Virgin mobile commercials

Why does Virgin Mobile always have the fakest sounding British accent advertising it's Canadian services?  Are they contracted by Virgin to do so?  Its just so bad it almost but not quite makes Telus commercials look passable.

67 cent mcdonalds hamburgers

I haven't had a McDonald's hamburger for 15 years, got a few today, I think I'm good for another 15. At least there's no signs of food poisoning this time lol. 

  One burger was missing the bottom of the bun lol.  But I'm not even mad just made a double burger.  Still, younger me remembers enjoying the taste, older me thinks it tastes like cardboard.  What happened?  Anyways congrats to McDonald's on half a century in business in Canada.  quite a milestone to be proud of. 

How to get XWrt-Vortex firmware running on a Netgear R6900 (AC1700) by making it spoof itself as an R7000

So I found one of these Netgear Nighthawk routers at a thrift store for $20 Canadian.  Looks nice, new in box even.  But I never stick to stock firmware.  I prefer to go with Tomato, OpenWRT, or AsusWRT-Merlin.  I have been running the excellent AsusWRT-Merlin on my Asus RT-AC66U, and it turns out the Netgear AC1700 R7000 has a port of that firmware available via the Xwrt-Vortex project.   And as it turns out that R7000 and R6900 are 99% similar internally, the latter mostly seems to be missing some USB 2.0 ports.  But it comes with a single USB 3.0 port so it's enough for me.  The R6900 appears to have been a Costco exclusive model with limited support.  So if anyone has one of these, they may as well modify the firmware.  At your own risk of course.  :)

Now, there are tutorials for getting DD-WRT firmware on the R6900 and R7000 routers.  But nothing about running the XWrt-Vortex firmware for the R7000 on the R6900.  So I figured I'd give it a try based on the available information.  And the following procedure worked for me:

Step 1:  Reset Netgear firmware to default.

Step 2: Acquire TelnetEnable specific to the Netgear router (R6900/R7000).  I use Linux so I did

>git clone https://github.com/insanid/NetgearTelnetEnable.git

>cd NetgearTelnetEnable/

>gcc -o telnetenable md5.c blowfish.c telnetenable.c 

>chmod a+x telnetenable

>./telnetenable

The mac address can be found at the bottom of the router.  user name is admin password is password.  IP is probably 192.168.1.1, so something like ./telnetenable 192.168.1.1 F541052345 admin password would be run.

For Windows you'd find the windows version specific to Netgear routers and do essentially the same thing.

Step 3: Once telnet is enabled through that exploit, run telnet to the same ip you just used.  Then once you're in, you can run the following commands:

>burnboardid U12H270T00_NETGEAR

which makes your router identify itself as an R7000

>nvram erase && reboot

which erases your nvram and reboots the router

Now wait for your router to reboot before proceeding with Step 4.

Step 4: Download and install the R7000 XWrt-Vortex firmware from the following website...

Unzip it and then log in to your netgear router  (again, probably 192.168.1.1)

Go to Advanced settings and update firmware.  select the firmware you just downloaded in my case at the time of writing it was  R7000_380.67_0.chk, then click on update.  Wait for the router to update and reboot.

Step 5: Enter in to your router and voila, XWrt-Vortex.    I had saved my settings from my old Asus-WRT Merlin router and I was able to update all those settings to the newly installed "R7000" router. Simply uploaded my Settings_RT-AC66U.CFG file and the new router was more or less configured the same as my old Asus router.

And voila, finished.  Seems to be running quite well.

You could probably Follow Steps 1-3 and then install Tomato or DD-Wrt for the R7000 instead. Maybe even OpenWRT although at the time I write this there doesn't appear to be support for the wireless broadcom chipset in OpenWRT.   But in any case I haven't tried any of those options as I'm quite happy with AsusWRT/XVortex

Also note, there is a version 2 of this router, this process will only work on the version 1.  Or as its labelled on my box barcode "R6900-100NAS"

Chump change

How in the world are coinstar coin changing machines profitable? Do they give rolls of coins to people?  They're huge and they must pay for space in stores like Redbox did, and they died in Canada.  How long does it take for thelat investment in the machine and space in Safeway or whatever take before it turns a profit?  I can't believe it's profitable no matter how often I pass by.

Reign of deer

I wonder if local wild deer see all the Christmas decorations of raindeer and wonder wtf is going on.

Mo squitos

Who was the genius at city hall who decided to stop spraying for mosquito's?  Seriously they're everywhere.

Wendys

Looks like they're planning to  build a new Wendy's in Winnipeg past sturgeon on portage.  Does that bring us back up to two?  Iirc there used to be one on the other side of portage near unicity.  I have no idea what the deal was with all the Wendy's closing down but hey, if you like Wendy's, congrats!

