Suds

Last Sunday, we took my son Josh, over to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA to begin his first year of college there. What a place! After spending the day there for Parents Orientation, we are all convinced this is the right place for Josh to study. Josh is in his element amidst a highly studious and intelligent group of students, and institution that highly values learning, hard work, and passion. That boy will soar in such an environment. I am so excited for him, and a little envious of what his future holds.

Today we were talking on the cell phone when he mentioned that he had to get off because his laundry was done. Soon after, I received the following email:

Why does the washer email you when it’s done? Why do you get an email when a package arrives? Because we’re CMU.

——– Original Message ——–

Subject: eSuds.net Cycle Complete
Date: 24 Aug 2007 10:46:02 -0400
From: eSuds.net Administrator
To: JOSHUA

Hi JOSHUA,

Your laundry is finished. Please pick up your laundry from Washer 3 in XXXXX House Laundry Room.

Thank you!

Amazing!

And what’s even more amazing is that my son is doing his laundry a mere five days after his arrival on campus.

Julie Amero

Awhile back, I posted an article about Julie Amero, a Norwich, CT substitute school teacher who was convicted of “endangering students by exposing them to pornographic material displayed on a classroom computer.” Feel free to read the article for more details.

According to Elizabeth Wood’s excellent blog Sex in the Public Square, Ms. Amero will get a new trial because an examination of a computer hard drive apparently contradicted evidence in court.

This is very good news, as the teacher faced up to 40 years in prison for something she did not do. Click here for an additional post.

A Travesty of Justice

The sad story of Julie Amero has been all over the ‘Net. If you haven’t read about the Connecticut teacher, you can read the Washington Post article or similar coverage from USA Today.

Ms. Amero was a substitute teacher in Norwich, CT back in 2004, recently convicted of “endangering students by exposing them to pornographic material displayed on a classroom computer.”

According to The Post…

On the morning of Oct 19, 2004, Amero said she reported for duty at a seventh grade classroom at Kelly Middle School in Norwich, Conn. After stepping out into the hall for a moment, Amero returned to find two students hovering over the computer at the teacher’s desk. As supported by an analysis of her computer during the court proceedings, the site the children were looking at was a seemingly innocuous hairstyling site called “new-hair-styles.com.” Amero said that shortly thereafter, she noticed a series of new Web browser windows opening up displaying pornographic images, and that no matter how quickly she closed each one out, another would pop up in its place.

“I went back to computer and found a bunch of pop-ups,” Amero said. “They wouldn’t go away. I mean, some of the sites stayed on there no matter how many times I clicked the red X, and others would just pop back up.”

Here’s a substitute teacher in a class not her own, using a computer, not her own. Apparently, she is pretty much of a technophobe, and quite out of her league on this one.

Let me add some of my own comments to this travesty.

• Consider that this was in 2004, the operating system was Windows 98, and the browser was Internet Explorer 5 (outdated and quite insecure). There was no filtering software on the school’s network, no anti-virus software that might check for invasive malware. Malware of the type that generates pop-up windows was found on that computer.
• Ms. Amero knew little about computers or what to do to stop the hundreds of pop-ups that were appearing. According to the story, she asked for help in the teacher’s lounge and received little support.
• Think back to 2004. Ever know anyone whose computer was totally inundated by pop-ups, pornographic or otherwise? Yes, there are pop-up ads for items other than porn.
• Due to technicalities, supporting defense arguments were not allowed.
• Why was this case even prosecuted? What did this poor lady do?
• For a different take on this incident, here is the story from The Norwich Bulletin. I may be biased, but I don’t buy their self-righteous viewpoint.
• This woman could be sentenced to as much as 40 years in prison on March 2.
• Can children really be “endangered” by viewing “pornographic material? Why aren’t they “endangered” by viewing violence at home or on television?

Let me leave you with this last word. If you think this is wrong, take a look at the Julie Amero Defense Fund blog. At that location, you’ll find a way to contribute to her fund as well as the addresses of the prosecuting attorney, school district officials, and other governmental muckity mucks.

 

In the Inbox

Here’s a few examples of the fine email I’ve received over the past few weeks. Do note the ever enticing subjects and the quality products sold therein. I apologize in advance if these seem redundant because you’ve received the same ones.

