Friday, April 6, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Day 29: 1 month!
Hello there!
Haven't seen you for a long time.
It's one month since I'm in Holland, actually Zud-Holland :)) This language is so strange, I think all Dutch have problems with their throats, ask someone to pronounce "g". Sooo... Holland is a calm, clean, interesting and well organized country. People are friendly and open ... and very tall. I feel faint with my 1,83. Everyone is around 2 meters no matter a man or woman. The bicycles - everywhere. Still can't understand how can you ride to office every day wearing your neat dress. People here want to keep environment clear and look very sporty. Today my boss told me that every Wednesday afternoon he runs 20km back to home in Rotterdam.(Nasko, why don't you try it to "Zone B5") ... After all, Dutch deserve real respect after being the winners of the battle with the sea.
I had an eventful week. On Monday couldn't win the chess game. It went for chances for both sides but at some point I took the advantage and we reached the next position(see diagram). My chess program is smiling at it(-+ 7.73) and says that's an easy win for black ... but not for me :))
On Tuesday two Bulgarian friends surprised me a lot by telling me they could come and visit me traveling on their way from Munchen to Paris. And they came! Thanks Noni and Pepi! I didn't expect you so soon.
We went to see night Amsterdam. It was too lively at 21 with people on the streets and open shops. Drunk a few beers(unfortunately one was with cherry flavor) and at 2 o'clock we were back in Delft. As you might think we were short on beds :))
There was a small company party on Friday night(oh, no, don't think it's a simple Friday, it's the 3rd Friday of the month :)) everything is planned, you either go to play chess every Monday, to billiards every n-th Wednesday ... or stay at home). There was a funny tradition - you enter the bar, leave 10 euros in the middle of a table and then stand, talk and wait if you can get something to drink(I couldn't) :))
On Saturday finally found time to climb the Niuewe Kerk(some 360 steps) dating from 1396(the year Bulgaria got under Turkish rule). The town center looks very cosy from above. They say in Delft you can see everything you can see in Holland - architecture, channels, ceramic gifts ... who knows what else.
On Sunday my boss invited me to join him and his wife to help them in the preparation for the new sailing season of their yacht. It was really a new experience for me. These people are really brave to go with such a boat to the French coast or UK. We painted the boat and put the steering wheel. I was told: "Who has worked on the boat in the winter has the right to sail on it in the summer...". Be careful not to miss the news of a drawn Bulgarian in The Channel. :))
Goedenavond.
Haven't seen you for a long time.
It's one month since I'm in Holland, actually Zud-Holland :)) This language is so strange, I think all Dutch have problems with their throats, ask someone to pronounce "g". Sooo... Holland is a calm, clean, interesting and well organized country. People are friendly and open ... and very tall. I feel faint with my 1,83. Everyone is around 2 meters no matter a man or woman. The bicycles - everywhere. Still can't understand how can you ride to office every day wearing your neat dress. People here want to keep environment clear and look very sporty. Today my boss told me that every Wednesday afternoon he runs 20km back to home in Rotterdam.(Nasko, why don't you try it to "Zone B5") ... After all, Dutch deserve real respect after being the winners of the battle with the sea.
I had an eventful week. On Monday couldn't win the chess game. It went for chances for both sides but at some point I took the advantage and we reached the next position(see diagram). My chess program is smiling at it(-+ 7.73) and says that's an easy win for black ... but not for me :))
On Tuesday two Bulgarian friends surprised me a lot by telling me they could come and visit me traveling on their way from Munchen to Paris. And they came! Thanks Noni and Pepi! I didn't expect you so soon.
We went to see night Amsterdam. It was too lively at 21 with people on the streets and open shops. Drunk a few beers(unfortunately one was with cherry flavor) and at 2 o'clock we were back in Delft. As you might think we were short on beds :))There was a small company party on Friday night(oh, no, don't think it's a simple Friday, it's the 3rd Friday of the month :)) everything is planned, you either go to play chess every Monday, to billiards every n-th Wednesday ... or stay at home). There was a funny tradition - you enter the bar, leave 10 euros in the middle of a table and then stand, talk and wait if you can get something to drink(I couldn't) :))
On Saturday finally found time to climb the Niuewe Kerk(some 360 steps) dating from 1396(the year Bulgaria got under Turkish rule). The town center looks very cosy from above. They say in Delft you can see everything you can see in Holland - architecture, channels, ceramic gifts ... who knows what else.
