On slow downloads and the reality of over sold expectations.

As I write this I am waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the last of a few files to download. I started the download sometime yesterday afternoon. It is now nearly 6:30 the next morning as the last file reports that there are 15 minutes remaining. The files are good size files I admit. There are about 50 files in all representing two classes, one on financial markets from Yale and one on Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism and Christianity from Harvard. Each file is in the 600 to 850 MB size range representing a 60 to 75 minute video lecture on the given topic. They come from the iTunes U store. There is a fascinating array of topics to be discovered there and so far if you stay on the Pod casts and iTunes U side of the iTunes store it has all been free, a price I readily relish in the internet age where far too many things have hyper inflated pricing under the label of being cutting edge technology. So why is my Qwest taking so stinking long to download a couple of school videos especially when they are bragging all the time about high speed internet and there wonderfully cheap pricing plan. By the way we have seen neither in our many months of belonging to them even after the changeover to CenturyLink. The bill remains high with extra charges that don’t make any sense and seem to reappear time and again even after request to have them removed. I am definitely going to have to find a better way. I know my computer is starting to show it’s age (and if you look in past entries you will see that it started showing its age shortly after we got it). It is very frustrating to be throwing good money after bad which makes a lot of decisions about upgrading versus buying new a dilemma as well. Who do you trust to deliver the goods on whichever path you proceed down? In these tight economic times, which decision will lead to the best value for the hard earned dollar? And if I get something new, will I ever be able to find a machine that can play the flight simulator programs with a fair bit of competence? Yahoo, the last file just finished, I am out of here, other errands to run, the job being one of them. Wish me luck. This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

A quick run over to TEDs

Being stuck home sick is certainly no fun. Being able to catch up on a few things at home, things that don't take too much effort, at least makes you feel like the down time hasn't been a complete waste of time. One of those things was going to iTunes and downloading some of the latest TED video's. I don't know how many of these I have watched now but I can't think of a single one that didn't have something interesting in it.

Of the latest group I downloaded there where two individual yet very related videos that I just happened to download and watch in the same session. These two videos sum up rather well the two points of view that are competing for attention in the world today. Watch and think about which side you align with.

This will take a little time so make sure you have a few minutes to watch or at least download for later viewing. You can find TED 'Ideas worth spreading' from the link.

Then search for Paul Gilding 'The Earth is full', and watch it first, play time is 16:47 though that might include an advert at the end.

Next search for Peter Diamandis 'Abundance is are future', with a play time of 16:14.

If you want to go one step further the moderator brought them both out together for a little follow on discussion. It is a wonderful little debate with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure.

I would have added links to each site but links have a way of becoming obsolete almost as fast as they are loaded. The web site should stay constant however and they have a pretty good search function. You can also find them on iTunes store under pod casts again with a little searching.

If you have not explored or discovered TED yet you might want to plan for a little more time. There is a lot there for the curious to take in. Enjoy.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.