This is not a feature comparison or a technical comparison. Clearly, based on many examinations, the iPhone 3GS wins by a wide margin in most every category. Even now, the HTC EVO 4G is about to ship, which will change the game even more, possibly eclipsing the iPhone in it's wow factor. But anyway, I'd like to address why many people choose the Blackberry (still) over the iPhone. Many claim that the Blackberry is superior "for business" but are unable to explain why that is. They say things like "it just is" or "it's faster". I aim to verbalize what they are attempting to explain, but are unable to. The true reason that many still prefer the Blackberry over the iPhone is for two primary feelings:
Familiarity Effect: The Blackberry users are all too familiar (and totally comfortable) with using the Blackberry device (most are experts at texting and emails) and experience, or think they will experience, great difficulty in adapting to the iPhone's way of doing things. They may claim that it is the physical keyboard of the Berry, but really it is just that they have learned to type so quickly using the BB's keyboard, and don't want to go through the perceived "hassle" of retraining themselves to type fast on the iPhone's touch keyboard. The same goes for hot buttons and other features of the Blackberry Bold 9700 (and other models). This is parallel to the PC (Windows) user switching to a Mac (OS X) - same thing. Although I think some PC users are just hell bent on not being associated with Apple culture. They have deep-seated principles and standards that they feel obligated to support. So it is the familiarity with the Blackberry and its OS that is the first driving force in keeping users with their beloved Berry's. They like the name too, the alliterative pleasure of uttering BlackBerry. I bet if they could eat their BB, they would.

Also, the personal image of having a Blackberry is key. For example, the Blackberry Bold is an aesthetic marvel of beautiful lines, ridges, textures and proportions. If you take some time to study the look and feel of the Blackberry Bold 9700, it truly is marvelous in appearance. The thinly machined chrome accents, multi-colored action keys, the fonts, icons on both the display and the keyboard -- all very carefully positioned and well thought out. The back is equally fine, with it's textured leather-like substrate inlaid panel. The display looks incredibly serious and sinister - like the command bridge on a a starship. A must have in the corporate boardroom. Far more technical looking in appearance versus the iPhone, the Blackberry appeals to the world-wide image of what a proper business phone should look like. People (especially Americans) like to associate business with hard work and no fun (or the illusion of such). It is very important to the minions of corporate america that they are viewed as having jam-packed schedules, with no time for anything and are constantly on the move. They love to brag about how busy they are or how "crazy" it is for them at any given moment. The BB is a perfect icon for this image. Their self-worth is based on how others perceive them. Don't let me ever catch you having fun or being calm and relaxed! The iPhone is more friendly in appearance. Bright and cheery, with loads of colorful icons, which beckon the user - touch me I am fun! The iPhone users, while also conscious of their image, are more focused on the result of their actions, rather than how someone else sees them. Blackberry users don't wish to be associated with that sort of behavior, after all they want to be taken seriously, and their Blackberry is all business and so are they.

I stereotype the Blackberry users as borderline manic individuals, whom pride themselves on their ability to appear busy most of the time. Much of there time is consumed by staying in contact with as many people or organizations as they possibly can. Their vacations are more like work than relaxation (they are always on their BB); Everything is planned and scheduled. He or she with the most contacts, texts and emails wins. Appearing to be super busy and business-like is of paramount importance.

The iPhone users are stereotyped as fun-seekers, and do not care about how busy they appear to be. Perhaps sloppy and bit lazy, not wanting to commit to schedules and time constraints. Their vacations are totally open with nothing planned, but travel, location and lodging; Everything else is random. They walk through life with an open mind, but also are prone to errors (but they don't care). Highly creative and visionary, or on the road to becoming as so, they do not like to be told what to do - they make their own future and therefore have no need for entrenched schedules, except by their design and pace. They have sworn their allegiance to Apple when it comes to smart phones (and computers), and are always ready to upgrade to the next S. Jobs device. Appearing hip and with the in-crowd is their mantra.

Of course, not all iPhone or BB users fall into the above stereotypes. But I'd bet when you meet someone for the first time, you can guess by their appearance and actions, whether they use Blackberry or Apple. I suggest that people buy both, which is clearly more fun than just picking a side.

So we can infer now, that it is the personality of the user that chooses the device. The choice has nothing to do with the phone's features or hardware, but everything to do with the person who holds it, and most people have a hard time looking at themselves in a clear light. And so it goes, they are unable to explain why they like one over the other.

I have a theory as to why some people drive with their hazard lights on. I'm referring to those that have them on even though there is no obvious reason for it - they are traveling at the correct speed, no visible damage, not hauling over-sized cargo etc.

The reason is that the individuals that activate their hazard lights whilst driving, were first told to do so by their peers, relatives, or parents, whom always did it as well, and also suffers from one or more of the following:

1. Has limited driving skill and finds it difficult either mentally or physically to perform effective evasive maneuvers if necessary. 
2. Has poor vision. Cannot see clearly most of the time and refuses to wear corrective lenses (or cannot afford them).
3. Has virtually no confidence in their own ability to drive and accepts that condition for life. Refuses to get further training.
4. Feels that the hazard lights are a "shield of invincibility." That if they are on, they are safe from anyone hitting them.
5. Does not have any practical knowledge of the mechanics and physics of driving an automobile. Remains conveniently ignorant. Wants to communicate their special status to others.
6. Doesn't have any desire or will to maintain their car, or finds this to be an annoyance, thus they are not trusting of the car's soundness. These people usually slow to a crawl over any sort of bump in the road too. Especially railroad tracks.
7. Possible that the individual is deliberately being defiant, or purposely non-conformant i.e., to "make a statement."
8. Wishes to be noticed, and to stand out from other drivers as being special or elite. i.e., "presidential motorcade." 

