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Disappointed in the latest update of the aluminum laptops, I’m still recommending the white bottom-of-the-line as the “best buy”.

It’s now been updated, too. 10hr battery life is sweet.

Apple MacBook – $999

For casual users the iPad might be the better buy. It’s outselling the Apple laptops in the USA.

The iPad has problems, still, a first generation product. It’s difficult, for example, to get photos from your camera into the iPad.

Update: the MacWorld review

Surprising.

But obvious, once you see the history laid out by Richard Sears from MIT.

Click PLAY or watch it on TED.

UPDATE: Check the comment from Peter.

Years ago I read in Economist Magazine that the USA will lose the rank of #1 economy by 2020.

China will surpass the States.

That would give the American Empire about 120 years of supremacy.

It seems inevitable. In 1945 the Yanks produced 50% of global GDP. Today it’s about 20%.

Students of Economics will spend years studying why. Why did the nation that invented Wal-Mart, Hollywood movies, Microsoft, Apple, and Google fall into decline?

You could argue it’s simply economic globalization. But my guess is that public debt will be determined historically to be the main factor.

The USA has two main political parties, neither with the guts to cut spending, nor raise taxes. By the time one does, it will be too late.

I hope the States will decline gracefully, as did Great Britain. But I doubt it. Some idiot like President Palin will declare war on China, or some similar debacle in order to rally the nation.

Certainly a world with China, India, Russia, Canada, Brazil and South Africa stronger, the USA weaker, will be a less stable planet.

On the bright side, Chinese tourists will flock to the USA. Buying souvenirs MADE IN THE USA.

… Imperial greatness reaches an apogee and then follows a downhill trajectory.

We had it good once, but now we cling to old dreams—like Rome, we prop them up with Edward Gibbon’s artificial supports—instead of confronting unpleasant realities.

The old vitality is gone. In the United States we carry out studies explaining why the cost of nuclear power is prohibitive. The Chinese build nuclear power plants. …

Dave Cohen – The Decline of the American Empire (2009)

It’s easy to criticize the parents for letting their “child” do something so dangerous.

But this kid is no rookie. He’s already completed 6 of the 7 summits. In December he’s scheduled to attempt Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

A 13-Year-Old Kid Has Summited Everest

I posted an ad on Craig’s List. And Kijiji.

more photos

It’s no worse a money sink than any other fishing boat. Dad wants to trade down to something smaller.

That photo was taken with my parents new digital camera, their first digital.

Here’s another. Pete.

From Dave Adlard, by email:

“One life, One flag, One mile.”

Sometimes it is an amazing experience to be involved – even in a small way – with a person and a project bigger than yourself. …

I want to let you know that Mike Ehredt of Driggs, Idaho is well under way on his run across America on Saturday to honor fallen soldiers in Iraq. He will run solo pushing a baby stroller filled with his supplies and camping stuff. His website is www.projectamericarun.com

Anyway, last Wednesday, returning from some errands, I saw Mike running north on Hwy 95, only a few miles from my house, so I quickly changed into running gear, and ran down to the highway and back up the road a mile or so to where he was chugging along.

I introduced myself (and I’d brought cold pink lemonade!) and we started heading north on 95 toward Sandpoint, chatting about mutual friends (he knows all of the adventure racers and ultra-runners, being a top level athlete himself), until we got to the first mile marker – mile 445 – where he handed me a flag with an attached yellow ribbon with the name, rank, hometown and age of a serviceman who had died in Iraq, and I got to insert it in the mile marker post.

After a silent and quick salute, we were off again, and he handed me another flag to carry to the next marker, and the next, for the next five miles, where his host family was waiting to host him for the night.

We said our farewells, and I turned back and ran the 8 miles back home, feeling at once uplifted, daunted and motivated by the enormity of his task:

His plan is to run 30 miles per day – EVERYDAY – taking every 3rd Saturday off (he’ll only run 6 miles or so that day) – for SIX MONTHS!

