http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/why_is_this_man_so_angry.html
Random words have hyperlinks that pop if the cursor floats over them. “Vibrant” is the name on them. Something to do with Microsoft Bing?
How do we kill them?
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TECHNOLOGY: Annoying popups are back
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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Technology | 
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Privacy in social networking; None!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/25.98.html
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:18:36 -0400
From: reinke ferdinand
Subject: Plain Dealer sparks ethical debate by unmasking anonymous poster
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/03/plain_dealer_sparks_ethical_de.html
Plain Dealer sparks ethical debate by unmasking anonymous Cleveland.com poster
By Henry J. Gomez, *The Plain Dealer*, 26 Mar 2010
*** begin quote ***
By unmasking an anonymous poster at its companion website, The Cleveland Plain Dealer finds itself in an ethical quandary, stirring a debate that balances the public’s need to know against the privacy concerns of online participants.
The newspaper traced the identity of `lawmiss’ after someone using that moniker left a comment about the mental state of a relative of reporter Jim Ewinger. The comment was removed for violating cleveland.com’s community rules, which do not allow personal attacks.
Users are required to register with a valid e-mail address before posting at cleveland.com. Upon learning of the Ewinger issue Monday, an online editor looked up lawmiss’s e-mail address, which like all others, is accessible through software used to post stories to the website.
“It does raise the question of the wisdom and fairness of the newspaper using the registration system of the website for reporting purposes,” Steele said in a telephone interview.
The newspaper’s decisions could have a chilling effect on conversation at cleveland.com, said Rebecca Jeschke of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an online privacy rights group.
“I would think twice before participating in a message board where I had to give my e-mail address knowing that management could access it at any time,” Jeschke said. “It seems appropriate in this case, but … it’s hard not to imagine scenarios where it’s abused.”
Other news organizations already hide such information from their editorial staff, said Steve Yelvington, a strategist for Morris Digital Works, the online division of Morris Communications. The company runs 13 daily newspapers in Florida, Georgia, Texas and other states. “We are careful to firewall our business records from our journalists,” Yelvington said.
*** end quote ***
Regardless of where one comes down on the issue of Internet privacy (IMHO there ain’t none), or how much should you trust anything on the inet (IMHO zero trust), and technology in general (IMHO we give boobs the equivalent of loaded guns and they are astonished when some one gets hurt), this was completely preventable.
Use a “disposable” e-mail account!
Haven’t these people ever heard of GMAIL? No invitation required now! You can even use multiple ones! Ask any “child” who wants to break free from Mom and Dad’s supervision. That’s without even getting “tricky” of using one of the “disposable websites that create e-mail addresses that only work for a very limited time; perfect for “e-mail validation” requirements. If Chinese bloggers can hide form their oppressive regime, then we can conclude that most of us who want “privacy” can figure out a way to do it. In this case, the technology-naive are getting a very expensive education in “technology”.
And, this wasn’t even the government seeking to find out who made a nasty comment. Wait till the Internet-using public says something the government doesn’t like. Such as “taxes are too high”, “the <insert favorite government agency> is inept, corrupt, or stupid”, or quote Jefferson, Lysander Spooner, or Sam Adams. Then, the proctology exam will begin.
Replies will b
Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: Privacy | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
UPDATE: TECHNOLOGY iPad; I’m watching. Reported wifi issues. A killer!
Monday, April 5, 2010http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100404/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1448
The 10 most surprising things about the iPad
Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.
*** begin quote ***
The UPS guy handed me my new iPad just a few hours ago, and yes—the jumbo-sized screen is as glorious as they say, and I was shocked by how good HD videos looked. But I was also surprised by how heavy the iPad feels, and if you were hoping to read e-books all day under the clear, bright blue sky, well…bad news, folks. These and more iPad surprises, coming right up.
*** end quote ***
I’d like one. The WifI seems most practical. The big memory one is $699.
To be kool?
I don’t think so. If the MacBookAir is any example of Apple doing tech, the iPad will be “good”. Good; not great. Followed soon on by improvements and a price drop. Like a cliff.
When it was a status thing, McBa was 5k$. Soon, it was 1.5k$!
