On false equivalencies
-
Shorter Andrew Steele:
"Cutting corporate taxes" (by transferring costs to mere citizens) is the
new "saving childrens' lives".
18 minutes ago
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Existential Siliconitis
I have to get this off my chest. I just can't take it anymore.
You know those "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" commercials by Apple? There's a massive logic hole in those ads. Namely, a Macintosh is a PC!
PC means p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r. As opposed to a "server", "minicomputer", "mainframe" or "supercomputer". Now that Macintosh's are based on Intel architecture, the only difference is the operating system loaded on them. Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS are only two of the available choices. These commercials imply there's only two choices, and that Apple's offering is so superior it isn't a personal computer anymore. What it is, is left unsaid.
A little comic to illustrate the perils of Apple's logic:
You know those "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" commercials by Apple? There's a massive logic hole in those ads. Namely, a Macintosh is a PC!
PC means p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r. As opposed to a "server", "minicomputer", "mainframe" or "supercomputer". Now that Macintosh's are based on Intel architecture, the only difference is the operating system loaded on them. Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS are only two of the available choices. These commercials imply there's only two choices, and that Apple's offering is so superior it isn't a personal computer anymore. What it is, is left unsaid.
A little comic to illustrate the perils of Apple's logic:
Oh Capita, My Capita
"Canada has more H1N1 vaccine per capita than any other country in the world."
Yay for us. Apparently it is so amazing that a small country like ours can have more vaccine "per capita" than a larger richer country, like say the United States.
Fun fact. Canada produces more pennies per capita than the United States. In 2007, the Canadian mint produced 846 million pennies, which works out to 25 pennies per Canadian. The Americans produced 5.4 Billion pennies in 2008, which works out to 18 pennies per American. Extrapolating from this we can infer that Canadians are in fact horrible tippers? We leave more pennies on restaurant tables than Americans? Canadian males suffer from small penis syndrome and use rolls of pennies in their pockets to impress the Canadian female? (its cheaper than a roll of quarters!)
Seriously, what does this actually tell us? Production capacity of a particular institution has no relationship to the population of a given country. The Conservative's claim to this "per capita" number means that they desire credit for the production capacity of a private firm (Glaxo-Smith-Kline) and the continued low population density of our great nation. Tremendous foresight from that Conservative party I tells ya. They just knew how to manipulate the nation these last few years to ensure that dividing H1N1 production capacity by our population would produce a higher number than any other country.
Come on you morons. If you want to make a believable argument, point out H1N1 vaccination shortages are a world-wide phenomena.
That doesn't change that they have completely cocked up the management of this crises. There's this thing called "a plan" that if properly thought out and implemented, would have gone a long way to allay the confusion and panic out there.
But our government doesn't like planning. It likes to shriek and yell and hand out cheques and cover itself in glory. Actually doing shit takes effort.
Yay for us. Apparently it is so amazing that a small country like ours can have more vaccine "per capita" than a larger richer country, like say the United States.
Fun fact. Canada produces more pennies per capita than the United States. In 2007, the Canadian mint produced 846 million pennies, which works out to 25 pennies per Canadian. The Americans produced 5.4 Billion pennies in 2008, which works out to 18 pennies per American. Extrapolating from this we can infer that Canadians are in fact horrible tippers? We leave more pennies on restaurant tables than Americans? Canadian males suffer from small penis syndrome and use rolls of pennies in their pockets to impress the Canadian female? (its cheaper than a roll of quarters!)
Seriously, what does this actually tell us? Production capacity of a particular institution has no relationship to the population of a given country. The Conservative's claim to this "per capita" number means that they desire credit for the production capacity of a private firm (Glaxo-Smith-Kline) and the continued low population density of our great nation. Tremendous foresight from that Conservative party I tells ya. They just knew how to manipulate the nation these last few years to ensure that dividing H1N1 production capacity by our population would produce a higher number than any other country.
Come on you morons. If you want to make a believable argument, point out H1N1 vaccination shortages are a world-wide phenomena.
