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March 30, 2005
Win2K3 SP1 RTM
For those of you who can't decipher the title of this post, today Microsoft announced the release of Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003. As well, Microsoft announced x64 versions of Windows XP and Server 2003, to be available in April.
When I decide to retire my home computer (dubbed Funkbox) that I assembled in 2000, I'll seriously consider getting a 64-bit machine. It's kind of cool being on the cusp of the transition between computing platforms. Well, if you find computing platforms with large addressable memory spaces cool, that is.
22:24 | Nerd | Comments (2)
March 28, 2005
No More Cat Allergies?
According to this article, scientists have developed a molecule that blocks cat allergies. This is great news for someone like me, who avoids touching any surface, including furniture, when I visit cat owners.
The real reason I linked to the article is because of the accompanying photo:
07:02 | Stuff | Comments (4)
March 27, 2005
Soupe Du Jour
I'm making the side dish to bring to Jeff and Cathy's Easter dinner. May God have mercy on us all.
11:52 | Stuff | Comments (1)
March 24, 2005
Dijitaru Fyuchuru
A fascinating series of articles about the history and evolution of the Japanese written language, and how it is adapting to the digital age. Includes photos of the first Japanese-language typewriter.
This series of articles compliments well the Library of Congress series on The Digital Future I'm currently listening to.
March 22, 2005
Put The Lime In The Coconut
We're diving head-first into the spice-rich world of Indian cuisine tonight with Veggie Masala. Neither T nor I have very much experience making Indian food, so this should be interesting.
Last night we prepped the ingredients, which included chopping vegetables, mixing spices and staring thoughtfully at a fresh coconut. I seem to remember Ian and I buying a coconut about seven years ago, but I can't remember how we got the darn thing open. Suddenly T had an idea: Google it.
We found this page full of instructions, including draining the coconut milk, testing to see if it's rancid (which it wasn't), then my favourite part, breaking the coconut open:
After draining the coconut put it inside one of the plastic bags which are now used by practically all supermarkets. Then wrap this bag around the nut. Place the wrapped nut inside another plastic grocery bag (I normally double bag the nut for added strength.) Holding the handles, swing the bag down onto a concrete step, sidewalk, garage floor, etc.
It was good fun "curbing" a coconut outside my apartment. Luckily, no one stopped to ask what I was doing.
07:51 | Stuff | Comments (2)
March 21, 2005
Texas Hold'em
Ironically, my Sick Of Comment Spam post is one of the highest recipients of Trackback spam. Trackback Pings have now been disabled.
Stupid Internet.
March 19, 2005
Down With Margarine!
US states may be debating banning things like gay marriage and evolution in schools, but in Canada, Québec bans something much more insidious: coloured margarine.
Quebec's strong dairy lobby was able to persuade the government to protect the population from margarine until 1961. But margarine did manage to make its way to morning toast in the province. The dairy lobby, though, was determined to make sure that Quebecers would not be confused and buy margarine if they were really after butter.
These kinds of laws really annoy me. Clearly they were enacted to protect businesses (in this case, Québec's dairy lobby), and not the public (I don't know about you, but I have *never* confused butter with margarine due to being the same colour).
11:26 | Canada , Politics | Comments (1)
March 17, 2005
Luck O' The Irish
Happy St Patrick's Day to all my readers of Irish heritage. For anyone interested in a timeline of Irish history, look no further than The Onion's Irish-Heritage Timeline*.
*Not factually acurate.
March 16, 2005
Got Change For A Terry?
The Royal Canadian Mint is following a tradition of keeping the loon off the dollar coin and replacing it with various commemorative designs. This year they're dropping the loon in favour of a picture of Canadian hero, Terry Fox. For any non-Canadians reading this blog, Fox was an 18-year-old Canadian diagnosed with cancer, and had his right leg amputated. In his determination to raise money for cancer research, he pledged to walk from the east coast of Newfoundland to the west coast of British Columbia. Unfortunately, he died before finishing.
This coin will be the first in Canadian history to actually feature the image of a Canadian (that should indicate how few national heroes we actually recognize). Fox's family is asking that this year, Canadians don't refer to the coin as a "Loonie", but rather a "Terry".
07:51 | Canada | Comments (2)
March 15, 2005
Office Shuffle
After nearly two years in the same office, I was moved across the hall over the weekend. My new office is about 10 metres closer to the washrooms which is nice, since my old office was in the furthest possible location from the men's room. This meant a mini-marathon whenever I needed to go (and also prompting Shawn to complain that I always seem to be wandering the halls).
With a new office, comes a new officemate, Peli from Belgium, who not only now shares an office with me, but lives around the corner from my apartment.
Wow, this has got to be the most mundane blog post ever. Sorry everybody.
07:40 | Work | Comments (3)
March 12, 2005
Modest Mouse At The Showbox
Last night a bunch of us went to see Modest Mouse at The Showbox. It was my first time at The Showbox, and the first time I went to a 21+ show in the US. A couple observations:
- When doors open at 8:00, it means the opening band will be on at 9:30, and the headlining band by 11:30.
- The opening act was The Thermals, with whom I was not particularly impressed. It was a typical 3-chord garage band with a lot of screaming. Maybe I'm just getting old and out-of-touch, but I think their entire hour-long set sounded the same.
- What's up with the opening act playing an hour-long set, anyway?
- The crowd seemed to dig The Thermals. At any one time I could see at least two hands in the air giving the rock-on horns.
- Modest Mouse put on a great show. For a couple of songs they even busted out an upright bass and a banjo to accompany their two drummers and organ player.
- I had no idea there were 8 members of Modest Mouse.
- Before The Thermals went on, three members of MM came out playing a fiddle, a flute, and an accordion, respectively. It was very cool.
- $20 for a poster?!
- Like I said, this was my first time at a 21+ show in the US, and I was shocked at how poorly people behaved. Some fans were throwing full cups of booze at the stage, while others were falling over drunk by the time MM came on. I saw bouncers "escort" at least five people out during MM's set. I don't know if this attitude of getting absolutely trashed at a concert is due to the fact MM came on so late, or because of social attitudes towards drinking in the US, but it made me think twice about my championing a lower drinking age. If 21+ year-olds are this irresponsible, no wonder the government doesn't want 19-year-olds to drink.
- Overall I had a good time, and am interested in exploring some more of MM's music.
12:05 | Entertainment | Comments (3)
March 4, 2005
Take The Edge Off
I'm off to Portland Oregon this weekend. Hopefully I'll have some fun stories to share when I get back.
In the meantime, enjoy this Boondocks comic, and remember how much bouhaha there was over Clinton not inhaling.
07:55 | Stuff | Comments (2)
March 3, 2005
Toronto As A Sphere
An awesome 360° panoramic photo of Toronto taken from the CN Tower.
08:04 | Canada | Comments (1)
March 1, 2005
Being Socially Progressive
First, legalizing gay marriage, then decriminalizing marijuana, now Canada's Liberals are considering decriminalize prostitution.
This is something I would be in favour of, not because I would go out and me a hooker, but because sex for money between consenting adults is a victimless crime. Plus a legal sex trade would mean workplace safety laws and benefits for abused women who otherwise work for little money or drugs.
The purpose of laws is not to enforce morality, but to protect the public.
Speaking of being socially progressive, the United States Supreme Court has outlawed juvenile death penalty.
Good news all around.
22:48 | Canada , Politics | Comments (2)