Gmail Privacy?

Darren Barefoot raises a pretty big concern over Gmail privacy and agreements Google has signed allowing unspecified nations read everything on their servers.

That is why I have a tiny little bill I pay every month to the little firm and the one guy I know who will not sell me out to the Chinese and the Saudis. That’s were I keep all the good stuff, Mr. government agent for unspecified foreign nation.

Sputtering Yankees

That is what the New York Times headline read this morning: “The Sputtering Yankees Look for a Jump Start”. Amazing.

With the Bosox now only 5.5 back of the Dark Forces, after being down 10.5 not that long ago, the gods are setting me up again, taking me once again from despair then hope then the inevitable crush. The White Sox catcher below is not shamed by their play – he knows the other man has forgetten.

Five Foot Square Brewery

Happy news from Wales where they have the common sense to allow tiny batch breweries to exist – the smallest in the world in a former outhouse has just reopened. Practically impossible in Canada where a whacking excise fee has to be paid unless you fall into section 172(1) of the Excise Act:

172. (1) Notwithstanding sections 170 and 171, the duties of excise thereby imposed shall not be levied or collected on beer that is made or brewed by any person for personal or family consumption or to be given away without charge and that is not for sale or commercial use.

Notice that “not for charge” but still “commercial use” nonetheless requires the whacking fee – pubs couldn’t even give it away. Then, under section 3(1) of the Brewery Regulations [C.R.C., c. 565] you have to phone the government up when you do your job:

3. (1) A brewer shall establish a production day in respect of the brewer’s brewery and shall, in writing, notify the appropriate superior officer of the time of commencement and the duration of the production day.

and then pony up:

5. The excise duty on beer shall be charged and computed on the quantities of beer produced during each production day…

All to stop the madness of Canadian pubs making 9 gallons of real ale every two weeks in an outhouse. Thanks government.

Dell Inquisition

Next time you are subject to a service tech guy going through a list of 273 apparently innane questions before getting to the one that you think is the problem with your so-cheap-it-would-cost-less-to-buy-another printer, just remember that once in a while #157 or so is the question that asks:

Sir, are there any other obstructions near your printer’s roller like, say, a tiny toy?

Oh yes, that tiny toy I had not noticed for weeks is jammed there under the roller. Ummm…I’m just gonna hang up now. Bye. No, thank you. Bye.