Long Time No Post

So it has been quite some time since I posted last. It has been a crazy few weeks, lots and lots going on. I am involved in two large projects at the moment, getting ready to launch two web sites and I am creating all of the content for them.

There has been so much happening these last few weeks in the world, and not just my life. I was pleased to see the outcome of the elections. I was beginning to lose hope in our country. Hopefully, we will see some changes. Not that I necessarily agree with everything that the Democrats have to say, but at least it makes a difference knowing that the entire country has not gone completely radical.

I have been thinking a lot about how we get to where we are, both in our lives and government, businesses and everything else. It seems Looking back on how you end up where you do is easy, and can consume your mind for quite some time. I only wish there were some way to get this insight into the future with the same clarity. Then again, I guess that would take all the fun out of it.

I do not have a whole lot to say at this point, just needed to post something to keep this momentum alive. It has been so crazy creating serious stuff, I needed this outlet of just my own rambling thoughts. If you are reading this, thank you.

A Long Week

I have not been posting too much this last week. It's been a very busy week for me. Most of my writing time has been devoted to another project I've been working on, which will be launched some time in the upcoming future. Apart from trying to keep from losing my mind at work, cleaning up geek sqad messes, working on the other project, planning a move, and spending time with the family, there's not much time left.

I have, however, managed to keep up on the events in the world this week, mostly by listening at work. I'm becoming more and more nervous about the future, namely the freedom we enjoy as U.S. citizens. I have read in history about every few years everyone claiming the sky is falling and the administration of that time is ruining the country. But it seems the stakes are higher now, somehow everything is coming together in a perfect storm of an upcoming change.

I only hope that the elections show a change in our direction. I hope that we do not continue down the slippery slope that we are already on. Perhaps it's too late to stop, perhaps we can change direction. I only hope that the current events are reversed, and that we do not become victims to the current environment of fear and general violent behavior. I see it around me every day, people treat each other like crap. I hope that our selfishness and "me first" mentality changes.

I'm working hard to do my part to do something selfless and to benefit the world at large. I only hope that it works, that my little effort to better the world spreads. It sounds cliche, but if everyone would just do something to improve the world, it would make a dramatic difference. If it is as much as giving away your fortune to fight world hunger, or letting someone with one item go before you at the supermarket, everything helps.

A Funny Windows Story

So, following in my recent bashing of Windows, I remembered a story I column I read a while back that had me laughing hysterically. I've been meaning to post it for a while, but I have only just now remembered. It's definitely worth the read. It's also by one of my favorite columnists. He's a bit slanted toward the Mac, but the point is there:

Windows Gives No Tongue

Enjoy!

No Wonder Things Take Forever

I see policies in the workplace every day and it amazes me that ordinarily smart and logical people can come up with ideas that make no sense whatsoever. For example, today a new policy was created at my job. I work in a capacity where I am asked frequently by a call center staff to figure out what is causing the technical problem they are having. They bring me the issue, I figure it out, call the customer back, or give it back to them. This is in addition to my regular duties, so if anyone should be complaining about it, it would me, right? It works for us, takes usually less than five minutes, and everyone is happy. I don't mind the interruption and they get help.

However, it has now been decided that all of these problems should go through one central person. I'm not sure what this accomplishes other than make someone else feel important. It is not as if this person can fix the issues, or tracks them. This person becomes a proxy, or whatever. Anway, so I've been instructed to redirect my coworkers to someone else when they bring me an issue. I know already that this is going to get me in trouble because I flat out refuse to do this. If someone comes to me for help, I'm not going to tell them to go back to another person, who then brings the same issue to me. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen happen in our office.

One of myriad of reasons this is utterly ridiculous is that the people dealing with the customers understand the problem. The person who is to bring these issues to me, has no clue about anything technical and has proven time and time again that they simply do not understand it. Which means that I will then have to explain to this non-technical type the resolution to a technical issue. Probably multiple times in the same day. How much fun that will be, most likely leading to complaints about my attitude when I finally snap after having to repeat the same solution fifteen times. Oh, the fun we'll have.

When I was complaining to someone in another department, I was surprised to learn that they have a similar setup and were had been doing this forever. Most likely this is probably a fairly standard practice in call centers. Among other things, it showed me the reason it takes forever to get issues resolved when I call this department. I have to admit, I'm no expert on call center procedures, even though I have worked among them several times in my life. However, I'm sure there is some call center executive somewhere who has proven this to be the way to handle workflow. Anyway, eventually this person will become too busy to handle being a proxy. At that point, they'll have to hire additional people to do this. I see this at the company I work for all the time; if they would just fix some of the nutty procedures, they would be able to operate on about half staff in certain areas. You saw Office Space, right? "Why can't the customers just take the specs directly to the engineers?"

I am just always happy to be a part of corporate red tape. It makes my workday that much more pleasant and I am satisfied just knowing I am part of a monument of inefficiency which contributes to the overall frustration of people. Life is good.

Outlook is The Devil

I may have mentioned it before, but I am a Linux user completely on my home PCs. It took me a while to make the switch completely, but I have done it and never looked back. Once in a while, I use Windows for personal use, but generally it is limited to work. Our office uses Outlook for e-mail (what a surprise) and we have it installed on a home machine that runs Windows. Don't get me wrong, Windows is very appropriate for a lot of people. Properly maintained, a Windows PC can be a very useful machine. But when things go wrong...

Tonight, using Outlook, we were trying to send an e-mail message and the address book suddenly became nonexistent. You can go to the address book tab, see all of the entries, even open them up and edit them. However, if you go to send a message to one of them, it tells you that the address book is not found. It makes no sense. The usual reboot and try again didn't work. Restoring the file from a backup did not work. Maybe tomorrow after a good night's sleep, it will work again. Who knows. It's just this pattern that makes me crazy.

I also have a demon spawn printer/scanner combo that only works with Windows. I have tried unsuccessfully to find a way to make this machine work under Linux, but there is not a single person in any forum, web site, or any other published document that has been able to make this printer print. Anyway, the scanning function only works about 50% of the time in windows. You can scan something to the PC you are using, then go back, do the same thing and it will not work. Reboot, power down, reboot a couple more times and it will work again for a few minutes.

I used to think that Linux was difficult, that this futzing around with Windows was somehow easier because it worked a portion of the time. I realize now that I have been a Linux user for over a year, how stable the system is and how I never have to mess around to do the minor details. Also, if you have a problem, you can search Linux user groups, documentation, post a message and get help. When I try to solve technical problems I encounter in Windows, nearly every answer I find wants me to pay for it.

I'm not one of these Linux zealots that has a mission to convert the world. What I am is a believer in a system that lets me actually get the things done that need done without getting in my way. Things work and work consistently. Once you get something configured, which I will admit can sometimes be a challenge, they STAY WORKING. I don't mean to preach, but if there are any of you out there who think it's not worth the leap to ditch Windows and go this route, I implore you to think again. There's a link on the right for Ubuntu Linux. Start there. Regain a functional PC again.

