Daryl's Techno-Bloggo

Seminars . . .

2009-11-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Thank-you for your response with my last Blog, ABBA - Supergroup or tasty fish eggs that come in a tube at Ikea . . .

The last little while I have been attending seminars and meetings. Sometimes I wonder if these folks all go to the same seminars and meetings too. They all speak the same seminar-babble. We have to engage people; we have to use Best Practices, we should assess intrinsically - not extrinsically, etc, etc. etc. Sometimes you're allowed to bring a laptop to the seminar. This means that you can look engaged at the seminar, while at the same time you can be texting your friend (if you have them), playing Solitaire, check your email, and maybe have a nap if you can sleep and sit at the same time.

One time when I worked for the city - we had to jackhammer a hole in a street in front of the City Market. The City Market is gone now - it got demolished so that retired gangsters could have a place to live. At any rate, we got there about 6AM and noticed an old man sitting on the bus bench waiting for his bus to come. As the day went along we noticed that people would sit down by the guy and then they would get on their bus and the old man would stay behind. Finally, it was about 2PM and I told my boss about this guy. He told me to stop jackhammering because I stuttered when I talked. After I stopped stuttering, he told me to go over and check the old guy. It turns out he was dead. When the coroner guy came he said the old guy probably died of exposure. It was summer and quite warm and I couldn't understand how he could have died of hypothermia. He said alot of these old guys are alcoholics and don't eat when they are drinking. Our bodies need food to convert to energy and in fact body temperature and warmth.

I wonder what people would have thought if they knew they had sat by a dead guy that day? I hope my jack-hammering didn't disturb him and that he eventually got on the right bus . . . In a way this is kind of related to my October 30, 2007 post. Funny how the mind works . . . or doesn't work . . .

Stay tuned for my next Blog: Northern Pike: Bully of the Tundra - or, How to Start a Petting Zoo . . .

Why I Don't Buy American Cars Anymore . . .

2008-12-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

The response to my last Blog: "Crematoriums - A New Way to Speed Up Global Warming" was almost overwhelming! Today, I want to talk about cars . . .

The last time I bought a new American car was in 1984 when the new model Fiero GT came out with the V6 motor. It was a fun car to drive. It looked like you were sitting a a jet fighter cockpit. In the winter it warmed up fast, and with the engine weight on the back axle - I could plow through virtually any kind of snow. I had that car for three years and unfortunately had to sell it to go to University. While in University, I watched as the Fiero came to an end.

I think that when the Fiero ended - the demise of General Motors truly began. There was nothing to replace the Fiero. Soon thereafter, the Camaro and Firebird were gone too. As each model year would come and go, I would look at the changes to their current models and barely see any changes. GM's truck models stayed the same for years - same thing with the Corvette. People would have to point out the changes to me because they were so subtle or cosmetic and boring.

I would go to car shows and see a Chevrolet concept of a "new" version of the '55 Chev Bel Air. There were crowds around that car - there was excitement! There weren't crowds around any of the cars they were trying to sell. In December 1998, Hot Rod featured a new Camaro with the then as yet unseen Copper color. This car was beautiful! I was in my 30's then and every male I showed it to wanted to buy one. I even wrote GM to see how long I would have to wait to buy one. GM wrote me back denying any knowledge of the car, but my comments were important to them, blah, blah blah.

So, instead of building exciting cars that drew crowds - General Motors opted for the Aztec. I immediately determined that General Motors was no longer in the business of building cars that people actually wanted to drive. Someone in GM must have made up a rule that stated if a concept car creates any kind of excitement - it must be shelved. At GM, the Bezier curve was replaced with sharp origami angles.

For a while, I had to give Chrysler some credit. They would build an exciting concept car (the Prowler, the PT Cruiser, etc). Crowds would gather at the car shows around these cars - and then, Chrysler actually built them! They don't do that any more and are now in the same boat as GM. Their cars all look like their front ends were designed by International Harvester - and that's not a compliment.

Then, the movie Transformers came out featuring the "New" Camaro. This was a free, almost 2 hr. commercial for their concept car. Except, there was a problem. GM wasn't actually building the Camaro, and so couldn't take advantage of the significant boost the movie would have given them. Could you imagine people wanting to sign up for the Navy after watching Top Gun, and being told that actually the Navy didn't have any F14 Tomcat fighters . . . ?

