Slashback: Livermore, Privacy, Nixieness

Slashback's amplifications and updates tonight include more on Best Buy's worst practices for data security, how the proposed Federal government restructuring will affect Lawrence Livermore labs,a long-overdue Maglev for those of us outside France or Japan, and even more on building Nixie-tube toys. Read on for the details.

Fancy titles attract bigger budgets. SeanAhern writes: "Following up on last week's Slashdot article about LLNL's role in the new Department of Homeland Security, it turns out that LLNL will not change its role or change hands. Instead, LLNL may become a 'center for excellence,' essentially taking on a research role for the new Department. More information can be found in a couple of articles around the press."

Why not just shout it cashier-to-cashier? jqcoffey writes: "A while ago it was discovered that Best Buy was using wireless LANs to transmit cash register data back to accounting servers. The problem was it was UN-encrypted data. They turned them off for a while and now, according to this Computerworld story, they are back on."

Maglev for the Maglevians! LighthouseJ writes: "The Hampton Roads Virginia paper, the Pilot recently reported that my current school, Old Dominion University, recently installed the very first maglev train in the United States on the elevated track already built the previous school year. This train won't go that fast (40 mph) compared to the bullet trains that travel at 300 mph, but at the same token, it won't be traveling that far. The service has been scheduled to start September 1st.

There is some information I have about the maglev that's not mentioned. First, the school is in a rectangle, with the maglev built in the center length-wise. It connects the main campus with the new construction happening across the major road, Hampton Rd and has 3 stations planned now with more to come as the track may extend in the future. They are building more housing, education and meeting places, and the maglev will facilitate safe transportation across that road for students and faculty."

Can this really be the first Mag-lev train in the U.S.? A nifty project regardless.

When a Rolex just isn't good enough. fixitsan2 writes: "I know this thread has been gone over before, when it appeared at the start of February, but ironically, about the same time as the thread ended a group was started on Yahoo!. Not only was it a fast-growing newsgroup, but the technical standard is extremely high. Covering all aspects of building nixie tube clocks as well as other nixie devices including safe power generation, and all display methods from direct drive to multiplexing, as well as lots of circuits and tube sources.

A quick look at the welcome page will give you a fuller idea of what gets discussed."

Comments

Best Buy Electronic Signature pads...

[tm2b]

That makes me really, really glad that I refuse to sign Best Buy's electronic signature pads and tell them to let me sign paper instead.

I know about the arguments that claim that it's just as easy to steal a receipt or carbons, but making it as easy as pulling up front with a wireless card? No, thanks. And yes, I do shred my receipts when I'm done with them.

Re:Best Buy Electronic Signature pads...

[CanadaDave]

Your level of paranoia is a little strange, and somewhat contradictory. If you are doing any signing whatsoever, then that must mean you are using credit cards; however, credit cards are probably the most insecure method of exchanging money in the world today, after cash of course. All someone needs is your name, credit card number and the expiry date, and they are home free. Forget about the signature. Gas stations no longer require signatures if you "pay at the pump," nor do on-line retaileres. If you really want to be safe, get rid of your credit cards. Use debit cards. Or if you feel that your PIN may be transmitted insecurely over the air waves (which it wouldn't be in Best Buy's case), your last resort is to use cash.

You also assume that someone is willing to reconstruct your signature into an image from some garbled-looking digital information. And then they have to learn how to copy your signature at least decently (which would be hard to do, because your signature would probably be pretty messy. Have you ever tried writing on those pads? It's a bitch). Which brings me to another point. Do you think those 15 year old cashiers even look at your hand-written signature to see if it is yours? Not likely. So even if someone got a hold of your credit card, they wouldn't need to have parked outside with a 802.11 card and a laptop and sophisticated software to learn your signature...they could just put anything on the dotted line and the cashiers wouldn't blink!

Re:Best Buy Electronic Signature pads...

[mbadolato]

Do you think those 15 year old cashiers even look at your hand-written signature to see if it is yours?

Years ago when I worked in retail, I used to check the signatures. I used to make people show me their id if the signature area on the card was not signed.

I used to LOVE when people would comment "But if I sign it, then if someone finds my card they can see how to copy my signature!". Really? Nice try fucknut, but if you leave it blank and someone finds your card, they can sign it in their own handwriting and not have to go through the hassle of learning to copy yours.

That ususally resulted in them giving the "oops, didn't quite think of it that way" sigh, followed by them signing the card....

Maybe readers of /. do that too, and if so, i would love to hear a legitimate reason for leaving the strip blank (Note, blank, not writing "CHECK MY ID" in the space).

I built one

[ArchieBunker]

I bought an etched board from one site for $25 and found a piece of equipment sitting out for the trash at the local university which had 6 nixies complete with sockets. About $20 in parts from digikey and I was in business. As long as the power company can keep a good 60hz sinewave the clock should be accurate. The only issue with nixies is they do have a finite lifespan like all neon lamps. Keep the current draw as low as you can to make them last longer. Eventually the glass will turn black and the digits will flicker and get dim.

Re:BestBuy

[NanoGator]

"We don't have bestbuy her (UK), but from all their problems, its a wonder people still shop there..."

That's because those of us that are satisfied Best Buy customers don't want to argue with people who require a salesman to show them which Compaq to buy. You can imagine how that convo'd go, right?

"That stupid Best Buy salesman had no idea what a hard-drive is!"

