[thumb:417:l] I swear our local NDP candidate‘s mustache grew a lot since last election.

-dean[newline]

I called up shaw today to see about running some cable into the place.
As it stands right now I pay about $40 per month to telus for the phoneline (which I use for maybe 10 minutes per month unless George calls.) and $40 to Arthur at http://digitalweb.net for Internet.

Dean you’re a smart guy, why are you paying Telus $40 a month when you could be doing VoIP phone service, or getting a Skype-in number or something?

Good question.

Well, In order to do VoIP (Voice over IP or internet telephony, for those who don’t know) you need internet. My Internet is DSL and in order to have a DSL connection, you need a phoneline, so in order to dump the phoneline, I’ll have to switch to cable or maybe that suped-up wireless Arthur offers. This 100 year old house of mine never really got with that whole “Cable” thing, so that’s what I called up to ask about.

The lady says “nope they’ll snake that wire into your house free of charge, all part of the deal.”
“Cool. What’s this Digital Phone service I hear about on your little ‘for residential, press 3′ Menu system?” Just cause I have her on the line I figure I’ll see if she knows the score.(I read about it on their website about 3 minutes before.)
“Well that’s not available in your area yet but for $15 per month you get free long distance and call display…” etc.
“Oh, so this is a VoIP phone then eh?” (it is)
“No it’s just a regular phone”
“wow. snazzy, I wonder how they work that. Did some law Change that you guys can offer this?” (it did. Number portability)
“Nope, Just Telus is getting into the Cable business so we figure it’s fair turnaround.”

As much as I like that answer, it’s more a confluence of technology and this number portability law taking effect this year that has shaw dipping it’s toes in the Telephone service provider waters.

Anyway, for some reason, my address doesn’t show up in their database, so they’re sending some engineer over here to see about hooking me up. Hopefully it all works out, their standard service shows 5.0Mbps and their enhanced service clocks in at 7.0Mbps. Best I can do with other options is something like 1.5Mbps.

Fingers crossed.

-dean

“The tragedy of Canada is they could have had British culture, French cooking, and American technology, but instead they got American culture, British cooking, and French technology.”

This christmas, I was grabbing cherry tomatoes off their little tray, ahead of dinner time.
Someone asked if I’d like a plate.
“No” I responded “I was attempting to eat them surreptitiously and a plate would hinder my endeavor.”
My uncle thought this was great and started poking fun at me “Might I suggest you try it a little more furtively.”
Dad pipes in with a grin “Your efforts seem a little clandestine.”
Wheels turn for awhile then my uncle says something about “Covert produce pilfering” or the like and I respond with.
“I advise we conclude this dialog lest I defenestrate you.”
after a few “what the hell?” glances between my dad and uncle. I say “to throw through a window.”

booyah.

“WHO’S UP FOR SCRABBLE?” someone shouts.

-dean

I assure you, she moves sometimes.

Within the minute

1 Minute ago

3 Minutes ago

5 Minutes ago

You know, they brought Nixon down after he bugged a bunch of rooms in the watergate. How come Bush can bug every phone in america and get away with it? What does he know that Nixon didn’t?

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/19/nsa/index.html

-dean

Scott: i am so hungry

Dean: I recommend you eat something. PREFERABLY though not necessarily, Food.

Scott: thanks,would have never thought of food
but if you eat something, isn’t it food?

Dean: Philosophy?

Scott: yes
and literal

Dean: What if you eat a bicycle?

Scott: food

Dean: you derive no nourishment though.

Scott: no, but it sure is filling

Dean: Tastes terrible! Extra Filling! (sortof the opposite of whatever that product is that has the tastes great less filling commerical.)

Scott: hahah Well, you get all the minerals

Dean: nah, you can’t digest the metal so you get no minerals. Maybe from the oil?

Scott: maybe

[thumb:416:l] It’s Vanessa’s little brother’s birthday today. We made a Scorpion cake for him.

-dean[newline]

Friend Code:
116024
757123

BRING IT.

While driving the country road to Tofield a few weeks ago, I came upon a woman in her Honda insight blocking traffic with its flashers on perpendicular to the road. As I approached she backed up to let me past. I rolled down my window as I scooted by. I figured maybe she was lost.

“Problems?”
“Just lookin’ for my cows.”
“oh! alright, Love your car.”
“thanks.”

So, even farmers are starting to ween themselves off driving the huge trucks and SUVs everywhere. Thought it was interesting.

-dean