Java time capsule

I’ve been involved in some discussions regarding Java recently, and I’ve repeated said that I mostly find it a solution that is still looking for a problem.

Looking back at this post by Paul Graham on “Java’s Cover” I find it interesting how many of his points still ring true, 8 years later.

My favorite quote:

It could be that in Java’s case I’m mistaken. It could be that a language promoted by one big company to undermine another, designed by a committee for a “mainstream” audience, hyped to the skies, and beloved of the DoD, happens nonetheless to be a clean, beautiful, powerful language that I would love programming in. It could be, but it seems very unlikely.

My problem with it is simple, and it’s why I dislike ClearCase, and many other technologies; it makes easy things hard. I’m busy. I’d use it if forced to, and then I’d try desperately to like it. Until then, I have better things to do.

Java sucks

Well yes, we know this already from the way that it makes easy things hard, and hard things nearly impossible, but it’s rarely been captured with the eloquence that I find in these wonderful quotes on the topic.

And yet, as cockroaches are to humans this technology/language/marketing campaign continues unabated until having java on one’s resume is a requirement to find a job through some ignorant HR department that has no idea what is is. Like the job posting I saw a few years ago for a java programmer with 10-years experience when java was only 7 years old. Luck with that.

My favourite quote:

If Java had true garbage collection, most programs would delete themselves upon execution. — Robert Sewell

My boss asks me occasionally why I don’t use Java, and I tell him that I have many tools in my toolbox, some good and some bad that I bought on impulse due to good marketing or simply because they were new. Java is like my trendy flip-grip pliers from Crappy Tire that try to be both clippers and needle-nose pliers, but suck at both jobs. I don’t hate the tool, but I certainly don’t reach for it often, and I’m thinking of throwing it out.

Bell just as stupid as Call Select

So, now that we have our long-distance service switched back to Bell, and Call Select admits that we owe them nothing, you’d think that the whole issue was over, right? Wrong.

From our bill:

Jul 23  Order #**** Removal
 From Jul 23 to Aug 12
 1 Unlimited Canada & US LD Plan 24.95 20 16.63cr
 1 Network Charge 5.95 20 3.97cr
Jul 24  Order #**** Addition
 From Jul 24 to Aug 12
 1 Unlimited Canada & US LD Plan 24.95 19 15.80
 1 Network Charge 5.95 19 3.77
Aug 01  Order #**** Addition
 From Aug 01 to Aug 12
 1 Residence line 2.00 12 0.80
Miscellaneous Charges:
Jul 23  LD Plan 30 Day Deactivation Charges  23.29
Jul 23  LD Network 30 Day Deactivation Charges  5.55
Total Other Charges or Credits (before taxes)  28.61

Umm, we never asked anyone to cancel our long-distance service, so why are you charging us for it, you utter morons!

Update: So I called 310-BELL and waited in their phone queue, and talked to a very nice woman who sorted out the problem. Lets hope that’s it…

Weekend at Golden Lake

We spent the weekend at Golden Lake, a campground that I spent a lot of time at while growing up. While there I pulled out my GPS and wrote down our coordinates so that I could link to Google Maps when I got back.

The weather was interesting, one second we thought that it was going to drench us, and the next the sun would come out and it was beautiful. I woke up early on Saturday and took a lovely shot of the sun coming up over the water.

The kids had a great time in the water, and before we knew it, Saturday was pretty much over. At least I managed to get another shot as the sun was going down. The only real advantage to clouds is that they reflect the sunset, so the colours to the east were just as amazing as the ones to the west.

This morning it was really cloudy, and threatening to rain. It never did, but it made for an amazing shot after the sun was up, with the sky so dark. The contrast here is incredible.

I suspect we’ll be back, but for any prolonged stay it would help if the proprietors worked harder to make it a good experience for kids. I think the lake would only keep them busy for so long, and it’s so dependent on the weather. I might try a place next that does just that.

Lunch at the Bohemian Kitchen

Maria and I had lunch at The Bohemian Kitchen today. Very nice little place in Bells Corners, with only a couple of decent tables but great, organic food with a home-made touch.

We split some split-pea soup and veggie panini, with some organic coffee and finished it off with a brownie. Now Maria wants me to find out what coffee they’re using.

They have a breakfast special that we may have to try soon.

Call Select does the right thing

I just got a few calls, two of them from Call Select. The first one asked me to call back and the second said that the matter was cleared-up and we would not have to pay anything, meaning that they can’t find any proof that we ever agreed to their service in the first place.

Why they didn’t just immediately absorb the buck-and-a-half of fees incurred is beyond me, was it really worth the hassle? The person I talked to claims that they most-likely made a mistake. Possible, so I shouldn’t overreact here. The fact is that I don’t know, regardless of what my cynical side wants to suspect, so I’ll just let it lie. I’m more interested now in why this kind of thing is possible in Canada.

Anyway, I also got a call from a reporter a the Ottawa Citizen, as I did email him about the issue, and he said he’d been looking into it. I’m not a big believer in coincidences, personally, so I think I’ll go buy the Citizen for at least the next few days. I suddenly like them even more than usual.

If the Citizen wants to follow-up on weak laws around telecom in Canada, more power to them. Maybe it will help the next guy.

CCTS is no help

So, apparently the CCTS will be of no help at all since Call Select is not a member. That’s just a wonderful system we have here in Canada, isn’t it?

So, according to the CRTC’s guidelines I’ve followed up with them again, amending my complaint about being billed on a fraudulent claim. I’ve called Call Select this morning but they’re not awake yet, west coast and all, so I’ll have to wait for a while.

I still can’t believe my long distance can be taken in this country without my written authorization.

Call Select sends us a bill

So we just got the mail, and it seems that Call Select just doesn’t get the point, ’cause they sent us a bill for $1.44.

I really don’t care about the size of it, we’re not paying it, and I’m filing a complaint with the CCTS since they obviously can’t get their shit together.

I called them and they say they’re still investigating. I really don’t see what that has to do with deleting our account, which we did not ask for. If they cared one iota about customer service they would have zero’d the account when I first called them and never sent me anything in the mail. Ever again.

I’m not impressed.

Fight Internet censorship

Amnesty International is running a campaign against Internet censorship, and it’s well worth checking out. If you run a website they have a section on how you can help undermine censorship on your own site.

Mike Z., you’ll be missed

…not. Thanks for nothing. I guess six-sigma doesn’t really fix everything, huh?