http://stodge.blogspot.com

"Blackberry Owners Chained to Work"? The title is for an article on ArsTechnica: Blackberry Owners Chained to Work Well duh! Take my manager, for example. No, I mean, take him please! Just kidding. His blackberry is surgically attached to his hip. Either that or he has it set to buzz for kicks. This is one of the reasons I refuse to get one - I don't want to be available 24/7. I value my family life too much. My thinking is, if you get a blackberry for work and make yourself available 24/7 then you only have yourself to blame if your family life and health suffer. Do you REALLY need to be available 24/7? And do you REALLY need to be reachable everywhere you go? I'm sure people take them on holiday. Me, I'd much rather be sitting reading a good book than sending work emails or reading how everyone's stressed and having a bad day!

I've created a new blog for posting my thoughts on user interfaces, their design and their use. Check it out at: http://mode-ui.blogspot.com/

Seems there's a lot of resentment on the forums at http://www.myford500.com as Ford is renaming the Five Hundred the Taurus. In my uneducated English opinion, that's crazy for two reasons: 1) The Taurus was a bland fleet car that was not updated and left to die 2) Ford blames the Five Hundred name for low sales (it has nothing to do with zero advertising on Ford's part) I'm not North American, I didn't grow up here, but this doesn't make sense to me. The Five Hundred has an identity as a large, roomy and safe vehicle. The earlier complaints of it being underpowered are no longer valid with the new 3.5L V6 engine. Ford has revamped the exterior style, and while I may not necessarily like it, I do think it brings more cohesion to the car. Disclaimer: I drive a 2005 Five Hundred, though it will be my last Ford.