No Wonder the Plants Don’t Grow!
I think this photo, taken on the UCF campus, says it all.
It is downright spooky
I was in Winter Park during the fall.
Halloween Photo-Irony
In the United States you can see decorations in preparation for Halloween. When I spotted this decoration (a pumpkin, skillfully placed over the light on one of the pillars that marks the driveway entrance), almost ‘labeled’ by the address, the irony struck me immediately.
Do you see what I see? Maybe I am just too much of a geek (I have The Knack) and truely believe “The glass was overdesigned” (see my earlier post: Engineer).
In Training…
Today I visited the local Goodwill outlet that was just built in Oviedo. I think the Goodwill organization is magnificent and I am very happy to give them my money. Shopping in those places is like an unpretentious pawn shop.
The wonderful lady at the checkout was wearing a badge that read, “Employee in training”. It brought a funny idea to mind. I wonder how people would react if I walked through the store wearing a badge that read Shoplifter in Training ?
This is not a blog post
“If it quacks like a duck…”
Although this is one of several posts on a blog, this is not a blog post.
I received an interesting piece of [junk] mail the other day. It was from AT&T and an obvious attempt to convince me buy more services. 
We all have received these letters with an attached check. Well, it is quite obvious it is not real check. But a common marketing technique to make you feel like you are getting money (which is really in the form of a ‘discount’ when you buy*)in its aggressive marketing had been sending promotional mail with what appeared to be a check. We all have received them. We realized it was a ‘marketing ploy’. Apparently, not eveyone.
So, I can understand that, in an effort to protect [the naive?], a law was passed that mandates it be clearly identified as not a real check.
So when I saw this I was immediately struck by the irony. It is actually comical that they continue to print what looks like a check, with the text to disclaim that it is not a check. How silly is that?
*I have trouble perceiving this as money in my pocket. It nothing more than an artificial discount on the cost of a service I was not interested in purchasing in the first place! But that discussion is a subject for a future post.
I know where you live
I was cleaning up all the trash in the neighborhood that seems to blow right down to the wooded area in front of my house*. 
Along with the usual beer cans and used condoms [parents, you really need to be aware of what your college student is doing while away from home] I uncovered this piece of discarded mail.
Armed with this name, address and account number a [not so] skilled identity thief could start opening accounts in this person’s name; stealing goods and further damaging her credit.
It only takes one search on Google to reveal a Facebook page full of personal details.
Heed this warning. Be more careful with your personal information. Purchase a shredder and use it (But do not let your trash be compromised by outdoor creatures who will leave that stuff strewn all over the neighborhood).
Honestly, I was angry and frustrated when I began writing this and had planned to post a close-up of the letter; which has a complete name, address and account number. But as I was editing this post God reminded me that would be wrong. Praise Jesus for his influence on my life!
*It is frustrating and infuriating how these residents (primarily the college students who are renting; 6 and 8 to a house) will gladly put the trash at the curb but refuse to take any responsibility for it after that. Trash bags sitting on the curb are desirable targets for stray cats and the wild animals that live in the nature preserve next door.
You get what you pay for?
I was in the Post Office, here in Orlando, the other day. I needed to send a package to New Jersey. I must admit the staff in the Post Office is *very* friendly. Actually, they are quite ‘chatty’. So, overall it is not an unpleasant experience to visit the Post Office (unlike a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles!).
After announcing the price for shipping the package, the clerk asked, “Would you like delivery notification or insurance?”. I was stunned. If I need to pay ADDITIONAL MONEY for a guarantee it was delivered or that it will not be damaged, then WHAT AM I PAYING FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The US Postal Service is notorious for this, though.
In an attempt to be an educated consumer I once asked about ‘Express Delivery’. The advertisements spout, “Guaranteed 2 Day Delivery” or “Guaranteed Overnight Delivery”. That is wonderful. I asked what happens if it is late. The clerk simply gave me a blank stare. Then proceeded to explain that there is no consequence if the package does not arrive as ‘guaranteed’. Well, to me that is no GUARANTEE!
Other carriers (whom I need not name) provide a definitive restituion if they do not meet the promised delivery schedule. That is a guarantee!
An Engineer
I work in an evironment surrounded by very smart people (I call them “people with letters after their name”). Most of them hold a degree (or two) in one of the many branches of Engineering.
The popular phrase to describe Optimism vs. Pessimism has been adjusted in our case:
-
“The Optimist states that the glass is half full
The Pessimist insists the glass is half empty
The Engineer explains that the glass was over designed”
May the FOURS be with you
When I relocated to Central Florida, one of the first things I found myself struggling with was the new highways. In any town, as a newcomer you need to learn the major streets; their local names and the ‘official’ names. But here it was particularly difficult because there are so many similarities.
What is so special about the number 4?
I think those who decide on the highway numbering wanted to perpetrate a vicious prank on the residents of Orange County.
Just in my local area there exists:
- Route 424
- Route 436
- Route 426
- Route 417
- Route 408
And running across all this is the Interstate, I-4 !
It would take a lot of convincing for me to believe this was not a massive government plot to add an excessive amount of complexity to our life here in The Sunshine State.
Superstition
In 2009, we will have at least three occurances of Friday the 13th. What seems like an even more startling coincidence is the fact that February and then March will see the 13th fall on a Friday.
In honor of this momentous occassion, I feel obliged to remind you of my sincere belief:
It is bad luck to be superstitious. › Continue reading
A Cop Out
I admit it. My lofty intention was to create my own [custom] blog using Ruby on Rails.
When it came down to actually getting something done, I fell back on WordPress. After all, it is probably the most popular blogging software on the planet! But, as a web developer, I am [rightfully] embarrassed.
“Perhaps one day soon” I will create a RoR blog (or snatch a really good one from github) and change this site over. But, currently, it was more important for me to get my ideas on the web (substance over style, I guess).
Thanks for visiting. Let me personally invite you to return often. I promise to do my best to put a smile on your face and, perhaps, offer a kind diversion from the frustrations of your day.