I am currently driving a Kia Optima. It's a well-made, reliable car. My next car will be either a new Toyota Camry or a slightly used Lexus or Mercedes.

I have to give General Motors credit for coming out with a new Fiero (the Solstice). But I think it is too little-too late. By the way, any convertible being made now - should be a retractable hard top. In Canada, we have winter 8 months out of the year. Plus it's hard to slash the roof of a hard top.

Stay tuned for my next blog: "Chicklets - Do You Chew or Just
Nibble . . ?"

Comets & Cupid . . .

2008-11-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

Greetings readers! I would have Blogged sooner - but I have been held up with all of the responses to my last Blog, "Sauerbraten: Light Snack - or Cure for Rickets . . ."

The other day a meteorite zoomed over where I live and lit up the whole sky. At least that’s what they tell me. You see, I never saw the heavenly orb as it streaked across the sky in a phoenix-like fashion. No – I was safely nested in my domicile – had just fed the cats and myself for that matter and had settled in for a night of tele and domestic bliss.

If this orb had been, say, the size of Bruderheim or, for my American readers – Chicago – the end of the world would have come and gone. After myself and my two cats succumbed to incineration – would we have just made the transition to Heaven – assuming I was a good boy and got to go there?

Interesting how folks were fascinated by the orb that lit up the sky, but don’t see it as the shape of things to come – much bigger things. It’s interesting how we can look at the same thing and see it so differently.

One time, when I worked at the cemetery, I remembered that it was Valentine’s Day and dropped my shovel; rushed from work to the florist; and proudly presented a nice bouquet of Freesias & Jonquils to my then girlfriend Susie (name changed so that I don’t get beat up). In my haste, I had forgotten to wash my hands and I still had grave dirt on them. When Susie noticed the dirt on my hands, she went ballistic and threw down my thoughtful bouquet of Freesias and Jonquils and then she demanded to see the receipt from the florist. Somehow, she had gotten into to her head that I had picked the flowers from the cemetery. I guess this supports my above theory of how people see things differently. For me, this was my last night with Susie. For her, maybe a new beginning? Susie was mean.

So what does this have to do with technology? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could invent a machine that would prevent things from going wrong? Sometimes, we think we have come up with a great idea (see cemetery story above) but when the idea or theory is tested out it blows up in your face – sort of like George W. Bush in the States . . .

I think it would be nice to have a machine to tell us what we don’t want to hear – because no one listens to people anymore . . .

That’s enough for this month – stay tuned for next month’s Blog: “Dove Soap: Not to be Taken Orally . . .”

Which Thanksgiving is Better?

2008-10-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving fellow turkey lovers. I would have blogged earlier but I have been busy sifting through all of responses I have gotten from my last Blog: "Ghosts - are they real or is my cat Harry just messing with me . . ."

This has always been difficult for me because I also have American blood in me and of course the obvious question always comes up this time of year: Which Beatle was your favourite? I'm also asked which Thanksgiving is the real one? Well, until he died from that awful Ping-Pong accident - Paul was always my favourite.

As for Thanksgiving - a more thoughtful answer is required. Both involve the overeating of Turkey - and I am always in agreement with that. My American cousins serve theirs with biscuits, and dressin' and maybe a sweet potato pie for good measure.

Here, in the northern frontier where we have nothing better to do than "stand on guard for thee," we serve our turkey with Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes. We generally don't serve up sweet potatoes because they make us throw up. As in football, the Canadian Turkey is much bigger with sharper teeth and longer claws than the American bird. And, unlike the American Turkey, the claws of the Canadian bird carry a poison not unlike the poison of the Plains Meerkat. The meat of the Canadian turkey is also sweeter because they only eat low-bush pineapples. But once you get past that - it's good eating either way.

What does this have to do with technology? Well my friends, there have been new innovations in the manner in which a turkey can be cooked. Ovens can have a convection feature. In the old days it used to take a long time to cook a turkey. For example, a small, 25 pound turkey used to take the whole day to cook. You had to put the bird in the oven at 6 in the morning and it might be done by 4 pm in time for dinner. Now with convection ovens the whole process only takes 20 minutes (if you use the maunfacturers dialectic probe made from Corbomite). Another innovation is the deep fried version of turkey. Deep frying a turkey only takes 12 minutes - however, it does take another 3 hours to dowse the flames in your house when the frying oil overflows and comes into contact with the open flame.

