*Canadian technology and privacy watchdog Michael Geist reported today that the Prime Minister has asked for a US-style DMCA bill to be delivered in six weeks. This sudden turnaround in policy is an alarming development, given the current fair regime we enjoy today. I was moved to write a letter to my MP, who happens to be the Finance Minister. I’m including this letter below with the invitation to my fellow Canadians to crib as necessary in crafting your own letters to your MP.

Meeting your goals is hard. If they are real goals, then achieving them is the result of long hours, lots of mistakes, and plenty of lost sleep. Over the past year I had two long range goals: to complete and publish a large technical book, and to start selling an iPhone app on the App store. And what do you know: I succeeded. After all the labour, I now have a new book on store shelves, and a cute little app in the store.

This is for the coders out there. while (outWithiPad) { int averageHumans = rand(10); // assume exposure to anywhere from // 1-10 averageHumans for ( i = 0; i <= averageHumans; i++ ) { [self receiveInquiry:@"Is that an iPad?"]; [self sendResponse:@"Yes."]; [self receiveInquiry:@"Is it really good?"]; [self sendResponse:@"Yes."]; [self giveDemo:UIDemoTypeOverview withEnthusiasm:YES]; [apple incrementiPadUnitsSold]; } } I haven’t tried compiling this, so overlook the bugs. But the intention is there, I think you’ll agree.

I wasn’t making any noise about it for fear of some d-bag breaking into my house, but I just spent the last week in Florida. I took the wife and spawn to the sunny Gulf shores near St. Petersberg, and we had a lovely time. When a Canadian such as myself travels to the US, it’s usually with a great deal of trepidation. Not for the horrors of flying (though they are manifold), nor the slight discomfort of being somewhere similar-but-different.

The Tablet — or whatever Apple chooses to call is — is upon us. As I write these words, we’re 4.5 hours away from the unveiling. So in the finest spirit of pundits everywhere, I thought I’d share my own small opinion on what this product is, and what it will mean. Apple has done an amazing job managing the secrecy. While not a drop of information has come out of the company through official channels, teh Interwebz are abuzz with rumours and speculation on this device.