Read the rest of this entry »

What is it about Canada’s least trusted company that makes me distrust them?

TELUS, hated Canadian phone company, is going paperless.

We got notice in the mail. At least the ink was GREEN.

“Effect July 1, 2010 a paper bill will no longer be mailed to you.”

How do you confirm various new ways TELUS has dreamed up to rip you off if you don’t get overbilled monthly?

Simple, you check your eBill online:

“Register online at telus.com/register”

NOPE. You are redirected to the service notice page. UPDATE – that page is LIVE now.

hmmm

TELUS would really prefer people never check their phone bill. On paper. Or online.

My TELUS SCAM senses tingling, I decided my parents better continue to get their phone bill by mail.

To opt back in to the billing system they’ve had all their lives, I simply had to phone 1 877 767-7870 to confirm by automated system.

That didn’t work either. Several attempts failed. On an automated system. … I thought TELUS was a phone company? … Who does TELUS curse when their own phone system fails?

Finally I reached a human at TELUS through the regular business number. She quickly added my parents to the list of those who want to continue getting the phone bill by mail.

TELUS SUCKS. They are not worthy of your business. Go to another company, if you can. If you can’t … don’t drop the soap in the shower.

related – telussucks.inf

Fact is the days of any company charging my parents $65/month for very few phone calls phone and internet (not so bad) are numbered. All phone companies are stuffing money into their coffers because they know that gravy train ends soon.

Kate insisted I get this book, though I’d not heard of it listed as part of the Dune Universe. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008.

It’s fantastic.

Epic.

One of the great works of literature.

… At the heart of this sprawling, dizzying debut from a quirky, assured Australian writer are two men: Jasper Dean, a judgmental but forgiving son, and Martin, his brilliant but dysfunctional father. …

As philosophical as Confederacy of Dunces.

Laugh out loud funny. Black humour.

The downside? It’s far too long. The sections narrated by the father are much stronger than those narrated by the son.

My best advice is that you get A Fraction of the Whole as an audio book read by Aussies Craig Baldwin and Colin McPhillamy.

… Voicing the character of the father, Colin McPhillamy steals the show with a performance that engages listeners from the start. Everything about his narration seems underplayed and true. This is the perfect mix of comedy and drama …

I feel certain the book is twice as good delivered in a superb Aussie accent.

Amazon lists the audio version at about $39-$51. Crazy. Only stupid newbies pay retail.

Audio books cost about $16. They average about $13 for me, an Audible.com member taking advantage of every “special” that comes along.

______

In contrast, the audio version of Dune is gawd awful.

Rather than have it read by Scott Brick, some idiot decided on an ensemble cast of readers. A blunder.

Trader Joe’s is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. As of April 2010, Trader Joe’s had a total of 340 stores. Approximately half of its stores are in California, with the heaviest concentration in Southern California, but the company also has locations in 24 other states and Washington, D.C. …

I first learned of the store as a supplier of “TWO BUCK CHUCK”. … Charles Shaw for $2. Who cares what it tastes like at that price.

In 2010 Charles Shaw will cost you $3, unless it’s on sale.

… Products sold include gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian food, unusual frozen foods, imported foods, domestic and imported wine and beer (where local law permits), “alternative” food items, and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. …

I ended up buying vegetables, specialty granola, specialty craisens. And more.

… The May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports ranked Trader Joe’s the second-best supermarket chain in the nation, after Wegmans. …

I’d best be checking out Wegman’s.

home page – TraderJoes.com

Safely returned to my parent’s place on Vancouver Island after a 7wk road trip through the States.

Most of those travel misadventures I’m posting on my hiking blog.

My used Honda Civic is still ticking. No repairs (so far) aside from a $75 emergency windshield wiper fix.

The holiday is OVER, my June / July work calendar is filling up rapidly: Kamloops, Coeur d’Alene, Calgary, Baja?, Charlottetown, Newfoundland, Coeur d’Alene, …