Annoying TV Ratings

Tonight I was watching a show on The Travel Channel and realized how obsessive and ridiculous this whole media self-censorship thing has become. I do not usually watch television, maybe two or three hours a week of tv shows. Anyway, there was this show on the Travel Channel that had a warning that some material may be inappropriate for some viewers. Right away, I was intrigued by what could possibly be unsuitable. Naked beaches? Bad language? Naked Natives? Monkeys being monkeys?

So what was it? They were eating Guinea pigs. You know, those cute and fuzzy little pets that many people in the US have at home. At least, I think that is what was unsuitable. I could see that some family may be watching who had a guinea pig and the kids were in shock that people eat them. But really, get a grip. People eat animals. Some of them are cute. People eat a lot of disgusting things that I fine disturbing.

But seriously, a warning?

A New Policy

I think I am one of the few people who actually read privacy policies of the companies that have them. I also read agreements before I sign. I'm not sure why, it's not like they are subject to negotiation, but it's always good to see how bad you're going to get screwed before it actually happens. It is scary to see the things that are in these "agreements." I would love to be able to create some kind of "consumer agreement" that would be required as a condition of my continued business. For instance, if I have to call back more than once, I am entitled to a fee of, say, $39 and a payment rate of $25 per hour, billed in 15 minute increments.

These "agreements" that we are forced to agree to in our business transactions are one sided, so I don't see why it would be a problem for me to do this. Surely someone has tried this before, I wonder what kind of luck they had with that. I once received from a utility company, with my bill, a note saying that by paying the bill I was agreeing to the amended subscriber agreement. What the hell?

I need to create some small print on checks that says something along the lines of "by cashing this check, you are hereby agreeing to the enclosed consumer agreement, subject to change with or without notice." This agreement could be benign at first, with things like a requirement to be treated with respect, etc. Then, I could amend my agreement to account for the inconvenience fees and other mandatory charges, and I may even give them notice, depending on my mood.

My guess is that they would find a way to get out of it in the end. If nothing else, they can afford lawyers and I can't, so right away they're ahead if they were to sue me or something. But if just one person could win this battle, it might turn the tables on the nonsense that we see every day and put a little control back into our hands. That would be worth the fight.

Soul Sucking Workplaces

I don't know of any place that sucks the creativity out of me like my job. Every day I find my energy drained just walking in to the place. At night, when I am at home with my family, I have great ideas, solve problems and am generally a happy person. However, get me near work, and it's all over. And it's already been established at my job that mediocrity is not only acceptable, but encouraged.

There has to be a basis for this suckage. It can't be environment, because I can be creative and happy just about anywhere other than work. It has to be the way we are treated as employees, like we are the enemy. I don't know who started this crusade against employees, but in my experience it seems to have worsened in the past few years. We are treated by those rich bastards at the top like just another expense. If we all walked out on our job they would be totally screwed because there would not be anyone to do actual work. What they forget is that while they're having their meetings and golf games, the people getting the crap wages to do the crap work, to clean up the mess made by their brilliant ideas are working away to ensure they can continue to exist. People pour their souls into their work, only to be rewarded with a downsize when they can pay someone in India to do the same work for $1 an hour.

I'm really at my limit with this corruption. The entire system is oppressive and demeaning. There has to be a better way. At this point, I think I would rather mow lawns than put up with the drain on my psyche. Who knows, if my attitude continues to degrade at work, I may be forced into that career path. I remember that line from Good Will Hunting, when preppy rich boy tells him that after he graduates from Harvard, Will will be serving him fast food. To which Will replies, "Yeah, but at least I won't be unoriginal." I may be mowing lawns, but I'll be sane.

People escape the hell that is corporate America every day. What boggles my mind is that I escaped it once, only to come back to it. I understand now the money blinded me during a difficult time, but after having worked in an environment that was stimulating and free, I really realize how stifling it is. Maybe this experience has taught me that the grass is not greener on the other side. Most of my day is spent concentrating on how to get out, so I'm not very productive anyway. Which is okay, I suppose, because most of my coworkers are doing the same thing. We're all working away for that 3% raise next year anyway, so that health insurance costs can double and we actually take a 3% pay cut. The new math sucks.

Meanwhile, record profits are posted while costs are cut and jobs are sent to faraway countries. People are losing their homes and eating Ramen so that the rich bastards at the top can have even more money and congratulate themselves for increasing this year's growth. At some point, I have to believe that there will be an awakening, people will realize there is more to life than this, and everyone will just simplify and be happy. I'm so close to packing up and pitching a tent in the country that I hardly chuckle when I say it anymore.

Oh well, enough ranting. I have to go to bed. So I can get up and go to work tomorrow.

Peace And Quiet

I have been thinking about how hard it is to find peace and quiet in our constantly connected world. It seems just about everywhere you go has some kind of media to stimulate you. If only there were a Cell Phone B Gone that were legal and readily available at your favorite retailer.

As I may have said before, I am one of the few remaining people on this planet who do not have a cell phone. We have one of those prepaid cell phones that is used for I am not so in demand that I would require the ability for anyone to access me at any time. For that matter, I would not want to be available to everyone. I know people who make themselves available for work any time and any place. My work life ends when I come home. I try not to do personal business on work time, and also do not do work business on personal time. It's a simple matter, really. In fact, I have turned down a promotion that required me carrying a pager 24 x 7. There's not enough money in the world to marry me to my job.

When I'm at the store, or in public in general, people are constantly talking on cell phones or text messaging. From what I hear, none of it is that important or even remotely interesting. I can't get over the people in the stores who will call someone a couple aisles over and tell them to come to their aisle. Good grief. What a waste of resources. I'm wondering when we all became so involved in the minutiae of life. "I just bought a new rug for the kitchen."

It seems that with all of these technological advances in personal communication that we are more disconnected than ever before. I see these commercials where the family falls all over the dad for buying more minutes and text messaging and it scares the hell out of me. I know these people exist, I see them in Target. They have unlimited nights, weekends and just about any other time, just by taking the time to interact. You don't need a contract for that!

I just wish people would understand that this technology is supposed to help us, not make us slaves to everyone around us. The world will continue to turn if you are out of contact for minutes, hours or days. It's a simple thing to turn that power button off and focus on the world around you. I just wish that we all could do that more often.

How To Be Invisible

I have discovered one of the most fascinating and practical books on personal privacy I have read to date. It's called How To Be Invisible by J.J. Luna (ISBN 0312319061). He has a web site located at www.howtobeinvisible.com.

The book can be purchased at your retailer of choice or you can probably find a copy at the library. There are several editions, the newer one obviously is more up to date. It's a fantastic read, it's one of the few books I purchased after reading at the library. The hacker types will be aware of some of the information, particularly dealing with phone and computer privacy, but that's a small portion of it. It is not so much as a "how to," but a way of thinking that will lead to your own privacy solutions.

Unlike some of the other privacy books, this one is legitimate. I purchased a book once on privacy and it spent most of the time telling you how to avoid taxes, evade the law and other topics in that vein. God knows what kind of list I'm on for ordering it from Amazon, but they recommended it based on my previous searches. Go figure. No wonder homeland security wanted access to purchase records.

