About
About The Blog
“Convalesco” in Latin means growing stronger. After thinking a few days for a name I came with no better choice than that. I like it!
The languages that I write the posts are English and Hellenic (Greek) and maybe Italian. Comments are slightly moderated to avoid hassles. The topics can vary from personal life to politics, technology, music, cars or travels.
About Me
My name is Panagiotis. I am a computer hobbyist, born in 1982 in Xanthi. I live since 1983 in Drama, which is my father’s hometown. I spend my time playing with my computers, listening music, blogging, snowboarding, travelling and of course working. I studied at the Luigi Bocconi university but in late 2004 had to come back in Greece due to health problems. Milan is widely known as the most polluted European city. Since then the task of getting the degree turned into something impossible. I started working at the family business since I came to Greece. Formally I still am a University Student but I don’t know if I will ever get the degree. I’ll decide if I will continue my studies, after I finish my national service duties, which means in May-September 2008.
I’d like to improve my English and learn Bulgarian and French. Bulgarian ’cause of my job and French because I’m love with France and Paris! I went in Paris with no expectations, and I fell in love with the centre of the city. Note that the centre of Paris is twice as big as my hometown, Drama.
My computers are an iBook G4 which I spend most of a time on and a Pentium 4, 2.66 Ghz. The iBook was meant to be a laptop but in the process it turned into my all-in-one computer. The first x86 computer runs now Gentoo GNU/Linux and acts like a server. The desktop x86 computer now runs, Microsoft Windows Home XP and Ubuntu GNU/Linux. I support all the UNIX based operating systems. Although I have not deep bash experience, command line is the only way for me to control a computer. I’m not familiar with MS-DOS, but I’m fairly familiar with GNU/Linux and I can find my way easily through every other UNIX -like operating system I’ve encounter, with some reading of course.
I am also owner of a fantastic Lotus Elise MK2. I’ve been in love with this car since 2000 when I first saw the Lotus Elise MK1 in Milan. I couldn’t think that it will be mine someday but my father made me this amazing gift the October 24th, 2004. A dream came true! Although it’s a Spartan car, I never regret purchasing it. The Lotus Elise, has an added value which is hard to describe. Even when you are feeling down, a ride with this car can turn your mood up easily. The Lotus is a miracle of U.K. engineering as Jeremy Clarkson said and a wet dream as another famous journalist mentioned! The standard edition features only 122 hp and has a 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 6 seconds, it’s steering capabilities are unbelievable and the design is unbeatable. I consider the Elise the most beautifully car ever designed, along with the Aston Martin DB9 and Maseratti 3200 GT. After 2.5 years of ownership, I still stand and admire the killer design and handling of the Lotus car!
My father has for cars the love that I have for computers. He owns 3 cars, the family car a Lancia Thesis 2.0, a Fiat Bertone model year 1979, and an old Golf 2T which is configured for Rally Sprint, a race tournament that we join. We race together from time to time, I am the co-driver.
Beliefs and Views
I believe that Open Source is often the right choice and a public good, there many reasons to use it when possible. I advocated open source software most of the times because I believe that the wider range of users can doesn’t need proprietary software to do daily operations like: e-mail, browsing, file sharing. I am a strong supporter of the Open Source movement from the philosophical perspective as well.
However I’m not an open source bigot, I don’t believe that proprietary software should cease to exist. For example, I dislike Microsoft, but I consider Microsoft Office suite the best software for office available. I believe that the MS Office suite worth it’s commercial price. It will pay back in a reasonable amount of time if someone needs the extensive features that MS Office has build in. However most of us, can do the same job with the same ease of use with Open Source office suites. I’d prefer using Open Office or other ODF tools for business and iWork with ODF support, for home usage. I am an Macintosh user after all!
Generally I try to avoid Microsoft’s software, and use open source tools, but I accept proprietary software when it’s the natural choice. Same goes for Apple’s software and other companies.
For example; If you are a professional photographer you must purchase Adobe’s Photoshop or a related software. It is a worthy package for photographers and web designers. It costs a lot of money, in my opinion, but if you get familiar with it, you can do amazing things. So, open source is not a panacea for everyone.
Politics
I’m Liberal, I believe in a free self-regulated economy and social freedom.
Favourite Quotes
“Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not so sure about the universe.” - Albert Einstein
contact: atma[at]convalesco.org , GnuPG key here. NOTE: Don’t use the MIT GnuPG key it’s not gonna work!
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