Land of Oz

Ask and You Shall Receive

(or be careful for what you ask). Back on June 27, I wrote about changing gas prices: "Have you ever wondered the real reason why the gas prices go up and down so fast? ... but why is it only gas prices? Why not bread or bacon?"

A couple of weeks ago in a magazine, I got my answer. Perhaps you've heard of the RFID tags that retailers are beginning to use. Basically they're a tiny passive device that will radiate a 96 bit number when queried with the right signal. There are a lot of privacy issues being brought up with them now, based primarily on the fact that the tag will continue to respond even outside the store. Conceivably they could be queried in your home and broadcast what you have happened to bought recently. One item I've seen would require them to be able to be deactivated by a consumer.

Anyway, it's probable that a lot of retailers will be putting them on most products in their stores. These can be continuously scanned to see what you are buying, how you buy it (did you pickup brand D before brand F, etc.). The main benefit to retailers is that it allows for very precise inventory. One of the additional gadgets to be added to the RFID would be LCD pricing on the shelves. This could result easily result in continuous, or at least daily, price changes. For instance, if MegaMart has too many Dreck Power drinks on hand and they are approaching their expiration, they could lower the price to help sell them. On the other hand, if the temperature outside is forecast to be HOT, they might raise the price of iced-water until the thirst goes down.

Man, if you thought getting a price check on aisle 4 was hard now...

2fers: Yes - RFID FAQs and No - RFID FAQs

Bloodsuckers and other Low Lifes

Here's why I really hate much of what a class action suit is all about. My understanding (minimal by the way) is that PayPal is being accused of illegally blocking the flow of funds from PayPal accounts that may be involved in some kind of fraud. Now, being one who has battled a PayPal user for either my merchandise or money, I might be slightly biased in this case. I don't mind a week or so of delays if it results in my money or merchandise being restored (which in my case it eventually was).

Anyway, according to part 10, the lawyers will get "up to $3,332,500 and reimbursement of expenses up to $135,000." That means a clear profit of around 3.2 million after expenses. That means that one-third of the penalty to PayPay is just for the profit of the lawyers who so valiantly defended our rights.

10. HOW WILL THE LAWYERS FOR THE CLASS BE PAID?
>From the inception of the litigation in early 2002 to the present, Class Counsel have not received any payment for their services in prosecuting the case, nor have they been reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. If the Court approves the proposed settlement, Class Counsel will make a motion to the Court for an award of attorneys' fees of up to $3,332,500 and reimbursement of expenses of up to $135,000, to be paid from the $9.25 million settlement fund. Class Counsel will also seek reimbursement from the settlement fund on behalf of certain of the named plaintiffs in the litigation for reimbursement of their expenses related to their service as class representatives in the litigation, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000. The motion will be heard at the settlement hearing described below in Section 11.

Class Counsel's motion for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses is based on various factors that include the benefits obtained for the class through litigation. These benefits include the $9.25 million cash settlement and PayPal's agreement to the injunctive relief requirements. In addition, certain changes to PayPal's business practices are attributable in part to this litigation, including PayPal's decision to undertake to return to its customers approximately $5.1 million in those accounts to which access was limited for 180 days or more; modifications to PayPal's arbitration provision in its User Agreement and its replacement with a clause that limits PayPal's ability to compel arbitration where the total amount of the award sought is $10,000 or greater; and various other changes in PayPal's business practices during the pendency of the litigation.

2fers: Scavengers 1 and Scavengers 2

Been Awhile

Hmmm, it's been awhile since I've written anything here. Big changes in my personal life have occurred, but I'll try and get back with this.

Spam - (not SPAM®, by the way). Lately I've been wondering why most of it is even sent. Is it just a contest now to see how much a person can flood the Internet with? Most spam doesn't even seem readible anymore. There'll be some cryptic misspelled text on top of a large random worded paragraph with a totally illegible subject.
Do these people really think I'll buy something from a place that can't even spell sale? Like I'm really going to buy a medical product from someplace that is advertising v*ag rXXa? And what's worse, how about those that must buy from a place like this. Is that sad or what?

Thankfully the government stepped in and made spam illegal. I'm sure that you have noticed just as much change in delivery of unsolicited commercial e-mail as I have. Prior to it being illegal I was doing good to see 10-30 spams a day. Since the government has stepped in, that is now down to 200-400 spams a day. Wait - that seems to be an increase doesn't it? Strange that the government should do something that doesn't work.

By the way, the included list is an actual printout of a chance screen grab of a list of my spam titles. Makes me want to rush right out and contact them.

2fers: Fighting spam and Eating SPAM®

Vote or Spend

Have you seen the latest news? It seems that the government is thinking about delaying the November election because of the terrorist threat. This is also the terrorist threat that isn't high enough to raise the threat level this time.

I find it interesting that they can think about delaying an election at level yellow, but the same folks were saying to go out and spend money on stuff when the level was orange. Now this is an election that has never been postponed - never!!

Not in the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War 1, or even World War 2 has the election been postponed. Yet here it is, after they tell us we are winning the war on terrorism, and America is doing so well, they have to think about postponing the election.

However, I'll give them that they are saying they are only exploring the idea of a postponement. Why explore something like that? Isn't the world supposed to be a safer place now that the axis of evil in Iraq has gotten rid of their weapons of mass destruction, or maybe a few weapons of mass destruction, or even the idea of weapons of mass destruction. Whatever.

They say the power isn't really in the hands of the voter, but rather in the hands of those who count the votes -- or postpone the votes all together.

2fers: Presidential Elections and German Elections

100

Well, I've stuck it out for 100 posts. I should say something important here, but instead I'll just make some gripes and moans and observations,

Right now all the idiots in the neighborhood are popping off their illegal fireworks. I probably wouldn't mind that much but they have a tendency to come down in my yard. Having a house fire caused by some nitwit next door isn't my idea of a good night's sleep.

Two days ago it rained about an inch or so at work. Here at my house - less than 3 miles away - we hadn't a drop to be seen.

People are in an uproar over some dog getting shot again. It seems the police were responding to a domestic abuse complaint and went to the wrong backyard. The big old dog in that yard broke his leash and went after the cop. The policeman shot it in the leg. Of course everyone is pissed at the cop. My feelings?

• First, wrong yard or not, the dog broke his leash and attacked the cop. This wasn't a Chihuahua mind you, it probably weighed over 100 pounds.


• Second, the cops are way overtasked here. Too much crime and too little money for the cops.


• Third, it was a domestic disturbance call - who the hell knows what they may have run into.


• Fourth, I'm glad the dog attacked a cop with a gun instead of some kid with an ice cream cone -- or me.

I watched some soccer mom type in one of those ugly old Aztecs go screaming through traffic tonight. I kept watching for her to roll the stupid thing as she swerved between cars. Too bad nothing happened.

I went to one of my favorite restaurants today for lunch with one of my favorite co-workers and the meal sucked.

I got a rock crack in my car's windshield. $300 to replace the window.

And in general, life kinda sucks right now both home and abroad.

2fers: 100 People and 100 Films