epinions.com is soon to end as we know it

I wrote a highly critical article about epinions.com in September 2013 where I stated they have made themselves irrelevant in 2013.  epinions.com used to be a great site where anyone could go to get high quality and unbiased user reviews of just about any type of product.  It wasn't polluted with shills and ads.  

Then, it did started getting polluted with ads. Soon, it became hard to tell links to ads from genuine content.  Then, it became hard to find genuine content at all.  Ads ruled.  (Though, shills never really seemed to be able to take hold.)

Even still, I used epinions.com frequently enough until 2012.  Thru no conscious action, I just stopped using the site.  Eventually, I realized this and wrote my critical review as to why.

Well, today, epinions has announced they will be ending its community and reviews system.  This is no surprize to me.  They lost their way, and eventually people just stopped using the site.  The site fell into the trap of trying to sell ads to generate funding rather than offering a superior product that people flock to.  Their focus became monetization without understanding how to generate income from their product without losing its soul.

Their email to members stated,

After a challenging 2013, Epinions will no longer maintain community related operations of its website. We are proud that we were able to serve as a facilitator of shared experiences and thoughtful dialogue over the past 15 years. However, several obstacles, such as declining participation, have deeply affected our business and forced us to make this difficult decision. 

Yeah, 2013 is when I stopped using the site, so this makes perfect sense.  The site stopped being a repository for high quality reviews, and just became a poor quality online mall.

Community submissions ended today.  Reviews can no longer be added.  Last payments to reviewers will be issued on March 6, 2014.  Access to online accounts and message boards will end on March 25,2014.  The suddenness of this suggests a poorly planned shutdown, which means they prolly just ran out of money.

Farewell, epinions!  Whatever form you eventually take, I'm sure I will not be apart of it.

Senseless Sunday: Rubbing dreamt cources

1. Only five words in the English language actually end with the letters "mt": dreamt, daydreamt, undreamt, redreamt, and outdreamt.
2. The invention of matches (rubbing a chemical dipped stick to create a flame with friction) came about in 1826.  The invention of the lighter (mechanical device to produce a flame) was first developed in the 1500's.¹
3. As of 2008, the USA has more golf courses than the rest of the world combined.²

I was lied too!

Net Neutrality has been cancelled based on a technicality in the law!

Net Neutrality, which prevents Internet service providers from giving preferential treatment to particular websites (such as their own over a competitors) is in deep risk of being completely gone! Recent court ruling struck down Net Neutrality based on a flimsy technicality. NBC, ABC and CBS have not reported this sweeping change, apparently because they benefit, according to Forward Progress.

The removal of Net Neutrality would mean Internet providers can create artificial bottlenecks in service and charge fees to both customers and websites to avoid these bottlenecks (mind you, they are already making lots of money for service that costs very little to provide; they just want more of the pie to end up in their coffers by using the threat of degrading service). This matter is so serious that Fox News story actually sited civil rights as possibly being at risk!

Beeper Codes list (completed)

As a matter of posterity, I've compiled this list of over 460 Beeper Codes.  These are just one type of Pager Codes that I previously wrote about.  This list is different from other lists online.  There are common codes that didn't appear in other lists; and I've removed entries that are redundant to Number Look-Alikes.  Number Look-Alikes are terms spelt out in pager code, such as "43770" for "HELLO", rather than being shorthand Beeper Code.
Beeper Codes

