02.10.2014 05:19 · Notes · travels, meetings
After a long break, I’m going to the QGIS developer meeting again. This time in Germany.
I’m in Boryspil now, almost two hours before boarding… Wi-Fi is not very good here: one 15-minute session, then you have to reconnect.
26.09.2014 08:28 · Notes · osgeo
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), besides developing free GIS software, pays great attention to educational and scientific work. In particular, together with the ICA and ISPRS, OSGeo supports the formation of laboratories and research centers around the world (the so-called ICA-OSGeo Laboratory Network). The goal of this initiative is to promote and encourage educational, research, and other activities related to free GIS and open geodata.
The first (and so far the only) scientific and educational OSGeo laboratory in Ukraine and the former USSR was created on the basis of the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology Department of the Faculty of Geography of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
09.08.2014 13:04 · Notes · osgeo
From now on, I am an OSGeo Charter Member and an OSGeo Advocate. The first and, so far, the only one in Ukraine.
05.08.2014 10:02 · Notes · visa
Last week I was in Kyiv applying for a German visa. It turned out that the process is not as complex and scary as it is said over the internet.
First, I checked the information published on the German embassy website and found out that:
What is important is that in the case of an application via the visa center, documents can be submitted either in person or with the help of an authorized representative, while applying via the embassy is only possible in person. I chose the second option — applying through the visa center. Firstly, I have to travel (to Kyiv or another city) anyway. Secondly, the number of available time slots at the embassy is much lower than at the visa center. Thirdly, application processing will be faster in the visa center. And lastly, when applying through the visa center, you can order delivery of the passport by courier service. So I checked train and bus schedules and chose the visa center in Kyiv: it should be more or less comfortable timing, and there is no need to stay overnight.
Next, determine the purpose of the trip and download a list of required documents, a visa application form, and, in the case of applying through the visa center, a consent for personal data processing. Then collect all the required certificates and other documents. Luckily, a notarized translation to German is not needed to be more precise:
Translation of Ukrainian documents is optional and not subject to notarization.
At least, this is the response I received to my question.
The sample of the visa application form is in German, but it can be filled out in Ukrainian, except for the name, surname, and place of birth. Although I filled it out in German. If you have to contact your bank to get a statement of account, make sure that the stamp is present not only on the certificate but also in the statement itself.
That’s pretty much all the preparation.
I arrived in Kyiv and spent some time finding the building of the visa center: formally, the visa center is located at Frunze street, 60. But to find it, one needs to turn to Zavodska street first and walk about 100 meters. Actually, under number 60, there is not only the German visa center but about 10 of them. There are Canada, Poland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, all Scandinavian countries… Neat houses surrounded by a common fence.
The visa center’s website contains information about security measures: electronic devices (including mobile phones) are not allowed, bags and backpacks are not allowed, and so on. In fact, it’s not all that bad. You can bring your phone, but the security guard will ask you to turn it off. As for backpacks and bags, there are some luggage storage facilities. But I don’t know if it’s like that in all centers.
The documents were accepted quickly: I had an appointment for 9 a. m., but was already free at that time. This is despite the fact that I was 19th in line.
Actually, why am I talking about it. I just received a package with my passport, and there is a new visa in it.
28.03.2014 18:35 · Notes · qgis, meetings
The 11th QGIS developers meeting, held in Vienna (Austria), has finished. This time, the hackfest took place under the umbrella of a larger developer meeting — OSGeo Code Sprint 2014.
The activity of the participants was at a traditionally high level, and there is no sense or possibility to describe everything. Among the most notable things from an end-user prospective are:
There were also discussions about:
Hackfest:
02.09.2013 15:56 · Notes · life
I have been going to Khortytsia a lot lately. I get there on my own - it’s not as far and as long as it looks at first glance, and it keeps me in shape. As the new bridge is still under construction, I have to walk across the old one. However, the junction in front of the bridges has been partially built, and, in some places, even paved with asphalt. But there are no more crosswalks. Neither old nor new. And the only way to get to the Preobrazhensky Bridge is by breaking the traffic rules: crossing a four-lane road at any point.
Of course, you can still take the right side of Tyulenina Street (if you’re facing the island), but there is a pipe that takes up almost the entire footpath on a bridge. So you have to walk very close to it, stepping over the supports every 2–3 metres. I did it twice: trust me, you don’t want to walk on that side.
Another problem is narrow pavements and cyclists. I have nothing against the former or the latter. But when they are combined… In the whole time, I have seen only 2 (two!!!) cyclists obeying the traffic rules, even though they ride in droves in this area. And here you are walking on the pavement (the pavement, I remind you, is narrow, two people can pass each other, but not walk side by side), you don’t cause any trouble, and there it is… a cyclist on a boneshaker is coming towards you or overtaking you from behind. I don’t mind and step back from the pavement in the thicket and let him pass, I’m not a very important person after all. But WTF… is it fear of the road or something else?
15.05.2013 09:01 · Notes · laptop
Lately, I have been having to carry my laptop around a lot. And although I’m not that weak, carrying around all those kilos (the laptop itself + all the accessories) is a bit of a hassle, and I was starting to feel a lack of performance. I wanted something new, more compact, lighter, and preferably with a long-lasting battery.
I looked at ThinkPads and Dell’s Vostro range and ended up with the Lenovo ThinkPad x230. I am very happy with the laptop, it is exactly what I wanted: small, light, comfortable, and powerful. I quickly got used to the new island-style keyboard, although I sometimes hit Delete, which is now in the top right-hand corner, instead of Home or End. In the future, I will probably replace the current “classic” hard drive with an SSD and increase the memory.
22.04.2013 08:35 · Notes · concert
Went to the Catholic cathedral on Friday for an organ recital (actually a duet — organ and cello). They played Bach, Paganini, Masne, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. I liked it, and besides, I had never heard the organ live before. The cathedral was surprisingly full: both the main pews and the side chairs were occupied.
08.04.2013 07:57 · Notes · books
It was a great pleasure to read this book by Dzvinka Matiyash. I recommend it, it’s a wonderful work, written emotionally and, in my opinion, poetically. Even if you don’t like Ukrainian, you should try to read it anyway.
In the meantime, I’ll start reading “Stories of Roses, Rain and Salt”.
05.03.2013 08:01 · Notes · books
I read “Notes of a Ukrainian Madman” by Lina Kostenko. Excellent, I didn’t even expect to like it. Now I’m thinking what to read next: “A Requiem for November” by Dzvinka Matiyash or “Raven” by Vasyl Shkliar. But I don’t have either book yet, and it’s unlikely that I could buy them here.