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Blocked Calls
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2306
It's a blocked call and I should know better but I answer it.
There's been a few the past few days and I've not been around to answer them, out getting groceries or hitting the thrift shops looking for treasures. But I get this one, I'm curious, if it's sales I can end it quickly enough.
It's the restaurant where I used to work. They do the blocked call thing because no one who's ever worked there, works there still, ever answers the phone when they ring. They know better. It's G and he chats for a minute - then asks if I'm interested in going back to work.
Now the fact is I've been working on my resume, polishing it, code scraps and portfolio, grueling cover letters, grueling only because to write a good cover letter might take an hour or two, writing an excellent one takes substantially longer. And so it's been open now on the computer for some 24 hours waiting for me to plug in the exact right phrase, the precise inflection - intonation - that will make it PERFECT.
It's that way with everything. TO make something good takes only 50% of the time, to make it perfect takes the other 50%. To make something lousy takes 75% of your time but it will sell really quick when you get it to Ikea. There's a bigger market for crap than there is for quality, regardless of the price.
Now I'm not keen, not keen at all to go back to the restaurant and I tell him, but I'm putting out resumes and I'm not sure of my prospects in the world of IT. So I'm stuck and he's asking the hard questions - "Can I.... come back to work...just theoretically....." and I have to answer yes. It's time. But hopefully not on the soul destroying schedule I had before, something a little more - well, varied, something that allows for a life outside the restaurant.
That's all he wanted to know. We'll talk next time I come in for coffee. And the circus resumes....
312 Year Old Map of Canada found in Scottish Attic
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Found
- Hits: 2099
A 312 year old map of Canada, discovered sitting next to a water heater in the attic of a Scottish Estate, fetches $380, 000 at auction. Now if there are maps of Canada in Scotland, perhaps there's one a little closer to home?
Links: Calgary Herald & Toronto Sun
Shaw imposes bandwidth cap
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Who's Your ISP?
- Hits: 3012
And you could see it coming. On the off chance you have a working internet connection with Shaw, news has it that they'll be imposing a bandwidth cap and extra fees for those who exceed it. Remember, the trend in the information age (and computers by extension) is to bring you MORE for LESS, but there isn't so much profit in that. And before you think that this will only affect a few people, see it for what it is - a foot in the door to start charging even higher rates for less service. The internet relies on increasing bandwidth for it's evolution - more bandwidth does NOT cost Shaw more money, but it will be soon costing YOU more money.
Link: Heavy Internet users face extra charge (via CNEWS)
Or, if you'd like to protest (and it'll be a lot easier to PREVENT them capping bandwidth than to have any CRTC decision on the matter revoked) visit stopthemeter.ca.
Best of Wikipedia
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 1641
Having turned my eye to the worst of Wikipedia, now for the best: A blogged list of The Best Articles on Wikipedia.
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