I'm not a big country music fan. Ask my girlfriend, she'll confirm this.
That's kind of odd, considering I'll do tend to dip into a lot of different genres (yes, even after they cease to be fashionable).
Might have something to do with the fact that my parents listened to nothing but country when I was a kid. Everyone's gotta rebel against something, right?
Anyway... Having said that, I will say that if you are in Toronto on the 19th of September you should hie your ass down to the Rivoli for 9:45 and check out Alana Kurtis and the Tumblers.
I've seen them a couple of times now and it ain't your father's country music.
Hmmm, on second thought, maybe it is. Maybe that's why I'm enjoying it.
It is certainly a hell of a lot more country than the thinly disguised pop that has been packaged as country for the last 15 years.
Alana has a hell of a voice and an excellent lyrical pen,and her band the Tumblers are definitely not skill-deficient. Come out on Wednesday and give it a listen.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Short rant on Large Orgs
I've been buried inside the bowels of one of the country's larger financial players, working with management solutions.
I have never been a big fan of the large organizations; I have always maintained that there were too many layers of bullshit, petty empire-building and people being assigned to roles, not because they had any aptitude or interest in it, but because they had been there so long.
I've worked at government clients in both Canada and the US, and the madness, bureaucracy and waste in those environments has nothing on what happens in a large, profitable FI.
I am glad I spent almost a decade in a variety industries working for small and medium businesses. I learned a lot doing that.
In a large environment like this, I think I would have lost more than I would have learned.
I have never been a big fan of the large organizations; I have always maintained that there were too many layers of bullshit, petty empire-building and people being assigned to roles, not because they had any aptitude or interest in it, but because they had been there so long.
I've worked at government clients in both Canada and the US, and the madness, bureaucracy and waste in those environments has nothing on what happens in a large, profitable FI.
I am glad I spent almost a decade in a variety industries working for small and medium businesses. I learned a lot doing that.
In a large environment like this, I think I would have lost more than I would have learned.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Fuck you, fuckbag.
I never did like SUVs. Not even the "compact" ones.
A few short days ago, I was riding to the client site (the joys of a gig in town - the bike commute becomes an option) heading south on Dovercourt.
The light at College St. was red; I waited next to a Honda CRV (or some similar vehicle - my memory for reasons that will shortly become clear is a little jumbled on some details), I made eye contact with the driver. The turns green, we both set off, the Honda getting ahead of me on the descent, then signalling a turn to the right, presumably to park curbside as there is no street to turn onto.
So far so good, I'll just make sure I get on the left of this vehicle and all will be fine.
I'm about 3 metres uphill and closing when it happens.
There is no warning, no signal.
The Honda, still with the turn signal lit does an abrupt 90 degree turn to the left. I'm looking into the broadside of this vehicle.
I'm anticipating pain and am suddenly very appreciative of my helmet.
With about 2 metres to go I start pulling my handlebars to the right while braking hard.
Next thing I know, I'm not smacking into the Honda, nor am I hitting the curb.
I'm heading uphill coming out of the dip. My tailbone is riding the tip of my seat. Not too comfortable, but it beats the shit out of riding the top tube. And it is orders of magnitude less shitty than being broadsided by a steel box.
By the time I get to Dundas I have my shit together.
A cyclist riding behind me has seen the whole thing go down, and expresses her disgust with the driver involved.
Feeling vindicated, I gingerly make my way to work.
As for the driver, you fucking dipshit oblivious cunt, your carelessness could have fucked me right up. You saw me beside you, you should have seen me coming in your rearview. I was lucky I managed to swerve the fuck out of your way.
You were lucky I wasn't another car.
Pay fucking attention.
By
A few short days ago, I was riding to the client site (the joys of a gig in town - the bike commute becomes an option) heading south on Dovercourt.
The light at College St. was red; I waited next to a Honda CRV (or some similar vehicle - my memory for reasons that will shortly become clear is a little jumbled on some details), I made eye contact with the driver. The turns green, we both set off, the Honda getting ahead of me on the descent, then signalling a turn to the right, presumably to park curbside as there is no street to turn onto.
So far so good, I'll just make sure I get on the left of this vehicle and all will be fine.
I'm about 3 metres uphill and closing when it happens.