Please add to this list if you can think of any more.

Curious to me is why people consider, when Daylight Saving Time is activated (this weekend), is a loss of an hour? Explain how we are losing time, and likewise how we are gaining it when DST ends. The truth is, you neither gain nor lose any time at all. We are merely shifting the measurement of time by one unit of measure (an hour) in either direction. Perhaps people mean that they are losing or gaining sleep, since it occurs when most people are sleeping. What if you are awake when the clock shift occurs? Have you lost anything? If I want eight hours of sleep, I still can have that, as I only need to shift my starting point. I always like to tell people that you can never gain or lose any time, nor can you say "I don't have the time for that." You have all the time you will ever have and you never will gain or lose any of it. The only thing that may change is when the start of an event occurs - in which case, we adjust.

1. Door-Wall: It's either a door or a wall, not both.
2. Back-Butter: So when you are applying grout adhesive, it's okay to mix some butter in there as well?
3. Sweat the pipes: Whomever started this phrase had some mental problems.
4. 2 x 4: Annoying, as the actual dimension is 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" 
5. 110 VAC: It's actually 120V, but people still think is okay to just say "110"
6. 220 VAC: No, it's 240V
7. Rip Cut: How exactly is one ripping a board? Better to say Ripsaw cut.
8. Pull a permit: This one is especially annoying. Why is it "pull?" No one ever says they are going to "pull" a parking permit or I'm going to pull a driver's permit.
9. Lay up : How is one laying "UP" something? You always lay DOWN things, never up.
10. Hardwood Floors: Rarely (if ever) are they SOFTwood, so one doesn't need to say hard -- just say wood floors please.
11. Garden Tub: How is it that gardens suddenly relate to bathtubs?

More are on the way.

I'm watching HGTV right now. What I notice is that in 99% of the programs, someone always must mention 'hardwood floors', i.e. "Oh, I love these hardwood floors!" or "Wow, look at the hardwood floors, they're gorgeous." What stings my brain is the use of the very specific term 'hardwood' instead of just saying 'wood'. Rarely is softwood used in flooring, and even so, what does it matter? So why don't people just say 'wood floors'?

I also have noticed the extreme overuse of the word 'space', as in "I love this space." or "Boy, we really could do wonders with this space." or "Always use neutral paint colors, to open up the space." I suggest the use of an alternate word once in a while, such as "area", "room", "region" or simply the name of the area, like bathroom or toilet. By the way, it seems that most Americans find it unthinkable to utter the word "toilet", as if it were some horrific profanity.

What of the Bloody Mary versus Caesar cocktail anomaly that exists between the two neighboring countries of Canada and the USA? In Canada, almost no one ever orders a Bloody Mary for a cocktail. The drink of choice is the Bloody Caesar, but they never call it that -- they just say 'Caesar'. Conversely, in the USA, the Bloody Mary is always requested using it's full name and never just 'Mary'. (On a side note, I have notice that in the last decade or so, a great majority of people have adopted the phrase "Can I get..." when ordering something. As in; "Can I get a Bloody Mary?" This makes me cringe when I hear it uttered -- after all, one is asking if they, themselves, are capable of getting a Bloody Mary and not if the server can get one for them. Highly irritating.)

Same drink, different binding medium. Bloody Mary uses spiced tomato juice, where the Caesar calls for the much less viscous Clamato Juice, which is tomato juice mixed with clam juices.

I'm not sure why Candians shun the Bloody Mary. The two drinks are nearly identical in taste and I would wager money that in a blind taste test, that one could not tell the difference. Conversely, Americans rarely request the Caesar - not sure why.

Since my wife is Canadian, and we live in the Metro Detroit area (next to Windsor, ON) - we frequently make trips to Canada. I have noticed many odd behaviors and conventions in Canada, when compared to the same in America. Of course, they only seem odd to me, because they are different than what we are used to here in the United States.

One of the truly strange phenomena that exists in Canada is how the citizenry pays for goods and services. I noticed several years ago that whenever we were at a restaurant or retail establishment and I was watching people pay their bill, the staff member would produce a little black point of sale key-pad terminal connected to a long umbilical cord, wherein the customer, after swiping their card, would enter his or her secret PIN (personal identification number). Incidentally, some people say 'PIN Number', which I never understood. Similarly, the USA and other countries also have this method of payment as well, but it is rarely used and offered in a different manner.  Most US issued debit cards can be used just like a Visa or Mastercard (they have the little logo on them), so there is no need for PIN entering. Typically the only time one uses their PIN (in the United States) is when they are actually withdrawing money from an ATM (automated teller machine). This is another one where people say 'ATM Machine' - strange.

In Canada, there is a widely adapted system, called Interac Direct Payment and it is the nation's most widely used method of payment. This I find to be very interesting, because the transaction itself seems clumsy and needlessly difficult. Apparently, the Canadians are very keen on security, and enjoy the tedium of the transactions. I believe there is also some sort of 'point' system or cash back reward; Also there is an air miles program attached to this? So perhaps it is because of incentives that it has become so widely accepted.

I don't think American's would enjoy such a system here, as most do not tolerate slow transactions - everything must occur rapidly and with little waiting time.