Looks the same as the preview release, but this new version is FAST. Starts up faster, shuts down faster, loads pages faster. You name it, it’s faster. Firefox is now my default browser (even though I have been using it for months).

I bet you thought Halo 2 was the only major product launch of November 9th didn’t you? Well there’s another one – Firefox 1.0 will be released at 1 AM PDT (roughly 20 minutes from now). And the best part? You don’t have to stand outside in the pouring rain waiting for the doors of Best Buy to open just to get it first.

Be sure to take back the web! Get the browser reloaded! Get Firefox Now!

This afternoon it was announced that enough Microcell Telecommunications (who market under the brand name Fido) shareholders tendered to the takeover offer from Rogers Wireless to allow Rogers to claim victory. Rogers Wireless will now become the largest wireless carrier in Canada, with 5.5 million customers, thanks to the $1.4 billion takeover. Telus had also submitted a bid for the company, valued at $1.1 billion, a few months ago but the Microcell board called that offer “inadequate”.

“The new Rogers Wireless is an even stronger communications company, well positioned for continued profitable growth and committed to providing superior service and value to our customers,” said Rogers Wireless CEO Nadir Mohamed in a release.

I suppose it makes sense that Rogers would buy Fido, as both run on a GSM network (Rogers also has TDMA) where as Telus runs on CDMA. If you’re on Rogers, this might be good news for you. After the inevitable integration of the two networks, you might get better coverage/service after all! Then again, this is Rogers, don’t hold your breath.

My prediction for what this takeover will really mean – Rogers will have commercials similar to the Fido ones now. Just like Telus adopted the Clearnet commercials back in the day. Otherwise, the impact will be almost transparent.

Read: CBC News

Unless you’ve been living inside a cardboard box (are you in Arts? just kidding) you have probably heard all about Halo 2. The highly anticipated game for XBOX drops tomorrow, so I figured I’d round up some reviews for you. Enjoy!

• GameAxis – Score: 10.0
• Canoe’s WHAM! Gaming – Score: 9.5
• GameSpot – Score: 9.4 (plus Editor’s Choice)
• XBOX@ign.com – Score: 9.8
• teamxbox – Score: 9.9 (plus Editor’s Choice)
• GameSpy.com – Score: 10.0
• DailyGame.net – Score: 9.8
• G4techTV – Score: 10.0

Looks like people like this game 🙂 Oh and for all you hardcore fans, there IS a story between Halo and Halo 2 – it’s described in the new book First Strike.

Does anyone else think that the cost of parking at the University is insane? Seriously, $1.25 for a half hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is ridiculous. Needless to say, I am parked at an obscure meter without paying, right now.

In other news, the UofA has a new President! Congratulations Dr. Indira Samarasekera, I will now spend the duration of your term as President learning to pronounce your name. If you’re in Arts, her appointment probably does not mean good things will come for you. Samarasekera is an Engineering lady, so look for more funding and support for that area. As if Engineering needed another cheerleader.

It was on this day in 2003 that I started my blog. Things have definitely changed since then, here’s some of the major changes:

• People actually read my blog now.
• Other people I know now blog as well.

That pretty much sums it up don’t you think? LOL! Actually, there are some big changes. I have a photo gallery now, 373 more posts now than I did then, 1667 more comments, and I now have over 200,000 visitors every month. Some other interesting stats – traffic is busiest from 2 PM until 3 PM, and Tuesday is the most trafficked day.

Here’s to another great year, and thanks for reading!

If your memory is better than mine, you’ll recall about a week ago I posted about a lot of comment spam appearing on my blog. Since then I have diligently been running my SQL script which removes the spam comments. Tonight, I came across CommentSPAM.org, and as a result, across the Clearscreen HIP Control 1.0 for .Text. Basically it adds one of those “enter the letters you see here” boxes to my comments form, so that posting a comment requires human interaction. Works great! If you have a .Text blog, I highly recommend it, easy to setup, very useful!

Up yours comment spammers!

Just finished watching One Tree Hill on Global. And I rather enjoyed it. What the hell is wrong with me? It has to be one of the most poorly written shows ever! Such sappy lines…I think I need a drink 😛

Lots of posts out there describing Canada 2.0 in the wake of the US Election. Everyone thinks the map is so great because we absorb the Democratic states. I think the map is great because the Americans actually got our provinces abbreviated and placed correctly.

Somewhat related and similarly funny is A reader’s guide to expatriating on November 3rd.

Here is a very interesting article from The Economist, that says while “Hillary [Clinton] may not be the best person to put her party together again…she is better than the rabid left.” I have long said Hillary Clinton should run for President. She’s a woman, for one thing, and I think the United States could use a healthy shot of estrogen. She has experience, both as a First Lady and as a Senator.

Her major competition within the Democratic party appers to be, at least for now, Rudolph Guiliani. As for Republican competition, George Bush himself is being touted (now that they control the Whitehouse, Senate, and House, there is speculation that the Republicans will get rid of the law limiting a President to two terms) and his brother Jeb Bush. There are already a ton of articles and stories on the topic.

Here’s my favorite part from the Economist article:

Hillary Clinton is the big Democratic winner from Tuesday night’s debacle. Mrs Clinton is very much the front-runner for the presidential nomination in 2008. By then the country may be desperate for respite from Republican rule and the Iraq war may at last be over. She has plenty of credibility with the left because of her record (particularly on health-care reform) and her sex (remember that the majority of voters in the Democratic primaries are women). But she has moved to the centre since becoming a senator for New York: she has been careful to support the Iraq war and has found herself a seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Clintonistas control most of the party machinery, from think-tanks such as the Centre for American Progress to get-out-the-vote organisations such as The Media Fund. And her husband is one of the best political operators on the Democratic side.

The choice is clear now that Kerry has lost. The Democrats have lost two in a row. They need to rebuild. They need a change. A woman who tends to be more center than left and has her former President husband behind her – what could be more perfect? Vote Hillary Clinton in 2008!