KrAp

Μεταμορφώσεις…

krap — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:46:35 +0000

Ψάχνοντας αξιόλογα στοιχεία ελληνικής λογοτεχνίας έπεσα σε ένα ακόμη ποίημα – διαμάντι:

Μαθαίνοντας να δέχεσαι

γίνεσαι δέντρο…

και τότε έχεις ελπίδες

να γίνεις κάποτε καράβι.

«Μεταμορφώσεις»

του Γ. Κλωνή

και μου φάνηκε ότι μοιάζει πολύ με… αυτό:

The songs you should never hear by accident

krap — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:55:46 +0000

Today, like almost every other Sunday, I started organizing all the stuff that came up from the activities of the past week. Because of a conference I was attending from Thursday to Saturday, more tasks than usual were left unfinished and, additionally, the conference material I brought back with me, increased the mess on my desk.

So I eagerly started organizing stuff and put on some music (I am always listening to music while working). This time was a collection of oldies including…

Ralph Mc Tell – The streets of London

So here I am, not organizing my stuff, writing silly posts instead. What can I say? Some songs shouldn’t be heard by accident!

Greektuts.net :: Ιούνιος 2010

krap — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:33:22 +0000

Αυτόν τον μήνα στο Greektuts.net μας απασχόλησαν λίγο από όλα. Μπείτε, δείτε και σχολιάστε!

Μαθαίνοντας Python – Μέρος 6α: Μάθετε να δημιουργείτε και να χειρίζεστε συναρτήσεις στην Python
JQuery. Ποια έκδοση μου ταιριάζει; Όλα όσα πρέπει να γνωρίζεται για τις εκδόσεις Development και Production
Βασικοί JQuery Selectors: Επιλέξτε οποιοδήποτε αντικείμενο της ιστοσελίδας σας για να του «αλλάξετε τα φώτα»

και το διαμάντι του μήνα

Γιατί η Python μοιάζει με τον Chuck Norris (!)

Greektuts.net :: Μάιος 2010

krap — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:12:20 +0000

Μετά από 6μηνη απουσία από το team του Greektuts.net με χαρά σας ανακοινώνω την ανανέωση της συνεργασίας μας.

Η συνεισφορά μου για τον μήνα Μάιο:

(σε περίπτωση που θέλετε να δείτε τη συνολική μου δραστηριότητα στο GreekTuts μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε αυτόν τον σύνδεσμο)

Organizing digital life

krap — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:37:46 +0000

When my first computer arrived at our house, back to 1998, I had zero experience in using it. My first computer was, in my childish eyes, like a very sophisticated console. At least in the beginning. A couple of weeks later, after spending many hours per day exploring the potentials of my new piece of equipment I started realizing that I slowly was becoming addicted to it.

The interesting observation, I guess, is that I’m not a computer games guy! I love classic console games but not computer ones. This is pretty odd for a geekish figure like me, but… nobody is perfect.

To summarize, as a boy…

I did have a PC
I didn’t like games
I had no Internet connection

and yet I became addicted to my computer! Addicted enough to choose computers as a profession

(image credit goes to h.koppdelaney)

Have you ever thought why a computer can be so addictive? Until recently I had the feeling that only certainly personalities, also known as geeks, could turn out to be «computer junkies». Then Web 2.0 came to prove me wrong. Services like Facebook and Twitter managed to put online people that couldn’t find any reason to even try the good ol’ WWW.

The question remains. Why are we attracted by the Web 2.0 and its Social Networks?

«we are wannabe celebrities and at the same time we are nosy parkers»

… which is perfectly ok if you ask me as long as it does not interfere with our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately it does. The instant messaging communication instead of telephone or face to face interaction, twitter messages instead of regular coffee outings with friends and Facebook games at work instead of coffee and lunch breaks (best case scenario) are only some of the facts that our digital life attacks more and more often our regular one.

Is there anything we can do to achieve balance between these two lives? Is there a way to regain our personal, lost time? I believe it is…

m i n i m a l i s m

5+1 gifts for my 25th birthday

krap — Sun, 23 May 2010 10:38:57 +0000

Rumor has it that even with no money, the Greeks will find a way to celebrate and have a good time. In this spirit (except for the lack of money) my friend Kostas and I celebrated our name day and birthday respectively, yesterday, at a traditional Cretan tavern in the heart of our hometown, Thessaloniki. Dear friends honored us with their presence and, although I intentionally invited them the last minute to give them no time to buy gifts, in the end of the night my hands were full with bags. Thank you guys! You’re the best!

