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  • In which life says hello, and the blog takes a back seat.

    written by

    james

    This is what happens when life takes off at full speed. The blog tends to sit over here and do several different kinds of collecting dust. Newyears resolution: correct this malfunction, immediately. Thinga have been happening in wicked fast pace here, which naturally means I haven’t actually been even keeping up on the whole hockey thing–thanks, Shane, for at least filling me in on *most* of what I missed. Now things can calm down just in time for my team to inevitably fall apart.

    The holidays are insane on a good day, which accounts for most of my time spent doing things not related to blogging. What accounts for the rest? A mutual friend of both Shane and myself came down with some pretty nifty little medical issues–some of which, some of you are already familiar with. That’s required we be a lot more not near electronics than usual around here while those get fixed and otherwise taken care of. Thankfully, she’s kind of on her way towards recovery now, which means–you guessed it–back to business as usual around here.

    It’s been pretty low key on the familial front. Mother’s still working too much, dad’s still working too much, brother’s still–well, okay, nothing he does is low key but there’s not enough room in this entry for that. Oh, and–surprise of surprises–I’m single again. The reasons behind it aren’t worth going into detail publicly–again, some of you already know and the rest, well, probably have theories. But suffice it to say I kind of saw it coming. For those of you who read Jessica’s blog when she posts to it, it’ll be up again just as soon as she figures out what she’s doing with it–and if it’s actually going to get any kind of continued use. Outside of that, it’s been a pretty routine month and a bit–where routine equals anything but. but now, there’s time. And where there’s time, there’s all kinds of random. New year, which means new posting habbits, new mockery, and a new year end show to be kicked off at 9:00 tonight on Mojo Radio. Drop in, say hello, and have a listen (links are over here), while we do 2011 right–and get trashed. Look for more blog content from this corner–including my 2011 review, starting… well… later tonight or early tomorrow. Maybe. But it’s coming. In the meantime, we now return you to whatever you were doing before I distracted you.

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  • That personal data you just handed to Facebook? Trade secret!

    written by

    james

    I absolutely love Techdirt. Mostly, because they’re usually the first ones to break a story that, well, could really use a bit more exposure. Like this one, in which an advocacy group based in Europe is trying to find out what Facebook holds of your personal information, and what they do with it. Except, well, Facebook isn’t cooperating.

    The group’s founder, Max Schrems, received a reply to his request for the data Facebook held about him in the form of a CD-ROM storing over 800 pages. But
    looking through them, Schrems noticed that important information was missing, and so contacted Facebook again, asking for the extra details. But
    Facebook refused

    And why, pray tell, would Facebook do such a thing? Well, Facebook was asked.

    To date, we have disclosed all personal data to which you are entitled pursuant to Section 4 of the Irish Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 (the Acts).
    Please note that certain categories of personal data are exempted from subject access requests. Pursuant to Section 4(9) of the Acts, personal data which
    is impossible to furnish or which can only be furnished after disproportionate effort is exempt from the scope of a subject access request. We have not
    furnished personal data which cannot be extracted from our platform in the absence of disproportionate effort.
    Section 4(12) of the Acts carves out an exception to subject access requests where the disclosures in response would adversely affect trade secrets or intellectual
    property. We have not provided any information to you which is a trade secret or intellectual property of Facebook Ireland Limited or its licensors.

    So, basicly, Facebook will give you any and all information you ask it to, about you–except that which is covered by intelectual property–read: copyright–laws or which is considered a trade secret. So much for personal information being, well, personal, hmm? And folks wonder why I have such an opinion on internet privacy.

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  • And once again, the search kiddies ask a very good question.

    written by

    james

    Oct 9 10:42am: who hands out clean crack pipes in Vancouver

    That’s exactly the question I asked a few weeks ago. Who in their right mind? Although, speaking of right mind, I hope that search wasn’t to point our querier in the general direction of a source…

  • And sometimes, things just have a habbit of being very well timed.

    written by

    james

    They don’t post a whole lot over there these days, but Shane and Krista usually have something semi-useful to say. Or to copy/paste from someone else who said it already. That’s the case with this post, which goes into detail on something I think any serious relationship is going to have to deal with in one way, shape or form before it either lasts forever or doesn’t. Fact of life, and all that wonderful crap. Rare is the relationship that doesn’t have anything even remotely close to this happen at some point. Sometimes, you can recover from it–and sometimes, it’s much better for at least one party if you don’t and just walk away. I’ve seen both. And it’s probably for that reason and a couple others why this article relates just a little. I won’t bother copy/pasting the article over here, since they’ve already copied it in full on their blog. But, if you’re interested, it’s over here. It put some things into perspective for me, and probably will for at least one other person before too long. Even if it doesn’t, it’s a good read. Who knows, you might be able to use it to put things into perspective for someone else. That’s never a bad thing either. And on that note, I think there exists some mockery around here somewhere.

