Climate and the automotive industry scandal

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Automotive industry pollutionOn the edge for a new climate conference (Paris, from 30th November), governments of the world continue to be more concerned about their short term economy than the impact on global health and long term economy.

The automotive industry scandal on toxic emissions should open their eyes about what their are letting happen to the world. It is not only about fines, but it is mainly about decreasing the usage of individual pollution generator vehicles.

The best solution for this has been drawn in multiple studies:

  • promote local employment, local economy, decrease commuting distances
  • promote active forms of transport, walk + bicycle to work and shopping
  • develop public transport for tourism and leisure usage, simplify transport of luggage, sports equipment and people from towns to leisure places
  • reduce the urban sprawl, bring back live to centers and community

I could also write about the noise pollution, which is to me another scandal from the same industry and for which authorities keep low profile.

Clone primary disk to SSD without re-install

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samsung-ssd-850-evo-box_400-WideI cracked and got a samsung evo 850 for my laptop. Tired of waiting for startup, tired of slow virtual machines. The problem was that I did not want to go through all the process of re-installing windows, downloading onedrive and owncloud files.

First try with Samsung Data Migration software did end with black boot screens. I had to put back my original disk.

The second try, with Macrium Reflect Free Edition worked like a charm. The important seems to choose to copy orginal disk architecture, which keeps the original number and size of sectors. After exchanging the disks, Windows 8 booted quickly and everything was there.

 

Microsoft stopping metro apps, Skype first

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Just received an email from Skype:

“… We’re simplifying your experience down to one app that you can use either with your mouse and keyboard or with touch. Going forward you’ll only need to use the Skype for Windows desktop app. … Note: From 7 July, 2015 you’ll no longer be able to sign into the Skype for modern Windows app.”

Windows 10 will merge the look and feel of metro and desktop apps. Everything will be a “desktop” app which will be automatically maximized on tablets or when you remove (turn back) the keyboard from the 2-in-1 models like Microsoft Surface.

I wonder now: will Microsoft soon decide that all Windows applications should be made available through the “Store” app (like Google Play for Android)?

Skype for “modern windows” app is still available though (http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-modern-windows/), alongside with the desktop application (http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/).

 

Right to vote and democracy

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Luxembourg refused to give right to vote to 46% of its population (now or when they achieve 18years old).

This mean that a “majority” in Luxembourg to do a “democratic” decision will continue to be 27% of the people that live in the country.

In Switzerland it is almost a quarter of the population which cannot count for the “democracy”. In most of other countries this value is smaller.

I regret that countries that need foreign people to help to build and improve their state, do not retribute to include them in the democracy system they claim to be.

Hopefully sometime soon this will change and democracy will include all the population that contribute to a state and not just those who have a passport with the flag of that same country.

ViaRhona – Genève – Lyon

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via_rhonaLast weekend we did the ViaRhona from our place to Lyon.

A total of 255km in 3,5 days, returning by train. Warm and nice on first day, completely wet the second day and fair the remaining of the time.

Here are the statistics and a few tips:

Day    Km   RideTime  Avg speed   Max speed   Ascent  Sleep
14.05  84   5h18      15,75 kmph  50,4 kmph   726 m   Chanaz 
15.05  71   4h27      15,84 kmph  43,7 kmph   334 m   Morestel
16.05  80   5h18      15,00 kmph  46,3 kmph   486 m   Meyzieu
17.05  20   1h30
TOTAL 255 km
  • GPS is quite recommended. Not all is marked. You can download the GPX files from http://en.viarhona.com/troncons/geneve-lyon
  • In Lyon take the train in Lyon Parrache train station. As the train starts there, you will have much more time to enter the train and it will be almost empty.

