| Omaha Steaks Responds to Privacy Complaint
Last week, I raked Omaha Steaks over the coals as a particularly annoying example of the continuing poor privacy practices of many Web sites. Well, I have to give the company credit for listening at least a little. A few hours ago, I got a letter via UPS to my doorstep from Omaha Steaks CEO Bruce Simon. He apologized for my receiving repeated, unwanted telemarketing calls and apparently took me off the company's list. (He also said the company is sending me a complimentary box of filet mignon. While I appreciate the sentiment, journalistic scruples will require me to decline the shipment. So if it hasn't been sent out, Mr. Simon, please hold the steaks.) Still, while it's good that the company at least offers an opt-out alternative for emails and removes customers from telemarketing lists on request, I don't think that's good enough in this day and age of relentless marketing pitches.
Directory of Top Computer Executives - Canada Edition
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Second serves: Djokovic looking like a champ
The times, they may be a-changin': Is this the beginning of a power shift in tennis? Roger Federer, Justine Henin and the Williams sisters all went out quietly in this year's Aussie Open. Are the new young guns ready to take control? I have more ATP rankings points than I know what to do with: If you needed further evidence of the Big Three's dominance, then behold. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic still the top three in the rankings have all eclipsed the 5,000-point plateau in the ATP rankings. Of the last five players before Federer to attain the No. 1 ranking, only Hewitt with 5,205 in August 2002 has ever topped that total, according to ATPtennis.com. Leave some for everyone else, guys. Zack Pierce is an editor for FOXSports.com. .
'Bonfire of the quangos' described as a 'damp squib'
Mr Salmond claimed his quango cull would at least cut back on advertising spend, because the board vacancies would not have to be advertised in newspapers, as they are now. And he claimed that private-sector productivity might improve by 1 per cent, because of the lack of bureaucracy.Both those are possible, but it is impossible to avoid the impression that this was little more than an exercise in smoke and mirrors, and the real savings, which Mr Salmond promised, will not materialise unless he is more ruthless and more determined to reduce the scope and power of the state. .
SFWMD approves Miami-Dade's 20-year water permit
With Miami-Dade County's promise to build about $1.9 billion in water projects, the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District approved a permit on Thursday for the next 20 years of the county's water use. The consumptive use permit allows Miami-Dade to use about 76 million more gallons of water a day by the time everything is built. That would support the county of 2.4 million people to grow to 2.7 million residents by 2027. However, the permit is contingent on the county building those water projects along a strict timeline. The district could revoke the permit and limit water allocations if the county doesn't perform. "Not only does it impose deadlines for the project to be in service, it also requires interim milestones to ensure the financial service plans are met," said Santiago Echemendia, a Tew Cardenas attorney in Miami who represents the district's governing board.
82% of Canadians would rather work than retire: poll
I had done the same thing for 29 years and was ready to take on new challenges. So far nothing has really peaked my interest but, I'm always looking around and doing things whether for money or not. I always have that pension I worked so hard for to fall back on. My only caveat is, I won't commute any great distance. Never again. Life is pretty short when you think of it. So much to do. Time to go and get on with it. .
Cell phone numbers up for sale
Three U.S. senators are pushing a bill to protect more than 250 million consumers from having their cell phone numbers listed in a 411 directory similar to directories available for residential phone numbers.Prospects of a cellular phone directory have raised fears about a flood of telemarketing via wireless calls and text messaging. While the Federal Communications Commission says those fears are unfounded, there are other privacy concerns at stake.The wireless industry says it has no intention of creating such a directory, although it once did plan to do so.But the bipartisan authors of the Wireless 411 Privacy Act say they dont want to take any chances, and they note that numbers are already available in at least one online directory service that has 90 million cell phone records.I think this is something we want to nip in the bud and say, You wanted to do this, and now you dont.
McCallie wrestles with new problems
There is still hope for McCallie although the Blue Tornado wrestlers have struggled mightily as a team. “The kids are working toward their personal goals, and we'll get a measure of where we stand this week," McCallie coach Gordon Connell said. That measuring stick comes at 7 tonight in the form of defending Division II state champion Baylor. A team win seems farfetched for McCallie, which has been forfeiting four weight classes and giving up 24 team points in producing a 3-11 dual-meet record. Co-head coaches Connell and Mike Newman have had to contend with defaults, dings and disappearances. “This year has been inordinate — guys not coming out, guys quitting or guys getting hurt," Connell said. McCallie is without four potential starters due to injury: Chris Glascock (125), Jones Graham (145), Ray Brown (145) and Jake Raulston (160).
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