It’s
raining out.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
One Semester Down, How Many More to Go??
Adios ITEC 610!
This was my first semester in graduate school. I remember feeling nervous during my first few weeks, as I didn’t know what to expect of online courses. Though online courses prevented me from interacting with my classmates and professors in person, I saved lots of time on commuting and learned how to better manage my time. Twelve weeks has passed and now my first semester as a graduate student is over. These past few months have worn me out, but it brings me a sense of accomplishment as I have just completed 1/6 of my program. One introductory and two program courses down, ten more to go!
Thumbs up!
This was my first semester in graduate school. I remember feeling nervous during my first few weeks, as I didn’t know what to expect of online courses. Though online courses prevented me from interacting with my classmates and professors in person, I saved lots of time on commuting and learned how to better manage my time. Twelve weeks has passed and now my first semester as a graduate student is over. These past few months have worn me out, but it brings me a sense of accomplishment as I have just completed 1/6 of my program. One introductory and two program courses down, ten more to go!
I believe that when things get tough, keep your head down
and continue to focus. If you are
willing to invest the time and effort, you can accomplish almost anything.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Blessed
I went grocery shopping at Harris Teeter the last Tuesday in
time for their triple coupon event. I
could potentially turn a 99 cent coupon into a whopping savings of $2.97! Nothing excites me more than getting a good
deal, whether it is at the mall or grocery store. Though it is really easy to get carried away,
it’s especially important to only buy what you absolutely need, otherwise you
would end up with a house full of junk that you didn’t really need but bought
anyways simply because it was on sale and/or you had a coupon.
How amazing is it that we have an entire aisle at the
grocery store that is solely devoted to just ice cream and other frozen
desserts? An ENTIRE aisle of different
ice cream brands and flavors to choose from!
There are people around the world who will not get enough to eat today, yet
here I was, strolling down the ice cream aisle of Harris Teeter debating on
whether I would like to watch my DVR recording of Dancing with the Stars while eating
Starbucks coffee ice cream on a cake cone or a Haagen Dazs ice cream bar with
almonds. Regardless of how rough my week
might have been, I am quite blessed.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Making Friends with Gepetto
Session 9:
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” (Leviticus 19:11)
This week, we discussed whether or not there exists an ethical crisis in the business world today. I believe so. Many people lack the morals and integrity to conduct business honestly. Instead, they are driven by greed, taking all the necessary shortcuts to maximize profits, and ignoring the consequences that follow.
The U.S. heavily depends on foreign countries for outsourcing purposes, as labor costs are much lower overseas. How amazing is it that it is more cost-effective for companies to have their products manufactured in foreign countries located on the other side of the world and have it all shipped to the U.S., than it would be to have those very same items manufactured domestically? The business exchange serves to benefit both sides, as it serves as a money saving strategy for the U.S. and the foreign countries get the much needed business.
Off-shore manufacturing plants, such as those located in China, have built quite a reputation for themselves, making it quite obvious that their business ethics highly lack morality. China has had a long history of running manufacturing plants with non-ideal working conditions that would closely resemble a sweatshop. The hired workers are of all ages, many of whom are not of legal working age, are set to work very long hours in exchange for very little compensation. The lack of empathy for their own people makes me question their integrity.
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” (Leviticus 19:11)
This week, we discussed whether or not there exists an ethical crisis in the business world today. I believe so. Many people lack the morals and integrity to conduct business honestly. Instead, they are driven by greed, taking all the necessary shortcuts to maximize profits, and ignoring the consequences that follow.
The U.S. heavily depends on foreign countries for outsourcing purposes, as labor costs are much lower overseas. How amazing is it that it is more cost-effective for companies to have their products manufactured in foreign countries located on the other side of the world and have it all shipped to the U.S., than it would be to have those very same items manufactured domestically? The business exchange serves to benefit both sides, as it serves as a money saving strategy for the U.S. and the foreign countries get the much needed business.
Off-shore manufacturing plants, such as those located in China, have built quite a reputation for themselves, making it quite obvious that their business ethics highly lack morality. China has had a long history of running manufacturing plants with non-ideal working conditions that would closely resemble a sweatshop. The hired workers are of all ages, many of whom are not of legal working age, are set to work very long hours in exchange for very little compensation. The lack of empathy for their own people makes me question their integrity.
