I saw a tweet from one of the RB employees, here it is:

As you can see, I am evil.

What type of employer would make his employees work on Memorial Day?!

Well, honestly, it is their option. They can work today and use it as another day in the future. We have floating holidays, as Jimmy described in his blog post named Why we work on holidays.

But that picture is classic, isn't it?

That is a small portion of the parking lot, the one at the back of the building. Typically, this area fills up first, as it is shaded from the building and uses the back entrance.

Update: Alex majorly kissed up at the RustyBrick blog with his RustyBrick employees don't take holidays because websites don't take holidays! The text and the video he posted is pretty entertaining...

Posted at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (0) (0)

Continental, I have flown a lot of miles with you and all of those miles were Internet (WiFi) free. I want Internet when I fly for over 3 hours - is that so much to ask? I'll pay for it. I'd pay a lot for it.

In December you announced that you would be offering inflight Internet on some domestic flights by the second quarter 2010. Well, the second quarter of 2010 is about 30 days away and I have heard nothing about the inflight Internet coming anytime soon.

You said the service would be provided by Gogo Inflight Internet service. But if you look at the partner airlines page on the Gogo website, you see all your competitors but not you.

I know you hope to close your merger with United by fourth quarter of 2010 but that won't happen. And I know United is listed as a partner with Gogo - so really hope you don't wait for then.

Can we please get some sort of update on when Gogo is realistically coming to Continental flights? I suspect my flight to SMX Advanced next week will not have Internet onboard. But it would rock if it did.

Posted at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (0) (0)

Via Google Blog and ResourceShelf a live video of the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

How sad:

I hear today's efforts to plug the leak is working. I saw it tweeted by a news network, forgot which one...

Posted at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Category: | Comments (3) (0)

My computer and software colleagues... How often to you get a phone call from customers, friends, family saying "it doesn't work."

First you have to go through the painful process of figuring out what "it" means. You ask them, "what do you mean by it doesn't work?" You try to figure out what software/hardware they are using. Then you ask them to give you the exact error message. That request throws them completely off, "error message???"

So you have them go step by step with you over the phone, reading each screen as they go. Somehow they end up on the wrong screen and you have to start all over again. Repeat this 5 times, if you are lucky.

Finally, as they finish the steps - they go.

"Oh, it worked this time."

I laugh under my breath and say something to the effect of "glad I can help and thank you."

Seriously, this time it worked but last time it didn't work? Really?

This post is somewhat related to my RustyBrick post from a few months back named Tech Support For Tech Savvy. Even I am bad, so no offense if you have done this also.

Posted at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Category: | Comments (5) (0)

A week ago today, we installed an AT&T Microcell to help improve our AT&T service in the office. It had some issues earlier on but it has been solid for the past few days.

Having five bars really makes me a better service. I no longer hear the annoying GSM buzz when my phone is communicating with AT&T. So I am more at peace now.

Whenever I use to get phone calls on my cell while in the office, I answered in an angry and impatient tone. I always rushed people off the call and talked really loudly, maybe perceived as yelling, due to the poor reception.

But now, with good reception, I am more patient and kind to people who call my cell when I am in the office. Honestly, it is a breath of fresh air.

Now, do I think I should pay extra for good voice quality? Absolutely not. But I did anyway.

Posted at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Category: Computers | Comments (0) (0)

This is not a political post, I don't talk politics here (;-)).

Every year there is a parade for Israel, which celebrates the anniversary of Israel's Independence. Many countries have a parade for their independence in NYC, and Israel is no different. I believe Salute to Israel runs the event, by the way.

Personally, I have not been to this parade in a long time. But yesterday I went with the family.

I don't see how they run parades in NYC. The parade goes from 57th Street and Fifth Avenue and goes up north on Fifth Avenue to 74th Street. It is between 11am and 4pm, which means those streets and the streets around them are closed off pretty much all day Sunday.

I drove in - a mistake. It took my 40 minutes to get to NYC and then an hour to get from NYC to where I needed to get to to park. Every parking spot was taken and every parking garage was full. I had to drive to 86th and Park to get a spot. That is just under a mile away from the end of the parade, or a 16 minute walk.

Leaving wasn't any better. Took us forever to get out of the city.

I guess it is nice to have a parade in the largest city in the world - but it would have been a lot easier to do it in a place that was less dense. :)

Anyway, you can see some news articles on the parade at Google News.

