I’ve updated the charts with December numbers. Netflix is doing well with its turnaround time, but TV shows really slow down the delivery time. The return envelopes always have the Gaithersburg, MD address, so I don’t think they are shipping the DVD from a long ways away.
More details at the Netflix Analysis page.
Aah, the first day back at work after the holidays. Along with the federal government returning after their one extra day of rest. The interstate traffic was fine. But to go the last mile down I-95, down 14th Street, to Pennsylvania Avenue, where I walked the five blocks to my office, took 45 minutes. My morning commute was an hour and thirty-five minutes today. I’m glad I brought a book to read while slugging.
CNN is running a list of the top 35 most outrageous fees (and how to avoid them). Number 18 is Gift-card activation fee. I just don’t understand people’s obsession with giving a gift card. I received two gift cards for my birthday, three for Christmas. My wife received several. But why not give cash? Cash has no service fees; it does not expire; and I can use it anywhere.
When I receive a gift card, it encourages me to spend extra money on something. The $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, I spent an extra $5 and change for two books. Those two books I could have gotten more cheaply at Amazon. At the Olive Garden, I spent an extra $4 to cover tax and tip. Yes, with cash, I probably wouldn’t have eaten at the Olive Garden. But that $25 would have been just as appreciated. What am I just not understanding about the lure of a gift card?
This is what vacations and rest periods are supposed to be like: Rest. Most of my vacations are spent working on some web project or other, or traveling to visit family and friends, or are otherwise hectic and rushed. But since last Friday, I’ve had 4 nights where I was able to sleep more than seven hours straight (and even 8+ hours a couple times). I’ve been able to take naps during the day. Yes, I still saw my family for Christmas. Yes, I still have done work on some of my web projects. Yes, I’ve checked email for work. But you know what? It’s been great not having any immediate deadlines to worry about. I am feeling rejuvenated right now. And I like how that feels.
Only two days until Christmas! Have you had your Christmas music fix yet?
But I’ve updated the charts with October and November numbers. Netflix is doing well with its turnaround time, although a few of the TV shows we had in our queue were shipped from across the country, which added 1 to 3 days to the delivery time. My charts only show processing time.
What happened on the roads south out of DC last night? Did a snow flake fall? Major traffic accident? Who knows? Whatever it was, my normal one hour commute, which is bad enough, took an hour, fifty minutes. Ridiculous. Leaving home in the morning when it is dark; leaving the office at twilight, and getting home well after dark is a very strange way to run a life.
Doh! The next million pixels web site? A purple cow? Oddly misshapen burnt toast? Whatever it is, it’s a neat idea. Pay a few bucks, they write your name on a piece of toast, then link to a web site. YourNameOnToast.com Do they eat the toast? Is sharpie ink edible?
One of my friends (hey Brad!) asked me a while ago if I had seen the Battlestar Galactica. We don’t have cable TV, so no I haven’t. But I just watched the first two seasons in 43 minutes. I downloaded Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far into iTunes. It’s a 465MB file, but it looks really good. And it mostly makes sense. So the download worked, I just added Battlestar Galactica to my Netflix Queue.
Futurosity is doing something I have often thought of doing, giving away a cool prize in exchange for a link. What should I give away? hmmm….
