Posted by GJ on May 28, 2008
I called to cancel my home phone today (so those of you who call me there, take note!).
I had considered living on my cell phone alone before, but I was hindered by the fact that Ontario DSL required an active land line.
Cable internet is an option, but I grealy dislike Rogers’ customer service experience. Historically (not sure if this is still true), cable was also more susceptible to unpredictable traffic, as you share your local segment with your neighbours.
I recently discovered TekSavvy, a DSL reseller that offers naked (dry) DSL, i.e. internet without a home phone. More importantly, reading what their representatives posted on forums, I was impressed by how technically competent they were.
I’ve been very happy with the service of my current DSL provider (Primus): stable, hassle free. However, I originally bought into a smaller outfit (The Higher Technology) for similar reasons of competent and friendly customer service. THT got swallowed a few times (by Magma, then Magma by Primus), so its time to support the smaller guy again.
Oh, and I save some money, too. 
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Posted by GJ on May 16, 2008
Chanced upon this while reading my feeds, pretty interesting in an eccentric way (my favourite!):
On November 22, 2001, I made it my goal to get a letter sent to the mysterious “Undeliverable Mail Office”, so it would be opened up. I put myself as the sender and the recipient and clearly indicated that there was no postage. Inside the envelope, I put a stamp and a note explaining what I had done, requesting that they mail it back to me.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/25661855@N05/2415276018/in/set-72157604540805604/
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Posted by GJ on May 3, 2008
Meet the Ugli Fruit, a Jamaican cross between a tangerine and a pomelo. I discovered this on my most recent visit to California for the 2008 TIBCO User Conference. A resourceful event organizer somehwere arranged for these to be included in the catered fruit bowls.
As the name suggests, the fruit really is ugly; the photo above is a flattering “studio shot”.
I was hesitant at first, but as usual my curiosity got the better of me. The Ugli Fruit tastes delicious: peels easily, sweet like a tangerine, low acidity, and most importantly, seedless. 
The first was followed quickly by a few others, and then I started surrepitously collecting yet more to form a small stockpile for later consumption.
Sadly, the caterers no longer had Ugli Fruit by the next day - no, it wasn’t all due to me!
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Posted by GJ on May 1, 2008
I’m in a conference room right now and there’s not enough seats for the presentation. The walls are lined with people; there’s no more good vantage points.
So why isn’t there anyone else sitting in the aisles? The view is pretty good… I must have a defective self-consciousness gene.
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Posted by GJ on May 1, 2008
Due to poor planning, I reserved my hotel room for the San Francisco Marriott about 6 hours before I showed up at the front desk. As it turns out, doing so seems to be a great way to get a room larger than what you might normally get. Presumably all the TUCON 2008 attendees booked much earlier and thus got the “appropriate” room for the listed rate, and by the time I got there, they were all assigned. Or maybe it was my winning smile. 
Some pictures of the room:
And a video tour:
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