Archives for: April 2008
Extension on Netfile deadline
Anyone who's a little slow filing their taxes -- or putting it off to the last minute -- has found that Revenue Canada's Netfile system has been unusable for the last few days.
Fortunately the filing deadline has been extended for a few days, although… more »
Oil versus Tar
While working on a site up in Fort McMurray a few weeks back, I referred to the awful brewed coffee in the office as "tar sands sludge."
I was then politely, but quite clearly, corrected. It is in fact "oil sands sludge" as only dirty hippies and… more »
Bluetooth A2DP audio on a dedicated MP3 player
Yes, Apple, it is possible. Now go fix your iPods and iPhone so they meet current standards. more »
"iPod Tax" resurfaces in UK
There's not much I can add to the article writer's comment:
But only if they pay for it a second time round. The MBG's proposal is essentially a way to help the music industry get paid twice for the same thing: first for the CD and once again, by way of… more »
"Lost Canadian" law passes
This is good: the bill to restore citizenship to Canadians who "lost" it due to poorly thought-out act has passed into law. more »
Another take on the alarm clock radio
The Register Rebel DJ has a write up in the Intempo, an FM-based alarm clock with an interesting twist: it automatically records music and strips out the commercials and DJs allowing one to listen to the important bit. more »
Young Me Now Me
This is an interesting concept from Ze Frank: recreating pictures of one's youth as an adult then posting the results side by side.
(Via Kottke) more »
][GS Laptop
I don't normally bother linking to case mods, even when they're rather cool, mostly because, well, they're just case mods.
This though, this is cool. I always wanted a ][gs but they weren't really available where I was living at the time. more »
Expiry dates on gift cards to be banned in BC
This may well be the first and last time you hear me say something nice about the BC Liberals, but good for them on making it illegal to expire prepaid gift cards.
Regardless of whether one feels that gift cards are a bad idea to start with (and there… more »
Cats and computer desks
Periodically you see a gizmo that initially leaves you thinking "Well, that's daft" but a few minutes later it becomes "Hmmmm....".
Get off my keyboard, Pumpkin. Please.
(Via PopGadget) more »
Net Neutrality and Virgin Media
Another UK sourced story, this time from BoingBoing. Apparently Virgin Media, one of the major ISPs in the UK, is clearly stating that they wish to be bribed in order to give preferential treatment to websites. No, I misspoke; Virgin will actually… more »
iPhone moves another step closer to killing the Palm Tungsten
While the Apple iPhone is getting close to being able to replace my beloved Palm Tungsten T3, there are two primary issues that still make it an inappropriate choice for me. more »
Stephen has a blog
Stephen Vermeulen, author of ExpressPaint and VBBS/IceBBS for the Amiga with miscellaneous other low-key software development projects since, has finally got around to blogifying his homebrew website. Following a fragment-based posting design, he's… more »
Tech support follies
Recently Microsoft ran a pretty good promotion: buy their current version of Microsoft Office for OSX and get the new one free when it's released. So, I bit, and bought the old version and dutifully sent in the form with the original UPC barcode and… more »
Rechargable batteries aren't created equal
Most people know that NiCd, NiMH and LIon rechargables all have different properties. What's not so apparent is that even within a particular technology, there's a lot of variety beyond the nominal mAh rating, especially when dealing with batteries… more »
It's so quiet
One of the nicer features about the newer electric hybrids is that they're quiet. So, in the name of safety, what do you think the next step should be?
Yup. Make the cars generate digitized engine noises over external loudspeakers so pedestrians can… more »
Wired on industrial control systems security
Given the industry I work in and specific familiarity with the system in question, this article from Wired on system security and response is fascinating. The headline is a trifle "Chicken Little" but the content is good.
(The somewhat generic text… more »
Penn & Teller do bees
Penn & Teller do some odd stuff, but this one is particularly strange even for them. Keep an eye out for the camera man in the hazmat suit...
(Via BoingBoing) more »
Why, oh why?
The other night my computer rebooted due to an update from Microsoft. This was a bit annoying as I'd left some test cases up running overnight.
I'm still unclear on why there is no option to automatically download an update without installing it under… more »
Keyboard PC
Self-contained PCs built into a keyboard have been going around for a while and, to be honest, I've never understood the appeal. While the description of "Amiga-like" is fair, given the design of the A500/A600/A1200, these are just under-powered PCs in… more »
What's a bit of confusion between friends?
While looking to exchange a worn vinyl record with a newer CD, I encountered an unexpected problem. The album I wanted to replace, "Hooked On Swing", actually had several Amazon entries, each of which showed entirely different track listings. more »
A fine headline
Who knew that a hedgehog could be classified as a dangerous weapon?
(Via Antigone) more »
To Catch A Thief
Kottke has a nice round up of people using technology to catch thieves in the act. more »
Country And Western Science
This probably isn't appropriate for Dena's students.
This, on the other hand, probably is. more »
Lightening up aircraft
What do airlines do when their annual fuel bills double? For one thing, they put their planes on a diet. more »
Litter Box Dessert
From one of the commenters:
i made one of these at a family reunion about 18 months ago. kids loved it, adults were seriously grossed out and segregated this dessert from the others.
Yeah.
(Via BoingBoing) more »
Oversize Big Wheel trike
The first time I saw the picture of the archetypal child's trike at the top of this Gizmodo page, I didn't get it. It took a moment before the scale sunk in...
(Via Gizmodo and UberReview) more »