I’d like to play with a cheap iPad. With a phone and a camera.
Does it have a USB for my vwbbie (Verizon wireless broadband dongle)?
Remember that it is “closed” both hardware, software, and to a certain extent in data as well. That’s not “good”!
And, the McBa will burn your leg; it gets so hot when recharging. Haven’t heard anything about the iPad and recharging temperature. Yet?
Waiting for cheaper, better, and faster! And, more “open”!!!
# # # # #
http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/05/trouble-in-paradise-ipad-users-complain-of-wifi-issues/
*** begin quote ***
My understanding of Wifi issues on devices, particularly cramped devices like the Macbook Air and iPad, is that it’s usually a hardware/design issue and something that can’t be fixed via a software patch. I hope that’s not the case with the iPad, because faulty Wifi would make this a very unattractive device. Particularly if they run into Macbook Air type problems.
*** end quote ***
Ouch! That hurts. Since I’d only want the WiFi. Can’t afford another monthly inet bill!
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1 Comment | Technology | Tagged: Hazard | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Should have used a disposable address
Sunday, April 4, 2010http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/03/plain_dealer_sparks_ethical_de.html
Plain Dealer sparks ethical debate by unmasking anonymous Cleveland.com poster
By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer
March 26, 2010, 7:00AM
*** begin quote ***
On one side are experts who believe the newspaper has violated a trust by exploring and revealing information about a critic. On the other are those, including Plain Dealer Editor Susan Goldberg, who believe that information is too important not to see the light of day.
Until this week, “lawmiss” was known only as one of thousands who, often known only by nicknames, share views on news blogs and stories reported at cleveland.com.
But after investigating a comment directed at the relative of a Plain Dealer reporter, editors learned that lawmiss had the same e-mail address as Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold. A closer look revealed that the user had offered opinions on three of Saffold’s cases, including the capital murder trial of accused serial killer Anthony Sowell.
When confronted with the newspaper’s findings Wednesday, the judge denied responsibility for the posts. Her daughter, Sydney Saffold, came forward later to accept responsibility for posting “quite a few, more than five” of more than 80 lawmiss comments.
*** end quote ***
Silly people.
With gmail, and other free providers, using a “real” email address is a bone-headed move.
About the only thing dumber is using an ISP’s address.
And, if you’re uncomfortable about using a free email service, you can buy an email account from any number of providers.
You can still be tracked by IP address and credit cards.
But it’s not as easy as, in the newspapers case, of peeking at the computer records.
Silly, to expect honesty from the media. Next, you’ll expect honest from the police. Or the government.
(Stop, stop, I’m laughing so hard, I’m going to wet myself.)
Fore warned is fore armed!
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: JAVA is “closed”; that’s a killer
Saturday, April 3, 2010http://developers.slashdot.org/story/10/04/03/0147255/The-Struggle-To-Keep-Java-Relevant
*** begin quote ***
snydeq writes “Fatal Exception’s Neil McAllister questions Oracle’s ability to revive interest in Java in the wake of Oracle VP Jeet Kaul’s announcement at EclipseCon that he would ‘like to see people with piercings doing Java programming.’ ‘If Kaul is hoping Java will once again attract youthful, cutting-edge developers, as it did when it debuted in 1995, [Kaul] may be in for a long wait,’ McAllister writes. ‘Java has evolved from a groundbreaking, revolutionary language platform to something closer to a modern-day version of Cobol.’ And, as McAllister sees it, ‘Nothing screams “get off my lawn” like a language controlled by Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software vendor. The chances that Java can attract the mohawks-and-tattoos set today seem slimmer than ever.'”
*** end quote ***
When I’m doing my spiel as a consultant, I use the line: “Creating tomorrow’s legacy today!” a lot.
There’s nothing that people want less than a dead end. Maybe right next to that is an “island” controlled by a vandor. Microsoft comes to mind first. Oracle is next.
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: Yahoo and Facebook are cooperating
Saturday, April 3, 2010*** begin quote ***
Hi XXX-owner,
Use the automatic Friend Finder for XXX@YYY.COM. Now it will be easier than ever to share and connect with your friends.
