Ode to credit card payments using machine or human

I travel a lot. And as a result, I fly out of Houston Hobby airport and become very efficient and getting there, parking, and making a fast get-a-way. Something occur to me a few weeks ago as I was peeling out from the parking garage to head home.

When paying for parking, you have a couple of options. You can use an auto teller and swipe your credit card through a machine, or you can do it the old fashion way and interact with a parking attendant who will gladly process your credit card.

The issue is, when I use the machine, I insert my parking ticket followed by the credit card and usually 15 seconds later, a receipt is printed and I retrieve my credit card. Now, in the event that the automatic machine is down (which is often), I have to go to the parking attendant. I give them the parking ticket, a total is calculated, I give him my card, he swipes the card, I wait about 1 minute (I've timed it), he hands me clipboard, sign the receipt, and then get my card back and my copy of the receipt and then I'm out of there.

My question, why is it that I have to sign a receipt when using the parking attendant but do not have to when I use the automatic machine? I've heard that transactions under $25 don't require signatures, but most of the time, my parking ticket is on the order of $50. What gives?

Safari 3: “cannot decode raw data” (NSURLErrorDomain:-1015)

Out of the blue, when I launched Safari 3 on my MacBook, I started receiving the error: The error was: “cannot decode raw data” (NSURLErrorDomain:-1015) when trying to access My Yahoo!

To fix, I went to Safari -> Reset Safari and all is happy now

What I hate about the Internet is...having to select my credit card type

In case if you didn't know, you can determine the type of credit card, i.e., Visa, Master Card, Amex, and etc. by looking at the number you enter. The prefix and width (including spaces) for the major credit card types are:

CARD TYPES............PREFIX................WIDTH
American Express.....34, 37....................15
Diners Club..............300 to 305, 36........14
Carte Blanche...........38..........................14
Discover...................6011.......................16
EnRoute...................2014, 2149.............15
JCB..........................3............................16
JCB..........................2131, 1800..............15
Master Card.............51 to 55..................16
Visa..........................4...........................13, 16

Therefore, it stands to reason that by looking at the prefix of a credit card, you can derive the type of the card. And finally, as a programmer, I know that Verisign does not require you to send in the type, only the number itself and a few other bits of information.

What I hate about the Internet is...everyone wants you to create an account

It never fails...any website you shop on...they want you to create an account when you check out.

Why?

When I go to my local mall and buy something in my favorite shop, the store doesn't ask for my address, phone number, email address or any other personal information. Normal shopping experiences include an exchange of pleasantries with the sales person, handing over cash, debit, or credit card...and obtaining a receipt and walking away with the goods.

Why shouldn't shopping on the Internet be any different?

What I hate about the Internet is...

While messing around on the Internet, again...I realized I was obsessing over the useability of the Internet and websites I visit. Most of the thoughts are along the lines of what could be better about websites, what sucks about websites, and what's missing. Therefore, I'm going to (but no promises on how often I will update) create a new series of posts regarding these very thoughts.

For the one person who reads my blog somewhat consistently, stay tuned for the first post.

iTunes + iPhone + Leopard Upgrade = broken :(

This weekend, I received Leopard as a gift for being the best man in a wedding. I installed it tonight without a hitch, or at least that's what I thought.

I must say, the upgrade was easy and much to my chagrin only required 5GB of drive space...ha, put that in your pipe and smoke it Vista. Anyway, I went to plug in my iPhone after upgrading and to my disapointment, iTunes did not launch and I couldn't sync my calendar, contacts, or iTunes library.

As I was in to my 3rd try at a fix, finally came across the answer...it was to reinstall iTunes. While as painless as the upgrade was, the fact that I had to reinstall iTunes was too reminescent of Windows. Bleh, I need to go wash my mouth out with some Listorine to get rid of this aweful taste.

Experimental site navigation added to blog

Recently, I have become enamored with the concept of a "command line" interface. While, I wish I could take credit for the concept, I was quick to realize that before the OS UI, there were punch cards...the punch cards were good...but, quickly replaced by a terminal with a command line for telling computers what to do.

Anyway, I digress. With Mac OS X, the Spotlight application is my most favorite as it provides a command line interface for launching any application or searching for any document on my Mac. Furthermore, I found Enso from Humanized that provides similar functionality to my PC.

