My thoughts...on stuff

My thoughts on…the MacBook Wheel

Leon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:37:48 +0000

The 2009 MacWorld Expo is being held, and the biggest announcement that took place there was Apple’s revolutionary laptop with no keyboard - The Macbook Wheel, which looks like the bastard child of a MacBook and an iPod. The tech industry is abuzz with news of this revolutionary product, which is said to change the way we look at portable computing forever. Take a look.

Before you fanboys start grabbing your checkbooks, this isn’t an actual product. This is just a another fine parody from The Onion. But of course you know that by now. In my opinion, this is the perfect answer to those who are predicting the demise of the keyboard, particularly those at Micro$oft.

It also takes a jab at the tendency of tech companies to force unwanted changes onto their customers for the sake of innovation. Guys, we know innovation is necessary for survival in the tech biz, but sometimes it’s just best to stick to what works. Case in point: Vista. It also serves to show the disturbing and nonsensical loyalty of the typical Apple fanboy. Like the fanboy in the video said “I’ll buy almost anything if it’s shiny and made by Apple.”

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My thoughts on…how time flies

Leon — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:05:29 +0000

This is the perfect time for this post, just soon after the turn of the year. Stunner’s recent New Year’s post made me ponder this topic. So many changes have happened in my life over the years, and so quickly too. 24 hours is no longer enough for me, and I find myself, a former unrepentant idler, trying desperately to stretch the hours in the day, thanks to the crushing burden of college no doubt. Not too long ago I was feeling proud about the few facial hairs I had grown. Now my moustache is so wide that it gets in the way when I eat. It was bad enough being single when your peers had boyfriends and girlfriends. Now those same peers are, in increasing numbers, getting married. Sometimes I worry about going to sleep and waking up to find myself surrounded by a couple snot-nosed brats, a miserable wife, a dead end job, a pot belly and gray hair. How did it come to this?

Well I guess it all comes down to the old saying “time flies when you’re having fun.” Scientists have found that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. And if you’re the religious type, you can chalk it up to prophecy, as the Bible says the days would be shortened. Sadly, I haven’t been having much fun lately. I’ve been depriving myself of fun in order to achieve my objectives. An ambitious brother like me simply can’t stop ’til he gets to the top. But the journey is part of the fun, or so they say. But part of me fears that if I let up, I’ll fail. And that is simply unacceptable. I declared 2008 “the year of money”, and I was successful. 2009 will follow the same path, but I’ll enjoy myself a bit more. Maybe I’ll make enough to “sport” like MadBull and Stunner. Plus college is gonna end this year. The working work won’t be easy by any means, but unlike university, I won’t be paying people to stress me out.

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Year 2 begins

My thoughts on…the pending release of Windows Beta 7

Leon — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:56:12 +0000

You’ve XPerienced the suckfest that is Vista. You wish you could kick yourself for all that money you spent on that bloated, overhyped mess of an OS. You’ve “downgraded” to XP and waited for an operating system worthy of your hard earned dollar, if you haven’t switched to another already. But enough anti-Vista ranting. You’ve heard enough of that on this blog. One of the things you can look forward to early in 2009 is the beta version of Vista’s successor, Windows Se7en. (Not a typo. They actually spell it like that). Or right now in fact, as it is apparently on BitTorrent sites as we speak.

I’d love to post a link, but I don’t want M$ to force me to take the link or possibly the entire post down. Then again, I’d be flattered by the attention. But I doubt they would, as they haven’t caused a big uproar about the leak as they usually do, and that happened quite a while back. If you ask me, Micro$oft is using pirates to test the beta for them. It would make sense.

Think about it. Software pirates are normally very computer literate, so they could easily pick up glitches. Pirated software spreads quickly, so you’d have a large community of free beta testers in no time. That way Micro$oft could iron out all the bugs way before the release date. Pirates also tend to be a bunch of whiny biatches, and have a strong influence the public perception of tech, so if Micro$oft can please them, then the average user should have no complaints. These things considered, they are the perfect demographic to test their software. In fact, Micro$oft could’ve leaked it intentionally for this purpose.

If you want to adhere to international copyright law, then wait ’til mid- January. Some say its the 13th or the 7th. The 7th would make more sense, as it would fit with the whole “Se7en” theme. At present, my machine can’t handle Vista. In the sense that it could run it, but not as comfortably as I would like, as I run demanding programs like Photoshop. So I’ll need to upgrade in anticipation for Redmond’s latest offering. But I’m still being wary. I was hyped for Vista, and look what happened. But I believe in Micro$oft. They’ve seen the error of their ways, and they’re eager to make amends. And that eagerness will hopefully result in an awesome OS for us.

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My thoughts on…the US auto bailout

Leon — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:42:23 +0000

Hope the New Year is treating you well so far, and that the alcohol has run through your systems. I’ve been following the news of the US auto bailout, and quite frankly I can’t believe that it has been entertained for as long as it has, worse approved. GM and the other members of the Big Three produce shitty cars. I don’t know from first hand experience, but that’s the general impression by Americans, so much so that they’d rather support foreign automakers. Americans are the most fiercely nationalistic people next to the Germans, so it must be bad if they’d sell out their local brands.

