Monday, February 27, 2006

Online Friends versus Offline Friends (Real Friends?)

So, today I was thinking. I do that sometimes, you know? Most people call everyone they know online "friends" but are they really friends? I don't think so.

I have people I've met off-line, I know them off-line, and I socialize with them off-line. These are my "friends" and they are to some degree or another my friends. Some are good friends, some are casual friends, some just this side of acquaintances, and a precious few are Real Friends. I may interact with them on-line by exchanging e-mails or some-such but they are primarily off-line friends. Some have moved away or never lived that close but we do visit sometimes and occasionally talk via telephone.

I have some people I've met on-line that have become the type of friend I mentioned in the above paragraph. I say this because a reasonable amount of interaction with them is off-line. They belong in that same group. In fact, these friends may be better friends than those I've met off-line (TO, PJ, JM). Nowadays, I really try not to allow on-line friends to become offline friends because, frankly, there are too many mental cases out there. That's not to say it hasn't happened (WJM being the most recent). Oddly, when these types of friendships collapse (and like all friendships, sometimes they collapse instead of drift away) they seem to hurt more.

Then we have the on-line friends. Some of them I've even met once or twice, but we don't have that social interaction. I have lots of these folks -- more than half on Usenet or on various message boards. They don't know too much about me (and even that is possibly more than I'm comfortable with) and I don't know too much about them. What we really are is acquaintances. What we have is not really friendship. But the word "friend" is bandied about quite readily, even though it's simply inaccurate. I'd list some examples but there isn't space and invariably someone's feelings would be hurt so there's no point.

There are some on-line friends I'd like to say I'm not acquaintances is with (RB, RF, for instance) because I really feel like I am a part of their lives. We exchange holiday cards through the mail (as opposed to the grotesquely impersonal digital variety.) If they wanted to come to my home, I'd certainly invite them. If they asked me a favour, I'd certainly consider helping them much as I'd help any casual friend. I call these people "friends" and I mean it. It's hard for me to believe it on some level because I've convinced myself that these folks aren't real friends, but sometimes they are.

I've been toying with posting a edited version of a longish essay about friendship I once wrote here. Would anyone actually want to read it?

This is where I'd normally make a point, but I'm not going to type it. Make your own conclusions -- post a comment if you'd like. Link here and share this with your 'friends' -- maybe at some point I will edit this post and make the final statement I had.


Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Apple Is Not Perfect

I don't say it often, but this blog shows some of the bloopers from Apple's famous Keynote addresses over the years. It's always fun to watch Steve Jobs fail because as much as I like Apple, he creeps me out sometimes.

Go Apple, but I'm laughing at you and not with you this once :)


Thursday, February 16, 2006

The World of Smartboards

Okay, this is cool: The World of Smartboards. You really do need to watch this video -- it's only about 3 minutes long and it gets cooler as it goes along so be patient through the initial metaphysical stuff if that isn't your thing.

The technlogy is patented by Apple, no less. There have been rumours of a totally new type of computer from Apple that is different than anything anyone has ever seen before (see MacRumors or any of those sites), and I wonder if this is the beginning.

However it doesn't matter who did it because it's so cool. Can you imagine the possibilities?

I can think of so many, I don't even know where to start. It opens up the world of computing to people who normally couldn't use a computer. The only thing you need to be able to do is move your arms a little to point and drag. It's pretty exciting.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Florida Panther Season Ticket Renewals and Playoff Tickets

INTRODUCTION
Originally written in my blog was this bit about the Panthers: Whither Yon NHL Florida Panthers? in which I wondered what the hell was wrong with the Florida Panthers and endeavoured to point out some of the things they've screwed up. Naturally, the response was tepid -- apparently unless I am writing about Why Led Zeppelin Sucks nobody wishes to comment which is ironic because of course I never said any such thing about Led Zeppelin :) Anyway, I digress. But before I move on, you really DO need to read the Original Post to help you make sense of this one.

