"I've been waiting for this moment all my life..."

"...but it's not quite right." I like the fact that I can enter this phrase into the Google search box and in less than one second, discover it is a line from a song by the Silversun Pickups (aka, sspu, www.silverspunpickups.com ). As a kid I remember dreaming about that kind of computing genius.

But, it's not quite right. I keep hearing quiet murmerings about those environmentally friendly, feel-good folks at Google. Do a search on "Google" and "Evil Empire" and see how many hits you get. People who have had direct dealings at the 'plex suggest that Microsoft at its imperialistic worst was not this bad. They say that Microsoft in its awkward nerdy way was always pretty clear about its intentions of plodding world domination. And really rather benign, given its wealth and market power. Plus Microsoft didn't adopt the self-righteous corporate motto, "do no evil." As the old guy who used to live next door was fond of saying, "The more he spoke of his honesty, the faster I counted my change."

In the Shadow of the Baby Boom

RT writes about being born 10 years too late, after the end of the Baby Boom.

He says: "“Being in our generation means constantly having the experience of being the last person into a grocery store when there is a run on food. All that’s left on the shelves are stale Cheetos and non-alcoholic beer. And even those are snatched up by other desperate and disillusioned post-Boomers before you can race down the aisle.

Out in the parking lot, Baby Boomers are clenching T-bone steaks and fine wine under their arms. Hey, once again, they were there first. And, to make matters worse, when you approach them asking for a little bit of food for your family, they laugh arrogantly and offer to sell you pack of wieners for a thousand bucks."

Chav Beer

Stella Artois has done a great job in marketing its beer to create an image of exclusivty and refinement in Vancouver. They even have gone so far as to insist that local bars serve their draft beer in the special stemmed 'Stella' glasses.

Try ordering Stella in the UK. You'll suddenly get the sense that it doesn't enjoy the same elite reputation as it does in Canada. In fact, you'll discover that Stella is considered a low-end beer, popular with Chavs (Are you a Chav? Find out here: http://www.boredandlazy.co.uk/quiz.php?q=chav)

But that's the genius of marketing. Don't focus on the product; focus on the brand. Create the right image and needy Vancouver residents will pay a premium to bask in your glow.

Chav Footnote: learn about Chavs here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav and discover why my use of the term is tasteless and perpetuates classism and snobbery.

P.S. Still in doubt about Stella? Check out Yahoo Answers where it is called "wife beater" beer and one individual says: "derr! it's alcohol thats wot its job is". http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061223102924AAqmQ1k&show=7

Oil

With the price of oil dipping below US$50 a barrel this week and gas prices in Vancouver dropping below $1 / litre, I thought it might be worthwhile to talk about oil. There's alot to say. There's Marion King Hubert, an economist, who in the mid-1950's created a theory about when U.S. oil production would peak. He predicted 1965-1970 (it happened in 1970). Building upon Hubert's work several experts suggest that worldwide oil production reached its all-time peak in December 2005. Going forward, they say, it's all downhill from there.

What's one to do? Well, who uses all this oil and what for? The pie-chart, from NationMaster.com shows that the United States, representing about 5% of the world's population consumes 25% of it's oil. Before you get all smug, realize that Canada's per-capita oil consumption (about 13.7 barrels of oil per person per day) is only slightly lower than America's.

If you want to address the 'oil crisis' and all its ripple effects, including global warming, you start in North America.

About 67% of our oil-consumption is transportation related. Wind-power and solar cells aren't going to address that issue. And encouraging car-pooling, public transit, or city centre clusters, while helpful won't have much impact in the near term.

So if you want to make a big difference and make it fast, radically improve per-capita fuel economy. Subsidize hybrids, tax gas guzzlers (up front, rather than at the pump). Make hybrids ridiculously cheap and something will happen.

HDTV (and the lack thereof)

In a recent post (http://thechiefcanuck.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/what-happened-to-sportsnet/), the ChiefCanuck complains about Sportsnet and the fact that they don't broadcast Canucks games in HDTV. I agree with his sentiments and surprised myself to realize that I no longer enjoy watching (and in fact generally refuse to watch) non-HD channels.

So what happened to SportsNet, the CBC and other Canadian channels? Did the HD revolution take them by surprise? Is technology moving too quickly? Hardly. The Digitial TV Standard (which includes the HD specifications) was adopted by the FCC in December 1996 - that's ten years ago. Sportsnet is asleep at the switch. If they don't get their act together soon, the market will punish them.

Rant Footnote: Shaw Cable has figured out that people become addicted to High Definition channels and, as of January 1st, has added a $9 surcharge for customers who wish to continue to receive this service. When I asked Shaw about this, the service rep explained that these channels have always required a supplementary fee; the only reason I wasn't charged in the past was that Shaw was generously providing me with a free trial. Since July 2005? That's some free trial. The CRTC really ought to do something about these guys.

Optimism

Advertisments for mutual funds often include a disclaimer, along the lines of "Past performance does not guarantee future growth." When it comes to everyday situations, however, we frequently look at past performance in an attempt to divine the future: credit scores, automobile accidents (and your ICBC discount), job performance, or even fidelity in a romantic relationship.

My friend, RT, used to keep a graphic posted on the outside of his cubicle at work, summarizing his view of life and the future. I've reproduced it here. I always considered RT to be an optimist. Sometimes you have to be.

Brutalism

The January 10, 2007 edition of USA Today reports on Boston's City Hall and desire of some Bostonians to demolish what they consider to be an eyesore. "I say we give everyone an hour to gather their things, and we raze it" says John Tobin, a City Council member, according to the article.

The city hall was built in 1968, in a historic distric that includes Faneuil Hall, sometimes called the "cradle of liberty" due to meetings held there by early American revolutionaries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faneuil_hall). On the other hand, the city hall incorporates a contempary style, known as brutalism. The incongruous architectural styles have thus led to debate and the widespread disdain.

But here's the punchline. Take a look at the city hall and what Vancouver landmark do you see? SFU, perhaps?

Trivia footnote: the portrait of 'Sam Adams' on beer labels bearing the same name is actually the combination (pre-photoshop) of two portraits hanging in Faneuil Hall.

Another Blog...

...this one is focused mostly on Vancouver, mostly on my frustrations and dissatisfication (rants), and oftentimes the intersection of the two. I aspire to make this, like most blogs, insufferably self-absorbed and irrelevant.