Next year, if I go, maybe we will take a bus.

Posted at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (0) (0)

We just installed an AT&T MicroCell at RustyBrick and now I have five bars. How cool is this? Let me show you...

Before:

After:

Both pictures were taken in the office, but one before MicroCell and one after.

Posted at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

I got my 3rd ever Woot BOC today, the one I ordered on 5/6/2010. It came with a bunch of garbage but it did contain a few interesting things, such as a Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace Original Filmcell Limited Edition. It also came with a used 80GB hard drive, I need to get on it and see if there are any surprises on it. And the normal stuff.

Here are pictures:

Signed back of Star Wars Original Filmcell:

Posted at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (2) (0)

Last time I was on a plane was a couple weeks ago and it was a Continental Airlines flight. I try to stick with Continental due to the points system, I also like their service and Newark is their hub and Newark isn't too far from me.

So when I heard the news of the United / Continental Merger, I wasn't surprised (due to rumors being out there for weeks) but I did want to know if the employeeswere indeed looking forward to the benefits of the merger:

Improved long-term career opportunities and enhanced stability by being part of a larger, financially stronger and more geographically diverse carrier.

I actually flew the morning when the official news came out, so as you can imagine, the employees were talking about it to each other. I could tell they were not happy. Eventually, a few of us in the front row were able to ask one of the flight attendants questions.

In short, they are not happy for a few reason:

(1) The unknown of any merger
(2) Will there be layoffs
(3) United has less pay and less benefits compared to Continental
(4) They love the company and are sad to see the name go
(5) Again, the unknown

I would be concerned also but the service that flight was excellent.

Posted at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (0) (0)

I have been trying to be good with how I use Facebook these days. Yea, I know all about the privacy issues, but I am really trying to use it as it should be used, but for marketing purposes.

But after months of really using it, I still think it makes no sense. The user interface is not intuitive, the privacy controls are a joke, and overall - features seem to have multiple uses depending on what you type.

I pick up things pretty fast, especially when it comes to computer software. Heck, I am a geek. Facebook - it just doesn't make sense to me and it doesn't make sense to most my geek friends. However, to my non-geek friends - they get it, they love it, it works for them.

When I ask my non-geek friends why Facebook works a particular way, they say - because that is how it does it. When I ask my geek-friends, they say they have no idea. But non-geeks get Facebook, they really do. Why do us geeks have such a hard time learning how to adapt to Facebook.

Of course there are some geeks on Facebook for a while who totally get it, but for the whole - I think most geeks think the user interface and features make no-sense.

So why? Why do non-geeks get Facebook while us geeks, who normally get things asap, don't get it?

Oh, by the way, check out my Facebook pages at:

• facebook.com/barryschwartz
• facebook.com/rustybrick
• facebook.com/seoroundtable

Posted at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (6) (0)

I have a bird problem. I got birds living around the front of my house. Using my house as theirs. I guess I deserve it.

Over the years, I have been part of killing several birds. Some by window, some via airplanes and some even died from cocaine overdoes. So I guess I deserve it.

Getting rid of the birds has already cost me a few hundred bucks and they just moved somewhere else. So it will cost me another few hundred to get them off the front of my house.

I guess it could have been worse, like a bear problem.

Who knows, when that is done - maybe they will want to move inside?

Birds!

Posted at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (0) (0)

Yesterday, Alex and I received our packages from Woot and performed one of the few dual Woot BOC unboxings ever. Yes, we both were lucky enough to have successfully purchased the Woot BOC on the same happy hour event. I was even luckier to have successfully purchased my 3rd BOC the week after, making me it a back to back BOC winner (buyer).

In any event, Alex posted the videos of the dual Woot BOC unboxings at the RustyBrick blog, but I wanted to share the dual unboxing video here as well:

Posted at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) (0)

Today, I picked up my new car - the car I bought on Twitter. Historically, my cars have been getting bigger and bigger. I have leased three Lexus automobiles in the past 9 years or so and each of those gradually got bigger and bigger. And I am a guy that likes small cars.