One of the bigger recalls was of pet foods containing
contaminants that caused renal failure, in which many cases led to death, of our
beloved furry companions. Another was
the recall of Chinese manufactured toothpaste imported into the U.S. that contained
poisonous substances. Alarming, isn't
it? Their lack of regulations has
brought on acts of carelessness and cost-cutting strategies that have tainted their
reputation.
A long string of recent recalls have made most Americans think twice about purchasing products made in China. How do the Chinese go around this? Replace the word “China” with the acronym “P.R.O.C.” that stands for People’s Republic of China, so that it reads “Made in P.R.O.C.” instead. Clever, isn’t it? I am certain that their strategy has fooled many into purchasing items made in China without even realizing it. I was once among one of those fools. I picked up a package of dried tofu sheets at the grocery store, read the “Made in P.R.O.C.” label, and had absolutely no idea where that was but threw it into the cart anyways because I figured that as long as it wasn’t made in China, it was fine. As we stand in the long check-out line that doesn’t seem to move, my mom reads the labels of every item we’ve thrown into the cart with her reading glasses halfway down the bridge of her nose. Of course my mom informs me of what “P.R.O.C” stood for and it got left behind at the grocery store. We are not supporters of such unethical business practices and avoid buying food items made in China as best we can.
It is our greed that drives to form our web of lies that eventually becomes our basis of deceit. Overseas, we have the issue of bad business integrity. Here we have money laundering, tax evasions, and other monetary woes. People should realize that lying and deceit does not get one very far. My guess is that they must not have watched Pinocchio as a kid.
A long string of recent recalls have made most Americans think twice about purchasing products made in China. How do the Chinese go around this? Replace the word “China” with the acronym “P.R.O.C.” that stands for People’s Republic of China, so that it reads “Made in P.R.O.C.” instead. Clever, isn’t it? I am certain that their strategy has fooled many into purchasing items made in China without even realizing it. I was once among one of those fools. I picked up a package of dried tofu sheets at the grocery store, read the “Made in P.R.O.C.” label, and had absolutely no idea where that was but threw it into the cart anyways because I figured that as long as it wasn’t made in China, it was fine. As we stand in the long check-out line that doesn’t seem to move, my mom reads the labels of every item we’ve thrown into the cart with her reading glasses halfway down the bridge of her nose. Of course my mom informs me of what “P.R.O.C” stood for and it got left behind at the grocery store. We are not supporters of such unethical business practices and avoid buying food items made in China as best we can.
It is our greed that drives to form our web of lies that eventually becomes our basis of deceit. Overseas, we have the issue of bad business integrity. Here we have money laundering, tax evasions, and other monetary woes. People should realize that lying and deceit does not get one very far. My guess is that they must not have watched Pinocchio as a kid.
“Always let your conscience be your guide!” -Gepetto
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Are You a Planner?
Session 8:
While cleaning my room, I found the results to a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment I took several semesters ago. It indicated that I am an ISTJ. It’s right on the dot, in my opinion, as the profile of an ISTJ fits mine perfectly. Finally, an explanation as to why I react and feel the way I do towards a lot of things in life.
As an ISTJ, breaking laws or going against the rules would make me feel uneasy. This is absolutely true. I follow rules and avoid breaking any laws, though there has been a handful of moments when I’ve unintentionally broken a few traffic laws. Also, I am a firm believer in karma, committing bad deeds will come back ten times worse!
ISTJs often take things too seriously and have an offbeat type of personality, and so do I. That would explain why my friends have referred to me as the cemetery of all jokes…where all jokes come to die, which I do not agree with completely. Believe it or not, but I’m not always a joke-killer. I am easily amused and can be pretty funny, though it takes me a while to feel comfortable enough to be myself.
Like the typical ISTJ person, I have always been a methodological person. I follow closely to the procedures of every task, which made me pretty good with lab work during my days of studying biology. I’ve found that I perform at highest efficiency when employing a step-by-step approach. I have never been the type of girl that takes a lot of risks or involve myself in dangerous activities, such as skydiving. Instead, I am quite fond of the feeling of safety of having my feet planted on solid ground. I am also a chronic list-maker, and will make them for everything: packing, grocery shopping, to-do list for the day, etc. I plan out my entire day while brushing my teeth in the morning, mentally listing out all the errands I have to run or things to do for the day. I try to plan out every step I take in life, so that I am able to make the right choices in order to acheive my goals. After 29 years of life, I have come to the conclusion that regardless of how hard I fight, life is full of detours. Like other ISTJs, inconsistencies and plan detours frustrate me, but I’m learning how to deal with them.