• In no sandalwood from Victoria Winkler. Victoria has a hot stock just for me.
• Are structural from reach. reach writes “there is that which is prior” and much, much more. Good stuff. Very Zen.
• On by premptor by Lilly Trevino. Lilly rails on about “famous revolution of Sweden, when Christian the or epithets denoting intimacy”. I learned something here as I didn’t know Sweden even had a revolution. Thanks, Lilly.
• Is cyclotron or prarie from Tammy Wilkerson. A whole bunch of paragraphs but I couldn’t find anything there about cyclotrons in the prarie. Maybe it was in another language? Klingon?
• Here’s one. is battery from my dear friend prepare. prepare writes “Yet when one of the two contraries is a constitutive establish him in the contrary state, provided he is not hindered by disposition has itself become inveterate and almost impossible to To sum up, it is a distinctive mark of substance, that, while” Did you get all that?
• I’m a consultant, so I thought that maybe Coralie Dean was asking me about something in his/her/its email headed Can You Explain This. The question is “Why, you see, during he has a good scrub thought alert understanding with th box polish soak” If you know the answer, would you mind posting it in comments. Thank you.
• Be no erwin from good old Hillary Myers. Another hot stock tip for me. Pump and dump, dear Hillary?
• And then there was an important missive URGENT REPLY NEEDED from Barrister Fredrick Agbaje, a Nigerian attorney who represents John Slaughter, a “nationality of your country”. The esteemed Barrister goes on to say that since our last names are the same that “we can get this money before they get it confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank.” Wow! Money! From Nigeria!
• From carmen. Subject: Obtain degrees from Perstigious non-accredited Universities. Apparently carmen never got that degree, as it seems she/he can’t even spell correctly. Or else he/she forgot how to use their spell-checker. Carmen does assure me that they are “genuine degrees” though.
• No tulip the minimal is from Adam Laird.
• Earn 100% per 3 days posted by Rupert Daily. Rupert writes “Think set at nought the simplicity of the gospel, and accounted the goats on his left” Goats? I think not, Rupert. I live in the suburbs of Cincinnati and don’t have any room in the backyard. But thanks anyhow.
• And finally, Shane Myers writes about Sea lion misses water, ends up on dairy farm Video. Shane would also like to talk to me about stock, but this time in the “peennnyy stock arena”. Now I’ve used a word similar to that as slang for the male genitals, but I didn’t know they had an arena for that sort of thing. I learn something new every day. Thanks, Shane.

Well that’s a few of the more recent ones. In the next few days I’ll report back on the other 255 that I found in my spam filter. I know that somewhere in there one of my dear friends or colleagues knows that I need some sort of enlargement or medication to improve my performance after receiving that enlargement.

That iPhone Hoopla

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock or haven’t connected to the web since the beginning of this year, you’ve been reading about Apple’s newest technology contraption, the iPhone. A mobile phone, video iPod for music, and PDA that can browse the Internet, while supposedly powered by Macintosh OSX under the hood. It’s a smart looking and creatively designed product that promises to revolutionize the handheld technology arena.

As previously mentioned, anyone who writes about technology has written an article or blog about this new device, most hailing it as the greatest thing since sliced bread. That may well be the case, and down the road apiece, this may change things quite significantly. Additionally, Apple does make great products. Consider the ubiquitous iPod for example.

Ted Landau, long-time Macintosh author and advocate has posted his more critical take on the iPhone in an article on his excellent website, MacFixIt. In the article, he makes some valid points about this possibly revolutionary new piece of technology.

• It’s Expensive. Not only is the purchase price compared to other devices at the top end of the range, it will likely require high-end wireless services.
• Limited Storage. The iPhone uses a flash drive rather than a hard drive like other iPods use.
• Stuck with Cingular. I am not a Cingular subscriber, so I’ll not make an attempt to evaluate their service, but the fact of the matter is that the iPhone user is limited to that carrier at this time.
• It’s Locked. Folks will be limited to Apple’s software as well as the functionality as allowed by Cingular, the wireless provider.
• Size Limitations. Apple claims it will have a touch screen keyboard. It’s already hard enough to “type” on one of those small keyboards. What is going to happen when there is no tactile response at all the “pressing” the keys?
• Watch out. Early adapters had better be careful when using one. I suspect it will easily be lost or stolen. And there were cases where people were mugged or pickpocketed for the new iPods.

On the other side of the coin:

• It appears well designed.
• The iPhone looks cool.
• The interface appears clean and elegant.
• The iPhone appears easy to use. Not that it would take much compared to today’s cell phone interface and software design.
• The product is designed by Apple, their design concepts are exceptional.
• It will improve and the user experience will get better.

