Recently, I had posted a blog entry about OtherInbox and how it has a nifty feature in conjunction with Yahoo to eliminate SPAM.
I was VERY tickled that my piddly blog entry was actually noticed by the company that wrote OtherInbox. Further, one of their employees tweeted about my article. I didn't realize that all of this happened until I was reviewing my blog visitor stats and noticed a (relative to me anyways!) explosion of 100+ hits on this one blog entry. How totally exciting that my ramblings existed in the Twitterverse for an twitter-eternity (aka 24 hours).
Taking a real long shot, I'm going to blog an open letter to Heather of Indigo saying how much I would love to receive a complimentary Kobo for my 'evaluation' and reading pleasure. I am the all-mighty and powerful TecHumanity and what I say goes from my 'mouth' to the ears of - oh - maybe a dozen readers. Surely that has to count for something!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
I Yam What I Yam
As I was listening to the radio tonight, this Popeye quote came to my mind almost immediately. There was a news story on how one of the growth industries in the school picture industry (and I would imagine by extension, the "professional head shot industry") is how one can pay extra money to photoshop out one's little imperfections such as acne, braces, pimples etc.
The commenator went on to quote a psychologist who claims (rightly to, I think) that this might not be the best idea. The story went on to hypothesize that this ability to so easily crop out one's imperfections sends the wrong message in society, that one's worth is based on how "perfect" one's hair/skin/teeth/etc.. are. Spot right on, on that one, he is absolutely right.
What on earth are we doing and encouraging? Indeed, what kind of message does this send to our children. I'll tell you the message. The message is this "I'm so sorry, darling son/daughter that you're upset that you have this 'glitch' in your class picture. Don't worry, your concerns are legitimate, let's use technology to 'repair' you, to make you into a more acceptable person". That is EXACTLY the message that we are sending and frankly, this concerns me very much.
Great Caesar's Ghost! Do we really want to be part of a society where one needs to be electronically fixed/manipulated/revised? I don't know - maybe I'm too out of touch with the whole "I need to be accepted by my peers" thing.
Oh, by the way, could someone please photoshop my picture at work and (a) remove the wrinkles (b) darken the hair and (c) give me an electronic lipsuction?
Good gravy - the madness never ends.
The commenator went on to quote a psychologist who claims (rightly to, I think) that this might not be the best idea. The story went on to hypothesize that this ability to so easily crop out one's imperfections sends the wrong message in society, that one's worth is based on how "perfect" one's hair/skin/teeth/etc.. are. Spot right on, on that one, he is absolutely right.
What on earth are we doing and encouraging? Indeed, what kind of message does this send to our children. I'll tell you the message. The message is this "I'm so sorry, darling son/daughter that you're upset that you have this 'glitch' in your class picture. Don't worry, your concerns are legitimate, let's use technology to 'repair' you, to make you into a more acceptable person". That is EXACTLY the message that we are sending and frankly, this concerns me very much.
Great Caesar's Ghost! Do we really want to be part of a society where one needs to be electronically fixed/manipulated/revised? I don't know - maybe I'm too out of touch with the whole "I need to be accepted by my peers" thing.
Oh, by the way, could someone please photoshop my picture at work and (a) remove the wrinkles (b) darken the hair and (c) give me an electronic lipsuction?
Good gravy - the madness never ends.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Now, let me see, I would like to see "http://techumanity.blogspot.com" to go right THERE *points*
This is too strange to make-up. A gentlemen in Quebec is raising money by decorating his body with tattoos.
Gasp #1 - he is committed to covering his body with 100,000 tattoos in one calendar year. If I'm not mistaken, there is a world record at stake here.
Gasp #2 - okay - so you're thinking "where's the tecHumanity context here, dude?" Well, said tattoos are URLs. Yep -he's proposing selling space on his body to advertise 100,000 domains and URLs. First of all, that's an average of 273 per day. That can't be possible - can it? Man, how teeny is this writing going to be and where exactly should I sponsor "http://tecHumanity.blogspot.com".
