http://homepage.mac.com/tcherna/iblog © Tim Cherna Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:34:30 -0700 Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:34:35 -0700 iBlog 1.4.0 I've decided to switch to iWeb to write my blog, so this should be the last entry on the iblog version of Mindless Rambling. To go to the new one, use my homepage (http://homepage.mac.com/tcherna) or select this rss feed. ]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:34:16 -0700 My friends from CEGEP, Steve and Eve and their two daughters Sophie and Clara were visiting San Francisco, so I invited them and Nicholas and Heather over for dinner -- being the first dinner guests at my new home. We had tri-tip, asparagus, tomato salad and corn basil risotto, and Nicholas and Heather brought a nice dessert.

Here are the seven of us posing on my couch (me, Clara, Eve, Sophie, Steve, Nicholas and Heather).



Clara, Eve, Sophie and Stephen on the couch.



Heather and Sophie



Clara and Eve
]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:13:23 -0700 My new place has DSL, unlike the last place, which was served by fiber, and as such had its own small service center who knew all about the equipment. Not only did the DSL transfer not occur on the date of the phone transfer, I had to go through the gauntlet of the DSL phone support to be able to get my service up. That usually goes something like this:

Automated phone system: Please enter your phone number, followed by the number sign
Me: Enter phone number
APS: some menu selection and pleasantries
Me: Operator
APS: hmm. I didn't understand that. Did you say billing?
Me: Agent
APS: hmm. I don't understand that. Let me get you someone on the line
Me: (yes)
Agent: What phone number is your DSL
Me: phone number (thinking I just entered it)
Agent: If we get disconnected, can we call you on the same number
Me: no, use my cell, (give cell number)
Agent: What is the problem
Me: The modem isn't connected
Agent: What OS are you using
Me: Mac OS X. But it doesn't matter, since the modem isn't connected, and I use a router anyway
Agent: I need to transfer you to the Mac support
Phone System: Stupid pleasantries
Mac Agent: Hi what phone number is your DSL.... and of course, if we get disconnected....

This went on for some time. Apparently, I learned one thing, which is my old Alcatel modem uses the yellow black lines rather than green red, so I had to do some temporary rewiring while waiting for my new modem. Also, connecting DSL service also involves registering the account, something they neglected to do. In any case, I'm connected now... ]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:57:53 -0700 Well, I'm in the new place. I finally got a chance to set up my iMac, so I can blog again, although I can't quite find my cable from my s230 to transfer a bunch of pictures over. Maybe I can move the card over to my other digital camera.

First of, I want to extend a bunch of thanks to some people who made this all happen:

To Steve Jobs and my boss Josh, who made this actually possible. Josh basically gave me lots of time to coordinate the move, which took a lot of time. And of course, Apple made this financially possible.

To my dear friends Sean and David, who basically got me to move to San Francisco last January. Not only did they encourage me daily, but they both helped pack my stuff in Palo Alto. They were very pleased that I decided to have the movers do more this time! But seriously, without them, I'd never have moved and bought my own place. You've both been so important to me over the last 12 months.

To my friends from Montreal whom I'm fortunate enough to have in the SF Bay area: Nicholas and Heather both have encouraged me to make the move to the city for several years now. And for the new house, they served as my real estate consultants and architects on loan. I totally appreciate the support during those panicked phone calls as I tried to figure out 'property line windows' and punch lists. To John, my old roommate and friend from Matrox, and his wife Christina for all support the whole time during the purchase process. John even drove down to SF to help me with some final packing.

Thanks all. ]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:49:43 -0700 Here are some images from move day


The office during the pack:




Stuff arriving in the new place:


TV Stand getting assembled



The washer dryer being installed. There is a man in behind the w/d.



Here he comes out:




View from the window ]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2006 21:20:25 -0700 Wow. Busy day. At 9:30 the Ikea men arrived to deliver PAX to my condo. Total price of PAX. $950. Total price of delivery of 700 pounds of pressboard: $125.