Use our Friend Finder to find your email contacts on Facebook
Find Friends
Thanks,
The Facebook Team
*** end quote ***
Looks like Yahoo and Facebook are cooperating to accomplish something. What I have no idea?
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Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
HARDWARE: SOlar powered trash can risks?
Saturday, April 3, 2010*** begin quote ***
A growing number of cities and municipalities are testing solar-powered trash compactors as a way to go green and save some green. Communities in 46 states, as well as some state parks and colleges, are replacing regular trash cans, according to Richard Kennelly, vice president of BigBelly Solar marketing, which manufactures the devices.
*** end quote ***
Given how valuable solar panels are, how long until these are stolen? Then we begin the war of escalation. Bolt down; bolt cutters. Motion sensors (for when they are pulled up); Faraday cage over them. Should be amusing!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Education is the key to getting benefits form technology
Sunday, March 28, 2010http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/27/why-america-needs-to-start-investing-in-its-workforce-again-2
Why America Needs To Start Educating Its Workforce Again
by Vivek Wadhwa on Mar 27, 2010
*** begin quote ***
Ask any old-time IBMer, and you will hear stories of IBM’s legendary workforce-development practices. When a manager identified a manufacturing worker with promise, the company would teach him how to dress, how to speak to clients, and how to service products. These technicians would then be trained to be computer programmers, sales reps, or product managers.
*** and ***
If you do get hired, it’s up to you to stay current or get booted out with the first dip in sales. American corporations consider their workforce to be disposable — like ball-point pens and cigarette lighters. Gone are the days when a company would train a factory worker to become a computer programmer or offer lifelong employment. It’s all about quarterly revenue and profits now.
*** and ***
The Indian experience highlights what can be achieved by investing in upgrading the skills of the workforce. If workforce training can take the output of an education system as weak as India’s and turn its graduates into world-class engineers and scientists, imagine what could be done with a worker base that has received amongst the best education in the world, as is the case in the United States.
U.S. companies have long played the guru, developing and disseminating many widely adopted management and workforce practices. The time has come for the guru to learn from one of its disciples: India.
*** end quote ***
Once upon a time, AT&T was like IBM as well. One of my early achievements was proposing Computer Operators be trained as Programmers. I had “the Charter”. Took the project from: “We need programmers.” to graduating 21 of the initially 22. (Darn girl! Went and decided she’d rather have a baby. She shoulda waited; ruined my talking point. She came back from maternity leave and successfully tested. But, I didn’t get credit for her. Still don’t understand why?)
Vivek hits upon a key change needed in the American business meme. “Quarterly”! We, as a society, have to figure out how to change the meme of “company” from a short-term focused entity to a long-term focused one. A company is “eternal”; unlike human beings. And, it is a creation of the government, so it should be easy. It’s all rooted in the tax code. We see corporations as “paying taxes” when if fact they just pass them on to real people and hide the tax in the cost of the product. To change the company focus, several things have to happen: realign corporate management’s desire to the long term, change investor’s expectations to the long term, and — probably the hardest — change the government’s rules. Management annual salaries should be limited to less than POTUS (President Of The United States) makes; bonuses should be in the form of long term bonds. (That will cure that short term viewpoint in 30 minutes or less!) Investors, to encourage sticking for the long term, should get a real “capital gains” tax break — most of the time your “capital gain” is inflation; not a real gain — ZERO tax for investments held for say a decade. And, the government — well they are probably incurable — we need stable money, low taxes, and low spending. (Like that’s going to happen with out a revolution!)
We can start on “education” by ending “public education” as we know it. It took seven decades to get into this mess; probably take seven to get out of it. But parents should educate their children. They are the ones who had them, have their best interests at heart, and have the motivation from them to succeed. Education expense today has no ROI. It’s a mess.
We have a lot to do to recapture the American Dream!
[When I worked with Vivek, was he this smart? Didn’t seem so at the time. Maybe I’m the dummy.]