Look, I don’t want to completely denigrate what is likely a revolutionary product. I just think it’s going to take some time to work the kinks out and make a more satisfactory device for those using it. Like Mr. Landau, it’s likely that I am not the target customer for this device anyhow. I own a cell phone that I use for one purpose: to make calls. I don’t need a web browser nor a PDA, nor do I want to get email on my phone. I carry a laptop almost everywhere, and when I need to get connected I can. Besides, there are plenty of times that I really don’t want to be connected.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Wireless Beaches

Winter is in full swing in the northern hemisphere, although where I come from in Ohio, we’ve yet to see much snow.  Regardless, it’s time to think about packing your bags and heading to warmer climates where you can catch some rays and work on your tan.  And most of us anymore don’t forget to pack our laptops along with our swim trunks and sunglasses when we head to the sun.

As a public service to those heading for the surf and sand, I post the following link to a Wired Magazine article “Where to Catch Some WiFi Waves.” Included are some major beaches in the US, including one clothing optional location where you can be topless, bottomless, and wireless.

Of course, this begs the question:  Why?

Beyond the potential harm of water and sand to the laptop computer, I go to the beach to get away from all things computer.  I enjoy the warm breeze in my face, long walks in the sand and waves, and reading a novel to escape the day to day rigor of the technology world.  Other than for music, for which I can use my iPod, that is one place I really don’t want to be wireless.

OK. To be completely forthcoming and honest,  I must reveal that this article is being written from Englewood, Florida, where I came to “get away from it all” while visiting a friend.  I did bring my laptop and yes, I do have a WiFi connection thanks to the generosity of my neighbor, who allows me to share hers.  I solemnly promise however, that I will never ever take this laptop to the beach.

Bad Words

Here are three commonly used words that describe people. In my mind, they have a negative influence on the way we think about the folks we work with.

Consumer. Isn’t that a horrible word when used to describe people? How about something a little more respectful like customer? When I am a consumer, I am merely consuming goods and services in the same way that a car consumes gasoline, but as a customer I actively buy goods and services.

User. Being in the software development business, this word is used frequently to describe the good folks who work with (and purchase) our software, hardware, and technology products. In a previous life, I worked as a therapist in outpatient alcoholism and drug abuse treatment centers. User is what we called the people coming through our doors.

End User. Obviously a variant on user. Isn’t a bit redundant though to call a person an end user? If there is an end user, it would seem likely then, that somewhere there must be a beginning user.

Words like these depersonalize people, coloring the way some folks think about others. When we use language that accurately reflects who we do things for, it is more likely our software, customer service (think carefully about the meaning of those two words), and products will be designed to serve the “real people” who work with our stuff on a daily basis.

Those of you out there who are end users of my blog are welcome to comment. Being the consumers that you are, please suggest other words of the same genre.

On Cell Phones

“The worst thing about others blabbing on their cell phones - and the chief reason I don’t own one - is the despairing recognition that everybody’s doing, thinking, saying pretty much the same things you are, and none of it’s too interesting”

That’s main character Frank Bascombe in Richard Ford’s new book, The Lay of the Land

The Florida Fiasco

In Sarasota County, Florida, apparently they “lost” around 18,000 votes in an highly contested election between Vern Buchanan (R) and Christine Jennings (D) for a seat in the US House of Representatives. Among the votes that they were able to count, the difference in the outcome was around 400 votes.

This story, which was widely reported can be read here from Wired Magazine. You might recall that Florida was involved in another electoral fiasco during the 2000 presidential election, helping the brother of the Governor of Florida to win the electoral vote and become President of the United States.

That was paper technology, in this election it was touch-screen technology. In this situation, apparently the software failed to record the vote in this race for around 18,000. Since there is no paper trail, it appears that there is no method to audit or accurately recount the vote. Election officials were taking the typical software support route to addressing this issue; it must be the voters’ fault. The article cites election Sarasota Elections Supervisor Kathy Dent,

“saying that voters either failed to see the race on the ballot because it appeared high at the top of a ballot page that also included the governor’s race, or they simply decided not to vote in that race — although they did cast votes in other races on the ballots. “

What irks me is the lack of awareness by our elected officials when it comes to matters as important as voting. How can any type of fair election take place with no accountability by paper trail or some other replication of the data? What were the people thinking that designed such a system, and then those who made the selection of these devices for deployment to the electorate?

Voting is a fundamental right and the foundation upon which the United States is built. When we allow that right to slip away to poor electoral accountability or downright fraud, then our country is doomed. For all our government’s worries about threats to our democracy from without, I often wonder if the real threat is not from within our own shores.

As my comedic hero, Earl Pitts often says, “Wake Up America!”