Code	Definition	Reference
0*0	Roh-Roh!
0*10*0	Im tired
0*17*8*1*2	Oh you ate one too	OU812
0*7*1	I need a favor
00	Airhead
000	Call whenever you can
000	Time; What time is it?
000*0000	I'm online/I will be online
0000000	Bronx cheer
0001000	I'm alone right now
001	Please
001122	I don't know
0049	Accident; Something wrong
007	I've got a secret	James Bond
00-88-00	Call me later
009	Going to a movie, wanna come?
0099	Going out, wanna come?
01*01*01	Don't have a cow!	Term popularized by The Simpsons
010	Plans changed; I'm tired/flaking
0101	I'm tired
011	Monday
01210	I'm confused
016	Plans changed
020	Plans changed
020202	Just thinking of you
022	Tuesday
024	Going to the beach
0242	Hey lover!
033	Wednesday
04*04*04	Happy Holidays
0404	I will always love you
044	Thursday
05*05	Margaritas
055	Friday
0563	Please don't leave me
060	You are fine
064	Don't call me
066	Saturday
06644	Don't call me
07	Just kidding
07	I salute you
074	I need a favor
0741	I need a favor
0747	I need a favor
077	Sunday
07700	Ha ha ha!
080808	Kisses and hugs	X and O's
09	Why dont you get a cordless phone like regular people?
09*09*09	Let's talk
0909	It's off, canceled
099	I've got something to tell you
0990	Too late to call
0998	I have a question
1	You're the one; You the man
1*00	Im on the phone with my significant other
1*8	I ate
1*800	I'm free - no plans tonight
10	You're perfect
10*2	You've got 10 minutes
10*2*1	Slim chance
10*20	Where are you?
10*4	Is everything OK?
10*400	Thank you
100	Come back
100*200* 300	I can't see you anymore
10000	Lets go for a swim	10,000 Leagues Under the Sea
10000001	Miss you
1001	Prove it
1004	From your angel
101	I've got an easy question
1023	It's over
1038	Can't stop loving you
104	Come over
1040	You owe me big-time
105	Cancel
1052	LOVE!!!
107	Come back
1078	I miss the old us
108	Come over
11	Maybe
11	You're perfect
11111111	Congratulations!	Resembles a series of exclamation marks
112233	At the club
116	I'm in trouble
1182	Come here fast
119	I'm in trouble
12*25	Merry Christmas
120	Leave
121	I need to talk to you alone
121212	Happy Birthday!
122	I want/need you?
122223	Is anyone still here?
123	I miss you
124	I'm dreaming of you
125	I'm bored
1250	Me too
1259	Me too
13	I'm having a bad day
13*30	It's getting old
1300	Going out
133	Don't forget
135	You wish
13579	This is weird
141	I'm with you
1423	I want to die
143	I love you
1432	I love you too
1432222222	I love you so much
1437	I love you forever
1443	I don't love you
1444	I hate this life
146	Good morning
1463	I miss the old you
1492	Let's go sailing
15	Whatever
15	Hugs
15*11	OK
151-	Want to join me?
15243	Be With Me
15243	I want to be with you
153	I hate you
1543	I still love you
155	Just kidding
155	I wanna go to sleep
157	Keep in touch
16	Kisses
1692	I want to
17	No; No way
1701	Live long and prosper	Spock, Star Trek
171	Mad
177117	Minutes	Usually preceding a number to indicate how long you will be.
1776	You're sickening
178	I'll call you back later
18	Yes
180	Yesterday
180	I love you
183	I'm busy
187	You're dead/I hate you
19	Hug
19	Yes
1925	Let's go out
193	Miss Me?
193	Do you miss me?
195	See you tonight
197	I'm pissed off
2	Me too
2*2	Let's dance
2*4*6	I'm pissed off
20	Pick me up
200	Tonight
2001	You're way out there
201	Cancel previous page
2010	Later
202	Don't meet me
20-20-20	Sorry
203	And
203	Get off the phone
204	I'm/Everything OK
205	I'm on my way home
209	On my way
21	Maybe
21	Let's have a drink
210	Got your page...I understand
213	Miss me?
214	Happy Valentine's Day
214	Received your message
215	Running late
22	Be good
220	Why haven't you called
221	Where are you?
222	Your busted!; Are you busted?
2222	I'm sleepy
224	2 good 4 you
23	Te Amo	I love you in Spanish and Portuguese
23	Whatever
230	Oh yeah!
234	Just for today
235	Problem has been handled
237	Are you alone?
24	I'm Home
24*7	24 hours, 7 days a week
240	Tomorrow
243	We love you
244	My baby
245	I'm/everything is ok
2468	Your terrific
25	Hi, my crush
25	Sorry
255	I'm at a payphone, hurry
26	Te Quiero	I love you in Spanish
260	It's late, please hurry
265	Check your e-mail
27	Need you
270	Cancel previous page
280	My Sexy Baby
280	Today
285	Stay away for awhile
288	Today
288	But
288	When will I see you again?
29	You suck
290	I'm without my pager today
3	Wussup
30	This is getting old
300	Guess who?
301	Is this a bad time to call?
3011	Be careful
303	Stop playing
304	Ho Ho Ho
305	I love you back
310	I'm thinking about you
315	But
315	I miss you
32	Eat Me
320-	Wish you were here
321	Please reply
323	Let Me Hit
324	C-U-Soon
325	Hope you're feeling better
3293	Can't wait
330	You are incredible
332211	Movies
333	Love
