Author Archives: hds

Drivers license for 30 seconds

Posted on January 28, 2014 by hds

Unfortunately, as a resident (even temporary) in Spain, my Australian drivers license isn’t valid. So, towards the end of last year I went through all the process (and all the cost) of getting my drivers license here in Spain. Unlike … Continue reading →

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He had to question his calculations

Posted on January 22, 2014 by hds

I just read an article on Wired about a mathematics Ph.D. student using scripts and data mining techniques to “hack” the online dating site OKCupid to find a match. Interesting article, although I read one about a woman doing something … Continue reading →

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The Player of Games

Posted on January 18, 2014 by hds

Today I finished Iain M. Banks’ second culture novel, The Player of Games. I originally started reading the Banks’ culture novels ordered by thickness (longer books are usually better value from a dollars per hour of entertainment point of view). … Continue reading →

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Barcelona Bitters

Posted on January 18, 2014 by hds

After being introduced to bitters in Australia, Andrea wanted to have some at home. So we went looking for it in the El Corte Inglés supermarket, but with no luck. We even asked in the gourmet section, but there, just … Continue reading →

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The designer and the stone statue

Posted on January 17, 2014 by hds

The story: A young designer was troubled and sad, so he went to see his Master. “Nobody recognises my work” the designer said with woeful voice. The Master took him to a temple with a beautiful stone statue in the … Continue reading →

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Día de los Reyes Magos

Posted on January 6, 2014 by hds

In most of Spain (along with a lot of other “latin” countries), gifts don’t come from Father Christmas, they come from the Reyes Magos (Magi Kings, the three kings from the biblical story of Christ’s birth). Apparently, they got lost … Continue reading →

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He’s returned

Posted on January 4, 2014 by hds

I just finished reading Er ist wieder da (English: He’s returned, Spanish: Ha vuelto) by Timur Vermes. It follows Adolf Hitler, who awakes in a back alley of Berlin in 2011, with no memory of his death or the intervening … Continue reading →

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Another decade on: 2013 (part 2)

Posted on January 2, 2014 by hds

We’re back for part 2 of my recap of 2013. You can find part 1 here. In case anyone couldn’t work it out, the event of the year was… On the 10th of September, Andrea defended her Ph.D. thesis in … Continue reading →

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Another decade on: 2013 (part 1)

Posted on December 31, 2013 by hds

It’s just about the end of 2013, and time for a post about the year. It’s been a big year, full of new experiences for me and especially for Andrea. In January I finished up my stay in Paderborn with … Continue reading →

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Webcomics

Posted on December 30, 2013 by hds

I’ve been reading webcomics for almost as long as they’ve been around. The selection that I read each week hasn’t changed much in the last few years, but I think it’s time to remove a few from my list that … Continue reading →

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