Is Verizon Better?

If you think Verizon is better, then move to the US. I would rather have Canadian competition than let more American companies come north. Here are the top three reasons I keep hearing that Verizon is a good idea for Canada: better wireless coverage across North America, a company that does not price gouge, and competition is better for all Canadians. 

To start with "better wireless coverage across North America," you really think Verizon has ANY infrastructure in Canada? They don't, they roam off of Telus and Bell's networks. Why would anyone think that wireless coverage would magically get better once Verizon is here?  

So Verizon "doesn't price gouge?" How can people who think this survive to adulthood? These people must be the same ones who thinks the market crash was caused by gremlins in  the computer networks. 

So "competition is good for all Canadians," I can see how on the surface this might be true. Since the general public never looks at the whole picture, I will let you in on a secret... No business likes competition. 

Here is a scenario for you, two companies are across the road from each other; both offer the same products. Between them they employ 2/3 of the town, both pay excellent wages. Since people, being people, will always complain about the largest companies start complaining of price gouging and poor customer service. So a third company comes in offering the same products at half the price, and the municipal government tells the original two that they have to share their facilities with the new comer for pennies. Now neither company can afford all of their employees, so jobs are cut. Prices are cut to compete, more jobs are lost now that there is even less money to pay employees. Now the third company is the same size as the other two and between the three of them employing 2/3 of the town. Now lets add a fourth company, but the market cannot support a fourth company, jobs are lost and wages are cut. After the dust settles only two companies remain employing 1/3 of the town. I've seen this happen in reality in a small town. The same principle applies when scaled up. 

So if you think I will agree that Verizon will make my life better, you are delusional. So there is nothing in it for me, nor do I see anything but trouble in the long run for the rest of Canada. 

Critical Thinking on the Decline

I've seen a steady decline in the number of people with Critical Thinking skills since I hit my twenties. Granted I am now past the half way mark of thirty, but this just emphasizes the depressing number of people who don't use their brains. Yes, the Internet makes looking up information easier, but it also makes it easier to bury the truth. 

This is where Critical Thinking is important, analyze what you read and look for opposing viewpoints. If you can't find opposing viewpoints and you agree with what your reading then you are drinking Kool-Aid at the neighbourhood cult meeting. 

Critical Thinking is not just being critical about what information you absorb, it is also being critical about where your own ideas and "truths" come from. 

Take this blog, it is one point of view, what if you find two or even three other points of view? Don't shy away from them, check them out see how they fit together. Sometimes two opposing points of view is really just two different perspectives of the same idea. 

Chasing Exhaustion

You don't know who your friends are until you get into trouble; they are the ones who come running to help. The flip side to this is, you don't know who you are friends with until you race to help a friend in need. 

Even if your friend does not ask for help, you help anyway. Staying awake for longer than 38 hours just to make sure they are ok, is just what a friend does; it is not a bother nor is it troublesome. There are those who's job is to help, and I am forever thankful we have them here in Canada, but it is the help from those who are not paid to be there and help because you need it. 

Can't sleep for worry, when you do sleep you wake up tired. This is a price that isn't a price to pay, it is accepted as part of caring. 

My greatest fear is being in a hospital, I am here in the hospital because I care more for my friend than I do for my fear. 

New Xbox Player

So I delved into the world of Xbox. I have had it now for a few months trying different games: LEGO Starwars III, LEGO Harry Potter years 1-4, Batman Arkham City. So I thought I would Blog about the next game Batman Arkham Asylum, I know it is out of order so sue me.

So far as the sequal to play is rather entertaining, I am looking forward to how this plays. After I complete Batman Arkham Asylum, I will be playing Mass Effect 3. And in case you are also an Xbox Player, my Gamertag is: Boh Vijny



--

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
       William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1


                           Travis Ostash
                           E-Mail: travis@ostash.ca
                           IM: travis@ostash.ca (all services)

Interesting Times

How things are moving so fast, and we have no time to stop and go, "Wow."

It was not that long ago that only the super rich had a "mobile
phone," and that was only available in limited places. Now everyone
and their dog have one (cats don't yet, since that is what humans are
for). Now we have high speed internet on our phones, that run a
processor that is more powerful than the computer that landed Man on
the Moon!

Take a moment...

Your workplace uses computers to do their accounting, you probably
also have a computer instead of a till.

Say the computers all over the world crashed tomorrow... Could you
still do your job. Seriously, could you really? If you are reading
this post I doubt you could do your job... And for those who don't
read this post, you probably still use pen and paper to do your
invoices.

That is my point, it is absolutely interesting times that technology
is moving exponentially faster, yet we have to keep up if we want to
compete.

Thoughts? I would love to hear them.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1

Have a Great Day,

Travis Ostash
E-Mail: travis@ostash.ca
IM: travis@ostash.ca (all services)

--> Please be Green and save paper, don't print this email <--

Running Away and to Technology

Technology... how we depend on you, I am no different than anyone else.  I use Facebook, Google+, and listen to music on my iPod.  But when things break, or the power goes out, I can still function.  There are these things that are called books, and there is this strange ball of light in the sky to illuminate the area.

However much the Sun shines down, and reading a book under a tree is enjoyable, there is nothing that compares to the speed of searching on Google to find an answer, or read an interesting article in Wikipedia.  But think about this, if the power went out and the batteries were dead, could you function.  I mean really function... do you know how to fix your lawnmower, your plumbing, or your generator sitting in the garage?

It all comes back to how we get out information.  Just think it was only 20 years ago, you would go to the library and borrow a book on small engines to fix your lawnmower.  Or phone your dad to find out how to fix a clogged drain in your kitchen.  Or call your buddy to come over and help you move and fix your generator.

Now we go to our favourite search engine and look up anything we need and an answer appears.  No going out to learn, no phone calls, and no physical human social interactions.  I recognize in myself these things, but how many of us do think about it.  I mean come on your reading this on an electronic device for crying out loud.

Instead of just Clicking "like" or "+1"ing why don't we say instead, "do you want to go for coffee?" and leave the computer at home.

Of course we will keep going back...

The Perception of Time

Time. It moves at different rates; sit in a boring class and it seems
to sit still, have an awsome time and it flys by.
Is there a way to make time stop all together?