As you’ve probably already understood I’m very proud of my presents and thus I’ll share them with you.

John Verdon – Think of a number, A novel [book]

Excellent friend, colleague and co-founder of NewsFilter.gr, Aggelos Synadakis (a.k.a. asynadak), Mathematician and control freak ( sorry dude it’s true ) brought me this very interesting novel.

As I expect quiet a long summer vacation this year, books can be very handy. Take it from me that there is nothing more relaxing than the combination of the Greek sun, beach, Frappé Coffee and a good book. Try it!

[see more]

J.R.R. Tolkien – The Children of Húrin [book]

Ms. Eva (Eve) Ziaka, dear friend, colleague and charming female coder gave me a book of Mr-don’t-need-to-tell-me-more-than-the-acronym-of-his-name J.R.R. Tolkien. «Children of Hurin» was a book I was eager to read, but always forget to buy (due to great deal of work).

As I said before, the timing couldn’t be more perfect… beach bar, here I come with great reading material.

[see more]

Lizz Fields – By Day By Night [audio CD]

Ms. (for the time being) Antigoni Vilelmini Tsouri & George (Kartman) Kemetzis, my personal confessors , gave me an audio cd with beautiful soul tunes (which I’ve already heard a couple of times).

Lizz Fields – When I see love

A bottle of Vin Santo [wine]

For about 7 years I have been the «wine opener» in the parties of A.U.TH‘s Computer Science Department fellowship (if I can put it that way). After having finished both undergraduate and postgraduate programs my dear colleagues acknowledged my contribution in opening wines and bought me a bottle of one of the most legendary wines worldwide… a Vin Santo bottle.

Two scenarios for the origins of name:

[1] Vino Santo (italian): The wine which is used by the Christians during the mystery of Holy Communion.

[2] Vino di Santorini (italian): Wine from Santorini, a marvelous Greek Island

[read more]

So very many thanks to: Christos Zigkolis, Yiannis Moschakis & Giouli Stamatopoulou, Stefanos Skalistis and George Filippou (a.k.a. Abraxas). Hope I didn’t forget anyone. If so, flame comments are more than welcome

A very sic and elegant white shirt [clothing]

(Will provide photo document when I’ll wear it). Ms. Martha Politou, another excellent friend and colleague, gave me this shirt of extraordinary quality and elegance. Its light fabric makes it perfect for the summer time. And the timing couldn’t be perfect as a couple of business oriented «special» occasions are approaching. I really love this shirt!

(+) Denis Guej - The Parrot’s Theorem [book]

This year’s family present was something really unexpected. A book! Usually is clothing but this year was… a book. And a very interesting one. Parrot’s theorem is a novel of my favorite kind, scientific literature.

[read more]

So, I have three books for my summer vacation and, as I’ve been told, three weeks time to read them… Could be an interesting challenge.

No woman no cry… the console game perspective

krap — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:56:54 +0000

A must see till the end video. Enjoy!

[many thanks 2 andy]

Vivaldi’s Spring presented with… sand (?)

krap — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:30:54 +0000

Sand animation film by Ferenc Cakó

10 + 1 demotivators that make you wonder

krap — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:26:13 +0000

10. Pwned

09. Truth or Dare

08. Meetings

07. Captain James T. Kirk

06. Nietzsche

05. Cocaine04.Did you mean ?!

03. Elephants Vs Moon

02. Facebook

01. Friend zone

[Via]

My worst fear…

krap — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:46:44 +0000

[Via]

Fergie sings G’n'R… and «bows» to Slash

krap — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:49:49 +0000

The first part definitely looks odd and probably gives goosebumps to the majority of the «fanatics» of Rock. But the second… Well, I think the second is setting things straight.

What the frack am I talking about? The joined appearance of Black Eyed Peas and the legendary Slash (ex Guns ‘n’ Roses) opening for U2 at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, USA. Given the original voice (Axel Rose), Fergie’s attempt to sing «Sweet child o’ mine «could be characterized as decent if you ask me. The bow though, was necessary.

Enjoy the video below!