The Big Three have been churning out these turds for several years, their quality declining overtime while CEOs stand in front of podiums and lie through their teeth about their emphasis on quality. I mean the typical American is no genius. Bush’s election proved that without a doubt. But continually lying to them about something in front of their face is pushing it. One of the things that really amused me is that the execs flew to negotiate the bailout on private jets. These old, out of touch bastards are also part of the problem.

I’m of two opinions on this. I know that this isn’t being done for the companies themselves, but for the industry that has grown around them, and the demise of the Big Three will lead to the closure of many small business and the downsizing of many employees. But I also know that bailouts tend to do more harm than good, as they tend to make the companies less competitive. This is capitalism, a ruthless game where only the strong survive, and these age-old corporations have cut more than their own share of throats in their time. Now its their turn, and they shouldn’t be rewarded for being uncompetitive. But if they insist on giving them the bailout, I recommend that they give them sparingly, so they don’t get spoiled and are forced to get back to what made them great in the first place. Good luck guys. Let’s see if you can polish a turd.

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My thoughts on…the year 2008

Leon — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:22:38 +0000

2008 (or 2000 and great as some like to call it) was quite an eventful year. And as we all prepare to usher in 2009, make those res-illusions and prepare to get drunk off our asses, let’s take a look back at the highlights of the year past through the eyes of my blog.

Heath Ledger passed on, there was the Microsoft/Yahoo merger that never happened, Kern Spencer was sent to jail, Cash Plus collapsed, GTA IV hype took over the world, a relative unknown Bolt struck with 9.72, the New Yorker went a bit too far, the world watched in horror as Esmin Green died abandoned and alone, The Dark Knight pulled off a huge heist at the theatres, a comic legend passed on, Bolt and the other athletes propelled Jamaica onto the world stage, Google created a browser that surprisingly didn’t suck, OJ got canned, and of course O-bomb-a was dropped on the Whitehouse. A fascinating year by any measure.

For me personally, it was a year of great personal growth and financial success. I took on a lot more risks, contrary to my personality. Many of these risks paid off, and I realized that I was being too timid, and being so caused many opportunities to pass me by. At the beginning of the year, I declared ‘08 to be “the year of money”. I didn’t become a Rockerfeller, but I made a lot more money than usual, and in doing so, I got to improve myself a bit. After three years, I finally broke US$100 on Adsense. I don’t know whether to celebrate or cry. Plus I achieved a lot of scholastic success. So I’m satisfied with the year, and I can look forward to 2009 with pride. Happy New Year to you all!

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My thoughts on…Christmas

Leon — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:50:06 +0000

First of all, I need to explain my awkward and lengthy absence. A power surge hit my computer, and, due to the holiday season (lucky me) it took a time for stores to open in order to get the power supply I needed. Today I finally got my machine up and running. It was hell without my computer. I swear, I’m addicted to it. If some company made a patch for computer addiction they’d make a killing on me alone.

Anyway, back to the post. So I guess you’re probably expecting me to post on how great Christmas was was. Well it was a magical time of the year, filled with gifts a mountain high, glasses overflowing with sorrel and Christmas carols on every tongue. That fooled no one did it? And if it did, take a ride on the short bus, ’cause you’re officially retarded.

What did you expect Christmas to be like? We’re in the middle of a recession? Christmas SUCKED! Except my sister, no one got presents. And her’s wasn’t even wrapped or anything! But that’s to be expected, as being the youngest one, she still has a bit of Christmas spirit, and I guess that has to be preserved…for now. The closest thing I had to a present was getting my computer fixed, which wasn’t exactly cheap (at least according to my father). And my holiday is ruined catching up with the things I have to do.

But materialism aside, it wasn’t too bad. We had friends and family, even if they didn’t stick around. And best of all, we had health. Yeah, it’s cliche, but true. There tends to be one event that shows you that the spirit of Christmas still lingers, and that it’s not completely lost to the religious nutjobs, atheists, which are evangelicals in their own right (yes, you are, no matter how much you try to argue it) and corporations (look out for Christmas™ next year). This is it. Tell me if you’ve heard this one before. A woman walks into an ATM, found a bag containing $1,000,000, and returns it to the authorities! I applaud that woman. Hers is a dying breed. It’s sad, but I’ve only heard one person to congratulate her on her good deed. Others have criticized her, even her neighbours and family. No good deed goes unpunished huh? Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, despite the economic meltdown.

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My thoughts on…Vivian Blake’s return

Leon — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:00:19 +0000

I couldn’t believe it when I heard. Notorious Shower Posse leader Vivian Blake will be released from prison in the United States and deported to Jamaica early next year. Gee, drop an A-bomb on us why dontcha? Wanna know why I’m freaking out? If you do, then you probably don’t know about the Shower Posse. Well, aside from the drug dealing, they have been blamed for as much as 1,400 murders! The Jamaican police can’t handle the gun-toting boys that plague our streets, so how are they gonna handle organized crime with that much scale and reach?