So, thinking about it some, what bothers me the most about web sites is the fact that you have to use a mouse to navigate them effectively. So, I figured bring the command line to the web site. The "kui navigation" is a beta navigation tool for websites (v. 0.000001...you get the point, it's very new and not tested at all) leveraging the DOM and Yahoo! AutoComplete GUI library. The result, is a command line that allows you to start typing the text of a hyperlink on the page and it will shortlist the matches based on the DOM which you can select to jump to the next page.

Get it? Give it a try, it's in the right navigation pane. Remember, no comments from the peanut gallery unless they are positive. I made no attempt to test outside of Firefox nor did I worry about duplicate links.

Unable to Connect to Windows XP Network Share from Mac OS X

Over the Christmas Holiday, I finally decided to take on the challenge on why I could not connect to a share on my Windows XP computer from my MacBook.

When I would try to go to Network -> Gandalf (my Windows XP machine name) and connect, I would receive an invalid alias error and ask if I wanted to fix or delete it. Trying to fix it lead to a dialog box to select a file...not knowing what to select, I canceled out of it. When I tried to delete the alias, I would receive an insufficient permissions alert to delete the alias.

To make sure I could access my Windows machine, I tried telnet and had no problem connecting. Therefore, I validated the credentials I was using were correct. After several hours of searching the web, I finally found the solution. The problem was with the Windows share. By default, Windows Professional uses a "simple mode" for granting permissions to the share. Don't confuse the share permissions with the directory permissions. Despite granting users ability change files in the share, I still couldn't access it.

The solution was to open Windows Explorer and go to Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> Advance Settings -> Uncheck "Use Simple file sharing (Recommended)". Then, after this, go back to your share and right click and select Sharing and Security -> Sharing -> Permissions and make sure the user account you are trying to access the share with is included in the Share Permissions List.

As it turns out, with Simple File Share Mode, Windows XP only grants the Guest user account access to the share which I disabled. By granting my specific user credentials to the share, viola, problem solved.

Unable to open ".msg" files in Outlook

When receiving an email with another email message attached, i.e., with a .msg file extension, I was unable to open the attached email in Outlook. Apparently, this is a known issue with Google Desktop. To work around the issue until it's fixed, in Outlook 2003 goto Tools -> Options -> Other -> Advanced Options -> Add In Manager and deselect Google Desktop Search in Outlook.

Judge upholds $30M Judgement against Ebay...what the?

The AP is reporting that a federal judge upheld a ruling in favor of a small Virgina based companies claim of patent infringement by EBay. The article states:

The dispute revolves around eBay's "Buy It Now" option, which sells
merchandise at a fixed price instead of fluctuating bids. MercExchange contends
the system tramples on its patented technology.

Since when is buying merchandise on line at a fixed price an infringement of a patent? The article concludes with:

Since the legal tug-of-war began, MercExchange's payroll has shrank from more
than 40 employees to three. Thomas Woolston, MercExchange's president, is trying
to revive the company's growth by licensing patents to other e-commerce sites.

MercExhange is the name of the company that filed the lawsuit...hmmmm...I guess patent holding companies are a thing of the past...at least with respect to Internet intellectual properties.

A Christmas Tragedy

Once I realized that it was the woman sitting a few chairs down from me snoring and not some special affect, I was able to realize how bad of a telling of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol put on at the Alley Theatre really was.

From freakish choreographed ghost dances you would be proud of at your 5 year old daughters dance recital; the predictable transvestite maid servant of Scrooge; a steam clock; and to the tricycle riding ghost of Christmas future, the play was an utter disappointment. Until last night, I didn't realize it was possible for a professional stage group to put on a poor performance.

Yes, you read right, the ghost of Christmas future was riding a rocket propelled tricycle full of exhaust steam, twisty pipes, and some kind of canisters that you would see at an oil refinery.

Suffering from an identity crisis, the producers and directors tried to bring A Nightmare Before Christmas to the stage through this classic story. Needless to say, neither are a Tim Burton and their attempt was unoriginal, boring, and down right stupid. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the play as scene after scene contained some kind of cheese that Kraft would be proud of. For example, there was an entourage of 5 ghosts doing some stupid choreographed dance routine between many of the scenes wearing Halloween masks straight out of the movie Scream.

Suffice to say, I'm going to think twice next year before slapping down my $67 per ticket to avoid suicidal thoughts to rid myself of the agony of watching this play, as it was truly the worst play I've ever seen.

