Off With The Flesh
February 9, 2009 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Castle, Friends, Picture of the Day, gnash-teeth
Tags: gnash-teeth, sleepless & worrying
Some days I just wish I could get out of my skin.
Of course unlike this picture I don’t think I’d try to get off all in one piece like I do with an orange peel. Granted there’s probably a certain amount of satisfaction doing it that way, but I imagine the process to be something a bit more messy.
Been Busy. Will Blog More Soon.
February 3, 2009 Posted by Al Castle
1 comment so far Categories: Castle, Marketing, Puter Stuff, Web Design & Dev
Tags: peoplepond
I haven’t blogged in a long while, primarily due to work, mixed with a bit of slacker flare up.
I’ll try to post details in the near future, complete with pictures, but the short of it is I’ve traveled a bit, and have been working a lot.
Be on the look out for PeoplePond to go live soon.
American Express - The Bad Password Policy
February 3, 2009 Posted by Al Castle
3comments Categories: Castle, Puter Stuff, Web Design & Dev, gnash-teeth
Tags: badass, things that make my ass twitch
Just logged into my AMEX account, which for some reason had locked me out and then wouldn’t accept my new password. (Also as a side note, I tried logging in this morning, but the site was down.) Now normally I don’t get this type of “check your password” error messages because my passwords are bad ass. Then to my horror I re-read the password requirements. As you can see in the screenshot, the password can *only* be a maximum of 8 characters. Why is this odd you may ask? Well the longer and more complicated my password is, the harder it is for someone to guess AND for someone to use an automated system to guess my account password. There’s really no good argument I’ve ever heard for limiting the length of a password to something that small.
Additionally, after it wouldn’t take my new password, I simply supplied the original one I had used.
And that ladies and gentlemen, is but only one of the many design and useability issues of the American Express account website.
Moon Walker
December 18, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Castle, Squirrels, TimeWaster
Tags: Feeling Silly, happiness here i come
I dug out my snow boots or moon boots as we called them as kids. Are they still called that?
Anyways, I get all bundled up to go smoke outside in the sub-freezing temps. Pulling the draw cords on the waist and hood of my jacket, tuck gloves into the sleeve of the jacket and then tighten the Velcro straps at the wrist and strap on the moon boots. I do this all at the entry way, sort of like an airlock. Then you do that funny walk cause the boots don’t let your ankles really have any freedom of movement. I always feel like I’m going out for a space walk now and I gotta say I like it.
It’s kinda hard to make out in this authentic NASA photo, but on the sleeve of the space suit is the latest “Al Castle Rocks My World” logo. I guess it should really be “Al Castle Rocks All Planetoids”.
Pillow Fights
December 15, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Picture of the Day
Tags: Feeling Silly
Feeling Less Than Buff
October 19, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Castle, Fitness
Tags: 300, abs, bmi, fat, gym, happiness here i come, nap time, new leaf, the pain
Decided to head to my gym today. Spent some time naked in the microwave oven then hit the machines.
Despite having been hiking nearly non-stop for the week of my vacation, I’m feeling out of shape. It was a short session, on the bike machine then the weights working my abs.
I then proceeded after a shower to grab a hefty helping of bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, toast and coffee. No doubt counter acting the calories I burned.
I’m in desperate need of a nap.
Company Credit Cards
October 18, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Squirrels, TimeWaster, Travel, gnash-teeth
Tags: Browsers, Credit Cards, Hiring, Human Resources, IE bites, Incompetent, Rants
I used to work for a company a long time ago where I’d have to make purchases for travel, taking clients and employees out to lunch, things of that nature. I would use my own credit card then file for reimbursement via a painful and long drawn out process where someone who wasn’t my boss would then have to approve the reimbursements. If I was lucky the accounting department wouldn’t screw up and actually pay the right amount.
This company finally decided that they should get me a company credit card. Okay, that’ll make it easier I think, instead of having to use the reimbursement web interface which only allowed Internet Explorer. Well no and here’s why.
- A company credit card is issued in my name.
- The bills come to me, my house.
- I pay the bills.
- The company gets the points / perks.
- I still have to get reimbursed.
If I’m going to have to pay the bills myself I might as well get the points and perks *my* card provides me, instead of having to keep track of yet another bill for no good reason. I recall calling the department of the company who issued me this card, to ask what exactly the convenience or purpose was supposed to be, to which they had no intelligent answer. The only thing I could think of was if my own personal credit was so awful that I couldn’t get my own credit card then this would be handy. I have great credit, so it’s pointless. So I just continued to use my own credit card and never used their card.
Years and years pass…
Today in the mail I get a letter from the credit card company, for the card this employer setup.
Dear Al Castle:
We received a request from your company to close the above referenced *credit card company* account.
For your protection, we ask that you discontinue the use of your card number, destroy your Card immediately, and ensure that all remaining balances are cleared.
[... It continues on with more credit speak....]
Um… way to stay on top of things.
<rant> This is why, if you’re going to have a human resources department you hire competent people from the start. Otherwise you end up with a snow ball effect of every department in the company being filled with people who should never breed and can’t be trusted with the fry station at a fast food chain either. The other important point is to keep the competent people you may have gotten happy by not surrounding them with incompetent co-workers, policies and procedures that make little sense or hinder them from doing good work. </rant>
Anyways, it was amusing to me.
