murrays

But there will ALWAYS be a very good reason to have local data as well as data on the cloud. Some information is safer on the cloud, some is less safe. It makes a LOT of sense to backup data to the cloud. Even if your house caught on fire and was completely destroyed, the data would be backed up in a safe place. That said, I'm not wild about the concept of my entire life being available to anyone with sufficient hacking skills or worse, for sale to the highest bidder. Not that I have anything to hide or that I think anyone has any interest in me as an individual, but I just don't want to be a node in a data mine. There's also the issue of leaving a life-long trail on the cloud. Maybe the winds change and someday so does the political climate. In this future dystopia, the NSA is tasked with finding all of the people that have written disparaging remarks about the group that is in power. Perhaps in my youth I had written some jokes about the group and had stored them on the cloud. There would be no way of hitting the delete keys fast enough to erase the trail because the cloud is always backed up and the trail exists forever. It's not that I'm convinced abuse would happen, but I'm positive the potential would always be there. I like the "cloud" for backing my stuff up...family photos, work material...all encrypted BUT, I still want all my data on a local hard drive that I can also back up, use when there is no internet available, etc. As far as using something like Google apps for serious work....there is no way I can see it replacing Microsoft Excel which I spend the better part of every work day using. I think it will always be faster writing/reading from your local hard drive than it will be accessing your data out there somewhere. But, I am a one man show and for collaborative efforts by people in different physical areas...yeah, I can see that being a great capability. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

? -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Agreed. It's not a laptop replacement. As soon as you accept that, it becomes a natural way of doing things. I take it more to meetings than my laptop - but will still travel with the laptop. It's all about what you need it for. OK, but it's still VERY irritating/inappropriate that the management of its content is all under Apple's control. I still haven't figured out how to, say, do something as simple as add or delete a picture without using iTunes and being linked to Apple's store. You can download photos to the iPad from a camera if you buy the camera connection thingie. You can save photos you come across on websites, etc by just holding your finger on the image until a menu pops up that gives you several options, one being "Save Image". But deleting...as far as I can tell, you're right. I don't see any way to delete a photo in the "Photos" app. I think that being tied to iTunes is going to continue...until they do something different(see below) There is no doubt that Apple wants to control the user experience and get you to buy through them...it's the way it is. One reason I can see it being this way is synchronizing data. I have two iPod Touches and one iPad "attached" to my MacBook....it gets complicated if you start deleting stuff on a device and want or don't want those changes to be reflected on all your other devices. Write Apple a suggestion outlining your concerns. They do gather this stuff up and maybe they'll accommodate your concerns in a future OS revision. I had an interesting discussion with our local Mac dealer a few days ago sort of related to this topic. He thinks that the future will be storing all your stuff in the cloud so that you aren't tied to a computer. Apple has built/is building a huge $1.5 billion dollar data storage facility in NC I think. It makes sense...why should you have to have a computer to own an iPad or an iPhone? Of course, I don't know how that will all work but I think Apple has some interesting stuff coming in this regard. I guess you could look into jailbreaking it and seeing what options that might open. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Just posting a product recommendation for Mac users out there...the backup software Superduper! is awesome! I have been using it for years to make bootable backups of my work and home hard drives. Tonight I used it to install a larger hard drive in my MacBook. 1 - Put new drive in external drive enclosure and plug into computer 2 - Open Disk Utility and partition external hard drive as a Mac OS Extended Journaling on volume 3 - Name the hard drive Macintosh HD (Same as the old drive) 4 - Restart the computer and hold down the shift key which prevents any login programs, etc. from starting 5 - Start Superduper! and have it make a bootable backup of Macintosh HD on the new drive 6 - Go out for a while...my 225 GB took just under 4 hours to be evaluated and backed up. 7 - After backup complete, shut down the computer, unplug it and remove the old hard drive 8 - Install the new hard drive 9 - Plug in the computer and start it up. 10 It took a while to restart...likely recognized that the hardware was different....but was good to go. 11 - Go to System Preferences, startup volume, select the Macintosh HD as the start up volume and exit. I thought this was pretty easy...it sure worked well and I now have a 500gb 7200 rpm hd in my MacBook instead of the 250 gb 5400 rpm drive which I also used Superduper! to transfer everything but in a less direct fashion. It is a program that just does its limited job extremely well. The tech support is excellent...they told me the above procedure...and answer emails in a timely fashion. You can find it at Shirt Pocket Software -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Interesting. What part of the process required you to do that; simply being able to sync it to iTunes, setting up a "me.com" or "iBooks" account or activating the AT&T 3G service? Just syncing it. I can't remember if that was mandatory...I already had an iTunes account and when I set up my boss' I had to enter his cc # to set up the 3g account but can't remember if that was part of the sync process or a separate procedure with the Rogers network. The mayor of NYC loves his iPad. I think that consigning the iPad to being merely a "consumption" device is selling it WAY short. For example, I have a couple of photo editing programs that allow you to do some impressive stuff and I am certain many developers will provide some awesome programs for specific professions, disciplines, etc. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I love mine. My boss, who is almost totally computer illiterate, absolutely loves his. Loaned mine to a buddy to show his wife...a similar computer illiterate...and called me an hour later to thank me for costing him $$$$$. The more I use mine the more I am impressed with the job Apple did with it. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

