Category Archives: Miscellany

Random bits of information. My specialty.

Why We Like Charlottesville

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There was a discussion yesterday on the Charlottesville Java Users Group email list about how many people take pay cuts when moving to Charlottesville, and how they couldn’t be happier with the choice. Mostly people cited “Quality of Life” listing things like “10 minute commute” times, etc. as why they’re happier.

For Tici and I today includes one of those “Quality of Life” events. As you may know, Tici’s very interested in Montessori education methods and is considering getting trained in it and at least getting a job as a classroom assistant. Turns out one of the preeminent authors on the subject lives and works in Charlottesville, Angeline S. Lillard is a professor at UVA. Before we even knew that she was local, we’d picked up a copy of her book Montessori: The Science Behind The Genius. Turns out as part of the Virginia Festival of the Book events this week, she’s speaking tonight at our local Barnes & Noble.

Angeline Stoll Lillard - Montessori The Science Behind the Genius

It’s at 6pm, so Tici will go by herself while I stay with the kids. Maybe I’ll get her to post a summary here tomorrow.

In Charlottesville “Quality of Life”, Virginia (US):
Jeff Lavezzo

PS: Mostly, I wrote this post because a search for LIllard’s book brings up her website in about 15th place. I hope more links like this one and ones from vabook.org help improve her ranking. Of course, I’d like to help her improve her site to make it worth visiting, but eh… I am already over subscribed.

A visit to Malawi

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One of the fun things about being a computer programmer is coming up with goofy little programs like the one on the right of this page. At the moment it says “there are 11 days till we leave for Malawi!”

It’s going to continue to count down till we leave. Then it will count down hours till we arrive. Then it will count down the days we have left in Malawi. Then again it’ll count down the travel time back to Charlottesville.

Enjoy!

We’re very excited about our trip. Tici’s dad’s been in and out of the hospital for about 5 months now. It’s been very hard for her to be away from him and hear a weak voice on the other end of the phone. We hope he’ll get a some more strength back before we arrive. Ether that or Isobel and Cecilia’s energy will rub off on him. Tici’s also bought him lots of high-calorie foods to bring to him. He needs it!

We’ll also hopefully get to visit friends there like the Malakets, the Massa family, the Mazloums, Hakimis and especially Janine. And there’s a chance we’ll be meeting up with some of the high-tech blogger’s Malawi’s produced lately (see the side bar under “contemporaries”).

In Charlottesville, Virginia (US) for a few more days:
Jeff Lavezzo

World’s thinnest wallet?

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A coworker showed me a Christmas present he just got. It’s a very very thin wallet. They laid out four ‘card’ pockets next to each other, used really thin and strong material and made the edges very thin. They even have a traveler’s version that has a large pocket for your passport and (if you’re in Congo-Brazzaville) your Carte de Cooperant or other large ID. This is going on my list.

The most surprising part is the folded up dimensions are the same as my current wallet. It’s just designed to hold a lot more.

In Charlottesville, Virginia (US):
Jeff Lavezzo

The standard wallet

Traveler's or 'Ex-pat' wallet