Welcome Isabella Maria
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 10-Apr-2006 07:51
On a very personal note, and as posted on the Geekzone forums (It is a girl!), our baby Isabella Maria was born this Sunday 9 April, early at 7:31am.
She arrived a couple of days earlier (great girl, already beating the weekday rush hours!), and I am pretty sure she will love coming to the Wednesday coffee talks at Astoria when she's a bit older (and I mean probably just a couple of months old).
She was 3.72Kg (8.3 pounds) and was great to see her, after all these months of scans and bet on hair colour (dark like the father, or blonde like mum).
All is going well, and I imagine she will someday post on Geekzone
.
She arrived a couple of days earlier (great girl, already beating the weekday rush hours!), and I am pretty sure she will love coming to the Wednesday coffee talks at Astoria when she's a bit older (and I mean probably just a couple of months old).
She was 3.72Kg (8.3 pounds) and was great to see her, after all these months of scans and bet on hair colour (dark like the father, or blonde like mum).
All is going well, and I imagine she will someday post on Geekzone
.Cheers to Tim Haines
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 6-Apr-2006 11:09
Last month (April 2006), Tim Haines moved to Wellington. He is heavily involved in the .Net community in New Zealand, and we had exchanged some e-mails before.
After his move here we met for lunch one day, with other bloggers and .Net developers and finally got to meet each other in person. We might even make this a monthly thing to do in the Capital (I will probably start organising this, and if you want to join us drop a comment below).
We met in another opportunity, one Wednesday just before a .Net User Group meeting. As you probably know, every Wednesday I come to Cafe Astoria and work from there, meeting people, discussing things with Darryl, Peter Torr Smith, Antonios and sometimes Vodafone folks (Microsoft and Vodafone are located on the building above Cafe Astoria). Don't feel bad Telecom, I sometimes walk to your side of town too, your guys know it.
The good news is that Tim Haines is now a Microsoft MVP (ASP .Net) awardee. Congratulations Tim, and thanks for mentioning us on your blog.
By the way, I will probably slow down the Wednesday things in town for the next two or three weeks. Our first baby is due this Tuesday (11 April), so I will be a bit busy on the first two weeks. Then we are shiftting homes, and I will be busy on the other week. I will probably be back to the normal programme late May.
After his move here we met for lunch one day, with other bloggers and .Net developers and finally got to meet each other in person. We might even make this a monthly thing to do in the Capital (I will probably start organising this, and if you want to join us drop a comment below).
We met in another opportunity, one Wednesday just before a .Net User Group meeting. As you probably know, every Wednesday I come to Cafe Astoria and work from there, meeting people, discussing things with Darryl, Peter Torr Smith, Antonios and sometimes Vodafone folks (Microsoft and Vodafone are located on the building above Cafe Astoria). Don't feel bad Telecom, I sometimes walk to your side of town too, your guys know it.
The good news is that Tim Haines is now a Microsoft MVP (ASP .Net) awardee. Congratulations Tim, and thanks for mentioning us on your blog.
By the way, I will probably slow down the Wednesday things in town for the next two or three weeks. Our first baby is due this Tuesday (11 April), so I will be a bit busy on the first two weeks. Then we are shiftting homes, and I will be busy on the other week. I will probably be back to the normal programme late May.
Microsoft MVP (Mobile Devices) for another year
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 5-Apr-2006 07:17
I have just received the e-mail with the confirmation of my Microsoft MVP Award (Mobile Devices).
There are some benefits in the program, but a lot of the things are covered by a NDA. One of the most important benefits (besides the access to a great group of other MVPs, product developers, product managers) is the MVP Summit, where all Microsoft MVPs are invited to a conference in Seattle.
In my previous MVP Summit (October 2005) we had a keynote from Steve Balmer's. We have the confirmation that Bill Gates will be keynote speaker for the next MVP Summit (March 2007). During the last MVP Summit we had about 2000 MVPs from all over the world meeting in Seattle (actually a bit of a logistics nightmare), with some program wide sessions, and sessions specifically related to the product group we have the award.
If you are in Wellington, look for the information on how to join the local Windows Mobile User Group. Or check through Geekzone for news about our meetings.
This is an annual award, with our activities with communities being evaluated every 12 months. I have received this in the 2004-2005, 2005-2006 periods, and again for 2006-2007. Very cool!Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are recognized, credible, and accessible individuals with expertise in one or more Microsoft products who actively participate in online and offline communities to share their knowledge and expertise with other Microsoft customers.
