Chris Contolini http://contolini.com Sat, 12 May 2012 10:14:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ May Day texts are always entertaining http://contolini.com/2012/05/01/may-day-texts-are-always-entertaining/ http://contolini.com/2012/05/01/may-day-texts-are-always-entertaining/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 18:58:35 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/may-day-texts-are-always-entertaining

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]]> http://contolini.com/2012/05/01/may-day-texts-are-always-entertaining/feed/ 0 Mid-April and Näsijärvi is finally starting to thaw. Wooooooo http://contolini.com/2012/04/15/mid-april-and-nasijarvi-is-finally-starting-to-thaw-wooooooo/ http://contolini.com/2012/04/15/mid-april-and-nasijarvi-is-finally-starting-to-thaw-wooooooo/#comments Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:46:25 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/mid-april-and-nasijarvi-is-finally-starting-t

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]]> http://contolini.com/2012/04/15/mid-april-and-nasijarvi-is-finally-starting-to-thaw-wooooooo/feed/ 0 Finnish Joel McHale http://contolini.com/2012/04/03/finnish-joel-mchale/ http://contolini.com/2012/04/03/finnish-joel-mchale/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:16:41 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/finnish-joel-mchale

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]]> http://contolini.com/2012/04/03/finnish-joel-mchale/feed/ 0 Happy Leap Day http://contolini.com/2012/02/29/happy-leap-day/ http://contolini.com/2012/02/29/happy-leap-day/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:36:41 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/happy-leap-day

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]]> http://contolini.com/2012/02/29/happy-leap-day/feed/ 0 Using Location-­Aware Multimodal Speech Interfaces to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse http://contolini.com/2012/02/06/using-location-%c2%adaware-multimodal-speech-interfaces-to-survive-a-zombie-apocalypse/ http://contolini.com/2012/02/06/using-location-%c2%adaware-multimodal-speech-interfaces-to-survive-a-zombie-apocalypse/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:12:01 +0000 Chris http://contolini.com/?p=1408 I have a habit of making things difficult for myself by injecting lulz into situations. It’s not always a bad thing as it encourages lateral thinking and creative problem solving. But, it rarely goes well in the world of academia, where tenured faculty take their teachings extremely srsly.

During my undergraduate years an Art History professor told us to “be creative” with the presentation of an art gallery report due the following week. Most students included photographs with the assignment or printed it on colored paper. I took my 2,000 words, went to Kinkos, and printed the report from an oversized printer so that each page was five feet tall. I stapled the pages together, rolled them up and turned them in.

I got a zero on the assignment but gained an awesome conversation piece hanging on my wall.

More recently, I enrolled in a course on the design and development of speech interfaces. The first lecture’s assignment was to:

Write a plan for a multimodal speech interface for mobile-device controlled large shared displays for a hectic situation (e.g., emergency control or control of complex systems).

Obvious responses included flight status notifications at airports or a fire evacuation system. But those topics are boooorrrrring. Instead, I wrote a 12-page proposal on an automated IVR system for use during a zombie apocalypse.

Even though I met all of the assignment’s requirements, the professor was not amused and I didn’t receive a grade for my work. Granted, Finnish superiors aren’t known for their sense of humor. Ironically, I learned a LOT in that course and it led to a variety of extra-curricular VoiceXML projects. In fact, that course, while one of my worst grades, was one of the most interesting and inspirational I took that semester.

I’ve been thinking about academic lulz lately because it’s thesis writin’ time and I’ve had a hard time finding a topic. I want to be certain it’ll hold my attention for the next X months. In order to do so, it’ll likely have a strong sarcastic/activisty/rabble-rousing element. So if you have any ideas, let me know.

Next week I start a different course with the same speech interface professor. Hopefully he doesn’t remember me. Although, he’ll probably be reminded once I submit a couple assignments.

]]> http://contolini.com/2012/02/06/using-location-%c2%adaware-multimodal-speech-interfaces-to-survive-a-zombie-apocalypse/feed/ 2 He’s either sleeping or he suffocated himself to death http://contolini.com/2012/01/30/hes-either-sleeping-or-he-suffocated-himself-to-death/ http://contolini.com/2012/01/30/hes-either-sleeping-or-he-suffocated-himself-to-death/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:54:03 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/hes-either-sleeping-or-he-suffocated-himself

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]]> http://contolini.com/2012/01/30/hes-either-sleeping-or-he-suffocated-himself-to-death/feed/ 0 Not sure which is worse: ice cream truck with its annoying jingle or poisonous gas truck with its poisonous gas http://contolini.com/2011/11/25/not-sure-which-is-worse-ice-cream-truck-with-its-annoying-jingle-or-poisonous-gas-truck-with-its-poisonous-gas/ http://contolini.com/2011/11/25/not-sure-which-is-worse-ice-cream-truck-with-its-annoying-jingle-or-poisonous-gas-truck-with-its-poisonous-gas/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:27:36 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/not-sure-which-is-worse-ice-cream-truck-with

