Dave Baker

Excerpt: "Mobile phone companies are making a last stand to block a regulation that would allow subscribers to keep their telephone numbers when they switch wireless carriers." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...4-2003Apr8.html

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2003/feature-...tography/works/

Is the whole birthday thang kinda hokey? Maybe I should yank it.

http://www.ppbfh.com/index.htm Excerpt: "Powers Phillips, P.C., is a small law firm located in downtown Denver, Colorado within convenient walking distance of over fifty bars and a couple of doughnut shops. Powers Phillips also maintains a small satellite office-in-exile on the cow-covered hillsides near Carbondale, Colorado, where it puts out to pasture some of its aging attorneys."

The message boards assume you live in London (long story omitted). If you live further west (e.g., in the United States), the time shown to you by the message boards won't be correct unless you tell the message boards software which time zone to use when displaying the time. Here's how to do it: 1. First make sure you're logged in. If the front page of the message boards at http://benefitslink.com/boards/ says "Welcome, Guest!" then you're not logged in yet. 2. Then use the following link to change your time zone setting: click here If you get a screen that says you're not logged in, hit your browser's refresh/reload key; that oughta change the screen and let you change your time zone setting. If you still get a screen that says you're not logged in, please let me know (davebaker@benefitslink.com). Once you've selected your time zone, click on the "Change my account settings" button at the bottom of that page.

This is a "caching" problem; your browser is showing you a version of the page that you viewed previously, rather than the current version of the page (that includes the missing reply). I have changed a setting on the web server so that pages aren't cached (actually, they're set to expire 1 second after you view the page) ... this problem should go away now, though you might have to do the refresh/reload dance for pages that you've viewed up until today (April 2, 11:19 a.m. Eastern time). Please let me know if the attempted fix is successful. (Post a reply message into this topic.) Thanks!

That will be tougher -- it's only published online in PDF format, to my knowledge (not as an HTML-formatted document that can be read by a web browser without help from an Adobe Acrobat plug-in). Do you know of any HTML-format versions on the web?

This is a "caching" problem; your browser is showing you a version of the page that you viewed previously, rather than the current version of the page (that includes the missing messages). I have changed a setting on the web server so that pages aren't cached (actually, they're set to expire 1 second after you view the page) ... this problem should go away now, though you might have to do the refresh/reload dance for pages that you've viewed up until today (April 2, 11:19 a.m. Eastern time). Please let me know if the attempted fix is successful. (Post a reply message into this topic.) Thanks!

It appears that the software requires full disclosure ... the only values in the drop-down list are specific years. Just use 1904. Age = wisdom

If the message boards keeps asking you to log in when you try to post a message, even though you've just put in your username and password, the problem could be in your computer's "cookies" -- the little text files that usually work behind the scenes to log you into the message boards automatically whenever you visit the message boards. Here's the likely fix for such trouble: 1. Go to the front page of the message boards, which is http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php 2. At the bottom of the page (scroll a bit), click on "Delete cookies set by this board" 3. Now does your screen still say "Logged in as: <Your Username>" up top? If so, repeat step 2 until your screen says "Welcome, Guest!" up top. 4. At this point, quit your browser (including any open browser windows). 5. Fire up your browser again and go to the front page of the message boards. 6. Assuming the front page says "Welcome, Guest!" now click on Log In and enter your username and password in the appropriate boxes. Below them, you probably want to leave the "Remember Me?" radio button selected ("Yes"). Thereafter you won't have to enter your username and password; that particular computer will log you in automatically whenever you visit the message boards using that computer. If you still have trouble with the software asking you to log in (after you've already logged in), please let me know (preferably as a reply message posted into this topic). Thanks!

I went through each of the message boards and manually set them so that everybody has posting privileges; there might have been some kind of permissions problem caused by the changeover. If the message boards keep asking you to log in when you try to post a message, even though you've just put in your username and password, the problem could be in your computer's "cookies" -- the little text files that usually work behind the scenes to log you into the message boards automatically whenever you visit the message boards. Here's the likely fix for such trouble: 1. Go to the front page of the message boards, which is http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php 2. At the bottom of the page (scroll a bit), click on "Delete cookies set by this board" 3. Now does your screen still say "Logged in as: <Your Username>" up top? If so, repeat step 2 until your screen says "Welcome, Guest!" up top. 4. At this point, quit your browser (including any open browser windows). 5. Fire up your browser again and go to the front page of the message boards. 6. Assuming the front page says "Welcome, Guest!" now click on Log In and enter your username and password in the appropriate boxes. Below them, you probably want to leave the "Remember Me?" radio button selected ("Yes"). Thereafter you won't have to enter your username and password; that particular computer will log you in automatically whenever you visit the message boards using that computer. If you still have trouble with the software asking you to log in (after you've already logged in), please let me know (preferably as a reply message posted into this topic). Thanks!

Thanks! "View New Posts" (which a message board user sees only if he or she is logged in) displays only those messages that have been posted since the last time you logged onto the message boards. "View Active Message Threads" displays all topics that contain new messages (including new topics) posted during the previous 24 hours (whether or not you have logged on during the previous 24 hours). (Also, I think I'll rename "View Active Message Threads" to "View Active Topics" -- the new software prefers the term "topic" to the term "message thread," which is probably a Good Thing, as Martha would say.)

