I ordered a number of books (around eight separate items) recently from a major book retailer that isn't Amazon.  This was a single order, with the instructions to ship in as few packages as possible.  Free shipping was available and taken.

The order was broken into four separate packages shipping out from three separate shipping companies.

A ( Read more... )

In looking online, I've seen numerous discussions about Sony and PCI.  I've avoided talking too much about Sony, but I can't really keep my mouth shut.  There's a few reasons for this.  First, I work on PCI compliance, so I'm very familiar with the rules.  But I also have nothing to do with Sony, so I don't have the potential for a conflict of ( Read more... )

"Always assume that the company [collecting your personal data] is incompetent..."

I guess the zeroth law of computer security is finally being realized.

There is a solicitor's licensing ordinance in this area.  Those who wish to go door to door, selling or pushing products must have a police department issued ID and present it prominently when they go door to dooring.  The local police have told me in the past to call the police department on first offense by any solicitor.  I don't do it every ( Read more... )

Maybe I'm prejudiced.  But I can't seem to find a restaurant that offers the kind of meal that I had tonight at home.  Start with a good salad:  multiple types of green, several kinds of vegetables, etc.  Then the bread which is a rich, strongly flavored bread made with yogurt, honey, etc.  Then the real meal, bacon wrapped tenderloin, twice baked ( Read more... )

It's the traditional advice given young children.  Don't speak just to be saying something.  If you don't have something to say, then don't say anything.

But today, that advice is ignored completely.  Social networking tools like Twitter now encourage people to say nothing at all, constantly.  Authors are told that they have to write one more ( Read more... )

One of the hazards of continuing to take violin lessons and sticking with it.  I have more than a couple years of experience.  This means that I no longer mesh well with the adult ensemble groups that can be assembled through where I take lessons, but I'm not a professional player by any means and thus cannot join a real orchestra, certainly not ( Read more... )

For many years, I've been told that bread must have salt in it to cook right. It will not develop the right flavor, it won't rise correctly, over rising, etc ( Read more... )

Many years ago, I got a headset to use for working at home.  It was a very nice unit, with speakers for both ears (binaural) and a good noise canceling microphone that has been proven effective time after time.  Recently, the ear pads finished wearing out for the second time (the first set of pads lasted me about four or so years.)  But the unit is ( Read more... )

Once again, I'm noticing some physical limitations that once were not so obvious, even if they were there before.  For most day to day life activities twenty years ago, most of these issues weren't a problem.  Now, with changes to society and technology, at least one of them is more of a problem today than it was before.

On the flip side, one ( Read more... )