333	Whats up?; How are you?
335	Your crazy
340	I owe you one
341	I like you
342	See you later
343	Call back now
345	Thank you
345987	I'm horny
346	Come back please
350	Sorry about that
36	You're cool
360	I love you back
3620	Sorry I lied
365	I'm blowing you a kiss
370	Congratulations
372	What are you doing?
375	Don't ever change
380	Your last page has me smiling
3838	Hey bebe
385	Hi Cutie/Handsome
390	Best of luck to you today
395	Please be careful out there
3999	You hurt me
400	Wanna hear something stupid?
4040	I hate you
405	I've got a secret, hehe
406	Hugs and kisses
41	Call me
410	You owe me big time
411	Call for info
411	I need info/I have a question
412	Please stay with me
414141	Sorry to bother you
415	Get an attitude adjustment
41526	Let's talk
41633	Merry Xmas
419	I don't understand
42	Fuck Me
420	It's that time!
420	You're in trouble, buddy!
4200	Losing feelings for you
423	Call me now
424	Call me back
425	Call me later
426	Call me tonight
428	Call me whenever
428	Call me tomorrow
43	Fuck You
43	You freak
430	You did it....bravo
433	Call me now
434	Feel Better
434	Hope you feel better
436	Hugs and kisses
438	Going to the beach
440	Hey clown, cheer up
444	I Want Love
444	Thinking of you
445	Ditto to your last page
45	Good night
450	Who pulled you chain?
455	Don't make me come get you
46	Hug
46*73	Goodnight, sweet dreams
460	Mind your own buisness
4678	Let's stay home
47	Good morning
470	I'm with you thru thick and thin
475	Long time no harass, hehe
477	Best friends forever
478	Just you and me
480	Let me know
485	A quick howdy to you
49	Good afternoon
490	You're in loony land
495	Go for it!
5	Hi
5*0	Are you booked?
50*50	It doesn't matter to me
500	Beep me
5020	So what
505	SOS
5150	Crazy
52	Hurry
522	Think of me
525	Going to the party
5280	Be mine
53	Thank You
533	Where are you?
5391	So, we are strangers again?
54	Never mind
54321	I'm ready to explode
55	You are a sweetheart
555	I want your sex
555	Call me
5555	I miss your voice
56	Sweet dreams
58	Happy birthday
5900	I'm sick
5971	I feel better
6	Always
6*9999999-	Get in line
60*017	Go online
60*60	I'm very happy
6000*6	Good luck
601	Happy birthday/anniversary
603	Hope your feeling better
606	Bitch
607	I miss you
609	I'm mad at you
611	I'm sorry
612	Thinking about you
6167	I am going to lunch
620	I dont know
62180	I'm grounded
629	Calling from payphone
630	Calling from cellphone
6302	I'm starting to like you
637	Always and forever
66	I'm mad
66	Let's hit the road	Route 66
660	You better be ready
666	Can't go out
668	Not
67	Always and Forever
6771	Good friend/friends
69	Both ways
69	Lets get together
7	Forever; You will be in my heart forever
70	I'm sad/depressed
700*600	Happy anniversary
7007	You're a joke
707-	LOL
710	I'm out of gas
7179	Best bud/friend
722	Don't beep me
7537	I know you don't like me
747	Let's fly
7537	I know you don't like me
757	I miss my baby
77	Friends forever
7735	Sell out
7741	Call me
789	Going to the mall
7942	From your friend
7979	Cheer up
8000	Goodbye or take care
801	I'm going over
8081	I had a bad time
811	Not a emergency, but important
815	I'll be good
8198	How about dinner?
82	Freak Me
82	Hurry
823	Thinking of you
825	Anytime
8255	Get your butt over here now
8282	Hurry up
831	I love you	8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning
838	I know it's you
8431	I can't wait to see you
844	Can you handle me
8498	Forget it
8558	Waiting for your call
86	You're finished
86*0	Are you mad?
864	I'm home
8642	I'm gonna get even with you
87	You're late; I'm late
8800	I'll call you later
881	I forgive you
883	Beep me now
890	Leave me alone
9*09	I have good news
9*2*9	Forgive me
9*4*4*4	Are you thinking of me
9*5	It's quitting time
9*52	I screwed up
9*9*9	Only us
90	You're beautiful
90*90*90	No, no, no
90*91*92	I had a great time
9000	Repeat message
90210	Watta snob
9043	Relax
906	I'm on my way
909	I am at work
9090-	Go! Go!; Get a move on!
910	Sorry I hurt you
9103	I will try
911	Emergency
911	This is big!; This is an emergency, call me now
9143	Do you love me?
920	Cheer up
921	I do care
922	Let's try something new
9229	Big problem
93	Grow up
9339	Some other time
9341	Do you like me?
937	Never
9428	What do you want to do?
943	Where are you?
9437	Liar
9438	Where?
9444	Are you thinking of me?
9449	Please be good
949	Why?
9500	Friends
95507	Your loss
961	Let's try again
966	Bad news
968	I'm all yours
971	I had to go…
972	I'm ready
9779	Mmmmmm
98*6	Hope you're feeling better
9810	I'm bored
9876	I'm serious
9890	Forever
99	Nighty Night
99*44*100	I'm almost totally completely bored
9908	Can't talk now
9922	You don't care
9955	Don't do it again
9993	I'm OK