By default, the text in the message boards is "hard coded" -- you can't change the size of the fonts on your screen. If some or all of the text on your screen is too small for you to read comfortably, there's an easy fix: 1. On the front page of the message boards (at http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php), make sure you're logged in. You should see "Logged in as: John Doe" -- if you see "Welcome, Guest" then you're not yet logged in, and you want to click on "Log In" 2. Once you know you're logged in, you'll see "My Controls" towards the top of the page. Click on it. 3. Look in the left-hand column under "Options" -- click on the words "Skin and Languages" 4. Next to the heading, "You may choose a 'skin' to use" you'll see a drop-down menu ... select "Standard Skin but allow font resizing" 5. Click on the "Change My Account Options" button. Voila! Now you will see the message boards in a little more readable layout. If some of the text is still too small, use your web browser to adjust all of the text upwards in size. (On Internet Explorer 6, you can use the View --> Text Size command, or the "Size" button on the toolbar.) Let me know if you have any trouble with this procedure (post a reply message into this topic). Thanks, Dave Baker

Hi, Kate! How is it working for you now? I made a change to the "default" setting. Please let me know if it looks OK now. If it's still too small, please see this topic: http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?a...ST&f=92&t=19174

Thanks! I was able to kill prospectively the "feature" that was causing b) to create a smiley -- and the one that was causing © to create a copyright symbol -- now I have to figure out how to fix those changes that were made to all of the existing messages when the data was converted over to the new software.

MGB -- thanks for the report -- I've turned off the "no all caps" feature. Let Erisa be ERISA! Fredman --thanks for the report -- I've turned on the ability to upload files (attachments) of up to 2048k (about 2 megs) in size. Mike Preston -- could you try out the other skin again and see if it's still sluggish? I have made a change to the way images are served up ... your browser ought to store them in its cache now rather than downloading all of 'em again with each screen change. You're right about the default skin -- that's the only one that I changed to enable users to use their browsers to adjust all the font sizes up or down. The person who created the "tubey" skin has hard-coded the font sizes.

Reply to Katherine -- thanks for the report about the "View today's active topics on our Message Boards" links -- I fixed 'em, I think -- please let me know if they're still not working for you. (I believe the links you're referring to are at the bottom of the HTML-formatted daily email newsletters from BenefitsLink; I've changed those links on newsletters going out as of today, and in the web-archived versions at http://benefitslink.com/2003/ and earlier years.) I've also fixed the "View today's active topics on our Message Boards" link on the Benefits Buzz pages at http://benefitslink.com/buzz/short.shtml and http://benefitslink.com/buzz/new.shtml.

Hello! This is just a note to invite you to take a look at the new, upgraded software that's been installed for the BenefitsLink Message Boards. The new software is considerably faster. It also provides several new features for you. I'll provide details soon in a later message. The address for the BenefitsLink Message Boards is now http://benefitslink.com/boards Thanks, Dave Baker Webmaster ------------------------------------- BenefitsLink Message Boards Statistics: ------------------------------------- Registered Users: 11045 Total Posts: 69280 Busiest Time: 8 users were online on 27th March 2003 - 11:09 AM ------------------------------------- Handy Links ------------------------------------- Board Address: http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php Log In: http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?a...t=Login&CODE=00 Lost Password Recovery: http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?a...act=Reg&CODE=10

I have compiled the 2002 version of my little DOS program called the "Inte-Greater" -- it finds the best integration level for a corporate profit-sharing plan of 40 or fewer participants. It also shows the amounts that should be allocated to the various participants' accounts. Could anybody give it a whirl and compare the results to the allocation figures you get from your current administration software? I think I've correctly implemented the 415 limits and the comp cap, but I'd love to have confirmation that your professional administration software is providing the same allocation figures. The software (it's free) is here: https://benefitslink.com/cgi-bin/inte-greater/ Thanks, Dave Baker

Here's some stuff I received via email -- looks like good information/advice: ------------ The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your check book they will NOT know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" or "Memo" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!) -- you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc. Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know: We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this). Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks. The numbers are: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

For high-speed connections: http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/jcesoft/cca/c...a0/sampmovs.htm

See the Flintstones light up, from the early '60s: http://www.tvparty.com/vaultcomcig.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,912123,00.asp is the "Top 100 Web Sites (You didn't know you couldn't live without)," from the March 2003 issue. Related story: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,912429,00.asp is the "Top 100 Classics - These classics are the well established and typically well-known Web sites that you know you can't live without and that you're glad that you don't have to."

http://www.lostlabor.com/ "LOST LABOR: Images of Vanished American Workers 1900-1980 is a selection of 155 photographs excerpted from a collection of more than 1100 company histories, pamphlets, and technical brochures documenting America's business and corporate industrial history ... Since the images document factories, machinery, and jobs that no longer exist, LOST LABOR provides an unusual visual and historical record of work in 20th century America."