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/11/25/not-sure-which-is-worse-ice-cream-truck-with-its-annoying-jingle-or-poisonous-gas-truck-with-its-poisonous-gas/feed/ 0 Anyone know what this is? http://contolini.com/2011/11/09/anyone-know-what-this-is/ http://contolini.com/2011/11/09/anyone-know-what-this-is/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:21:39 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/anyone-know-what-this-is

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/11/09/anyone-know-what-this-is/feed/ 0 Double rainbow over the Caribbean http://contolini.com/2011/10/24/double-rainbow-over-the-caribbean/ http://contolini.com/2011/10/24/double-rainbow-over-the-caribbean/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:02:46 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/double-rainbow-over-the-caribbean
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/10/24/double-rainbow-over-the-caribbean/feed/ 0 Odds I’ll seriously injure myself trying to get a snack from the backyard? http://contolini.com/2011/09/30/odds-ill-seriously-injure-myself-trying-to-get-a-snack-from-the-backyard/ http://contolini.com/2011/09/30/odds-ill-seriously-injure-myself-trying-to-get-a-snack-from-the-backyard/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:35:57 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/odds-ill-seriously-injure-myself-trying-to-ge

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/09/30/odds-ill-seriously-injure-myself-trying-to-get-a-snack-from-the-backyard/feed/ 0 $1000 van, $2000 sound system, $100 horn http://contolini.com/2011/09/19/1000-van-2000-sound-system-100-horn/ http://contolini.com/2011/09/19/1000-van-2000-sound-system-100-horn/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:01:11 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/1000-van-2000-sound-system-100-horn

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/09/19/1000-van-2000-sound-system-100-horn/feed/ 0 Island radio involves more DJ-yelling than music-playing http://contolini.com/2011/08/25/island-radio-involves-more-dj-yelling-than-music-playing/ http://contolini.com/2011/08/25/island-radio-involves-more-dj-yelling-than-music-playing/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:51:49 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/island-radio-involves-more-dj-yelling-than-mu

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/08/25/island-radio-involves-more-dj-yelling-than-music-playing/feed/ 0 Hmmm, if I throw away all my underwear, I avoid a €40 overweight baggage fee. Decisions, decisions… http://contolini.com/2011/05/24/hmmm-if-i-throw-away-all-my-underwear-i-avoid-a-e40-overweight-baggage-fee-decisions-decisions/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/24/hmmm-if-i-throw-away-all-my-underwear-i-avoid-a-e40-overweight-baggage-fee-decisions-decisions/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 12:39:19 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/hmmm-if-i-throw-away-all-my-underwear-i-avoid
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/24/hmmm-if-i-throw-away-all-my-underwear-i-avoid-a-e40-overweight-baggage-fee-decisions-decisions/feed/ 0 Polish vs. Finnish vs. American authorization tools http://contolini.com/2011/05/21/polish-vs-finnish-vs-american-authorization-tools/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/21/polish-vs-finnish-vs-american-authorization-tools/#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 15:35:05 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/polish-vs-finnish-vs-american-authorization-t
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/21/polish-vs-finnish-vs-american-authorization-tools/feed/ 0 To my kielo *nix brethren: we stand united in this time of loss. http://contolini.com/2011/05/16/to-my-kielo-nix-brethren-we-stand-united-in-this-time-of-loss/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/16/to-my-kielo-nix-brethren-we-stand-united-in-this-time-of-loss/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 20:40:00 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/to-my-kielo-nix-brethren-we-stand-united-in-t

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/16/to-my-kielo-nix-brethren-we-stand-united-in-this-time-of-loss/feed/ 0 COOK FASTER DAMN YOU http://contolini.com/2011/05/11/cook-faster-damn-you/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/11/cook-faster-damn-you/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 16:37:47 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/cook-faster-damn-you
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/11/cook-faster-damn-you/feed/ 0 I Heart VoiceXML http://contolini.com/2011/05/04/i-heart-voicexml/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/04/i-heart-voicexml/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 13:18:55 +0000 Chris http://contolini.com/?p=1199 I’ve recently become obsessed with VoiceXML, a markup language that manages voice interactions between humans and computers. It is endless amounts of fun. Voxeo offers a hosted dev environment that provides developers with a VoiceXML interpreter and an endless supply of free phone numbers to use with your applications. Here’s an app that took 30 seconds to create: (415) 830-3015. Call it right now, I dare you.