At noon, I wired an enormous amount of money to the escrow company. Wiring actually involves just a phone call and a few careful questions. As in, my supervisor wants to know why you are wiring a half million dollars out of your account...

At two, I spent about an hour and a half reading, initialing, signing, reviewing, dating. Oh, did I mention signing. I walked away with one package of papers, one book of warranty info, and a manual with the owners guide to every fitting in the condo. Oh, and a set of keys :-)

At 4:30, the little man arrived to assemble the PAX. He actually was little. He brought his daughter for help, which consisted of handing the right screws. I was surprised that he thought he could build the stuff alone, but he could. I helped a bit. Total cost of assembly: $230. The fact that I had to do practically nothing: priceless.





The little man at work. Note the beautiful new floor. Daughter hanging out in the corner





Either this is a crappy phone camera, or he works really really fast. And he was little. He had to jump to reach the top hinges on the 92" PAX. OK, basically, only John could reach that without a ladder, which hasn't moved yet. ]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2006 21:09:48 -0700 Well, things are really close. The floor went in on Monday, and today the apartment was getting some caulking and painting done on the baseboards that were removed. The IKEA delivery men arrive tomorrow morning to deliver PAX, and in the afternoon the IKEA men arrive to assemble. Technically, neither are IKEA people, but little men that are contracted through IKEA. For $450, I have 700 pounds of PAX delivered and installed.

Here are some pictures of the unit over the last few weeks.


My balcony. Now with a railing.



View from the kitchen.


The balcony. I had the carpet removed and replaced with more junckers wood!



The kitchen and stairs


Not so structured wiring. I have tools and equipment to clean this up. I haven't figured out all the details, but it looks like each outlet gets 2 CAT5 cables each. ]]> Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:51:55 -0700 Once again, Tom asked me to help out with his summer BBQ (helping means cooking and eating :-) ). Food was great as always. I decided to take some different pictures this time -- with my Canon 20D, and more close up, as opposed to the whole dish at a time.

Results are here.

]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:08:56 -0700 In May, after seven years, I switched from QuickTime to the iPhoto team. I'm mostly working on the editing features, which is very cool. As part of work, we regularly go on photo shoots. Here are some photos of when we went to Stanford last week.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2006 17:21:36 -0700 Yesterday, a bunch of us from work went to the Top of the Mark bar after training home. The drinks were expensive, but the view amazing. These are from my phone:






]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2006 21:31:12 -0700 Well, I've completed my Europe 2005 pictures with these from Vienna and Heidelberg. Vienna was lots of fun, as I visited with Spike and Nina and my friend Marc's brother Andrew and his parents.

]]> Sun, 04 Jun 2006 22:13:49 -0700 One of my favorite spots in San Francisco is Crissy Field, down by the Golden Gate Bridge. Its beautiful, parking is easy, and there is lots to see. Today, it was very windy, so there were lots of windsurfers out. See my photos here.

]]> Sun, 04 Jun 2006 21:55:47 -0700 After some time, I've finally taken some time to sort and edit pictures that I took while in Europe in September 2005. I edited the pictures in Aperture, and then brought them into iPhoto to export to html. The workflow isn't too bad.

The first set is Amsterdam. Heidelberg and Vienna are coming soon.

]]> Mon, 29 May 2006 12:35:54 -0700 Last week, I put an offer on a condo-loft just a block down from my apartment. I should get all the papers tomorrow and escrow should open. The picture below is the back side of the building. My appartment is the unit on the top right with the balcony. The second picture is a view from my balcony that I took while looking at the property. More details to come.



]]> Mon, 29 May 2006 11:57:28 -0700

My friend Randy just came back from a liveaboard trip to Turks and Caicos islands. His pictures are incredible (here). He's talking about going to Palau in December - -I think I should join him this time for sure!

]]> Mon, 29 May 2006 11:51:53 -0700