Hello, Blogging Buddies. Look out. I'm on my soapbox again. Sigh.
So... I didn't mention this last year when it actually happened... I don't think. (Don't ask me to remember that far back.) But... now that essentially the exact same thing has happened to me yet again, I feel compelled to rant about it.
Last year, after moving into our mid-70s Louisiana house, I thought I would check out prices for replacing the horrid, stained, original cultured marble bathroom vanities/sinks as well as the incredibly-difficult-to-clean white tile countertops and nasty, damaged composite sink in the kitchen. I called a local firm, explained what I was interested in, and was told it would be just great if I sent sketches, dimensions, and pictures. I cleared everything off, measured twice (and three times on one occasion), sketched out, photographed, and conveniently packed all of this information into a ZIP file which I sent off to the young lady who had assured me this would be all that was necessary. I received a response from her the very next day, 9/21/2009, advising that the pictures were very good (thank you) and she would forward the information to "the company" (whoever or whatever that is!) and have an estimate for me as soon as possible. Let's see. On June 21st, we will be 9 months into this. I have not heard a single word... I have not received a single written/typed word... I have not heard a thing. (Can you hear that pin dropping?!?!?!?!?)
Okay. Let's just not bother with those people ever again. (I can assure you I won't!) So... on Monday the 7th of this month (9 days ago), I stopped into a local store to inquire about sink prices. The gentleman there must have said "I don't know anything about that stuff... I do the air-conditioning work" about 19 times while I was there with him. I finally told him I would just write out my name, telephone number, and the details (size, configuration, type) on the sinks I would like prices on. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as I wrote my information down and assured me he would give it to P---- as soon as she returned and she would call me. Of course you all know what has happened... or not happened which is the reality. No phone call. Haven't heard a word. Haven't gotten a call. It appears there is yet one more firm in this town that has so much business it can select what calls to return and which to not return. Good for them!!! In the current economy and while this poor state deals with what is going to be a HUGE economic impact with the oil spill, these firms apparently are just rolling in dough. They do not need me. They have made that clear.
So... all I ask of you each is to NOT EVER treat YOUR customers (or potential customers) in such a shoddy manner and that each of you NOT put up with treatment like this. If you don't hear from them, don't beg them to call you. I assure you there is another firm, another person, another way you can achieve your desired result. Please don't make this behavior acceptable by working with people who exhibit it.
Thank you. I feel much better now. I hope you don't encounter this but I am afraid there are many more firms out there treating people this same way.
Until next time...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
PRIVACY? YOU JUST THINK SO.
Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies! Hope this finds you all well and happy.
I had the very good fortune to visit with one of those high-school pals who I had not seen in 19 years this past Saturday. It was such fun and the four of us (two other pals who remain here and me) truly enjoyed our catch-up time with our long-lost buddy. The pal who does not reside here has done well, looks fabulous, and apparently has not changed in the many years since high school! What a lovely time we had.
Now then... while that probably isn't really fascinating to any of you, some of the things we talked about could pique your interest... if you are concerned about your privacy and the ubiquitous reach of the internet. Personally, that is something that concerns me.
Most of you know I do not participate at all in Facebook. There are a number of reasons for that. Daniel Lyons, a writer for Newsweek magazine, has written blog posts on May 15th, May 24th, and May 26th of this year that provide some real food for thought about the social network. I seriously suggest you read these three posts if you are a Facebook member. I have had many people tell me, "Oh... I don't really put much on there... certainly not anything I am concerned about anyone seeing." I hear you. But I am afraid you don't understand the full reach of the site and what they "own" even after you may decide to close your account!! Check out this article of February 17, 2009. Sorry, guys. I won't be joining. You can email me, comment on my blog posts, call me, or send a carrier pigeon. I'm happy to respond!
But... this isn't really a post about Facebook. I know. You thought it was. Nope. Our long-lost pal mentioned a site she had visited called Spokeo and was surprised at the amount of information there as well as the inaccuracy of a good portion of it! I had not even heard of it although I am aware there are a large number of sites purporting to carry my "profile" although they actually don't. Most of those link to my public profile with LinkedIn, a business networking site I joined a number of years ago and continue to participate in. Since I choose to publish VERY little information as "public" on that site, there is very little that is carried to the sites trying to pull information from it. I check that periodically.