Which Thanksgiving is the real one? Well, I'm afraid I have to side with my American cousins. You see, they invented it first because they also invented Pilgrims. We didn't get those in Canada until 1956 when the CRTC changed their regulations. Plus, they get Thursday & Friday off to watch football & go shopping - we just get Monday - not to watch football or go shopping . . .

Well, that's all for now in terms of cooking technology. Be sure to tune into next week's Blog:

"The Australian Toilet - Water Saver or Home Vasectomy Kit?"

Why Treo's Aren't that Good Either. . .

2008-09-30T18:13:00.001-07:00

Greetings fellow Bloggers!

Thank-you for your feedback on my last article - Baboons: The German Shepherd of Monkeys - or Why I Don't Contribute to the Rhino Party Anymore . . .

After all of the dust had settled on the Blackberry - Treo issue - I went out and bought a Treo from a guy who lives in a van down by the river. It turns out that my Treo was a good purchase in the sense that it runs Office. It is also a decent phone too - except for when it calls people on its own. I've gotten calls at work to tell me to hang up my cell phone because it was tying up someone's phone line. The WiFi has pretty much been a bust too. I had to secretly order an SD memory card - only it wasn't a memory card - Nooooo comrades - it is radio antenna to pick up messages and send them back to Sputnik . . .

So do I wish I had bought a Blackberry back then - nope they were over-priced and short on features. Now they are getting longer on features - but are still grossly overpriced. I think I would rather have an overpriced Iphone instead . . .

One time I had this friend named Barry. He wasn't from here and couldn't figure out what those round haybales were for. But when he saw them wrapped in that white film he said those look like nabisco's. I told him he should take his Nabisco and shove it - well to be truthful - it wasn't actually my story - it was my friend Terry's story - but he died this summer - so maybe I inherited it. Oh ya, Barry was actually Terry's friend too - except that his name wasn't Barry. It's hard to keep track of stories - especially when you steal them . . .

Be sure to read next week's Blog: "The Belgian Canundrum - Good in Stews or Major Cause of Constipation . . . "

Blackberries & Sputnik . . .

2008-09-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow Bloggers!

Thank-you for your feedback on my last article - Coyotes: Off-key Balladeers of the Wilderness - or Wile E. Er Than We Thought . . .

After all of the dust had settled on the Blackberry - Treo issue - I went out and bought a Treo from a guy who lives in a van down by the river. It turns out that my Treo was a good purchase in the sense that it runs Office. It is also a decent phone too - except for when it calls people on its own. I've gotten calls at work to tell me to hang up my cell phone because it was tying up someone's phone line. The WiFi has pretty much been a bust too. I had to secretly order an SD memory card - only it wasn't a memory card - Nooooo comrades - it is radio antenna to pick up messages and send them back to Sputnik . . .

So do I wish I had bought a Blackberry back then - nope they were over-priced and short on features. Now they are getting longer on features - but are still grossly overpriced. I think I would rather have an overpriced Iphone instead . . .

One time I had this friend named Barry. He wasn't from here and couldn't figure out what those round haybales were for. But when he saw them wrapped in that white film he said those look like nabisco's. I told him he should take his Nabisco and shove it - well to be truthful - it wasn't actually my story - it was my friend Terry's story - but he died this summer - so maybe I inherited it. Oh ya, Barry was actually Terry's friend too - except that his name wasn't Barry. It's hard to keep track of stories - especially when you steal them . . .

Staying Clean

2007-11-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to my American relatives!!! The response I received from last week's posting: "How to Make a Smashing Salad With Only a Cucumber, Coconut, Kubasa and a Hammer"

Well readers, this time I stumbled (that's a hint) upon a great website for when you get the notion to clean something. For me - that usually involves something caused by a Siamese cat. But I digress . . .

This site is called Help Me Clean. I think it's located in either Australia or Austria - I get the two confused - anyway here's the website: http://www.helpmeclean.com.au/search.php

It tells you how to take care of stains in the carpet, on leather or even other stuff.