The TV B Gone

At HOPE Number Six, I purchased a TV B Gone (actually two) and it has been worth the money! At the cafeteria where I work, they have four televisions, two on each side of the cafeteria. Someone, in their infinite wisdom decided to have Fox News on one half and CNN on the other half. Sometimes, the volume is up loud on both and it's impossible to have a peaceful lunch. I am sure there are good intentions, they would not want anyone to think they were more conservative than liberal. I'm sure people would complain if there was not equal access.

This is the ideal situation for a TV B Gone. Unfortunately, the televisions are high enough up so that it is impossible to turn them off without climbing on a chair, and even then, you would have to reach. Basically, it would be impossible to turn them off without someone noticing. Sadly, most people don't watch them, but need the background noise for continued existence. I have watched how people react when they are off, they ask people to turn them on. Then they don't watch them. It's a strange relationship that we seem to have with the television.

Anyway, with the TV B Gone, you can quickly dispatch the televisions, usually without anyone noticing. Once in a while, a person will look around, trying to figure out why it is suddenly quiet. I believe that we have been busted a few times turning it off, but they could not quite figure out how we did it, so there was no confrontation. I am sure that would get someone to have a chat.

In addition to the official purpose, they also prove to be tremendous fun at the TV section of stores. I like to think that we're doing our part to clear out some of the crap in people's lives. And saving energy too! Honestly, I'm not one of those people who never watches TV. In fact, I love television and movies. After a while, though, the constant stimulation makes me want peace and quiet. It is impossible to have a relaxing lunch or conversation in a place where a TV is flickering in the background. It's an unnecessary distraction.

I would suggest purchasing a TV B Gone. They're good not only for entertainment value, but to give you the power to control your environment.

Insomnia Sucks

There should be a way to incorporate a recording device of some kind into your brain, just as you fall asleep. It seems that the best ideas I have are either at this time, or when in the bathroom, far away from anything on which I can write them down. If only we had a "Print Screen" of sorts in our brain, it would make things so much better.

For example, the last three or four days I have had difficulty sleeping. I come up with these plans or ideas in my head, trying to work through them. I end up getting confused, only to have one of those "holy crap" ideas just as I'm falling asleep. In my semi-conscious state, I am certain that I will remember it in the morning when I wake up, only to be disappointed by remembering that I was to remember something and spending the rest of the day trying to figure out what that was. I hope that made sense, it did to me anyway.

The same seems to hold true when taking care of business in the bathroom. There is a moment of revelation, only to be followed by the realization that it has been forgotten. It's driving me crazy and I can only attribute it to the insomnia and half-awake state I seem to be in lately. So instead of sleeping, I'm sitting here at the computer, exhausted and about ready to fall asleep. And when I go to bed, I will lay there, imagining the next big idea, only to have it disappear into the ether. It's like I'm being punished for something.

I'm holding out for the whole consciousness print screen key thing. My luck, there won't be enough space on the drive to store it.

Idea Save Failed!
Abort, Retry, Cancel

A Fun Way To Waste Hours

I recently stumbled upon a web site - consumerist.com. From there, I discovered my most recent time waster. "Behind The Counter," a blog about working customer service at Wal-Mart. I have to admit, I am hooked on this thing. I cannot stop reading it.

Check it out, it's very entertaining.

Day Against DRM - Oct 3

Today is the Day Against Digital Rights (Restrictions) Management - DRM. I am adamantly against DRM, or anything that limits my freedom. I have personally never purchased any type of music with DRM. This was my experience with DRM:

I received a coupon for $20 in free downloads from one of the big music stores when I purchased my portable music. Since I use Linux exclusively, I had to borrow a Windows PC to download and load the files onto my portable player. I attempted to make a backup of the files when I downloaded them, but for one reason or another it would not work. Okay, no problem, I'll just copy them from the player if I ever needed them back on the computer, that's what I do with mp3 files. Wrong! As I discovered later, once it was on the portable player, I could not move it. When I upgraded players, I was unable to copy it from the player, onto the computer, then put it on another player. I would have been furious if I had paid for those songs. It was then that I swore I would never voluntarily subject myself to DRM again.

What bothers me the most is that people accept this as something legitimate, to have their music limited. I explain to everyone I know who uses a portable music player the options they have. It's a system I simply refuse to be a part of, at least as long as I have the freedom to choose.

When Will They Learn?

So this Mark Foley Republican congressman who apparently likes to send explicit messages to his teenage interns apparently didn't get the memo. E-mails are like diamonds, they're forever.

Seriously, who doesn't know that e-mails tend to hang around forever after they're sent. They may be filed away in someone's computer, for perusal or blackmail at a later date. They may have got stuck on the e-mail server backups, or someone may just forward them to their best friend who posts them on Myspace. I would think people would realize this by now. One of the things I had heard at a company where I used to work was not to send anything in e-mail that you would be uncomfortable seeing on the evening news. Words to live by, that's for sure.

And what's the deal with these moral majority people talking dirty to teenage boys anyway? Where is the outrage now? This is same group that rallies against homosexuality and tries to pass crazy laws to keep "online predators" from our children. Talk about hypocrisy. Just once, I would like to see these guys prosecuted by the laws that they pass, to be caught up in the process like anyone else who isn't a millionaire congressman to whom the laws do not apply.

I think what surprised me the most was the fact that he actually resigned from his office and somewhat admitted that he was a scumbag. I guess resigning and blaming it all on an alcohol abuse problem (the booze made me do it) is the thing to do now, at least to deflect the attention. What surprised me even more was the fact that it came out before the elections. And I am sure at some point after the election we'll learn that others knew about it, and were "investigating" the problem or something.

I honestly hate politics anymore. These jokers keep getting elected, the process continues. I used to have hope that one day these people would be called to task for their misdeeds, but I'm afraid that just doesn't seem to be the case. Everyone will forget about it by next week and when there is another airline scare or something, so that we all can remember who is protecting us from those terrorists on election day.

A Thank You

I have been reflecting on the tools that have come about in recent years to allow people to express themselves to anyone. Sites such as this, video broadcasting sites like YouTube and even (gag) Myspace have opened a medium for people to communicate with a worldwide audience.

The thing that has always fascinated me is the story that people have to tell. Everyone has a story of some kind, usually interesting and touching in some way. These types of places have allowed anyone to express their thoughts, take action, and communicate with others on a global scale. I know, it sounds cheesy, but if you sit back and marvel at the technology and what it means to our world, it truly is amazing.

It was not that long ago that e-mail was a thing of only the fortunate or truly geeky. Now, anyone can have an e-mail address, the internet is avaialble just about everywhere, and to become a worldwide author is possible in a matter of minutes. This ease of use has created most of the white noise that is Myspace, but in my world, everyone gets a shot. The empowerment of people is important, regardless of the vehicle, I suppose.

While I am one who could build a system like Blogger to express my thoughts, I would be distracted by the tweaking of the system itself, and the expression of my thoughts would be secondary. It's a weakness that I have. While you probably think that my thoughts are a waste of perfectly good bytes, it has proven to be therapeutic and stimulating of my creativity. This little space has proved useful beyond belief, and I only hope that you enjoy reading it. As some of these projects that I am working on come closer to implementation, I will gladly share them in the hopes that they benefit others.

