Don't follow up to a Job Application with This!

Wow, some people are just too stupid to live:

I just received this email in reference to one of many active positions that my company is recruiting for.

"So I sent this mail some time ago and received no response. I would love to hear back from you- at least a "no." I find the recent activities of recruiters I have dealt with to be deplorable. Just because larger numbers of applicants are submitting interests in positions does not mean you can ignore people. A simple stock email will suffice. Don't be rude. I am overqualified for your position anyway. But since you lack the necessary decorum to reply, and obviously the foresight to recognize a perfect fit when you see one, I guess you and your company have missed out on an opportunity to improve your workforce. Good day. "

Wow, just wow. First off "Duffy", are you sure your email ever made it through? (Which it did not). When you include your screenplay writing hobby and talk about time off that you need right in your cover letter, you should recognize that your email can easily get caught in spam filters. Next time (though please don't apply here again), you might try a follow up letter first confirming receipt.

Second, waiting a month is not that uncommon in today's busy grind.

Third, when a company has limited resources to begin with, yes, it sometimes is unreasonable to send even a stock form letter to the over 880 applicants that applied for a position.

None of this matters, you just successfully disqualified yourself.

Verizon Terms of Service Allows them to Change Your Password!!!!

This is one of the most absurd things I have seen come out of a ISP lately. Verizon just sent their customers an update to their terms and conditions of their Verizon Fios product.

Buried in their email about Terms and Services is this gem:

3. Home Router Password Changes. Section 10.4 was updated to clarify that Verizon may in limited instances modify administrative passwords for home routers in order to safeguard Internet security and our network, the security and privacy of subscriber information, to comply with the law, and/or to provide, upgrade and maintain service. The administrative password for your home router is used to access the “administrative” controls for the router and to make changes to your router’s internal settings. We will use reasonable means to notify Subscribers whose home router administrative passwords are changed, which may include email notice to your Primary Email Address and/or an announcement on the My Verizon portal.

The funniest part of this update is that the email to their customers started with:

Good News!

Verizon, how is it good news that you just changed the terms of my service to give you complete access to my home network without my permission.  Ironically, another part of this same Verizon Terms change notifies the customers of a toll free number that was set up for the purpose of "Reporting Security Incidents Involving Lost or Stolen Login Credentials".  - Well we are probably going to need that now that Verizon remote technicians now have the right to change my credentials at will.

Another joke is that they will notify us of any changes via the myverizon portal.  That is the same myverizon portal that is broken over 50% of the time that I try to access it. 

Verizon, get your self together, you are rapidly losing faith from your customers.

I wish Aircards and their monthly service were not expensive, and that 4G would get here quicker, without badwidth limits or caps!

Linkedin Job Posting Sucks - Displays Incorrect Salary Information

I just decided to try Linkedin.com's job board for the first time ever.   The price was $98 after a 50% discount for a 30 day posting.   So far, I am not really impressed.  It was extremely basic in what it allowed you to do (like not html code).

However, the part that really pissed me off is; Once you pay to post your job listing, Linkedin displays a graphic/widget by payscale that shows a range of salaries a person should expect when applying for this job.  First off, the data is incorrect, as it uses some crappy technology to attempt to predict what the job actually is, and second, most importantly, it misleads the job seeking candidates that my position is offered within those ranges.

The only way to complain to linkedin that I found was the feedback link at the bottom of the page, that goes to a black hole.  I will update this article if I hear back from them.

-------
One day later, an UPDATE:

Linkedin responded to my email request within 36 hours.  They apologized for the salary widget but explained they are unable to remove it (my guess is that it generates ad revenue for them).  Anyhow, they refunded my money with no questions asked.  Although I still wish that the widget was not there at all, I must admit that every experience I have with Linkedin's customer support has been excellent.

For Search Engines:

Linkedin job board sucks

Do not use linkedin jobs as an employer

Cheap Case For Archos 70IT and Amazon Kindle 6"

I recently blogged about just how similar in size the Amazon Kindle 6" is to the Archos 70 Internet Tablet. Read about it here: Amazon Kindle vs. Archos 70 Dimensions

Because of this, there are some good options for a carrying case that fits both units. For instance, this cheap case available on Amazon has had reviews from several Archos 70IT users who that say the device fits perfectly in the case.

For search engines:

Case for Archos 70IT

Cheap case for archos 7" tablet

Kindle case for archos 70 Internet Tablet