Now while you're taking care of your house - you should also take care of yourself. While Googling for a lace to leather website (you just never know . . ) I came across this wonderful site. They even have a cure for Chiggers (again, you just never know . . .) Here's the website:
www.lacetoleather.com/safnatcur.html

Both of these site are well worth checking . . . I am a better person for checking them out.

Be sure to check next week's Blog entitled, "Racoons: I Wonder What They Taste Like?"

Worst Jobs - The Real Show . . .

2007-10-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everybody!

Last week's column, Ilya Nastasi: Anger Management Guru - or Spin Doctor For the New Conservative, really raised some eyebrows, so I have decided to calm things down somewhat by talking about a show I have really enjoyed called The Worst Jobs in History. The show stars Tony Robinson - who was that Baldric guy on Black Adder. I should also warn you that there is an American version of this show - but it is not as good.

The thing that impressed my the most about this show was that Baldric, I mean Tony really puts his heart and soul into each show. He really does some gross stuff - but what touched me most was one show where he had to be lowered over a cliff face to gather some eggs from some wild birds - I think they were pterodactyls or something. Up until this point Tony had done everything asked of him - but this time, as Tony was being lowered over the cliff - he broke down crying and told the crew he couldn't do it because he was too afraid.

You could tell the crew both felt bad for Tony, but I think that their admiration for Tony grew 200% that day (kind of like the time the Grinch found the true meaning of Christmas and his heart grew so big that it broke the magnifying glass). I was pretty choked up too.

One time, I used to work at a cemetery. That can be a pretty gross job - especially when you have to dig someone up. Sometimes it could be sad too. I remember one time when a young teen prostitute died and only one person (besides me) showed up for the funeral (actually there was no funeral). An unmarked, government van showed up and dropped the casket off and then took off. So it was just me, the casket and this young girl of about 17-18. She looked like she needed to talk and so I asked her if she was close to this person. She told me she was and proceeded to tell me about her friend. Up until 5 minutes ago she was just another welfare drop-off to me - but now I was learning who this person was. She spoke for abut 15 minutes or so, and then thanked me for listening and left. Then I lowered the casket into the ground and buried her, and then I too, left. But I think I left a different person from the person I had been when I had arrived really only minutes before. I never looked at Welfare or homeless funerals the same way after that. Many times after that occasion, I would tend to a casket by myself - no one else came to say good-bye. So I would tell them goodbye and wish them well on their new journey.

Sometimes after you have had some years to reflect, things you thought were dirty, lonely, jobs turned out to be actually quite deep philosophically . . . I still wonder what happened to that girl I spoke to - I hope she's doing well and is happy . . . Sometimes I wonder if I was actually talking to the girl's spirit - weird huh?

Next week's blog should be a great one: Home Kits For Neutering Your Wildebeest - Do They Work As Good As They Say They Do?

TV On The Internet . . . Which Internet???

2007-10-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Hello devoted Blogsters!

I hope you enjoyed last weeks Blog: Werewolf - Hairy Terror or Goldmine for Electrolocists???

Did you ever see that Simpson's episode where Homer is stuck in traffic wishing there was a quicker way to get home? He wishes he had his own private road where he could drive as fast as he wanted - but of course no one has their own private roads where they can zoom past other people as if they weren't even there - right?

Well It turns out . . . not exactly . . . in fact, we're not even close to the "real" road - or to be specific the "real" Internet. While we are plodding along on our "superfast" Internet connections - Scientists and government agencies throughout the world are using Internet 2. I'll bet you didn't even know there was an Internet 2?

The article I read can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21226894/

Here's an excerpt:

NEW YORK -- The ultrahigh-speed Internet2 network just got 10 times faster, partly in anticipation of rising demand for capacity after the world's largest particle collider opens near Geneva next year.

Until recently, the Internet2 had a theoretical limit of 10 gigabits per second, which is thousands of times faster than standard home broadband connections. By sending data using 10 different colours, or wavelengths, of light over a single cable, operators are boosting the network's capacity to 100 Gbps.

That means a high-quality version of the movie "The Matrix'' could be sent in a few seconds rather than half a minute over the old Internet2 and several hours over a typical home broadband line.

