Geekeries en tout genre…

Depuis le temps que je le cherchais, j’ai enfin trouvé la perle rare… un logiciel (malheureusement pas libre mais gratuit) performant et réussissant à fonctionner sous GNU/Linux. Il s’agit de DataGolf disponible sous Windows XP et Vista (depuis la v2.2) mais qui fonctionne sous GNU/Linux en utilisant Wine. Une fois que Wine est installé, il suffit de télécharger la dernière version de DataGolf et de l’exécuter en double cliquant sur le fichier. Wine va intercepter le lancement et vous allez procéder à l’installation comme si vous étiez sous Windows. Suivez les étapes de l’installation et vous vous retrouvez avec DataGolf présent dans le menu Applications > Wine > Programmes > DataGolf.

La philosophie de Datagolf est de noter un minimum (4) de paramètres afin de se consacrer au jeu. Il suffit de Noter sur chaque trou: le score brut, si votre drive atteind le fairway, le nombre de putts, les pénalités. Le logiciel fait le reste…

Datagolf intègre également un analyseur de swing avec des fonctions avancées comme le calcul de vitesse de swing, la possibilité de tracer des repères, etc… Je n’utilise pas pour le moment cette fonctionnalité mais je ferais un article sur le sujet plus tard après avoir expérimenté la chose.

Les autres fonctionnalités de DataGolf sont les suivantes :

• Gestion et analyse des scores, que vous soyez débutant ou expérimenté
• Base de données contenant les 560 parcours de France
• Gestion de plusieurs joueurs à la fois (sympa quand on joue en couple)
• Editeur de parcours que j’ai utilisé pour entrer les données du Gof de Lésigny

Datagolf calcule vos stats du jour en les comparant à vos performances passées. Vous pouvez suivre l’évolution de vos scores et de votre index à travers des graphes. Les statistiques très complètes vous permettront de connaitre objectivement vos forces et faiblesses dans chaque compartiment du jeu. Les statistiques associées à chaque parcours vous permettront de définir une stratégie pour chaque parcours.Ma p’tite contribution à ce sujet, le fichier de données du parcours du Golf Réveillon à Lésigny à télécharger ici.

written by admin \\ tags: Golf, Linux

On the road to Monterey (highway 101) which is also the road of the “Silicon Valley” , I decided to visit our friends of Google. Lost on boulevard Amphitheatre in Mountain View, I finally found the Google headquarters. It’s already night and today is saturday, so we don’t see anyone. I authorize me some pictures on the place legendary known and I’m a bit amazed regarding the sports hall on the first floor with over 1000 square meters. Everything is illuminated and a girl from Asian is currently running on a last generation running machine listening her IPod. Suddenly another Asian people with two other peoples ask me if I work here in hope (I think) that I can visit the offices with them. There is not people outdoor on the Googleplex therefore for unofficial visits, it will not be for tonight. Latest photos and on the road again to Monterey. Cool to have been in the company that made the Internet of today and tomorrow… On the road, I see also the headquarters of Sun, Yahoo (a very nice new building located in the north of Santa Clara), EMC, very huge NASA’s buildings ,Microsoft, Oracle (the largest buildings seen in the Valley just in the south from SFO)…

written by admin \\ tags: Google, San Francisco

Today’s visit rock and trip to Monterey City. But above all, you have to check out of the room and get our rental car. 3rd challenge : to make our luggages because we did a lot of shopping and return only with the two bags purchased here. After several tests, we are forced to go back with the three bags. We are leaving the hotel with an hour of delay at 11 pm to go retrieve the car. We are a bit pressed for the departure to Alcatraz is 12:10 pm.

