CWIT 2013 etc.

I'm the general chair of CWIT 2013, which will be held in Toronto next May. We just issued the first Call for Papers [PDF]; submission deadline is February 1.

CWIT is not just for Canadians - it's more of a "Canadian showcase" than a "Canadian club". And Toronto is lovely in May. So please give some thought to a submission.

Meanwhile, congrats to my old PhD supervisor, Frank Kschischang, for winning the 2012 Canadian Award for Telecommunicaitons Research.

Eckford's Rules of North American Air Travel

1. Never connect through ORD. 
• If you must violate this rule, allow at least 4 hours for your connection.
• Add an additional 2 hours if you have to clear customs.
2. If you're flying to a final destination that is less than a three hour drive from a major northeastern hub (e.g. IAD, EWR), forget trying to connect and just drive from the hub. 
• Unless the driving route passes through a notorious traffic area.
3. Never fly codeshare. If an airline offers you a codeshare flight, make the booking directly with the codeshare airline.
• Avoid affiliate airlines (United Express, American Eagle) and fly on the mainline if possible.

I broke all three of these rules on a recent trip. Result: 14-hour overnight delay.