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I was looking for something to update this blog with and decided to tell the world I have weeds in my mulch. But then I went to Google Images to find a good picture of [weeds] and got something that I should have known I would have seen.
Got writers block - sorry.
On July 12th, I ordered basic Woot Off Lights from Woot because I was bored. I ordered them for $8, including shipping. Today, my shipment arrived and the box was pretty big.
I opened it up and found over a $100 worth of stuff. That includes a $99 USB turntable, some toy cars, a shopping bag and the Woot-Off lights, of course.
I decided to see why I got them and according to the listing I was a winner cause my order number's last digit matched the last integer digit of the final Dow Jones Industrial Average at the close of business Monday, July 12, 2010.
Lucky me!
Here are some pictures:
I find myself using the Let Me Google That For You web site at lmgtfy.com much more often these days.
If you don't know what it is, um, click here.
I am a heavy IM user, heavy. I am also a heavy user of other things and as you know, I am crazy when it comes to efficiency on the computer and in general, in life.
So for those of you who have my AIM handle (I don't publicize it), read up.
I think you get the point.
If you have a question, just IM me the question. It saves a step.
I know it might be rude, but IM is meant to be short and sweet. So no formalities, just get to the point.
Thanks!
I was checking out the Siddur Map on the iPhone Siddur today and noticed that it was steadily climbing. During the time Israel was using it for Maariv tonight, Tisha B'av, there was close to 1,000 users using it at the same time.
I wonder if it will spike up to well beyond that number tonight?
It was spiking up to over 875 at one point, and then I received a phone call and stopped checking. It is now back down to about 600. Maybe it reached 1,000, I am not sure. But maybe it will blow past 1k tonight.
It is so cool to see so many people using this product at once. Most iPhone Apps are use it, get bored of it, never use it again. This app, people use every day, a few times a day! So proud to be a part of it.
Meanwhile, did you know English for Sefard is out?
I wish there was a way to eavesdrop on typing.
I am on the phone with an AT&T support representative and they are typing "notes" in my account. I can hear the typing loud and clear, but really have no idea what they are trying.
I wish there was a way I can decipher the typing pattern to figure out what this person is typing.
I always wonder if they mess up the notes and then ruin the ticket history or not.
I tweeted this and received a response that has a good point:
@rustybrick Just like a doctor writing in your chart. What are you writing about me?!
Pamela Lund
Pamela_Lund
Last night, 38 days after first ordering them, my new license plates arrived. Yea, they are ugly but I likethem. Honestly, it was a surprise, because when I called to find out the status, I was told it would take a total of 8 weeks. It came after 5 weeks and 4 days. Yea, 1 week and 4 days longer than originally expected, but still 3 weeks and 3 days earlier than later expected.
Here are two pictures.... Well, why do people blur out plates? I mean, these are personalized, and I already told you they were coming:
I think they look good on my car - I suspect most won't agree.
Today is an exciting day. Not as exciting as getting the iPhone 4, then dropping it and getting a second one but still exciting.
I got my iPhone black bumper today, so I am less concerned about breaking it. But more importantly, I got a skin that turns the back of my iPhone 4 white and sticks a vintage colorful Apple logo on it. When I saw it on TUAW, I had to recreate it. Here are pictures:
I left the front alone:
The nice thing about the Gelaskins is they seem to come off, even off the InvisibleShield I have on my phone. So when I get bored, I can take it off.
To recreate this yourself, you can download my PSD file and to sharpen it up grab the Apple logo from Wikipedia. Note, you may want to also change the name to yours. :)
I was driving back to the office today and I was driving behind a hearse, you know, a car that drives a coffin from one location (often a church) to the cemetery. It felt awkward.
There was no body in the back, at least, it didn't appear to be so. I don't think it was being used for a transport. :) There would have been cars with lights on, and a long line of cars. It was still a bit awkward.
I see Wikipedia has a picture of a motorcycle hearse. Interesting...
Many people who know me, know that I am obsessed with time. This means, being on time for calls, never being late for meeting and so on. I think it is due to me being crazed for achieving optimal efficiency, which is often helped through computers and a strict routine.
So when I speak with a prospect, client or even a personal friend who has no respect for time - my time or their own time - it bugs me.
This happens often enough, but this afternoon I had someone call me to have a meeting. Let me take you back a bit to give you more history.
I don't remember exactly when, but maybe a month ago, we spoke on the phone and told him, to give him a price, I need to meet. He then said he will call me, but hopes to call me next week to set something up. That flew by. Yesterday, around noon, I get a call from this guy. I answer, he said, without telling me who he is - what time are you around until today. I said, who is this? He gives me his name. I said, what is this in reference to? He reminds me. So I tell him about 6pm.
