Death and Taxes

January 3rd, 2012. If I pay county property tax today, I get a 3 % discount. Not much, but worth it. I go online to the tax payment web site, and the first page is a login screen. Your property number, Name, or address of property.


Not one for numbers, I typed in my name and clicked search button. After a few moments, I got a "No results Found" message. Impossible. Or was it..


I looked at the billing statement and saw that my name was Last, First. What?
So I tried the backwards combo and was able to access the system.


In my frustration, I sent an email to the tax collector's office this afternoon, stating the problem and potential solutions.


Surprisingly, I got a positive response back this evening. And they are going to fix it. Where is Bugzilla when you need it?

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Hello Mr. Graham,


Thank you for contacting your Constitutional Tax Collector’s office and your suggestion.


The search option field can be clarified in more detail by stating “Enter:  Last name First Name”.  We appreciate your feedback and will submit the necessary changes.
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One person can make a difference.

Kim Jong Il is dead. Who is next?

It has been a good year for good over evil as Osama Bin Laden, Gaddafi, and now Kim have left the world without three evil people.

A lot of money was spent in the search and isolate missions on Bin Laden and Gaddafi. Kim was apparently a victim of his own vices, including a substantial cognac bill.

This is a perfect time for countries that are needing to purge archaic dictatorial rule to make a stand, and perhaps get support.

One term I hope not to make it into the dictionary is IED (improvised explosive device).

When do you just move on and let justice prevail?

From a post this evening "Monday marks the four year anniversary of the brutal murders of a mother and daugher outside Boca Raton's Town Center Mall. Despite hundreds of leads police still have not solved the case". CBS12 NEWS link

While there are murders daily in Palm Beach County, and more recently in Boca Raton, this case haunts the memories of law enforcement and residents.

My home is approximately three blocks north of the scene of the murder. For four years, I have been reminded of this case by the almost daily placement of a Boca Raton Police Department car in the general area of the crime.

Security has been upgraded with cameras everywhere imaginable at the mall, yet the sentinel police cruiser stands guard.

Which brings me to my point. Does anyone think that the original perpetrator or any other criminal with a TV would come near this location to recreate the crime. Also it has been on America's Most Wanted, so even those who watch FOX network have been exposed to the crime.

Four years. The carefree experience of going to the mall shopping marred by the fear that one may be the next victim. I do understand what the local police and TV media are trying to do to revive a cold case, however it is time to let this tragedy be left to the professionals to solve. Not to remind the public of their vulnerability.

I have not mentioned any names out of respect for the family.

Dave Thomas is rolling over in his grave.

The Wendy's Classic. A burger you could always count on for qualities beyond the Whopper or Big Mac. I get this snazzy direct mail piece to try the NEW Hot and Juicy burger for free (with purchase of small fries and drink). 


I haven't had a burger out in weeks, but wanted to give it a try. Drive thru, nah, eat in. I placed my order and got what looked to be fresh squeezed lemonade. My tray was set with the drink and fries, which upon sampling were not up to par. After apologies for the delay on the burger, I asked for fresh fries, which I got from the same batch as the first fries. The lemonade turned out to be a mix, with slices thrown in to fool you.


Now wondering why I got eat in, I sat by myself in the restaurant to overhear the Haitian chatter in the kitchen.


Having already dished the drink and fries, I move on to the main course. The Big n' Juicy.  Well It is was a letdown. The texture of the meat was different to increase the size of the patty. The toppings were ok, but the characteristic flavor was gone. I don't know if it was missing mustard or what.


Dave, the corporate minions have done you wrong, and I think it will be the end of Wendy's before long.


ADG 

Battle of the Titans - Facebook vs. Google +

This has been a rough month for the users of social media services. Facebook has introduced a series of updates that completely redefine the experience. Prioritized news feeds, a ticker of superfluous information, and a redesigned profile - "Timeline" that uses algorithms to decide what was important for you on any given day.
There is more, but you have to read up on it yourself.
Google, on the other hand, has let Google + expand in a "viral" fashion. People are joining circles for the sake of finding someone familiar. There is more a sentiment of superiority and conversational facilitation.
In my own social world, I actually know about 20% of my Facebook friends, and about 5% of my Google circle peeps. I am still using both services side by side to see what incremental changes are made to tweak the releases rushed out for the last trade shows.
In my opinion, Facebook and Google should stabilize, document, and let the user communities catch up.

Why I am distancing myself on Facebook

Hell with toe in the water, I jumped right into Facebook social fantasy park. After almost 3 years, I have come to almost a complete dead stop.

I don't play games or other crap. Messaging and sharing experience is what I enjoy.

Lately, the responses to my posts on both my personal and Signal 7 Media pages have been sluggish. Not because I haven't been trying.

This Google + thing gives me a chance to have a space where i can attach my services that I get from Google. Picasa photo sharing, Google Merchant account, Google Checkout. Google Analytics, Ad Words, Ad Sense, You Tube. I have a massive virtual infrastructure.

There is always a time of transition. I learned a lot from Facebook. Not all good. And not the service, but the people that taint your experience.

For now I will maintain a dual citizenship. But my Facebook friends better buck up or be booted.

A Week of Change in Online Services

It has been a whirlwind of announcements, with Facebook and Skype and Justin Timberlake buying MySpace.
Then Google announced Plus, their latest social networking effort. Incredibly well received and poised to collect much personal search information, Google + poses a real challenge to Facebook, particularly the disenchanted.

I got a Google + invite Sunday past and spent the day playing with circles and features yet unknown. I am very impressed with what I have experienced.

Then came Klout and Spotify. I had been introduced to Klout by a friend/CEO.  I wondered what relevance it would have to me, an unknown participant in several start ups. Well, I found that my activity on Twitter and Facebook had put me in a socially relevant position.

The introduction to the US of the music service Spotify, with "invitation only" access, was the break out of the week. By making a deal with Klout to distribute 100.000 invitations, a scenario was created that caused both web sites to crash due to traffic.

Out of this madness, I got an invite from Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails that was at first refused, then later welcomed me on board. Today I used Klout perks to see if I could get another account. I was surprised when it said due to my profile, I was a "US Spotify Ambassador". Neat. I get access to offers and promos.

So this week in SEO, SEM, SEX took second fiddle to simple collaborative marketing techniques.

Finally, Mashable seems to be distancing itself from Facebook by providing a Google + bar at the top of articles. There are those who thought Mashable to be minions of Facebook.