Wireless home

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 5 Comments 

Now that my laptop has a wireless network card inside (Apple Airport Extreme) compatible with the 802.11b (11Mbps) and 802.11g (45Mbps) standards, it was about time I got a wireless access point. Turns out that the PC Superstore here in Helsinki had an offer of a DWL-700AP for 79Ä. It supports the 802.11b standard which is more than enough for a very little home network, and I have the say that it works great. The only problem I had when configuring it is that I couldn't figure out how to input 128 bit WEP key in my Mac, for encryption and increased ecurity so I left it using a 64 bit WEP key which is more than enough for the time being (though I now know how to do it so I'll set it up soon)

Setting up everything else was a breeze. The wireless network configuration in the Mac is very easy to use: turn on AirPort and it will detect the network settings, asking you the WEP key if necessary. And that's it! And the feeling of a wireless network is quite nice... now I can even chat from the sofa or browse from the bed!

Yankees, go home!

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 0 Comments 

Wherever they go, they have problems...

On companies and applicants (Already updated!)

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 0 Comments 

Today I received in my email account an answer to one of the many applications that I sent while I was unemployed (March-September 2003) That wouldn't be big news if it wasn't because that was over half a year ago, and the application to which they answered was over 9 months old! It really pissed me off because it shows how little respect they have towards applicants... I mean, why the f*ck do they even have an email address dedicated to job applications advertised in their page if they check it every 9 months? A few weeks ago I also received an answer to a very old application and I felt tempted to (politely) answer but for one reason or another, I didn't do it. This time, I did it and sent it to them. The name of the company doesn't really matter. I think I was polite enough not to enrage anybody there at my response but if they still do and want to get back to me, I haven't hidden behind any fake email address. I used my real one and signed with my name so they know who I am. Heck, they even know where I live but I have also asked them to remove any reference to me and trash my files.

Anyway, here is the letter:

Dear Mrs. xxxxx,

with all due respect that you and your company deserve, I appreciate your answer but I do not think that I would ever bother to work for a company that handles job applications so disdainfully. My application was sent over 9 months ago, and after such long time, the only official response I have got from your company is a ready-made template where not even my name was included. Therefore, I prompt you to completely remove any reference to my application, CV and personal information from your internal database.

Nonetheless, I do not completely blame you. The market is slowly recovering and applicans are many but jobs are still few and scarce. However, I strongly believe that you should treat applicants with a little bit more respect, because despite the great amount of applications that you may have received, they are persons and not sheeps. If you consider too much a burden to receive applications, do not advertise an email address for such purpose in your corporate page.

Hopefully I found a company over 6 months ago that trusted in me. I wish our professional paths will never cross and I hope you do not show the same attitude towards your own employees.

Best regards,

Oscar Renalias.

Don't know if it was a good thing but somehow, I feel much better. And if any of you is wondering if I would have done the same if I still were unemployed, the answer is that probably yes.

UPDATE: They have already answered to my feedback-complaint! It arrive about an hour after I sent my message. Click the "more" link to see the answer:
 (More)

Holidays!

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General, Blogging, Fun | 2 Comments 

I'm going to finally enjoy some holidays from tomorrow until the 15th of August (I'm expected back at the office on the 16th of August) It's only 2 weeks but it's better than nothing.

If you really need to know about me, please check my photoblog. I'll try to moblog my holidays

Consequences of the terrorist attacks, the elections, and opinions out there

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 3 Comments 

The blasts in Madrid last week deeply saddened the world and the aftermath of the events and the outcome of the elections last weekend has been one of the most favourite topics in the web during the last few days. All of sudden, everybody is talking about it and everybody is now pretending like the know what they're talking about or like they knew a lot about Spanish history, politics and the Spanish people. Amongst the clueless, the funniest ones to read are the Americans, specially if you look on the right side: "TERRORISTS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN TOPPLING THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.", says Instapundit. How about a round-up with the most moronic comments you can find in English-speaking blogs out there: "SPANISH ELECTION POSTCRIPT"? Read it through, not a single one from a Spanish blog and besides, they're pathetic. How easy it is to write for the sake of keeping your blog busy. What elase... oh yes, "Spain Loses Her Nerve" and "Regime Change by Al-Qaeda" (for this last one, I'll drop a hint: Spain does not have a regime since, uhh, 1975? We've been a parliamentary democracy since then, pal!)
Other comments seems to come from yank expats who have quite a righteish view of the issue, and who don't hesitate a second to call the whole Spanish population "cowards" and claim that this is a clear victory for the terrorist. Oh boy, how little do they know! None of these yanks knows anything about the authoritarian and patronizing style of Aznar's politics during the last four years when he "enjoyed" an absolute majority in the parliament. How about the anti-nationalist campaign driven from Madrid and targetted mainly at Catalonia and the Basque Land? How about ignoring your population when 90% is agains the war. Uncle Sam believes Spain supported them in the crusade against the infidels in Iraq but they're all wrong... we didn't support you, Aznar himself and alone did! And how about the blatant manipulation of the media after the Madrid blasts? Do these American know that Mr. Aznar himself called the directors of the most important Spanish newspapers briefly after the attack, to tell them that they should publish that, doubtlessly, ETA was behind them. Oh, but he also called the day after to reassure them (just in case they didn't get the message the first day)! And how about the Spanish minister of foreign affairs instructing our diplomats abroad that they should only talk about ETA?
My clueless American friends, the way in which the government dealt with the attacks was the last straw. People couldn't take it anymore and by means of the elections we made our opinion to be heard, the same opinion that was ignored when we said NO to the war. Cowardice? I doubt it. I don't think the new government has or will surrender before the terrorists. I don't think you can call us cowards after fighting for over 30 years against ETA.
Hopefully, I am not the only one who thinks this way, for I was starting to believe that the world had gone crazy... He has some good points, and so does he, and even some other Spaniards have raised their voice about this. Another good one by argumenting one of the reasons: lies and manipulations.
I'm no leftist or righteist and I am not saying that new socialist government will be any better than what we had so far. Might be, let's see how things fare, but it really pissed me off to see all those comments calling us cowards and that we surrendered before terrorism, by people who write things from 2000km away and who pretend they have a point.

English words

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 0 Comments 

Now that I have almost finished the "Return of the King", book that closes the history of Middle-Earth and the battle for the one Ring, I have to say that it has been an enriching literary experience. Also not being a native English speaker, I have learned many new words that I had never heard of such as "whither" and "thither", "wont", "bestow" and many more. But today I saw the most strange English word I have ever seen:

trothplight

Sometimes it's easy to get the meaning, but time, I couldn't O Hint: it means the same as "betroth". Clear, isn't it?