There is no warning, no signal.
The Honda, still with the turn signal lit does an abrupt 90 degree turn to the left. I'm looking into the broadside of this vehicle.
I'm anticipating pain and am suddenly very appreciative of my helmet.
With about 2 metres to go I start pulling my handlebars to the right while braking hard.
Next thing I know, I'm not smacking into the Honda, nor am I hitting the curb.
I'm heading uphill coming out of the dip. My tailbone is riding the tip of my seat. Not too comfortable, but it beats the shit out of riding the top tube. And it is orders of magnitude less shitty than being broadsided by a steel box.
By the time I get to Dundas I have my shit together.
A cyclist riding behind me has seen the whole thing go down, and expresses her disgust with the driver involved.
Feeling vindicated, I gingerly make my way to work.
As for the driver, you fucking dipshit oblivious cunt, your carelessness could have fucked me right up. You saw me beside you, you should have seen me coming in your rearview. I was lucky I managed to swerve the fuck out of your way.
You were lucky I wasn't another car.
Pay fucking attention.
By
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Spammers are fucking scum of the earth
Just read this entry from the Handlers' Diary over at the Internet Storm Centre.
The 419 scamming has taken on an ugly new aspect: email Death Threats.
This text from a short variant was posted (verbatim from the offending spam) on ISC:
This is a brand new low.
If this piece of digital excrement shows up in your mailbox, follow the instructions in the ISC post on how to report the alleged humans perpetrating this shit.
The 419 scamming has taken on an ugly new aspect: email Death Threats.
This text from a short variant was posted (verbatim from the offending spam) on ISC:
Hello,Really? It's come to this? Fucking false fucking Death Threats via email to extort money?
I wish to let you know that i have been paid by a client to assasinate you at convenience,and i have signed a contract of $650,000 yesterday for this.I have never met you before,but they gave me the full description of your identity and contact,together with your photograph which my boys have used to trace you.
The reason why they want you Dead is not disclosed to me as i was not allowed to know,but you are now not better that the dead ok.
My BOYS are now contantly watching you,they are following you-home,office,everywhere.....,you go and they are waiting for my instruction to terminate you.And they will strike at convenience.
THIS IS MY MESSAGE-
LISTEN VERY WELL !!!!,the Police cannot do much to help you out in this right now because you are being watched,any such attempt is very risky cause you will push us to terminate your life without option. Your calls are not safe also.In fact you are traced.
I have no business with you but at least i have cleared the way as a pro-,but you may have one chance to live again if you can contact me not latter that 24 hours after this mssage.
GOODLUCK!!!"
This is a brand new low.
If this piece of digital excrement shows up in your mailbox, follow the instructions in the ISC post on how to report the alleged humans perpetrating this shit.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Security Idiocy
Here it is, the funniest [IT industry] slideshow I have ever seen ("12 ways to be a Security Idiot"), via eWeek.
I feel better about what I've been preaching every time I read. It hurts to laugh so much, it truly, truly does.
I feel better about what I've been preaching every time I read. It hurts to laugh so much, it truly, truly does.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Just a perfect day/Drink sangria in the park
Well, I didn't have sangria in the park, but had I known it was going to be as gorgeous a day here in Toronto as it was, I would likely have made some for the road...
Took the waterfront trail out to Cherry Beach (sidebar here - I was not impressed with the detour on the trail that took me onto Lakeshore Road underneath the Gardner up to the Don Roadway; I didn't jump onto the trail to play in traffic with semis... what the fuck are you supposed to do if you're on rollerblades down there?) and then along Commissioners to Ashbridge's Bay.
Here's the view of downtown from Ashbridges:
Not the most flattering view of the city, but a fun one to get to on a single speed ;).
After cruising out to Kew Gardens, I headed north up Glen Manor to Queen East. Once there, I found a bustling Beaches neighbourhood and a long, narrow corridor between traffic and parked cars. I got on the hoods and sped up.
My tour north up to Dundas was nothing to remark on - nor was the run over to Jarvis.
Jarvis was busy but manageable. Mount Pleasant I found to be a misnomer after a point.
Did you know Summerhill doesn't cross the subway lines? I found that out.
Mount Pleasant was much more pleasant to deal with between Inglewood and St. Clair East.
