Test file: 1.csv
strlen($ins[1]); // 9
strlen(trim($ins[1])); // 7
$w = preg_replace(‘/[^0-9\.]/Uis’, ”, trim($ins[1]));
strlen($w); // 4
echo $w; // 1.02
echo is_numeric($w); // TRUE
floatval($w); // 1.02

Remember that picture of my dog that supposedly only my friends can see?

Now imagine that private (but not really) image had all kinds of information in it, like what could be shown in the picture below. Or imagine if it was taken with a new smartphone camera that stores personal information like my location in the photos…

Windows Vista & Windows 7 have a link on the detail tab of every picture property labeled “Remove Properties and Personal Information”. You can select one, or several images at a time. If you are posting a picture online, that you want to keep some form of privacy with, I would suggest using this built in Windows feature.

And for all you Micro$oft haters out there MAC OSX and Linux both require third party software to remove this personal data.

I read this sentence about unsolicited credit card offers and laughed “Opting In: Most consumers prefer to continue to receive offers that may interest them.” (source: http://www.experian.com/credit-education/opting-out.html)

Do people really sign up for credit cards offers they receive unsolicited? Either way, an effective way to control what direct mail you receive (as best as you can, nothing will ever stop it) for five year periods is to register with DMA Choice.org: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action

They have a pretty good tutorial on the hows and whys of direct mailing as well which I found interesting: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/static/learn_more.jsp

Your personal information, whether you have social media accounts or not, is all over the internet. Below are a few places and how to remove yourself. Remember, that if you have family members living with you, you may want to remove their information as well.

Address Information, etc:

• WhitePages.com, for instructions on how to remove yourself, click here: http://www.whitepages.com/privacy_central#6. Basically just search for your name and then click “Remove this listing”.
• PeopleSearchPRO.com, you can opt out here: http://www.peoplesearchpro.com/PSP.aspx?_act=optout
• USA Today article on removing your personal details from online databases: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2006-10-05-database-info_x.htm

Home Value and Property Taxes,etc:

• Zillow.com: http://www.zillow.com

I would certainly appreciate any comments as to other places to opt out of personal information being displayed to any internet user online!

…use my personal information to target advertisements!!!!

While browsing my YouTube privacy settings I noticed an option that states “Please use my account information to provide me with relevant advertising”. It of course is checked by default. I am torn between whether I am more amused with the wording of that default privacy selection or the “More Ads” button on Facebook. At any rate, as always, check your privacy settings on any website you have an account on.

I plan on leaving the YouTube setting checked, seeing as they do provide me a free service, and the more targeted their ads, the more ad revenue they are likely to get, which in turn will keep the content free for my listening and visual pleasure. However, the “Please use…” at the beginning of that check box still makes me laugh.

Figure 1. “More Ads” Facebook button

Figure 2. YouTube Privacy Settings

Think you should only check your privacy settings for sites like Facebook? Most other sites provide privacy settings as well. Those settings are most likely defaulting to sharing your information, so it is best to check and then update them appropriately.

Wells Fargo defaults “Allow sharing of my information among Wells Fargo Companies?” to “Yes” for example:

I paid off my car in October. My Chase auto loan account is closed. It says “account closed” when I try to login at chase.com. However, during the first week of December, my bank account was charged a regular car payment. Apparently unless you cancel the auto pay feature on their website they keep charging you against your closed account. And then when you call them and ask them about it, they say the only thing you can do is send them a letter because since the account is closed, they have no way of refunding the money. Chase really needs to have a “feature” where they don’t continue auto pay on a closed account that has a $0 balance….

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkdgK3adrmw

This is how my order from checksunlimited.com came to me. It looks like someone switched packaging on it. Wouldn’t be concerned, EXCEPT IT IS FINANCIAL INFORMATION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

All the check boxes were heavily damaged. One box was even missing the bottom!

The checks themselves are bent and the tops and sides ripped up.

It really looks like someone ripped the address label off of another package and taped it onto this one…

Even the seal was all taped up