I am an ISTJ and I am a planner.
This past week, we discussed the value of planning. Work environments and project plans, like life, are continuously changing, but that does not make planning a useless endeavor. Business decisions should be made based on initial plans, where routes are pre-determined to unveil options. To proceed without initial planning is to set a team up for failure, as it will put them at a disadvantage in their decision-making process. I am a firm believer in thorough planning, as it is the force that will drive a team towards success.
While cleaning my room, I found the results to a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment I took several semesters ago. It indicated that I am an ISTJ. It’s right on the dot, in my opinion, as the profile of an ISTJ fits mine perfectly. Finally, an explanation as to why I react and feel the way I do towards a lot of things in life.
As an ISTJ, breaking laws or going against the rules would make me feel uneasy. This is absolutely true. I follow rules and avoid breaking any laws, though there has been a handful of moments when I’ve unintentionally broken a few traffic laws. Also, I am a firm believer in karma, committing bad deeds will come back ten times worse!
ISTJs often take things too seriously and have an offbeat type of personality, and so do I. That would explain why my friends have referred to me as the cemetery of all jokes…where all jokes come to die, which I do not agree with completely. Believe it or not, but I’m not always a joke-killer. I am easily amused and can be pretty funny, though it takes me a while to feel comfortable enough to be myself.
Like the typical ISTJ person, I have always been a methodological person. I follow closely to the procedures of every task, which made me pretty good with lab work during my days of studying biology. I’ve found that I perform at highest efficiency when employing a step-by-step approach. I have never been the type of girl that takes a lot of risks or involve myself in dangerous activities, such as skydiving. Instead, I am quite fond of the feeling of safety of having my feet planted on solid ground. I am also a chronic list-maker, and will make them for everything: packing, grocery shopping, to-do list for the day, etc. I plan out my entire day while brushing my teeth in the morning, mentally listing out all the errands I have to run or things to do for the day. I try to plan out every step I take in life, so that I am able to make the right choices in order to acheive my goals. After 29 years of life, I have come to the conclusion that regardless of how hard I fight, life is full of detours. Like other ISTJs, inconsistencies and plan detours frustrate me, but I’m learning how to deal with them.
I am an ISTJ and I am a planner.
This past week, we discussed the value of planning. Work environments and project plans, like life, are continuously changing, but that does not make planning a useless endeavor. Business decisions should be made based on initial plans, where routes are pre-determined to unveil options. To proceed without initial planning is to set a team up for failure, as it will put them at a disadvantage in their decision-making process. I am a firm believer in thorough planning, as it is the force that will drive a team towards success.
Monday, March 12, 2012
How Will Our Actions of Today Affect Tomorrow?
Session 7:
I am an avid recycler. I am one of those people who rinses out my milk carton before throwing it into the recycling bin, recycle every newspaper and magazine I no longer want to keep, and will bring home my day’s worth of plastic water bottles if work does not have an active recycling program. Anything that has a picture of arrows running in a triangular formation gets thrown into the recycling bin without a second thought. I may come off as a hoarder, but before discovering the battery recycling dispenser in the mailroom at work, I managed to save an entire ziplock bag of batteries because I couldn’t figure out how to properly dispose of them. I make the extra effort to reduce my carbon footprint on this earth so that those who live longer than I will not have to suffer due to my laziness. I am a tree hugger.
For years, many U.S. businesses have resorted to offshore outsourcing for cheaper labor. Those looking at the situation from a business standpoint will consider this a win-win tradeoff, as U.S. businesses save money on labor and foreign countries benefit with the much needed job opportunities. Though it may seem beneficial to both parties today, how will it affect us in the long run? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion when comes to offshore outsourcing.
