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Wifi highway robbery

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(From the French Hijacker)..... I was a victim of Highway robbery today in Copenhagen. I was in town as a speaker for an IBM sponsored conference. The event is taking place at the local Marriott. I must say I was pleasantly surprise to have broadband connectivity in my room. During check in I saw that the Lobby was equipped with a Wifi Network, I asked about the service, and was told that I could purchase pre paid voucher for 90 KR (like 13US$) an hour. Not bad. So instead of assuming that I could just rely on my thinkpad for my talk the next day I made the assumption that I would be able to VPN to the IBM Network via Wifi.

 

On the given day, I get into the conference room located right next to the Lobby, open my thinkpad and start looking for a Wifi Signal. I found one access point right away with very good signal too, but the network was actually different from the one used in the Lobby. When I asked about the ability to connect, I was told that while connecting from the lobby was just 13 US$/Hour, connecting from within the conference area was charged 3500 Kr/Day, or over 450 Euros !!!!

 

With most of the attendees already in the conference room, I didn't have the option of installing Websphere Portal 5.0 + Visual Studio.Net + IIS + WebSphere Studio + Domino + ST + QP, so I relunctantly paid the 450 Euros. I expect that it will take me over 6 months, and It will require at least Steve Mill's approval to get this expense account tru the IBM France expense system.

 

Aside from this unpleasant experience I found Denmark to be quite pleasant. Most people speak good English, and are very friendly (very munch unlike France), Given what I know about Carl's taste for women, I'm sure that he would find this place close to heaven. (Full of gorgeous, friendly and uninhibited blondes).

 

Speaking of attractive and uninhibited blonde, I was not able to hookup with my good friend Sandra, I guess we'll get a second chance to spend some time together in Vegas. More on this later......

 

So that's it for Denmark, I'm off to Switzerland tomorrow. More on Switzerland here tomorrow.

 

ps: I think that my travel patterns make mr Ed Bril look like a stay at home dad

Comments

Gravatar Image1 - hey, if I could take a 45 minute flight to be in another country, I'd be doing a lot of international travel, too :)

Gravatar Image2 - Well I must say that living in a truly open society makes a difference.
Ever since sept 11th, travelling in Europe is much more pleasant than in the States. I was able to walk to the Gate 30 Mins before departure with my IBM id, and was given a Boarding pass.
Sometimes you wonder if Americans are ever going to be able get over Sept 11th. Its been over 2 years now. Or maybe, just maybe some people are cutivating the public anxiety for pure political advantage ?


Gravatar Image3 - Unfortunately, it has been very potent politically, and there are those who are more than happy to stoke the flames to take advantage of the public anxiety.

Gravatar Image4 - By the way, how do you know the Danish blondes are uninhibited???

Gravatar Image5 - Humm, do the fifth ammendement apply to non citizen ?

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