Car reservations in National Car from France is perfect. We retrieve our HHR in less than 10 minutes. For the return of the car, it does not need to worry full the car, it is included as a service for only $ 5. Usefull and not dependent priori gasoline prices. 4th challenge: the use of the automatic gearboxes of the car. In fact, in 5 minutes it’s OK and very simple. I didn’t have choice because we are now in the heavy traffic of saturday morning in the heart of San Francisco. So I ride the Market street to go retrieve our bags at the hotel and then we go to the pier 39. The time to find a park and understand how the ticket machine works, we are late for 2 minutes. The boat to Alcatraz is already going to the Rock. We were standed in the queue “stand by” under the rain… We car get in the next boat to reach the Rock 20 minutes later. We are beginning with a video in the old building guards. The visit is striking and very instructive using the audio tour available in the main building of the prison. It begins with the shower room and arrival of prisoners, then we visit the cells in the company of testimonies of former prisoners still alive recorded in the audio system. A strange sensation of being in a cell with several major American criminals such as the notorious Al Capone “Scarface”. Officially, nobody has ever officially escape the Rock, but 3 detainees were never found after their escape. Certainly missed in the waters of the bay… It takes 2 hours for the tour. We took the opportunity to buy the DVD “Murder in the First” a movie about Henry YOUNG prisoner. A true story of a small offender who is sent to Alcatraz in the 30 years for stealing $ 5. Very good movie ! It is 4 pm when we decided to eat before leaving for Monterey. It is already almost overnight. At Pier 23 Cafe, it was certainly found the largest sandwich in the city but also one of the best. A good steak at least 300 grams of bread grilled with onions and french fries. Absolutely delicious! See this picture in order to make an idea. Then go to Monterey…

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

Friday was a cloudy and rainy day… It’s difficult to leave the bed this morning. A 11 am, we decide to go to the Fisherman’s Wharf and finish our shopping. The cable car at Powell Station is full and the F-Line are done this morning. Last chance to cross SFO, le bus line 9X, the “Chinese line” because it cross over Chinatown and we are rounded only by Chinese People. 40 minutes later… more than 50 shops are located at the Pier 39 : here the best is alongside the bad taste. But you can find many things like posters of the Bay, clothes branded with SFO, toys… and you can do good business also ! Try your luck. Anne hopes to try a restaurant in the Italian distrinct on Colombus Avenue. Our choice : Calzone’s and there is a very place to have a good pizza with a lettuce salad. Not very reasonable anyway because we know we’ll eat tonight at the Carnelian Room. Then return to Union Square by the bus line 9X to go to Levi’s shop. We met Alex, a french girl (certainly the manager of the Levi’s store) who lives in San Francisco since 3 years. Very helpful for Anne that she was not found its models in more than 100 available here. However, it makes very good business. We are back to the hotel at 6 pm to get ready for the dinner. A small one-hour nap and we are ready to climb up the tower to join the restaurant. Just ahead, we take a drink at the lounge … We already head in the clouds. Visibility was reduced tonight … No luck. Except that in the bay can change the weather 3 times in the same hour. Fortunately for us. We are truly positioned on the edge of the windows and there … We remain open mouthed. Incredible view we have !!! The meal was wonderful, with a reasonable cost provided but you need to be reasonable on wines because wine list offers wine at more than 1000 dollars. Very good day…

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

I take this morning some contacts with people working in the Valley to go and meet them tomorrow. I fear that everyone was on vacation because I don’t have any answer. We decided to go to visit the two museums included in the Citypass: De Young Museum and the Legion of Honor. The latter is certainly the most interesting, at least for those who like me are not passioned by the contemporary art that can be seen at De Young Museum. Huge collection of Rodin’s sculptures (bronze, plaster, Terra cotta, wax…) and some beautiful works of art from France. What a pleasure to discover how french artists have marked the history of art and what a shame also how our current French compatriots are boring and stupid people in the same museums now… It takes at least 4 hours without transport (take the lines 5 and 18 between the two museums). It is already 5 pm, we return to the downtown. Anne has a cold. We are going to buy medicines at Walgreens, a kind of supermarket near the hotel. Without prescriptions and just asking the pharmacist who advises medicines, you can pick up as often as you wish and without any control on the shelves of the store that contains the medicines. Instead, you should be called a hostess to pick up the shower gel… Crazy America !!! A rapid tour at the Virgin store and come back at the hotel. Tonight, it’s raining… We think to have our dinner to the John’s Grill restaurant. We’ve received our confirmation for Monterey’s hotel for Saturday night. Sounds good !