That doesn't change that they have completely cocked up the management of this crises. There's this thing called "a plan" that if properly thought out and implemented, would have gone a long way to allay the confusion and panic out there.
But our government doesn't like planning. It likes to shriek and yell and hand out cheques and cover itself in glory. Actually doing shit takes effort.
Western Governments, FAIL
African nations boycotted U.N. climate talks on Tuesday in a protest to urge rich countries to set deeper 2020 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
....
"Africa believes that the other groups are not taking talks seriously enough, not urgently enough," said Kabeya Tshikuku, of the Democratic Republic of Congo delegation.
Truer words, etc. etc.
....
"Africa believes that the other groups are not taking talks seriously enough, not urgently enough," said Kabeya Tshikuku, of the Democratic Republic of Congo delegation.
Truer words, etc. etc.
Monday, November 2, 2009
And The Truth Shall Set You Free!
Study: File sharers spend more money on music
As I posted back in Dec. of 07, I no longer purchase music, I also don't download it either. I used to. I would download music as a means to evaluate an album, and if I liked it enough, I would go out and buy it. Once the download crackdown started, I abandoned the music scene entirely.
Big media, in their blind pursuit of profit at all costs, completely missed the boat when they started laying piracy charges and started their war against downloading (a war they're finally realizing they lost.)
People are not against paying for content they value, but the ease and access of media on the Internet has skewed the value proposition in favour of the consumer. The fight against piracy wasn't really about theft. It was about media companies desire to control the price of their product. There never was any competition for traditional recorded media. Consumer demand never affected the price of a CD. Since every artist was always available on a single label, there was no competition. If you didn't like what Universal charged for an album, you couldn't price compare Sony Music's offering.
So if you're a fan with limited resources, what are your options? Most people could never afford to pay for every album they wanted. So they started downloading and sampling. They then rewarded the producers of the products they valued.
But media companies didn't like being forced to compete. It affected their bottom line. So they chose to fight.
And consumers like myself fought back, by swearing off them altogether or by severely curtailing our purchases.
It is sweet, sweet irony then, that it appears the big labels are now dependant on the downloaders for the bulk of their sales. For the sake of the artists trying to get noticed and sign on with the major labels, those same major labels had better realize that a fan that downloads and sometimes buys, is better than no fan at all.
As I posted back in Dec. of 07, I no longer purchase music, I also don't download it either. I used to. I would download music as a means to evaluate an album, and if I liked it enough, I would go out and buy it. Once the download crackdown started, I abandoned the music scene entirely.
Big media, in their blind pursuit of profit at all costs, completely missed the boat when they started laying piracy charges and started their war against downloading (a war they're finally realizing they lost.)
People are not against paying for content they value, but the ease and access of media on the Internet has skewed the value proposition in favour of the consumer. The fight against piracy wasn't really about theft. It was about media companies desire to control the price of their product. There never was any competition for traditional recorded media. Consumer demand never affected the price of a CD. Since every artist was always available on a single label, there was no competition. If you didn't like what Universal charged for an album, you couldn't price compare Sony Music's offering.
So if you're a fan with limited resources, what are your options? Most people could never afford to pay for every album they wanted. So they started downloading and sampling. They then rewarded the producers of the products they valued.
But media companies didn't like being forced to compete. It affected their bottom line. So they chose to fight.
And consumers like myself fought back, by swearing off them altogether or by severely curtailing our purchases.
It is sweet, sweet irony then, that it appears the big labels are now dependant on the downloaders for the bulk of their sales. For the sake of the artists trying to get noticed and sign on with the major labels, those same major labels had better realize that a fan that downloads and sometimes buys, is better than no fan at all.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Let Me Help You With That Cheque
Strong Leadership, Better Canada.
Huh.
It just doesn't quite ring right.
Huh.
It just doesn't quite ring right.
