Christopher Mackay's Blog

Not an especially kind page, but very funny: Rejected Limited-edition iPods.

I can’t pick a favourite…

I noticed something new this week. On my flights between Moncton/Toronto/Ottawa, Air Canada’s flight attendants kept referring to Blackberries.

It was something along the lines of “please turn off all electronic devices; cell phones, laptop computers, portable CD players and Blackberries”.

A generic list of devices — no mention of PowerBooks, VAIOs, iPods or PalmPilots — but repeated, blatant plugs for Research In Motion’s Blackberry.

Now, I have nothing against RIM or their fine products (or Air Canada, for that matter), but is this for the benefit of the technologically-enabled but intellectually-challenged Air Canada passengers who are somehow unaware that their Blackberries are electronic devices (capable of disabling the sophisticated equipment on modern airliners, or not)?

Or (cue sinister music) is this just an ad? Nothing like a captive audience, is there? Not that anyone seems to pay any attention to anything the flight attendants have to say…

Update (November 9, 2004)
Air Canada’s mobility page also continues this trend, singling out the “RIM Blackberry” for special treatment. Oddly, though, the page redirects you to Air Canada’s home page after a few seconds:

From your Internet-enabled phone or wireless PDA e.g., RIM Blackberry, take advantage of Air Canada Mobile Services…

Deepening the ‘conspiracy’, I’ve a friend who’s noticed this ’special’ mention of Blackberries on Air Canada flights.

So, I go out of town for a couple of days and Apple goes completely crazy. (Streaming QuickTime/MPEG-4 video of the event is available, as are photos. This is a very good thing.

• Black U2 iPod (with their upcoming album pre-installed)
• iPod Photo (colour screen, album art, colour calendar & games on the iPod & iPhoto sync)
• new versions of QuickTime (6.5.2) and iTunes (4.7)
• But most importantly, the iTunes Music Store is coming to Canada in November!

How cool is that?!? I bought copies of the latest releases by R.E.M. and Mark Knopfler yesterday. They may well be the last CDs I ever buy. Here’s hoping.

Just watched Morgan Spurlock’s independent film, Super Size Me, last night. Definitely recommended viewing. Perhaps the most staggering eye-opener for me, having already read Eric Schlosser’s compelling Fast Food Nation, was the DVD extra that showed what happens to McDonald’s french fries when left out for 10 weeks… No, I’m not going to tell you; you’ll have to watch for yourself.

Related links:

• Super Size Me official web site
• Super Size Me movie trailer page
• Super Size Me IMDB entry
• Super Size Me reviews at Rotten Tomatoes
• Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (order it from an independent bookseller like Tidewater Books in Sackville)

Jeffrey Veen has posted an insightful article outlining what he sees as ways to improve open-source content-management systems (such as Drupal — you’re soaking in it).

Having evaluated a number of systems, seriously tested a couple (including Plone) and actually helped deploy Drupal, I’d say he’s right on the money.

A recent survey by Britain’s Computing magazine has found that “being an IT manager is considered by respondents to be the world’s third least desirable career move.” Sex-line operator and North Sea Ferry cabin cleaner were considered to be more desirable work.

In a similar vein, Database Builder came 14th and Internet Consultant was 72nd (right behind maggot farmer). Ouch.

While the article doesn’t identify who or where the respondents were (and therefore should be taken with a largish grain of salt), apparently there isn’t a healthy respect for technology or its practioners among them. I can’t say I blame them, either, given how hard to use most modern technology is.

What I want to know is, where does lawyer come in on the list?

Update: Oh, the URL of the article is http://www.computing.co.uk/comment/1158610 — you’ll have to copy & paste; linking directly from this page doesn’t seem to work…