Fast forward to today. Yea, he never showed or called after that yesterday. But today, he calls the office. Someone else answers. He talks to whomever answered like he would be aware of a meeting between myself and him, which never happened. The guy who answered put him on hold, spoke to me and then schedule a meeting at 3pm today.
I figured he wouldn't be here at 3, based on our past conversations. So I told him that it can't go past 4pm.
The guy shows up at 3:45pm. I decide to talk to him until 4pm and then say goodbye.
This potentially can be a large project but do I want to get involved, knowing that we conflict on how we value or view time?
Update: Seems like nowadays most people reply to me via Twitter (which kills my comments):
@rustybrick don't do it. I've had the same exact experience with contractors and regretted every time.
netmeg
netmeg
@rustybrick no, it's definitely not too much to ask. If they don't value your time now, imagine when/if they were a client.
Jill Whalen
jillwhalen
@rustybrick that guy either has no respect for you or is a total flake and the project will be a disaster - RUN!
IncrediBILL
IncrediBILL
@rustybrick You can't work with dorks maintaining such an attitude. You won't be happy, he won't be happy, it'll cost both of you money. Run
Sebastian
SebastianX
RT @SebastianX: @rustybrick You can't work with dorks maintaining such an attitude. You won't be happy, he won't be happy, it'll cost both..
Brian Ussery
beussery
@rustybrick: People often have very different priorities but differences in attitude don't preclude being good at what's really important.
Richard Vaughan
richardtvaughan
@rustybrick I'd say no too. I'm a stickler 4 punctuality. It's a mark of how much you value the other person's time.
Jey Pandian
RainJaguarSEO
I have been very eager for my new custom New York license plates to arrive. I ordered the plates, RustyCar over 4 weeks ago and they are still not here.
The order confirmation email reads:
Allow two weeks to receive your registration receipt and window sticker by mail. Your new plates will be mailed separately; please allow 4 weeks for delivery. You will also receive instructions on what to do with your old plates and registration.
My registration sticker came within two weeks. But four weeks later, still no plates. I finally called the New York DMV's custom plate office and they told me, the plates were first finished on June 29th but they likely won't arrive for at least another 4 weeks.
She explained that they are mailed 3rd class. So they sit in a bucket and wait for someone to get around to picking them up. Typically, it takes about 4 weeks from when they are placed in the bucket, often longer.
Maybe the NY DMV should update their email confirmations to say something like:
Your new plates will be mailed separately; please allow several months for delivery as we have no idea if and when you will get your plates.
Or maybe this is just typical DMV stuff.
I am a funny guy, really funny - incredibly funny. I do a lot of Apple jokes around the office, like every day, several times a day. Let me share the latest one with you.
My IM conversation with iMatt:
Barry: oh, if u have tracking # for bumpers, can i have it? i have a widget to track deliveries and packages are fun
iMatt: sure
iMatt: i think they split it into 3 shipments
Barry: weird
Barry: okay
Barry: one is fine
Barry: i am sure they will all come the same day
iMatt: i dunno, we could all pick a number and see if they do
Barry: ha
Barry: u get first
iMatt: race them
Barry: then jimmy and then me
Barry: i ordered last
iMatt: i've got to pick a lucky one
Barry: :)
iMatt: k here's yours [number removed]
Barry: thank
iMatt: fedex
Barry: mine is delivered today! Sweet
Barry: okay, kidding
iMatt: funny
Barry: apple humor
My brother-in-law spotted this license plate on the road.
Not cool. Not cool!
Plus, to make matters worse, I still have not received my new RustyCar plates.
I am not a complainer. If the food is bad, I normally won't return it. If the room is a bit dirty, I won't ask for a new one. If I don't get something I thought was included, I normally let it slide.
But I decided to complain that my upgraded first class flight from Seattle to New York didn't have a kosher meal. I sent a nice email saying I confirmed kosher before the flight and it wasn't there. I was honest, I said I wasn't even sure if I'd eat the meal, since it was a red eye flight. But I took the 5 minutes to fill out the complaint form online and finally got a response. It read in part:
Nevertheless, I am unsure why you would not have received your kosher meal. I regret any inconvenience. I am requesting an Electronic Travel Certificate (ETC) be issued to you. The ETC can be used as a form of payment for future travel on Continental Airlines. The ETC will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be used online at www.continental.com. The travel certificate will have a PIN code and promotion code number. You will need these to redeem the travel certificate.
I have no idea how much the voucher will be. I mean, the kosher first class airline food isn't that expensive.
But it is nice to get something for filling out a form. So sometimes it pays to complain.
I do like Continental - they are my favorite airline.
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