Let’s consider the iPhone4 as an example. When the new iPhone4 flew off the shelves at Apple stores and half of America had to wait months for future shipments, where did the tracking information state your phone was being shipped from? China. I just checked my keyboard, that’s made in China also. I’m willing to bet that the monitor or laptop you’re reading my blog from is either made in China or another foreign country. Is anything made in the United States anymore?? Oh yes, domestic cars. I’m a proud Toyota driver and I am willing to bet that you don’t drive a domestic car either. The point of the matter is that I do not believe that offshore outsourcing is a good idea in the long run.
Offshore outsourcing may seem beneficial to us today and may not hurt us tomorrow either, but how will it affect us 15 years from now? As our dependency on foreign countries increases to provide us with cheaper labor and technical assistance, it will weaken us as a whole as we will lose the capability to provide such services on our own. Foreign nations have grown more aggressive in strengthening their technical skills, while many Americans are more focused on the media and keeping up to date on who Kim Kardashian is dating at the current moment. Isn’t anyone concerned about the idea that one day these foreign countries will surpass the U.S.?
P.S. Does anyone know how to properly dispose a battery
operated toothbrush??
I am an avid recycler. I am one of those people who rinses out my milk carton before throwing it into the recycling bin, recycle every newspaper and magazine I no longer want to keep, and will bring home my day’s worth of plastic water bottles if work does not have an active recycling program. Anything that has a picture of arrows running in a triangular formation gets thrown into the recycling bin without a second thought. I may come off as a hoarder, but before discovering the battery recycling dispenser in the mailroom at work, I managed to save an entire ziplock bag of batteries because I couldn’t figure out how to properly dispose of them. I make the extra effort to reduce my carbon footprint on this earth so that those who live longer than I will not have to suffer due to my laziness. I am a tree hugger.
For years, many U.S. businesses have resorted to offshore outsourcing for cheaper labor. Those looking at the situation from a business standpoint will consider this a win-win tradeoff, as U.S. businesses save money on labor and foreign countries benefit with the much needed job opportunities. Though it may seem beneficial to both parties today, how will it affect us in the long run? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion when comes to offshore outsourcing.
Let’s consider the iPhone4 as an example. When the new iPhone4 flew off the shelves at Apple stores and half of America had to wait months for future shipments, where did the tracking information state your phone was being shipped from? China. I just checked my keyboard, that’s made in China also. I’m willing to bet that the monitor or laptop you’re reading my blog from is either made in China or another foreign country. Is anything made in the United States anymore?? Oh yes, domestic cars. I’m a proud Toyota driver and I am willing to bet that you don’t drive a domestic car either. The point of the matter is that I do not believe that offshore outsourcing is a good idea in the long run.
Offshore outsourcing may seem beneficial to us today and may not hurt us tomorrow either, but how will it affect us 15 years from now? As our dependency on foreign countries increases to provide us with cheaper labor and technical assistance, it will weaken us as a whole as we will lose the capability to provide such services on our own. Foreign nations have grown more aggressive in strengthening their technical skills, while many Americans are more focused on the media and keeping up to date on who Kim Kardashian is dating at the current moment. Isn’t anyone concerned about the idea that one day these foreign countries will surpass the U.S.?
Oscar asks, "why aren't you recycling??"
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Buttons B'Gone!
Session 5:
While writing the abstract for my group paper on touch screen technologies, I’ve grown to appreciate my iPhone even more. Its sleek physique and nicely-sized screen were the first two features that caught my eye when I saw it on the Apple website. Its touch-screen QWERTY keyboard was far cooler than my previous multi-tap phone, allowing my finger to do all the navigating on the phone. The iPhones quickly flew off the shelves of stores as a long line formed outside of the store days before the launch date. Everyone else had to wait for months for the arrival of their iPhone in the mail, sadly, I was one of those fools. It was all worthwhile as this single device has eliminated the need for me to carry around other miscellaneous items. Gone was the need to carry around a camera, GPS, iPod, PDA, or even a laptop.
While writing the abstract for my group paper on touch screen technologies, I’ve grown to appreciate my iPhone even more. Its sleek physique and nicely-sized screen were the first two features that caught my eye when I saw it on the Apple website. Its touch-screen QWERTY keyboard was far cooler than my previous multi-tap phone, allowing my finger to do all the navigating on the phone. The iPhones quickly flew off the shelves of stores as a long line formed outside of the store days before the launch date. Everyone else had to wait for months for the arrival of their iPhone in the mail, sadly, I was one of those fools. It was all worthwhile as this single device has eliminated the need for me to carry around other miscellaneous items. Gone was the need to carry around a camera, GPS, iPod, PDA, or even a laptop.
