bradchoate.com

Some time ago, (like… 2001 I think) I signed up for a personal e-mail address from NetIdentity (then known as Mailbank). The service was so-so, but I could overlook many things because I had a very personalized e-mail address. It ended with ‘.net’ though, so I was always having to remind people of that. About a couple of years ago I decided to drop NetIdentity in favor of using this domain for my e-mail. I cancelled my NetIdentity account a few months later.

However, I still have access to that account. The web-based features seem to be disabled by now, but guess what— the POP service is still functional. And mail is still received at that address. It doesn’t bounce.

“Free service!” right? Well, yes, but I don’t want it any more. And every now and then I receive a legit email to that old address. It should be bouncing, but it’s not. So I have to monitor the thing. And it’s really my only source of spam now, since NetIdentity doesn’t do very much to filter the stuff. Apple Mail handles much of it, but the message or two that gets through is still annoying.

I’ve tried explaining the problem to them, but to no avail.

Update: As of yesterday, my POP login is no longer working. I don’t think this is coincidence as it’s been working for the last year or two. I believe someone at NetIdentity became aware of this post somehow and took action. But they didn’t go far enough— now I can’t check the account but email sent to it is still not bouncing.

Posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Do you recognize the guy pictured at right? He’s been touting Verizon’s superior wireless network. But— did you notice something? All the commercials ever show us is this guy. Who’s on the other end of the phone?

Well, let’s find out…

Continue reading "The other half of the conversation" »

Posted at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Can we all agree that no one is legitimately going to e-mail a “.pif” file as an attachment to anyone? Every mail server/client in the world should be deleting these things automatically, upon arrival.

While we’re at it, lets add “.exe” files too. The only legitimate EXE files that get mailed around are those stupid little games people are always forwarding to one another. They’re probably carrying spyware too.

And “.scr” files.

And anything else that is a binary executable.

Oh, let’s not forget those Word and Excel documents that carry virii viruses.

Shoot.

Posted at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Following the stunning success of criticizing a weblogger…

Boss,

I’m looking for your insights into how to further my career, not how your freakin golf score is improving. Granted it’s your company and your right to say whatever you want — I’m certainly not trying to tell you what to say. But I suspect that if you want to keep your employees awake in the staff meetings, you’ll cut back on the crap about your recreational life. Just an FYI.

Regards, Saul K.

This bit of “constructive criticism” gets Saul a pink slip.

And then…

Dearest,

I’m looking for some good action in the bedroom and good eating on the table, not how your freakin day has been. Granted it’s your right to say whatever you want — I’m certainly not trying to tell you what to say. But I suspect that if you want to keep your man happy you’ll cut back on the crap about your personal life. Just an FYI.

Regards, Saul K.

This bit of “constructive criticism” gets Saul a divorce.

Posted at 5:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I’ve come to the decision that I’m not going to order any more fountain drinks at restaurants. It’s just not worth it. Because when I order a Coke, on the scale of “tastes like Coke” and “tastes like water”, fountain drinks usually come out on the water side. And not only that, but you wind up paying a premium for the stuff. We had lunch today and my watered-down Coke was $1.89. Fountain drinks are one of the most profitable items for restaurants— they could stand to either lower the price or increase the dosage on the flavor.

I’ll just have to suffer a glass of water or two I guess.

Posted at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (2)

Ok, it's been 20+ hours since the Microsoft SQL Server worm went active as reported here on Slashdot. This worm takes advantage of an exploit that was publicized last July by NGSSoftware. Fortunately, Microsoft has a service pack for it -- Service Pack 3 specifically. Which just happened to be released last week. Timely.

Now you'd think Microsoft would have something to say to their customers about all this, since an exploit in their software practically brought the Internet to its knees. But the Microsoft home page says nothing about it. They're too busy touting a new game they've made, tips on how to get your customer's email address and ironically, a whitepaper on how to build and configure more secure web sites. Even their Microsoft Security and Privacy site says nothing about the SQL Server worm.

Maybe they think if they just ignore it, it will go away. Or perhaps they feel that since the service pack is out there, shame on you for not installing it. Well, while those of you that have been afflicted with this worm install the service pack, you can read Bill's report: "Security in a Connected World".

Dave Winer is tickled pink that the independent web documented all this faster and better than the traditional media did. But it's sad that Microsoft hasn't written a word about it -- at least so far as I've seen anyway. And as some of the Slashdot readers have already asked -- why isn't SQL Server supported by Windows Update? They have a pretty good software update system in place for Windows (which SQL Server requires naturally), but they only use it for Windows itself. Why not all the other installed Microsoft products. What a waste. There are tons of Microsoft patches to install -- the least they can do is make it easier to stay current.

Posted at 8:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (2)

I saw this cease-and-desist story the other day and the more I think about it the more it bothers me. I mean who are they kidding? What they're saying is that because 'Godzilla' is a registered trademark, that 'zilla' can't be used either. That's like Microsoft trying to bully anyone with 'soft' at the end of their name (Eep! I hope I'm not giving them ideas...). Ludicrous. 'davezilla.com' isn't trademarked-- maybe it should be. Sigh.

Related: Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture speech

Posted at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Why doesn't AOL just say 'try AOL free for 45 days'? Their trial period has been increasing over the years-- 500, 600, 700... 1025 hours (like the one I got last week in a tin can container-- how do they pay for this stuff?). But you're limited to 45 days. So sure, you have 1025 hours, but you'd kill yourself using it in the 1080 hours period (45 days) you're allowed to use them. (By no means should this post be considered a promotion for AOL/Time Warner.)

Posted at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I finally won! After three tries to get my Connecticut license, the Connecticut DMV finally caved and issued one to me.

Yes, I realize that I've been living here since January 2000. Yes, I (now) realize that I'm supposed to transfer my license within 1 week of moving to the state. But dealing with the DMV is such a pain.

Did you know that my Social Security card wasn't sufficient ID for them? I had to get my birth certificate of all things. Fortunately, I didn't have to re-test or anything (except for an eye exam which was incredibly simple).

So now I have a spiffy new holographically-imprinted, double-photo, double-signature Connecticut driver's license (see their site for a mini-glimpse of the thing). Expires in 2008. Looks like we won't be moving out of state until then-- I don't want to have to go through that again until I have to...

Posted at 10:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Yahoo - States: Microsoft Urged Linux Retaliation

Subversive. Manipulative. Conniving. Controlling. Untrustworthy.

Unbelievable.

Their marketing slogan is "Where do you want to go today?". Why do I feel like it's more like "Sit down and shut up-- you'll go wherever we say you can go."?

Posted at 5:48 PM | Permalink