I finally convinced my mother to cancel her AOL Dial-Up account. It has been a tug-o-war since 2000.

You see, by the time I had graduated from high school and been accepted to USC (Go Trojans!) under early admittance, I had already hacked into several small networks using AOL Dial-Up. “Security” wasn’t an issue back then. No one had a strong “secure” schema for “security”. *shrug*

So when I arrived at USC (Go Trojans!), and I was able to tap into a T1… I thought I was the hot heifer on the skreet (not “street”). And AOL Dial-Up was a red headed step-bastard…in other words, NOT POSSIBLE – NOT AN OPTION (N.O.).

I was bougie now. AOL Dial-Up? Psht. Pligga Neez.

However, it was good enough for her. She had a good government secure high-speed network on base everyday. She wasn’t concerned about having it at home too. If SHE was happy. I was happy. I mean, I didn’t go home as often anymore…but she was happy.

Fast forward to 2010…

Mom wants a new laptop.

The bargain: I’ll give you ONE OF THESE *holding up one of my 1 year old Gateway Laptops* … the day you cancel AOL Dial-Up.

My life hasn’t been the same since.

After countless text messages and email messages, it became MY job to power cycle through AOL’s chain of 800 #s to hit their India based cancellation crew.

If I had received one more “Did you call yet?” text message, I was going to plan an attack on AOL over a V.92 56k bit rate modem.

I mean, how did it become MY job to cancel something I been telling her to cancel for YEARS because SHE wants one of MY laptops? I’d been #swindled.

What took 14+ years to deal with, took 5 minutes to diminish.

Interesting how shed been paying $34.99 per month for 14 years and it took our calling in for them to offer her a “New Great Rate” of $4.99 per month.

*middle finger to AOL*

Dear AOL, I hate your face.

Kick Rocks Barefoot, Courtney

I love it when businesses find ways to be more efficient by going digital.

Yesterday, when we got to 24 hour fitness, they asked if we wanted to register for “Cardless Check-In“. I couldn’t be happier. You see, I ALWAYS forget my card. ALWAYS. To the point now, that I prepare and just take my Driver’s License in with me so that I can give them my phone number to check me in instead. It’s pretty pitiful.

But now, I don’t have to do that anymore. SCORE!

Yes, we still need it at clubs that don’t offer Cardless Check-In yet, but the ones that I go to… DO. And all clubs are slated to have the Cardless Check-In by the end of 2010.

All you have to do is scan your index finger and punch in your favorite 10-digit ID (pick your own), and we’re checked in!

• No more waiting for someone who’s talking on the phone to figure out how to multi-task!
• No more super long line of folks who just got off work!
• No more having to search through the car / truck for ID cards!
• And if you’re a “Greenie”…no more wasting paper!
• Read More about 24 Hour Fitness Cardless Check-In here

Phrase of the week: Scope Creep

Scope creep (also called focus creep, requirement creep, feature creep, function creep) in project management refers to uncontrolled changes in a project’s scope. This phenomenon can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled. It is generally considered a negative occurrence, and thus, should be avoided.

Typically, the scope increase consists of either new products or new features of already approved product designs, without corresponding increases in resources, schedule, or budget. As a result, the project team risks drifting away from its original purpose and scope into unplanned additions. As the scope of a project grows, more tasks must be completed within the budget and schedule originally designed for a smaller set of tasks. Thus, scope creep can result in a project team overrunning its original budget and schedule.

If the budget and schedule are increased along with the scope, the change is usually considered an acceptable addition to the project, and the term “scope creep” is not used.

Scope creep can be a result of:

• disingenuous customer with a determined value for free policy
• poor change control
• lack of proper initial identification of what is required to bring about the project objectives
• weak project manager or executive sponsor
• poor communication between parties