ScottKoon.com

What is this crap!?

I went to best buy’s website and bestbuy.com has started requiring its users to enable cookies to browse their site. This is so that best buy can track users as they go through their website and then resell this information to other companies (it says that they will do this in their privacy policy agreement). Although they say they do not identify individuals but give overall statistics I don’t like the idea that they are forcing me to do this just to buy something from their website. Perhaps I will just go to circuitcity.com.

For now you can still navigate to the site by navigating directly to their products catalog:

http://www.bestbuy.com/products/main.html

A copy of the best buy privacy policy:
Privacy Policy on Cookies

Our Web site uses cookies to simulate a continuous connection – cookies let us “remember” information about your preferences and passwords and allow you to move within our Web sites without reintroducing yourself. A “cookie” is a small data file that a Web site may send to your browser and which may then be stored on your system. We use cookie and web beacon technology to track which pages on our sites our visitors view and which Web browsers our visitors use. We also use “action tags” to assist in delivering the cookie. These action tags allow us to compile statistics and other data about our customers on an aggregate basis, by embedding a random identifying number on each user’s browser. Then we track where that number shows up on our site. We share aggregated data (information that does not identify you) with third parties.

Google gives the answer to life, the universe, and everything

I am happy to report that my employment status has now stabilized.

I am officially employed with DSD Laboratories where I will be working in their Information Assurance Laboratory (DIAL).

I also have been accepted as a private contractor for SnapStream Media. I will be doing various tasks for my favorite home theater software company including but not limited to website design, product documentation, and forum moderation.

I will start logging hours with SnapStream tomorrow, and I will start with DSD on Wednesday.

Sony aims to beam sights, sounds into brain.

If you think video games are engrossing now, just wait: PlayStation maker Sony Corp. has been granted a patent for beaming sensory information directly into the brain.

Full Story

DigitalGlobe is making available to the media 60-centimeter (2-foot) resolution satellite imagery of Vatican City. This image was collected by DigitalGlobe’s QuickBird satellite on April 5, 2005.

Click Here to see the photo

Yea. so I just remembered that I have a blog, and that I should probably post something on it from time to time.

Well with that in mind, I thought I would share what has been on my mind recently (and thus keeping me from sharing with you).

I am chest deep in my job search, and it is starting to look like I will have several choices to make in the very near future. I have accepted a position with WVU in their IT department, and I also have an offer on the table from SnapStream to do contract work for them. Well I thought this would be just great because I was fairly confident that I would be able to handle both responsibilities at the same time without problem. Then along comes DSD Labs, I have been told by one of their employees that I have been selected as one of their finalists for a position with that company, and (from what I understand) the only thing left is for my credentials to get approval from the company headquarters.

So, the issue is the DSD position is MUCH better than what WVU and SnapStream combined can offer me. However, I have obviously already accepted the WVU position. As far as I am concerned business is business and I should do what is best for me (which would mean take the dsd position and run), but then the little guy on my shoulder starts yelling in my ear (and as most of you know he has a tendency to yell very often and very loud when it comes to helping my friends and doing the right thing). So I’m trying to convince myself that everyone will understand when I totally screw over the WVU IT department and take this other job (if it were to be offered to me of course, which still might be a big if)… right?

Well there you have it, the super recap of where my mind has been the past few weeks. It has been in the midst of salary negotiations and hurry up and wait application deadlines.

And as always, if any of you have any great wisdom, advice, comments, etc to share I welcome them.