The Mainbrace

And it only took about three minutes. Two minutes longer than I thought.

You think that because the Social Security Administration, the VA, and your bank all now encrypt the contents of their portable computer’s hard drives that now your personal data is safe? So did I until I saw this:

All I can say is “Turn off your computer before you leave it unattended…” better yet, quit your tech job and become a landscaper or a brick layer because there really is no safe computer.

Ever call your bank with a simple question and 20 minutes later hang up without ever having spoken to a real human being? Coporate telephone menus are the bane of customer service, but fear no more. A Boston blogger has started a cheat sheet for getting to a person in the shortest time possible.
telemarket
According to his interview on National Public Radio this morning, some of these shortcuts even came from frustrated customer service representatives at these companies under the auspices of anonomynity!

BTW, when you finally get to the “human” on the end of the phone, make sure you tell them that the menu is frustrating and needs to go! Hopefully by using these consumer guerilla tactics corporations will say “WOW, if our menu system is that frustrating that users need to do this, maybe we should redesign the system!” Sorry, I was hit on the head a few minutes ago and am starting to speak nonsense.