The GNU libc library comes with a bunch of files which define all of the POSIX locales supported by the library. These files take up hundreds of megabytes, and the vast majority of them are completely unneeded by those of us who only speak a few languages and never attempt to read or enter text… Read More: Reducing space taken up by GNU libc locale files »
I am not a big fan of Chase. I have blogged previously about why (see Late credit card payments: Citigroup good, Chase bad, “Bank error in your favor, collect $13,117.50.”, I just made some phone droid’s day). I continue to carry a Chase credit card only because I get cash back, it has no annual… Read More: Chase does it again (or not) »
I recently attempted to buy a couple pairs of jeans from Sears through their Web site, an attempt which failed spectacularly, as did my attempts to get Sears to fix it. Also, it turns out that not only does Sears spam people who order through their Web site, but they keep doing it after they’ve… Read More: Just Say No to shopping at Sears »
The Perkins School for the Blind used to be on the list of charitable organizations which my wife and I support. At some point I donated to them on-line through their Web site, providing my email address at that time so that they could send a receipt via email. They subsequently used that address to… Read More: Perkins School for the Blind: inveterate spammers »
Passing on an email message that was forwarded to me: From: Gary Buchwald <Gary7@alum.mit.edu> Please take the time to read this brief email and help in any way you can. The email below is currently being circulated by the family of an Agunah, Susie Rosenfeld, who currently lives in Oceanside. It has started a barrage… Read More: Help aguna Susan Rosenfeld »
In my ongoing quest to find a brick-and-mortar or Web merchant from which I can easily and conveniently buy Levi’s jeans in my size, I decided to try going right to the source: www.levisstore.com.
I just saw an announcement for a talk being given tonight in a Boston Jewish venue by a visiting rabbi who shall rename nameless. The title of the talk is, “Self-Righteousness — Going on an Ego Trip”. The announcement of the talk included the following biography of the speaker (emphases mine): Rabbi [deleted] was born… Read More: Rabbinic irony »
I just sent this to the Herald: To the editor: Here’s what the Boston Firefighters Union seems to be saying: “We deserve to be compensated fairly. There is little we can do to force the city to pay us more, because legally and ethically, we have to keep working no matter what. Therefore, we must… Read More: BFD vs. Menino: City government is a business, not a… »
A few days ago, I flew off the handle and attacked someone on the jewish-boston mailing list for a comment which was meant in jest and which I incorrectly took seriously. I was helped to see the error of my ways by some very polite people, and this morning I sent this apology to the… Read More: On public apologies »
It’s campaign season in the US, and like clockwork, out come the Jews who ask only one question when deciding for whom to vote: “Which candidate is the strongest supporter of Israel?” It is not unheard of to hear such people express the opinion that Jews who consider issues other than support for Israel when… Read More: Voting the “straight Israel ticket” »