On Sunday my boss invited me to join him and his wife to help them in the preparation for the new sailing season of their yacht. It was really a new experience for me. These people are really brave to go with such a boat to the French coast or UK. We painted the boat and put the steering wheel. I was told: "Who has worked on the boat in the winter has the right to sail on it in the summer...". Be careful not to miss the news of a drawn Bulgarian in The Channel. :))Goedenavond.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Day 22: Sunny weekend!
Hi, bloggers!
How are you?
I was lucky this weekend - had two sunny days. On Saturday went to the center of Delft for the "traditional" shopping. This is the only time I can spend a few euros here. At lunch time I was at "Markt Square" and sat for a meal while waiting my Iranian colleague to come.
Everything in the menu cost around 10 Euros(9,25-11,25). I can't understand why they've made it since they could easily say "Everything for 10!". Chose a nice image(not being sure it was chicken or fish), ordered and leaned back in my chair enjoying the sun. It was fish. It came too quickly but to be honest I was disappointed by the size of the portion. These things on the table cost 16,53. Victoria, how much does it cost in Idaho? I think prices in London were not so high. In Bulgaria this costs less than 5 Euros. (That's on the topic of prices and the question I get by some Bulgarian friends: "Is it expensive there?"). Ok, it depends, and at the end, part of the price is the place - it's in the heart of the town and the sun was great. So, I think it was even cheap :))
Then Shahin came and we went for a coffee. On the way we were talking about the Bulgarian tradition and wearing "mart-enichki", Iranian revolution(in 1979 Iran(also known as Persia) stopped to be a monarchy and became "Islamic Republic"), religion, life in Teheran. I was very surprised that in the 16 million Iranian capital there wasn't one discotheque. I'm not joking, he didn't too. I was even more surprised when heard about his negative attitude towards their religion(how it interferes with other aspects of life) and current Iranian politics(you can't be at a high position if you are not religious man). Learned also that their home Internet was filtered and of course they are not allowed to drink alcohol. He added that their country must be modernized but this needs time. Lol.
Sunday. Slept until 10:30, surfed the Net for an hour, ate a pizza and decided it's high time to go and see the sea. Got on the tram and after half an hour I was in Scheveningen/I beg you can't say that name as they say it/. By the way Scheveningen is the place where 20 years ago the Bulgarian chess player Kiril Georgiev became World Junior Champion.
The beach is so long. There were thousands of people walking, jogging, shopping. This might be the place I'll spend my summer weekends/the tram stops next to my house in Delft and goes directly to the beach/.
The first thing your eye is immediately grabbed by is the big concrete platform that goes deep into the sea. The tower is being reconstructed and prepared for bungy jumps facility. I think I'll try it in summer(hope mom is not reading these lines).
Ok. This post got too long. Tomorrow is a day for chess and my second game in DSC Delft. Analysis will follow ...
Goedenacht!
How are you?
I was lucky this weekend - had two sunny days. On Saturday went to the center of Delft for the "traditional" shopping. This is the only time I can spend a few euros here. At lunch time I was at "Markt Square" and sat for a meal while waiting my Iranian colleague to come.
Everything in the menu cost around 10 Euros(9,25-11,25). I can't understand why they've made it since they could easily say "Everything for 10!". Chose a nice image(not being sure it was chicken or fish), ordered and leaned back in my chair enjoying the sun. It was fish. It came too quickly but to be honest I was disappointed by the size of the portion. These things on the table cost 16,53. Victoria, how much does it cost in Idaho? I think prices in London were not so high. In Bulgaria this costs less than 5 Euros. (That's on the topic of prices and the question I get by some Bulgarian friends: "Is it expensive there?"). Ok, it depends, and at the end, part of the price is the place - it's in the heart of the town and the sun was great. So, I think it was even cheap :))Then Shahin came and we went for a coffee. On the way we were talking about the Bulgarian tradition and wearing "mart-enichki", Iranian revolution(in 1979 Iran(also known as Persia) stopped to be a monarchy and became "Islamic Republic"), religion, life in Teheran. I was very surprised that in the 16 million Iranian capital there wasn't one discotheque. I'm not joking, he didn't too. I was even more surprised when heard about his negative attitude towards their religion(how it interferes with other aspects of life) and current Iranian politics(you can't be at a high position if you are not religious man). Learned also that their home Internet was filtered and of course they are not allowed to drink alcohol. He added that their country must be modernized but this needs time. Lol.
Sunday. Slept until 10:30, surfed the Net for an hour, ate a pizza and decided it's high time to go and see the sea. Got on the tram and after half an hour I was in Scheveningen/I beg you can't say that name as they say it/. By the way Scheveningen is the place where 20 years ago the Bulgarian chess player Kiril Georgiev became World Junior Champion.
