I hate JavaScript. It is ruining the internet. So I keep it off. Beware if you just updated to the latest version of Mozilla... they removed the option to disable JavaScript.
JavaScript can be used to improve the user experience on a website. But it virtually never is. Instead, JavaScript is used to load advertisements, track your activity, and add useless social media integration.
Something happened in the news today so I googled it. I clicked on the first link, an article from Forbes.com. The page took FOREVER to load on a fast broadband connection. Finally I realized the reason: I had left JavaScript on.
This particular website from Forbes used JavaScript to exchange data between my computer and the following additional list of domains:
facebook.com
optimizely.com
rfihub.com
doubleclick.net
insightexpressai.com
viewablemedia.net
visiblemeasures.com
adadvisor.net
ajax.googleapis.com
questionmarket.com
content.ad
krxd.net
scorecardresearch.com
rfihub.net
simplereach.com
gigya.com
truste.com
facebook.net
media.net
servedbyopenx.com
cloudfront.net
adsafeprotected.com
forbesimg.com
mookie1.com
bizographics.com
moatads.com
exelator.com
googlesyndication.com
crowdscience.com
2mdn.net
chartbeat.com
mmismm.com
bluekai.com
atdmt.com
bkrtx.com
google-analytics.com
Thats THIRTY SIX different web domains that my web browser contacted and downloaded and/or uploaded data to, in addition to the original Forbes domain.
All of that... Just so I could read a lousy article that was barely 6 kilobytes of uncompressed text.
Sad...
The silver lining of this story: When I completely disabled javascript and re-visited that same website, the 6-kilobyte article still loaded. It loaded fast. And without JS.
Why the hell would anyboby surf with JS enabled?!?!
Too many people don't know better.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Random stuff
Wow... 10 weeks into typing on a Dvorak and now I have serious trouble typing on a querty!
My tech predictions for the year were way off. Microsoft seems to be taking the "if we build it, they will use it" approach, and they aren't wrong. The market share for their mobile OS has gone up from 1.9% to 2.9%. Hot damn!
I have a feeling windows 7 is going to be the new windows xp. Now that I disabled the system tray and got a stable virtual machine running, I'm happy with 7. Tried 8. I don't see myself using 8 any time in the forseeable future.
My tech predictions for the year were way off. Microsoft seems to be taking the "if we build it, they will use it" approach, and they aren't wrong. The market share for their mobile OS has gone up from 1.9% to 2.9%. Hot damn!
I have a feeling windows 7 is going to be the new windows xp. Now that I disabled the system tray and got a stable virtual machine running, I'm happy with 7. Tried 8. I don't see myself using 8 any time in the forseeable future.
Bitcoin PoS
Someone needs to make a business model to manufacture and sell point-of-sale bitcoin transaction machines.
Hmmm... It seems there are android apps for this...
My country 'tis of thee
I have become involved in politics.
That is a problem. I hate politics and if the system worked I never would have needed to get involved.
But the system is broken. Congressmen no longer represent constituents... they represent dollars. And with that- the country is doomed.
Every industry is now slowly moving toward an oligopoly.
The credit card industry: VISA/Mastercard, American Express, Discover.
The wireless industry: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint.
The airline industry: United/Continental, Delta, Southwest, and US/American.
Package delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS
In all these industries the companies follow each other to fix prices and avoid competition. It is in their interest to keep the number of players low to keep cooperation simple. Major mergers are common and desired. Multiple brands are kept to give the public the illusion of choice. For example, VISA and MasterCard are owned by the same company. AT&T tried desperately to merge with T-Mobile after successfully merging with Cingular.
These companies have enough money to completely control congressmen and by extension, the law.
I mentioned delivery companies for a very specific reason. This is one area where a government agency - the US Postal Service - is competing directly with private industry. This situation exists because the USPS pre-dated any of the private companies. It also exists because the USPS has not (since the 1980's) accepted any tax dollars (so citizens aren't forced to pay for one service when they prefer to use another.)
There have been numerous attempts by city and local governments to establish free city-wide wireless internet networks to provide free internet to everyone. In every single case, the project is squashed by wireless companies crying foul and throwing big bags of money at congressmen. In reality, such a project would be perfectly legal and fair as long as they were not funded with mandatory taxes. If instead there was a service fee levied against users, or the service was supported by ad revenue, or had some other business model then all would be good.
But this won't happen because the people no longer have control over their government. Companies can donate unlimited amounts of money anonymously to representatives, thus buying whatever vote or legislation they want.
