Don't bother with the HBC Mastercard

So we're in the Bay the other day, and they tell us that they are offering a new HBC MasterCard.

All the wonderful benefits of the Bay credit card (like the HBC Reward points) but with the ability to earn points purchasing outside of the Bay and Zellers. The rate, instead of being higher than 28% (robbery) was to be closer to regular credit cards (under 20%, minor robbery).

So we get the new card in the mail with a sticker to activate it. I look at the paperwork, and the new rate is 28.8%. What the...?

Anyways, I don't want a MasterCard with a rate that is 8-10 percent higher than my other cards. Luckily, the paperwork says "Call us anytime, 24/7, 365 days a year". I called.

"Please call back in business hours".

Darn. This is starting to make me angry.

So I call today, and apparently there is a trick. If you use the card outside of the Bay/Zellers, they decrease and fix your rate at 20.5%. They don't seem to say this ANYWHERE on the paperwork, and 20.5% is STILL ROBBERY.

Can you imagine how many people are going to be scammed by GE Money and the Bay this Christmas season? This is absolutely unacceptable. You have to assume that no more than 5% of the people who get these cards are going to bother noticing and calling. That's a lot of extra money for GE Money.

So I cancelled my card right away. Now I have to get the word out. GE Money is obviously out to rob people, and the Bay/HBC will just stand by and watch it happen as long as it puts some money into their pockets.

T

What changes for developers with Web2.0?

An older article, but a good one, and I tend to agree. You can get a feeling of some of the arguments from the comments, but it's a great read.

Software isn't written for Web 2.0 companies the way it was during the bubble, nor is it written the way traditional, shipped software was. New ideas about Web applications seem to necessitate new ways of making those applications.

Web 2.0 Development

One particularly controversial point is the changes to QA... is the standard way of doing QA no longer relevant? What happens when the community builds the site? How can QA properly test against a snapshot of a point in time, even with source control?

T

Asus Eee laptop

You guys hear of the Asus Eee laptop?
Asus Eee at NCIX

Looks interesting... reminds me of One Laptop Per Child project, except for North American families. Small laptop running Linux with built-in wifi, $400.

Slashdot article about the Eee

Optimus Prime truck on eBay

I couldn't miss this... there is a sweet rebuilt 1994 Peterbuilt made up to look like Optimus Prime from the recent movie.

The eBay listing
Engaget posting

Very cool.

Checking out Twitter

Just checking out twitter, kinda cool!

T

Goodbye Grandma!

Our grandmother on my mother's side passed away last night. She was an amazing woman, and in many ways she was a bond that held the kids and grandkids together. Although it wasn't a complete surprise in terms of health, it came quickly.

Goodbye Grandma, you will be very missed.