Using a thorn to write

I'm not sure why, but I have a growing fascination with the letter thorn.  Maybe it comes from the fact that we have sounds in the English language that have no letter to themselves.  This is particularly strange since we used to have letters for at least some of these sounds.  In the case of sounds for th, those letters are thorn and eth.

Capital thorn: Þ

Lowercase thorn: þ

Capital eth: Ð

Lowercase eth: ð

Thorn represents the unvoiced th sound, as in the words thin, things, wither, and eighth.  Eth represents the voiced th sound, as in the words the, that, those, feather, and clothe.  When these letters were in common use, they were often used interchangeably, regardless to which th sound was actually used.  Additionally, the letter Y was often used in place of thorn since print type fonts of Medieval times didn't have the letter thorn.  This means, "Ye Olde Shoppe" was really pronounced "The Old Shop", no different than today.  In this case, the "Y" was a replacement for the letter thorn, which represented the voiced th sound of the word "the".  (Further discussion on English sounds that are missing letters.)

So, I've decided to play around with the idea of using thorn in its rightful place within the English language.  The following is a republished old article, where the letters th (representing the voiced and unvoiced th sounds) are replaced with the letter thorn.

INFAMOUS MINIATURE GOLF STORY

Ok...here's þe infamous Miniature Golf story..

Þis one time, like two years ago, I took Miriam to play Miniature Golf at a Golfland in San Jose.  She hadn't been to a Miniature Golf place in aeons.  So, we get our clubs, balls, scorecard and pencils, þen head to þe first tee.  Being þe gentleman þat I am, I let her go first.  She bends down by sticking her ass up in þe air as usual (þis being a family type place, mind you) to put þe ball on þe black mat.  It starts rolling around a bit, but finally she makes it stay in place.  While þis was going on, I'm watching her out of þe corner of my eye, just kinda waiting for her to get her ball to stop rolling around. Getting þe ball to stay in place was, of course, a pointless exercise given what she does next.