The one thing that I've never figured with the heavily tattooed. Not that I have a problem with it - I'm a very open minded chap and if this is something that someone wants to do, then all the power to them, but heck - what are the tattoos going to look like when said "walking billboard" is 75. Wrinkles galore - can you imagine trying to unfold a wrinkle to find a particular URL? The mind shudders. But then again, how do I come up with this crap? :)
Gasp #1 - he is committed to covering his body with 100,000 tattoos in one calendar year. If I'm not mistaken, there is a world record at stake here.
Gasp #2 - okay - so you're thinking "where's the tecHumanity context here, dude?" Well, said tattoos are URLs. Yep -he's proposing selling space on his body to advertise 100,000 domains and URLs. First of all, that's an average of 273 per day. That can't be possible - can it? Man, how teeny is this writing going to be and where exactly should I sponsor "http://tecHumanity.blogspot.com".
The one thing that I've never figured with the heavily tattooed. Not that I have a problem with it - I'm a very open minded chap and if this is something that someone wants to do, then all the power to them, but heck - what are the tattoos going to look like when said "walking billboard" is 75. Wrinkles galore - can you imagine trying to unfold a wrinkle to find a particular URL? The mind shudders. But then again, how do I come up with this crap? :)
The "Going to Hell in a Hand Basket Award"
...otherwise known as "this use of technology is just freaking nuts".
Two totally abysmal stories in the news.
The first is a Canadian couple who have canvassed Facebook users to...get this...choose the name for the child. Seriously - as in "no matter what name they come up with - we'll go with it". I'm sure that the $40,000 promised by the sponsor of the event had something to do with it. Sure enough, baby WWW is born and they register the name that "won" the Facebook derby. Say what? Really? And this doesn't concern them that something that will stay with this person for years, was chosen, not by parents, but by a group of strangers?
The second story concerns me even more. The article stated that a US couple who is preggers was trying to decide if they should abort the child or not. They claim that this is legit, that they'll put it to vote. I can't say for certain how legitimate this was, or what became of it, but the second that someone even considers letting strangers decide on life and death...this one rocks me to the core.
Two totally abysmal stories in the news.
The first is a Canadian couple who have canvassed Facebook users to...get this...choose the name for the child. Seriously - as in "no matter what name they come up with - we'll go with it". I'm sure that the $40,000 promised by the sponsor of the event had something to do with it. Sure enough, baby WWW is born and they register the name that "won" the Facebook derby. Say what? Really? And this doesn't concern them that something that will stay with this person for years, was chosen, not by parents, but by a group of strangers?
The second story concerns me even more. The article stated that a US couple who is preggers was trying to decide if they should abort the child or not. They claim that this is legit, that they'll put it to vote. I can't say for certain how legitimate this was, or what became of it, but the second that someone even considers letting strangers decide on life and death...this one rocks me to the core.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Merry Christmas - From TecHumanity & Rick
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/XVpcRozp7k6qWBSvGzDm
This is a safe link, but as we all practice safe computing, copy and paste the link instead of clicking on it.
A very Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to everyone!
Rick
This is a safe link, but as we all practice safe computing, copy and paste the link instead of clicking on it.
A very Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to everyone!
Rick
Friday, December 3, 2010
An Experiment - If You Will
Okay - I would ask this. If you read this post, do me a favour. Leave a comment as to what city you are from. As I've approached...more than a year (?) with this blog, I am inordinately curious as to how many of you are real peeps - where you are from (and tell me your favourite dessert - that I MUST know!) and to determine that you are not a 'bot - venturing into the world of TecHumanity.
Consider this as a favour - as a "one hour before the dude turns 50 (argh!!!!)" favour to yours truly.
Consider this as a favour - as a "one hour before the dude turns 50 (argh!!!!)" favour to yours truly.
You Go, Girl!
News story today suggests that Groupon has rejected a $5-6 billion bid from Google. Wow, too much. Amazing that anyone has the audacity to deny the monolith of Google. I can just imagine the apolexy with the ne'er do-wells of Google. They must have felt not unlike the Empire not being able to withstand The Force. Can you imagine? I'd love to have been in the room when Google heard that it was a no-go.
God - I hate monopolies. With every fibre of my body, I offer up a WOOT-WOOT to Groupon.
God - I hate monopolies. With every fibre of my body, I offer up a WOOT-WOOT to Groupon.
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