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4 Comments | Technology | Tagged: Human Factors | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: What does Apple need to do for Mac OS X
Saturday, March 27, 2010http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/20/what-do-you-want-to-see-in-mac-os-x-10-7/
*** begin quote ***
It’s time again for another Dear, Apple letter from the readers of TUAW. In our first series (part one, part two, part three) you told us what you want to see in the next iPhone OS. Now we need your help again to tell Apple what you want to see in the next version of Mac OS X.
*** end quote ***
I’m a newbie MacBookAir who left windoze behind. I’m pleased but not ecstatic.
(1) MobileMe “backup” of contacts hasn’t worked in a year. A long series of Genius Bars and chat sessions (that mysteriously drop after we run through their script) hasn’t made it work.
(2) Mail sucks. It’s not as good as Outlook, or LookOut as I grumbled when it did something strange. It should handle private key encryption. And, better “smartboxes”.
(3) Time Machine backup is ALWAYS backing up and slowing the pig down.
(4) Airport is always scanning for a wap, even when it has MINE, and slows stuff down. And, for some reason, it ignores all of them, so I have to select MINE! Argh! Of course, while this is happening, performance goes to hell.
(5) iWeb is good for beginners who want to do a simple complete website. Publisher on Windoze is better. But no one does a great job.
(6) iWork reminds me of Window’s Word a while ago.
(7) iTunes is a performance and a functional disaster. Have nothing to compare it to, but it could be useful if it didn’t perform like a pig. A pig that needs a support staff to understand it’s uses.
(8) The helps on the Apple provided software are limited and lame. Like an intern threw up some initial stuff and that was good enough.
(9) Windoze is notorious for the way it “sludges” up over time. My macbookair is beginning to feel the same way. Could it be the same need to be “reborn” from scratch?
Needless to say, I’m not a fan of Apple. But then, I’m not a fan of Windoze either.
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5 Comments | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
HARDWARE: An SSD is quiet
Thursday, March 25, 2010Vol. 2, # 12 – Mar 25, 2010 – Issue # 28
Storage Technology: Past, Present and Future
Deb Shinder, Editor
*** begin quote ***
Most SSDs use flash memory and don’t need batteries. DRAM-based SSDs are faster, but need a battery or AC adapter and backup storage because their memory is volatile, so otherwise data will be lost if the electrical power is lost. Flash-based SSDs do use DRAM for a cache. Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs have no moving parts. That makes them quieter and also more durable and less prone to failure. They are also less vulnerable to damage from vibration, shock or extreme temperatures, and they don’t have to be defragmented. They are fast for read operations, but SATA-based SSDs are slow on write operations. PCIe SSDs provide faster write speeds.
*** end quote ***
The MacBookAir is quiet. But the bottom does get hot. From time to time, the box does slow down.
I’m suspecting it gets “cruddy” like windoze. Maybe it too needs a bare metal restore to get it back to its original snappy performance.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: WIFI SSID should be something useful
Tuesday, March 23, 2010Mine is “3TYNE7328219525”.
My neighbors can get ahold of me if they need to.
What does MOAA1, UY2C2, 08FX10100287, and Startech tell you?
Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: INTERNET | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
SOFTWARE: TextExpander problem
Sunday, March 21, 2010TextExpander had a brain fart. Somehow all my snippets were wiped out.
Again!
Argh!
Don’t know why? Again!
I tried to find the correct file to restore. (Didn’t write it down last time.)
So, as usual, the fat old white guy injineer had his own recovery plan.
I built the import files so that I could recover it.
*** begin quote ***
I’m sorry to hear that. You’ll need to restore your snippets from your backup:
1. Visit the TextExpander system preferences
2. Click the Preferences tab
3. Hold the Option key and click “Enable TextExpander” (which will kill TextExpander’s background process)
4. Quit System Preferneces
5. Restore this file from your backup:
[Home]/Library/Application Support/TextExpander/Settings.textexpander
6. Visit the Preferences tab of the TextExpander system preferences
7. Click “Enable TextExpander”
Thanks for using TextExpander from SmileOnMyMac!
Regards,
TextExpander Support
*** end quote ***
My way is faster. I think.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Technology malpractice; Abbott Diabetes Care dictates how you interact!