The beach is so long. There were thousands of people walking, jogging, shopping. This might be the place I'll spend my summer weekends/the tram stops next to my house in Delft and goes directly to the beach/.
The first thing your eye is immediately grabbed by is the big concrete platform that goes deep into the sea. The tower is being reconstructed and prepared for bungy jumps facility. I think I'll try it in summer(hope mom is not reading these lines).Ok. This post got too long. Tomorrow is a day for chess and my second game in DSC Delft. Analysis will follow ...
Goedenacht!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Day 20: Your job must be fun!
This is a thing I've been told recently at one of our regular meetings. Doesn't it sound good? I think alle tammos (all employees of Tam Tam) are following very well this advice. These "tammos" to the left are enjoying the new Nintendo Wii platform and a game in tennis.
Playing this is quite a fun - you have to use a remote device and wave it in the air as if you are hitting the ball with a real tennis racket. (Those who are not attracted in TV games try to crush the office by playing football in it).
EXACTLY at 17:00 alle tammos throw away their keybords, mouses and headphones, pull up a mobile table to the center of the Information Worker Solutions(IWS) department and begin to drink beer(with or without alcohol), eat chips or yellow cheese(kaas).
"Hey, gringo, you are playing some dirty tricks! Get your hands off the table or get ready for a duel!"
The poker game is a great attraction. I think if we put some real money, Western style clothes, cigarettes, play the soundtrack of "The good, the bad and the ugly" ... we can call Clint Eastwood to shoot his next movie.
Girl power: ladies are playing bowling in "spreekkamer C" carefully observed by Kwoh-Ho(Developer). From left to rigth: Annelies(Interaction Designer ... gave me a microwave and drove me to buy a blanket), Lucy(SharePoint), Jaqueline(Human Resources), Patricia(Staff). a bad day for Dutch chess
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The 8th of March: Happy holiday to women throughout the World!
Greetings, ladies!
In The Netherlands they don't celebrate it. Obviously it's popular only in the "post-communist" countries. Anyway, it's a nice tradition.
Nothing special these days. After solving the issue with the Web Service, InfoPath Forms Services, MOSS and Forms Authentication got involved in another project. By the way, developers, take in mind this article if you are going to host the InfoPath Environment. It's very useful to know that you can interact programmatically with the underlying xml form from your custom application.
I have two new tasks: to customize the HTML rendered by Content Query Web Part and import MOSS profile information for 1500 users defined in Excel file. Deadline for the first task: next Thursday. I think I'll get ready with both tomorrow :)
The Content Query Web Part is one of the cooliest things I've seen in SharePoint so far. It allows you to pull information from any source within your site collection and later define how it is displayed.
To change the "look & feel" you need to "touch" some files(ItemStyle) placed in The Style library and configure(intuitively) a few XSL transformations. Invest 20 minutes in this article also. It can save you hours later. I think this is really a powerful web part - "get the information and display it as you like for seconds".
Tot morgen!
In The Netherlands they don't celebrate it. Obviously it's popular only in the "post-communist" countries. Anyway, it's a nice tradition.
Nothing special these days. After solving the issue with the Web Service, InfoPath Forms Services, MOSS and Forms Authentication got involved in another project. By the way, developers, take in mind this article if you are going to host the InfoPath Environment. It's very useful to know that you can interact programmatically with the underlying xml form from your custom application.
I have two new tasks: to customize the HTML rendered by Content Query Web Part and import MOSS profile information for 1500 users defined in Excel file. Deadline for the first task: next Thursday. I think I'll get ready with both tomorrow :)
The Content Query Web Part is one of the cooliest things I've seen in SharePoint so far. It allows you to pull information from any source within your site collection and later define how it is displayed.
To change the "look & feel" you need to "touch" some files(ItemStyle) placed in The Style library and configure(intuitively) a few XSL transformations. Invest 20 minutes in this article also. It can save you hours later. I think this is really a powerful web part - "get the information and display it as you like for seconds".
Tot morgen!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Day 16: First game First win!