You have to give George credit for always doing whatever it took to put a winning team on the field but he is the reason I quit cheering for the Yankees despite greatly admiring several of their players like Jeter and Rivera. But it is definitely the end of an era. He'll hire and fire Billy at least two times before they reach the Gates! I couldn't recall but Billy Martin was the manager 5 times! Here is a gallery of all the Yankee managers under George. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I bought a Canon S90 a few months ago. Fast F2 lens and it has a larger sensor with fewer megapixels (10 mp) which results in lower noise than you get with most point and shoots. You can also shoot RAW if you want....I don't bother...but it is there. Here is a write-up on Ken Rockwel's site. Rockwell raves about the dials that let you customize settings very easily. I just use it on AUTO, can't be bothered to figure out all that other stuff. I am very pleased with the image quality and really like having the fast lens...coupled with the image stabilization you can shoot in low light handheld and get much better results than with most point and shoots. I have attached a jpg taken in very low light after sundown. The lack of noise makes me think it was shot with a DSLR. ANother thing I like is that it starts almost instantly. Press the On button and you are ready to shoot in 2/10's of a second. Also, the wide angle end of the lens is about equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm. I really appreciate this as well. I haven't used my Nikon D90 in months. Cheers, Murray -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Never mind video review...how about a goal judge at each end? That was a terrible blown call. Germany has to win by 2 in regular time to be legitimate winners in my mind. Edited to add: Well, Germany won by 3 so clearly deserve to move on. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Congrats to Ghana for beating the USA, a team that never stopped giving their all. I thought it was a good game with lots of chances on both sides and that the officiating was good. Ghana has now gone further than any other African nation. Good for them, a small nation of ~25 million people. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I hate the diving and playacting as well. After watching the Italians in the last World Cup I never wanted to watch another soccer game. I've watched very little this year. I think one of the Portuguese players got a yellow card for a dive in the game earlier today. If the refs handed more of those out I think it would lessen the frequency. They showed another replay of a Portuguese player bitching to the ref after his arm was brushed by a Brazilian player kicking the ball. Teach the refs to say "Suck it up princess" in several languages as well. They should also show these soccer players video of Duncan Keith spitting out 7 teeth in the Stanley Cup playoffs so they know how real men react to an injury. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

And....Duncan Keith won the Norris as best defenceman! Olympic Gold, Stanley Cup and Norris in one year....Congrats to him for a stellar season. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Nabbie is gone. The Sharks won't offer him a contract. Apparently they did this to have more cap space to sign Marleau and Pavelski to 4 year deals. How about the Hawks trading Byfuglien? I was surprised but a lot of what I'm reading makes it look like a good move...for both the Hawks and the Thrashers. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Getting back to the World Cup...Italy is about to lose to Slovakia and go home! Good riddance to the divers. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

I watched the first half of the England-Slovenia game. I decided that one thing I do like about soccer is that there are no commercial breaks until they reach half-time. Glad to see the US advance as it makes up for the bad refereeing decisions that could have cost them. Maybe a little bit of justice. The French Coach refusing to shake hands after their last game....maybe I understand why the players refused to practice for him and why he was cursed out by the player that was sent home. Still, the players should have played. Acting like a bunch of prima-donnas was bad. Astounding display of poor sportsmanship by him and his team. Speaking of justice...considering they qualified by cheating (Henry's handball non-call)...maybe they got what they deserved. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

And the MLB umpire was man enough to say he blew it. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

We'll see how Price works out. I think that being second fiddle in the playoffs should be a big motivator for him. He was handed the #1 job too easily and too soon I think. I think the Sharks should have picked Halak up and said farewell to Nabbie. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Very cool! You're a lucky guy. Gordie was in Saskatoon a few years ago at a Saskatoon Blades game where they honoured him by naming the road in front of the arena after him. During one of the presentations at centre ice while they were taking pictures Gordie faked giving everybody elbows. It was hilarious. He was in town a couple weeks ago getting an honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from U of S. He still looks really good. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