Thursday, March 18, 2010EMAIL RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF TEDIOUSLY ASKING A QUESTION ON THEIR WEB SITE
*** begin quote ***
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Abbott Diabetes Care, maker of FreeStyle and Precision products. We are pleased to provide you with a team of dedicated Specialists to help you understand your options in obtaining the FreeStyle and Precision products. Our Specialists are available to assist you toll free at 1-866-246-2683, Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 9 PM (CST).
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Abbott Diabetes Care
Join the FreeStyle Promise® Program Today and BE Supported! (https://www.freestylepromise.com)
This communication may contain information that is proprietary, confidential, or exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any other dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete it from his or her computer.
*** end quote ***
No, I don’t want to call and talk to one of your “dedicated Specialists” (In a third world country?)
I just want you to answer my damn question.
If I wanted to endure the “fingernails on the blackboard” physical pain of calling your call center, I would have called in the first place.
My last THREE phone calls with product problems were really great experiences. Why would I want to repeat that experience? That’s why I sent you an email.
Argh!
If “marketing is a conversation”, Abbott Diabetes Care sure isn’t listening.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Amazing cars you probably didn’t know about
Monday, March 15, 2010http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/car-tech/10-high-tech-cars-to-tear-up-the-tarmac-675005
Car tech News
10 high tech cars to tear up the tarmac
Our pick of the world’s most advanced street autos
By John Brandon
Friday at 15:20 GMT
*** begin quote ***
Car technology is advancing quickly – partly to save the auto industry from imminent collapse, but also because tech innovations can help save lives on the road.
*** end quote ***
Not sure if I need it to tell me that there are people in front of me. Maybe in a decade or two.
I probably could use it to remember the last speed sign we passed. Or remind where I see the radar traps.
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: INNOVATION | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Insane, but good, taxonomy of entreprenuers
Sunday, March 14, 2010http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/06/replicators-innovators-and-bill-gates/
Replicators, Innovators, and Bill Gates
by Vivek Wadhwa
on Mar 6, 2010
*** begin quote ***
After agonizing over this for weeks, I went to my friends at the Kauffman Foundation, and they referred me to their book titled “Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism”. Carl Schramm and Bob Litan wrote that all who take the risk are entrepreneurs, but that there are two types of entrepreneurs: “Replicative entrepreneurs”, who constitute the vast majority of small businesses (such as restaurants and dry cleaners), and “innovative entrepreneurs” — the rare few who bring new products/services to market or who pioneer new production methods (such as Walmart, eBay, and Dell).
*** end quote ***
(Has Vivek gotten smarter since when I worked with him? Or, am I slipping?)
Interesting distinction.
My take on it is that the USA needs more of both kinds.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Just use GMT!
Sunday, March 14, 2010http://www.lewrockwell.com/pr/end-daylight-saving-time2.html
End Daylight Saving Time
by Sheila Danzig
*** begin quote ***
It has not escaped our notice that in the United States, Eastern standard time is the same as Central daylight time and Mountain standard time is the same as Pacific Daylight Time. Thus, we propose that The Pacific and Central time zones remain on permanent daylight saving time, and that the Mountain and Eastern time zones remain on permanent standard time.
*** and ***
This proposal will simplify scheduling, travel, and commerce. And by ending semi-annual clock tampering, it will also allow people to get more sleep, be better adjusted to their daily routine, avoid missed appointments resulting from failure to reset clocks, and, most importantly, save lives.
*** end quote ***
I don’t agree completely.
Let’s just go to GMT time. COmputers already do.
And, leave everyone free to sort out the details themselves.
With one standard time, people will sort it out.
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1 Comment | Technology | Tagged: Human Factors | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Thinkg about non-stopping Toyotas
Friday, March 12, 2010FROM A FACEBOOK EXCHANGE
*** begin quote ***
ABCDEF wants to know how you can be trapped in a runaway car with a stuck accelerator for 20 minutes. I would like to know if people are so stupid to not know that turning off the car will at least allow you to coast to a stop if the brakes are not working (icluding the emergency brake). Or is there some hidden part of the st…ories where the cars cannot be turned off? If there is… why hasn’t any media outlet said that?
