Rubenerd

@kagami177 deliciously observed an Answers.com's response by "Mistoffeles", written in 2009:

Would the avocado constant not be the total number of ripe avocados in the entire universe at any given time, which never changes as somewhere in the universe when one avocado is used up to make a guacamole (a mole of guaca, of course), another becomes fully ripened?

And here I was thinking I was so original calling it Avocado's Constant. My childhood shattered in one paragraph! Bulletproof theory though, just saying.

So Google is integrating Google+ into Google. I suppose I should be worried about this, but I'm not!

I’m surprised that others are

When the news first broke, and the subsequent juvenile shouting match ensued, I'll admit I was more surprised that some people were surprised, rather than being surprised about the news itself. That sentence, plus my introduction claiming Google is integrating Google+ into Google borders on Inception.

To even any casual observer, it should have been obvious that Google would inform their search results with Google+ at some point. Sarcasm aside, why else would an internet advertising company launch such a service? Ditto the +1 button.

The problem for Google is more and more information is being found through people rather than algorithms, and traditionally their strength has overwhelmingly been in the latter. Facebook is arguably leading this charge (go figure), and Twitter is not too far behind. In Japan, they're ahead.

Google figures they can merge Google+ and searches together, and deliver personalised search results. They've been tailoring results to people who don't opt out of their non-DNT respecting tracking for some time now, but this just takes it to the next level.

Of course, this introduces some serious anti-trust questions, which Eric Schmidt has either dismissed or pointed to Twitter's rel="nofollow" stance; the former of which is a little disturbing and the latter is misdirection, as far as I'm concerned. Danny Sullivan and MG Siegler would seem to agree. Apparently the blinkers are firmly installed on enough people though, read Google's response on Google+ for the comments… if you dare!

Don’t worry, be happy!

Bascically, there are three reasons why I'm not [so] concerned.

People are already spelling the end of other social networks because Google+ has unfair placement, like most Google products as Ben Endelman painstakingly points out. I'm a little optimistic that they'll see the error in their ways, realise what a PR mess they've created and reverse course. They've done this many times, Google Buzz's privacy fiacso probably being the most well known example.

Secondly, as to the anti-trust whatnot specifically, I'm also not too concerned. If Internet Explorer couldn't compel an overwhelming share of the English speaking world to Bing, Soapbox and the like, I doubt people will start leaving their Facebook accounts in droves just because they see some extra stuff in their Google sidebar.

Finally, it's often said the main thing protecting us from government abuses isn't oversight, but incompetence on their part. I don't think Google is incompetent, but for now the utter irrelevance of Google+ for anyone other than the Robert Scobles of the net will keep this problem at bay.

Given journalists' overbearing penchant for bad puns, I've decided to start collecting them. It was time.

How golf entrepreneur landed in the rough
Francess McDonnell, Irish Times, 2012.01.10

There have always been people in the North who have quietly thought that Treacy was a little mad to sink that kind of money into a purpose-built golf resort in the rain-drenched county of Fermanagh.

Haven't read another on par with that.

Given journalists' overbearing penchant for bad puns, I've decided to start collecting them. It was time.

You can just skim this DBS ATM story
Ruben Schade, Rubenerd, 2012.01.12

Two follow-up stories on my post regarding the DBS/POSB ATM saga. Encasing my NETS card in lucite!

He shouldn't bank on having comedic talent.

So I was making my way to the espresso machine in the kitchen for a much needed break. I'd been whittling away at a spreadsheet for my father for several hours, and the increasingly complex equations were beginning to make my head spin. Right?

I donned my slippers, slid out of my computer chair, gave an almighty stretch, paused my relaxing music on iTunes (at least, I thought I did, more below) and made my way to the hallway. The late afternoon sun had begun to bathe the house in a warmer coloured light which seemed almost friendly, and reassuring.

I reached for the shelf below the espresso machine, and began pouring the beans from the current bag of Columbian Light Roast into the top of the DeLongi. I could already feel myself waking up and feeling happier just at the smell of the freshly roasted beans.

While the machine was turning itself on, I poured fresh water into the tank, then stared outside into the garden. As far as Australian houses go this half-lot doesn't have much, but still enough for some full bushes and a gigantic old tree on the far side. They were all swaying lazily in the afternoon breeze, themselves turning a warmer shade of green in the same light I saw streaming through the downstairs window before.

A loud, high pressure steam hisssssssss let me know the espresso machine was ready to make the coffee. I tapped the single shot button, motioned my chipped Starbucks mug that friendly barista had given me for my 16th birthday (or was it my 14th?) under the outlet, and watched the goodness stream down.

I wonder if she still worked at that Starbucks? Was that Starbucks even still there? We hadn't gone to it that often in Paragon since the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf opened. My friend Felix and I would often meet up there after school and dream of all the things we'd be doing after high school. The infocomm. The photography. These newfangled podcasts people were starting to get excited about. Where we'd be living. The accessible artists studio I was designing in my mind for my mum. Budgeting. People we liked. Books. Our IT consultancy plan where we'd dress in tailcoats, bowlers hats and walking canes.

I didn't know how long I was staring at that full cup for, but long enough for the timer on the espresso machine to shut itself off after a certain period of non-use. I shook my head gently, rubbed my eyes, then took the mug.