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

After Macy’s, we’ve continued our shopping in bloomingdale’s Enjoy it the after christmas sale ! More brands are represented and we’ve flashed on two shops unknown in France : Martin & OSA and Ruehl the most fabulous store I had never seen before. It designed like a flat and each room shows very cool and fashioned clothing. 3 hours later and a few dollars less, we are dressed in the fashion of San Francisco. Break at the hotel before return into a luggage shop near Fishermen’s Wharf because we decide change our old luggage with a new and more spacious bag. While going towards the right bus, we stop at the Transamerica Pyramid and hope to take some pictures at the top of the tower. Not more possible … there are now only offices on the top floors. It doesn’t matter, it will be the tower of Bank of America. Despite the fact that it is the highest building in San Francisco, it is difficult to find (Kearny St. and California St. cross). At the top of the tower (52nd floor !), there is the Carnelian Room restaurant. The most beautiful view of the bay of San Francisco. My two best pictures today : GG Bridge and Transamerica Pyramid. We book a table for Friday night because the sights of night should be breathtaking. At the luggage store, we do not buy a bag but two … The second will simplify my life during my personal trip because it goes in plane cabine anywhere in the world. Coming back to the hotel because it is already late by using the famous F-Line that runs throughout the port of San Francisco and then go on Market St. Fast and less crowded in the evenings. Dining near the hotel at Carl’s Hamburger to test american burgers. No comment…

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

This day has been annonced as the most sunny day of the week. It’s day off today : so we decide to visit parks of SFO. The two main are : Golden Gate Park and Presidio nearby the GG Bridge. We took early the bus line 5 to go to Ocean Beach. 20 minutes later, we were on the beach with many dogs and his proprietaries. The waves are good for surfing (greater than 2 meters) and swimming appear to be prohibited. We get in the GG Park using JFK Drive along the golf course. We meet rapidly squirrels who are used to be fed like ducks staying on the various lakes in the park. Near Spreckles Lake, we discover the Disc Golf. This is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. Disc Golf or also called Frisbee Golf is similar to traditional golf and uses much of the same rules and terminology. So Fun and so cool as described by player met here. You need more than 2 hours to cross the park by walking before arriving to the Japanese Tea Garden : $4 per person is a quiet expensive because the visit is done in less than 20 minutes. Other solution : visit between 9 and 10 am because is free… ideal for morning Tai-chi-chuan exercises. De Young Meseum is closed because of Christmas day. It’s 2 pm. We decide to go to the GG Bridge and a lunch. We took the bus line 28 at Presidio Blvd. and had some traffic jams approaching the GG Bridge. Beautiful place to take some pictures of SFO or of you if you arrive to have place between chinese people. We are hungry… we took the bus line 28 to go near Ghirardelli Square and have a pizza. We come back to the hotel using the cable car through Russian Hill. The trip is a little impressive because of the hills. Drivers are real artists, and I am impressed by the respect of San Franciscian to their cable car. We go to the bed early. We are tried, we think we have walked more than 10 kms today.