  • Mmmm… bacon. And beer. … Bacon beer? Only in America.

    written by

    james

    And apparently, only at the Great american Beer Festival–or, at least, that’s where it was discovered. In Denver, earlier this month. Forget the bacon and eggs as your hangover food. Now, it can be part of a complete smashing. Just add chocolate. Or don’t. Apparently, it goes just as good on its own. Now. Where’s mine?

  • Giorgio Mammoliti on Toronto: We want to be our own have-not province!

    written by

    james

    Toronto has all manner of somewhat decent hockey teams–hey, the Leafs aren’t in last place yet, okay? But I’d still rather gouge my own eyes out with a pitchfork than consider living there. One of the reasons for that would be city councellor Giorgio Mammoliti, who’s recently made headlines for suggesting that Toronto should become its own province. Let’s put this into perspective just a little. Toronto’s previous mayor, David Miller, pretty much spent the hell out of what money he got from the province of Ontario–and some extra, just to make sure he got it all. Current mayor Rob Ford is insisting he can cut spending, and all he’s managed to do is cut his support–in more than half, actually. Oh yeah, and Toronto’s still spending money like it’s going out of style. So why does councellor Mammoliti want Toronto to be its own province, you may ask?

    He told the Toronto Sun he is frustrated federal and provincial governments aren’t doing enough for municipalities.

    He maintained if Toronto was a province it would qualify for transfer payments from Ottawa.

    So, basicly, if toronto was a province, the rest of Canada would have to give them more money they likely would have just as much (read: absolutely no) trouble finding things to do with due to the way equalization’s been set up, and the fact they’re bleeding red out both ends. Yeah, tell you what. No. Spend a few million less, then maybe talk to us about separation. Quebec could use some company on that front. Or better yet, just get rid of Giorgio Mammoliti.

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  • Think of this post the next time I feel like mocking Quebec.

    written by

    james

    This probably only applies to those Canadians who read this thing. For everyone else, there’s google–or just ask a Canadian.

    Remember all those jokes–half of them probably not quite joking–about the way folks over in that other province not far from here like to drive? And by drive, I mean everyone else insane? I used to think those jokes were largely, well, just jokes. Yes, even having been to and through Quebec on more than one occasion. And then, I saw this.

    Ontario Provincial Police say the foursome was spotted by officers on foot patrol at around 3 p.m. on Friday along the main stretch of Lake Huron’s Wasaga
    Beach, about 130 kilometres north of Toronto.

    Officers say the group was observed smoking marijuana on the beach; a subsequent search uncovered more of the drug, police alleged on Sunday.

    The four people, all from Quebec, were charged with possession of a controlled substance and later released from custody pending an appearance in a Collingwood,
    Ont., court.

    Huronia West OPP said the group’s rough weekend didn’t end there.

    A highway patrol officer stopped a vehicle leaving the area while travelling 104 kilometres an hour in a posted 50 km/h zone.

    Provincial police impounded the vehicle for seven days and charged the driver with stunt driving.

    I have at least one Royal Canadian Air Farse skit rolling around the back of my head right now. If I can find it, it will be added to this post. For right now, though, I got nothin’. Only in Quebec.

  • JAWS for Windows gets a career change.

    written by

    james

    For those of you who don’t know, JAWS for Windows is the screenreader that some of us in the blind community use to be able to do things like, well, post random pointlessly amusing things like this to our respective blogs at half past late in the morning. You can find more information on the screenreader, and grab yourself a 40-minute demo, over here. When it’s not being a screenreader, though, it’s taken up singing as a secondary passtime. It’s still only a beginner, but there’s potential. Just have a listen for yourself. Folks reading along via RSS or LiveJournal may need to click on over to the actual site to listen. Sorry.
    [audio:freakysingingeloquence.mp3]

    Consider this when planning your next family function. It could be a huge success. Or it could flop. We here at WTN take no responsibility for either–but we *will* take your barely entertaining recordings.

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  • It’s the little things.

    written by

    james

    Things like a random mall trip, culminating in a massive cinimon bun. Things like driving back to the apartment blasting music. Things like way too much caffeine on the way. Things like watching my cousin go completely batshit after way too much caffeine. Oh, yeah, and things like learning my aunt reads this here broken thing over here–I’m sorry. Sometimes, life rocks. Now, then. I do believe it’s time I put away this phone and join the crazy. God help me.

  • Maple Leafs 4, Jets 3.

    written by

    james

    It was the first game against the Jets in damn near 20 years. Freaking ever. And I completely forgot it existed and thus missed watching it. Yes, I know, I fail at hockey. You may now arange my public execution. Still, shootout wins are nice. As is our barely 2-week points total. Not bad for a team undergoing a massive rebuild.

    • Wins: 4
    • Losses: 1
    • Shootout Wins: 1
    • Shootout Losses: 0
    • Points: 9

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