I was about to trudge back downstairs to the computer room again, but decided instead to walk outside and feel the sun on my back. I could hear the flute music I had been listening to on iTunes downstairs; I was surprised it could carry that far. Maybe I'd left the window open down their. In any case, it was lovely.

I'm a friggen lucky guy, more than I can ever appreciate.

Two follow-up stories on my post regarding the DBS/POSB ATM saga. Encasing my NETS card in lucite!

Photo by the writer of Some things to Remember.

Notifications

From Channel News Asia, posted yesterday evening:

SINGAPORE: DBS Group Holdings chief executive Piyush Gupta said the bank will provide SMS alerts for ATM withdrawals beyond a certain amount or when it detects unusual transaction activity.

The move comes after 400 customers fell victim to a card skimming fraud where S$500,000 was withdrawn from their bank accounts without their authorisation over two days on January 4 and 5.

On the surface this sounds like great news, and I applaud it.

What worries me are the dates reported. If you'll recall, in my last post the article I quoted said the skimming took place last November. An honest mistake, or have there been more incidents since? And if so, I'm sure other banks have been affected too… are DBS/POSB the only ones fessing up?

Give us better security!

Whatever the case, it seems consumers are starting to demand better security which makes nothing but sense:

SINGAPORE: Most Singaporeans Channel NewsAsia spoke to said they will continue to use ATMs despite the latest fraud which hit 400 POSB and DBS customers this week.

However, they said they expect the bank to beef up ATM security to prevent a similar incident in the future.

Of course, they have reservations about security that should sound familiar to those setting up any secure IT infrastructre:

“Change the PIN number? But I’m afraid I can’t remember the number,” said one customer.

“Everyone has so many numbers to remember, so many passwords to remember. I think it’s difficult,” said another.

Leaving aside the issue that unless PINs were changed every single time the precaution wouldn't have prevented the fraud, one can't help but think there has to be a better way.

In the meantime, our old buddy education will have to be employed. The onus should be on banks to inspect their ATMs more thoroughly and regularly for tampering, but consumers should also be made aware of how to spot fraudulent modifications, just as they would look out for suspect email. The fact Singaporeans have largely been spared the onslaught of skimmers in the past may be a fact that works against them.

@Sebasu_tan on The Twitters, not Google Search+:

It’s January 11, and @Rubenerd already has 15 posts. Is he sure he isn’t doing a Post A Day 2012? :D

An astute observation good sir, and I'm flattered you counted! To prevent temptation though, I missed out on the first two days of January, to relieve the instinctive pressure to continue the PostADay2011 challenge into 2012.

That's not to say I won't be posting frequently any more! For example, aside from your tweet, this post had little substance to it whatsoever. Quite literally, I only mentioned the word "substance" twice.

Another story the mainstream media have blown out of proportion? Who'd have thought? ;)

Google profits from illegal advertising !1!!1!eleventy!

From that now infamous BBC News article by Adrian Goldberg:

Google is profiting from ads for illegal products generated by its flagship automated advertising system, the BBC has found.

The ads include unofficial London 2012 Olympics ticket resellers, as well as cannabis and fake ID card sellers.

Fortunately however, Adrian concedes:

These ads were promptly removed by Google after the BBC brought them to the company’s attention. [..] Google has also taken down links to illegal Olympic ticket resellers following requests from the police.

Hey, wait a minute…

Isn't it interesting that the same people who blast Apple for their uphill battle screening software for the App Store are often the ones who rush to Google's defence for not catching all fraudulent advertising? It's not double standards though, because they don't call it that, and because It's Not Apple So It's Okay™.

I'm free to empathise with Google's position, because I empathise with Apple's. It's impossible for them to catch all illegal advertisements; the sheer volume ensures abuses will get through and the system will be gamed from time to time. The best Google can do is make a sincere effort, and gather feedback. I'm satisfied they're doing this, department store chains notwithstanding.

I also worry any attempts at legislating such behavour would be overbearing, miss the point and/or would end up making things worse. I suppose that's a sliver of libertarian thinking slipping through, wish I were cool and alternative enough to be fully libertarian.

As an Australian who spent his formitave years overseas, I'm acutely aware of how people around the world perceive us, and how embarrasing it is when a luddite Australian politician makes racist comments.

Teresa Gambaro’s comments, in an interview with the Australian, provoked a firestorm of criticism. Gambaro said that new arrivals needed to be taught about “what are norms in Australia“, which also included how to queue properly.

From The Guardian in the UK. Memories of living in Asia during Pauline Hanson and John Howard… flooding back.

Kevin C. Tofel asks on GigaOM what problem Intel's Ultrabooks intend to solve, and asserts its to solve Intel's problem. Worth a read.

For me, an ultrabook would fill the niche between my souped up desktop at home, and my smartphone. As a "power user" and developer with very specialised software requirements, I need the lightest possible machine with decent battery life, a full sized keyboard and the ability to run desktop applications. My back can't take carrying a 15 inch MacBook Pro any more. iPads and Kindle Fires can't fill that roll, nor are they intended to.

The problem for Intel, and I think this fits into Kevin's argument, is that people like me (and perhaps you, if you read this blog!) are in the gradually shrinking minority.