(if you are Greek consider watching the remake of «Paradise City» here — via NewsFilter.gr)

[Via]

I have «mastered» informatics

krap — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:29:30 +0000

Today I received my master degree in Informatics (w/ specialty in Informational Systems). Well… what can I say… I believe I owe some acknowledgments.

Many thanks to:

My family for not pushing me to the dark side of the FORCE
My teachers for showing me how to interact w/ the good side of the FORCE
Friends for being there when I needed them
Employers for «funding» me (hope I fulfilled my part of the deal)
God for keeping me alive and healthy

Memoirs… (pt.1)

krap — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:41:43 +0000

Today was a hypotonic day. And hypotonic after a period of anxiety means relaxation. Relaxation leads to thinking. And thinking… well thinking Leads to memories.

Today’s memories brought me back to senior high school, first year. 2001.

Back in 2001 I was looking like this… (I’m the one on the right. The mysterious figure on the left is asynadak)

Anyways back in 2001 the movie «Save the last dance» (which is, until now, my favorite dance related movie) was released.

Back in the days, cinema was mainstream means of entertainment for teenagers. So we went, asynadak and I, to watch «Save the last dance». I loved the movie. Had already been listening to RnB and Hip Hop so the music and the affiliated dance was exciting to my untrained eyes.

Some years later, when I entered university, I accidentally watched this movie playing on the telly and remembered it. Now that the WWW is mainstream, I can share some snapshots with you…

the last scene

K-CI & Jojo – Crazy (probably the most beautiful track of the soundtrack)

Come on! Ain’t it sweet? (…in a geeky way)

krap — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:19:52 +0000

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Getting out of the swamp

krap — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 12:24:14 +0000

Once upon a time there was a guy. A greedy guy. An excellent professional but greedy guy. Hardworking person, excellent professional… but greedy guy. Well you get the point.

Being all the above, as you might have imagined, led to a great deal of work. Hours of work on a daily basis. Hours of interesting work though. Not errands or other tasks that lead to self-destructive feelings. Just tones of interesting work

After following his work-acholic schedule for several months, one Sunday, completely out of the blue, he decided to give himself a break. He worked until 04.00, as usual, slept for about five hours and, when he woke up, got dressed, got inside his car, and left.

It was about 12.00 when he reached a nearby forest. He parked his car and entered. Wandered for a while and found himself standing on a glade. He sat down and ate a big sandwich he had prepared and drank a bottle of milk. Being not hungry any more, he continued his walk to the woods. He was now far away of his car but he didn’t seem to care. He kept walking.

It was about 17.00 when he reached a strange place. There were trees but also a lot of water. And mud. A swamp. He had heard that swamps can be very dangerous places. This swamp though, was strangely attractive. He wanted to enter. Explore it. A couple of movies came to his mind and he had a plot made up for himself at no time.

Without further thought he entered the swamp and started walking, to reach the other side. He was trying to have always a tree to grab in case he started sinking. He was doing well when the trees ended and only mud was ahead. He now had to make a decision. Either continue and have faith, or go back.

He then realized that the biggest part of his life was exactly like this walk in the swamp. Always trying to follow the safest path. No challenges. No risk. He felt predictable. Common. Annoyingly common. So he went ahead.

After a couple of steps the expected happened. He started sinking into the swamp. At first he impulsively tried to stay on surface but soon he realized he was only making things worse. So he relaxed and waited. After a couple of minutes he understood that by the moment he had stopped fighting he had not sank at all. Slowly he started to practically swim to reach a nearby floating piece of wood. A few moments later he had grabbed the wood and confidently was approaching solid ground.

It was almost 20.00 and the hardworking person, excellent professional… but greedy guy was sitting to the ground of a dark swamp, covered with mud and dirt, speculating on his experience. Suddenly, he had a revelation. He stood up and left.

Next day, our friend woke up, as usual, at about 06.00. Washed his face, dressed up and left for work. He stopped, as usual, to buy coffee and after that went to the company. There, he went straight to the manager and handed over his resignation. The manager, stumped, asked him what had provoked a decision like this.

«I decided to join the company as a partner» he said and smiled. I’ll come back next week to present my ideas to the boss. «You got to be kidding» said the manager. «For ten years you worked as an employee. I don’t see how you can afford becoming a partner. But even if you can. Why now?». «I do have the money» said the so far hardworking person, excellent professional… but greedy guy. «As for your timing question… something happened yesterday, that made my day…«

Waldeck – Make my day