The ugly side of DRM (is there any other side?)

DRM Crippled CD: A bizarre tale in 4 parts

As is typical with DRM, the purchaser is blocked from various legal activities like copying the music to his iPod or making a backup, yet a technical savvy pirate can easily bypass the protection. In other words the technology harms the average consumer while not stopping the real threat. This particular story has some even better details like the band didn't want this technology and the argument that it's not about piracy at all, but just Sony trying to interfere with people using the competition: Apple's iPod.

This is one of the reasons I have become very anti-Sony. Yes, I have a big Sony TV at home, but that's from 1999, back when I was a Sony fan. The DRM, the stubborn refusal to accept standard technology, baring major corporate changes I'll never buy a Sony product again.

Pop vs. Soda vs. Robots

US map of soft drink names:


And, totally unrelated, this video about robot insurance is pretty funny.

My presentation

On Nov. 3rd I'm giving a presentation on AJAX and ASP.NET with the Alberta .NET user group. This is probably the geekiest I will get all year, if you're a web developer in the Calgary area don't miss it. Did I mention the free sandwiches?

Our mountain view

I was walking out of the garage on my way to clean out the window wells and I thought the mountains looked nice today.

 

Jade's learning to cook

Several months ago I learned the hard way what a "clove" of garlic is (at the time I thought it was the whole ball). Needless to say, "one clove" of garlic in each piece of tuna resulted in the aptly named "Jade's Tuna Surprise".

Well, tonight I learned about chili peppers. My wife had to work late so i did the cooking myself. The chicken chili was, as they say, muy picante. I think I'll call it "Jade's Death by Chili" (Which is ironic because it's a healthy chili). I made it half way through a bowl before making a pained face of defeat. My wife was, of course, much smarter and stopped after one bite.

Speaking up

Adam Bosworth, a smart blogger who's technology posts are a pleasure to read, just posted something he wrote 3 months ago about reason and faith. Well said Adam.

It is all akin to letting a child's tantrum dictate the judgement of an adult.

The housing bubble and illegal immigrants

Tom brought to my attention today an element of the housing bubble I hadn't thought of before, illegal immigrants.

"If 34 of my clients with risky loans and no school past at best eighth grade are surprised by rising loan payments, we should be afraid. This is the last group desperate lenders pander to, meaning we're near the end."

One of THOSE days

About 7:45 this morning: I was sitting here thinking how the coffee went through me and had no effect. Then I look down and see I haven't drank it yet.

Some more Jenka progress pictures

From May 2005 to today...

 

Jenka's progress

The top picture is from May this year, the bottom is from today. Honest, that's the same dog :) Amazing what a difference a good diet a little happiness can make.

 

Thanksgiving

Jenka loved finally getting off-leash at my parent's acreage.

 

Bloomberg, you just got Punk'd

Tip on N.Y. subway threat a hoax. And for the record, it's painful watching Ashton on TV.

What a loss (I'm an Aardman fan)

Fire destroys 'Wallace and Gromit' warehouse

Go Stanley!

Stanford robocar wins $2m Darpa prize. It's official: my favorite, the blue VW, defeated the two big red Hummers and 20 other vehicles to win the DARPA 2005 race.

10% of the brain myth

Popular myths, urban legends that people repeat as if they were true. Huge pet peeve of mine. Here's a couple with some links to check out if you find yourself believing the myth.

• False: We only use 10% of our brains source
• False: Bill Gates once said computers would never need more than 640KB memory, source 1, source 2

And swimming after eating won't give you cramps and swallowed gum does not stay for years in your stomach. Feel free to Google those if you have doubts.

RPM has arrived

Mid September someone forwarded me an email recruitment ad from one of our customers. They're looking for some experienced managers and list 5 benefits on their company. And there after salary, commission, and support systems, is "RPM", our product. So they like our product enough to consider it a benefit, and they feel our product has enough industry recognition that people will know what they're talking about just from the name.

Needless to say, as a product manager it made me very happy. We're the definite leader in our niche, but with a new competitor now that just means it's ours to lose. In other words, no slacking off now!

Animal comedy

2 pictures that made me smile today