started off solving a really hard problem with the intent of something bigger.

Now, my company was founded about 4 years ago. We have a $ystem that is akin to theirs, but focused in just a $lightly different direction. A more profitable direction. But not in as elegant of a direction. Our product does the job that it needs to do. It was built on tight $chedules and well thought out $acrifices were made. Our product followed the money to the harde$t problem.

Two companies/projects attacking the same problem. Two very different driving strategies. In the end, the company focused on money purchased the company focused on product. What have I learned? Producing a great product may not always bring profit, but it always produces a great product.

It looks like I finally have a place to live!!! It’s in a very nice area of town. Close to work. Close to downtown. Close to the beaches. Really the perfect spot all things considered. I move in on Monday (hopefully). Until then, I’m still in the Hotel. Not too big of a deal, but I am ready to have my own place.

I now understand where Ikea came from. I understand why it exists. You see, the fully furnished apartment is quite popular here (fortunate for me). You just move in and everything you need is already there waiting for you. Silverware, sheets, towels, everything. It’s both cool and creepy at the same time.

Also, the government makes it fairly cheap for people to purchase realistate/residences here. So, people here buy apartments as investments. They then have to fully furnish them for people to rent. So, when you put all this together, you create a need for really cheap, yet pretty furnature. It doesn’t need to be super high quality since your tennants will likely mess it up in some way and you’ll have to replace it anyway.

So… Ikea. Cheap, midquality furnature/dishes/fixtures that look really nice. It makes perfect sense.