So yeah, I have a sunburn (from yesterday's yard work at the "in-laws", made worse by today's excursion), my legs aren't sore yet but may be in the morning... and I don't care.
Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go find a beer as I have no sangria handy...
Took the waterfront trail out to Cherry Beach (sidebar here - I was not impressed with the detour on the trail that took me onto Lakeshore Road underneath the Gardner up to the Don Roadway; I didn't jump onto the trail to play in traffic with semis... what the fuck are you supposed to do if you're on rollerblades down there?) and then along Commissioners to Ashbridge's Bay.
Here's the view of downtown from Ashbridges:
Not the most flattering view of the city, but a fun one to get to on a single speed ;).After cruising out to Kew Gardens, I headed north up Glen Manor to Queen East. Once there, I found a bustling Beaches neighbourhood and a long, narrow corridor between traffic and parked cars. I got on the hoods and sped up.
My tour north up to Dundas was nothing to remark on - nor was the run over to Jarvis.
Jarvis was busy but manageable. Mount Pleasant I found to be a misnomer after a point.
Did you know Summerhill doesn't cross the subway lines? I found that out.
Mount Pleasant was much more pleasant to deal with between Inglewood and St. Clair East.
So yeah, I have a sunburn (from yesterday's yard work at the "in-laws", made worse by today's excursion), my legs aren't sore yet but may be in the morning... and I don't care.
Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go find a beer as I have no sangria handy...
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Microsoft's $3 Plan for Education (everywhere)
There has been some coverage of this in the last couple of days.
I think Joe Wilcox from ZDNet's Microsoft Watch made a very good point in this blog post:
My own selfish reasons for not liking the message this program sends now dealt with, let's take the long view of what this project really means:
1. Linux and other F/OSS projects have a strong presence in the developing world, Microsoft does not.
2. Given 1, Microsoft's future market dominance is, at best, doubtful as information-based economies outside of Europe and North America begin to flourish and begin to rapidly grow infrastructure - an infrastructure not based on MS products, not on the server side, not on the desktop side, not on the mobile side.
3. Given 2, the future is not that bright for Microsoft - unless something changes.
4. Given 3, Microsoft, in order to grab a bigger piece of developing markets, had best start getting software in front of the upcoming generation at a (relatively) affordable rate before initiatives like One Laptop Per Child introduce the world's largest potential markets to F/OSS operating on a large scale.
So, is this altruism or indoctrination of potential consumers in the guise of an educational quick start?
Let me think about that...
I think Joe Wilcox from ZDNet's Microsoft Watch made a very good point in this blog post:
Microsoft will start offering the $3 suite [which includes Windows XP Starter Edition, not Vista Starter Edition -G.C.] to governments in the second half of 2007, which indicates how the company really sees the future state of Vista hardware support. Actions speak louder than marketing messaging.Yes, even as I write this up on my work laptop running Vista Business (and we're a Gold Partner... where's the Enterprise love for the channel this time around?) and I think of the nightmares several of my colleagues have had trying to get Vista x64 to, well, work without optical drives disappearing randomly and my own issues of trying to find a working virtual CD/DVD drive in January... Shudder.
My own selfish reasons for not liking the message this program sends now dealt with, let's take the long view of what this project really means:
1. Linux and other F/OSS projects have a strong presence in the developing world, Microsoft does not.
2. Given 1, Microsoft's future market dominance is, at best, doubtful as information-based economies outside of Europe and North America begin to flourish and begin to rapidly grow infrastructure - an infrastructure not based on MS products, not on the server side, not on the desktop side, not on the mobile side.
3. Given 2, the future is not that bright for Microsoft - unless something changes.
4. Given 3, Microsoft, in order to grab a bigger piece of developing markets, had best start getting software in front of the upcoming generation at a (relatively) affordable rate before initiatives like One Laptop Per Child introduce the world's largest potential markets to F/OSS operating on a large scale.
So, is this altruism or indoctrination of potential consumers in the guise of an educational quick start?
Let me think about that...
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Going mobile
I'm too damn busy these days to properly blog, so I am mucking about
with mobile blogging.
with mobile blogging.
