About Me and This Site
By: Jeremy
[+] About Me
I worked in retail and computers for many years. I read industry newsletters, websites, and forums to keep up with current trends in retailers, government, and technology. I spend my work day and much of my after-hours time focusing on computers and the Internet.
Even after all that, I still don't know enough to maintain my privacy and security to the degree I want. And if it's that hard for me, what's a regular person supposed to do? I don't want other people to feel as lost and helpless as I used to so I'll work as hard as I can to make other people's lives a little simpler and a little safer.
[-] About Me
Retail Sales
Over the years, I've I've sold landscape supplies, consumer electronics, phone cards, and even $3000 sets of cookware. Working in sales taught me a lot.
On the positive side, I learned about customer service, how to speak to non-technical people about technical things, and how to match customer needs with a product solution. On the less positive side, I learned about shady business practices, customer add-ons, credit and contract traps, and techniques for manipulating customers.
Though, for the most part, I refused to participate in the darker side of sales, I learned that a regular customer is really at a great disadvantage. They trusted me to tell them the truth and lead them through their purchase so they wouldn't have to do all the work and study it would take to make the decision themselves. A less honest person could use this greatly to their advantage.
Government and Law
However, that's just me. What about everyone else? I know that when someone doesn't know that laws that protect them, it's the same as those laws not existing. Therefore, I want to make sure that I'm doing my part to affect the legal landscape to the betterment of everyone (and make sure they know the laws that help them too).
Web Design
I have been working on computers since 1992 when was first introduced to computer programming. Believe it or not, I would code for hours after school just for fun. Not too many years later, I discovered web programming and began coding entirely online. I've always loved how the Internet allowed any shmuck the ability to tell their thoughts to the whole world and I decided to become one of them.
My first pages were primarily about hobbies or interests of mine, though I soon began doing them for local businesses and the University. More recently, I've had the pleasure of creating sites for schools, some businesses, and NASA.
My latest project (this site), is my first attempt at bringing together my experience in retail sales, computers and Internet, and law.
If you wish to browse my web portfolio, please click HERE
[+] About This Page
As customers and as citizens we are at a huge disadvantage. Businesses will rob and steal as much as they can without breaking the law (and sometimes regardless of the law). The government that's supposed to keep them inline often doesn't and sometimes bends to the pressure of lobbyists to make things even worse.
There are many great organizations that pick up the slack and do far more to help people than I can, but I'm going to get into the fight and do my part.
The purpose of this page, and my focus, is to bring technology issues to them in simple, small, and understandable articles that will help them understand as much as they want to. Most of all, I want my page to teach my visitors at least one thing that will improve their safety and security compared to before they came to my page.
[-] About This Page
I want to be clear: yes, I believe in personal responsibility. I don't condone or tolerate people who abuse government programs or steal from businesses. I support businesses and agencies that do their job well and don't hurt normal people in the process. The problem is that those are far more rare than the ones who will abuse authority or take people for all their worth.
Is it wrong to assume that a major department store isn't allowed to rip you off? Shouldn't we assume that the additives in food has been tested and proven safe before they're put in? Can we expect that if a new controversial technology is being implemented that will affect us negatively, the company must disclose it's presence before we buy the product/service?
I just don't think that the little guy has a chance in the face of teams of accountants, lawyers, marketers, and data mining experts. The government that should protect people can't or won't leaving the real work to be done by private organizations that don't always have the power or resources to make the changes.
Every little bit helps so I'm going to try my hardest to let people know about the scams, shams, and bunk that assault them on a daily basis.