"err, why did you need a Best Buy salesman to tell you what a hard drive is?"

"STFU!"

"Hey! All I'm saying is..."

"Look those salesman making $8 should know everything there is to know about what I want! I mean if they don't know what a hard drive is, why are they selling there anyway?"

"Fair enough, but if you know so much about what you're looking for, why do you need their help?"

From there the f word is used alot. Heh. You can see why none of us want to rush to Best Buy's defense. Most of the reasoning I've heard so far is typical of any retailer, not just Best Buy. They just had their bad straw drawn at Best Buy.

Re:BestBuy -- you mean Worst Buy?

[swb]

Its the same reason people shop at Fry's or anywhere else -- when you balance the equation of convenience, location, price, selection, staff, policies, and so on, for many things it balances out to be pretty much the best option, sometimes the only option.

I try to avoid it if I can, even going to more upscale shops, but even when customer service isn't Best Buy Awful, they're still ingratiating college drop outs who are just training for the big league of automobile and photocopier sales.

My Letter Regarding A Receipt Checker Experience

[JohnA]

Naturally, I received a response saying that "the store said that this did not happen." I haven't shopped there since.

December 26, 2001

Richard M. Schultze
Chairman & CEO
Best Buy Co., Inc.
7075 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Cc: Allen Lenzmeier
President
Best Buy Retail Stores

Dear Mr. Schultze,

I am writing you in regards to the events that took place today, December 26, 2001, at Best Buy #516 (Alpharetta, GA). First I would like to mention that I don't usually write letters to executives such as you concerning the conduct of low-level employees, but I felt that the events that occurred today warranted such action.

I received two $25 gift cards for Christmas this year, and went to visit my local Best Buy to redeem them. I purchased several DVD movies, as well as a computer cable. My total, after the gift cards were applied, was approximately $65. To my knowledge, retail companies issue gift cards not only for the assurance of a future purchase but also in the hope the customer will purchase other merchandise beyond the amount to be redeemed. I did exactly this with no reservations and came away pleased with my purchase.

As I am sure you can imagine, the store was an absolute zoo due to the holiday season, and the lines at the registers where backed up across the central aisle and spilled over into the music section. As I was exiting the store another customer about seven feet ahead of me set off the alarm, I, however, continued through and as the alarm did not activate so of course I felt that there was no reason to remain on the premises. At that time, a loss prevention employee ran out of the store and demanded to see my receipt. This particular employee, whose nametag read Josh, has in the past demanded I show him my receipt a good majority of the times he is on duty heedless of what I had just purchased and without the reasonable doubt that activating the security gates may imply. Out of these dozen or more "checks," this employee has not once found anything but the items listed on the receipt inside of my bag. Such dogged persistence to search my purchases with no justifiable reason has made it difficult to interact with him not only as an employee but as a person as well.

Today, I had just waited 20 minutes to check out, and another 10 minutes for the clerk to locate the BestBuy.com order I was picking up; I was in no mood to be made to wait a third time. Knowing that there was no reason whatsoever for the employee to continue to subject me to such scrutiny, I chose rather to inform him that I was leaving instead of submitting once again to his suspicions and started walking off towards my car. He continued to pursue me, at which point I became upset that this harassment was still taking place. Rather than maintain a civilized approach to the situation he proceeded to stand in front of my path and grab at my bag. After "bumping" me with his chest and pushing me with his hands a verbal confrontation ensued, during which the employee stated to me "Why don't you go fuck yourself". Following this, I was trying my best to simply escape the situation, since I knew that if he continued to markedly provoke me in this manner, I might lose my temper. That was the last thing I wanted to happen; especially in light of the fact that it was the day after Christmas and I simply wished to enjoy my day off from work with my younger brother. He can independently verify my account if you deem it necessary.

As I was trying to leave, the employee grabbed my shopping bag and refused to release it. In accordance with my desire to avoid any further escalation, I was able to forcibly regain the bag by pulling it out of his hands. By this time, a store manager and several other employees began to approach us in the parking lot. Seeing as none of them had witnessed the event or the actions of the employee, I turned and began to walk to my car, rather than have the confrontation continue with more accusations and yelling. As I was leaving "Josh" continued to yell after me, and the manager called me an "asshole" behind my back before telling me to "never come back." There is simply no excuse for this type of behavior from any retail employee, and certainly not from a Best Buy employee.

In order to demonstrate the extent of my patronage, I have included several documents. First, I have attached a report generated from my Microsoft Money file that details all of the purchases I have made since August using my debit card. According to the report, this total is just over $2,000. Since I only use my debit card about 50% of the time, I have included copies of a number of receipts that I have just been able to locate from around my apartment. As you can see, I am a frequent shopper, and I make multiple purchases per week at your Alpharetta location. I stop by almost every Tuesday to purchase the newly released DVD movies that have recently been made available to the public. As a matter of fact, this is the reason I went shopping in your store today... to pickup a movie I had ordered from BestBuy.com as well as two others that I wished to purchase. The statement the manager made to me that I should "never come back" is disappointing to me.

I know that as an executive, you have many priorities that occupy your time, but I felt that this situation is of such magnitude that it demands the attention of yourself or someone who is directly involved at a district level.

I hope you are able to use this information to improve your customer service, and in through that customer service, improve the customer relationships that are so important for Best Buy to continue to succeed in the marketplace. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your time. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how this situation can be resolved.

Regards,

....