I have an ulterior motive though - I want to be able to blog the start
and finish of an attempted century this year, and this is definitely
the easiest way to do it.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Some good news... some bad news...
First, the good news: my girlfriend and I recently got new rides: a mountain bike for her and a single speed/fixed gear (flip flop hub on the rear wheel for me).
Ain't it purty? I like it.
And the bad news - we are in exile. There is something in the air in the apartment that is simply doing us in. We got home on Monday and it went right for the eyes; we bailed and have been squatting at her sister's ever since.
Went back to the place tonight after the landlords replaced the ceiling tile in the bathroom and gave the common areas a polish - still the same crap going on. First the eye irritation, then nauseau, then reactions on the skin, then general itchiness.
This is pissing me right the fuck off. I think I am going to be living somewhere else at the end of the month.
Well, fair enough; still living somewhere else now, but living in a different somewhere where I have a lease and pay rent.
This sucks. Fortunately, I can always ride if I want to blow off steam.
Ain't it purty? I like it.
And the bad news - we are in exile. There is something in the air in the apartment that is simply doing us in. We got home on Monday and it went right for the eyes; we bailed and have been squatting at her sister's ever since.
Went back to the place tonight after the landlords replaced the ceiling tile in the bathroom and gave the common areas a polish - still the same crap going on. First the eye irritation, then nauseau, then reactions on the skin, then general itchiness.
This is pissing me right the fuck off. I think I am going to be living somewhere else at the end of the month.
Well, fair enough; still living somewhere else now, but living in a different somewhere where I have a lease and pay rent.
This sucks. Fortunately, I can always ride if I want to blow off steam.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
It's winter...
...so the wheels aren't on. Nor is the chain. And I need to get rid of the dead seatpost... but it's on its way.
The sepia tone is for a couple of reasons:
The sepia tone is for a couple of reasons:
- It looks good;
- No one needs to see the colour scheme in the kitchen.
The iTunes Soundtrack Game
Yes, this is a weak-ass excuse for a post... But it was fun, so what the fuck.
BTW, I totally stole this from Dr. Lono Teufel.
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE LIKE?
Here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
NO CHEATING
Opening Credits: Paranoia Man in a Cheap Shit Room - The Fall
Waking Up: The Battle of Evermore - Led Zeppelin
First Day At School: Patience for the Ride - Centro-Matic
Falling In Love: Absolute Beginners - David Bowie
Fight Song: Linger Ficken' Good - the Revolting Cocks
Breaking Up: Glass Bead Game, The - Thievery Corporation
Prom: Isolation (Live at the Lyceum Ballroom) - Joy Division
Life's OK: Too Far Gone - Neil Young
Mental Breakdown: Shoot Speed/Kill Light - Primal Scream
Driving: I Fought in a War - Belle and Sebastian
Flashback: Forcefield - Beck
Getting Back Together: As Ugly as I Seem - The White Stripes
Wedding: Sun in My Mouth - Bjork
Birth of Baby: Song X - Neil Young
Final Battle: A Survey - Tortoise
Death Scene: Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Funeral Song: Playhouses - TV On The Radio
End Credits: The War Against Intelligence - The Fall
BTW, I totally stole this from Dr. Lono Teufel.
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE LIKE?
Here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
NO CHEATING
Opening Credits: Paranoia Man in a Cheap Shit Room - The Fall
Waking Up: The Battle of Evermore - Led Zeppelin
First Day At School: Patience for the Ride - Centro-Matic
Falling In Love: Absolute Beginners - David Bowie
Fight Song: Linger Ficken' Good - the Revolting Cocks
Breaking Up: Glass Bead Game, The - Thievery Corporation
Prom: Isolation (Live at the Lyceum Ballroom) - Joy Division
Life's OK: Too Far Gone - Neil Young
Mental Breakdown: Shoot Speed/Kill Light - Primal Scream
Driving: I Fought in a War - Belle and Sebastian
Flashback: Forcefield - Beck
Getting Back Together: As Ugly as I Seem - The White Stripes
Wedding: Sun in My Mouth - Bjork
Birth of Baby: Song X - Neil Young
Final Battle: A Survey - Tortoise
Death Scene: Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Funeral Song: Playhouses - TV On The Radio
End Credits: The War Against Intelligence - The Fall
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