I've said it before, but never lose the wonder of the technology that surrounds us. The tools we have today are empowering unlike anything in our history. Enjoy them. Use them. Most of all, thank you to those who build, maintain and enhance these tools. You are the enablers of potential.

Attitudes

At the company I work, technology issues seem to take on a adversarial tone at just about every turn. It is frustrating beyond belief and only serves to make relationships difficult and an environment where you are constantly fighting the system, just to get something you want. I happen to be one of the few technical people that does not work on the technical side of the house, so I have a unique perspective. I can figure out how to ask for help in a way that will actually yield help.

What I find insane are some of the policies and the processes that you have to endure just to solve minor problems. I understand the need for consistency and access controls, but it should be tempered with reason. I have made the suggestion that those of us who are technical and able to support ourselves should be able to do so, with appropriate access given as needed.

It is frustrating for me to have to request something that I could fix myself in under ten minutes, which will take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to resolve. We are not talking about complex issues, I mean basic things like allocating more server space or installing software.

I am constantly explaining why policies are put into place to fellow coworkers who are blindsided by corporate IT policy, because the attitude from the IT community is just "because we said so." Unfortunately, that only angers everyone who hears it. Once you explain, in a reasonable, though usually non-technical manner, why security policies exist, most people agree that they are appropriate. The assumption that IT seems to make is that all people are morons and incapable of understanding anything about why they do the things they do. And while this may very well be the case most of the time, it is not absolute. Explained correctly, even the most complex technical issues can be grasped by just about anyone.

I strive to do this in everything I do, explain it in a way that everyone can understand. I do not feel it is necessary to talk down to people, rather it is more advantageous to increase their knowledge, sometimes without them even realizing it. Of course, I guess speaking to fellow employees as intelligent people who can think and reason for themself has succeeded officially in getting dinged on a review for not "considering my audience." Oh well, the people I work with have always expressed appreciation for explaining technical issues in a way they can comprehend, so my work is rewarding, at least in that regard.

So if you are a technical person, keep this in mind: Just because someone is non-technical, this does not mean that they cannot understand technical issues. You just have to speak their language and not intimidate them. Try it sometime, educating people is always for the greater good!

Oh yeah, and as much as RTFM is tempting as an answer, sometimes you have to point out the chapter and recommend some prerequisites. :-)

Part of the Problem

It's one of those days when the realization of something hits you square in the face, and it's difficult to concentrate on much more. I know I'm not the only one who gets a reality beat down from time to time, but it still is a difficult item to work through sometimes.

I realize I'm not the only one that gets disgusted with my job, the politics involved and just the utter pointlessness of it all. There just comes a point when you realize that you are not living up to your potential and it really makes you mad. Not really mad at your job, per se, but mad at yourself for settling for less. This is probably the moment when great things happen, when people are inspired to do great things and they take action to change their life forever. However, I am not so disillusioned as to believe it happens like it does in a movie. In the movies, when people have this realization, they get up from their job and walk out to change the world, Jerry Maguire style. In the real world, however, acting like that would probably get you arrested. In the real world, this moment happens in silence and you start to think about your escape. The actual escape may come weeks or months down the road. The point is, the mind has been stimulated and has a purpose.

My realization has not come all at once, but over the course of the past few weeks, in several tiny signs. Life seems to present your contradictions to you in various, subtle ways. I have noticed that many people seem to miss these clues, plodding on through their lives without noticing the opportunities or improvements that can be utilized by learning from your own example. The person who toils away as an insurance salesman, all the while complaining bitterly about the state of the insurance industry is missing an important opportunity to change his or her situation. The problem is that you feel trapped, the idea of something better has long since been removed and replaced with an acceptance of their situation as the best one available. Shortly thereafter, a sense of hoplessness sets in, and you forget how bad it sucks.

I have been in a similar situation for the past few months, finally able to confront the reality of the situation at hand. While your imagination can justify just about anything, finding rationale for your continued unhappiness, the glaring contradiction will, at some point, smack you right between the eyes. So consider this my "virtual" Jerry Maguire moment, clutching my briefcase and walking out of the office to change the system, giving a speech to a stunned audience. Only, I'm not really walking out of the office and I don't own a briefcase and people don't think I've lost my mind. In my imagination though, that's happening. And that's a good start. :-)

A Rant About Credit

Our nations' preoccupation with credit file is amazing. I cannot make it through a single day without at least one sales pitch for credit. I cannot read a newspaper without dozens of them. There are stories and ads everywhere: build your credit, fix your credit, what your credit says about you, why credit matters, credit, credit, credit. It's really amazing. Then the institutions who throw money around at anyone who asks are amazed when people wake up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and cannot ever pay it back. Then they buy a few laws that favor them and weaken the one safety net that consumers have left, forcing them to be forever in debt to a multibillion dollar bank for their $575 Visa bill. God Bless America.

Something I have never been able to understand is how my credit rating can affect my auto insurance premium. My credit is about as relevant to my driving ability as my library record. You pay a premium in advance, the insurance is not loaning you any money. I just don't get it. There must be statistics that show people with poor credit have more accidents or something. I guess they're so preoccupied with their bills that they cannot focus on driving or something. If someone can explain it to me, please do. Insurance companies are the ones with the history of finding ways NOT to pay claims.

I just think this using credit is out of control and seems to be spreading into more and more of our lives. Need a job, get a credit check first. What the hell? If anything, the employee should do a credit check on the employer! They are the ones trusting the employer will pay them when their work is complete. I can maybe see the logic behind using it for telephones, because you could charge a huge phone bill and skip out, but a sufficient deposit would discourage that behavior for those of us whose lives don't revolve around our credit score.

Whether it's a credit file or some other database, our lives are becoming governed more and more by those databases that aggregate all of our personal data. There is so much more to a person than their data, and it seems like we are losing sight of that. People have rough times in their life, people have good times. Sometimes your situation can change in a heartbeat, through your own fault or through no fault of your own. This memory of every event of our lives is scary to me. Think about your life now, how it could change; a layoff, a huge medical bill, an accident could forever change your way of life. To be punished for this forever because you fell behind on your payment to Wells Fargo seems absurd.

We, as the people who fill their databases with our lives, have no power over that information. It exists forever, a journal of your life that makes your high school "permanent record" seem trivial. All the while, they get rich by providing this data to anyone willing to pay. It's a lousy system, and one that needs to be changed. I believe it should all be opt-in. If I want or need a credit file, I ask for one. If I don't leave my data alone. When someone uses this information, I am due a royalty. Hey, I can dream.

The Folly of Downloading Music

I have been thinking a lot lately about all of the issues that come from using the Internet on a regular basis. For the uninformed, it can be a scammer's dream on many fronts. I personally do not use peer-to-peer (p2p) services such as Limewire or any of the other file sharing networks. However, people that I know use them frequently. I was having a discussion with an friend the other day about downloading files from there and how a lot of them are just crapware that pretend to be songs. Those in the discussion were wondering how they would know the difference. So I was trying to explain that just because something says it's a song, doesn't mean it really is a song.

