A fix for a broken web site

Today I had to purchase a Priority Mail label off the USPS web site and had a few problems with it. First off, Safari decided to keep eating the sample label. I then switched to FireFox and doing a Save As for the label saved it, but the file didn't end in .pdf, so Preview wouldn't open it even if I forced it to open it. (Yes, Preview should have attempted to decode it.) Once I renamed the file with a .pdf extension, the file opened just fine. Hmmm...what should I do to automate the process?

I remembered that I had a program called Hazel on my machine that watches folders and acts on them. I removed Hazel on my last machine because I was trimming things down (it got bogged down). I created a simple set of rules to change all files that start with com.usps to end in .pdf, open them and then trash them. Now I have to figure out more uses for Hazel as this is a great way to automate things.

Inconsistent security

A colleague of mine flew from our main office to the east coast to run a test. As part of the test, he needed a large battery to power some equipment. He had no problems taking the battery on the plane to his destination, but on the way back, the battery not only couldn't be carried on, it was pulled off the plane when it was checked as the TSA wouldn't let it fly. There are 2 issues here; one is that we can't find any regulations prohibiting the battery from flying and second, why was it allowed one way, but not the other?

This kind of inconsistency between airports must drive people crazy. When I travel, I travel with the same set of "gear" and haven't had a problem going through any airport (knock on wood). Now if I had to bring more and varied equipment on different types of trips, this would frustrate me to no end. Years ago when I worked for QUALCOMM, I travelled to a conference and had to take a box of cables with me. This was way before tightened security, but I wasn't taking any chances. I got there early, had QUALCOMM stickers put on the non-descript box and had no problems getting through security. Now, if I did that today, would I get searched and extra scrutinized? I guess it would depend on the airport.

I'm so glad that all the money we've spent on protecting our airports by standardizing procedures has helped.

So much for unified security?

I'm on my way back from a trip to Kansas City and as I approached security, I saw that the guy checking IDs was private security and not TSA like I'd seen at every airport I've been to in awhile. As I walk past the ID checker, I see that every security person was from a private company. Well, it looks like in the government's efforts to standardize security at airports, they left gaping holes. The The Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 (ATSA) left the option open for airports, like Kansas City to use First Line Security. This seems like such a waste as the government spent a lot of money to get away from private, inconsistent security at airports.

While I can't say that I feel more or less secure going through Kansas City, I think that the inconsistency sends a very wrong message to the flying public.

Misguided financial values?

On the news the other night, we saw a story about how the stimulus package is providing jobs for some teenagers. The teenagers get paid $10 to work in different office capacities. In order to qualify, the teenagers must come from families that live below the poverty line. I'm not going to argue the merits of this program. They interviewed a few of the kids in the program and one kid said that he'd use some of the money to help out his mother, but then said that he was going to spend some money on himself to get a new cell phone. First off, is a cell phone necessary for everyone? I don't know and don't have to deal with that, yet. (My 2 year old son plays with our cell phones, but he doesn't have his own plan and doesn't actually make calls.) Second, the kid pulls out his brand new iPhone. Let's do a little math. With Apple's new pricing, the lowest priced iPhone is $99. AT&T puts every iPhone on a minimum $30/month data plan in addition to at least the lowest priced voice plan which is $39.99. Let's also assume that the kid doesn't do any text messaging. For a 2 year contract, that is $70/month * 24 = $1680 + $99 for the initial cost of the phone. I've excluded taxes for this example. So at $10/hour, this kid has to work 180 hours or effectively one month full time to pay for this gadget.

It would seem to me that somewhere kids need to be taught fiscal responsibility and save money for college, a rainy day, or something else. If the parents can't help, maybe it should be a mandatory class in high school. During the summer when I was in college, I worked full time and pretty much saved every penny I earned in order to pay for my half of college (my parents made a deal with me that they'd pay for half of my college and I had to figure out how to pay for the other half). I worked with my father to come up with a budget, put in a few things I wanted to buy including a road bike, and figure out how to pay for everything by working and taking out loans.

I know that I'm quite lucky that my father made me fiscally responsible at a young age (I started saving for retirement when I was 12). Actually, maybe I'm a bit too responsible as I'm always concerned about money when sometimes I don't need to; however, I believe that I'll be able to meet all my financial goals.