P.S.
I'm not kidding about the lady snoring.

Wow, another email...it must be my lucky year

From:   vitomas00@hotmail.fr
Subject: Please reply me as soon as possible.
Date: October 26, 2007 10:45:05 AM CDT
Reply-To:   vitomas1@yahoo.com

DEAREST ONE ,
AS I WAS ABOUT SEARCHING FOR A TRUST WORTHY PERSON  .I MUST NOT HESITATE TO CONFIDE IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS IN WHICH MY WHOLE LIFE DEPENDS ON.
I AM  VINCENT THE ONLY CHILD AND OF LATE CHIEF AND MRS RUBEN JAKO WEMBER .MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTINGS TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS DEAL HE NEVER KNEW HE WAS THE PLAN TO BE KILLED ONLY BECAUSE HE REFUSSED JOINING THE  SPONSOR  OF THE WAR .
 
MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1988, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS AND THE ONLY CHILD.BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 24TH JUNE 2006 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A SUM OF US$16,600,000 (SIXTEEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HE STOCKED IT IN A CONSIGNMENT BOX AND DEPOSITED INTO A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS THE ONLY SON IN DEPOSITING THE BOX WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TOLD THEM THAT I WILL PRESENT TO THE SECURITY COMPANY THE FOREIGN PARTNER AND BENEFICARY WHO WILL CLAIM THE BOXES.
HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGNER IN ANY OF THE OVERSEA  COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE ,AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT I TRUST THE PERSON THAT HE / SHE WILL NOT CHEAT ME OR KILL ME LATERON BEFORE I CAN DISCLOSE TO HIM WHERE THE CONTACT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY .HE SAID THAT THE CONTENT OF THE BOX MUST BE A CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN I AND THE PERSON BECAUSE THAT NOBODY EVEN NOON OF THE SECURITY COMPANY WORKERS KNOWS THAT THE CONTENT OF THE BOX ARE MONEY.HE SAID THAT HIM DECLEARED THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX AS FAMILY VALUEABLES SUCH AS  GOLD DUSTS. 
I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS AND I AM ASSURING YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS  LEGAL AND 100% RISK FREE HENCE YOU LISTEN TO MY WORDS AND BE SURE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP ME FROM THE BUTTOM OF YOUR HEART
 
2) TO SERVE AS MY GUARDIAN AND YOU WILL BE PRESENTED AS LATE FATHERS FOREIGN BUSINESS PARTNER.SINCE I AM A BOY OF 21 YEARS OLD   
 
3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AND TO SECURE A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT FOR ME IN YOUR COUNTRY.
MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU APPRICIATIVE SUM FROM THE TOTAL MONEY AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AFTER YOU HELP ME CLEAR OUT THE BOX FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY 
 
FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME, AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7)  WORKING DAYS .IF YOU HAVE  INTEREST TO ASSIST ME PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO FURNISH ME WITH YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER SO THAT I WILL FORWARD THEM TO THE SECURITY COMPANY OFFICE AS MY LATE FATHERS FOREIGN BUSINESS PARTNER WHO HE DEPOSITED THE METALIC BOX ON HIS BEHALF.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS,HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU I WILL BE HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU ON THE PHONE SOONEST.
IN GOD WE TRUST.
YOURS SINCERELY,
VINCENT JAKO WEMBER.
NB: PLEASE  REPLY ME THROUGH THIS MY PRIVATE E-MAIL  FOR SECURITY REASON. THANKS
vitomas1@yahoo.com

"Tab" key behavior in Microsoft Excel

Recent, I received a new laptop at work. When I got it, while working on an Excel spread sheet, I got crazy on the keyboard and hit some "magic" key combination that changed the behavior of the "Tab" key.

What happened after the magic combination? The "Tab" key placed the focused cell over a whole page to the right instead of one cell. That is, it would jump to the first cell out of the current cells viewed on my monitor, i.e., it would jump a "whole page" instead of a single cell.

What was the magic combination? No idea.

Time to finally figure it out? Weeks.

The solution? Tools -> Options -> Settings -> Uncheck the Transition Navigation Keys

Apparently, having the Transition Navigation Keys makes the keys typically used in Excel, i.e., Tab, Home, End, arrow, and etc. keys behave as they would in Lotus 123.

Go figure.