Recently, I worked on a computer of a family member who constantly used a file sharing program. One of the first things that I noticed was these "songs" that were less than 50k. I explained that this is just a trick to get people to download crapware that creates popups, zombifies (is that a word) the computer to spam and who knows what other kind of nastiness. So I was trying to explain that no song is going to be under 50k unless it's in a horrible quality and about five seconds, and finding what you want is likely going to be more difficult since these files seem to be everywhere. My advice was to ditch the p2p and just find a good alternate site for purchasing DRM free music from a legitimate source at a reasonable price. (They do exist, to start, click the Defective By Design link in the right column, or e-mail me for more information.)

The issue that I see with this is a lack of coherent information for the purchaser of a digital music player. I do not use the iPod, but it sounds like Apple has done a good job of making digital music management effortless. While some may argue with the proprietary nature of the format that they use, I would say that they have made the best effort I have observed. I use a rebranded version of the Creative player, and was provided some of the worst software on the planet for digital music management. For me, however, I understood audio formats and could laugh it off, downgrade the firmware and go on with life. (The firmware downgrade was necessary because that version of firmware will not work with Linux) But for the average consumer, they are stuck with substandard software to encode their music and the choices for purchasing music are limited. By default they are pushed to download the music they 1) can't legitimately buy online because it's not available, or 2) have bought and lost for one reason or another or 3) hear from their friends how to download music from p2p.

What they do not hear is how full of garbage much of the files on p2p are and that they can catch any number of illnesses from this content. Also, I do not know if sharing what you download is still turned on by default in these programs, but they could also find themself on the receiving end of a lawsuit and have no idea they were even sharing files. This opens another entirely different rant about how you can be punished more severely for downloading a song than drunk driving, but that's for another day.

I did a google search for various phrases that one might type in when trying to learn about digital file formats. I was presented with ad-laden web sites where the content was difficult to find and generic at best, technical specifications and not a whole lot in between. So at this point, expecting someone with little or no computer experience to make an educated decision about which type of file format is best for them seems difficult at best. I shall now add that to my list of projects -- providing information for those who are seeking information about digital music.

My advice to anyone reading this is not to download music from p2p. There are alternatives.

Returning an Item

The other day I had to return an item to Kohl's, which is a department store in certain parts of the country. Mostly they sell clothing, but they also sell toys, kitchen appliances and other things of that nature.

The item I was attempting to return had been purchased on their web site approximately 30 days prior. They allow you to return online purchases to their "real" stores with no hassle, within 90 days or something like that. As far as retailers go, Kohl's is great for accepting returns and being reasonable in the first place, this just makes me like them more. The brick wall that the first person had was that the receipt that I had brought in was not the right one. Apparently, I should have brought in the packing slip, which had a receipt ID on it. This turned out to be more of a problem than I or the store manager could have dreamed.

On the sheet that I had, it had my order number, the itemized listing of all the purchases, the credit card confirmation number, and the price for each item. However, it turns out, they cannot issue a refund to the credit card without the receipt ID, which has a terminal ID and some other information on it, which is only printed on the packing slip. The absurdity of printing that one bit of information on only one of the numerous receipts you could obtain aside, I was shocked this information could not be obtained from the order number. So was the store manager.

The store manager was great, he was on the phone with his help desk, refusing to accept this explanation. Their first answer was that they could not look up a receipt ID using the order number. Then they tried to tell him they could not look in their system further than two weeks. He said that if I was able to log in and print it out, then that could not be correct and kept pressing them after every excuse they gave. This went on for nearly 30 minutes. Finally, five or six people and two supervisors later, he was able to get the information he needed to do a return.

I was impressed by his refusal to accept the perceived limitation of technology. So many people will not take the time to question what makes no sense and push back, especially when it comes to computers. I have received the answer of "the computers won't let us do it," or "my system doesn't work that way" too many times to count. Usually it is me telling them there probably is a way to do it and to escalate the problem to someone else who can figure it out. It was refreshing to not have to do this, and have someone in charge do it for me.

We had a great conversation as he was on hold. He was explaining his frustration with the fact that they had this system that could do just about anything imaginable, and that there just had to be a way. He did not believe he could not do this simple task, and making me wait two weeks for a check from the corporate office was stupid. If only all retailers were this technologically literate. This guy should be CEO, seriously.

When it was all finished, I wrote a nice comment on their web site. Whenever my expectations are exceeded or someone goes out of their way to help me, I believe in congratulating them. I know from experience that in retail, usually all you hear about are the problems. It is nice to get a thanks from a customer. When the customer goes through corporate, even better. Keep that in mind next time someone offers outstanding service. It only takes a minute and can make their day or week.

Another Fun Banking Experience

So I had this issue with a bank I use that put a hold on a deposit in error. It has since been resolved quickly, so there's no need to complain bitterly about the bank. Though, on my list of complaint sources, banks are at the top of that list. Anyway, the clueless representative I spoke with on the phone said that there were no holds on cash if they are deposited. So my hacker brain starts to work...

When I went into the branch, the question was asked as to why they couldn't just cash the check for me and then I could fill out a deposit notice and deposit that cash, thereby being available immediately. The banker was surprised at this prospect (I can't believe I'm the first person to think of this) and said that they really were not allowed to do something like that. Note that he did not say it was impossible. So here is a simple solution, should should I have a "real" check I know is not going to bounce and need the funds to be available immediately: Cash the check at the branch of their bank close to my work, then deposit the cash on the way home.

On an related note, when I contacted the bank branch by telephone, they said they could not discuss account details over the phone because the line was not recorded, and that I would have to come in to discuss any issues with my account in person. I resisted the urge to ask if my conversation when I came in would be recorded because at that point my patience was dwindling. It will be a question for a future visit, though, believe me.

It is just these crazy policies that can be so easily circumvented drive me absolutely crazy. They seem to be everywhere. It is frustrating because they really do not serve any purpose other than to exercise power and some crazy sense of control. I can somewhat understand holds on checks, but payroll checks from a huge corporation that has been in business forever, come on already. Now most of their customers probably just grumble and accept that as just the way it is, but I am definitely not that customer.

Windows Vista

So I happened upon a link that would allow me to download a preview release of Windows Vista, which running as I type this. I had to provide registration info for Microsoft, so who knows what kind of promotions I'll receive now. Since I do not use any Microsoft OS, I do not know how valuable that will be, but maybe someone I know can take advantage of it.

I have no intention of purposely buying Windows Vista, but I thought it would be a learning experience, and those are never bad. This is assuming that I have a computer powerful enough to run it. Good grief, the capabilities required for this are unbelievable.

I'm going to try to install it on an old laptop that I have. I seriously doubt it will be a fun experience, even if it will install, but it should still be an experience anyway. If you have the chance and are curious, I would suggest trying it out. The download is large, nearly 2.6 gb. But it's one time I can get something free from Microsoft, so you can't go wrong with it.

Here's the link. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

Owned By A Bank

There is not much that annoys me more than when business and government misuse the language to (usually) mean the exact opposite of what they are saying. I am usually wary of anything that starts out with "for your convenience..." or "for your protection..." because usually that means I'm about to get something that is neither for my convenience or protection.

