rants and observations

Have you tried WolframAlpha yet? No? You’re not alone but I’m guessing that will change in the near future. WorlframAlpha is a new type of online tool being developed by the Wolfram Research Company in Champaign, Illinois. It’s not a search engine but a computational knowledge engine: it generates output by doing computations from its own internal knowledge base, instead of searching the web and returning links. Sounds pretty nerdy, huh? But think of the implications. Here’s how Wolfram Research explains it:

Wolfram|Alpha’s long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone. We aim to collect and curate all objective data; implement every known model, method, and algorithm; and make it possible to compute whatever can be computed about anything. Our goal is to build on the achievements of science and other systematizations of knowledge to provide a single source that can be relied on by everyone for definitive answers to factual queries.

This is obviously something that will become more and more powerful as time goes by. Just think of the implications! Do yourself a favor and give it a try by entering your birth date, any two stocks, any calculation or any town name. It offers a peek into the future of network computing and just how powerful this stuff will eventually become. And we thought Robby The Robot was cool!

Shaw Communications Inc. is running a series of print, tv and online notices bemoaning the fact that Global TV, CTV and CBC are demanding fees to carry their broadcasts and asking for the public’s support. The broadcasters have been turned down twice by the CRTC and are taking another kick at the can in the hopes of extracting an additional 6 bucks per month from cable subscribers for their marginal programming. To be honest, I watch very little local content and am content with the high quality programming on HBO Canada and a few of the specialty channels. Shaw Communications and Rogers Communications evenly divided the cable television pie years ago, one controlling cable in western Canada and the other in eastern Canada (I still can’t believe that was actually legal). Now we’re expected to get behind these multi-billion dollar companies and demand the CRTC support their position? Nope. I support neither the broadcasters nor the cable companies as both offer sub par services for premium fees.

Our Shaw cable bill presently tops $170 per month which includes three cable outlets and our internet access, but their phone support is one of the worst I’ve ever encountered. Trying to get them to fix any issues or reverse fees for poor quality service is a study in perseverance. The Shaw On Demand service is sketchy and can freeze or stop a movie for no apparent reason. Somehow the billing system always works though. Try getting on the phone to complain and I can guarantee at least 45 minutes on hold listening to their annoying sales pitches and self congratulatory drivel.

The local TV stations offer second or third rate programming with most broadcasts inundated with commercials every 6-8 minutes. They even have the audacity to override US hi-def programming, plaster their annoying logos over the original broadcaster’s in the bottom right of the screen (why do we need to be reminded what channel we’re watching anyway?!?) and replace the original commercials with their own. One of the reasons I enjoyed hi-def broadcasts was that I could see shows as they were meant to be viewed not butchered to include as many local used car and lottery commercials as possible, most of which repeat incessantly during a single program.

This latest skirmish comes down to greed and fear. The cable carrier monopolies don’t want to be charged for carrying a signal that’s been provided free for years and the broadcasters are looking for new bailout revenue streams which will undoubtedly be provided by long suffering consumers. Who’s right? Neither in my view. I say provide us with quality programming and service then talk to us about raising the rates. Until then, shut up and stop picking our pockets.

Let’s face it…most radio sucks. From the endless loop of classic rock, the predictable offerings of dance and pop stations to the repetitive blips of news and talk radio, terrestrial stations in the Greater Vancouver area are less than stellar. So what does any thinking adult listen to? Answer: Internet Radio. My music system is completely digital (I no longer own or purchase CD’s and sold my complete collection of 1300+ discs two years ago) and I have the option of listening to radio stations from practically anywhere on the planet. This is good and bad as the list is endless and finding good stations can be challenging. I subscribe to RadioIO which offers a vast selection of genre specific stations to suit most tastes but I was looking for something eclectic. A station that would mix classic rock/pop with alternative, progressive, modern folk and even some new age. Pandora was the answer until they were forced to abandon the Canadian and European markets due to licensing restrictions (when will the idiots that run the record labels figure it out?). I had all but given up until someone referred me to Radio Paradise, a commercial-free Internet radio station owned and operated by Bill and Rebecca Goldsmith in Paradise, California. The station is fully supported by listeners and offers the best combination of music I’ve heard on any radio station…bar none! I’ve discovered more great music on this station in the last few months than I’ve heard in the last few years and it continues to amaze me with it’s diverse mix of classic and modern music from a wide range of genres. Take a few minutes and try Radio Paradise. You won’t be dissapointed. And if you like it please consider supporting their amazing station by donating or purchasing a shirt, mug or water bottle.

Here’s this week’s viral video offering, which has 13,500 people singing The Beatle’s Hey Jude in Trafalgar Square.