Most recently, I went to work and came lunch time, my team
lunch was rescheduled and I realized that I’d left my wallet at home. Wishing that I had some instant noodles
stashed away in my desk drawer as I didn’t want to resort to drinking sodas to
hold my hunger over… I had an “Aha!” moment when I remembered that I had a
Chipotle app on my phone. Using my
phone, I was able to place and pay for my burrito bowl with a special request
of extra lettuce, to be picked up at the closest location. What do you dread most when you walk into a
Chipotle restaurant at lunch time? The
long line that is often wrapped around the store. I, having placed my order via a Chipotle
iPhone app, was allowed to walk past the long line of hungry people
and straight to the pick-up window to grab my order.
Another perk of having an iPhone: being able to snap photos of the most random
things to show your friends via text.
Check this out :
Which car caught your attention first?
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Self Diagnosis
With the internet being at our fingertip's reach, there is a
plethora of information available to us, allowing us to google just about
anything.
A friend of mine sent this to me:
I’ve been guilty of this on many occasions.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tweet, Tweet!!
Session
4:
There may have been other social network websites in the past, but MySpace was one of the very first ones to make it big. MySpace has since died down and taken over by a variety of other similar social networking-type of websites, such as Facebook, twitter, and blogs. I admit to jumping on the bandwagon for each one of these, as I had a MySpace account and currently have a Facebook, twitter, and blogging account. These types of websites have grown immensely in popularity and are used in other ways than just socializing, such as advertising and promotions. I don’t see the harm in participating in this social networking madness, as long as you use it responsibly.
In addition to subscribing/following my friends as a way of keeping in touch with those I no longer see as often, I have the option of subscribing to celebrities and reality stars that I watch on television. It gives me an opportunity to look into the flashy life of a celebrity by reading their status updates, tweets, and blog entries, as it’s different from just watching them on television. These social networking websites enables you to see the world through their eyes, read into their thoughts, and respond to specific entries, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get a response. Of course I don't bother responding to their posts, so I just go about moseying around reading all their posts among millions of other fans.
I am a huge fan of celebrity gossip and reality television shows. It may be trashy, low budget shows to some people, but I find them to be quite entertaining and I follow some of these people on the previously mentioned social networking websites. Yes, I follow each one of the Kardashians on Twitter, don’t judge me. It’s pretty neat to be able to read about what these stars are up to or what they’re thinking about while I go about with my very normal life.
Have you been tweeting?
There may have been other social network websites in the past, but MySpace was one of the very first ones to make it big. MySpace has since died down and taken over by a variety of other similar social networking-type of websites, such as Facebook, twitter, and blogs. I admit to jumping on the bandwagon for each one of these, as I had a MySpace account and currently have a Facebook, twitter, and blogging account. These types of websites have grown immensely in popularity and are used in other ways than just socializing, such as advertising and promotions. I don’t see the harm in participating in this social networking madness, as long as you use it responsibly.
In addition to subscribing/following my friends as a way of keeping in touch with those I no longer see as often, I have the option of subscribing to celebrities and reality stars that I watch on television. It gives me an opportunity to look into the flashy life of a celebrity by reading their status updates, tweets, and blog entries, as it’s different from just watching them on television. These social networking websites enables you to see the world through their eyes, read into their thoughts, and respond to specific entries, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get a response. Of course I don't bother responding to their posts, so I just go about moseying around reading all their posts among millions of other fans.
I am a huge fan of celebrity gossip and reality television shows. It may be trashy, low budget shows to some people, but I find them to be quite entertaining and I follow some of these people on the previously mentioned social networking websites. Yes, I follow each one of the Kardashians on Twitter, don’t judge me. It’s pretty neat to be able to read about what these stars are up to or what they’re thinking about while I go about with my very normal life.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Requirements Specifications Doc...zzZZzz...What?
Just one of those days, I’m sure you all can relate.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
NFC Here, NFC There, NFC Everywhere!