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

As you know, we had our christmas dinner at Les Joulins Jazz Bistro (44 Ellis St. near the Apple Center) : champagne, red wine from the nappa valley, calamari, roasted chicken, flanck steak and live Jazz music with the Ron Brown’s Band. Simply Magic !!! At the break, because the music sounds good and also because Ron is a very good business man, I decided to buy the CD supporting live music directly to him. He has his own label, Roday Records. In fact, I think it’s the best way to promote and finance artists and different musics. He has accepted to sign the CD. Cool !!! I note that he has written his email address to the CD box. This morning, I sent to Roy a mail to thank him. Here his response received this afternoon :
“Merry Christmas,thanks you so much for the very nice e-mail and happy holidays to you! it was a pleasure meeting you.Your support really made the evening enjoyable.(what a great crowd we had for Christmas eve). I wish there were more people like you who support the music. I am hoping to come to Paris one day I have never been there before, Thanks for the offer of hospitality. Enjoy your stay in San Francisco and I hope our paths will cross again real soon. Peace. Roy Brown”

I’m starting to appreciate USA (In any case San Francisco) because of that : all is possible and people are really open !

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

Do you know Macy’s ? It’s a kind of women paradise… more than 5 floors dedicated only for women shopping. It could become a real living hell for the guys when you do not know what you want to pick because you must to go to all the shops. Fortunately, Anne is reasonable and is not a shopping addict. Not easy also to find my way through the terms (skinny, leggy, sexy, curvy, striped, solid) and because size systems are different between US and France. All major brands are available including brands not known in France (at least I think) as “Petite” which is very nice. The temple of clothes is Union Square and its environs: Westfield Center, Nordstrom, Levi’s, Loehmann’s (222 Sutter St.). Thanks to Nath for addresses. See also sfguide.com. I don’t find anything for me but I’ll try again wednesday with sale/discounts after christmas. After 5 hours of shopping, we decide to come back to the hotel. I ask to the concierge some help to book a table for the christmas dinner and be sure having tickets for Alcatraz’s Tour for saturday. Our Chrismas dinner will take place at the Les Joulins Jazz Bistro. In fact, the 49ers have won yesterday against the Bucaneers 21 - 19 : full story and stats are available here.

Merry Christmas

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco

The night has been very long because we waked up at 3 am. After a strong breakfast at 6 am, we decided to visit the Golden Gate Bridge and the Park with De Young & Legion of Honor Meseum. Because want to be real San Franciscains, we decide to take the cable car to go to Victorian Park. 2nd Challenge : Take the Citypass we ordered on the Internet. The Citypass is necessary if if is your first coming in SFO. It proposes entrances for 7 Famous San Francisco attractions …and includes unlimited bus and cable car rides ! Because SFO starts to live at 11 am on Sunday (really nothing if opened before), we can’t take our Citypass neither at the Visitor Information Center nor at the SFMONA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), the closest attraction to our hotel . We decide to change our plans and walk in the streets : Yerba Buena gardens, a turn around the blocks between the 1st and 3rd St, Kearny St in direction of the French Quarter near China Town. When you arrive in China Town, you fell that you are in China and not anymore in United States : asian foods anywhere, DVD&CD’s, and small shops where I think you can find everything. After 30 minutes of walk, we came back to the Fisherman’s Wharf to take a tan at the Pier 39. The sun is really shining today and we have at midday around 62 °F (ie 17 °C). We don’t have yet our Citypass. We decide to visit the Aquarium of the Bay because there is a place in where we can take it. After more than 10 minutes of checks and a call to his manager, the hostess decided finally to give us the “precious sesame”. Conclusion : it is not necessary to book in advance because it is easier and faster to buy in place. However, we must reserve for the tour of Alcatraz. For us, it will not be until Wednesday. Because we were a little sade, we decide anyway to have a cruise in the bay of San Francisco to discover from the boat the Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz’s island. Under the sun, it was very cool. There is 2 pm : we decide to eat on the pier 39 in the famous seafood restaurants. The portions and dishes are huge and too much for europeans people. Here, we think it’s normal because everyone walks in the street with something to eat or drink (preferably sweet). Very intense journey, we are tired. We decide to return by cable car to the hotel. There are a lot of traffic jams in Union Square… last gifts purchase before christmas. Just before enter to our hotel, some supporters of the 49ers are in the streets and currently encouraging their team. I’ll look at the scores tomorrow morning at TV…

written by admin \\ tags: San Francisco