The small number of people who follow me on Twitter are well aware of my distaste for the implementation of the paywall on baltimoresun.com.  Given how obstreperous I found the paywall to be, I opted to remove the RSS feeds for the sun from Google Reader. It would be a cold day in Hell before I would return to view content on baltimoresun.com!

I had not paid much attention to how to workaround the paywall, as I had already implemented a simple workaround–use Incognito Mode in Google Chrome (or the equivalent setting in a modern browser of your choice).  After some time of successfully using this workaround, though, I decided take a deeper dive into how to solve this. Needless to say, thanks to reddit and some tools already at my disposal, the solution is pretty simple.

Some of you who read this might complain that I am stealing content.  I would counter by stating that I am just leveraging technology to take advantage of a feature in the paywall that Tribune Media has invested in.  I would also reply with the following image:

Interestingly, many of the sites that implement this paywall technology–Press+ from RR Donnelley–admit to knowing about the existence of a workaround to the paywall.  They explain it away, however, by stating that the technical knowledge required to do so is too much for the average user.  In other words, most users are too dumb to realize how easy it is to get around paying for a digital subscription, so we will profit from the dumb.

Following the very simple how-to below, however, shows this to be pretty easy to implement.

1. Install Google Chrome (if you have not done so already).
2. Go to the Chrome Web Store, and search for Adblock Plus for Google Chrome (Beta).  Install the extension.
3. Once it is installed, go to the wrench icon to the right of the address bar, then click Tools|Extensions.
4. Select the Options link for Adblock Plus.
5. Click on the Add your own filters tab.
6. In the text box next to “+ Add filter,” paste the following filter:
   ##div[id="gregbox-overlay"]
   Click the “+ Add filter” button once done.
7. Repeat the previous step for the following filter:
   ##div[id="gregbox-wrap"]
8. Once done, open up a new tab to baltimoresun.com.  Enjoy paywall-free browsing, and feel free to say with me "SUCK IT, Tribune Media!"

Oh, and the iPad does blend.

I think I can deal with 21 Mb/s down and 3.5 Mb/s up.

I also discovered someone linking to an image on my blog.  Now, my concern is certainly not over the bandwidth consumption.  The fine host I have–A2 Hosting–is quite generous with my bandwidth caps, and my blog is by no means famous.  Still, it was the principle of it all.  I made some edits to my .htaccess file, and the page linked above now has one of the more legendary images to make the rounds on the Internet.

• Professionally, things are well yet busy.  I would not have it any other day.
• After the end of snow and the coming onslaught of rain, I spent today cleaning my house from top to bottom.  It needed it, and I actually feel like I accomplished something as a result.
• After some research, I decided to purchase a Blu-Ray DVD player.  Specifically, I ordered a Samsung BD-P3600 from TigerDirect.  TigerDirect was having a pretty good deal on the player, so I figured why not.
• Lately, there have been two songs that I have been unable to get out of my head.

• • The Filet-o-Fish Song

• • • Even with a DVR, I cannot get this stupid ad jingle out of my head.

• • Shots, LMFAO featuring Lil Jon

• • • Yet again, the music selection at my gym strikes again.  In this case, as I was wrapping up my workout on Thursday morning, this little ditty became permanently ingrained into my brain.  I have no idea who this other rap group is, but I am all too familiar with Lil Jon, thanks to Dave Chappelle. Damn you, Lil Jon!

• Opening Day 2010 for the Baltimore Orioles will soon be upon us.  I have yet to acquire a ticket, but I will begin that search soon enough.
• In the book-reading department, I finished reading The Quants.  Expect a review of that book sometime this week.  Also, I am almost finished reading SuperFreakonomics.

There you have it—a concise update.

The other part of this little effort involved running some network cabling to my Samsung HDTV.  My TV has an Ethernet port on the back of it, and it has the capability to run some widgets.  My nerd curiosity has gotten the best of me, as I really want to see this TV is capable of when connected to the Internet.  Personally, I am looking forward to using it to stream content.  Now, there is a wireless adapter for my TV, as it also has a USB port, but the network admin in me says the best way to get streaming content is to make sure the connection is stable. 

