I have long had the dream that if I won the lottery, one of the many shenanigans I would pull would be to buy a cell phone blocker. I’d love to deploy that thing at work when some lazy coworkers decide that texting is more important than working. I am not sure of the legality of this in Canada, but I presume it is likely frowned upon as it is in the USA.
I loved the ending to the following article outlining the consequences of having a cell phone jammer, and some proposed consequences for being a cell phone jerk.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/texas-beauty-schools-cell-phone-jammer-leads-to-25k-fine.ars
My favourite part:
“Ironically, in both Texas and Florida it is legal to openly carry firearms into a Starbucks, say. But not a phone jammer. So when the cell phone at the next table erupts into The William Tell Overture and its owner bellows, “HELLO? HEY! YEAH, IN A STARBUCKS! IT’S RAINING HERE! SO WHERE’RE YOU?” pulling out the jammer is not an option. It’s the firearm or nothing. This may not be good public policy.”
Then again, maybe it IS good public policy?
Tags: cell phone, cell phone jammer
Posted in Misc. Stuff | No Comments »
I ran across a link to this article in an online photography forum. The article itself is pretty appalling, basically advocating that people steal images from flickr users for their own interior decorating needs with little or no regard for the copyright already held on those images. What I do like about this is that the authors ignorance on the matter was quickly pointed out by quite a number of irate photographers (read the comments – really the best part). What followed was a number of follow-ups and clarifications about what the article really meant. Whoops!
Tags: flickr, new york times, photography theft, theft
Posted in Misc. Stuff, Photography | No Comments »
In my previous post I outlined why I root for the team that beat my team. This year I had a hockey conundrum in that there might be a scenario in the Stanley Cup Finals that this team, the Chicago Blackhawks, might go up against my alternate favourite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. I also cheer for the Steelers, somewhat arbitrarily at this point I guess, maybe there is something about Pittsburgh, I don’t know. At any rate, the Blackhawks quickly were decimated by the evil Detroit Redwings and that part of this was over.
So it all came down to Pittsburgh or yet again I’d have another NHL playoffs with nothing to show for it but disappointment. Then Pittsburgh decided to lose the first two games of the best of 7. 0-2 in a series does not look good.
From there on though, it was all good. A very nice game 7 win by the Penguins over the dastardly Wings and I am able to say that at least one of the teams I root for did very well this year. If only it had been the Canucks. 
At least they can probably beat the Penguins on the golf course at this point.
Tags: detroit red wings, hockey, nhl, pittsburgh penguins, vancouver canucks
Posted in Misc. Stuff | No Comments »
My Canucks are out of the playoffs. Again. Actually, a minor miracle that they even made it this year, with expectations at the beginning being rather lackluster. However, they had a great year, and made it the 2nd round of the playoffs. Won their division. Had their first 4 game sweep in a best of 7 series. Now they are golfing. Sad.
So what now? I often root for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I don’t know why, but this is only after there are few teams left, then I will go for the flightless birds. Always liked Lemieux, and now we have Crosby. However, this might potentially lead me to my hockey conundrum of this years’ playoffs. I generally want to see the team that beat my team, in this case the Chicago Blackhawks, do well. Why? Why would I not seek revenge for the playoff death of my most favored team? Well, which would you rather have… the team that beat your team embarrassed and sacked from the next round, or have them win the whole thing? Who would you rather have had beat your team? A team that tanks soon after or the team that proves they really were quite good and wins the whole thing? Thus, I find myself wishing the Blackhawks well. For now.
What we do have now is the potential for the Blackhawks and the Penguins to meet in the Stanley Cup final. There is the conundrum. Root for the Penguins or the team that beat my team. I have yet to determine which is stronger. Regardless, if that scenario does appear, I can happily dance on the graves of the ill deserving Carolina Hurricanes (its not called an end zone Carolina fans!). Detroit, always strong, well, time to let someone else have it eh?
Tags: canucks, chicago blackhawks, detroit, detroit red wings, hockey, nhl, pitt
Posted in Misc. Stuff | 2 Comments »
I saw a license plate the other day in North Vancouver that read: URPOOR
It was on a Maserati.
In the dirt next to the plate someone had written: Robin Hood knows where you live.
I liked that.
Posted in Misc. Stuff | No Comments »
Check out my photos of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay
The design for the 2010 Olympic torch was unveiled today. The torch design comes from the Canadian company Bombardier. Designer Timothy Fagan said the torch design was inspired by “the path that a skier takes through snow or the lines that are left on the ice when a skate passes by”.
Yet, when looking at it… all I can think of is that it reminds me of a joint.
I suppose that would only be appropriate for a Vancouver hosted event. Ridiculous right? You light a joint then pass it from person to person and… oh…
Tags: 2010 games, flame, olympics, torch, Vancouver
Posted in Misc. Stuff | No Comments »
Photographer Kyle Cassidy posted this on his blog and invited others to do the same. I thought it was well worth it – Auld Lang Syne on a SAW? The singing makes it worth it though. Recorded on a Fisher Price Pixelvision toy video camera no less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvGkT_Gi7D8&e
Oh and Happy New Year
Tags: Auld Lang Syne, Nicki Jaine
Posted in Misc. Stuff, Music | No Comments »
