Scattered thoughts

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment
  • 93 people killed in a bombing attack in Iraq today. How is it that the news media barely pays attention to Iraq anymore? I can’t see this news anywhere on CNN’s front page right now; they’re too busy talking about other news like the Scooter Libby verdict, the randy astronaut story, Naomi Campbell, and a dog pulled from an icy lake “tail-a-wagging”. Bravo.
  • A new BBC poll says that Canada has the best international image. The news is met (outside of Canada, anyway) with an epic yawn.
  • Apple has unveiled a new product-unveiling product called the iLaunch. OK, not really, but give it time.
  • I hate how reviewers keep using the term “Springsteen-esque” when reviewing Neon Bible. Et tu, A.V. Club?
  • If Canadians think ATM fees are unfair, how would they like to be a Lloyd’s TSB customer? Ssoon their credit card customers will be charged 35 pounds per year if they don’t use their card enough.

[tags]iraq, bombing, bbc poll, canada, international image, ilaunch, neon bible[/tags]

Why Windows Media Player can be bad sometimes

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

When people come over to my desk they can obviously see what’s on my screen; many years, when working in an office where we dealt with donor’s sensitive financial information, I developed the habit of very quickly downsizing whatever window I was working in when someone appeared behind me (as often happens when I’m listening to music at work). As a result, what’s often left on the screen is either Outlook (no big deal) or Windows Media Player.

Now, this is usually no big deal; all they see is the name of the song I’m listening to and maybe my playlist. However, when someone is standing there as you clear your screen to reveal that you’re listening to the Tool song “Hooker With A Penis”, there is a moment of awkward silence. I felt it would do no good to explain that the song was actually an indictment of fans who accuse bands of selling out when the fans themselves are typically mindless consumers.

Hopefully this doesn’t brand me as the office perv. While I wait to find out I’ve changed my WMP settings to hide song titles.

[tags]tool, hooker with a penis, windows media player[/tags]

Rock-grid coordinates SH735026

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

After 3+ years of waiting, we finally got to see our condo today. Not a model, not a floorplan…our actual unit. There’s still work going on in the hallways and common areas, but our suite is (99%) finished. We had our inspection today. There were a couple of hiccups, but overall we’re pretty happy with it. The view’s even better than I expected, even if it’s all grey and wintery outside. I can’t wait to see it in the summer.

The only bad part of today was the attitude of the people who did the inspection with us. The first lady tried really hard to rush us through, and dismissed some of the things Nellie raised as potential issues. Granted, they were very small things, and the lady claimed that today was only about major problems, but everything we read told us that we should get everything acknowledged now. Then, when discussing the two major things down in the office, the people talked to us like we were morons and weren’t terribly helpful. That part was kind of frustrating, but it paled alongside the fun of actually setting foot in our own place. 5 weeks from today, we’ll be the official owners.

Nellie took a few pictures from the (rather huge) balcony too. I’ve put them in my flickr profile.

.:.

There are times when you wish Onion headlines were true. This is one of those times.

Calling it the planet’s last, best hope for saving rock music, the Guardians of the Protectorate of Rock announced Monday that they would take the extraordinary step of unleashing a never-before-heard Jimmy Page riff, hidden for decades in a mythic, impenetrable vault.

…

The Guardians said recent developments in the music world, such as the unaccountable popularity of the Dixie Chicks and Sufjan Stevens, have created a “perfect storm of lameness” from which rock might never recover. While Iommi refused to say when the vault would be opened, hard rock sources believe it will take place just prior to next month’s Fall Out Boy–Honda Civic tour, which many fear will suck the remaining lifeblood from all that still rocks.

Is Jack Black writing for The Onion these days?

[tags]spire condo, onion, jimmy page[/tags]

Hee hee…that picture looks like half a fishy!

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

Had a nice, relaxing weekend, in part to finally give my back a chance to fully heal. I’m terrible at resting injuries, and a back problem only gets better when you leave it alone for a while, so I spent the weekend with my ass stuck firmly to the couch (much to the chagrin of the cats) watching an entire season of Oz and a fair amount of sports.

Speaking of the cats, I’m obviously spending too much time around them, since this comic my brother sent to me seemed as insulting as it did funny.

.:.

RFID technology’s been around for a while now, but now it’s as small as powder.

The world’s smallest radio frequency identification tags have been unveiled by Japanese electronics firm Hitachi. The minute devices measure just 0.05mm by 0.05mm (0.002×0.002in) and to the naked eye look like spots of powder.

Freeeeaaaaaaky.

[tags]back pain, cats, rfid[/tags]

I, on the other hand, do NOT want my Nancy Grace

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

A new bookstore — a real bookstore — set to open in downtown Toronto this spring.

Ben McNally Books will sell that and only that – no magazines, no CDs or DVDs, no candles or stationery and no coffee (“There’s already a Tim Hortons down the block”) – and, in most instances, they’ll be sold at full price since “I think you do a disservice to publishers if you [discount],” he said.

I think bookstores like Nicholas Hoare (McNally used to manage the Toronto location) are fantastic for browsing, but unless the store carries titles difficult to find in Indigo or online, I question the business model. Still, it’ll be almost as close to the new condo as Nicholas Hoare, so I look forward to the opening.

.:.

One of the more interesting podcasts I’ve been listening to is the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Correct Me If I’m Wrong” series, where they publish voice mails left by customers. The episode from Feb 28th made me howl…you just have to listen to it.

[tags]ben mcnally books, nicholas hoare, san francisco chronicle, correct me if im wrong[/tags]

What's not to like?

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

We just had dinner with my brother at Jump; he had a 16-hour stopover on his way back from Chicago. It’s too bad his job forces him to travel so much, but on the plus side we get to see him every few months as he flies to/from somewhere in the midwestern US.

Food review: Cragganmore: good*; spinach salad: good; ricotta ravioli: good; bottle of zinfandel: good; Lindt molten chocolate cake: gooooooood.

* when I say “good” you have to imagine Joey from Friends, specifically the trifle episode

[tags]jump cafe[/tags]

The pain is ridonculous!

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

Maybe it’s because I’m tired, maybe it’s because I’m in caffeine withdrawal (no diet pepsi at all yesterday), maybe it’s because I’m catching something (I seem to be skirting the edge of the flu that everyone else is catching), maybe my body has finally started rebelling against the lack of meat…whatever the case, I have a wicked rippin’ headache.

You know the gnome from the Travelocity commercials? It feels like he’s inside my head, trying to get out using a jackhammer and a gong.

[tags]headache, travelocity gnome[/tags]

You don't understand…I need chocolate chip zucchini loaf

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

Met CBGB for a bite to eat tonight. After dinner we tried to get some chocolate-y goodness at the Chocolate Heaven Cafe a few blocks away, but it closes at 6:00 (!?) on Sun-Wed.

.:.

Condo stuff is coming to a head now: we have our inspection next week, take possession April 9th, and move in two weeks after that. That gives us plenty of time to paint, move our stuff over, clean the old place, etc.

Getting the cats from one place to the next should be fun as well. Remember the opening scene from Jurassic Park? You know…”Shoot her!! Shoot her!!” It’ll be something like that.

[tags]chocolate heaven cafe, moving day[/tags]