Michael Currently, employers here in the U.S. are fortunately looking for software developers like crazy. The only problem was that for a foreigner like me, between the time the company makes a decision and the start of work, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) takes months to process and produces a huge amount of paperwork. At U.S. companies, applications usually go like this: "When can you start?" "Tomorrow!" "Good!" But AOL was very interested because of my Perl expertise, etc., and they provided the lawyer who kept the authorities in check - and now I'm here!

Michael Yes, bicycle: I ride daily to the train station (20 min), take the train to San Mateo (25 min), and then ride up the steep hill to the AOL building (15 min, downhill takes half the time). Since Caltrain trains can carry a maximum of 24 bicycles and run only about every half hour in the mornings and evenings, and because the weather is absolutely world-class (maybe 2 rainy days since February), unfortunately, more and more Americans are discovering this way of commuting, and it often happens that you get 'kicked off the train.' But Americans line up politely, and it's first come, first served. Since it doesn't really matter when I arrive at or leave work, I take it easy, buy myself a coffee, or eat a muffin until the next train comes.

Michael As an AOL employee, you get a free AOL account and an additional one, which I will give to Angelika. Unfortunately, no more than that, so requests are pointless! AND I AM ALSO NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY BUSY PHONE LINES OR SYSTEM CRASHES OF AOL OPERATIONS, DEAR AOL USERS! At the moment, I am still getting used to all of this stuff since I previously had a different internet provider, silly me! From now on, I naturally have to promote AOL, so, folks, their stuff is really good, buy it in masses!