*** end quote ***
I “believe” (Medicine from Doctor Phil, Law from Judge Judy, and Politics from Glen Beck) that the stupid things do NOT respond to turning the key OFF. (Not to ACC or to the position that allows the key to be extracted and locks the steering.) The lame street Press has reported that there is SOME kind of a button, somewhere in the cabin, that can … See Morebe pushed for an “emergency stop”. (I’d have thought pushing the brake pedal would engage the brake. OH NO, dumm, there’s some SOFTWARE involved in the process. Are they out of their freakin’ minds. Nobody involved ever done “software” support.) Sigh.
P.S. In my Mom’s garage, sometimes people block me in. I used to move cars. Now, if it’s a Toyota, I call the attendant. :-) Discretion!
# – # – #
I, and others, don’t think it’s that easy. From what I understand, admittedly just from what I read, software is allowed to over ride the operator stomping on the brake. I find that incredulous. But, evidently, this little gem has a software that has a mind of its own. I’ll play Sargent Shultz, who says “I know nuthin, Nuting, Nothing at all”! But, it may not be so clear cut. Just an opinion.
# – # – #
*** begin quote ***
GHIJKL: sorry , i’ve never known a car that doesn’t allow you to take it out of gear , and emergency breaks are a physical cable with 0 electronics in them ( thats sort of the point of them else they wouldn’t be able to pass inspection ) although i believe breaks could be disabled due to abs and you may not be able to turn off the engine , a gear box is a gear box , can ALWAYS put it in neutral even if you cant do park/reverse.
*** end quote ***
Sorry, but I think we are ALL going to need to do a “software update”. A month ago, I’d have said the same thing. (Probably with a lot more sarcasm!) Without having gotten one of these gems and ripped it apart, the Main Stream Media — or Lamestream Media — has led me to believe that this is no longer true. The car has a significant software …
# – # – #
[JR: I’ll continue to follow the reports.]
# # # # #
UPDATE
Now it appears that there is some question about the authenticity and accuracy of these claims.
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: Factors, Human | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Can’t Yahoo at least id spam that claims to be from Yahoo?
Friday, March 12, 2010*** begin quote ***
From: “Yahoo!” <jenny@networkci.net>
Date: March 12, 2010 1:53:42 AM EST
To: <jenny@networkci.net>
Subject: Verify Your Account Services!!!
Reply-To: mail.dataservicea2@yahoo.com
Yahoo! Customer Care 
|
*** end quote ***
This type of SPAM is exceptionally frustrating.
Yahoo should at least be able to catch it.
They even have a offering of “hidden addresses”. So you’d thing they could use that to ensure that their sers KNOW what’s really from them.
Come on, guys, this ain’t rocket science! Is it?
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: Free audio books
Friday, March 12, 2010http://www.booksshouldbefree.com
BooksShouldBeFree.com
*** begin quote ***
Your source for free audio books. Download one in mp3, iPod and iTunes format today.
*** end quote ***
The great, not so great, and terrible books for those long car rides!
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: knowledge | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: CAREMARK WEB SITE and catch-22
Sunday, March 7, 2010*** begin quote ***
From Caremark
To Caremark Portal User
Date Sent 02/10/2010
Subject Important Information: New Security Enhancement
Message New security step on Caremark.com starting Feb. 20!
The security of your personal and health information is of utmost importance to us. For your protection, we’ll ask you to answer a “challenge question” the first time you log on to Caremark.com on or after Feb. 20, 2010. If you’re using your own computer, you only have to answer the question once, or if you prefer, you may set your User Profile to require it more often. If you are logging on from a different computer, you will be asked the question each time. If you cannot remember your answer, contact our Web Customer Care at 1-800-378-9442.
Thank you.
*** end quote ***
Arghhhhhhh!
First, this email is only available on their “portal” AFTER you logon. You can’t logon because “secondary questions” were NEVER set up. You can’t email into them because they only respond to your inbound email on their “portal” which you can’t get into. And, more aggravating is that they send you an email to saying “look at the portal inbox”. From an unattended email address.