Today, I got my renewal package and my playoff ticket packages -- all in a spiffy folder. I was more than amused[1] because, well, quite frankly, the Panthers and playoffs aren't something that should be in the same sentence without the use of the word not. It isn't that I am being pessimistic, I'm being a realist. The Panthers will go to playoffs only if a number of noticeably better teams experience a collapse for no reason; however generally it's South Florida teams that experience late season collapse -- it's a tradition in South Florida.

PLAYOFF TICKETS
The playoff payment process consists of three options:
1. "Pay as we play" in which they bill you as the games are played. You must renew your season tickets for next year (2006-2007) to select this option.
2. You can pay for the playoffs in full. Remaining funds for unplayed games gets applied to your account and not refunded. Again, you must renew your season tickets for next year (2006-2007) to select this option.
3. Pay for the tickets up front. In theory you can be refunded this money.

I pick option "4" which is to throw away the form. The options really don't differ that much. You're not really getting a choice, just the illusion of choice.

I am not sure why they think I would select any of these options given the state of the team. By the way, they did include Jacques Martin "State of the Team" address (apparently) in its entirety so I could read it. That's good because it made me glad I didn't actually go to the event. No offence, but the damned thing sounded more like a press release written by someone else. If you've ever actually listened to Mr. Martin talk, or ever talked to him, and are familiar with his speech patterns you will find this document, um, how shall we say, unusual. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Martin as I think he's a good coach.

2006-2007 RENEWALS
Also included in the packet were several pieces of advertising (heavens!) which again remind me of my original post Whither Yon NHL Florida Panthers? wherein I decry the deluge of same, though in this case I am not bothered as this actually the proper place for blatant advertising -- every sport sends tons of advertising with their tickets and ticket renewal packages. It all came in a very spiffy folder which I actually liked. It was something for free and of value from the Panthers, a rarity to be sure.

They're selling -- this is one of the ads -- for $59.99 a one-year subscription to "Panther Insider" which will debut next August. I am not sure why I'd want to spend $59.99 to subscribe to a magazine -- that's absurdly ludicrous for a one year magazine subscription-- especially since I am quite confident that it will be 99% advertising. I mean, seriously, look at the other stuff they put out: Unrestricted and Live On Stage. Why will this be different? (Oh, and would someone please point out to them that those newsrags they put out are not magazines. As they are printed on newsprint and of a certain size and content, they are properly classified as tabloids. They do not meet the proper definition of a magazine any more than the National Enquirer or Daily Mail.)

The cover letter, written by Yormark, talks about attendance, and I am quite amused by what the letter has to say. Quite amused. You've all been to the arena and seen the attendance and heard the announcements, looking around wondering where these "15,000" people have gone off to. The figures are quite simply put: an absolute sham. They are encouraging you to renew now, because starting April 1st they're going to try and sell 5,000 new tickets. Not a bad goal and I wish them luck, but they better make that 5,002 since mine are going back into the mix. Also, I think April Fool's Day is a very appropriate day for them to do this. It's hysterical. They have no concept of irony. None.

So, what do I get if I renew? Another year of Keenan hockey, which I am assuredly not interested in. Period. Another year of a Cohen run franchise ,which I also am not interested in. I also get another year of the shootout. I won't participate in the league due to the shootout and I understand this isn't the Panthers fault. I am so mystified, offended, and pissed by it, I can't begin to explain it. I do not understand why the NHL insists on pandering to fans with ADD who aren't bright enough to understand there is nothing wrong with a tie. Really. The world doesn't stop.

A lettered and numbered jersey, which I do not need as I have tons I am trying to sell off. A 3% rebate in the form of Panthers Bucks -- be sure and use the whole amount because no change is given at most concession stands. Worse, in the renewal packet, they advertise the Panther Bucks as "eat free at the arena" but that's just crap. You've paid for it up front and they're just giving you rebate coupons. That isn't eating free. From a legal standpoint, that's called false advertising. You also get priority concert rights which means you can get tickets to concerts before they go on sale to the public at large. I admit that I actually used this a number of times and will miss it greatly. You get discounted parking as well, if you purchase parking.

