70 percent of truckers own computers and nearly two-thirds have Internet access at home. Wireless Internet is fast becoming as vital a communications tool for drivers as CB radio, truckers say, giving them a way to stay in closer touch with home and to entertain themselves. [AP story via Doc]
Category Archives: Miscellany
We’ve moved our call centers to Elbonia
Needed some help with a Linksys router last week and wound up talking to a lady in Punjab or Kandahar or some such place. I could live with the 5 second delay on the satellite/phone hook-up but her English was just slightly better than my Punjabie.
Gave up on the Linksys router and purchased one by Netgear. I found myself reading the back of the box to see if there was any mention of where their tech support folks are located. I think that would be a strong selling feature. I’d pay more for a product if I knew I’d be speaking to someone in the U.S.A.
When you work together too long
Gmail
I’m trying out the new, free email service from Google, Gmail. The big draw –in addition to “free”– is storage. A gigabyte. Which is a shit-load of email. The idea is you save ALL your email and use Googles great search tools to find stuff later. I’m not one of those that likes to save everything but I’ll reserve judgement.
Broadband Internet growing
The number of Americans with access to high-speed Internet connections either at home or work is growing. As of March 1, the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that 68 million adult Americans log on via broadband either at home or work. Fully 48 million adult Americans have broadband connections at home. For the first time, more than half (52%) of a key demographic group college educated people age 35 and younger has broadband connections at home. But this trend will have absolutely no impact on time spent listening to your local radio station. Everything is fine. Go back to your homes.
Pet owners
According to a survey by the American Animal Hosptial Association, 73% of pet owners would go into debt in order to provide for their pet’s well being. Other findings:
20% include their pet in their will
62% celebrate their pet’s birthday. (Of that 62%, 51% sang “Happy Birthday.”)
52% include news about their pet or a photo of their pet in a holiday card
67% said they felt guilty leaving their pet home alone
47% said that when they leave their pet alone they leave on a TV or radio
–Source: AKC Family Dog Magazine
The Paomnnehal Pweor of the Hmuan Mnid.
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Blogs let you remember
“Blogs let you remember what you think, what you feel, what you say, how you say it, what you care about and how you live in this world actually matters. Blogs remind us we matter.”
–Halley Suitt
Why Mobile Phones are Annoying
Bystanders rated mobile-phone conversations as dramatically more noticeable, intrusive, and annoying than conversations conducted face-to-face. While volume was an issue, hearing only half a discussion also seemed to up the irritation factor. [Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox, April 12, 2004]