What a great way to wake up. So happy she is fine. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

The South Ocean ... The winds blow over thousands of miles with no obstructions, the waves build to enormous heights. From the Amazon write-up of Godforsaken Sea... From Amazon.com The Southern Ocean is the sailor's Everest. These are unquestionably the most dangerous waters in the world: hurricane infested, frigid, wholly unpredictable, and so remote, according to Derek Lundy, that "only a few astronauts have ever been further from land than a person on a vessel in that position." Encircling Antarctica, this fearsome body of water has terrorized sailors and wrecked the ablest of ships throughout maritime history. Imagine, then, a round-the-world, single-handed sailing race of the most extreme kind--no stopping, no assistance--requiring each lone sailor to spend half the total race distance (roughly 13,000 miles) fighting this nightmarish, merciless sea. The race is the Vendee Globe, and The Godforsaken Sea is the story of the 1996-1997 competition. Fourteen men and two women began the race in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. Six officially finished; three were wrecked and rescued; one sailor performed emergency surgery on himself mid-race; one perished. This is high adventure of the most gripping, perilous sort, demanding a tightly controlled, suspenseful narrative: "Visualize a never-ending series of five- or six-story buildings, with sloping sides of various angles ... moving towards [the sailors] at forty miles an hour. Some of the time, the top one or two stories will collapse on top of them." But Lundy delivers more, weaving a superior fabric of psychology and physics, action and reflection. Even the utter novice will emerge understanding the architecture of racing vessels, the evolution of storms, the physical and psychological courage required to survive five-and-a half months battling the ocean alone. Sailing aficionados may already believe that the Vendee Globe is the pinnacle of extreme sports. With Lundy's help, armchair adventurers can dig in and hang on for the ride. --Svenja Soldovieri From Publishers Weekly On November 3, 1996, the 16 solo sailboat racers of the third Vende Globe contest left the little French port of Les Sables dOlonne for a four-month round trip whose most trying feature would be a circumnavigation of Antarctica. Lundy, an experienced amateur sailor, followed the race on its Web site, on which the race organizers provided regular updates and on which some of the sailors posted bulletins. From the beginning, its obvious that the competitors are a bit more committed than your average weekend sailor. They hire sleep specialists to determine their personal best-sleep periods so theyll know when to put their boats on automatic pilot for a quick catnap. One sailor, Pete Goss, took a scalpel to his inflamed elbow, following a doctors faxed instructions while his boat heeled and all his instruments slid off their tray (so now Im frothing at the mouth, and it was quite funny, really). As Lundy describes these sailors encounters with the raging southern ocean and waves like a never-ending series of five- or six-story buildings... moving towards [the boat] at about forty miles an hour, readers will get caught up in the race and in the fates of the 16 racers. Despite all the excitement, the book has a buffered feel. Quite simply, Lundy wasnt there. Its a measure of his skill, then, that he manages to make the action as palpable as he does, lacing his report of the race with a little maritime history, ocean science and allusions to the likes of Conrad and Joyce. This literate adventure book was a bestseller in Canada. $50,000 ad/promo; BOMC selection; author tour. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. See all Product Description -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Thanks for that Nick. The last known position really puts things into perspective. I hope she's hanging in there but she has a long wait ahead of her. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

And he could still have taken your head off with an elbow -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

She is about as far from land and help as you can be on this planet, in the South Ocean with raging winds and towering seas. Trying to find her in those conditions will be very difficult. We can only hope for the best. Several of the Vendee Globe sailors have survived similar situations in past years. The rescue of Raphael Dinelli by Pete Goss being the most fantastic. Dinelli clung to his upturned boat for two days in a wild storm until Goss managed to reach him and bring him aboard his boat. I hope that she can hang on until help can reach her. It has been done before. -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Hell of a game! Congrats to the Hawks and all their fans. Much as I hate the Flyers fans, I applaud them for their booing of Bettman. Grimmie...it must have hurt to watch Hossa skate around with it as long as he did...he didn't want to give it up. Flyers never quit. I told my boys with about 5 minutes left that the Hawks needed another goal because I felt the Flyers had another goal in them. They had a hell of a run. Edited to add - this was an outstanding playoff season, lots of twists and turns and great performances. See you guys next year! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

Agree totally! Every year, I hope for an early playoff exit or absence of the Braves, Yankees and Flyers. The Flyers have stayed around way too long! -- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey