<div dir="ltr"><div>It's great that Shankar is back. I was about to propose a meeting topic with Shankar's return:</div><div><br></div><div style="margin-left:40px">IoT Redux: MicroPython, RPi Pico and AI<br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">It fits with the spirit of the trendline (bargain computing - MicroPython is MIT licensed, RPi Pico is $4 and AI? Priceless.</div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">The Linux angle? MicroPython and the AMD Bargain Build would talk with the RPi Pico nodule. Also, we'd show some TensorFlow on the "big silicon" - AMD (offering some follow-up performance running "TensorFlow" stuff on different AMD boxes.</div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">And if Shankar wanted to weigh on the architectural considerations - of both the AMD and the RP2040?<br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">What do you think? Possible Meeting Timeframes? Interest?</div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">PS - The KN95s have been good - I can't imagine that duration of wearing though. There are these now - thought not sure any happier for that duration: 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+ N95, 20/Pack. Price increased from $37.97 to $50+ in last few days. Not sure if it's a temporary surge or a reset.</div></div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 12:19 PM Kurt Keville <<a href="mailto:kurt.keville@gmail.com">kurt.keville@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Unbelievable. I am so sorry for you. I will ask a guy I know about these rebreather masks that he bought for air travel. Much more comfortable but I am not sure the airlines recognize them.<div><br></div><div>We'll make 22 a good start for you, Shankar. Brian, want to start a computer company? Get Bill Buck involved? We would have to move to Texas but I want to do that anyhow. :) Be close to AMD...</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 11:55 AM Shankar Viswanathan <<a href="mailto:shankar.viswan@gmail.com" target="_blank">shankar.viswan@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
On 12/14/21 17:01, Bill Ricker wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Safe
Travels, Shankar!</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Thanks everyone! It was a really hectic trip, but everything worked
out well. I was able to spend time with family that I've only seen
on video for the past 2.5 years. <br>
<br>
The travel though was really brutal. My itinerary was non-optimal
due to the last minute nature of my flight booking. This caused a
lot of headaches due to various COVID requirements of every transit
airport along the way. On the way back, the US changed the
requirements of a negative test from within 72 hours before
departure to 24 hours before departure - later amended to day before
departure (to account for flights that may be leaving late evening).
But my flight was at 2:30am and nobody could tell me if a sample
from day X-2 would be acceptable where X was the actual date on my
ticket (nobody would guarantee results under 24 hours). It was also
not clear if a rapid test would be sufficient since my first layover
point (Dubai) required results from a full RT-PCR test. They also
required testing from one of the approved labs - which I can
understand as there could be rampant cheating otherwise. But the
nearest approved facility was 75 miles from where I was - and it was
an absolute nightmare to get to in torrential monsoon rains and
flooded streets.<br>
<br>
In addition, since I had a 10+ hour layover at Dubai, they would not
consider me a "transit" passenger - which meant I had to also meet
the requirements of the UAE government as someone "entering" the
UAE. This required getting another test at the airport 6 hours
before departure - they won't even let you into the terminal
building till you show a negative result from that test. So I had to
get to the airport 6+ hours before my flight and wait outside in the
parking lot till they emailed me the results 2.5 hours before
departure (going back home after submitting the sample wasn't an
option since home is 2 hours from the airport).<br>
<br>
The worst part is that interpreting the various rules is left to the
person at the airline checkin counter - my situation required
speaking to their supervisor's supervisor and begging them to let me
on the flight as there was no way I could satisfy all the rules
given my long layover. In addition, the could not verify the result
from the QR code on my result - the URL in the QR code did not work
because the website appeared to be down for maintenance at that
early hour. I was allowed to board only after I agreed to taking
another rapid COVID test at the next hop - for which I had to pay
the equivalent of $50 (they didn't issue me the boarding pass for my
final leg till I got that result and I just barely made the flight).<br>
<br>
The second worst part was wearing KN95 masks for 42 hours straight -
I used a fresh one approx. every 8 hours. Only break was while
eating/drinking at the airports or the flight. Except one leg, the
flights were relatively empty so I didn't have to worry too much
about someone on the next seat being unmasked at the same time I was
eating. I breathed properly only once I got home - and it was a big
sigh of relief after the COVID test I took 3 days after my return
came out negative (I had to wait an hour in freezing cold in
Cambridge to get the test).<br>
<br>
So, I highly recommend avoiding international flights unless
absolutely essential. Also, try to get the most direct flight
possible - fewer (and shorter) layovers the better.<br>
<br>
-Shankar<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote></div>
</blockquote></div>