So, back to Spokeo. I suggest you go there and type in your name, as well as other iterations of it you may have used in the past, and any family members. It did not find me using my full name (first, middle, last) but it did find me using my first name, middle initial, and last name. Interestingly enough, it showed me living at my brother's PO Box in another state!! *chuckle* It would have been funny but it had other information... most inaccurate... posted as though someone might be interested in my astrological sign (which was wrong) or my education level (which was also wrong). Check out what it provides to you after doing so. Copy the URL from the page that has your information. After you have finished spitting out words you don't want your kids to hear you say, go back to the main page, click on the itty-bitty "Privacy" menu item below the phonebook, then paste the URL into the field provided, give them the email you rarely use, type in the code shown, then click on "Remove Listing." That should do it. I have gone back and checked to make certain I do not continue to show up (and I checked the spousal-unit's name again after finding it with mostly inaccurate information and removing it).
I have a few other links you can visit including one that will direct you to similar sites. If you have some time, you might want to check to see how you are portrayed there! :)
http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010/04/07/spokeo-com-scam.htm
Recent blog posting about Spokeo
http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/spokeo.asp
What Snopes.com has to say about Spokeo
http://www.similarsites.com/sites-like/spokeo.com
Sites indicated as similar to Spokeo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokeo
Wikipedia’s take on Spokeo
Good luck with it. It's just irritating and I am concerned that this information is being taken as gospel or being misused. If you don't think it is important, then please just move forward with your world. I'm just trying to "spread the word" and thank my friend, Liz, for making me aware of this site.
Enjoy your day. Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy yourself!!
Until next time...
I had the very good fortune to visit with one of those high-school pals who I had not seen in 19 years this past Saturday. It was such fun and the four of us (two other pals who remain here and me) truly enjoyed our catch-up time with our long-lost buddy. The pal who does not reside here has done well, looks fabulous, and apparently has not changed in the many years since high school! What a lovely time we had.
Now then... while that probably isn't really fascinating to any of you, some of the things we talked about could pique your interest... if you are concerned about your privacy and the ubiquitous reach of the internet. Personally, that is something that concerns me.
Most of you know I do not participate at all in Facebook. There are a number of reasons for that. Daniel Lyons, a writer for Newsweek magazine, has written blog posts on May 15th, May 24th, and May 26th of this year that provide some real food for thought about the social network. I seriously suggest you read these three posts if you are a Facebook member. I have had many people tell me, "Oh... I don't really put much on there... certainly not anything I am concerned about anyone seeing." I hear you. But I am afraid you don't understand the full reach of the site and what they "own" even after you may decide to close your account!! Check out this article of February 17, 2009. Sorry, guys. I won't be joining. You can email me, comment on my blog posts, call me, or send a carrier pigeon. I'm happy to respond!
But... this isn't really a post about Facebook. I know. You thought it was. Nope. Our long-lost pal mentioned a site she had visited called Spokeo and was surprised at the amount of information there as well as the inaccuracy of a good portion of it! I had not even heard of it although I am aware there are a large number of sites purporting to carry my "profile" although they actually don't. Most of those link to my public profile with LinkedIn, a business networking site I joined a number of years ago and continue to participate in. Since I choose to publish VERY little information as "public" on that site, there is very little that is carried to the sites trying to pull information from it. I check that periodically.
So, back to Spokeo. I suggest you go there and type in your name, as well as other iterations of it you may have used in the past, and any family members. It did not find me using my full name (first, middle, last) but it did find me using my first name, middle initial, and last name. Interestingly enough, it showed me living at my brother's PO Box in another state!! *chuckle* It would have been funny but it had other information... most inaccurate... posted as though someone might be interested in my astrological sign (which was wrong) or my education level (which was also wrong). Check out what it provides to you after doing so. Copy the URL from the page that has your information. After you have finished spitting out words you don't want your kids to hear you say, go back to the main page, click on the itty-bitty "Privacy" menu item below the phonebook, then paste the URL into the field provided, give them the email you rarely use, type in the code shown, then click on "Remove Listing." That should do it. I have gone back and checked to make certain I do not continue to show up (and I checked the spousal-unit's name again after finding it with mostly inaccurate information and removing it).
I have a few other links you can visit including one that will direct you to similar sites. If you have some time, you might want to check to see how you are portrayed there! :)
http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010/04/07/spokeo-com-scam.htm
Recent blog posting about Spokeo
http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/spokeo.asp
What Snopes.com has to say about Spokeo
http://www.similarsites.com/sites-like/spokeo.com
Sites indicated as similar to Spokeo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokeo
Wikipedia’s take on Spokeo
Good luck with it. It's just irritating and I am concerned that this information is being taken as gospel or being misused. If you don't think it is important, then please just move forward with your world. I'm just trying to "spread the word" and thank my friend, Liz, for making me aware of this site.
Enjoy your day. Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy yourself!!
Until next time...
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