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Showing posts from August, 2006

Google Boneparte

In an Economist article I read few weeks ago , the author(s*) likened Google to France before the Napoleonic Wars , mighty and threatening. The anology put Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo into the roles of Prussia, Austria and Russia. The article argues, in an rather satiric tone, that their only way out of utter defeat is collabaration. However, Google seems to have taken lessons from the sad story of the little big man from Corsica, and is forming its own alliance in the Techworld. Not a day after the incredible news of Google-Ebay Alliance , we learned that Google CEO Eric Schmidt will be joining Apple Board. This would be the equivalent of Napoleon having a seat in the Spanish court... (*)Economist tradition is not to have authors names on the article. This should give the impression that the magazine has a strong unequivocal voice.
Writely, the free online Word Processor (of my dreams?) I am using two computers, one for home, and one for office. On my office computer I have a Debian Linux, and Windows on both. I am currently thinking about buying a Mac. One of the biggest problems I face is moving around Documents. I am too forgetful to carry around a memory stick, and I don't wanna look like a computer geek with an USB stick on his key chain ( as it occurred to me just now, I can also lose my key-chain), so USB option is closed. Then there is also the tiring business of keeping these files synchronized... Most of the people I know are not like me and they are using a single computer, a single Operating System (OS) (mostly Windows). But the problem of carrying around documents are also valid for them even if they do not notice it. Especially when they are on the run. How many times have you called a friend to log in to your e-mail account to ask for the reservation code of your electronic hotel reservatio

Stone against tanks, Besiktas against war!

Besiktas Fans, especially CARSI who controls the most loud and passionate northern side of Besiktas Inonu Stadium, are known for their politically active character. I found this picture on flicklr , taken on the camping grounds of the alternative and non-commercial rock festival Barisarock . To be seen on the banners are two slogans: "Tanka karsi tas, Savasa Besiktas!" Which can be translated as "Stone against tanks, Besiktas against war!". Note that Besiktas translates as Cradle Stone, coming from the fact that it was believed in Roman times that the cradle of Jesus was located in BEsiktas, from where the Besiktas Gymnastics Club takes it's name, rhymes with stone. The second simply says: "Halkin takimi" Which means, "The team of the people", which has been on the northern stands for a long long time. Its my favorite banner. After watching the sponsor drowned World-Cup, it is relieving to see that there are football fans who still know