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Gizmo 4.0 beta

Gizmo 4.0 beta has just been released with a lot of interesting features:

• Video Calling - Make free video calls, even if only one person has a webcam.


• Completely Redesigned Interface - Even easier to use, with an enhanced contact list.


• Meta-IM - Chat with AIM, Yahoo, Windows Live, GTalk, iChat and more.


• Group Chat - Communicate as a group in real-time.


• File Sharing - Instantly share files on your computer with family and friends.


• Custom Avatars - Customize your Gizmo profile with a personal photo.


• Tabbed Chat Interface - Organize all your live chats within one window.


• Chat Logging - Record and save chat sessions you can read again later.

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Wiidoms

The Wii is great fun, but it can be dangerous at times...
I guess that is why Nintendo is shipping free Wiidoms, aka Wii Jacket Accessories.

I received my free Wiidoms earlier this week and I fell a lot safer already...
The picture below shows the Wiidom, unprotected wiimote and the protected wiimote:

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Santa/Babbo Natale: letters and chat

For once, a great service by the Italian postal system (I have a lot of bad things to say about them but I will save that for another time).

Last year the kids sent a letter to the “Italian“ Santa around this time, addressed to:
 Babbo Natale
 Polo Nord

A few weeks later we got a reply from Santa himself containing a personalized letter and a small gift. Needless to say; the kids loved it.

Note that you can chat with the “English“ Santa via Messenger by adding Northpole@live.com to your contacts. More info here.

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Free ski pass in Livigno this winter!

You get a free ski pass in Livigno if you stay at least four nights at the start or end of the season:

This is an ideal opportunity to enjoy skiing in the Little Tibet of Italy, at 1816 m above sea level, with 115 km of perfectly prepared slopes,
modern mountain railways, one of the biggest snow park in Europe and, last but not least: the snow is always guaranteed!

Livigno has a lot to offer, for a wonderful winter holiday with your partner, your friends or your family: good snow, traditional Italian food and
a genuine atmosphere, surrounded by a breathtaking alpine landscape.

Skipass Free Family Special for kids age 3 to 12:  50% discount on the accommodation costs, booking a hotel which offers the programme

This is fantastic news. Especially considering that I am taking December off as I am changing jobs (which explains the sporadic posting the last few months). Livigno is too far away for day trips from Milano so this is the perfect excuse to go :-)

See you in the slopes!

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Monza Rally show this weekend

The Monza Rally Show will take place this weekend. Valentino Rossi won last year. Let's see if he can repeat the success again this year on wet conditions.

The classic closing event of the agonistic season at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, where rally and track race aces challenge themselves along with show business and sport celebrities.

The event, as in the previous editions, will host rally and track race aces both with cars and bikes and show business and sport celebrities.

The program of “Monza Rally Show” includes, on Friday, the sport and technical analysis of the special tests, where the track is completely made by asphalt.

The first special tests of “Monza Rally Show” take place between Saturday and Sunday, when the last tests in program take place. At the end of the event, ion Sunday afternoon, there is the “Master Show”, the classic spectacular show which is divided into various heats with direct eliminations of the participants which takes place on a 1,500 long track on the central straight of the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza to which take part the best teams of “Monza Rally Show”.  

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Valentino Rossi's heart helmet from Mugello 2007 could be yours

Dainese will be auctioning off on eBay the Agv helmet worn by Valentino Rossi to the benefit of the non-profit “Un sogno per il Gaslini Onlus” association (“A dream for Gaslini Children’s Hospital”), and the Doctor himself will present the autographed helmet to the generous bidder in person in early December.

The auction is scheduled to start at 12.00 PM on Thursday, November 22 and will end at the same time on Tuesday, November 27:

Proceeds from the on-line auction will be entirely devolved to the non-profit “Un sogno per il Gaslini Onlus” association for the completion of an accommodation structure to serve the over 50,000 children admitted to Genoa’s Giannina Gaslini Hospital, Italy’s largest children’s hospital.

In particular, a center with areas dedicated to play, distance learning, physical rehabilitation, and meetings with family members will be created inside San Gerolamo Abbey next door to the hospital.

...

The over 70 thousand Euros raised from the auction of the Doctor’s racing suit, boots, and gloves in 2006 were also dedicated to the “Un sogno per il Gaslini” Project.