Time is relative.

When I got here I had a lot of time in my hands but as I get more and more involved with research in the lab I find that time is moving faster. I don't quite have the time I had at first. I know I'm in the physics department but relativity should not be applicable just because of that, right? lol.

Just some thoughts

(email sent to my landlord. I was very upset at that time)

John,

I'm sorry to be writing this long email to you but it has been now 20 days since I got here and I thought I'd let you know my impressions.

Despite all my questions to you regarding the house, cleanness of the guys living here, maintenance of the house, etc. What I found was completely the opposite of what I was given the impression.

Here are a few things:

• the bathrooms are so dirty that they get to be unbearable. I got to the point that I prefer to stay at work as long as possible just to make sure I don't have to use the bathrooms here. I have used them only when I don't have another option. And for that I had to buy wipes and clean it to a minimum. Note that the little cleaning I've done is of mess that was not mine.
• When I asked you said that the house was maintained clean. I found quite the opposite. I had to clean my room when I arrived even though the least I'd expect was to get a clean room. I had to buy a broom just to do that. The house has so much dirt on the stairs and entrance that makes me think it hasn't been cleaned in months if not years.
• the shower still doesn't work. But this I already told you.
• the kitchen is also a problem. Today I took the trash out because in 20 days the trash only accumulated and no one took it out. 20 days of trash!! Again I'm talking about trash that is not mine. I keep my on trash in the room and take it out every two days. I only took part of the trash today because of the smell of it. I'm yet to use the kitchen because I don't have the guts to do it. Call me picky but I lived in college dorms but this much worse. The result is that I'm having to spend more money to eat out every day.

Nothing of the above was communicated to me when I inquired about the unit. In fact you told me only excellent things about the state of the house. I guess this is partially my fault for renting a place via the Internet. Lesson learned. I'm starting to regret the moment I rented this room. It is awful to spend 45 minutes on the T each way to get to here and to this kind of condition.

I'm also wondering what is going to happen when the cold goes away. Given the amount of trash/dirt in this house I'm starting to think that we'll have mice/rats around. I hope I'm wrong.

Again sorry for the long email. I also wish I didn't have to write it.

Your check is on the fridge.

Ronaldo

Keith Jarrett

This may sound as a broken record to a few of you but the musical improvisation of Keith Jarrett has no par. Every time I listen to the Koln concert, I'm just taken aback and can't understand how an individual is capable of improvising in a piano, solo, for 26 minutes and provide us with one of the best pieces of music you'll ever listen in a piano. Some people are just not simple human beings and Keith Jarrett is certainly one of them.

Kenny Garrert

Out of the 3 concerts I've been here this was not the best (but it was still very very good) but there is a differencial between Kenny Garrett and the rest: be does seem to be a very nice person. Not only the concert was more engaging with the public he was waiting outside the bar to compliment everyone that was leaving, signing CDs, etc. Just a thank you for coming makes the difference. Note this guy is quite famous songs really doesn't need it. For me it shows that he goes beyond the normal jazz player. A rare case nowadays. Pictures show the concert and Kenny talking to people outside.

RegattaBar

I have just arrived at the regattabar for Kenny Garrett's concert. It is a pretty early concert given it starts at 7:30pm. Last time I saw Kenny Garrett was in 1997. I wonder how much he's improved since then.

Break on the T

Just arrived at Harvard square. I had the luck of being on the train where a young kid decided to demonstrate his break skills. It was quite nice actually and the guy was pretty good. He probably made about $10 in that 2 minute ride which is not a bad payoff. Maybe I should change my career. LOL.

More Squash...

I've played squash earlier today. Played about 5 games and won all 5 :) So I'm still unbeaten here. I don't know for how long but it is nice to be playing again. Northeastern is not the best place for the sport but I'm slowly finding more people to play.

Pictures of Cambridge

I took the picture of this sign as I waked back to the T station (Central). There was a park and a sign "Welcome to Cambridge". I thought it was a good picture to have to remember my time here.

Pat Martino Photos

Here are some photos from the Pat Partino concert. I was sitting on the back but managed to move closer to take these pictures.

Pat Martino

Another great Jazz concert. I knew he was good but live he's even better. Very impressive set with organ and drums. Pat plays the guitar.

Government transition

Have you ever thought about transition in this way?

I think I'm going now...

I'm really hungry. I didn't eat today yet. I think I'll go now to see if I get something to eat before the concert.

Pat Martino Concert

I'm going to Pat Martino concert today at Scullers Jazz. Pat Martino is an interesting case because he had some sort of brain problem and actually forgot how to play. He had to re-learn it. He is a great jazz player. I'm hoping for a good concert. I'll let you know later.

Another Soccer Tournament

Kalil has another soccer tournaments this week. Kalil good luck. I hope the space coast united wins and also that you play well. I'm not there but I'm thinking about it all the time.

Crawler

I'm now working on a crawler to gather some date from websites. First I have to create a network of some of these websites (who links to who) and then I'll do some classification about the website (is it about politics, music, etc.). I've done most of the crawling but I have to think about how to do the classification which may not be obvious.

Squashbusters

I didn't have a lot of time to blog today. The weather improved and it is now 35F (2C). I had a good time doing some volunteer work at the Squashbusters. This is an outreach program to teach kids to play squash. The program focus also on guiding them on their school work, etc. It's one of these things that just makes you fell good for doing it. The kids are great and really dedicated. I think I may do this again, possibly every Friday from 12 to 2pm.

Squash with a team member

Just finished playing some squash with a member of the team here at NEU. And I've won 9x1, 9x1 :) Great success!! Also my card for the gym is working. I don't think I'll have more problems with this. I hope :)

Pho and I again

Just came back from my lunch/dinner. Went again to the Pho and I. Had a Pad Thai and it was very good. Again above average. I think I found a new "Thai Kitchen" for me here in Boston.

Hulu is awesome!!

The end of the TV is near! Have you seen hulu.com. Wow! Very nice. You can watch any program you want with very very limited commercial interruption and it is free. The only thing you need now a browser and you can get rid of your cable subscription. The image quality is not HD but it is very nice. I watched an episode of the Office this morning (my first TV session since I got here). Hulu has the office, daily show, fringe, etc. I like it!!! Hi five!!!! :)

First mistake at the T

Yesterday I've made my first mistake using the T. I was on the orange line and had to get out at the downtown crossing station. I was so into the Carl Segan book that when I've looked I was two stations after. The problem was that it was 11:50pm and at that time that aren't many trains. The result is that I for home around 12:30am.

Talking about the T. The service in the last few days has become worse by the day: trains stopping in the middle of the tunnels, trains being discontinued forcing us to get out and take another, slow trains, infrequent trains, etc. To make matters worse the T website isn't useful as it never tells the time of the next train correctly. The train always arrive up to 10 minutes before or after. Since there are supposed to be trains every about 15 minutes we never know when is the next.

I'm in the T and just on this journey the train had to stop 3 times. Right now we're not moving. Terrible.