Tired of the McCain Spam
October 17, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Marketing, Puter Stuff, Religion, Squirrels, gnash-teeth
Tags: Marketing, McCain, NOSPAM, Obama, porn, spamming
I’ve been receiving many unsolicited emails (spam) from the McCain camp spammers. First a bit of background so you can really appreciate this as much as I do.
Years ago I created NOSPAM@mydomain.org as an account that obviously was meant for spamming. I only used it once to register for a respected site. Girl on girl porn I think… In any case as a mockery the account is clearly called NOSPAM and was entered in capital letters.
- Obviously the McCain camp has purchased email addresses to spam… or “market to”. Now some of you might not think that’s a big deal. I think, like most intelligent people, that’s not an appropriate method of marketing. Certainly not for a governmental job candidate. Well here is where it gets worse.
- They’re sending spam to someone who isn’t registered to vote. It’s not like they got my name and email address from a valid voter registration list and are reminding me to vote. You still think it’s okay to send me this unsolicited email?
- They’re sending spam to someone who can not vote. That’s right, I’m not allowed to vote. (Weird rules about killing a roomful of Nuns making me a felon or some such nonsense.)
There’s only one job I’ve been at where the marketing was done this poorly. Why bother to actually know your customer base when you can use the buckshot-spaghetti method. Shoot often and see what sticks.
Well in this case it’s not sticking no matter how many emails you send me.
Note: This post wasn’t an endorsement for either presidential candidate nor does it reflect anything other than my contempt for people that fancy themselves as “marketers” and for those that hire them in the private and non-private sectors.
Wordpress iPhone App
October 12, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Puter Stuff, Techy, Web Design & Dev, iPhone
Tags: iPhone Apps
Just installed the Wordpress iPhone application, free via the App Store.
Configuration was straight forward - URL, username & password. It allows me to select my categories, enter tags, add photos, and preview the post. Not too shabby.
The menu functions at the bottom of the screen disappeared and the buttons at the top of the screen to save didn’t appear. Which prevented me from saving this post. I exited and then restarted the application, the app had saved/recovered the post for me and now the appropriate buttons are displaying. Well done.
Trying to upload a picture from my iPhone timed out, second time the app became unresponsive and I had to restart it. This however appears to have been caused by my wifi connection being dropped.
[this is a picture of two sign letters from a previous company I hung on the wall of my office]
And there you go, my first post with this app.
Buddy Trip 2008 - The Last Days
October 11, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Castle, Fitness, Friends, Squirrels, Travel
Tags: Arm Wrestling, Buddy Trip, Burnt Forest, Death Hike, JD Ross, Mazama, Methow Valley, Off Roading, The Gun Show
When last we left my fearless band of merry men, we were somewhere around the Sauk river hiking the mountains and staying at Freds Cabin. On the third day it was time to pack up and hit the road. We were headed to Mazama on the other side of the great mountains.
It was a bit of drive, we stopped a few times to catch the view, had to go through some border patrol checkpoint and did a little site seeing including checking out JD Ross’s crypt (of Ross Lake fame).
The cabin we rented in Mazama was really pretty nice, with TV, stereo, DVD/VCR, a ton of pirated movies on DVD & VHS, all new appliances, jetted tub, etc. You can check out the cabin’s online reservation page here. My only word of warning and complaint is the web page says it has a BBQ, when in fact it has a sad little charcoal grill that can cook a single small chicken breast on.
We went exploring by vehicle and hiking mountains each day, like the previous three days. The views around where we were at are far better. I believe it was our first night there I had the brilliant idea for nachos, which turned out quite tasty. In the morning Travis made egg, ham, and cheese english muffin sandwiches, quite tasty.
We traveled to Winthrop for groceries and one night we went to Twisp, hitting a few bars. This is the good part of the story. The first bar we ate burgers, had drinks and played pool - I paid. Then we headed across the street and down a block to the more happen’n bar. As we sat down we decided it was Jason’s turn to pay. After a few shots of tequila and beers it was time to pay the tab. At this point there was a bit of disagreement as Jason believed it was my turn to pay. I decided to settle this like men. I challenged him by way of arm wrestling. Now he’s going to hate this part when he reads it, but I can’t help it. So we lock arms and at first I think he’s just toying with me - it feels like I’m arm wrestling a little girl. (Sorry man, but it’s true.) I give him a chance then my big right gun unleashes the pain.
So he’s convinced I was somehow cheating, though our two other friends were sitting right there watching and telling him that it was fair. When we return to the cabin we sit at the kitchen island and I give him a rematch. He’s holding onto the corner of the counter pulling on my arm, this time it’s at least like a 10 yr old boy I’m arm wrestling with. Then, the bastard must have lifted his legs off the ground putting the massive weight of his bulk on my arm almost breaking it, though never pinning me. I’m sure he’ll deny this to the day he dies. But that’s the story of the Big Right Punishing Gun.
It was a lot of fun to see and hang out with my friends, get off my butt, and get some serious exercise. Next year or the year after we’re thinking about hitting something farther from home, like Argentina. I’m excited to take that trip.
Anyways, that’s about it for me. I’ve just spent a long time organizing, uploading, and putting captions on pictures that Travis and I took from the entire week long trip. For your viewing pleasure here they are broken up into six albums.
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/FredsCabinBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/OffRoadingBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/DeathHikeBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/RoadToMazamaBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/MazamaCabinBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/DeadForestHikeBuddyTrip2008