Are they kidding? Has any one THOUGHT about this “barbara streisand”? Doubtful!
Arghhhhhhh!
(I HATE “secondary” identification. It merely provides hackers an alternative way to crack your account. How many favorite colors or mother’s maiden names do you have? My mother’s maiden name changes by web site as does my color. Here’s my five favorite colors: Cxu14, H4v4j, s7Jb5, T9B68, and 1dsz6. And, yes, I use different passwords on every site. Also stupid are those sites that force a format for passwords.)
Arghhhhhhh!
Then, you’re left with no choice but calling in to “tech support”. Innumerable prompts, and delays.
Arghhhhhhh!
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Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: “referal failure” medical error
Saturday, March 6, 2010http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100226101330.htm
The Most Frequent Error in Medicine
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ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2010) — The most frequent error in medicine seems to occur nearly one out of three times a patient is referred to a specialist. A new study found that nearly a third of patients age 65 and older referred to a specialist are not scheduled for appointments and therefore do not receive the treatment their primary care doctor intended.
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It would seem that technology could eliminate that “disconnect” problem. It’s the “committed database transaction” problem.
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Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: “twitter sparks…” a customer service revolution!
Sunday, February 28, 2010http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/28/cherchez-la-fame
NSFW: Cherchez la fame – or why the media’s obsession with Twitter campaigns will make customer service smell French
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by Paul Carr on Feb 28, 2010
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Time was, companies knew how to keep track of their important customers.
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Two years ago, none of this would have been news. A cult film maker was kicked off a flight? So? What was he going to do? Make a film called ‘Jay and Silent Bob hate Southwest airlines’? (Admittedly that would still have been better than Jersey Girl). An entrepreneur’s got quietly kicked out of a members’ club to make way for more profitable clients? Tough shit: that one’s not even newsworthy enough for the most desperate trade magazine. A little known designer gets ripped off by a gigantic retail chain? Boo hoo. Tell it to someone who cares. Without a major celebrity angle, there was little to no chance of the media picking up a run-of-the-mill intellectual property complaint and forcing the company into action.
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Really there’s only one answer – and it’s one that strikes at the very heart of the established hierarchy of customer importance. Companies are going to have to start treating every single customer like a VIP. Actually, no, it’s worse than that – consider the Hidden Eloise example; she wasn’t a customer, but just a humble designer. Companies are going to have to start treating every single person in the world like a VIP.
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Twitter will burn more and more organizations that are inconsiderate, fraudulent, or deceptive.
I love the strategy: form up your ‘David vs Goliath’ story and get people tweeting and retweeting about it.
Then, watch the “blood”!
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Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: Your ISP email address is a trap; any ATT users as well?
Saturday, February 27, 2010FROM AN EMAIL CORRESPONDENT
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AT&T has made some major changes to its internet system. They included removing the term “worldnet” from the Email address that some of you use to contact me. They will not transmit emails that contain that term after 3/15.
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https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/07/14/productivity-changing-email-addresses/
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In my mind, it’s impossible to communicate the change to everyone who has your old email address. It may have been given to them by someone else.
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May I suggest that you might want to avoid giving out your ISP’s email address?
Your ISP’s email is a trap to lock you in to their service. It can leave you high and dry at the most inopportune times.
They can: (1) be acquired; (2) sell out; (3) change their brand; (4) go out of business; (5) do something dumb; OR (6) have a meltdown of some type.
And, you can be out of luck. No email temporarily or permanently. Then you’re forced to change.
Good luck finding everyone who HAS your email address. They may have been given it by someone you know. But you don’t know them.
You should NEVER permit them to own almost the mort important thing you “own” — your email address. It’s a key to your digital identity. if they get bought out or go out.
Argh!
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: “system assurance”; yeah, right!
Thursday, February 25, 2010As old old mainframe guy, I am positive that most platforms have enough “junk” installed on them so that NO ONE can have what we in the old days would call “system assurance”. Say what one wants about the old centralized computing systems, they had change control. Until IBM started to NOT share its microcode and source code with its Customers, any one could sit down with a module and examine what was in fact running with what was supposed to be running. Often when there was an “opportunity”, the first thing that folks did was conduct a “witch hunt” for what was wrong. Today, that is impossible and unheard of.
