Author: spierzchala

I have been reading Greg Siskind’s blog, and he has many articles on the growing hue and cry over the USCIS Visa debacle. [here and here, as examples]
Based on everything I have read, I might benefit from this scam. However, it makes me ill to think that a group of bureaucrats broke their own rules in order to boost their Visa acceptance rate, which is what it sounds like.
Tags: Greg Siskind, USCIS, Green Card, immigration

As many readers know, I am going through the process — if you call filing a bunch of paperwork and not hearing anything for 2 years a process — of obtaining Permanent Residency in the United States, often referred to as the Green Card.
This morning, on NPR, there was a story about a foul-up in the processing of Green Cards that is suspicious, to say the least.
I have started referring to this process as the Dream Card because it leaves one thinking that the application they completed was done in a dream, a long time ago. An like most dreams, it is a fable of the subconscious mind and as likely to come true as those blue, flying penguins in my dream last night.
The degree of complexity that accompanies the application process has made bureaucrats from the Byzantine Empire write letters of complaint to their members of Congress, saying that the USCIS is giving them a bad name. Kafka has been seen rising from the dead at night, and penning a new tale based on this experience.
Other people covering this story.
NY Times
The Guardian
Times Of India
Miami Herald
San Jose Mercury News
Sacramento Bee Editorial
A few media outlets have grabbed this story as an example of just how broken the US system is when it comes to immigration, especially given the irony of the recent debate over the immigration bill that was tossed out of Congress. How could the immigration system have hoped to deal with the new regulations, if thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of valid visas go unused every year, due to government inefficiency.
Why would an illegal immigrant bother to go through a legal process that punishes the very people who are taking the time to follow the rules?
I would raise my voice in protest; but it would do no good. Drawing a pool of highly skilled, well compensated indentured servants from around the world to these shores to keep the wheels of innovation and development rolling appears to have become the American way.
And like indentured servants everywhere, we are a disposable commodity, to be teased by the promise that some day, we could, we might, just maybe be able to live here (and still not be able to vote) as Permanent Residents.
Tags: Green Card, fiasco, scandal, State Department, USCIS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, indentured, servants, work visa, visa

When I got home today, Samantha pointed to her computer and said it wouldn’t go. And it won’t

Dead. Deceased. Demised.

Likely a dead motherboard, and on a Dell, it’s not worth repairing. Now good for spare parts.

New refurb from Dell on the way.

Ugh.

Tags: Dell, refurb, power surge

It’s July 1, meaning that it’s time for Canadians around the world have launched into their recently re-invigorated day of jingoistic pride. Living next door to the definition of jingoistic pride has set the bar pretty high, but based on the last couple of trips north, great strides have been made since we left our home country in 1999.
This morning, the Canadian flag is flying outside Giant Birch Manor. The one day a year I risk offending my neighbours in a demonstration of my national pride.
In some ways, Canada Day serves as the start of my new year, just as much as the start of the school year in August/September does. It divides the year in half, and provides a celebratory marker when the weather is likely good enough to have a good party.
I had a look back to see what I posted on July 1 last year, and found that the only post was one related to GrabPERF, announcing the termination of the PubSub measurements, as that company was in the midst of its death throes.
Over the last year, I have seen significant personal upheavals and changes, most notably the diagnosis of my mental condition as Bipolar 1. After talking with some people I know who also suffer from this disorder, I realize that I have a very mild form of it, but even in its mildest forms, it can be crippling. I can say that having access to better medication (I AM PAXIL FREE!), and the world’s best therapist, I have come a long way in understanding what in this life I can and cannot change.
Watching the red and white flag fluttering in the morning breeze, I realize that there are days that I really miss Canada, and all of its foibles and unique cultural issues. But for now, I live where I am, and I have come to accept that, even with all of its uncertainty (still no closer to my Dream Green Card).
So, I wish you all a Happy Canada Day, wherever you raise your maple leaf.
Tags: Canada Day, paxil, bipolar, year in review, green card, Canada, new year

This morning, I noticed that Gizmo has one more advantage over Skype: substantially better performance over slower/less optimal WiFi connections.
Skype is slowly getting the can from me. Sorry kids.

Ok, we are back from Wasaga Beach. We crossed the border in a ridiculously easy manner — when you have a work visa, you always expect the body-cavity search treatment — and made a run for Syracuse. We picked a hotel out of the air and lucked out with the Comfort Inn near the Syracuse Airport. They said they were dog-friendly and they weren’t kidding. more hotels need to learn how to treat people who travel with pets from this place.

If you are on the New York State Thruway, and need to crash with your puppy, make it to Syracuse and this place will treat you like a normal person, not someone who wants to destroy their hotel.

Tags: Comfort Inn, Syracuse, travel, pets, dogs

We have been in Wasaga Beach, Ontario for the last four days, and it is a wonderful place to turn off your brain.

So far we have spent the weekend celebrating Samantha’s grandmother’s 100th birthday, then we have decided to do as little as possible. Shopping in Collingwood (without the boys; go Grandparents!), and hanging with the family are the plans for the rest of the week.

If you need me, I’m dead. 🙂

Tags: Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Georgian Bay

I have set up measurements to monitor the main pages of some of the world’s largest mobile phone providers.

• US Providers
• Canadian Providers
• European Providers
• AsiaPac / South Asia Providers

Just something to do on a rainy Sunday.

Tags: GrabPERF, Web performance, GSM, CDMA, Web site, mobile, wireless, US, Asia, Europe