A new age is coming. The digital age. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what the internet can do. A new form of currency has been birthed into existence. A digital currency called bitcoin, which the banks and government do not control. Bitcoin serves a very specific purpose. Bitcoin is digital cash.
If I wanted to digitally transfer money to another individual, how would I do that? I would have to use a service like PayPal, or a commercial bank, which all charge service fees. I couldn't do it like a cash trade, where there is no fee.
As more and more commerce moves to digital transactions, the commercial institutions processing these digital transactions just keep making more and more money. The money itself is minted by the federal government, but the government is never going to develop and issue a form of digital cash because the credit card companies pay the government not to.
That's why it's so important for us to use bitcoin as much as possible - if money has taken over control of our government, then we need to take back control of our money!
That is a problem. I hate politics and if the system worked I never would have needed to get involved.
But the system is broken. Congressmen no longer represent constituents... they represent dollars. And with that- the country is doomed.
Every industry is now slowly moving toward an oligopoly.
The credit card industry: VISA/Mastercard, American Express, Discover.
The wireless industry: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint.
The airline industry: United/Continental, Delta, Southwest, and US/American.
Package delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS
In all these industries the companies follow each other to fix prices and avoid competition. It is in their interest to keep the number of players low to keep cooperation simple. Major mergers are common and desired. Multiple brands are kept to give the public the illusion of choice. For example, VISA and MasterCard are owned by the same company. AT&T tried desperately to merge with T-Mobile after successfully merging with Cingular.
These companies have enough money to completely control congressmen and by extension, the law.
I mentioned delivery companies for a very specific reason. This is one area where a government agency - the US Postal Service - is competing directly with private industry. This situation exists because the USPS pre-dated any of the private companies. It also exists because the USPS has not (since the 1980's) accepted any tax dollars (so citizens aren't forced to pay for one service when they prefer to use another.)
There have been numerous attempts by city and local governments to establish free city-wide wireless internet networks to provide free internet to everyone. In every single case, the project is squashed by wireless companies crying foul and throwing big bags of money at congressmen. In reality, such a project would be perfectly legal and fair as long as they were not funded with mandatory taxes. If instead there was a service fee levied against users, or the service was supported by ad revenue, or had some other business model then all would be good.
But this won't happen because the people no longer have control over their government. Companies can donate unlimited amounts of money anonymously to representatives, thus buying whatever vote or legislation they want.
A new age is coming. The digital age. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what the internet can do. A new form of currency has been birthed into existence. A digital currency called bitcoin, which the banks and government do not control. Bitcoin serves a very specific purpose. Bitcoin is digital cash.
If I wanted to digitally transfer money to another individual, how would I do that? I would have to use a service like PayPal, or a commercial bank, which all charge service fees. I couldn't do it like a cash trade, where there is no fee.
As more and more commerce moves to digital transactions, the commercial institutions processing these digital transactions just keep making more and more money. The money itself is minted by the federal government, but the government is never going to develop and issue a form of digital cash because the credit card companies pay the government not to.
That's why it's so important for us to use bitcoin as much as possible - if money has taken over control of our government, then we need to take back control of our money!
Why cable TV isn't worth buying
I'm in a hotel room with half a dozen 24-hour cable news networks.
They are all showing the same court case that I don't care about.
I've got TWO different CNN channels - both CNN and CNN Headline News. They are both showing the SAME FEED from the SAME CAMERA in a court case I couldn't care less about.
The only channels that are showing something OTHER than this court case are the dedicated financial news networks.
I've got an hour before work when I can have a cup of coffee and check the day's news. I do that on the internet with my laptop like a normal person.
Seriously, what's the point in paying for two different CNN's if they are both showing the same camera feed? It's not like CNN is trying to compete with CNN. The point of two CNN's was to have variety and options.
This is precisely why I cut the cord.
They are all showing the same court case that I don't care about.
I've got TWO different CNN channels - both CNN and CNN Headline News. They are both showing the SAME FEED from the SAME CAMERA in a court case I couldn't care less about.
The only channels that are showing something OTHER than this court case are the dedicated financial news networks.
I've got an hour before work when I can have a cup of coffee and check the day's news. I do that on the internet with my laptop like a normal person.
Seriously, what's the point in paying for two different CNN's if they are both showing the same camera feed? It's not like CNN is trying to compete with CNN. The point of two CNN's was to have variety and options.