And you get to hold your ticket prices, which would be nice for me since I'm paying less than pretty much everyone in my price category. My tickets are way below face value :) However, my ticket prices are guaranteed to be held anyway so I'm not getting an additional benefit as they imply. Those of you who "locked in" all get this benefit regardless, so it's not something extra.

Yormark assures us, in his letter, of unprecedented success. If he's so damned sure of that, I'll make him a deal: I'll renew if I get a written guarantee that I get a cash (or check) refund of my entire season ticket price at the end of next season if the Panthers don't make the playoffs in the first 8 seeds[2]. I won't get that, I'm sure but I thought I'd make a concessionary offer nonetheless.

The Panthers further threaten that if you do not renew by March 14th, you may lose the rights to your seat location. I will save them the trouble now: you can have mine! It's too bad. I will dearly miss sitting with the Higgins family and even Karen the few times she actually bothered to show. They've become good friends and I will miss meeting them at games. I won't, however, miss the hellacious commute. Besides, with all the (almost) free tickets they're always offering, I can just get some of those next year.

Sorry, but the Panthers aren't doing the right thing by their fans or their players. I can't keep supporting it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

For those of you renewing, I wish you all the best of luck -- I will continue to watch the Panthers on Center Ice. I will reactivate my subscription using a small part of my season ticket money and use the rest for something fun. I want to reiterate, I am still a Panthers fan. I will continue to support my team, but I will not give them my money anymore. That would just be wrong.

[If you're a member, please post any comments you may have on the Panthers Mailing list instead of here]


[1] Okay, I broke out in a paroxysm of laughter
[2] That's so if the number of playoff teams changes I'm covered -- that would be cheating on the league's part. And please don't get me started on the watering down of the playoffs by increasing the playoff pool.



Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Cheney, Quail, Bush, Guns.

Actor/writer Steve Martin on The Huffington Post, took a satirical view of the recent shooting by our vice-dunderhead and bumberclod, Dick(less) Cheney.

"Vice President Dick Cheney, while hunting wild geese in the Rose Garden, accidentally shot President Bush twice, once in the heart and once in the head. 'I didn't really shoot the President twice,' said Cheney. 'The second time I shot him, I was president.'"

Okay. That was funny. You know my level of sympathy for people who go and kill living creatures for fun is really, really, close to non-existent. (If you eat what you kill, I'm all for it. Hunting as a source of food is brilliant, but as a sport it's repugnant to me.)

On a serious note, even though he's a lawyer, I do hope for the best for the victim. Nothing worse to put on your tombstone that "Shot by Cheney"

Monday, February 13, 2006

Best Blonde Joke Ever

All right, I was trying to think of something to update my blog with and well, frankly, I was still cold but another post about that would suck even though it is expected to get into the 30s in some areas overnight. A freaking freeze warning in Miami of all places. Damn.

This is THE best blond joke I've ever heard. I was laughing so hard I almost pissed myself. So anyway, here's the link: The best blonde joke ever


Sunday, February 12, 2006

I am cold.

It's cold. It's Florida and it's not supposed to be in the 40s dammit. I just wanted to say that. It's odd, I like the cold normally, but not today.

Friday, February 10, 2006

So very damned British

This exchange is from Planet Damnation. I am posting it here because it's so fabulously British it defies explanation to anyone who hasn't experienced Britishness at its finest. The setting is the first Gulf War.

RAF Wing Commander David Farquahar had a briefcase with a laptop containing the entire Gulf War briefing plans. Said briefcase was in an unmarked RAF car when Farquahar stopped at a used car lot in Acton (suburb of London) to look in their showroom.

The computer was returned by the thief with a note "Dear Sir, I am a common thief and I love my Queen and country. Whoever lost this should be bloody hung. Yours, Edward."

I find this to be utterly priceless.