An elderly relative recently had a charge for $12.99 appear on her bank statement. This is a person who lives on a fixed income, and whose account balance is usually under $1 by the end of the month. Luckily, the charge was caught before it caused her account to be overdrawn. She had no idea what this charge was for, so we called the 800 number listed on the statement.

It turns out, it was for "identity theft protection" which was endorsed by her bank. So I asked how she incurred this charge, and was informed that she would have filled out a form and returned to them. So I asked what type of form it would have been, thinking it was probably something that looked like a sweepstakes entry, free gift, or a rebate check. Oh no, they assured me, it was clear what it was and that if she did not cancel within 30 days, there would be a charge of $12.99 a month. She has no idea what she would have filled out and sent back, and they could only theorize the type of document it would have been. Since she lauged and asked why in the world she would need that, it obviously was not clear what it was.

My guess is that it was completely confusing and mislabeled. I know you have probably received an offer like this: "For your convenience, we have automatically enrolled you in our new [fill in the blank] service, ABSOLUTELY FREE!* To accept this offer, just verify your current address and you will be enrolled immediately!" Finally you are able to locate what the size 4-point asterisk points to on the back of a different sheet of paper, also written in 4-point type which at the end of a five paragraph exercise in legalese says that free does not really mean free.

From my experience, our older generation has no concept of this type of marketing. Logically, free meant free. Free now means free after trial, free after rebate, or free after [fill in the blank]. If a product is good enough to warrant buying it, you tell people about it and they purchase it. Seems straightforward enough. I do not know when we reached the point that you had to be tricked into buying something, while at the same time they say - with a straight face - that it was a perfectly clear offer. The fact of the matter is people do not fight this kind of crap. They accept these unethical practices and move on. Every time I am confronted with this kind of nonsense, I demand my money back and complain to the authorities if necessary.

Which leads me to a sub-rant: Technical processes aside, why is it that someone can charge your credit or debit card, deducting the money almost immediately, but to get a credit takes days or weeks? It is just one of those things that we have allowed to happen, not demanded that a credit happen as quickly as the original charge.

It seems so much of my time is spent just making the business that I deal with do what I am paying them to do. You could probably ask just about any person you know about an experience with phone companies, banks, insurance companies or these other entities which take our money and I would wager they have a horror story, if not several.

If you are one who just lets this happen without a fight, I encourage you to join those of us who complain and make a fuss. If enough people refused to accept this level of service, I really believe change would come. But now, if one company can get away with it, they all try. Fight back, find ways around the nonsense, and take control at every opportunity.

VOIP Alternative - Jajah

A VOIP service that's a little different that I have been experimenting with is Jajah (www.jajah.com). This service is unique in that it is not a landline replacement type service. You simply put in your number and number of the person you are calling. Your phone rings, when you pick it up, the line rings to the other person. I've used the free trial and the voice quality is okay. It really depends on the time of day that you are using it, but overall I've been pleased. It's definitely worth a try.

The VOIP Leap - Followup

Earlier I posted about making the switch to VOIP. Well, it has not worked out so well. Not because of technical reasons, but because of general hassle. I had selected to go with the same provider as before, Vonage. However, I had returned my VOIP unit from the previous experience to the retailer. Apparently, the special to come back only applies if you have the same unit.

Also, their special would only work if I activated new service, paid shipping for another unit and then called customer service to request a cancel of that shipment, and a credit of two months once my service was active. The biggest issue was that I know I was not talking to America, as much as "Mitch" tried to help. I kept getting disconnected, the voice quality sounded like a tin can and two strings, so finally I just gave up.

I returned the unit to the retailer and bought a phone card instead. So much for the leap. I figure all I need is one more hassle. If it's that difficult just to become a customer, who knows what will happen if I have a problem.

I may elect to go with another provider, so I may revisit this thread again.

What's Your Job

One of the most complicated things I have to explain to relatives and friends who are not computer geeks is my job function. I know that others probably encounter this same issue when someone asks, "So what do you do." Usually I repeat my title back to them, only to have the glaze over their eyes get thicker. I then try to reduce my job into as easy terms as possible. The conversation usually ends with them saying something about how it sounds too complicated for them.

The biggest hurdle in this, I think, is that when people know you work with computers in a role that administers them rather than simply uses them, they immediately think it's over their head. The fact of the matter is, there are a lot of computer jobs that require specialization in one particular area.

I used to work with someone who was a wizard troubleshooting issues with Unix print queues. She could solve anything. But she did not know how to uninstall a program in Windows and had no desire to apply herself to understand it better because she was a self-proclaimed non-geek. I have worked with others like this who can perform things I could only imagine, but they cannot figure out how to type an address directly into the address bar of their web browser. There seems to be this stigma about computers that baffles people, and I struggle to understand why people put up this wall around them when it comes to it.

And that's the thing; my jobs in the recent past have not been terribly complicated or technical. Most of them have been varying degrees of system administration or supporting roles. I pity those people who invent crazy stuff explaining their job at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

09/11/2006

On the five year tragedy of September 11, most people have been talking about where they were on that day. Most of their stories are much more exciting than mine. I did not turn on the news that morning, so I did not know about the event that had taken place. I remember in the car on the way to work, the announcers kept saying what a tragedy had happened. I was wondering what was happening because they just kept saying what a tragedy it was. Finally, they said a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.

When I got to work, some of the other employees had managed to get the local news on the televisions in the cafeteria. Ordinarily they only showed company broadcasts, but everyone was too curious, I suppose. It's interesting to note that to this day, CNN is still broadcast on those televisions. There were several people gathered around, just wondering what had happened. Just as we all had decided it was an accident, we saw the second plane hit. It suddenly became clear that there was something else happening.

I went back to my desk and tried to get some information from the internet news pages, but all of the web sites were unavailable. Everything was overwhelmed, everyone else was thinking the same thing I was, apparently. Shortly after that, one of the head people said we could go home for the day if we wanted.

I did go home that day and spend it with my family, watching the events unfold. I was not scared that an attack would happen to us, but I was fearful for the people who were there, on the ground, watching in real life what we were seeing on television. The most shocking thing to me was that there were absolutely no airplanes in the air that night. We lived near a small regional airport and the flight path to the major aiport was over us, so there were always the sounds of planes in the air. The absence of that was disturbing.

So now five years later, we're in a perpetual state of war with a noun, we have ridiculous airport security, limited freedoms, increased government surveillance, prisoner torture, corporations getting rich from death and destruction, and a whole list of other issues too numerous to mention individually. I do not think that anyone could have estimated the degree to which the events of that day would be politicized for a fanatical agenda and the blind allegiance these people would receive by invoking the word "terrorist."

The fact is the world is a complicated place filled with a huge array of diverse beliefs and individuals. Few, if any, issues are black and white and rarely are there simple answers to the tough questions. The events of that day were not as simple as them hating our freedom. And one can wonder what drives these individuals to these acts, without being unpatriotic. Something makes them do this, and perhaps those are the issues that we should take a hard look at, instead of simply name calling and labeling them as lunatics. This does not excuse their actions in any way, but I have to believe there is common ground between everyone that can result in a peaceful coexistence.