What’s even more amusing to us “old hands” is the Linux movement and the Web-i-fication of applications. Funny how the world of “distributed computing” is swinging back to “centralization” with Web Operating Systems and Web Applications.
The Linux distribtuions are putting the end users back in control of the Operating System source code.
The Web application are making “system assurance” impossible.
A virus writer no longer has the luxury of the Microsoft mono-culture. Find a operating system hole and exploit it everywhere. And, the Microsoft death grip on applications (i.e., word processing) is being exploded by Google Docs, Zoho, and their ilk. As well as competed with by Open Office.
Anyone who feels confident that they, and their data, are not literally walking a high-wire tight rope across Niagra Falls on a windy day … Well, they are at best naive and at worst foolish.
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Posted by reinkefj
SOFTWARE: TEXTEXPANDER good but dangerous
Friday, February 19, 2010After my visit to the Apple store for them to replace my Mac Book Air display, I found that TEXTEXPANDER had “lost its mind”. All my registration and abbreviations were gone.
Great Brother Jasper’s Ghost!!! No real backup. Argh!
I started the rebuild from an old old print and griped at the maker. Software; not THE Maker! Please, no lightening bolt for me. Surely not for something so trivial as lost data. Lost date maybe; lost partial data not so much.
Here’s their response.
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Sorry about that, on rare occasions TextExpander can reset. If you have v 2.8 then there is a backup in TextExpander. Go to:
[Home]/Library/Application Support/TextExpander/Settings.textexpander
That Settings.textexpander file is what you need to replace with a backup to restore your snippets and registration information. Also, you will see a SettingsBackup.textexpander. Rename that to Settings.textexpander when you need to restore your settings.
Thanks for using TextExpander from SmileOnMyMac!
Regards,
TextExpander Support
http://www.smileonmymac.com/textexpander
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Another less that satisfying reply. At least next time it happens, I will know where to go and restore a file from my Time Machine. (It just keeps chugging away. I’m kinda looking forward to a bare metal restore. How’s that for over confidence?)
And, I’ll keep a weekly print of my abbreviations file.
My response to “support”:
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Too late. I already started rebuilding it.
Really need a explicit back up and recovery option. Over on window, my copy of ROBOFORM has a really nice UI. Explicit menu choice to BACKUP and RESTORE from a user chosen location. Suggest same.
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And not a WTx, Argh, or other expletive in it. (One small checkmark for the Final Judgement?)
So my opinion hasn’t changed much on TEXTEXPANDER. Great utility; dangerous as a falling knife.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECHNOLOGY: The Intel Windoze treadmill
Wednesday, February 17, 2010Vol. 2, # 5 – Feb 4, 2010 – Issue # 21
How Well does Windows 7 Run on a Notebook with Modest Specs?
Deb Shinder, Editor
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I bought the Sony TX back in January 2007, right after Vista was released. I had specifically waited for the release so I could get a new notebook that came with Vista pre-installed, because my Sony T didn’t support an upgrade to Vista. The TX came with Vista Business edition. The hardware was very nice, but the operating system ran as slowly as molasses. I had been running Vista Ultimate on my Dell XPS for over a year (in beta and RC) with no problems, so I was shocked at the lousy performance on my brand new notebook.
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Ahh, yes, the planned obsolescence of the Intel Windoze platform.
Here we have an tech editor, who by her own figures, has spent about 6k$ over 4 years on platforms. To accomplish basically the same computing tasks.
(I’d accept buying new hardware if she had a catastrophic failure, like a smoking hard disk, spill or drop. Or if she wanted to do them new flangledy U Tubby videos that need editing. But, for no “GOOD” reason?)
That doesn’t count all the “administration” costs of the platform and switching.
No, for the average use, who wants a tool, the Intel Windoze platform doesn’t make sense.
And, what happened to all the “greenies” saving the planet? (Not that I think the planet needs saving!) How about the “footprint” of three machines?
Argh!
I’m on my way to Linux when my current hardware dies.
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Posted by reinkefj
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