The era of THE USER

I had a revealing conversation with a relative of mine who is a Doctor. We were talking about Internet, social networks and professional information. Actually, I was interested in knowing how does he use the computer every day.

The answer was very simple: I use my laptop five to ten times per day depending on the number of patients I visit. He literally said:

“In the morning, when I arrive to my office, I read two or three different online newspapers (I wish I could learn how to use RSS),. Then I open my personal and professional email (I use to receive all kinds of jokes from other doctors, lots of spam and some professional newsletters I read in less than five minutes). In this same session I see the weather forecast for the next days and that’s all.

At lunch, I revisit my email (both of them), search some medical information when I want to revise some aspects of certain pathologies, update news (don’t have time to see the news on TV) and, from time to time, visit my Linkedin account.

During the afternoon, to prepare patient’s visits, I use to access an image database created internally with the images and videos we record on every patient. That helps me to remember their clinical dossiers and to see the evolution of the treatment.

After a long day, at home, I have another laptop I use just for fun: email, search information on interesting travels I would like to do and, sometimes, search new gadgets (TV, music, cameras).”

I then asked him about his preferred search engine. And the answer was not the one I expected (Google or Yahoo). He answered he was bored of these search engines because of the big amount of unnecessary information they offer in every search.

He told me he was expecting some smart company to create a single platform where he could “place” all the services he is using: email (both), his own images and videos database, RSS, library, travel agency, newspapers and newsletters (titles would be sufficient) and other stuff that could change from time to time. He wanted this synchronized automatically in his two laptops or, also, available in some private website (so he could access it from other’s computers).

It’s not the first time I listen to this same comment, and my own experience is that I’ve also build a centralized unique website to link all my needs of information, access to networks, banks, service’s accounts, etc.

Unconsciously, what we are doing is staying away from doing more and more searches and, instead of this, building our own system of information. This personal system is generated by our previous searches of information (a lot of them), contacts with others, and of course experience.

All these outcomes drove us to be aware of the different places we need to visit in the internet (our hard drive or network) to feed our desires. So now we tend to navigate directly to these sites instead of starting googling or yahooing.

40

Today's my 40th birthday!! 

I was awaked at 7h30 -as usual- by Julia and Carlos who wanted to have breakfast….a few minutes later, they came with Teresa to give me some gifts (surprise! morning party!) and we sung all together in the bed for a while!

After playing with them I decided to post some thoughts. I'm happy, I have a wonderful FAMILY and very good friends I really love. I do, most of my time, the things I like to do. I try not to waste my time, I enjoy my job and professional projects, my colleagues (...most of them) and travelling to meet with people with whom I can spend good moments and face daily challenges. 

Past has been wonderful. I like the people who are (have been) in my life, I like the different things I've being doing, the places I had the oportunity to discover, even the sports I practiced (and still practice). 

Present is today, is still amazing and futur is unknown and exciting. Many things to do, many people to know, many places to discover and plenty of curiosity to fuel my engine!

Catalan Culture in the Frankfurt Book Fair

A few days ago I attended the 59th edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair. This year, the Catalan Culture was the Guest of Honour (last year the Indian Culture was invited to this international fair).

Last year I could visit the Indian Culture Hall inside the fair. There were amazing experiences for all: food, music, pictures, symbols, photos and fragances. This year, as a Catalan I am, I was proud to be represented in the most important book fair in the world. Even if I had a lot of appointments, I managed to visit the Catalan Cuture Hall.

The feelings I had when entering the hall can be resumed by this: my culture was not present in that room. A total lack of originality generated a tremendous deception. A nearly empty room with a few hung materials, a bizarre media presentation and no more than twenty literary work pieces were the vestiges of my culture.

I felt very bad, hoping another country was the one represented in that place. But maybe, it's the best performance the people in charge were capable of to show my culture to the world.

Nevertheless, to all people interested in Catalonia, please, just come and visit us, our people, our food, traditions, nature, architecture, music and arts are much more than that.

Il Cavolo Nero - Florence

Il Cavolo Nero is one of those small and glamorous restaurants difficult to find in a tiny street in Florence, Italy. I had the chance to taste his delicious food and wines last week.