This is precisely why I cut the cord.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Problems With Clear
Chat Transcript
Hello Mathew. Please wait while we find a CLEAR specialist to help you.
Your question is: Tell me why my service has been suspended.
You have been connected to Raselle S.
Raselle S: Thank you for contacting Clear, my name is Raselle. So I can help, may I please have your last name?
Mathew: ####
Raselle S: Thanks, Mathew. How may I help you today?
Mathew: Tell me why my service has been suspended.
Raselle S: I understand that you want to know why your account has been suspended.
Mathew: Yes.
Raselle S: I'm sorry that you have to chat us with this concern but don't worry I'll be more than happy to assist you okay.
Raselle S: Just to confirm, is ########## a good callback number in case we need to contact you?
Mathew: yep
Raselle S: I would be happy to help you further. Would you please verify the account by telling me, in what city you were born?
Mathew: ########
Raselle S: Thank you very much for helping me verify your account. The exact answer on file ########. It is case sensitive.
Mathew: oh ok, thanks
Raselle S: By the way, is the e-mail address ############### your updated email address?
Mathew: yes
Raselle S: Thank you for the confirmation.
Raselle S: Our record shows you have one active home service plan and one suspended mobile plan due to non payment.
Raselle S: And I am seeing $52.04 credit balance on your account.
Raselle S: Would you like to restore the service by applying the $52.04 credit balance on your account?
Mathew: Yes please
Raselle S: Okay great! Please hold while I reactivate your mobile plan.
Raselle S: There you go! I was able to apply the charge and reactivate the account.
Mathew: thank you
Raselle S: The first time you log on, you will get the terms and conditions page that you should read through before accepting them. Once you've accepted them, you'll be able to access the internet.
Raselle S: You're most welcome, Mathew.
Raselle S: Just to let you know, CLEAR My Account (www.clear.com) is an online account management resource to help customers answer basic billing questions and troubleshoot common service issues.
Raselle S: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Mathew: Yes, you have not answered my question
Raselle S: Oops sorry about that.
Mathew: Why was my acount suspended for non-payment when I had sent payment before the bill was due?
Raselle S: Please hold.
Raselle S: If we will add the device on your account, you will be charge lease fee.
Raselle S: Is that okay with you?
Raselle S: Oops please disregard that.
Raselle S: It shows that there was an advanced payment posted on your account for your June 5 renewal date however your payment method on file is cash in which the system will not immediately recognize the payment posted. However rest assured that the payment you made was successfully applied to your June 5 monthly fee and both services are active.
Raselle S: Everything is all set now.
Raselle S: I really apologize for the inconvinience this has caused you.
Raselle S: Meantime, are there other issues I can help you with?
Mathew: If it's just once, thats ok. But I have to go through this process every month.
Raselle S: Mathew, keeping a credit/debit card on file makes it convenient for you to pay for your services automatically each month. You may want to add a card on file to prevent this from happening.
Raselle S: Or pay your bill before your renewal date.
Mathew: I removed my card from being on file because I was being over-charged.
Raselle S: Your mobile plan renewal date is every 5th of the month. I suggest that you pay every 4th of the month-1 day before renewal date to avoid service interruption.
Mathew: Your records will show where I was credited for the amount I was overcharged.
Mathew: I did that this time.
Mathew: AND I contacted "Karen L" on the 4th to explain that my service would be suspended and she assured me that it would not be, but it was.
Raselle S: Sorry but your payment method on file is cash in which the system will not immediately recognize the payment posted.
Raselle S: This is due to system error and I personally apologize for the inconvenience.
Mathew: I agree it is a system error. I'd like to get it fixed so I don't have to go through this every month.
Mathew: Unless this system error is intentional to punish people like me for not keeping a credit card on file.
Raselle S: Sorry but this not intentional.
Raselle S: I'll be sending a report on this for escalation.
Raselle S: Thanks for bringing this on our attention.
Mathew: How can I follow the escalation of this problem?
Raselle S: Just visit us again here in chat to follow up.
Raselle S: Incident Number: 363936085
Mathew: What is the case number associated with the report?
Mathew: Thank you
Mathew: I appreciate it. I really like your service.
Raselle S: Case 08098361.
Raselle S: You are most welcome, Mathew.
Raselle S: Just to let you know, CLEAR My Account (www.clear.com) is an online account management resource to help customers answer basic billing questions and troubleshoot common service issues.
Raselle S: Thank you for chatting with me today! If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us; we are available in live WebChat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have a great day! You may now close this window.
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