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ESBI Phone Scam

I was just looking over my last couple month's phone bill and I found a strange line item that I did not recognize. It was for TRIVOICE VMAIL MNTHLYFEE and cost $14.95. It also had the note to call Enhanced Services Billing, Inc. if I had any questions or to go to http://www.billview.com/esbi

Do not call the number or use the website. It is a scam for them to get more info on you and possibly get other people's names and numbers.

Instead call your phone company. They are aware of the issue and can quickly take the charges off your bill(s) and put a block on your number so it won't happen again.

Introduction to Google Reader

Do you have a group of websites that you like to visit often? Do you wish there was a way you could know when new stuff was added to those websites? Don't you wish there was a way that you could get all the new stuff without having to visit every site, every day?

Well, there is. It's called RSS. And it's been around for quite awhile. In face I mentioned it over three years ago.

RSS can be a little confusing to get started with, but recently I ran across a great little company called Common Craft. They make simple to understand videos about techno stuff. Here is the one explaining how to use RSS and how to use it with Google Reader, too. Awesome!

They also have another video with more specifics about Google Reader. Also worth a look.

RSS will transform the way you browse the web. So please check it out!

While you're there check out the video for Google Docs. It is a free and easy alternative to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, et al.)

Netflix on Xbox 360 Confirmed

Back in February I wrote about some exciting rumors involving Netflix and Xbox. Well, it turns out that the rumors are true!

Microsoft announced that sometime this fall the Xbox 360 will be able to stream on-demand Netflix movies over my internet connection. No more waiting for the mail envelopes for me. Awesome!!

The Xbox 360 has become my media center device. I play slideshows on it, I play DVDs on it, I rip movies to my PC and access a movie jukebox with it. It is an amazing device that just keeps getting better. Oh, and I can play video games on it, too! Someday I imagine I could convince myself to dump cable and use it for TV shows too. Someday…

Blog Layout Changes

I moved things around a little bit. I'm trying to make the items that I frequently update more prominent on the page.

I browse a lot of different pages everyday via Google Reader and I share what I think are the most interesting in the Interesting Links area.

Under that is the area that lists my tweets from Twitter. That is usually stream-of-conscious whatever sort of stuff.

Then I have the Flickr and YouTube items.

Hopefully that will make visiting my blog a little more interesting even when I don't have new posts.

Where to install Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors?

Carbon Monoxide detectors are an important life-saving device, but where do you install them: on the ceiling, at chest height, or near the floor? I've been trying to get a definitive answer on this. I even called the Gas/Electric company. They didn't have an answer, but the guy anecdotally suggested that he always saw them at chest height.

Well, the few websites that say anything suggest that on or near the ceiling is actually best. However, Wikipedia says that it doesn't matter where they are, because CO has almost the same density as air and will circulate throughout the room.

So there you go. Hopefully this makes it into Google and helps someone else looking for answers.

I'm going to hang mine on the ceiling and be done with it.

Skybus is dead

Well, the great experiment that was Skybus is over. Skybus ceased flying on this past Saturday. The failing economy and rising jet fuel costs are the main reasons given.

I was hesitant to trust Skybus when it first came out (see this post), but I had a few friends and family try it and they were pleased. The low prices were the big draw, but they said the flights were fine and there weren't any big problems. The biggest complaints were the odd flight times, few direct flights, and strange destination cities.

I'm not really surprised, but it is too bad that yet another competitor has fallen by the wayside. Flying is bad enough already and less competition is just going to make it worse.

More Credit Card News

Now they don't even need to steal your card.

Check out this article about Credit Card Shaving.

Credit Cards and Driver's Licenses

I found out today that according to the Visa and Mastercard contract, a merchant can't require an ID before accepting a credit card. This means that you are well within your rights to refuse to show your driver's license if asked. Of course this doesn't apply to purchases that require I.D. (drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.). 

So here are some things to keep in mind when trying to protect your credit cards:

1. If you leave it unsigned the card is technically not valid.

2. If you leave it unsigned, the thief can sign it and use it even easier.

3. If you just write "Ask for ID" then the thief can still sign it, and then refuse to show ID.

The best course seems to be to sign your name and hope that it is tough to duplicate. Other than that, make sure that you're not responsible for fraudulent card uses, and keep track of your statements.

Netflix On the Xbox 360

There are some exciting rumors going around that Netflix could be in talks to partner with Microsoft.

The rumor is that this would allow Netflix subscribers (like me) to watch movies instantly via an Xbox 360 (like the one I have). The awesome part is that this would be part of the normal Netflix subscription (ie. no extra fees).

I've been waiting for a service like this. I thought I would be buying an Apple TV to make it happen, but this would be an even easier, and cheaper, solution.

I hope it's true...