I will suggest you to visit its warm light, peaceful ambience and cordial personnel. The restaurant is placed near the Arno River just 15 minutes walking from Ponte Vecchio. It is a small but cosy place with not more than twelve tables in Via de'll Ardiglione 22.

This trattoria has an excellent menu and a complete Carta dei Vini. I've been very lucky trying those dishes: Handmade potatoes gnocchi with cherry tomato and burrata cheese (see Picture), Grilled tuna fillet with vegetables in balsamic vinegar sauce and the superb Soft bitter chocolate cake with an delicious Chianti classico.

Contact: RISTORANTE CAVOLO NERO, Via dell'Ardiglione,22 50124 FIRENZE, tel. 055-294744 - mailto:055-294744info@cavolonero.it

Salted Maguey worms

One of the most curious and exotic things I ever tasted are Maguey's worms. It happened a few weeks ago in Mexico DF, at Arroyo's Restaurant. These worms live in a cactus plant called Maguey and are cooked just with a bit of salt.

The taste is not as impressive as their appearance and you can eat a dozen without problem. Tequila can obviously help to eat all worms and specially when it is served regularly during the meal.

In case you don't want to eat these insects (in Mexico called "gusanos de maguey"), there is a sauce that gives their flavor to any dish (available in many supermarkets with international food).

Out - Luggage free flights

A new service is in town: send your luggage to your destination hotel before you. and the idea goes even further.

After singning up online the Flylite service allows you to send your clothes (in labeled bags) to different facilites of the company around the United States (locations available). Before you flight to your meetings, go to you iCloset service and choose the clothes you want to receive in your hotel. You will receive your bag from the front-desk staff when you arrive to your destination.

The service offers a lot more. For instance, once your business trip is over, you can pack all your things into the labeled bags again and ask Flylite to pick it up (all items can be cleaned on demand.....and for a fee). What else do you need ? Service will be available outside the States in the very near futur.

Out - Premium brasserie in Brussel: La Quincaillerie

A spanish friend of mine, who loves eating and testing new restaurants, worked in Brussels for many years. He told me to go to La Quincaillerie if I had the opportunity to go to Brussel. That opportunity became reality last week because of a business meeting that took place in this city.

Two days before our meeting, we took a reservation with Patricia, a very nice person from the online customer service. I ensure she is a very nice and patient person cause I had to change the time of our supper two times (and two times I received a very polite answer).

The menu is typical from a Brasserie and also presents some interesting dishes: les Huitres creuses de Normandie, Espadon roti, saute de legumes et brochette de tomates cerise grillees, Steak de boeuf grille au piment d Espelette et beurre a l ail ou le Tartare de saumon et concombre, sauce soja (the one I tried and enjoyed).

The restaurant is placed ten minutes from the center by taxi (10 euros from La Grande Place). Here are the details.....and don't miss this place: Rue du Page, 45, B-1050 BRUXELLES, Tel. +32 (0)2 533 98 33

Out - False flight cancellation insurances

In several occasions, and due to different reasons, I bought the flight cancellation insurance that is offered by the majority of companies (try Travelsafe instead). These past days, due to my wife,s pregnancy, I had the opportunity to analyze the terms and conditions of these cancellation insurances. It has been an enormous surprise to verify that these insurances have clauses that make practically impossible to cancel a flight and get your money back.

Something that produces stupor to me is that the cancellation of business meetings (which occurs for many reasons that are out of our control) is not in the scope of these insurances. In fact, this kind of uncontrolled events or last minute changes to our agendas are becoming usual. If this is the reality, they must be considered by the companies in order to offer the services truly demanded by their customers.

But there,s something even worst! It is something that occurred to me a few days ago and affected me very much. My wife is pregnant and the baby is expected in two weeks time. I have read the terms but that was not one of the risks ensured by the cancellation agreement I tried to buy. The conditions established that only having a very premature childbirth (more than a month before the predicted date) is considered a cause for the money refund. I wonder myself what could be a better cause of cancellation than being announced you are going to have a baby in the very next hours.

Out - Traditional cuisine in Madrid

Sometimes I have to work in Madrid, a city I like very much because of their people and life style. Every time my agenda allows me, I try to have lunch at the very traditional Taberna de los 4 Robles. This is an astonishing example of what good service must be in a restaurant: excellent waiters, excellent dishes and excellent prices.