Reasons why I do not live in Portugal – part whatever

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Há cerca de uma semana recebi por correio a notificação que o meu ‘permit’ de trabalho e residencia na Suiça vai expirar daqui a 2 meses e que era necessário renovar. Trazia um formulário a preencher ao qual deveria juntar uma fotografia e uma fotocópia do cartão de cidadão português e a prova de pagamento da renovação (do e-banking ou nos correios). Vinha igualmente um envelope já com o endereço para enviar o todo. Tempo “perdido” a tratar do assunto: 1h depois do jantar. Preço: 110 € para a renovação mais a fotocópia, fotografia e selo. Tempo de trabalho perdido: 0. O novo ‘permit’ será enviado cá para casa.

Ao mesmo tempo dei-me conta que o cartão de cidadão português expirava esta semana. Fui ontem ao consulado às 8h para renovar. Uma hora mais tarde parti porque tive de ir trabalhar (felizmente a 5 minutos do consulado). Consegui uma pausa às 11h e passei outra hora sem sucesso. Imensa gente, tudo avançava lentamente. Regressei hoje às 14h, de propósito do centro de Genebra e felizmente havia pouca gente e em 15 minutos renovei o cartão. Mas terei de lá voltar para levantar o cartão, pois não enviam a casa (o passaporte enviam, vai-se lá saber porquê). Tempo “perdido” até hoje: 4h, dos quais 3h de trabalho. Preço: 21 €.

 

Moi, un vélo – dans un train

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CFF-Ticket-veloCe matin je pars encore une fois à Sion par train, en première classe, avec mon vélo. Le vélo reste dans le wagon de deuxième classe, car “les passagers de première classe n’utilisent pas le vélo”.

J’achète toujours le billet pour le vélo et j’aime le montrer en premier. Ce matin la contrôleuse a bien pris son téléphone pour prendre le code du billet de vélo sur mon téléphone et de suite “Merci” et reparte. Donc sans voir mon billet à moi ni mon abonnement général de deuxième classe. Je dois bien sembler à un vélo!

Swisscom, Centro Grande Business, Windows XP, WIFI and DHCP

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At PROVELO Genève I’m responsible for the IT infrastructure.

Recently I made the association to profit from the Swisscom new packages. At lower monthly price we got the same as before, plus 3 free months + 100 Fr offer! This came with a new modem – Centro Grande Business – and move to phone over IP, but using normal analogic phones.

At beginning I was happy, as the previous Centro Grande was giving problems with Wifi connections and I had to buy an external wifi router.

But seems that Centro Grande Business has similar problems: PROVELO old Windows XP laptop cannot get DHCP address from the Wifi. And if we set a good IP address it connects but still there is no access to internet.

So I had to put out the external Wifi router again, which works like a charm.

Just I don’t have the patience to phone Swisscom and spend my time discussing over the phone the wifi problems of their routers with old hardware.

Erste klasse und vélos

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cff-veloPour le travail mon employeur me paye la première classe de train. Aujourd’hui j’ai décidé de prendre mon vélo avec moi jusqu’à mon client au Valais.

J’ai finalement pris compte que la première classe n’attend pas de vélos. Il a donc resté dans le wagon à côté. Et cela dans le train IR d’un seul étage. Car dans les IC double-étage le seul placement pour les vélos se trouve à l’autre bout du train par rapport à classe affaires. Les CFF ont été informés de mon mécontentement.

Razões pelas quais não poderia viver em Portugal – parte ?

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Em resposta a um email enviado à Autoridade Tributária sobre como evitar a dupla tributação, uma resposta generosa:

Na sequência da sua mensagem de correio eletrónico, informamos que é obrigatória a menção do número de identificação fiscal (NIF) em todos os contactos com os serviços da Autoridade Tributária, em cumprimento do disposto nos artigos artigos 29 e 31 do Dec-Lei nº. 14/2013, de 28 de Janeiro.

Isto para não falar da resposta automática que recebi antes:

Enviou um mail para um endereço que brevemente vai deixar de existir.
A fusão da DGITA, DGCI e DGAIEC deu lugar à Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira pelo que os endereços de correio electrónico foram alterados. Não é necessário reenviar a mensagem, no entanto, queira por favor informar-se do novos endereços de contacto.

Sem alguma indicação dos novos email… Ao cliente de se desenrascar e descobrir onde os encontrar.