It
seems as though ever since I replied to the discussion thread (and wrote a blog
post) on Near Field Communication (NFC) last week, it's been popping up everywhere.
That or I've subconsciously made a point to keep an eye out for those things. Suddenly,
they’re popping up in ads of websites I visit and people everywhere are using
them. It’s been two weeks; I’ve encountered
the Square and Google Wallet being used on two separate instances.
First NFC encounter: Over the weekend as I was walking into Michael’s Arts & Crafts (yes, I enjoy browsing through the aisles of craft stores and am interested in taking on knitting, don’t judge me) store when I noticed that the man standing outside the store who was selling flowers to those coming in and out of Michael’s was holding an iPad with a Square attached to it. I guess he now accepts cash and major credit cards. That means that I can’t use the excuse “sorry, I don’t have any cash on me” anymore when a stranger standing outside a store approaches me with flowers asking me if I want to buy any.
Second NFC encounter: I was shopping at Macy's a few days ago when I noticed that there was a reader device attached to the credit card swiping machine and a small sign advertising that they now accept Google Wallet as a form of payment. I’m assuming that your Google Wallet account would be linked to your Macy’s card as their employees are often seen peer pressuring customers into applying or using their Macy’s card to pay for their purchases, telling them that they really do need another store card and promising that it really is better than what their competitors offer. I am proud to say that I haven’t given into their peer-pressuring and do not hold a Macy’s store card.
It’s quite convenient, isn’t it? To be able to charge things to your credit card in places you weren’t able to before (like at a random curbside) or be able to pay for things with a wave of your phone instead of having to whip out your wallet. The Girl Scouts who sell their cookies outside of grocery stores should take notice of this new technology concept, as it would probably bring up their sales. I know there have been a handful of times when I’ve been disappointed because I didn’t have enough cash on hand to buy their cookies. It’s a bad feeling to be perked up at the sight of a Girl Scout cookie booth on your way out of the grocery store only to realize that you’re a few dollars short of scoring yourself a box of those delicious thin mints. If you’re a Girl Scout reading this, get the Square.
First NFC encounter: Over the weekend as I was walking into Michael’s Arts & Crafts (yes, I enjoy browsing through the aisles of craft stores and am interested in taking on knitting, don’t judge me) store when I noticed that the man standing outside the store who was selling flowers to those coming in and out of Michael’s was holding an iPad with a Square attached to it. I guess he now accepts cash and major credit cards. That means that I can’t use the excuse “sorry, I don’t have any cash on me” anymore when a stranger standing outside a store approaches me with flowers asking me if I want to buy any.
Second NFC encounter: I was shopping at Macy's a few days ago when I noticed that there was a reader device attached to the credit card swiping machine and a small sign advertising that they now accept Google Wallet as a form of payment. I’m assuming that your Google Wallet account would be linked to your Macy’s card as their employees are often seen peer pressuring customers into applying or using their Macy’s card to pay for their purchases, telling them that they really do need another store card and promising that it really is better than what their competitors offer. I am proud to say that I haven’t given into their peer-pressuring and do not hold a Macy’s store card.
It’s quite convenient, isn’t it? To be able to charge things to your credit card in places you weren’t able to before (like at a random curbside) or be able to pay for things with a wave of your phone instead of having to whip out your wallet. The Girl Scouts who sell their cookies outside of grocery stores should take notice of this new technology concept, as it would probably bring up their sales. I know there have been a handful of times when I’ve been disappointed because I didn’t have enough cash on hand to buy their cookies. It’s a bad feeling to be perked up at the sight of a Girl Scout cookie booth on your way out of the grocery store only to realize that you’re a few dollars short of scoring yourself a box of those delicious thin mints. If you’re a Girl Scout reading this, get the Square.
Behold, the Google Wallet reader.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I Owe Who How Much???
I was able to relate to this week’s discussion thread topic on the abundance of personal information made available on the internet. The internet has made it easier now than ever before for anyone to dig up information about anyone with a simple click of a mouse. Multitudes of websites provide outlets to such information, from social networks like www.facebook.com to people search engines like www.spokeo.com. No major effort is required on behalf of the person looking for information, as he or she could be clicking away while wearing their pajamas in the comfort of their own home at anytime of the day. I was surprised to see what information that came up when I searched my name on the Spokeo website. Though not all of the information posted on the website was correct, I was still unhappy about all the information conveniently linked to my name, as it's an invasion of my privacy. I opted to have my profile removed from future searches via the Privacy feature at the bottom of the page. I don’t appreciate having complete strangers know so much personal detail about my life and I especially don’t appreciate having a bird’s eye view of where I live on display for everyone to see.