Can you believe that? It's all about power, money, elitism, etc.

If we were allowed affordable (dare I say . . . free??) access to Internet 2 - we could bypass Government agencies such as the FCC in the USA or the CRTC that we have in Canada. We could subscribe to what we want. We would have the bandwith we would need. And, we would become a little bit more free as human beings. Have you ever thought about how much the government, your job, etc. controls your lives? I try not to think about it too much!

Anyway, I came accross a neat website: http://mashable.com/2007/06/18/33-ways-to-watch-free-tv-online/

One of the cool sites is Joost - which you have to apply to become a member. You send in your application and if you're lucky in about a month they'll send you the files you need to get on board. Right now it's mostly music videos - but other genres are starting to appear as well. This is TV from around the world. And, so far, it's free!

Stay tuned for next week's Blog: Yodelling . . . Or, How To Get Chicks Without Saying A Word . . .

I'm Back ! ! !

2007-10-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all!

Sorry to leave you hanging for a while - but I have been undergoing extensive uh, restructuring . . . ya, that's it. When I last left you I believe we were discussing "The Donkey - Stubborn Mule or Horse's Ass."

Today we're going to be looking at a couple of interesting sites I have come across while at the Sanatorium in Bruderheim.

The first site is from www.eyetricks.com It's based on those Magic Eye drawings that used to be in the Sunday comics in the newspaper - when there used to be good comics. Anyway, I used to be pretty good at finding the hidden picture. Now I can't seem to find it - maybe it's different looking at a monitor as opposed to cheap newsprint. Maybe I am in too deep in our/my present reality that I am having difficulty letting go of it? Maybe I am just getting too damned old to return to the vision and realities of my youth?

What struck me much later in life when I was attending a Education Foundations class the University made me take was that these Magic Eye or Eye Tricks - are philosophically and educationally profound: You have to lose your focus in order to see more clearly. That's deep!!! Foster Walker - I still miss you dearly - as do the students in Edmonton - who never had the pleasure of meeting you!

They say that the deal with Einstein wasn't so much that he was more of a brainiac than the rest of us schmucks - it was that he could see things more clearly than the rest of us. For example, some people can clearly see those images where it is either an old man or young woman - some can't. Freeman Patterson, one of Canada's most amazing photographers said something to the effect that it is not so much that you see what is there - it is that you see what is not there that makes you a good photographer . . .

I hope you will ponder that for a spell and get back to me . . . Look out for next week's blog . . . The Emu: Champion Swimmer or Wood Tick's Nemesis . . .

Blackberries Part Trois

2007-02-18T21:36:00.000-08:00

My cell phone is starting to die. It's not so much the phone itself - it's where you plug the cell phone in to recharge it. That part of the phone is getting worn out and it is becomming almost impossible to recharge.

So what do I do?

Do I buy a new cell phone? Or, do I take the plunge into the abyss and go for a PDA?

Today I want to look at two PDA's and one that is soon to be released.

First-up, the infamous Blackberry. Right now, the Blackberry model 7250 can be had for free (that's right shoppers) through Telus. The only problem with Telus is that you have to talk to a Monkey who thinks his banana is a phone if you want to sign up. The other catch is that you have to sign a three year contract. The lowest monthly data/phone price is $45.00 a month. Of course that's not including GST, a 911 emergency charge and a plethora of other bogus connection charges as well. Telus speak = $45.00. Daryl speak = $52.00 at least a month. What do you get for $45.00?

According to Telus:

Why am I pro-Telus? I'm not! But that's another blog entirely.

I went to the Rogers site. They don't have monkeys with bananas. They also don't list the Blackberry 7250. They list the 7290. Their price is $99.00 (not free) with, you guess it - a three year contract. They also have a 3-year $45 contract. Again, $45.00 is not $45.00. Rogers also believes in add-on charges.

I also went to the Bell site. They also have the 7290 - and it too can be had for $99.00 - but you have to buy a 3-year contract for $45.00 More like $52.00 a month.

