Are you going to Vote?

If you live in Canada you probably know there is an election going on. Elections in most western countries are the same – it’s a big open job position and someone is trying to get it. Unfortunately the person who gets the job isn’t always the most qualified.

Just like any job interview, these guys will tell you exactly what you want to hear. I’m pretty sure the candidates don’t even believe half of what they tell us. The problem in this world is that smart people are too smart to want to be a politician so we often end up with a looser (just look south of the boarder). I said often, not always. Every country elects the occasional dud!

I like most people don’t believe in one specific platform. I’m conservative on some things and liberal on others and I would be willing to guess most people are. I’m sick of hearing Canadians want this and Canadians want that. They never seem to be talking about me and I’m Canadian. So for the candidates, here is my short list of issues. Who is going to step up?

Taxes – necessary evil, keep them as low as possible and declining

Separation of church and state – Yes Please!

Health care – keep a public system, but offer some private services to off load the public system. That doesn’t threaten anything. In fact it keeps everyone honest!

Marijuana – legalize it and tax it. Look at the Netherlands.

Same sex marriage – Who cares? Please lets move on.

Scientific Research – spend as much as possible –we have big environmental & energy problems. File patents and license other countries!

Quebec separation – who cares? Let them go if they want.

Unions – we don’t need them anymore, hello. Especially in Government - what's that about?

Defence - like taxes a neccessary evil but protection only please.

Guns - that gun registry thing was the bigest waist of tax payers money ever. Its hard to get a gun in this country - leave it that way. Don't fix something that aint broken.

Foreign aid - give, but not money. Money goes to corrupt governments.

In general don’t listen to special interest groups – all you whiners with nothing better to do.

Run it like a sucessful business - if you can't afford it, don't spend it. We have quite enough debt already.

What's with all the public libraries in Ottawa?

I’m from Ottawa, Canada’s Capital and wondered if other Cities are facing the issue of public libraries bloat. Why must we have so many public libraries? Is this the best use of public funds? I’ve heard arguments of community center, geographical issues etc. Are we using these libraries or do we just think this is a good idea? Let’s look at the facts.

We have a total of 33 physical locations (public libraries) plus a bookmobile. I’m not exactly sure what a bookmobile does – library on wheels? We also have 202 elementary schools, 59 high schools, 2 community colleges, 3 universities – I’m guessing these 266 physical institutions have libraries for the students (or am I off base here?). So who is the target market for the 33 public libraries? Students? Pretty sure most students use the school library and generally avoid any library like the plague. Adults? Possibly, but adults have more resources at there disposal including the internet as well as 4 major bookstores in town.

I used to go to the Nepean library (one of the cities largest public libraries) but now with Internet access I can look up just about anything, any time. Over the last few years I just stopped going. Just about everyone I survey on this issue has the same view.

I’m not totally against libraries. I do think they serve the public but I’m willing to consider trade-offs especially in light of future trends. I for one am willing to consider a few big libraries (like 3 – one central, one east and one west) and look at improving Internet access for Ottawa citizens. Why? Because there is a lot more value in a large library then there is in a small library with limited selection. I actually might go to the library if the chances of finding what I want was high. Secondly with good internet access you will be able to find just about anything you want and wouldn’t it be nice if the Ottawa Public Library built a website where you can search for a book on line and reserve it? So invest in the right library search engine for Ottawa citizens instead of more brick and mortar. The city could give rebates for internet access to encourage using that medium. There are a lot of ideas here.

Ottawa is supposed to be the high tech capital and yet we keep throwing up public libraries like Tim Horton franchises – the difference is that City doesn’t make any money on public libraries. Is anyone in the City thinking about this?

By the way, the greater Toronto area has 5 million people versus one million in Ottawa. By that logic Toronto should have 5 times 33 or 165 libraries. Well they actually have 99 physical public libraries (I still think too much) and a great web site with a real library portal where you can actually search for a book – what a thought?

Please no more library bricks and mortar, it’s the 21 century.

World's Largest Solar Thermal Power Station

Austrailia continues to amaze me with projects like this Solar Thermal Power Station. Scientists have talked about harnessing the SUN's energy for a long time. Finally someone is doing something about it. I wish Canada and the US start projects like this. To be fair the US has been toying with large wind farms in California - an amazing site if you ever get a chance to drive through it. We need more of this to reduce our dependance of oil!

What is your view on software patents?

This seems to be an issue that divides people in a big way! I’m solidly on the side of respecting Intellectual Property. Many believe don't respect software patents but in my view that is one of the few ways a small player can protect his/her ideas. Imagine if there were no patents on software/patents. Do you think Microsoft would use a good idea developed by a small software company? You better believe it. There is a ton of road kill (small dead companies with good ideas, no patents) left behind many large companies, not just Microsoft.

The knife cuts both ways. Large companies can get patents and they do in a big way. They also profit in a big way from them. Just look at Texas Instruments and the DLP chip now found in many projection systems – they own that market because they own the intellectual property. I think they should own it – they invested a small fortune into that technology. They only other way to protect an idea is trade secret. In other words don’t disclose the idea no matter what. That’s tough to protect especially in the software world.

If you’ve got great ideas and you want to give them away – that’s your decision. The truly great ideas will definitely be used if people find out. However, if you want to make some money to fund other great ideas then I recommend you protect those ideas – they could be worth a small fortune some day.

Lots of topics here I could cover around patents:
- Open Source
- University IP (stuff developed by professors and students)
- Types of Patents
- Patent "terrorists" (I hate those guys)

New plastic can better convert solar energy

This is fantastic if it ever comes to commercialization. Researchers at University of Toronto have invented an infrared-sensitive material that can convert 30% of the sun's power into useable energy. They say this thin film can be painted on. Unfortunately no indication of when this technology can be commercialized? Did they file for patents? Very cool if this could coat your house, car etc. - read more...

Isolation headphones for the iPod

I tested a number headphones and found Etymotic ER6 Isolation Headphones. They are fantastic with big sound. I travel a fair bit and these guys cut all plane noise, babies crying etc. I just love them. They fit in the ear canal and are quite comfortable. Note - you can't use them when working out - they suck for that.

What's up with the name? Etymotic - how do you pronounce that? These guys would be a lot more successful if they just had a name that a human could remember. I’m sure the name means something to the folks on Vulcan. Yet another example of a great product being out marketed by junk from the usual suspects. My advice to Etymotic – change you name – just do it.