It is not mandatory that we all get along, but, but we can at least agree to not kill each other. Maybe that's a dreamland, but I have to believe it is possible in our current day and age. But then again, there's not much money to be made from not killing each other.

Windows is easier, right?

So I remember back when I used Windows exclusively, and thinking how much more difficult it was to configure Linux to do what I wanted. I've come to the conclusion that I was completely insane. I recently had to reinstall Windows on one of our home computers and have been struggling with it for two days now. It still doesn't recognize the sound card. There is some other device that I have no idea what it even is that keeps failing to install. I created a partition, with Windows in just enough space to operate and save a file or two, the rest of the disk is Ubuntu Linux.

Total Ubuntu time, about two hours including partitioning and applying patches. All hardware was found with no issue and everything is running perfectly. Were it not for the windows only printer that we have, it would be gone for good.

Total Windows time, two days and counting. For some reason Service Pack 2 did not finish last night. Update, reboot. Update, reboot. It's like a bad dream.

I'm sure anyone who works with Windows on a regular basis knows what I'm talking about. I may not post for a few days because I will be traveling. Take care.

END RANT.

Making the VOIP Leap

I tried Vonage a few months back, using a free trial. In the end, however, it ended up being cheaper to just get unlimited long distance service through my telephone provider. The service was not bad and the call quality was great. Some things have changed since then with my monthly bill, and I've been thinking of reevaluating the decision to ditch Vonage. For one thing, I no longer have unlimited long distance and probably spend at least the same amount on local phone service and calling cards as the monthly Vonage fee. Plus, the last time I talked to them, they offered me three months free.

One of the biggest reservations I've had up until now is the ability to make phone calls in the event of a power or network outage. This has been the last remaining hangup (no pun intended) in eliminating traditional home telephone service. But there have been several issues that have made me rethink my logic behind this.

First of all, I am probably using a form of VOIP now that may or may not continue to work when the power goes out. Considering I have "digital telephone," that's probably corporatespeak for VOIP. Second, my issue of not being able to make calls when the power goes out is irrelevant because I no longer have a non-AC powered telephone. If the power goes out, I'm already unable to make calls. Third, I cannot remember the last time I was without power, let alone out of power and desperately needed to make a telephone call. Of course, now that I've said it, that situation will arise immediately upon disconnecting phone service. And (knock on wood) the internet service I have is amazingly reliable, I can only recollect one brief outage in the past year.

So, I am going to take the leap and see what happens. I know that others have done this and probably have had no issues, but it's hard to let go of the landline. For those of you in a similar situation, I'll keep this update if I have any issues. The only suggestion I have if you switch to Vonage is to call during their normal business hours. If you call after hours, you are routed to their call center in India. However, during normal business hours, you get their staff in New Jersey. Believe me, the difference is worth the wait.

What was it like before Google?

I was thinking today of how easily information can be obtained on just about anything. In fact, it is hard to remember a time when a person had to actually look something up in a book or wait to find someone with the knowledge. Virtually anything you need to know is at your fingertips within a matter of seconds using the internet or discussion groups.

My children will always know this as a standard practice, and probably much more. The tools they will have are probably probably in someone's imagination at this point. When they are my age, the technology we marvel at today, to them, will be commonplace and perhaps even primitive. I think that everyone gets so accustomed to the technology that we have today that many do not take time to appreciate it.

Try to remember what it was like (if you can) to find information before Google and the Internet. Don't ever forget the magic of it all. What we have today liberates us from ignorance and provides limitless opportunities for knowledge and education. Stop and enjoy the virtual scented roses.

Libraries as a Resource

As one who constantly seeks knowledge, libraries are very appealing to my quest for information about virtually any topic. Most libraries are very well run and respect individual's right to have free access to any information they desire. As a result, a library and/or librarian can be one of your most valuable resources when on a quest for information. Contrary to the popular belief, one can usually get more education at a public library than at your local university. You also cannot beat the price.

So why don't more people use libraries? I have always wondered about this. I do like the fact that libraries are not crowded (generally) like a shopping mall, but it would be wonderful if everyone were so interested in learning that libraries had to expand to accomodate all of the information seekers. I truly believe that if people fully understood the power of their local library, it would increase the general education in our world dramatically. However, as long as there is a television blaring and reality television to watch, the vast majority of people will be content to be entertained by brain junk food.

Getting a library card is actually very simple. Generally it requires only proof that you reside in the county or city where the library is located. Some may even require less information. I have lived in many cities in several states and obtaining a library card was one of the easiest tasks of moving to a new city. Many libraries also participate in interlibrary loan programs, so that if they do not have the item you are seeking, it can be obtained by another library.

When most people think of libraries, they think of only books. However, libraries typically also have movies, music, software, magazines and e-books. They also generally have access to commercial or research databases, article indexes and other various forms of information. Library staff can help one locate information on just about any subject. If I have been stumped in a search, they have always been able to point me in the direction of resources.

Project Gutenberg, is obviously independent of your local library. It is a library unlike any other where thousands of e-books are available free for download and distribtuion. They have e-books that you may be unable to locate in even the best of public libraries. It is amazing resource. If you find it valuable, I would encourage you to join. Michael Hart, the founder, was a keynote speaker at HOPE. Check out the web site and download the audio.

Commercial e-books are handled differently from library to library. Usually to register for these e-books requires a visit to the library, where a librarian can create an account for you. All of the libraries I have utilized have used netlibrary as their provider. Once the account is created, these e-books can be read from your home computer at your leisure. The process using an e-book is similar to a regular book. You "check out" the book for your exclusive use, or you can browse it without "checking it out." Netlibary seems to be also independent of the library card itself. My accounts from previous libraries remain active years later. Larger libraries have more e-books available, but generally the selection has been excellent at smaller libraries as well.

One issue is that libraries do not always satisfy the instant gratification of today's world. Sometimes you have to wait weeks for an item. Personally, I usually place holds on books that I want to read, and fill the time with books or media selected when I visit. There is never a shortage of books in my home, and it is not uncommon for me to be reading several books at once.

I could go on for hours about the virtues of libraries. I encourage you to visit your local library and discover it for yourself.

Photos from HOPE online

I finally got all of my pictures from HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth) sorted and uploaded to a service. I have never used photobucket, but it's free, fast and not Yahoo, so I'll give it a shot.

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n305/hoot550/

My goal is to organize some of my thoughts on the conference and add them to the HOPE Wiki, but time for me seems to be forever in short supply.

I will say this: HOPE, for me, was a defining moment of my life. It has inspired me to finally take some action, work toward something great -- education of as many people as I can reach. One of the skills that I have is writing and sharing information in written form. I am not sure how this is going to work out, or where it is going to lead, but I'm taking that first step. So please bear with me as this progresses. Any constructive feedback is welcomed and encouraged. If there is anything you would like to see on this, or a direction you would like to see it go, drop me a note or leave a comment.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

Thoughts on Data Theft/Loss

I have been thinking a lot recently about the data breaches where laptops are stolen and hundreds of thousands of people's identities are compromised instantly. I believe the fact that they are stolen is the first crime. The second crime is that the data is not encrypted. Both parties should be held equally liable for this disclosure.