I should also tell you that Blackberry also does have a unit that can take pictures -it's called the Pearl. It can take still pictures only. They also messed up the keyboard. You have to share keys - it's pretty confusing. This Blackberry also uses a rollerball instead of the wheel. Look for more new Blackberries with the rollerball. This Pearl isn't free. I only saw it listed on Rogers and they want $249.00 - you guessed it - with a three-year package.

But!

Do you even want a Blackberry?

I have thought about this a lot. Daryl's answer . . . NO!!! and Yes!!!

No!!! If you don't mind spending $250.00

Yes!!! If you're an old fart!

Palm® Treo™ 700wx

no contract price $549.99

$249.99*
on a 3 yr contract

1 yr contract $499.99
2 yr contract $449.99

* Offer limited to new clients activating a combination of voice, e-mail & data plans totaling $45 or more. Offer ends February 28, 2007.

The Palm Treo 700wx is the user-friendly Palm experience on the familiar Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC operating system. The Treo 700wx features the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software that includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint Mobile so you view, edit and save documents on the go. In addition, you’ll have the standard applications such as Outlook Email, PDF viewer, Pocket MSN and Modem Link. The Treo 700wx features, combined with TELUS’ Business Inbox, helps you stay organized and connected as if you were on your PC.

The above blurb is from the Telus site.

Bell has the Palm Treo 680 - not as good as the 700. They want $299.99 for the 680 = no deal at all.

Next, and last is the Apple iPhone. Right now the price for this phone is around $500.00. It isn't for sale yet.

So, what do you buy?

Well, if you want something rather cheap - I use that term loosely - go for the Telus Blackberry 7250.

If you want something that can do eveything the Blackberry can do - plus it runs on a windows system - plus it takes both pictures and movies - get the Palm Treo 700wx.

If you want the coolest device that can do everything the Treo can do - plus even more - then wait for the iPhone from Apple.

Conclusion:

I think Blackberry needs to include a a camera system that can take still/movies as well. Blackberry says they won't include one because their customers haven't asked for one. I read that to mean that their customers are all old farts who see the camera as one more thing they have to learn. Well, if Blackberry insists on staying with that business model - I think they are doomed to become the next General Motors. GM used to have a commercial that said, "You aren't driving your father's Oldsmobile now." I say, "Yes you are." GM doesn't like change, and right now they are in a contest to see who can build the ugliest vehicles with Ford & Chysler - that's another Blog again. To do that Blog - I have to go and buy a library card - I'm cheap. Hmmm . . . Maybe my friend has one . . .

I can see another version of commercials with this time Apple going against Blackberry "Oh, your's can't do that?" Blackberry is ignoring younger potential customers who want all the bells & whistles for as cheap as possible - right now Blackberry has chosen to go the road of the Big Three, all of whom are about to be bought out by Toyota . . . There endeth the Blog . . .

Blackberries - Part Deux

2007-02-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish I was 16 because I knew eveything back then. Now, I'm finding that answers just lead to more questions . . .

Well, my Blackberry blog got me a few emails and even one phone call from a Blackberry owner who likes to hit guys like me real hard. It seems to some degree that I didn't have the full picture on this issue.

Here's what I'm beginning to understand. Blackberries are a great idea. They are also the best, worst idea to come along in a while. Confused? I'm just getting started!

The Blackberry is a device that can do everything except take pictures (more on that in Blackberries - Part Trois). That means that everything, and I mean everything, can be dumped into that little device. Your calendar, your email, the Web, it's a phone too. What's happening is that people who have them are becomming somewhat overwhelmed with all of the information and requests for information coming their way. Most of us have jobs - but the Blackberry is not our job - just part of it. However, managing the information - in and out - is starting to become a job all by itself.

So, the questions are: Is it all worth it? When you get home - when do you shut the thing off? Do we need to be always on?

The soul-less Curmugeon-bounder-like Capitalist in me says:

"Yes it's worth it."
"Never, ever, shut it off"
"Yes, we must always be `on'."

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a hypocrite about this. I have a phone. Sometimes, thanks to call display, I don't answer some calls that come in.

However, I sure the heck expect people who have phones to answer them when I call them.

I think I have been that way with people with Blackberries too. I am going to have to tell myself, remind myself, that while Blackberries can be always on, people aren't. At least until Scrooge-like Capitalists like me are allowed to insert "implants" into employees so that I can access their brains while they sleep.