This project is going to take a bit more effort than I thought. 

• I need to find out where some of the wiring in my home goes, but I need to get a flashlight. 
• My house has structured wiring, as all the cable and phone wiring come to one central point in the basement.  The problem here is that makes it a bit more difficult to trace wires. 
• My wireless router is in my office, and my office is an addition to the original back of my house.  Consequently, I need to find out how the cable and phone wiring was run to my office in the back of the house from the central point where all of my structured wiring resides. 
• I need to figure out how I want to run the wire to the television from my basement.  I would like to run it using one of the two conduits I see, but I have a feeling that idea will require more work. 

The goal here is to run the cabling as neat as possible without damaging any walls.  It’s possible, but it is a project that is going to take me the better part of a weekend afternoon. 

The big news at WWDC, of course, was the coming new version of the iPhone–or, as I call it, the JeebusPhone.  Now, the iPhone will have all the following features :

• Cut, Copy, and Paste!
• Video!
• Voice Control!
• Improved Battery Life!
• MMS!
• Compass!

Now, mind you that a number of current smartphones on the market have had these features for some time.  Heck, even my old Motorola e815 had these features before the iPhone.  Admittedly, the compass is something most phones do not have, but I am struggling to come up with a true need-case where my phone must have a compass.

Of course, however, with the typical Apple upgrade comes the price one pays.  All the fanboys are atwitter–literally–over the upgrade pricing fiasco. All of this reminds me of one of the better recent Simpsons parodies in some time.

I finally had time to install it last weekend, and, for the most part, it has been trouble-free.  For the installation, I opted not to hack the installation to allow for an upgrade from the Beta.  Instead, I took Ed Bott’s advice and backed up everything using the Windows Easy Transfer Utility.  It backed up all of my documents and settings to an external drive, and then I performed a clean install of Windows 7 RC.

Admittedly, I had to spend some time reinstalling applications, but I am used to this from before.  For the most part, that was easy since I have the installation media handy for most of my applications.  For those items I download, I tend to save them in a place just for this purpose.

I have only had two problems.  One is something I have had since the Beta, and the other was a strange one.

• BlackBerry Desktop Manager and Leaked BlackBerry OSs
  • The desktop manager refuses to see the leaked version of the BlackBerry OS I want to install to my Storm.  While not a show-stopper, I can easily boot into Windows XP for this purpose.  Of course, I need to get my Windows XP partition working as expected, but I should be able to do that in no time (stupid boot menus).  This problem has existed since the RC, though.  The method one uses to install a new OS to their BlackBerry device is to download the package, install it locally, then connect the device and let it receive the update.  When I connect the device, though, it fails to see the availability of a newer OS.
• Strange Blue Screen Crashes
  • For two consecutive days, I noticed my machine had experienced a reboot shortly after it went into some sleep/power-save mode.  I tend to keep my machine on, but this was downright annoying.  I disabled the power-save settings in use, and the problem has not returned.  I think the problem is probably driver related, so I am starting with a BIOS update, then going from there.

As with the Beta, I really like what I see in the RC.  Everything is smooth and fast, and I have not had any hardware issues following the installation.  For the most part, I look forward to the final release of Windows 7.

Now, unfortunately, I was never good at updating Outlook on my home workstation with contact details from my old RAZR2.  So, I am putting out the call: If I had your contact information before and you still want me to have it, please email me your details at jasonjthomas AT gmail DOT com! Thanks in advance.

More on this later.  I have been spending way too much time getting it working.

My current contract with Verizon Wireless expires in June 2009.  If I wait until that time, I am eligible for the “New Every 2” promotional offer.  I spoke with Verizon while reconnecting my old phone to make sure that this had no impact on my current contract status given that I am effectively forced to reactivate.  I was assured that my reactivation should have no impact on my contract status.  So, if I stay with Verizon and wait until my contract expires, I can get a substantial discount towards the purchase of a new phone.

I am also pondering a change of carriers.  While keeping my old number is not an issue, I am looking for a way to avoid paying a potentially substantial early termination fee.  I am also a off-put by the vast difference in network quality between Verizon and the alternatives.  For all of Verizon’s faults, their cellular network is pretty good.  Additionally, it is a pretty good 3G network as well.  I rarely have issues with calls and messages.

