So, there we go. The 11 of January was the birth of my thesis - completed and submitted. Almost 150 pages of work on the topic "Women's Contribution to Free and Open Source Software Development". In French*. Will upload the PDF soon online. For the English speaking readers, will probably have to wait for the articles I will be writing within the year. My idea for publishing a book (in English) will need a more structured research and connections. If anyone has ideas, please let me know :)

So, meanwhile in the agenda is PhD admission, fellowship application, waiting for the renewal of my residence card so that I can travel. Calls for papers, calls for participation. A long list of abandoned/postponed/stalled offers, requests, ideas, mini and multi tasks. And of course, the successful finalising of the two Drupal courses that I am giving at the moment. As the matters go further, the time to prepare raises. And the biggest contradiction to me is that I have abandoned my own Drupal website, while teaching 21 students to produce their own.

Will be more strict in the future and will be publishing here more often. So, don't give up!

* Just the fact that 5 years ago I did not speak a word of French might slightly give idea on what an effort this is. Not only from point of view of orthography correction, but also in terms of expression, of literature read and referenced means for me three times the effort.

Tonight's topic was geekism and its effects on life. Mostly, it was about who is geekier in our group and how he/she exposes it to the world. What came out of the conversation is that we can't claim one geekier than other, since we are all geeks in something.

The word geek is a slang term, noting individuals as "a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, etc.", says Wikipedia

For example, I feel a bike-geek since this summer. I have used a bike for a number of years (maybe 20, maybe more), but I have never felt like I wanted to know more abouf fixing it, never felt it like something close to my habits, which I use with easiness, without effort, and for fun. Last night, while going back home in the heavy rain, on the canal - there was just me and my bike. And my bike, despite of the heavy rain, kept going, and me - too. I felt it like a real old friend.

There is geekism in everything. It is not attached to computers, and to technology in any way. There is the famous poster: "The 56 Geeks, by Scott Johnson", which demonstrates some types of geeks. Being good in something, and being willing to get out of conventional rules of its usage of this something, enjoying to have it and to use it, makes you already feel like a "geek". Cooking for example. If you stick to written recipies, and do not dare to improvise, you might not necessary be a cook (cook geek), but if you see the recipy and you are able to imagine what spices will go well with the ingredients, and are not afraid to experiment... hmm, that's it!

Here's what Cecilia says about geeks (nerds and dorks):

Oh, this really explains it all. I was wondering if this was only me who concentrates best just after lunch, with the second dose of extra-strong coffee, and with the rush to finish "everything planned for today" by 17h, before I am too tired, and before starting my "second life" (or life-after-work).

Ah, and this also resembles the weekly productivity curve : Monday, you answer urgent e-mails and quieries, Tuesday, the urgent e-mails and quieries get less (but your feeling to not advancing on your thesis/article gets higher), Wednesday and Thursday usually pass working hard, and Friday is a blogging and fooling around, preparing for the weekend day, after the feeling you did something (even if not enough) this week...

Life has simple explanations sometimes. Thanks Phd Commics

Monday morning is a difficult time for my daughter, but also for me... To get up, after a wonderful weekend, prepare for leaving, early morning. Catch up with e-mails, conquer procrastination, and dive into your daily tasks. I often sing this song while going to university in the morning:

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Monday Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be
Oh Monday Monday, how could you leave and not take me.

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, ...

Obama's first day looks impressive. He is well occupied to correct "other people's mistakes and gaffs". Imagine, instead of going forward with ideas and growth, he needs to recuperate for all these years of degradation from which now suffer hundreds of millions of Americans, and thousands of millions citizens on Earth.

Impressive first steps, of course : the closing of Guantanamo prison, signing for piece in the Near East, and starting important measures for helping poor families in the US. How impressive. Here is a good message, which seems to be out of the White House after today:

Dear World:

We, the United States of America, your top quality supplier of ideals of democracy, would like to apologize for our 2001-2008 interruption in service. The technical fault that led to this eight-year service outage has been located, and the software responsible was replaced November 4. Early tests of the newly installed program indicate that we are now operating correctly, and we expect it to be fully functional on January 20. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the outage. We look forward to resuming full service and hope to improve in years to come. We thank you for your patience and understanding,

Sincerely,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Source: Art Threat

Here is a saying I heard recently, and I wish to share it, by wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody!

Some things from the past disappear but others open a window to the future, these are the ones I want to recover. /blockquote> -- Mario Benedetti

After taking this so important decision that:

1. I don't want to plan 10 years in advance and apply for PhD
2. I wish to go and find something else to do, some target group for which I can later write a PhD work
3. I will now concentrate and finish (after I start) my master's thesis

I just got to the conclusion, that what I really was struggling about, is to preserve my freedom. Because, "freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that the heavens gave men". And if I would be kept into universtiy for so long, no matter how good it can be, I will be feeling my freedom taken. So, I need to go ahead slowly and to find out my way.

"La libertad, Sancho, es uno de los más preciosos dones que a los hombres dieron los cielos; con ella no pueden igualarse los tesoros que encierra la tierra ni el mar encubre; por la libertad, así como por la honra, se puede y debe aventurar la vida, y, por el contrario, el cautiverio es el mayor mal que puede venir a los hombres."

(Source : Wikiquotes)

Augury has sent me a great song, hosted on youtube to wish me a happy birthay.

And now, ladies and gentlement : Stan Kenton and his Happy Birthay to You!

Благодаря ти, Светле. You really make me feel like celebrating!