Beebe4

 

For the first time in the history of the bird feeder contest, someone other then the elustrious John Ira Tureman took home the top prize!

With my modern architeture inspired bird feeder, I beat out the very capable opponents featured below:

Sherry

Alex

Shawn

My wife just tried out the new Microsoft Live Calendar (their attempt to catch up to Google Calendar), and it is a case in point why Microsoft is a bad software company.

When you go to “upgrade” to their new calendar it makes you choose between keeping your events or trying out new features. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?

I have developed many, many pieces of software over my career, and this choice should have been PRIORITY #1 when they laid out their goals for this website. Give me one example when I wouldn’t want to carry over my events with me? My wife said “It is Beta” to me to try to calm me down, and I said, “this is amateur hour and it should be pre Alpha”. This is a sad, sad excuse for a software offering.

Got my first “compliment” from co-worker today….

“Have you lost weight?”

“Yeah, been doing Atkins”

“I thought so, your double chin is a little less obvious”

Feel free to buy me this:

Just makes me laugh…

The ability to search your own code base with Koders desktop code search solution… check it out!



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Saw this today on TechCrunch… pretty interesting.  Lately I have been in agreement that entertainment is only going to get bigger, and that I need to get involved in that market somehow.  There are some interesting ideas at Koders about helping developers have a consolidated online presense.  You go for an interview and you can just point to your koders page.

Anyway, without further ado, here is the video:

I recieved this email from my Uncle… and it is worth heeding:

We all receive emails all the time regarding one scam or another; but last week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both VISA and MasterCard told me that this scam is currently being worked throughout the Midwest, with some variance as to the product or amount, and if you are called, just hang up.

My husband was called on Wednesday from “VISA” and I was called in Thursday from “MasterCard”. It worked like this: Person calling says, “This is Carl Patterson and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card issued by 5/3 bank. Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?”

When you say “No”. The caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?”

You say, “Yes”. The caller continues…”I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 800 number listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. you will need to refer to this Control #”. Then gives you a 6 digit number. “Do you need me to read it again?” Caller then says he “needs to verify you are in possession of your card. Turn the card over. There are 7 numbers; first 4 are 1234(whatever) the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3 numbers.” Then he says “That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions? Don’t hesitate to call back if you do.”

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security dept. told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 WAS put on our card.

Long story made short…we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing as a new number. What the scam wants is the 3 digit number! and that once the charge goes through, they keep charging every few days. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then its harder to actually file a fraud report. The real VISA reinforced that they will never ask for anything on the card (they already know).

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from “Jason Richardson of MasterCard” with a word for word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn’t let him finish. I hung up.

We filed a police report (as instructed by VISA), and they said they are taking several of these reports daily and to tell friends, relatives and co-workers.

So after much back and forth with the Mayview people I think we are going to walk away from the table… I am scared that the price we could get it for would be hard to get out of the house given the fact that I think we could outgrow the house in 3 years.

Back to Square 1.

As luck would have it, Pine Needle received another offer significantly higher then ours, so it looks as if we are not going to get that house. We have since then entered discussions with Mayview about buying their home. Will keep you posted.