Combining VoiceXML with any dynamic language makes voice applications easier to build than traditional HTML-based apps. There’s no need to worry about visual design or common security vulnerabilities (unless someone finds a way to execute an SQL injection over the phone, in which case they deserve an award). Here’s an app that took an afternoon to create: (415) 992-6871. It uses PHP to query FatSecret’s API and generate VoiceXML that provides callers the nutrition facts of any food they want. Well, not any food. I haven’t bothered to expand the grammar past a few hundred food items so it can only query common foods but the logic is all there.

The ease of experimenting with a non-visual environment feels quite liberating and I have a couple other apps in the pipeline. Hopefully I’ll finish the first next week.

It’s worth noting there are newer, easier-to-use APIs that emulate VoiceXML environments and cater to the Web 2.0 crowd. The two most popular are Twilio and Tropo. They stand on the shoulders of W3C’s work and offer simple methods of integrating voice and SMS services into existing systems. Both are definitely worth checking out if you plan on experimenting in the realm of voice applications.

]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/04/i-heart-voicexml/feed/ 0 I think the sausages are done http://contolini.com/2011/05/01/i-think-the-sausages-are-done/ http://contolini.com/2011/05/01/i-think-the-sausages-are-done/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 14:48:53 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/i-think-the-sausages-are-done
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/05/01/i-think-the-sausages-are-done/feed/ 0 Some guy just fished seven bikes out of the river http://contolini.com/2011/04/25/some-guy-just-fished-seven-bikes-out-of-the-river/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/25/some-guy-just-fished-seven-bikes-out-of-the-river/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:25:42 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/some-guy-just-fished-seven-bikes-out-of-the-r

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/25/some-guy-just-fished-seven-bikes-out-of-the-river/feed/ 0 Broadband… speeds… so fast… http://contolini.com/2011/04/23/broadband-speeds-so-fast/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/23/broadband-speeds-so-fast/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:54:17 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/broadband-speeds-so-fast
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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/23/broadband-speeds-so-fast/feed/ 0 Communist party needs to invest in a color camera http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/communist-party-needs-to-invest-in-a-color-camera/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/communist-party-needs-to-invest-in-a-color-camera/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:14:18 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/communist-party-needs-to-invest-in-a-color-ca

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/communist-party-needs-to-invest-in-a-color-camera/feed/ 0 And some awesome mustaches http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/and-some-awesome-mustaches/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/and-some-awesome-mustaches/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:10:18 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/and-some-awesome-mustaches-0
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/and-some-awesome-mustaches/feed/ 0 This year’s parliamentary elections feature some entertaining candidates. http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/this-years-parliamentary-elections-feature-some-entertaining-candidates/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/this-years-parliamentary-elections-feature-some-entertaining-candidates/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:07:41 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/this-years-parliamentary-elections-feature-so-0

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/12/this-years-parliamentary-elections-feature-some-entertaining-candidates/feed/ 0 Cosplay convention in Finlayson http://contolini.com/2011/04/11/cosplay-convention-in-finlayson-2/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/11/cosplay-convention-in-finlayson-2/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:20:26 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/cosplay-convention-in-finlayson-0
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/11/cosplay-convention-in-finlayson-2/feed/ 0 Our productivity skyrocketed once we began using collaborative word processing http://contolini.com/2011/04/07/our-productivity-skyrocketed-once-we-began-using-collaborative-word-processing/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/07/our-productivity-skyrocketed-once-we-began-using-collaborative-word-processing/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:20:23 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/our-productivity-skyrocketed-once-we-began-us
Google-docs

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/07/our-productivity-skyrocketed-once-we-began-using-collaborative-word-processing/feed/ 0 @vikingline_se staff aren’t phased by the unconscious man blocking the aisle. Good to know we’re in safe hands. http://contolini.com/2011/04/05/vikingline_se-staff-arent-phased-by-the-unconscious-man-blocking-the-aisle-good-to-know-were-in-safe-hands/ http://contolini.com/2011/04/05/vikingline_se-staff-arent-phased-by-the-unconscious-man-blocking-the-aisle-good-to-know-were-in-safe-hands/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:17:39 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/vikinglinese-staff-arent-phased-by-the-uncons

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/04/05/vikingline_se-staff-arent-phased-by-the-unconscious-man-blocking-the-aisle-good-to-know-were-in-safe-hands/feed/ 0 Best seat on the boat! In the cafe, front right, next to a power outlet. http://contolini.com/2011/03/31/best-seat-on-the-boat-in-the-cafe-front-right-next-to-a-power-outlet/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/31/best-seat-on-the-boat-in-the-cafe-front-right-next-to-a-power-outlet/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:49:19 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/best-seat-on-the-boat-in-the-cafe-front-right

