antiminke

Craig has inspired me to go into a little more detail instead of just posting links. So...

It's hard to believe my parents only arrived on Thursday.

I ditched them for the night to go to Foo and Miss Jo's birthday party on Saturday, which was just brilliant. Then I went on to Ghetto, still wearing my '50s college girl led astray'-inspired outfit, breakfast at Balans.

Took the parentals to Stokefest on Sunday, then sent them home while I dropped in on the afterparty at Foo's, then All Time Top 100.

Today I am trying not to be nervous before I head out to give a paper at a seminar before a project launch tonight. Eek.

I'd tell you what I did Friday night but only my phone knows these kinds of things and I've mislaid it.

Things they never told you in school: that while finishing off a conference paper you'd also be wondering if you could fit in a leg-waxing appointment before tomorrow night's parties.

Entirely too relevant this week: procrastination.

"If you want to work on big things, you seem to have to trick yourself into doing it."

And this is far too true: "I've wondered a lot about why startups are most productive at the very beginning, when they're just a couple guys in an apartment. The main reason may be that there's no one to interrupt them yet. In theory it's good when the founders finally get enough money to hire people to do some of the work for them. But it may be better to be overworked than interrupted. Once you dilute a startup with ordinary office workers-- with type-B procrastinators-- the whole company starts to resonate at their frequency. They're interrupt-driven, and soon you are too."

And frustratingly, "What's the best thing you could be working on, and why aren't you?". Based on that, I must also read You and Your Research, where the questions, "What are the most important problems in your field?", "Are you working on one of them?" and "Why not?" are posed.

Bad pun joy:

What did the pasta chef say when he lost all his money and earthly goods?

Oh no, I'm penne-less!

Geek joy, 1985-style.

"A German art student briefly fooled police by posing as one of China's terracotta warriors at the heritage site in the ancient capital, Xian." BBC

Awww: Spanish air force privates wed in country's first known military gay marriage

It's days like this I love Hackney. The gay boys walking down the street holding hands, the baby christening party that spilled out on the street, playing "guess the language" with each group I pass.

Tesco on a Sunday was a bit of culture shock after the markets of Ukraine.

It's not even 4pm and it's already been a long (but productive) day. Up early to jump on my bike and go to give a conference paper.

Survive that, meet Foo for brunch. Pop over to Min's for a gossip and to pick up stuff I'd sent home from Turkey with Dan.

Now I'm going to read the papers and do nothing for a little while until I have to go out again tonight.

And happy birthday for Tuesday for the birthday person (and thanks for a lovely party last night).

"Mr Beazley has written to the Australian Tourism Export Council asking it to help with establishing the best way to ensure all people visiting Australia know and understand Australian values." Age

Perhaps a quiz at the airport, like when you go to a boat party.

While doing some research on podcasts for work, I came across this really useful BBC online courses site.

Age

This is very cool, I wish I could find images of previous installations.

Stolen from somewhere else "100 Jobs that I have no right applying for but which I'm going to apply for anyway...".

"This Green Electronics Guide ranks leading mobile and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practice on eliminating harmful chemicals and on taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers. Companies are ranked solely on information that is publicly available."

Greenpeace on how IT companies line up against the Toxic Tech campaign.

It's a shame Apple do so badly but it's good to see Nokia doing so much.

"A life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee has been placed in Disneyland by "guerrilla artist" Banksy." BBC story, and more on the Wooster collective.

Cute!

"In the depths of the Cold War, the daughter of an imprisoned Soviet dissident received a message from across the Iron Curtain that changed her family's life."

BBC

Not only an insight into life in Moldova during the Soviet era, but a lovely story.

Oh, and for Foo: camping.

And for me: sudo.

I'm definitely back in London. I ran into one person I know on the way to the pub on Monday night, and more people on the way to the bus afterwards. I suppose I did run into the same group of students from Hamburg a few times in Ukraine and Krakow, but it's not quite the same thing.

Last night I went to the Hayward Gallery for 60 Years of British Art then onto Bar Wotever. As much as I loved my trip, I did miss evenings like that.

Oh, and yay.

Krakow was lovely. I went on a tour by bike, then out drinking in Kazimierz with some people from the tour. More castles, more museums, etc.

The flight back was delayed (of course, it's EasyJet) but I managed not to get strip-searched when entering the departure gate. Not being able to bring water is ridiculous, and I was not coping without lip balm. You should at least be able to buy the basics once you're through security.

I'm back in London, where the most exotic thing I'll be doing is going to the pub. Still, it's nice to be home and I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Maybe I'll take up kitten huffing to recreate the travel high.

Krakow

I was up early for the train to Krakow but I'm tempted by the sound of "Krakow's Q&A" so I might just go out tonight.

The train was a lovely new one but that also meant we didn't do the 'up in the air' wheel-changing thing.

Krakow has lots of vegie places to eat, which is brilliant after Ukraine.

I really missed a trick on all those overnight trains - I should have been treating my fellow passengers to the sight of me in these.

Back to work on Monday, which is really hard to believe.