And the thing that really pisses me off is that local authorities found out about his release on BET’s American Gangster. You’d think Jamaica’s “finest” would have a better handle on things! One of your country’s most infamous criminals is about to return home and you’re completely oblivious to it? Good God! Still, it may not be their fault. Maybe the US authorities should’ve liaisoned with the Jamaican police. Vivian claims that he’s turned over a new leaf, but I doubt that a criminal that seasoned can walk away from the underworld so easily. My fears are reinforced by the fact that my supervisor knew him as a lad. In fact, they went to St. George’s together, and he was a bad seed even then.

I truly hope that he has changed, because as bad as things are in Jamaica, things can get a lot worse, and we can’t go through another bloodletting like the 80’s. And the funny thing is, the party his gang was affiliated with, the JLP, is now the party in power. I just hope that Bruce and his party have truly discarded their criminal affiliations, and show Mr. Blake no mercy if the even thinks about returning to his old ways. One thing’s for sure, 2009 is not off to a good start.

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My thoughts on…Bush getting the boot

Leon — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:30:07 +0000

Pretty much everyone has heard of heard the news of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush. I long wondered why it got so much press. I know he’s the President and everything, but that hardly counted as a serious threat on his life. Then it dawned on me. Everyone wants to throw their shoes at George W. Bush! Ok well maybe not his shoes, but they’ve always wanted to express their disgust with him in a physical way. As you can imagine, it has spread like wildfire through the Internet. Just check YouTube and you’ll find parodies aplenty. There’s even a game based on it!

Muntazer al-Zaidi, the sole slinger in question has become a celebrity in Iraq and the rest of the Muslim world. But fun and joke aside, Mr. al-Zaidi is facing seven years in prison. Why such a severe punishment? Because his action was the supreme act of disrespect in the Muslim world. It’s Muslim law. Don’t try to figure it out. I’ve gotta give Bush props though, he’s pretty quick. I guess when you’re the most hated hated president in US history, you’ve gotta watch out for flying projectiles. He’d better thank his lucky stars that there weren’t any bombs in them.

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My thoughts on…the Obama doll

Leon — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:02:41 +0000

It’s been nearly a month and a half since Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, yet Obamania still runs rampant. I promised myself I’d ignore it and go on with my daily life, but this recent example was just begging for a post. Behold! The Obama Doll! Sorry, “action figure,” even though he’s the most boring action figure I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t even have kung-fu grip or anything. All he’s got is that long finger. I guess he can use it to point at Ken while he’s criticizing his foreign policy.

You know that you’ve achieved greatness when someone makes a doll in your likeness. That or people wanna make a quick buck off your image. In Obama’s case, I think it’s the latter. A friend and I were talking about it today, and he said that if Obama were to brand his name and get a cut of all Obama merchandise, he’d wind up the richest president ever. Maybe even a billionaire.

Unsurprisingly, it’s all the rage in stores in the States. It’s even giving the incumbent, Tickle-Me-Elmo, some strong competition at the polls. Analysts predict landslide sales. The “action figure you can believe in” has, oddly enough, beaten the McCain action figure in terms of sales. Damn John! Even in plastic you can’t win! “The dolls go for $12.95 each, but you can bet that figure will probably increase ten or even hundredfold, as opportunistic buyers hoard them in order to reduce supply. Heck, the toymakers will probably cut Christmas production early in order to create artificial scarcity. But whatever the price, you can bet that people will pay a pretty penny for this poseable politician. Look out for the George W. Bush Teach Me Potty, coming next year.

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My thoughts on…Wordpress 2.7

Leon — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:26:43 +0000

It’s not all the time that I post about a piece of software, and certainly not a blog publishing app. But I’ve been following Wordpress 2.7’s progress ever since its beta phase. And now that it’s complete, I can comfortably say that it is definitely something to post about. Call me Captain Obvious, but this is the BEST Wordpress yet.

2.7’s codename is “Coltrane”, named after a jazz musician, (like all other Wordpress releases) and was obviously created with the user in mind. What I love most about it is the redesigned interface, which places everything right at your fingertips. Good looks aside, (and trust me, it looks good) the new dashboard gives you a summary of all the stats that you care about. Posts, comments, categories, spam, it’s all there.

A few handy Dashboard features are the ability to post and reply to comments straight from the Dashboard. There’s also a new “sticky” post feature. Not something I’d use, but it’s worth mentioning. The interface is very customizable, allowing you to drag and drop, rearrange, expand and contract elements at your leisure. The menus have been neatly tucked away in a sidebar, and the sub-navigation menus are made accessible with a simple click, eliminating the need to load new screens.

Perhaps the most useful feature is the ability to upgrade with the simple click of a button, which saves you the trouble of manually upgrading. I know this is something that I’ve been looking forward to, as there have been many times when I’ve wanted to upgrade but I wasn’t around a computer with Filezilla or a similar FTP client. Believe me, this is an upgrade worth having! It may be the best thing to happen to blogging since RSS. I urge every Wordpress user to upgrade and find out what the fuss is all about! And if my powerful words weren’t enough to convince you, then maybe this video will.

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