Localized in the heart of Madrid (Plaza Celenque, 1), less than 100 metres from Plaza del Sol, it offers a wide variety of tipical tapas and extremely good quality of fresh fish and meat.

I recommend trying the Tosta de Gambas (with gaerlic), Espárragos trigueros, Sopa de Marisco, Medallones de Solomillo, Ensalada con Ventresca and Bocaditos de Bacalao. Just be careful with the size of every dish: you have to be very hungry.

Prices are very acceptable and a four people dinner could cost no more than 100-120 euros.

OUT - Personalized travels

A special company called Exquisite Safaris is dedicated to offer very special and exclusive experiences travelling worldwide. They plan everything so that your small group of friends or relatives can travel alone. Their journeys are exclusive and luxurious, being more fullfilling than travellers could imagine. (http://www.exquisitesafaris.com)

The experiences cover all the world and their consultants participate while you decide where and what to do during your holidays, and help you till the journey concludes. They expressly say: 'We have spent the better part of our lives promoting philanthropic travel, and we continue to travel in order to stay current on the latest social issues, attractions, restaurants, and accommodations'.

One of the most interesting parts of their job is thet they spend a lot of time to personalize your journey to make you feel as comfortable as possible. They want your travel to be exactly what you think it can be: they create the perfect journey.

Try the Gallery exposed so you can find pictures from almost all parts of the world.
http://www.exquisitesafaris.com/index.php/gallery/

TECH - Skype and hot spots

A large number of professionals use Skype to make phone calls while they are out of their offices. They connect to the net through open connections available is most parts of every city in the world.

But this kind of 'free' hot spots are becoming more and more difficult to find and, instead of, paying hot spots are presented to us. These access points are expensive: a one hour connection can cost more than 10 euros in many countries in Europe, specially if we need to connect in the airport or train station.

Our friends at Skype have just release Skype Zones Beta. They have created a wide network of Skype-friendly hot spots. You can find more than 700 connection zones in Spain, 7500 in the US, 1400 in Germany or 380 in Australia. All zones are situated in strategic places of each city (airport, business center, trade center, exhibition halls). A list of them -for each country- is available here.

The only problem -nowadays- is that Skype Zones is only available for Windows XP and Windows 2000 (Mac OS X, Linux or Pocket PC are not supported yet). The prices for this service are much more interesting than the expensive hot spot companies: 2,50 euros per two hours connection or 6,50 euros per a whole month. You can activate your Skype Zone Beta from your account in Skype.

OUT - Family expeditions

I recently found this amazing company. Betchart Expeditions Inc is a company specialized in organizing travels for families and friends who want to enjoy adventures together.

Each expedition offers a variety of experiences with much to appeal to a wide range of interests.

They offer a different approach to the places they visit. All expeditions are led by scientists and local specialists. In their website www.betchartexpeditions.com you can find different expeditions by continent: Tanzania and chimps of Gombe, Antarctica ans South Atlantic, Mongolia plus the famous Naadam Festival, The Tibetan Plateau, The Silk Road (Xinjiang and Hunza), Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica New Year Expedition or Alaska Aurora Borealis.

All expeditions are open to the public and you will travel with members of their affiliates groups: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, Geological Society of America, Scientific Research Society and The Planetary Society. You can find different pictures and texts of all past expeditions on the Travelers Corner.

Out - Amazing cuisine, excellent situation

La Venta Restaurant

Every time I can, I try to go to a traditional mediterranean food restaurant in Tibidabo's mountain in the north of Barcelona. Comfortable and with excellent service. You should always make a reservation one day prior to your meeting.

After tasting its finest wines, freshest fishes and meats, you can have a drink in the nearest bars: Mirablau, Merbelle or (most recommended) Mirabe. All of them are no more than 100 m from the restaurant.

I recommend some dishes that are delicious: Ravioli de Langostino con Puerro, Bacalao con pilpil de setas, Risotto frito de azafran con sepia, Canelones de calabacin rellenos de gambas, Lomo de conejo con cigalas y picada de chocolate, Espalda de Cordero al Horno, Sorbete de Agua de Rosa.

Address: Plaza Doctor Andreu s/n - 08035 Barcelona - Tel. +34 93 212 64 55 - Open monday to saturday - www.restaurantelaventa.com