Ninten doh

So Nintendo had an event for the game splatoon called splatfest, right up until the day before the event when suddenly cancelled because of bugs in the Japanese event held weeks before. Pretty poorly handled there, Nintendo.

Nintendo makes great games and systems, buy they always fall short somewhere. Not enough GameCube adapters or amiibos. Poorly received e3, a pretty unmetroid like metroid. Can't play Wii games with the Wii U controller...

Nintendo has always acted as if there is going to be another video game crash like the one that happened to Atari in the 80's. Newsflash, Nintendo, video games are here to stay. So stop being afraid. You've outlasted Atari by three decades. Sheesh.

Sim antics

I don't care for ants but I do enjoy seeing them swarm over those annoying forest tent caterpillars and devouring them.  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

7 eleven

Man they sure built a lot of 7 elevens in Winnipeg lately. Even one in the north end near dufferin and salter.  We really love slurpees I guess.  And we already had a lot of locations.  It does piss me off that they don't sell old dutch chips though. 

When I was a kid they had beef burgers you could microwave, the location near where I live stopped carrying them years ago but i went to a different location and they had them.  They're not that great but still, nice to know it's an option. 

I also miss those lemon hostess fruit pies.  Those were good.. And also bad ... But the Weston bakery made those I think.

Sobeys

So it has been a while since Sobeys bought out Safeway, and my worst fear has actually been assuaged.   Sobeys is apparently going to start carrying Lucerne brand milk.  Which is good, because it is my ideal preference.  Now I don't have to go to Safeway for milk.  Yay!

Beatrice brand just bothers me.  I can't quite put my finger on why.  Dairyland is acceptable though.

Advances in technology are regressions

Has anyone else ever noticed that advances in technology lately are not necessarily superior to what we had in the 80s and 90s?

Sure we have cell phones and tablets and octo core processors... But the software running on them is often buggy and poorly implemented.

The Winnipeg public library used to have an easy to use and fast computer system for searching for books.  You could use telnet to access it from the Internet or over dialup.  It was easy to use and gave you information you need.  They replaced it with a poorly made web based system. 

Maybe its the way these web systems are implemented that bothers me.  But I think its deeper than that.  The lack of relevant information , the way things are programmed not being particularly optimized.  The old systems were programs.  These systems are web based scripts that access a database.  I dunno its not just the library though I don't mean to pick on them.  Its not just computers.

Toys, don't have the same quality or attention to detail.  Look at a transformer from the 80s.  Now look at a modern day one.  Still decent, but not the same. Tonka trucks. Hot wheels.  Part of it is plastic vs metal, but still.

Sure in some cases there are reasons.  the new method is cheaper, and more up to date.  OK I get it.  But don't pretend its better.  Because it rarely is.

Menards to replace Target at Polo Park

Midwest American home improvement retailer Menards will be opening its first Canadian store in 2016 on the site of what was Target Canada's flagship Winnipeg store prior to bankruptcy. 

Menards, a chain of home improvement centers in the Midwestern united states is owned by a privately held company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  It has approximately 285 stores in 14 US states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Kentucky. It is the third largest home improvement chain in the United States, behind The Home Depot and Lowes. 

When asked why their first Canadian location would be in Winnipeg, spokesperson April F. Menard stated "We have always been inundated with requests from people from Manitoba to open up a Menards location in Winnipeg.  Y'all share the same values and interest in Nascar as we do, and we have been in negotiations with the province of Manitoba to facilitate this move for more than two years.  The fact that this property was available so cheaply also didn't hurt"

When pressed as to how prices would compare to shopping in their American stores, Ms Menard stated that while there would be an increase in prices in Canada, they would still be competitive and reflect what the market could bare. 

Menards Canada, known for their slogan "Save big money at Menards", will instead go by the slogan created by Canadian brand awareness firm AdTrends Canada: "We have reasonably priced inventory at Menards Canada"

"We think this slogan accurately reflects the Menards Canada brand." Said Frank Duben, head idea man for AdTrends.  "They aren't run by idiots like a certain dartboard themed retailer we all know well"

Look forward to Menards opening in Winnipeg on April 1'st 2016.

Congrats NDP

You made the slightly less devastating choice to your party.

Maybe one day there will be a female premier of Manitoba , but it's meaningless to do it through any way but a general election, and Theresa Oswald IMHO would decimate the provincial NDP.

Now I don't care about "social justice" and many of the things the NDP considers relevant.  I don't like Greg Sellinger much either.  But as much as I loathe the NDP, I don't trust the conservatives to do anything but screw everyone in this province, so we'll see what happens. 