I have been a victim of
identity theft not once, but twice, and I believe that the free range of information out there on
the internet about anyone and everyone is to blame. It makes it easier for crooks to access the information needed to steal
identities for monetary gain. My first identity theft experience consisted of a couple
in Florida who were able to use my personal identification information to apply
for a Walmart credit card and used it to purchase a ridiculous amount of stuff. Of course I didn’t know about the charges
until after the charges have been forwarded to a collection agency. Boy was I surprised to find out that I owed
over $900 for items purchased at a Walmart in Florida. That’s funny, because at the time, I hadn’t
even been to Florida. In fact, the
furthest south I’d been at the time was Richmond, VA for school (I live in Alexandria,
VA). My second experience was when I noticed a $70 Office Max charge on my credit card statement a few months ago. I don't even have an Office Max store located within a 50 mile proximity of where I live. I called Office Max to inquire about the charge and it turns out that I apparently purchased a check writer via telephone catalog order and had it shipped to Mississippi. What would I even do with a check writer...and I don't even know a single soul who live in Mississippi. Ugh. I managed to straighten it all out
in the end of both instances, but it required for me to make a lot of phone calls and wasted a lot of time being put on hold. It
sure wasn’t a stroll in the park on a sunny day.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
New Technology for the Current Time
This week, I learned about the different types of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Though I've never heard of it before this week, I've used a form of NFC and didn't even know it. As mentioned in the discussion thread, I mentioned the Starbucks app that I've downloaded onto my iphone that I have linked to my credit card to use as a form of payment at the store when waved at a reading device. I love it as it also keeps track of my loyalty stars, so that I am able to redeem my free drink after every 15 purchased drinks. There is something about reaching "gold status" and seeing stars fall into my loyalty jar after every purchased drink that makes me want to buy just a few more to be able to redeem that free drink. I try not to think how much I had to spend to get that free drink, because it sort of ruins the fun.
A thread response of a classmate brought up a concept of the "Square", which was a device that attaches to an iphone or ipad at the earphone plug that enables the device to process credit card transactions. Several weeks ago, a friend of mine who is lucky enough to have food trucks come by her workplace during lunch time, told me about such a device, but I had no idea what it was called or what it looked like. It turns out that the "Square" that my classmate was referring to was the same device that the food trucks used to process credit card payments. Fascinated, I did some researching on other forms of NFC, I found out about the "Google Wallet". The "Google Wallet" is exactly what it sounds like, a virtual wallet whose concept is similar to that of Starbucks'. It manages loyalty cards and credit card information that can be used as a method of payment, though it is only compatible with Citi Mastercard and Google pre-paid cards. This is definitely not rocket science, but never would I have thought years ago that a concept like this would be made possible. Now when I see it used out in public, I'll know what it is, what it's used for, and tell people that it's all part of this new, spreading technology called Near Field Communication. =)
A thread response of a classmate brought up a concept of the "Square", which was a device that attaches to an iphone or ipad at the earphone plug that enables the device to process credit card transactions. Several weeks ago, a friend of mine who is lucky enough to have food trucks come by her workplace during lunch time, told me about such a device, but I had no idea what it was called or what it looked like. It turns out that the "Square" that my classmate was referring to was the same device that the food trucks used to process credit card payments. Fascinated, I did some researching on other forms of NFC, I found out about the "Google Wallet". The "Google Wallet" is exactly what it sounds like, a virtual wallet whose concept is similar to that of Starbucks'. It manages loyalty cards and credit card information that can be used as a method of payment, though it is only compatible with Citi Mastercard and Google pre-paid cards. This is definitely not rocket science, but never would I have thought years ago that a concept like this would be made possible. Now when I see it used out in public, I'll know what it is, what it's used for, and tell people that it's all part of this new, spreading technology called Near Field Communication. =)
Monday, January 30, 2012
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