Thursday, February 9, 2006

Interesting Blog Stats

United States 7263 40.90%
Brazil 4214 23.73%
Canada 1198 6.75%
United Kingdom 675 3.80%
Malaysia 656 3.69%
India 314 1.77%
France 295 1.66%
Argentina 199 1.12%
Philippines 199 1.12%
Mexico 198 1.11%
Singapore 151 0.85%
Germany 149 0.84%
United Arab Emirates 123 0.69%
Italy 119 0.67%
Sweden 104 0.59%
Iran, Islamic Republic of 92 0.52%
Australia 86 0.48%
Spain 81 0.46%
Romania 63 0.35%
Portugal 62 0.35%
Hong Kong 62 0.35%
Morocco 62 0.35%
Belgium 55 0.31%
Venezuela 54 0.30%
Finland 53 0.30%
Pakistan 52 0.29%
Egypt 45 0.25%
Poland 44 0.25%
Saudi Arabia 40 0.23%
Norway 38 0.21%
Turkey 38 0.21%
Switzerland 38 0.21%
Puerto Rico 37 0.21%
Netherlands 36 0.20%
Slovenia 36 0.20%
Japan 35 0.20%
Hungary 35 0.20%
Korea, Republic of 30 0.17%
Jordan 29 0.16%
Israel 27 0.15%
Chile 26 0.15%
Indonesia 23 0.13%
Satellite Provider 22 0.12%
Latvia 21 0.12%
Algeria 20 0.11%
Slovakia 20 0.11%
Czech Republic 19 0.11%
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of 19 0.11%
Kuwait 19 0.11%
Sri Lanka 19 0.11%
Austria 19 0.11%
Ireland 18 0.10%
Qatar 17 0.10%
Bulgaria 15 0.08%
Denmark 14 0.08%
Greece 14 0.08%
Lithuania 13 0.07%
Colombia 12 0.07%
Serbia and Montenegro 12 0.07%
Peru 12 0.07%
Croatia 12 0.07%
Taiwan 11 0.06%
Estonia 11 0.06%
Jamaica 10 0.06%
Panama 10 0.06%
Mauritius 10 0.06%
Trinidad and Tobago 10 0.06%
South Africa 10 0.06%
China 10 0.06%
Bahrain 10 0.06%
Vietnam 10 0.06%
Macao 9 0.05%
Thailand 9 0.05%
Cyprus 9 0.05%
Oman 9 0.05%
Russian Federation 9 0.05%
New Zealand 9 0.05%
Cuba 8 0.05%
Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 0.04%
Syrian Arab Republic 7 0.04%
Tunisia 6 0.03%
Paraguay 6 0.03%
Lebanon 6 0.03%
Luxembourg 6 0.03%
Guatemala 6 0.03%
Malta 6 0.03%
Monaco 5 0.03%
Dominican Republic 5 0.03%
Ecuador 5 0.03%
Bangladesh 4 0.02%
Iceland 4 0.02%
Costa Rica 4 0.02%
Palestinian Territory, Occupied 4 0.02%
Uruguay 4 0.02%
Barbados 3 0.02%
Albania 3 0.02%
Ghana 3 0.02%
Iraq 3 0.02%
Ukraine 3 0.02%
Moldova, Republic of 3 0.02%
Honduras 3 0.02%
Suriname 2 0.01%
Cote D'Ivoire 2 0.01%
Guam 2 0.01%
Burkina Faso 2 0.01%
Georgia 2 0.01%
Cambodia 2 0.01%
Kenya 2 0.01%
Armenia 2 0.01%
Bolivia 2 0.01%
Zambia 1 0.01%
Bahamas 1 0.01%
Botswana 1 0.01%
Fiji 1 0.01%
Antigua and Barbuda 1 0.01%
El Salvador 1 0.01%
Saint Lucia 1 0.01%
Kazakhstan 1 0.01%
Liechtenstein 1 0.01%
French Polynesia 1 0.01%
Netherlands Antilles 1 0.01%
Azerbaijan 1 0.01%
Nigeria 1 0.01%
Cayman Islands 1 0.01%
Brunei Darussalam 1 0.01%
Greenland 1 0.01%
Senegal 1 0.01%
Sudan 1 0.01%
Belize 1 0.01%
Seriously, look at some of those places? GREENLAND?????