"Здравствуйте, дорогие зрители! С вами за пультом управления вновь гроссмейстер Сергей Шипов - работаю для вас из своей московской берлоги ... ". In this way starts his analysis my favorite chess commentator - gm Sergey Shipov. After exactly half year and the special tournament in Istanbul I sat again behind the board, this time some 3000 km away from Turkey. The drawing said my opponent was a very friendly(as every Dutch I've met until now) old man - Mr Jan van de Donk. We exchanged a few words, drank a coffee and then started the game.Lyubomir Mishkovsky(BUL) - Jan van de Donk(NED)
Delft, March 2007
Delft, March 2007
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 Mr Donk chose French defence as a reply to my 1. e4 and looked happy of life. After 3. .. Bb4 I stopped for a while and decided to continue with a rare variation I know from the game Alekhine - Nimzovitch: 4. Ne2?!(see diagram 1) de 5. a3 Bc3 6. Nc3 f5 7. f3 ef 8. Qf3 ... so far we repeat the afore mentioned game. White is a pawn dawn but with active pieces. Now it's dangerous for black to take pawn 8. ..Qd4 because after 9. Bg5 and 10. Rd1 white is clearly better. 8. ..Nf6 9. Bf4 c6(9. ..Qd4 10. Nb5) 10. O-O-O O-O(see diagram 2)
Another intersting point - now I was thinking over 2 variations. First 11. Re1 Nd5 12. Bd5 ed 13. Re5 Re8 14. Rde1 Re5 15. Re5 with some positional advantage for white and chances for kingside attack or 11. Bxa6 ba 12. Qxc6 Bd7 and gaining back material. Took the second line 11. Ba6 ba 12. Qc6 ... and missed the move 12. ..Qb6. It's quite a simple move but I totally excluded it from calculations, had in mind only 12. ..Bd7 13. Qa6 with an advantage for white. With 12. ..Qb6 black offers his two rooks for the white queen 13. Qa8 Bb7 14. Qf8 Kf8 ... and a win for someone at move 95 :)) I declined this unclear position and found a beautiful place on c5 for my knight.
13. Qc4 Bb7 (13. .. Bd7 14. d4 Rac8 15. Qd4 Qd4 16. Rd4 ed 17. Nd5 Nd5 18. Rd5 Bc6 =) 14. Na4! Qc6 15. Nc5 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kh8 17. Rde1(the right rook!) Rfe8 18. Rg1(not only defending g2 pawn but preparing an attack with g4) 18. ..Rac8(better to place rook directly at b8 since the c-file is well blocked by the knight and leave the c8 square for the bishop defending the e6-square). 19. Qb3 Ba8 20. Re5!(see diagram) 
As Nimzovich says: "The object of your attack must be fixed!". So lets fix the e6-pawn. This move prevents black's e5 and undermining the white's knight at c5. Also after c4 and g4 combined with queen on h3 this rook can attack through h5 the black's king position. 21. .. Rb8 22. Qa2(22. Qh3 Qb5 23. b3 a5 24. a4 must be checked) 22. ..Rb5??(решаюшая ошибка) 23. c4 Rc5 24. dc Qc5 25. Rge1 Qd4 26. Rd5(see diagram)
After calculating for several minutes 26. cd and 26. Rd5 decided that the later is the closest path to victory. 26. .. Bd5 27. cd Rc8 28. Bc3 Qf2(28. ..Rc3 29. bc Qc3 30. Kd1 Qd3 31. Qd2 +-) 29. Re6 Qf1 30. Kd2 Qf2 31. Re2 Qf4 32. Kc2 Qf1 33. Rd2 Qf4 34. Qb3 Rb8(see diagram)
A nice finish of the game: 35. Qb8(the pawn is unstoppable) Qb8 36. d6 Qb7 37. d7 Qe4 38. Kc1 Qe1 39. Rd1 Qe3 40. Kb1 1:0So, this was my first tournament game in The Netherlands. The club is nice. The members too. (Forgot to tell you that before the tournament a teenager beat me 3:0 in a blitz match).
The game started at 19:45 and the time control was 1:45 gillotine. We finished around 23:15 and I headed home. Midnight Delft is cool :)) /if only it was not so windy, wind all day and night, pfuu/. The town is so calm that even if you want to be robbed by some criminals ... you can't have that fun :)) I walked for half an hour and couldn't see a man. /Maybe I'm the only criminal here :)) and people know I'm in town and are scared ... like in old Westerns :)) hahaha, this is a script for my friend - Qncho - the movie maker / Nothing bothers these people. Every house looks like the previous one. It's strange that you can see through the window of every home(I'm not doing it deliberately) - and all is the same - a car, a house, 2 well-educated kids watching silently TV, dad reading, mom wandering ... or a house, 2 old people ... a house, a table, some fruits on it ... a house ...This is the real MATRIX not the one with Keanu Reeves :))
Goedenacht.
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