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/31/best-seat-on-the-boat-in-the-cafe-front-right-next-to-a-power-outlet/feed/ 0 I have no recollection of recording this video http://contolini.com/2011/03/29/i-have-no-recollection-of-recording-this-video/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/29/i-have-no-recollection-of-recording-this-video/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:02:59 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/i-have-no-recollection-of-recording-this-vide

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/29/i-have-no-recollection-of-recording-this-video/feed/ 0 Creepy installation art in Kaunas http://contolini.com/2011/03/28/creepy-installation-art-in-kaunas/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/28/creepy-installation-art-in-kaunas/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:51:53 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/creepy-installation-art-in-kaunas

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/28/creepy-installation-art-in-kaunas/feed/ 0 Spot the IE6 error http://contolini.com/2011/03/27/spot-the-ie6-error/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/27/spot-the-ie6-error/#comments Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:54:16 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/spot-the-ie6-error

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/27/spot-the-ie6-error/feed/ 0 Epilepsy machine http://contolini.com/2011/03/26/epilepsy-machine/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/26/epilepsy-machine/#comments Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:57:58 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/epilepsy-machine

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/26/epilepsy-machine/feed/ 0 Oooh, Critical Mass Vilnius. Same day and time as SF’s. http://contolini.com/2011/03/25/oooh-critical-mass-vilnius-same-day-and-time-as-sfs/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/25/oooh-critical-mass-vilnius-same-day-and-time-as-sfs/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:42:06 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/oooh-critical-mass-vilnius-same-day-and-time

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/25/oooh-critical-mass-vilnius-same-day-and-time-as-sfs/feed/ 0 They sprayed pink and green goo all over the wings http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/they-sprayed-pink-and-green-goo-all-over-the-wings/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/they-sprayed-pink-and-green-goo-all-over-the-wings/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:11:29 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/they-sprayed-pink-and-green-goo-all-over-the

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/they-sprayed-pink-and-green-goo-all-over-the-wings/feed/ 0 Finger sandwich http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/finger-sandwich/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/finger-sandwich/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:29:03 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/finger-sandwich

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/23/finger-sandwich/feed/ 0 Oh, look, Oreos. I think I’ll eat one… m;skvldfgk;jsSALMIAKKI NOOOOOOO http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/oh-look-oreos-i-think-ill-eat-one-mskvldfgkjssalmiakki-nooooooo/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/oh-look-oreos-i-think-ill-eat-one-mskvldfgkjssalmiakki-nooooooo/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:52:48 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/oh-look-oreos-i-think-ill-eat-one-mskvldfgkjs

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/oh-look-oreos-i-think-ill-eat-one-mskvldfgkjssalmiakki-nooooooo/feed/ 0 Blurry supermoon over Näsijärvi http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/blurry-supermoon-over-nasijarvi/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/blurry-supermoon-over-nasijarvi/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:21:02 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/blurry-supermoon-over-nasijarvi
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/20/blurry-supermoon-over-nasijarvi/feed/ 0 St. Patrick’s tower of doom http://contolini.com/2011/03/17/st-patricks-tower-of-doom/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/17/st-patricks-tower-of-doom/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:57:35 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/st-patricks-tower-of-doom
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/17/st-patricks-tower-of-doom/feed/ 0 Keskustori is a single giant sheet of ice http://contolini.com/2011/03/16/keskustori-is-a-single-giant-sheet-of-ice/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/16/keskustori-is-a-single-giant-sheet-of-ice/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:45:49 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/keskustori-is-a-single-giant-sheet-of-ice
]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/16/keskustori-is-a-single-giant-sheet-of-ice/feed/ 0 Laivalla Suomenlinnaan http://contolini.com/2011/03/13/laivalla-suomenlinnaan/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/13/laivalla-suomenlinnaan/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:34:18 +0000 Chris http://pics.contolini.com/laivalla-suomenlinnaan

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]]> http://contolini.com/2011/03/13/laivalla-suomenlinnaan/feed/ 0 Mmmmmmm new website design http://contolini.com/2011/03/09/mmmmmm-new-website-design/ http://contolini.com/2011/03/09/mmmmmm-new-website-design/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:20:50 +0000 Chris http://contolini.org/?p=826 Hey, look! A new website with obnoxiously-colored boxes everywhere! Awesome! Since I rarely blog nowadays, I redid things to feed all my online presences into this website. It should make stalking me a lot easier.

BTW, for those of you who don’t know me in the real world. I moved to Finland seven months ago to pursue an M.Sc. in Interactive Technology. It’s been boatloads of fun so far and I’ve had great experiences all around. I’ve made some good friends and had many, many snowball fights. Finns are naturally reserved and extremely polite. Whenever I travel outside this country I’m reminded of how loud and annoying humans can be. ;-)

Oh, and I’m excited to be tracking myself again!

Laterz.

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