If I wanted HTML, I'd have said so

This is what I just put in as feedback on an airline's Web site:

I signed up for text-only email deliberately. It is easier for me to read, and reduces the risk of virus transmission.

I should not have had to log in to tell you not to change that to HTML.

I hope this doesn't mean you are going to change other of my travel-related preferences on the assumption that I was mistaken in selecting them.

I wouldn't mind so much if the email that included the threat to change what I'm getting hadn't started by saying they were sure I would prefer HTML email, and claimed that it was easier to read. Right. Large blocks of bright colors aren't easier to read. Never mind the people who send me stuff in black on dark gray, because they don't know how to set their preferences, and then act surprised when I ask them to turn HTML off, because they didn't know it was on.

If I wanted HTML, I'd have said so

This is what I just put in as feedback on an airline's Web site:

I signed up for text-only email deliberately. It is easier for me to read, and reduces the risk of virus transmission.

I should not have had to log in to tell you not to change that to HTML.

I hope this doesn't mean you are going to change other of my travel-related preferences on the assumption that I was mistaken in selecting them.

I wouldn't mind so much if the email that included the threat to change what I'm getting hadn't started by saying they were sure I would prefer HTML email, and claimed that it was easier to read. Right. Large blocks of bright colors aren't easier to read. Never mind the people who send me stuff in black on dark gray, because they don't know how to set their preferences, and then act surprised when I ask them to turn HTML off, because they didn't know it was on.

Futility

I keep clicking on news pages, even though I'm nervous about even looking, and nervous about not-looking.

Code orange means I have to show ID to get into the hotel my gym is in (the same ID I use to get into the gym, but it's still pointless even if not requiring extra bits of paper or plastic).

And I don't trust aircraft noises.

At least there are crocuses and snowdrops in bloom, and my desk-daffodils are getting taller.

Futility

I keep clicking on news pages, even though I'm nervous about even looking, and nervous about not-looking.

Code orange means I have to show ID to get into the hotel my gym is in (the same ID I use to get into the gym, but it's still pointless even if not requiring extra bits of paper or plastic).

And I don't trust aircraft noises.

At least there are crocuses and snowdrops in bloom, and my desk-daffodils are getting taller.

(no subject)

Meanwhile, the health insurance company's phone system consists of lots of buttons to push, interspersed with announcements and requests to continue holding.

Fortunately, one of those announcements was of a contact email address. So I have emailed them asking how to set up continuing health insurance under HIPAA. Now I get to find out whether they actually answer email.

(no subject)

Meanwhile, the health insurance company's phone system consists of lots of buttons to push, interspersed with announcements and requests to continue holding.

Fortunately, one of those announcements was of a contact email address. So I have emailed them asking how to set up continuing health insurance under HIPAA. Now I get to find out whether they actually answer email.

an omitted sanity check

I just noticed that a friend of mine has "00-02-1973" listed as his birthday on LiveJournal, so I went and played with the userinfo page.

The software knows that there is no 34th day of any month, and specifically asked for a number in the range 1-31. It knows that there is no February 30, and that there was no February 29, 1962. But the month field asks you to choose from a pulldown menu of the months (by name), and defaults to blank.

Year is explicitly listed as optional; month is not. If you omit the year, it just shows (for example) "11-10". If you omit the month, it acts as though the year has a zeroth month.

(Yes, it's been that sort of evening. I threw out the salad dressing and started over, because it was so bland.)

an omitted sanity check

I just noticed that a friend of mine has "00-02-1973" listed as his birthday on LiveJournal, so I went and played with the userinfo page.

The software knows that there is no 34th day of any month, and specifically asked for a number in the range 1-31. It knows that there is no February 30, and that there was no February 29, 1962. But the month field asks you to choose from a pulldown menu of the months (by name), and defaults to blank.

Year is explicitly listed as optional; month is not. If you omit the year, it just shows (for example) "11-10". If you omit the month, it acts as though the year has a zeroth month.

(Yes, it's been that sort of evening. I threw out the salad dressing and started over, because it was so bland.)