Geekly Update - 22 Jul 2015

Several years ago, I decided to buy something that I saw on TV. I put in my name, address & credit card number. Before I clicked on the final button to order it, I changed my mind. I deleted all the information. Because they used a cookie to collection information, I received the item several days later. It back fired on them. I put on the box without opening it, "Refused, Return to Sender". Also I contacted my credit card company and advised them. For some reason, which I can't recall now, I received more money back then I was originally charged. I would suggest anyone purchasing merchandise online, they should block their cookies unless they order from them quite often.

Several years ago, I decided to buy something that I saw on TV. I put in my name, address & credit card number. Before I clicked on the final button to order it, I changed my mind. I deleted all the information. Because they used a cookie to collection information, I received the item several days later. It back fired on them. I put on the box without opening it, "Refused, Return to Sender". Also I contacted my credit card company and advised them. For some reason, which I can't recall now, I received more money back then I was originally charged. I would suggest anyone purchasing merchandise online, they should block their cookies unless they order from them quite often.

You certainly can. I kept getting dunning calls for a woman whose cell phone number was the same as mine except for the area code. I told them that they were given my number. I contact Lemberg law who specialize these kind of calls. They gave me a program to download to my cell phone that records the number of the caller.

While I was talking to the Law Firm on my land line they called my cell phone. I put it on speaker phone and the Law Clerk hear what they said and said the would call me as many times as They want. The Firm prepared a Order Of Complaint in Federal Court whose Fines are much larger than States. They contacted their Atty. and waited for a response when 30 days passed they filed in Federal Court in my Home Town. The Defendant than responded with an offer to avoid court. I wound up being offered 2 Payments of $3000.00 and I signed off on that. They are to send Payment to my Law Firm after it clears I will the first check within a few weeks and the 2nd in 45 days after the first. The Firm gets a part of the settlement which is separate from my payment.

I say sue as each violation is $1500.00 trebled.

Gosh, I thought that I was really seeing into the future with this August 22 glimpse, but alas it was immediately followed by a resend labeled July 22. Reminded me for the last email I sent without adding the attachment I intended to send.

Keep the good stuff coming, especially now that we know you are not a robot.

Bob, I liked the first version of this newsletter that you sent out - the one dated August 22nd - it proved you were not a robot.

Keep the good stuff coming.

As we all know "big brown" (UPS) already requires its drivers to eliminate left turns whenever possible. They have studies indicating it saves time and fuel (less time waiting, idling) and reduces collisions. Hooray for the Ohio Grammar judge! Thanks, Bob, for a great article.

Example:
Grandma enjoys eating her grandkids and taking naps.
versus
Grandma enjoys eating, her grandkids and taking naps.

Hi Bob,

Just wondering why I got 2 of the same Geekly Updates this time. Was it fat fingers or just an over site? Not a problem, just curious. As usual I love reading your stuff.

I love all your articles and save most of them for reference. I especially love that you are a grammar nerd and the story about grammar in this week's Geekly Update. With all the texting shortcuts taken today, grammar and punctuation are becoming a thing of the past. While all those shortcuts may be fine for texting, in the real world one should be able to correctly write and punctuate. That being said, I also love all your Geekly update articles. They are so helpful in keeping me up to date on some of the current computer news. Thanks.

The best example I've ever seen about the criticality of commas was this: "Let's eat, Grandma," versus "Let's eat Grandma."

This plaque hangs in our kitchen, a gift from loving son and daughter-in-law, who know me all too well.

I strongly agree with your spelling, punctuation, grammar and proper use of UPPER/lower case rules.

But, be aware that this will eliminate 93.61% of the population!

Bob, is there any way that we can have assurance that no one can, or has, falsely opened a Facebook account in our names? The item you had about an account which falsely claims a girl as the daughter of a man she doesn't even know bothers us.

Hi Bob: You are referring to the serial or (more recently) Oxford comma. In your sentence "spelling, punctuation...", there is little ambiguity. But what about this: Bob, Sally and Jim will have to split the lottery prize. WITHOUT a comma after Sally, it could be interpreted that Bob gets half and Sally and Jim split the other half. That could be a big difference if the prize is in the millions of dollars!

Good for you! I find the concept of supposedly intelligent, educated writers, (and readers) not caring a whit about the accuracy of their writing, to be one of the many threats to the continuation of our species. When I was growing up I was expected to 'Look it up, son' in the huge unabridged dictionary which sat atop its own rugged, mahogany stand in the living room. I would, of course. Then I joyfully spent hours reading hundreds of other words that were unfamiliar to me at the time. Our language is our nourishment....it allows us to speak to each other and share ideas....to argue, to join each other in matrimony..but I babble on..

Thanks Bob!

Ran Bullard

I think that I shall never see
why commas are a mystery

the colon's tiny dots are prest
into the sentence here I guess

a sentence looks so weird some say
and hopes for punctuation day

some words that may in part be clear
the rest the meaning is impaired

upon the paper sense was slain
and in the end will cause you pain

run on sentence I hate
'cause only BOB can punctuate

How 'bout this: I was a technical writer [words, not code] for several years. in my first job i learned why they hired me: engineering and technical people can talk well, but they don't know how to write their own words on paper in the same logical fashion that they can easily say. they also do not know how to form sentences, where to put commas, and so forth. how did they get through high school, let alone higher education?!
And this also: i cannot use my right hand due to a couple strokes. while i know grammar, it is very time and energy consuming to use upper-case characters -unless it is necessary. for example, $, @, etc. but some are easy, such as, ~, +, !, or ones that a finger and thumb can easily do. so make 'room' for the one finger handicapped. okay? 10-4

PC sales are down, but the prices remain high. Maybe if they lowered the prices a bit they would sell a few more units.