Some astute people coming to this site from Google, Yahoo! and MSN search results are probably wondering why they are getting redirected to URLs on blogspot.

Basically I’ve decided to split up the blog into more focused content areas, instead of trying to cover what is a very eclectic mix of posts. I’ve also decided that Blogger is a lot less trouble when it comes to maintaining more than one blog than Wordpress. As much as I love Wordpress and hosting my own domain, it just requires too much maintenance and management, especially with regards to security and spam. I could not see myself trying to maintain a dozen or so blogs using this platform.

So without further ado, here is how things are shaping up on Blogger. I have set up the blogs and have transferred over most of the posts from this blog and set up permanent redirects. The next step will be to set up an aggregator page here on randomroyalty.com that will have feeds from all of my blogs. In the meantime, you can check out the new blogs by clicking on the links below.

The Consumer Geek –> consumer activism and criticism with a focus on value and conservation
The Appliance Geek –> Paying attention to efficiency, usability, durability and reliability
The Driving Geek –> Like appliances, changing attitudes is the key to green, sustainable transportation for individuals and families. This will be about cars and ownership issues from a green consumer perspective.
The High Fidelity Geek –> A fresh look at value in audio equipment
The Kitchen Geek –> Scullery Design, Tools, Techniques and Recipes
The Philosopher Geek –> OK, I get to pontificate
The Investing Geek –> My adventures in value and contrarian investing
The Photography Geek –> Mainly about digital but also analog
The Lounge Geek –> Alternative music with a focus on trip-hop, downtempo, electrojazz and Lounge
The Silver Screen Geek –> Mainly movie reviews but also management strategies for movie geeks
The Bicycle Geek –> The value that bicycles provide to humanity is without equal. 
The Organized Geek –> My adventures in Getting Things Done and general lifehacking strategies
The Spiritual Geek –> I am both a spiritual Christian Catholic and an ordained minister of the Church of the Subgenius. Sounds incompatible? Maybe. But maybe that’s the point.
The Bread Geek –> I have a passion for sourdough and have invested a lot of time in developing unique cultures and processes. A lot of my research will end up here, eventually.

I have to admit nearly caving in and calling a Fido CSR to see my eligibility to upgrade to an iPhone. But after seeing that the $30 6 GB plan tacked on to my existing plan (if they would let me) still does not allow me any text messages or visual voice mail (I don’t have voice mail on my cell phone). I also have 25 MMS messages included in my plan, but the iPhone can’t send MMS messages so this would also be lost.

My phone bill from Fido would still more than double to nearly $100 including taxes. This is way too much to pay for a cell phone. In fact, I’m wondering how much I really need a cell phone AT ALL…

You know what this means, folks…

Another petition!! This time the NDP has set one up.

click to sign the petition for unfair cell phone pricing in Canada.

I was asked how I calculated and compared dishwasher operating cost. Aside from acquisition cost, there is the electrical consumption of the dishwasher itself, how much water it uses, the cost of heating the water, and the cost of detergent and additives.

Read on for the nitty-gritty and the tools that I used. | Read the rest of this entry …

We got it down to Asko, Bosch, Blomberg and Samsung. From a performance perspective it looks like Bosch is the winner as it has the lowest energy rating, uses very little water, uses very little soap and has a very low repair incidence.

But we went with the Samsung DMR77LHS. How did we decide? | Read the rest of this entry …

A report on Electronista (Macintosh News Network) states that Rogers and Fido data plans for the iPhone are overpriced when compared to American and European plans. Typically a basic voice and data plan will cost nearly $100 once the system access fee, caller ID, voice mail, text messaging and taxes are considered. A basic plan will be $60 for 400 mb and some voice airtime (add $6.95 system access fee, $12-20 “value pack” and taxes)

This is what happens when there is no competition in telecom. Exorbitant internet, telephone and cellular fees. 

Read more here.

The marketing and PR spin of many automobile manufacturers is downright laughable. The way GM presents itself in its current crop of TV ads would make you think they are the world leader in saving the planet! Aside from 1 or 2 rather unimpressive hybrids from the Saturn division, there is absolutely nothing in their lineup with any environmental or fuel efficient attributes. What really got me going about this was the latest PR from BMW, a manufacturer that has mainly very thirsty vehicles in their lineup.  | Read the rest of this entry …

The Mozilla Foundation is attempting to set a Guinness record for the most number of downloads for a software package in a single day. You have until 17h universal time (thats 2 PM EST) on June 18 to be counted. 

Firefox 3 can be downloaded here.

iPhone 3G will be available to Fido customers at $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model on a 3 year price plan.

Glad I didn’t buy an unlocked 1st gen iPhone when they were selling on Craigslist for $500. No mention of data plan cost….

Link.