As any Windows computer buyer will tell you, most computers (Sony included) come with a vast assortment of “trial” software or — as some people call it — bloatware.  Uninstalling it can be time-consuming, tedious, and sometimes in certain cases, almost impossible.

Sony has introduced a service called “Fresh Start” that is available on selected series of Sony laptop computers.  For FIFTY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, they will install LESS software on your computer.

I’m gonna pause here, so you can go back and read that last paragraph again.

Sony defends this service fee, saying that there is labour involved in removing software from laptops before shipping.  It doesn’t hold water though.  Any geek worth his salt knows they will just make another disk image without the trial software.  No amount of money (or Sony propaganda)  can convince me they actually uninstall the software.  They just don’t install it in the first place.  The delivery dates for normal and Fresh Start laptops are identical.

Sony really needs to pull an IBM and sell-off that division.  They’re steadily plotting a course to being trusted even less than Microsoft.

So those who might “look down” on Peavey might find this story a little amusing.  God knows I did.  Peavey has now unveiled a new series of controllers for the best-selling Guitar Hero video game that are built from a real guitar.  Personally I played Guitar Hero for the first time in my life a couple of weeks ago and even though it was really fun, the controller felt nothing like a real guitar.  So maybe for pro musicians/guitarists who are also Guitar Hero freaks, this might be an option.

But really… is anybody else going to spend $399 on a fake guitar?  Really?

So after being told he was wrong and that his findings were inaccurate over and over and over again, Perry refused to come and testify because he refused to be beat-up again about something that happened twenty years ago that “the powers that be” clearly had no interest in knowing the truth about. As a result, a Canada Wide Warrant was issued for the arrest of a guy whose only crime was wanting to protect children from sexual predators.

Nobody will know the truth of what happened (or may still be happening) in Cornwall until an investigative force that is immune to influence from the Catholic church is allowed to conduct an impartial investigation. Unfortunately, I don’t know if that is even possible.

This is the video of the “criminal” Perry Dunlop being loaded into an RCMP cruiser. I hope it sickens you as much as it sickens me.

If I’ve ever been in the Queen and Portland area (I probably have) I don’t remember it. A lot of those neighbourhoods look alike, especially the commercial areas. I was interested to note an entry on The Official Flickr Blog this morning about the Queen and Portland fire, with pictures from a number of streams including a photo-stitch that one fellow is working on that shows what the block looked like before that section of Chinatown was blanketed in yellow smoke.

A French scientist by the name of Ludwik Leibler has developed a condom that he claims “can be pressed back together” (and even reused) if it is torn, ripped, or punctured.

Apparently one of the key ingredients in the compound used to make this little gem is an ingredient in… wait for it… urine.

The substance is described as a cross between silly putty and a rubber ball.

There are so many punch lines I could choose here that I can’t pick. Leave your own in a comment.

There’s a guy from Alberta who desperately wants to compete in skiing in the 2010 Olympics. He has the skills. So what’s the problem? He’s legally blind and only has the use of his peripheral vision. His goal is to win in the Paralymics and the Olympics in the same year. In 2010, both events are taking place in Vancouver.

I really don’t know if Brian is going to make the Olympic team or not. I hope he does. Wouldn’t it be great if a Canadian skier (who is legally blind) won the GOLD medal right here at home? Can you imagine the level of excitement? I’m giddy just thinking about it.

GO BRIAN GO!

[Addendum:  I found an abandoned Facebook group about Brian and adopted it.  I’d really like to see it explode in size.]

So men… what would you do to make sure you never had to find a way to celebrate this holiday ever again?  Gentlemen, I am here to rescue you.

Langage Farms has a number of cows that need names.  If you e-mail them with the name of your lover and the reason why you think one of their cows should be named after her, you will be entered into a draw.  The first ten names chosen will win a gift certificate at the store, and have a cow named in their honour.

The cow will receive an ear tag with her name on it, and your sweetheart will receive a photo of the cow.

Langage intends to repeat the promotion on Mother’s Day.

I did find this video though, that I thought was very informative. I’m not ready to resort to my mother’s home remedy just yet and was interested to find it’s not on the list.

(more…)

C’mon you guys. Are you really going to vote for this guy?

Obama or Clinton (take your pick) could embarrass this guy right out of the country on election day.

It’s pretty sad when this is the best the Republican can come up with when the Democrats have powerhouse candidates coming from all angles. Oh how the tables have turned.

The only way I can see the Republicans taking the White House is if McCain and Huckabee find a way to reconcile their differences and run on the same ticket.  Conversely though (even though its less likely to happen) if Obama and Clinton did the same thing… it would be the biggest Republican embarrassment in American history.