Ranting of an Urban Terrorist

I'm trying to get enough exercise to strengthen the leg - the doctor says it's a great idea. Only problem is it hurts. Boy does it hurt.

Ouch.

Current Location: Canada, Richmond Hill
Current Mood: grumpy

I was surfing, looking for alternative pain relief options, and thought, what the heck, let's look at medical marijuana again. And while I'm reading up on it, I come across a reference about Sativex, a marijuana derivative, that is a level 3 drug (level 3 means it's regarded as unlikely to be abused). I'm going to talk to my pain doctor about it.

Current Location: Canada, Richmond Hill
Current Mood: curious

I love Blueberry pie. So I bought one, and this morning I cut and ate a slice for breakfast. After lunch I noticed the pie was missing, and that Sam, our beagle puppy had blue lips.

Bye, bye, blueberry pie.

Current Location: Canada, Richmond Hill
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie

OK, so since I'm working for myself in effect, I need a good, reliable, laptop. Note the word reliable. Anything that comes with Windowz is out.

And I need a phone. But what type of phone? Basic dumb phone, smart phone, or something in between? And worst of all, I have to decide which wireless provider to use, and since in Canada the choices are dumb, dumber, and dumbest, it makes things hard.

Decisions, decisions. Suggestions are welcome.

Current Location: Canada, Richmond Hill
Current Mood: contemplative

I've spent 10 years at my job. I've had a good time there in some ways, and like and respect management even when I think they are messing up by numbers.

But it's time to move along. Friday I handed the President my resignation. I wanted to be polite, so I gave them four weeks notice. Honest truth, I thought he was going to cry. He told me that the hardest thing being the boss was resignations and firings.

But hey, it's time for a change.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: You can take that job and shove it

I ended up moving most of my stuff to Facebook. Facebook is great for things like keeping in touch with Auntie Sue (who lives in France).

Doing this I ignored the fact that Livejournal is also great for other things. So I'm back. And I'll try to drop in at least once per week.

Meantime, we have a wild thunderstorm, so I'm going to shut down, before we get another lightning strike.

I've just nominated rtmpdump for a community choice award on Source Forge. The reason I've done this, is Adobe Systems got Source Forge to remove the project by using a DMCA notice. I don't agree with the DMCA, and when it was suggested that we all do this, well, I couldn't resist. I recommend that everyone do this - maybe the message will get through.

Let's see if we can get rtmpdump reinstated.

Current Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Current Mood: annoyed
Current Music: Lawyers, Guns, and Money

We have a new Doctor - Matt Smith!

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Music: Ashes to Ashes

I've been somewhat distracted over the last few months, between one thing and another, my apologies for not being around. In the mean time I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy New Year.

Oh, and here's a picture of Mark playing Santa for Sam and the Kittens.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Silent Night

I was reading Beppe Grillo's Blog today and he had an article on Moon Bears. Be warned, the article is very disturbing.

I decided to look further into what Beppe said, and found information at Born Free, Wikipedia has two articles, the BBC has information, more info from the UK, the International Fund for Animal Welfare also has two articles, more information at both China Bear Rescue and Moon Bears dot ORG.

There's times I wonder if the human race deserves to exist, and this is one of them.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: Grim

Yeah, I know, nothing for three weeks, and then three posts in one evening. It's the election. It's got me going.

I'd like to suggest that musicians and writers everywhere check out the Department of Culture web site. There's some really interesting and thought provoking posts. Yes, it's Canadian, but the ideals should translate to any culture.

Oh, and as an aside, Cory Doctorow over at BoingBoing has posted an article Canadians: ask your candidates to take the Copyright Pledge!

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Love is the Drug

While at the Green Party barbecue for Dylan today, I picked up a sign. While I was pounding the stake into the lawn, the staples let loose. I didn't have a staple gun or any other decent way to re-attach it to the stake, so I put the stake out back, and put the sign in the front window.

And forgot to tell Heather. She wasn't amused, but I bribed her, and it's staying.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: amused

And I'm a firm believer that the only real blood sport is politics. Actually the entire family are political junkies. On election night the TV is tuned to a channel that gives great reports, and stays there until the election is called. We get in a supply of pop and chips, and stay glued to the couch, until it's over.

I also have firm beliefs in what is right, and what our politicians need to do and be. After thinking things over carefully, I've decided that the party that comes closest to my beliefs is the Green Party of Canada. In the past I've voted Progressive Conservative, Liberal, New Democrat, Reform, Canadian Alliance, Libertarian, and Freedom parties over the last 25 years, provincially and federally.

The change to Green has been brewing over the last 10 years for a variety of reasons, one of which is that I believe that even if they don't win, they can make a difference, and one that won't be in conflict with my morals.

Which brings me to the pledge. I would like to recommend that all Canadians read the pledge, and if you agree with it, sign it. Whether you agree or not, tell your friends.



Oh, and the local Green Party had a barbecue at Phyllis Rawlinson Park today. It was kind of strange standing in a park, named for someone you knew. Phyllis Rawlinson was an elderly lady who owned the farm behind my Mom's and Dad's place in Gormley. I didn't know her well, but can remember Dad taking me up to her house once or twice when I was little.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Mr. Roboto

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Horsetamer's Daughter

I enjoy watching the Olympics. I really do. But at times I feel guilty. When I think of Tibet, when I think of the mess in Georgia, when I think of global warming, I don't think the Olympics are as important.

But I'm not always good at saying things, so instead I'd like to refer you to someone who does say things well, even though English is not his first language. Olympic Nationalisms is a good article, that encapsulates how I feel, and does so far better than I could, even though the writer's native tongue is Italian.

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: Somber

Some people have toooo much time on their hands!

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: None, I'm watching the Olympics

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Something techno

From the Legal Blog Watch an article about a lawsuit. The

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: annoyed
Current Music: 1812 Overture

Now that Rogers has released it's data plan pricing for the IPhone, it's set off a firestorm. Rogers pricing is insane (and that's the charitable way of putting it). There have been calls to dump Rogers as cable/phone/cell provider, there are complaint websites, and if anyone thought Canadians were quiet, well they better think again.

Next come rumors that Apple is upset about Rogers pricing plans, and have reduced the number of IPhones to be shipped to Canada. The story was picked up by the National Post which likes to claim it's Canada's national newspaper. A website was setup to explain to punters how bad the pricing is, and includes price comparisons with AT&T and O2 making Rogers look like pirates. Ruined IPhone is running a petition (their subtitle is "Screwing Canadian iPhone customers since '08."), someone else set up a petition at Petition Online, David McGuinty the MP for Ottawa South is sponsoring legislation to control Data Plan pricing, he has a poll on his website, and someone at The IPhone Blog has had fun by photoshopping Sarumen into an IPhone with a Rogers symbol.

I suspect that there are some people in management at Rogers who aren't happy right now

Current Location: Richmond Hill
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: None