Much Better!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Coyne Falls Afoul of Godwin's Law
On tonight's At Issue Panel on The National, Andrew Coyne compared the Conservatives defence of "the Liberals made us do it" to the Nazi soldier defence at the Nuremberg Trials.
UPATED: Video Link Time: 10:05
UPATED: Video Link Time: 10:05
Just A Thought
Would it help lessen the panic if we made children a priority to get the H1N1 vaccine until there's enough for adults?
Blitz the schools and immunize the kids. Heck, I can see them being the primary carriers of the virus back to their families, who then take it to work, etc. Breaking the cycle at the school makes some sort of sense, doesn't it?
In my sons kindergarten class, out of 20 kids, only 8 showed up for class today. Talking to the parents, they're home because they're sick. I'm amazed my son is in the minority. Very thankful for his (and his brother's) continued good health, but how long can it last?
Blitz the schools and immunize the kids. Heck, I can see them being the primary carriers of the virus back to their families, who then take it to work, etc. Breaking the cycle at the school makes some sort of sense, doesn't it?
In my sons kindergarten class, out of 20 kids, only 8 showed up for class today. Talking to the parents, they're home because they're sick. I'm amazed my son is in the minority. Very thankful for his (and his brother's) continued good health, but how long can it last?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Cold Calls Leave me Cold
I haven't done a good rant lately. I'm due.
Damn! I hate cold calls from vendors looking for clients. Every frakkin reseller will promise you the world, but will deliver you a globe instead and go "What? We delivered what we promised!" You're all snake-oil sellers. Salesmen (and salesladies) are a species apart from the human race. They're a lower order of scum below that of lawyers, politicians and insurance agents (your mileage may vary). Everyone wants to be your best friend, only deliver what you want, not pressure you, etc. etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah, until you read the fine print. Been there, done that, have the contract or "statement of work" and I'll beat you to death with the stack in the filing cabinet.
Prospective vendors take note. If you cold call me, I note your name and your company and I add them to the "I will never do business with this firm" list. I hate cold calls that much. And there's the evil genius in my plan. Since I'm anonymous, that means any cold call you make, you could be calling me! BWAH HA HA HA HA HA!
Not all salescritters are unethical bastards. Just the majority. Through many years of being bloodied, betrayed and deceived I have found a few trusted salespeople that are actually human. And they get all my business (and untendered contracts). Why? Because of that all-important pre-existing relationship built on trust and experience.
So cold-calling salescritter, why would I give that up? Why would I throw away relationships built up over the last decade to give you my business? Why would I risk the humiliation of trusting you and being over-promised and under-served again?
If I need you, I'll find you. Till then, don't e-mail me, don't call me, or you'll wind up on "the list."
You have been warned.
Damn! I hate cold calls from vendors looking for clients. Every frakkin reseller will promise you the world, but will deliver you a globe instead and go "What? We delivered what we promised!" You're all snake-oil sellers. Salesmen (and salesladies) are a species apart from the human race. They're a lower order of scum below that of lawyers, politicians and insurance agents (your mileage may vary). Everyone wants to be your best friend, only deliver what you want, not pressure you, etc. etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah, until you read the fine print. Been there, done that, have the contract or "statement of work" and I'll beat you to death with the stack in the filing cabinet.
Prospective vendors take note. If you cold call me, I note your name and your company and I add them to the "I will never do business with this firm" list. I hate cold calls that much. And there's the evil genius in my plan. Since I'm anonymous, that means any cold call you make, you could be calling me! BWAH HA HA HA HA HA!
Not all salescritters are unethical bastards. Just the majority. Through many years of being bloodied, betrayed and deceived I have found a few trusted salespeople that are actually human. And they get all my business (and untendered contracts). Why? Because of that all-important pre-existing relationship built on trust and experience.
So cold-calling salescritter, why would I give that up? Why would I throw away relationships built up over the last decade to give you my business? Why would I risk the humiliation of trusting you and being over-promised and under-served again?
If I need you, I'll find you. Till then, don't e-mail me, don't call me, or you'll wind up on "the list."
You have been warned.
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