Maybe I'll vote liberal.

We Apologize for technical difficulties

If cbc radio one really felt bad about technical difficulties, they wouldn't fill the air with crappy big band music in the meantime.

Maybe when hell freezes over.. Oh wait..

Ever notice that the jets gear store doesn't have Balaclava's?  They do realize this is Winnipeg right?  When will they work on making that happen?

Expiration dates

So here I am, its December 31st, and I haven't posted to my blog in a while.  Because ideas for topics are ephemeral and depart from my mind before my hands reach a keyboard, mobile phone, or even a good old fashioned pen, I have neglected this website that earns me millions of Zimbabwe dollars yearly in revenue. 

And I'm looking around and I notice kellogs coupons to receive $5 in free gas should you postmark it before the 31st.  Oops too late.  Note that the cost of a stamp  makes the reward meaningless.  Might be why I never bothered. Kellogs could have made use of an ingenious invention I call the internets.. But that assumes they wanted you to redeem the prize.  Newsflash: they don't.  Like the mail in rebates you see attached to various purchases, even if you do mail it out, you have a 50/50 chance of getting your measly reward.  Because if people don't receive it, they'll be less likely to bother next time.  The dealer always wins.

Anyways, back to kellogs.  When I was a child they had some sort of mail in thing for NHL team mini pennants.  I wanted them, so I got some cash and some change and threw it in the envelope, little me not knowing anything about cheques or money orders.  I never did receive my NHL mini pennants.  Did some mailman abscond with my meagre $5 and change or whatever it cost back then?  Or did kellogs say f this kid let's keep the money. I'll never know.. But to this day i will refuse to deal with mail in rebates.  I will walk the other way.  I will use a different website.  The price including the rebate is a fiction. 

But all the same, here's to another year of ignoring rebates and coupon expiration dates!  Happy new year!

Ad bombers

I've been hearing and seeing a lot of Winnipeg blue bombers advertising lately.  It made me think of how different their tactics are from the the goldeyes and jets.  The goldeyes advertise a fun family summer outing for a reasonable price.  Its simple but effective.  I couldn't give a crap about baseball but I've gone to more than a couple goldeyes games. The jets don't really even have to advertise, but when they do it is on the calibre of players and canadians love of hockey.  When the moose were in town they used the affordability and game experience angles.  It worked.

The blue bombers ad spots all seem to focus on how tough and rough football is.  Which seems to me to be preaching to people who are already going to the games.  They also try to evoke "Manitoba Pride". Whatever that is.  I wonder if the same dimwits who came up with spirited energy are in charge of the bombers advertising.  I wouldn't be surprised. 

They aren't really even using the new stadium experience to appeal to people.  I give them no points for their advertising method.  Tough guys growling at the camera is professional wrestling tier.  Doesn't do it for me.  Its not enough.  The bombers haven't changed their advertising strategy in years as far as i can tell.  Doesn't matter how tough they are if they can't win games. 

Why is the annual winnipeg police bike auction being held in a part of the city without transit service?

Generally speaking, I consider the police bike auction a ripoff.  Might as well get a new bike than overbid for some rusty Canadian tire castoff found on the banks of the red river.. I bought a bike from it years ago when it was held in the more sensibly located maples multiplex.  It wasn't worth the effort.

The bike auction is taking place this weekend in the south part of the city at the varsity view multiplex.  Its been there for a couple years now.  I haven't really bothered to go because by the time I hear about it, I have plans already.  Also its too far.  But today I learned even if I wanted to go, I can't get there by Winnipeg transit without walking for about half an hour.  Well has nobody complained about that in all this time?  Why would they choose such an inaccessible place for a bike auction?

The varsity view community centre gets to charge a fee for parking.  How convenient that there's no other way to get there.  Maybe by bike, but you won't be buying another bike if you get there by bike.  Does the city get a discount for that particular arena?  If they do, I wonder if its offset by the lower prices being offered for the bikes, since there must be fewer people attending such an event in the more affluent part of the city if they are missing an important method of transportation to get there.

Is it the auction house dictating where it is held?  If so, they're not doing a good job for the inhabitants of this city.  Here they are auctioning off stolen bikes in a part of the city with less crime.  Far away from those who might actually have had a bike stolen from them. 

I'm not saying it should be moved back to the maples multiplex.  I don't know what instigated the move after all.  It was however a better location any way you look at it.  But it should be held somewhere with transit service and close enough to an area where people have a higher chance of their bike being stolen .

Stolen spring

I'm driving I see a billboard that says Spring comes sooner in thief River Falls fuck you thief river falls..
Do you even have a waterfall.  I doubt it.