I can dream - can't I???

Wild About Wikis . . .

2007-02-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Well, not really . . .

So, I'm working on a research paper right now. I think I need to apply for a government grant and spend the next 16 years finishing it. It seems that with this paper - you start going down one avenue and then another two streets appear - each one valid. Fascinating, huh!!!

Anyway, while I was doing some work on the paper today, I had an epiphany! After that I had a nap - because I'm getting old and epiphanies take a lot out of me.

Well, I thought, as I complete a page of research - I will try to condense it (ya right) and post it up on my wiki. Then, people can edit, add, dispute, etc. my findings. The disputers better not be too mean because I'll report them to CSIS and they will have them sent to Syria to learn more about new uses for car batteries . . . or not . . .

HD-DVD vs Blu Ray . . .

2007-02-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

I was reading an article by a guy named Michael Grebb. I don't know why he was named Michael Grebb - he didn't say. Anyway, the article was about a guy named Alan Parsons. Alan Parsons used to have a band called The Alan Parsons Project. I used to have a band too - except mine wasn't called The Alan Parsons Project. At any rate, Alan nowadays is promoting the new Blu Ray format for High Definition DVD's. Alan doesn't like fighting with the HD-DVD guys, but then again he mentions that the Girly-Man HD-DVD guys have less storage capacity - in fact, 40 percent less storage capacity than the Blu-Ray format. I thought they said size doesn't matter . . .

So what does Daryl think?

Well, Daryl likes 40 percent more storage. More is gooder (gooder is a techno-bloggo term meaning "way better than"). Hopefully the Blu-Ray will be the Death-Ray and smote the evil, wimpy HD-DVD. In the olden days, my Viking forefathers would have hacked, hewn, blugeoned, bit, and really hurt the HD-DVD guys. They might have even killed a few - sometimes Vikings did that. Back then they didn't have anger manangement guys like they do for me. Thank goodness they are able to suppress my latent Viking tendancies. You can probably get into trouble these days if you hack and hew HD-DVD guys . . .

So when the time comes and you need a new DVD player or recorder - go for the Blu-Ray.
Besides, HD-DVD is hard to say.

Why The CRTC Still Sucks . . .

2007-02-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

Yet another year goes by and Canadians (even Canadiens) are treated as second class citizens. Thanks to Global TV, (thanks Global) they took it upon themselves to secure the Canadian rights to the Superbowl. What this means to us is that it also gives them the right to hijack the American channels carrying the Superbowl. That means instead of us getting to watch funny and entertaining commercials - we get to watch the same Tim Horton and Canadian Tire (or whatever companies advertised) commercial 3000 times.

We have asked the CRTC to do one thing for us - they're still working on it - they've been working on for at least five years - the "No-Call Registry." It only took the Americans one year to set theirs up and it works great. Here, it is another story. Why can't we get rid of those annoying unsolicited calls? If the CRTC can't get their heads around the concept - why don't they contract the whole thing out to the FCC?

If and when they do pull off the Do Not Call registry - I think they (The CRTC)should be disbanded and the whole TV industry should be deregulated - let the chips fall where they may. It would be nice to watch the "real" HBO, ESPN, etc. - not the Canadian version thereof.

I think that eventually with increases to bandwidth, people will be able to circumnavigate the CRTC via the web, and subscribe to whatever channel, programming they wish. I, personally, can't wait for that day . . .

In the meantime - boycott the companies that advertised with Global during the Superbowl. If we can punish these companies - they won't advertise with the station. This year, AOL Canada, broadcast the American commercials almost in real time - so people like me could bypass people at Global altogether. Like I said - thanks to the Internet - we're getting closer folks!

To Blog or Not to Blog . . .

2007-02-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

I've been fighting this for months - but alas, I too, have finally given in and am now "on the air" so to speak. I can't help but think of the intro to the old Second City SCTV show where tv sets are thrown out of windows when the announcement is made.

I will try keep this thing as current as possible - that seems to be a bit of a chore or problem for some blogs out there. I know, I know, time - or lack thereof is the problem.

Originally, I was going to keep this as a technology blog - but my mind never seems to be able to stay on any one topic for more than a nano-second - so I will probably be all over the map so to speak on all kinds of issues.