Customers want an enriched pool of knowledge and real-life experience to tap for advice and feedback. MVPs are helping to satisfy this need by independently enabling customers in both online and offline technical communities. Customer feedback is vital to product development and R&D. The MVPs represent an important part of this feedback loop by providing another link for Microsoft to listen to the customer.
The Most Valuable Professional Program is the way that Microsoft formally acknowledges the accomplishments of these individuals for their contributions to community. It is focused on fostering a vibrant global community where Microsoft and customers learn about each other through valued ongoing relationships.
The MVP Program, in existence for over eleven years, is represented by over 2,600 MVPs in 81 countries."
There are some benefits in the program, but a lot of the things are covered by a NDA. One of the most important benefits (besides the access to a great group of other MVPs, product developers, product managers) is the MVP Summit, where all Microsoft MVPs are invited to a conference in Seattle.
In my previous MVP Summit (October 2005) we had a keynote from Steve Balmer's. We have the confirmation that Bill Gates will be keynote speaker for the next MVP Summit (March 2007). During the last MVP Summit we had about 2000 MVPs from all over the world meeting in Seattle (actually a bit of a logistics nightmare), with some program wide sessions, and sessions specifically related to the product group we have the award.
If you are in Wellington, look for the information on how to join the local Windows Mobile User Group. Or check through Geekzone for news about our meetings.
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Fight the monster!
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 27-Mar-2006 23:41
For you geeks living in New Zealand this is the official website for the Fight the Monster campaign currently screening on TV.
This is a campaign to help children with cancer. With each donation a new flower will grow, with your name. You can go back to the site to see how the frightening scenario changes, and help the little girl.
Even if you are not in New Zealand, you can still donate to the Child Cancer Foundation by visiting the Fight the Monster website. So, what you all waiting for?
This is a campaign to help children with cancer. With each donation a new flower will grow, with your name. You can go back to the site to see how the frightening scenario changes, and help the little girl.
Even if you are not in New Zealand, you can still donate to the Child Cancer Foundation by visiting the Fight the Monster website. So, what you all waiting for?
Voltaire
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 26-Mar-2006 23:14
Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet):
"To hold a pen is to be at war."
"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers."
"Common sense is not so common."
"A witty saying proves nothing."
"It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere."
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason."
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
"To hold a pen is to be at war."
"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers."
"Common sense is not so common."
"A witty saying proves nothing."
"It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere."
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason."
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
We bought a house!
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 14-Mar-2006 09:47
Yes! We had the visit from the real estate agent last night, just after dinner... She told us how another offer was a bit higher, but had conditions. So we moved up a little bit (not as high as the other one though) and got the house.
We will not be moving until end of April though, because the current owner is still finishing a boat (they are moving to the sea), and because our baby is due anytime in early April.
It is going to be fun to move with a newborn. Any helpers?
One of the conditions to buy a house was to find one in an area with TelstraClear cable modem coverage. This house is already connected to TelstraClear, so it's all good to go!
We will not be moving until end of April though, because the current owner is still finishing a boat (they are moving to the sea), and because our baby is due anytime in early April.
It is going to be fun to move with a newborn. Any helpers?
One of the conditions to buy a house was to find one in an area with TelstraClear cable modem coverage. This house is already connected to TelstraClear, so it's all good to go!
Xooglers: New Zealand is not Evil
By Mauricio Freitas, in
Personal, posted: 11-Mar-2006 14:11
According to Ron, on Xooglers' blog:
"The problem with this critque IMO is that it conflates China with the Chinese government. They are not the same thing, any more than the United States is the same thing as the United State Government. The Executive Branch of our government has done some things that I would consider evil. If I were to follow the logic of Google's critics I suppose that to maintain my own ethical integrity I would have to renounce my citizenship and move to New Zealand. (To tell you the truth, there are times when that seems like a pretty tempting option.)"
Yes, way to go... New Zealand is not evil
"The problem with this critque IMO is that it conflates China with the Chinese government. They are not the same thing, any more than the United States is the same thing as the United State Government. The Executive Branch of our government has done some things that I would consider evil. If I were to follow the logic of Google's critics I suppose that to maintain my own ethical integrity I would have to renounce my citizenship and move to New Zealand. (To tell you the truth, there are times when that seems like a pretty tempting option.)"
Yes, way to go... New Zealand is not evil
