Acts of Volition

Slashdot is running a story on the slow and painful death of the 3.5" floppy drive. I would like to see the major manufactures start to default machines without a floppy drive. While we're at it, let's include an on-board Ethernet adapter by default and lose the parallel, serial, and PS/2 ports …

Chances are you've never heard of Mike Knott. He's been writing and performing in various bands and on his own for at least twenty years. I would include several of his albums in my Desert Island Discs list.  •  I've written before about seeing him live - an amazing experience.  •  His latest disc …

“  •  "...success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you're desperately afraid of getting it dirty..."  •  ”  •  - Conan O'Brien,  •  Commencement Speech to the Harvard Class of 2000

Salon.com has always been a great site. I've enjoyed their Tech section in particular partly due to the writing of Scott Rosenberg - managing editor of Salon.  •  In the past year, Salon has slowly slipped from my regular morning routine, generally in favour of independently published weblogs. My …

Inspired by others taking credit for vague inventions, I would like to go on record with a vague invention of my own that I suspect will someday be very valuable. First, in case it's not already obvious, let me be clear that I have no idea what I'm talking about.  •  The idea is much like …

In a very wired move Wired magazine continues to publish the entire editorial contents of the print magazine online each month. It's all there - no delay, no catch. Smart move - particularly for situations like this, where I want to discuss a story from the print magazine on a site like this …

I don't own any Apple products, but I find Apple's marketing strangely entertaining. This is partly due to the fact that the advertising is often very well done and partly because it is just strange.  •  Apple's most recent 'Switch' ad campaign is no exception (see the ads). While it certainly …

I'm pleased (and proud) to be posting from my new house (new to me, at least). A few weeks of rewiring, painting, pulling up old carpet - to reveal some beautiful hardwood floors - and I'm enjoying my new place very much. It's a small, simple home – exactly what I was looking for.  •  What did I …

There was some talk on this site about what can be called 'news' since I was interviewed on local CBC radio about the Northern Exposure petition. Well, I've been completely outdone.  •  Listen to this absolutely hilarious CBC PEI interview with a disgruntled hot dog vendor (RealAudio).  •  A few …

The local CBC radio interviewed me about the Northern Exposure petition yesterday. I didn't hear the interview (it aired very early this morning), but they've got a piece about the interview on their website.  •  I have to admit - I'm a little embarrassed by the coverage. Don't get me wrong, I …

An anonymized conversation from the company intranet:  •  “  •  Subject: A&W  •  Dude #1:  •  I noticed, while gassing up this morning, that the new A&W on Univ Ave. is open for business! I don't know about the rest of you, but it's been a long time since I've had A&W...  •  Dude #2:  •  Maybe we …

This year, apparently due to the fear of terrorism (which is apparently the new communism), the CBC's Canada Day celebrations were moved from their traditional venue on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to our humble Charlottetown waterfront. I took in some of the festivities and have a few observations …