Rants and musings, without care for substance.
Posted in plans, privacy, technology, web sites on Jan 23rd, 2012
In the past I’ve avoided location-aware services, opting instead to conceal my location to all but my ISP, cellular provider, and whoever else might be capable and willing to find out.
2012 marks a departure from that stance.
Armed with a Nexus One, I’ve started using a few new services.
I’ve started to use foursquare to track my [...]
Posted in cars, complaints, legal rights, privacy, the system on Apr 25th, 2011
On a recent Friday evening, I was pulled over for speeding on I-95S in the middle of Fayetteville, North Carolina. I was aware of my speed (since I had cruise control on), although not of the precise speed limit. The details aren’t really important, nor are any excuses. I was speeding. It was a valid [...]
Posted in advertising, culture, privacy on Apr 22nd, 2010
I’m not a fan of Facebook.
For many people, Facebook is social glue; a social networking magnate that ties disparate groups and individuals together, sorted out in a neat little (and aesthetically pleasing) package. I admit that it can be difficult living without it. I know that I’ve sacrificed social opportunities by being out of the [...]
Posted in legal rights, politics, privacy on Mar 15th, 2010
Having received the 2010 Census paperwork this weekend, I have a few thoughts.
Your answers are confidential. This means the Census Bureau cannot give out information that identifies you or your household. Your answers will only be used for statistical purposes.
I have no doubt that the household counts are to be used for statistical purposes, but [...]
Posted in cars, complaints, money, privacy on May 18th, 2009
I really don’t like car salesmen. My experience with them has led me to believe that they’re a bunch of crooks for whom exaggeration, document substitution, and lying are all tools of the trade. There are some salesmen who would gladly tell you anything to make the sale. You can’t trust people like that, yet [...]
Posted in complaints, idiots, privacy on Jan 19th, 2008
I’ve been getting calls from San Antonio the last couple days. I don’t know anyone there. No one ever leaves a voice mail.
I got a call from 210-507-4450 on Wednesday, January 16th at 6:44pm.
I got a call from 210-734-4346 on Thursday, January 17th at 6:37pm.
I got another call from 210-507-4450 on Friday, January 18th at [...]
Posted in complaints, healthcare, idiots, privacy on Jan 7th, 2008
When I awoke today it was clear that I was going to need to buy some cold medication. Weis opens at 6, so I drove over there on my way to work. It turns out that the “good stuff” with pseudoephedrine isn’t on the shelf anymore thanks to the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. [...]
Posted in housing, legal rights, politics, privacy, the system on Sep 1st, 2007
Due to a poor laptop security policy, here are some snippets from the diary of an American Community Survey (ACS) Field Representive.
Friday, 6 July 2007, 5:55PM
Every single time I want to take the wife down to Rehobeth for the weekend Mr. Fancypants Fitzpatrick strolls into my cubicle like the boss from Office Space at ten [...]
Posted in complaints, housing, legal rights, politics, privacy, the system on Jul 10th, 2007
Here is a rough copy of the American Community Survey questionnaire. I wasn’t able to locate a scanner, but I’m a quick typist. The only thing you’d gain from a scan is the design of the survey, which honestly isn’t too difficult to follow. I can confirm that there are no choices for you to [...]
Posted in legal rights, politics, privacy, the system on Jul 9th, 2007
The American Community Survey (ACS) makes me very uncomfortable. It is a nationwide survey that is being forced upon the unlucky that happen to live in one of homes selected at random. I was one of those unlucky people and took immediate issue with some of the questions being asked and the manner in which [...]
Posted in advertising, housing, idiots, money, privacy on May 30th, 2007
“Life’s too short to clean your own house,” proclaims an ad for a cleaning company that was mailed to me. I’d argue that I don’t care enough pay someone else to clean my own house. Part of owning a home is taking care of it (or opting not to take care of it). I have [...]
Posted in complaints, housing, idiots, legal rights, privacy on Apr 9th, 2007
As much as I like my place, I hate the HOA and its inspection process. The inspections are performed by representatives with no construction or repair experience. They cite problems then follow up with an inspection so cursory they won’t be able to tell whether repairs were made or not. When questioned in person they [...]
Posted in advertising, oddities, privacy, television on Jan 15th, 2007
I recently received a promotional letter from Dish Network written entirely in Greek. Most everything on the envelope itself and the letter is typed out using the Greek alphabet, the exceptions being proper names such as “HBO,” “Showtime,” and “Cinemax.” You can’t tell someone’s first language by looking at their last name, so I’m a [...]
Posted in legal rights, privacy, technology on Feb 21st, 2006
Verizon Wireless refuses to reactivate Motorola StarTAC handsets on account that they aren’t GPS-enabled, yet there isn’t any law prohibiting them from doing so.
Cleared personnel — those individuals with a security clearance — give up quite a bit of privacy in exchange for their security clearances. Recent events have sparked concern among some contractors concerning their security investigations.
Every individual applying for a security clearance has to complete the Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire (EPSQ), an antiquated piece of software [...]
advertising annapolis baltimore bars bbq beer blogs books cars cheese chicken chinese columbia concerts contests driving dvd email flickr food gasoline google linux money movies music networking office phones photos pizza politics privacy quotes restaurants reviews rnr sandwiches snow television travel verizon video weather youtube