My first Lexus was when I was single and had little to no-expenses. I was driving a SC 430 convertible, which was extremely fast but also very small. Here is a picture:

I was sad to see that car go, but it was horrible in the snow. The next car, I made sure to get all-wheel drive. The car's size grew, and the budget shrunk - I now was married with expenses and a new home. I got the IS 250, which is a nice car, still pretty small and peppy. Here is a picture (I do have some real ones but this looks nicer):

So now I traded up a bit to the GS 350 AWD. I wasn't planning on getting this car, but like I said, I saw a deal on Twitter, where I could hand in this car 6 months early at no cost, if I lease another Lexus. So I did. And the deal on the GS was just too good to pass up. I assume the deal was too good due to them being considered death mobiles - but hey - it's worth it.

I guess you can say, I am a sucker for Lexus and new cars.

Posted at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Motor Vehicle | Comments (3) (0)

I was getting the mail just a couple minutes ago and decided to take the elevator back up. So I pressed the elevator up button and was waiting for the elevator to arrive. Someone came up from behind me and pressed the button I just pressed. The button was already illuminated as pressed, so why press it again? I asked this on Twitter over here and here are the responses I received:

Good stuff - thanks for replying!

Posted at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (2) (0)

Some of you know that on Friday, I bought a car via Twitter. I'll share more about the car when I get it sometime today.

But yesterday, I spent a couple minutes packing up the stuff in my IS 250, which I got 30 months ago, into a single bag. It amazed me that I was able to put all the stuff in my car into a single, smallish bag, to make the transfer from car A to car B efficient.

The transferable stuff includes but is not limited to:

• E-Z Pass
• Snow scrapers
• Coins
• Umbrella (never use)
• CDs I never use
• Radar detector
• iPhone charger
• Tissues
• Pens
• LED Licenses plate (don't use)
• & More

That is pretty much what I have in my car. I know some people that live out of their cars and the cars are a complete mess. Mine, is pretty much spotless.

Are you a clean, messy or in between clean car?

Posted at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Category: Motor Vehicle | Comments (0) (0)

Looking back at my high-school days, I wonder - was I a geek? Today, geeks are somewhat cool, I think. But back then, it was not cool to be a geek.

Most of my time in High School was spent playing basketball in the school's gym. Really, I was a big gym rat in school. It was an all boy Jewish school, so not much else to do.

But yesterday, when we found the old Apple Newton and I blogged about it, I remembered I used it in class to take notes. Yes, I was the only one in my high-school taking notes on a 1994 version of the iPad. It was fun and I did spend much of the time playing games on it - but seriously, it is geeky to have Newton in school, especially back then.

I also remembered that a teacher gave me an F on an assignment because I used a spreadsheet program, as opposed to doing it by hand. My dad was/is a big spreadsheet person and when I showed him my assignment, he said I should use a spreadsheet program to create the graphs and charts. So I did all the math in the spreadsheet program and printed out these awesome graphs and charts. I then handed it in with my report and the teacher was like, "what is this." I said, this is how graphs are done in 1994/5 or whenever it was. She said, no, I want it done by hand.

Looking back at it, I realized she was computer clueless and I shouldn't have been upset with the situation. Ultimately, I think she thought I cheated and sent me to the principle - who understood that what I did was not cheating and that the teacher was stuck in the days prior to computers. But hey - wasn't it geeky that I used a spreadsheet program instead of doing it by hand?

So maybe I was somewhat geeky in high-school? Hard to know for sure, without asking the people who may have hated me in my class.

Oh, do make sure to check out the side by side Newton vs iPad post from yesterday.

Posted at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (0) (0)

I ordered a DNA test from 23andMe, the company Google invested in and is owned by Google co-founder, Sergey Brin's wife.

The reason I bought the tests were because I saw from Matt Cutts that there was a heavy discount. So I decided, what the heck, why not order them. Then decide if I want to take the test or not. I joked in my tweet that Google would get my DNA:

Yea, I know they are separate companies, but hey - they are close. Like I said above, Google invested in and is owned by Google co-founder, Sergey Brin's wife.

That being said, who knows - maybe my Google search results will go beyond normal personalization and include my DNA for personalization. Hey - you never know!

Posted at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (4) (0)

I tweeted this, but heck, sitting waiting for my flight, so I broke out Photoshop to illustrate how I think Airlines should add Foursquare check ins to their flight status pages. I would love to know right on the flight status page, who else is in the airport that are my friends on Foursquare.

Wonder which airline will do it first.

Posted at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (1) (0)

I am in Florida now at the #ssss event and been trying to check in all morning on Foursquare, but I keep getting their fail whale sign:

What's up @foursquare?

Posted at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (0) (0)