She swings. I hear a panicked "Oh!".  She's looking back at me, embarrassed, kinda laughing, kinda whimpering.  Þen I notice þe club is no longer in her hands. I briefly look around for it, confused.  Þen I realize, she's þrown þe club up in þe air during her swing!  I ask, "Where did you þrow þe club?"  Þen I realize furþer, þe club went straight up in þe air!  Worse yet, it hasn't come down yet!  Þen, my even more profound realization is þat it has now been 5 seconds, from when I was wondering why Miriam was embarrassed to þis moment (when I realized þe club was still up in þe air), and þe club was still up in þe air!  I shout at Miriam, "Get out of þe way!", while using pure instinct as to where not be when it finally decided to come back down to Earþ.  We boþ duck and run.  I turn around, worried þat þis magic club (which has now been in þe air for over 6 seconds) might land on someone else.  To my relief, it tumbles to þe ground safely, right on þe spot þat Miriam and I had just ran away from.

We laughed it off, and were relieved no one got hurt.  But to þis day, we wonder how þe hell þis club shot straight up out of her hands into þe air far enough to land in þe same spot a whole 7 seconds later!

Old School: Pager Code

There are/were several types of pager codes in the 1990's before cellphones become common with inexpensive data/text plans.

Calculator Method

The simplest (and prolly earliest) pager code was the Calculator Method.  This method replaced letters with numbers that resemble those letters when held upside down (similar to how you'd create words using upside down numbers on a calculator).  These were typed backwards so that the effect was easy to read.  Examples:

• HELLO would read 07734.  4 kinda looks like an H, 3 is clearly an upside down E, 7 is clearly an upside down L and 0 is O in either direction.
• GUESS WHO would read 04177*553176.  6 kinda looks like a G, 17 looks like an upside down U, 5 looks like an S, * is a space, 177 looks like an upside down W.

Beeper Codes

Another common pager code system consisted of a string of numbers that were typically 3 letters long used to represent specific words and phrases. Though I doubt there is consensus regarding a name for the collection of these pager codes, these seem most closely associated with the term "Beeper Codes".  Beeper codes were really a collection of many individual codes that were derived from several cipher methods.  Many codes used letter count, but other methods were also employed.

• I LOVE YOU was commonly typed as 143.  This required foreknowledge of the code, as any combination of words can share common letter counts.  143 could've easily meant I CAN'T FLY if you didn't know the established meaning. 
• I LOVE YOU was also 831 from the phrase, "8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning."  Again, foreknowledge is necessary to decipher the code.  

There were a lot of these individual Beeper Codes.

Number look alikes

The most versatile pager code was a slightly more formal substitution method.  Letters were represented by a look alike number or string of numbers. This is similar to the Calculator Method, but can be read rightside up and used to spell any word without a lot of forethought (or turning your phone upside). Different varieties existed, but the most common was this:

Pager Code
Letter	Number Look Alike
A	8
B	8
C	6
D	0
E	3
F	4
G	6
H	4
I	1
J	7
K	15
L	7
M	177
N	17
O	0
P	9
Q	0
R	12
S	5
T	7
U	11
V	11
W	111
X	25
Y	4
Z	2
Spacebar	- or *

With this method, complex messages could be sent without a lot of effort. Even after texting and cellphones become more common, this was still a good system to encipher messages from casual interloping.

• HELLO becomes 43770
• WISH YOU WERE HERE becomes 111154 4011 1113123 43123 (a special symbol for spacebar wasn't necessary once texting was available)
• FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO becomes 401112 560123 8170 5311317 438125 860

Pager codes were still used by some people even after texting become available because most early texting-capable cellphones didn't have an alphabet keyboard.  Typing words was still tedious using the texting system.  It was prolly around the time when type-ahead appeared that use of pager codes finally become uncommon.  Once smartphones become common, there was really no need for pager codes anymore at all, except for fun.  I still find myself using some of the old 3 digit beeper codes if I don't feel like typing out a common phrase.

Infinite Universe

Deep thoughts by me, "If the Universe is infinite, then all possibilities will be a reality, which means the Universe was simultaneously created by a God and came into existence without a god. The Universe itself becomes its own quantum superpositional object between all possibilities." [There is a flaw with this logic (infinity does not mean all things that can happen will happen), but it's still a bit of a mind-trip.]

This is America! Wait, what? [Infographic]

It is funny how many people are taught that "The Americas" is one continent.  Oh, and some people are bugged by the "arrogance" that Americans have for being the only people to call themselves "American" when there is a whole bunch of other countries here too.

