Mel will love this. Apparently, I am...

Mr. Bennet

(You scored 58 Idealism, 41 Nonconformity, 58 Nerdiness)

Congratulations, you're Mr. Bennet! You are one mysterious person with mysterious motives. Despite all the mystery, it's clear that you believe what you do is for the greater good, and you are obviously a well-educated person in your field.

Your best quality: Dedication to your work/organization/etc.

Your worst quality: Keeping too many secrets

The Heroes Personality Test

I saw this online the other day and thought that I would share

A couple guys get together on a crowded Paris subway car and start singing Phil Collin's "In the Air Tonight"... and they're amazing. Caught on cellphone cameras, it's very much worth a few minutes, but make sure you can turn up the volume.

In my time at Rydium, I came to be known as the office environmental fascist, a mantle I wore with pride, and something that came in handy when Max needed someone to write an article for PCStats about what to do with your old computer hardware after you're done with it. The focus of the article was to be about new environmental standards in Europe, what they mean and what your options are when you're dealing with this stuff.

Anyway, if you're interested, the article was finally published a few days ago.

This time, I had way more than 2seconds of play too :-)

The CCTV cameras are going up whether we like it or not, and CityTV wanted to do a story on it and interview me. Unfortunately the TPSC position isn't mentioned at all in the text-copy, but my interview is in the video.

CityTV has the story here.

In trying to write a eulogy for my Grandfather, I searched my memory for happy moments spent between us. A time that I could look back on and remember with fondness; some funny anecdote or vivid picture of something thought-provoking. There were a lot of moments like that in the years I knew him, but the truth of it is that when I try to think about these things, I'm left with a single, iconic image rather than any one story.

In order to understand my Grandfather, you have to understand what he meant to those of us who loved him. To me, Grandad was the "Wise Old Man" of the family. Indeed, as far back as I can remember, my Grandfather had always been old. His hair was white and he watched the CBC with the volume turned up blisteringly high, which was enough to classify anyone as 'old' when you were only six years into this world.

But with that classification came the reverence I have always had for him. Like my father, he placed the value of things like Honour and Conscience above all else. In one breath, he would teach me about what it means to vote in our democracy, and in another would go into the finer details about how that democratic trust had been betrayed. Through our time together, Grandad helped me to see the world from the perspective of someone who'd seen as much as he had, and experienced life in a way I could never have myself.

He had a unique, deep, and far-reaching understanding of how the world works and would share that treasury with anyone interested. He knew so much, had been through so much, the Depression, the War -- and yet he somehow maintained a positive outlook on the world. Somehow, despite all the trials the Universe threw his way, to my Grandad, life was still... "fun". I think that in this way, I have more to learn from him even now.

My Grandfather was what it meant to be a Quinn: tough, stubborn and principled. Characteristics I often see in his son - my Father - and myself. I consider it an honour to have had the time together that we had, but I don't regret his passing. His life was long and well-lived, and his legacy is all too evident in those of us who carry his name and memory. So long as we are here, my Grandfather remains.

Goodnight Grandad, and thank you.

My Grandfather died Sunday, February 18th 2007 at 5.30AM. He was 88. He leaves behind his wife of 60years, two children, and a family that loved him very much.

I'm ok, but don't want to talk about it right now.

I'll try to post something resembling a eulogy later.

And no, I won't be flying home.

Image found on Popular Science's website.

Colin has been pushing this for a while now and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't given it the attention it deserves. Net Neutrality is one of the most important issues in North America and we're all asleep at the wheel, content to watch our rights disappear because we don't know what we have 'till it's gone.

So lets get "what we have" out in the open.

You're reading this blog because I'm able to publish it and host it for all to see. Regardless of what I might say here, anyone is able to read it regardless of what Internet provider they have. Anyone else can have opposing views on another site somewhere else and their content is just as accessible as mine because the Internet providers, like phone companies, are prohibited from controlling who can see what.

It's infrastructure like this that allows groups like The World Wildlife Fund and The Red Cross to reach out to the general public and propagate information, raise money and affect change. Sites like Livejournal and Google are able to exist because no matter the amount of traffic, the price of disseminating their information remains low as the costs are spread around equally to everyone who uses the Internet. Barack Obama, democratic hopeful for President of the United States, can podcast from his site because the connectivity between he and his supporters remains unbiased, and Linux can be actively developed by programmers around the world because high-speed connections remain cheap enough to download the code they need and get the work done.

This is a good thing, and companies like Telus, Bell, and Rogers want to change it.

They want to change this because frankly, it's more profitable to be able to charge people for "premium" service. The more money you're willing to pay, the more sites you can access. These companies don't care that poor schools can't afford "better" Internet, they only care about money.

Then there's Free Speech. Telus has, in the past restricted access to some sites that criticise their company... because they can. What makes this any different from your electrical company preventing you from using a product they don't want you to use? Standards and level playing fields are good for everyone.

This is a beginning and it's only going to get worse unless someone takes notice. Not one of the major Canadian political parties has taken a position on this issue (not even the Greens or the NDP). Outside of the Environment, the only other "major issue" appears to be bank machine fees... we need our legislators to enshrine net neutrality permanently in Canadian law and we need it done now.

Please write to your MP and ask them to consider the importance of this issue. Write a handwritten letter if you can. For more information, please visit netneutrality.ca or just click on the link I've included at the bottom left side of every page.

I'm sick... still.

It started yesterday when I woke up with a raw throat. I emailed-in sick and then just sat there doing nothing all day... somehow, when you do nothing to aggravate the flu, it always gets worse. By the time the evening came around, I was due downtown to sit in on Melanie's birthday dinner and was feeling alright. I got bundled up (12 articles of clothing) and made my trek downtown, but half way through dinner, I was falling apart, concentrating on breathing, trying not to pass out... it was a difficult experience.

And so after limping back to Melanie's house, I passed out from exhaustion at 9pm, shiverring and overheating, I've had a miserable last 24hours.

I'm a little better this morning after taking two Advil (pressure in the brain is less intense, so I can walk again), but I'm staying in and doing nothing today for fear of this bug kicking my ass again. I'm supposed to go see Rick Mercer tomorrow after all.

Rami, a guy I know from the TPSC has gone through a lot of time and effort in setting up his new site illegalsigns.ca.

The most impressive component of the site is a Google map of Toronto checkered with little [illegal] icons representing every billboard in the city that exists without a permit or who's owners lied on the application to get it installed.

It's absolutely brilliant work and deserves high praise. I encourage everyone, not just Torontonians to check out Rami's hard work. Find the billboards near where you live and complain to your councillor's office.