The fact that disk encryption is absent from the majority of these cases leads me to believe that many corporate operations are similar to the ones with which I am familiar. Most large corporations have a system by which full disk encryption could be instituted as a policy and company wide standard for mobile computers. I understand that it would be a significant undertaking, costing money and development time with very little return on the money they spend. That may sound callous, but it is the nature of business. Most likely, it is cheaper at present to simply work a deal with another corporation to provide identity theft protection services than to completely change the configuration of their laptop computers across the entire company.

Some businesses have policies in place that would, on the surface, appear to solve this issue. This includes requiring all official company documents to be stored on the server or servers that are designated for their department or user account. Everyone asks why the data was stored on a laptop. The answer is simple: If the individual wants to work on it without network connectivity, it has to be stored locally. Network connectivity does not exist everywhere, so for those mobile users, there is no choice other than to store the data on their local system.

Secondary to this is the fact that many times, space allocated to individual users on shared servers is ridiculously small. Increasing disk space for an individual user is much like pleading a case in court. You have to prove that you do not have an enormous file somewhere that could be deleted and that you do, in fact, need this extra space to perform your job. As a result, often times it is just easier to store all that data on the local 120GB hard drive inside the workstation. In these type of instances, one cannot entirely blame the user. They are stuck in a no win situation. They have to do their job, but cannot do their job because of system limitations. Either way could lead to trouble, but odds are not saving on a server could be more easily defended than not doing one's job.

Complicating matters further, many large businesses prohibit the use of encryption technology among individual users. On the surface this seems to fly in the face of common sense. However, in the corporate world, many times common sense can be temporarily suspended to make way for a valid reason. There is no way that the information technology departments can support this for hundreds of thousands of users. The nature of encryption is to allow individuals to secure their documents and/or communications and to make that communication impossible to intercept or recover. While the majority of users who even understand encryption are the least likely to cause issues, the fact is that if a user has it and their boss does not, suddenly the user has control of their communication. This would enable people to openly violate company policies, disclose information and otherwise undertake in prohibited activity without fear of prosectuion. This says nothing of the clueless executive who will forget his private key and then be irate when the IT department cannot decrypt his/her document or e-mail. Again, at present it seems that it is more cost effective to just help clean up the mess after a data breach has occurred.

I do not have a solution to this problem. The only thing I can suggest is that people who are trusted with this data be careful with it. If it were your bank records, you would not leave it in an unlocked car with the windows rolled down, clearly visible sitting on the passenger seat. It is a mentality of respecting other people's property in the same manner that you respect your own. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be something all individuals have. And that's a whole other post...

Poor Customer Service

I read a column by David Lazarus in the San Francisco Chronicle about customer service. His column deals with a wide range of consumer issues. (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/08/13/BUGT8KG7VO1.DTL)

Basically, it confirmed what many of us already know. Service sucks just about everywhere. I think about the businesses that I deal with on a regular basis, and most of the time, the service is mediocre at best. I am not one of those problem customers who feels that everyone should bow before me as I come through the door, but there just seems to be such an unspoken anti-customer sentiment, where everything is in favor of the business that is receiving your money.

I know that everything did not decline overnight. As I think back on the various businesses that I frequent, it was a slow and gradual process. For instance, my old bank stopped publishing their phone number in the local phone book. Instead, it was the 800 number for their call center. Just calling to speak to your banker was an ordeal. It was almost easier to go in person. Then the automatic payment craze started. Pretty soon, I'm paying for the privilege of receiving a bill in the mail.

In previous times, you could vote with your dollars and just go somewhere else. Unfortunately, it seems that everyone and everything is in a quest for sameness. In the past, if you did not like big corporate policies, you could go to a smaller independent and pay a little more for service. Unfortunately, those small independents are either gone or owned by the big corporation as a subsidiary. It seems like everything is becoming the same. When this happens, no one will have to differentiate themselves because everyone else does the same thing or offers the same level of service.

It just seems like our voice as consumers is getting lost. Sure, you can make demands, learn the system and figure out a way to get what you want almost anywhere, but what about the people who do not know how to use the system to their advantage? I would argue that it is up to those of us who understand how to exploit the system to educate as many people as we can. I believe that it is not the intelligence of people that let them be fooled by this madness, but the mentality of believing whatever is told to them. This causes issues far greater than being hosed by a return policy, but it is part of the larger problem in our world.

I have no scientific proof, but I see that there are three types of people in the consumer world today: Those who just go along, those who take advantage, and those who fight back. I tend to find myself in the fighting back camp, and from time to time, I take advantage. Overall, it works itself out and I sleep at night.

How do I fight back? There are hundreds of ways, but just a small one that everyone can do is asking a question. Several chain stores from pet supplies to bath soap have started asking for your telephone number when you check out. When I'm asked for my phone number, I say no. I do not make up a number, I just say no. One day, after having been to about three stores that had asked for my number, I asked why they wanted it:

The clerk said, "Oh, we won't use it to call you."

I resisted the urge to point out that was not the question I asked, but obviously the corporate script was mixed up. So I said, "then why do you want it?"

"So we can send you coupons," was her reply.

I let her think about it for a minute, then I had to ask: "How, exactly, do you send coupons to my phone number, without calling me?" She just stared at me for a few seconds, then handed me my receipt and thanked me for my purchase.

Of course, I know they use it to track spending habits and all that fun stuff. What would the world be today without business intelligence? How would they know where to place all those items during the time of the year to reach their target demographic? With that phone number, they probably use some type of reverse lookup so they can send you even more junk mail, after the coupon. The point is these people do not stop to think for a minute about how it all works, all they know is that they are supposed to ask for your phone number. Some are happy to just say no, others press harder. If you are even in a bind, (area code) 867-5309 works well. :-) Some will even happily enter (area code) 555-1212.

If you want to try something fun, go to Sears and buy something over about $20. Good grief, I'm surprised you do not have to give a blood sample. For entertainment and eduction, I like to make up fake names (Mareda Hooselfrausen) or celebrities. The odd thing is, last time I was there, I gave the name of a very famous person, the clerk did not even notice. They are so caught up in adhering to policy that common sense abandons them. So now I can only imagine what the postal carrier thinks, when he's delivering mail to several celebrities who have grills and power tools whose warranty is about to expire.

The point is, I do not think it is enough to just give bogus information. It can be fun, don't get me wrong. Really, though, we have to question, bring the workers back to reality. If you can get someone thinking, chances are these types of stupid policies will eventually change. Not everyone is open to being questioned, but I advise you to engage them in conversation. I have found that if you can get people to think like they would if they were on the other side of the counter, they are much more willing to exercise common sense.

Good luck, and we'll see you next post.

Welcome

Welcome my little piece of the world. As much as I don't care for the term blog, this seems to be the best method of (hopefully) reaching someone and sparking a debate or conversation. I recently returned from HOPE Number Six (Hacker on Planet Earth) in New York City and will post information about that, and many other things.

Look for more information to follow. In the meantime, check out the links.

I have not completely ironed out the schedule yet, but I would like to get to a weekly feature, with other tidbits as I have time. Please bookmark this page if you stumble upon it. Good things will come.