Tuesday Two: Tracking balls

The aptly name  Bounce Imaging Explorer is a throwable camera that allows you to see around corners simply by rolling or throwing it into the area.  Great for cops, firefighters, and military.

You can track yourself, your kids, your phone and your car.  Now you track your luggage with Trakdot.  This device can send  text messages, emails or updates to an app.  This allows you to know where luggage is, even if the airline doesn't.

Who needs privacy?

Allie said just now, "I don't know why people post everything on Facebook. ...there's no privacy." I couldn't help but post this quote on Facebook just to be ironic.

Yahoo's Blunder with unnecessary changes to their services is well explained on slashdot.org

Yahoo's blunder with unnecessary changes to their services such as Yahoo! Groups is well explained on slashdot.org by anonymous poster.

If you have no userbase, the Agile concept of ship (garbage) early and ship (garbage) often even before you really have an MVP actually makes some sense. If you have a 6-month runway of capital before you go belly-up and start over (oh, I'm sorry, "pivot"), there's no point in wasting another month to get it right.

But if you already have a userbase, the developer-centric attitude of leaving what, to users, is core functionality in the backlog while you release half-assed stuff that merely shows off how good you are with AJAX, or how quickly your UX people can change the design from one week to the next, doesn't work. It's bad for your customer base, it alienates them, and it eventually drives them to your competitors.

More of this person's comment can be found here. If you are interested in exploring the topics brought up by this person, click on the links I added to their quote above.  That will take you to Wikipedia articles that will explain each of the terms.  

Senseless Sunday: Mort fog tail

• Micromort is the unit of measure assigned to determining the risk of mortality in terms of one-in-a-million chance of dying.
• The invention of the toothbrush has no well defined origin, but the first bristle toothbrush has been discovered in China from the Tang Dynasty (circa A.D. 619–907).  It used hog bristle.  Not quite the same as brushing your teeth with bacon flavored toothpaste, but close.
• A cubic mile of fog is made up of 56,000 gallons of water.
• The word coward original comes from Latin word couda, meaning "tail".

South Park Nails Cable Companies

Stupid press and their stupid ways (Facebook haters)

From time to time there are articles claiming the end of Facebook.  These articles are all pretty much the same, saying how "kids" are using other social media sites now, such as Vine, Snapchat, Ask.fm, and Instagram.  Really?

Vine is not used instead of Facebook.  Vine is used instead of Youtube.  It's a video app.

Snapchat is only being used for sending sexy videos that cannot be stored.  Again, not something that was ever really Facebook's thing.  Facebook might be losing some use to Snapchat, but I don't think it's much.  Youtube is losing more than Facebook.

Ask.fm is really competition for Reddit and Yahoo! Answers rather than Facebook.  Maybe Reddit is stealing time away from Facebook, but ultimately, even these individuals end up on Facebook for social networking (even as they pretend to hate it).  Reddit doesn't have a strong social interaction and is mostly just strangers posting for strangers.

What about Instagram?  People use Instagram instead of older services like Flickr and Photobucket.  It's a photo app.  There is a stronger social aspect, but photos aren't really a replacement for communicating on Facebook.  It's more like one-way bragging, which ultimately doesn't promote long and engaging interaction.  When people respond to someone else's brags, they are trying to make themselves relevant in the context of the braggartry, and that's what tends to happen on Facebook.  That's something that just isn't possible on Instagram.

You know what kids are using instead of Facebook?  Nothing, ...kinda.  They are using text messaging.  Texting is why Facebook is seeing a small decline in usage in the younger demographics.  Aggressive use of texting is temporary for people, though.  Textings doesn't grow as your network grows.  There's a certain point where texting becomes intrusive.  When that happens, people move their social networking to a more broad service.  When they do, that service still tends to be Facebook.

I'm not a Facebook pumper.  I can live with or without it.  I do know it is the most convenient service right now.  There is just something about it that makes it more usable than Google+.  Anyone that thinks that Facebook will go the way of Myspace and Friendster just isn't paying attention or only seeing what they want to see.  Until something that is actually better comes around, Facebook isn't going to die from a supposed mass migration of its user base.

There is merit to all the services mentioned above.  Some services appeal to certain people more than others.  Facebook's success is that it is a generalist that covers all the bases.