I have also come to the decision that I really want a smartphone.  My time with my work CrackBerry has been illuminating.  I like having my calendar and my contacts on my device, and it is unparalleled when it comes to email.  Thus, my first pass on potential replacements have come down to the following three choices:

• Apple iPhone
• BlackBerry Storm
• HTC G1 (The Android/Google Phone)

Phone	Pros	Cons
iPhone 3G	- Integrated WiFi connectivity - Useful Applications - Full-featured browser - Actually recommended by a friend - All the cool kids are doing it - JailBreak makes this attractive - Touchscreen - GPS	- Apple makes it - Requires iTunes - Browser is Safari - Pricing for the phone and plan still suck - AT&T 3G Network sucks - No cut and paste - No MMS messages - on-screen keyboard does not work in landscape mode - Navigation between apps is a kludge - Touchscreen has no tactile feedback
HTC G1	- Integrated WiFi connectivity - Google integration - Touchscreen and hidden QWERTY keyboard - Least expensive of the three phones - Open-source OS - Extremely hackable - GPS - Cut and paste - MMS Messaging	- T-Mobile network makes AT&T network look awesome - Odd form-factor - Largest phone of the three - Swing-out keyboard/display is kind of dated
BlackBerry Storm	- Familiar BlackBerry OS - Touchscreen with tactile feedback - Verizon Network - GPS - Pretty decent browser by BlackBerry standards - Decent application availability - Touchscreen keyboard in both landscape and portrait modes - Cut and paste - MMS Messaging	- No WiFi - Reported slow responsiveness - Yet another BlackBerry to carry - Slightly less-expensive than the iPhone (after a mail-in rebate)

I am leaning in the direction of the Storm.  I have gotten some feedback from friends who are new BlackBerry users, and they like it.  I have also used the Storm, and I like the way it feels.  I do feel its lack of WiFi is a severe weakness when compared to the G1 and the iPhone.  I have played with the G1, thanks to a coworker.  It’s form factor is a bit odd, as it kind of bends at the end where the mouthpiece is.  I like the G1 because, well, it’s open-source.  The problem: T-Mobile.  Finally, the only reason the iPhone makes the list is so that I can hack it via JailBreak.

I will probably make a decision in the next week.  The Storm, though, is a strong contender.

In recent weeks, I have been incredibly annoyed by the wafer-thin source of fail that is my personal cell phone–the Motorola RAZR2.  Here are some of the various reasons why I have come to label this phone as FAIL.

• The protection for the power outlet on the phone is a small rubber gasket with a aluminum cover attached to it.  The cover allowed for the gasket to be closed and maintain the lines of the phone.  About 6 months ago, I lost the small aluminum cover.  This was inevitable, as the cover appeared to be attached to the gasket with some sort of adhesive.  It made very little sense to attach a piece to the phone that is opened and closed so often with glue, and it was even worse when I lost the cover unexpectedly.
• While I cannot determine for sure if the battery is dead or if the phone refuses to charge the battery.  In the last 8 weeks, I have had periods where the phone could be plugged in all day yet not recharge.  There has been no specific method I have employed to correct this behavior, but it comes and goes.  For the last couple of days, though, it appears to have gone for good.  I am going to replace the battery to see if that is the source of the problem.

In any event, I thought that this RAZR would be an improvement over the shortcomings of the first-generation RAZR.  Heck, through the years, I have stuck with Motorola phones given their resiliency and long-life.  Let’s look at my personal cell phone history through the years:

1. Nokia 6110
2. Motorola StarTAC
3. Motorola V60
4. Motorola E815
5. Motorola RAZR2

Motorola used to have a reputation for good phones.  My E815 still works quite well, considering it is 3 years old.  Even then, it still holds a charge pretty well.  The RAZR2, however, is just such a letdown. Apparently, the decline in quality of Motorola phones seems to eerily coincide with the performance of their mobile phone unit.

Barring my battery purchase, I am quite close to considering getting a new phone to replace this POS.