This brings back some fond memories, when my once beloved Netscape Navigator fell from heaven to hell in just a few years by Y2K, and I reluctantly started tailoring websites for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (even though they did not comply with web standards and were full of holes, at least back then). Not sure if I should be glad or what, but history does repeat itself, and this time around, we witness IE’s market share shrinking noticeably (from 48.16% a year ago) while Chrome almost doubles up (from 13.35%) and Firefox losing its fire (fell from 31.17%).

But unlike 10 years ago, most browsers these days (or at least their up-to-date versions, unless you are still using IE6) are relatively standards-compliant, and web designers know very well how to make their products cross-browser safe and compatible.

To be fair, Transit City would be a visionary concept, IF we were living in the 1950s, or for less crowded places like Nice (pronounced as “niece”) or Lucerne. But the cold, hard truth is that, Toronto is home to more than 2.5 MILLION people, and it would be unrealistic to rely on some retro-futuristic street cars to move them around.

Yes, there are budgetary constraints; but instead of writing off any subway expansion as expensive, perhaps we should also look beyond Yonge and Dundas, and learn from other world-class cities like Shanghai and Delhi, especially when it comes to project financing.

And no, it’s not even about politics.

I went to their Richmond Hill location yesterday (Saturday) for their weekend buffet brunch. And although their published hours start at 11:30 AM, their door was locked as of 11:35 AM. Fine, it’s only 5 minutes, so I went to the nearby Chapters/Indigo for a quick browse. Not really that nearby, had to drive a block away. And when I turned around their corners, I could clearly see staffers inside, probably preparing for the opening.

I returned at 11:55 AM, and guess what? The door was still locked! Now you may think they have not updated their hours on their corporate website, and they actually open at noon instead. NO! I called on Friday and specifically asked for their weekend buffet brunch AND confirmed when it started (at 11:30 AM). After all, it’s BRUNCH, which means breakfast + lunch.

I didn’t have their phone number at hand, so I went back home (fortunately, it’s only 5 minutes away), and got it from the web. Called them, and was told they were opened A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO.

Whether I still went there, or if their food is good is not the question here. Their management sucks. I don’t blame the kitchen staff who were late in preparing the food for the brunch, I won’t even blame the other waiters who showed up late. It’s the MANAGER‘s fault. HE (or she) should be reprimanded. If a restaurant cannot even open its door for a weekend brunch at noon (i.e. more than half an hour late), they better cancel that for good. And if the corporate head office was not able to maintain a high level of service quality, they should rethink operating at so many locations.

By the way, this is probably NOT an isolated incident, because when I called, there was no apology, and that staffer sounded like it’s no big deal. ;p

Every logical mind KNOWS that it’s not possible to run a hosting BUSINESS (yes, business; unless it’s some kids earning snacks or flash cards) on a couple of dollars per month REGARDLESS OF DISK SPACE AND BANDWIDTH, not to say those who ask for a few dollars per YEAR!! :shocked: Reason? Any reliable host would have to take into consideration SUPPORT. Yes, support, and it costs. For clients, esp. newbies, to submit a ticket (forget about phone calls) every other months, and your few dollars are gone. So how could they survive?? EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, but my question is: why do people still waste their time and go with those cheap hosting, only to switch everything over in a few months’ time! Just curious.

The first (sent Nov 10) sells their 1-month subscription (of 500,000+ royalty free images) for $9.99 (originally priced at $29.95) as a limited time offer (good till Nov 12).

Then just now I got a second e-mail, telling me that they have the “best deal yet”: for $6.99, you’ll get the same stuff, and once again, for a limited time (till Nov 15).

I almost fell for the first offer, now should I go for the second, cheaper one? Or will they have a third offer tomorrow, for something like $1.99? LOL!

http://www.google.com/intl/et/press/pressrel/picasa.html

To start with, I am VERY familiar with domain names. But apparently, the previous webmaster who helped set up my new client’s website is not: he paid Hostway $52.30 for 2 years of domain registration. And a look at the whois reveals that they are actually reselling OpenSRS/Tucows.

Okay, that’s fine for me since I am not the one who paid; the problem is: contrary to what’s mentioned in their generic support e-mail template, I cannot manage or modify my client’s domain registration info either through their sitecontrol.com interface or by calling their support. Unlike most other OpenSRS/Tucows resellers who give out login combos for clients to manage their domains, Hostway is managing the domain registration for their clients.

So when I ask to update my client’s e-mail which is listed as the Admin Contact, they just point me to OpenSRS/Tucows. My question is: why are they charging $52.30 for a 2-year registration and does NOT provide any support at all?

Now with the existing Admin Contact e-mail not working, I’ll have to ask my client to fax OpenSRS/Tucows an authorization on a company letterhead. This takes more than a couple of persons (clerical work, you know) and at least a week to turn around. And Hostway is listing themselves as the Technical Contact … puh!