Lateshift XIV: The Search For Pie

21:30 / 29.03.04

Do you have to give them your card details? I don't remember doing that. I've only got a debit card, for a start.

21:30 / 29.03.04

and you aren't worried about ebay security or the possibility that you purchases could be tracked/the information collated to form a profile about you?

21:31 / 29.03.04

you have to give them card details credit or debit

21:33 / 29.03.04

one of the key things they advise when buying stuff over the net is getting another credit card with a low limit to limit your liability if the details do become compromised - i suppose i should do this if i want to register with ebay...

21:35 / 29.03.04

Really? That's just stupid - there's no good reason why they'd need those details. I'm absolutely certain I never had to do that (three years ago). What reason do they give, sleaze?

First thing I bought was a scart lead for an old games console.

21:36 / 29.03.04

Oh, no it wasn't. It was the ltd German CD release of the Fatima Mansions' Valhalla Avenue.

21:37 / 29.03.04

Registration is free. However, you'll need to place a credit card on file for identification.

Don't want to put your card on file? You may enter a different email instead, as long as your new email is from an Internet Service Provider (AOL, etc.), company, school, or organization.

Your card will not be charged. Rest assured that your information is kept safe and private.

21:38 / 29.03.04

thing is i'm not sure i want an internet auction company knowing where I work etc either...

21:44 / 29.03.04

Ah, I see. They don't give a reason. Niiiice.

A few sites have my debit card details - I know Amazon store them, for one, and there are others. Tbh, I'm not massively concerned about it, although I probably should be - I've no idea what happens if a debit card exceeds its limit online. In real life shops it flags up on the till and the store have to phone the bank about it, but with an entirely automated process... hmm. Not had a problem yet, mind, and most of my spending is done online. A debit card's got to be safer than a credit card, but I don't know how much safer.

21:45 / 29.03.04

The forces of paranoia and crapulence have won this day it seems - i'm gonna head to bed now - maybe i'll register another time...

21:45 / 29.03.04

I didn't have to provide that information when I registered...they must have had some problems with fake bids and the like. I wouldn't take out the credit card just for E-Bay's sake. I've handled all my auctions by personal cheque or postal order, which works fine. I suppose the degree of security you need depends on the amount you're going to pay...

21:47 / 29.03.04

Night night sleaze...

Randy: A debit card is actually not safer than a credit card, at least in terms of the safeguards installed in case you have someone pinch the card details. A Visa/Mastercard has automatic insurance in case of fraud or charges racked up on a stolen/cloned card. A debit card like Switch doesn't.

21:51 / 29.03.04

Quick question, sleaze - is the request for card details coming after you receive the account activation email from them, because it's not part of the first few registration steps.

21:53 / 29.03.04

Well, that's a bit better, because mine's Visa. I was thinking more in terms of the amount of cash that could end up being taken - there's a limit on daily withdrawals on debit cards which is much lower than those on most credit cards.

21:53 / 29.03.04

Totally sending the thread careening all over the show: Does anybody else think that the shipping forecast on Radio 4 is the most relaxing radio show on the British airwaves? There's something hypnotic about the list of coastal areas, weather stations and pressure systems being read in a quiet monotone...

21:59 / 29.03.04

And here I am again. All cats have been evicted from pants, and I've been fed, which is always cheering.

It was so cute today, all the young people were in the empty fountain playing frisbee, hackey sacking, and break dancing. It was a delightful spring image.

22:01 / 29.03.04

Sounds wonderfully idyllic Mazarine.

Hope there's something wearable left of the pants, once the felines were extracted.

Goodness Gracious Meme

22:02 / 29.03.04

awwww, lovely.

There were lots of people walking on the beach in the sun today, and people playing frisbee. Most springlike and cheering.

22:03 / 29.03.04

GA - I'm still glued to WFMU. The show on at the moment includes interviews, and despite the fact that I'm not paying any attention to what's being said, there's something soothing about the lazy, warm accents coming out of the speakers at me. I'd identify them as 'American', but I haven't got the faintest idea how to tell one US accent from another.

Are you living in the early 1980s, Maz?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

22:03 / 29.03.04

j0. How's things?

22:04 / 29.03.04

Well, the anthem's been played and Radio 4's shut down for the night. That's my cue to take a bow and head for a serious session in Club Duvet. Play nice with your new colourful toy kids, and remember to share!

22:18 / 29.03.04

Are you living in the early 1980s, Maz?

Apparently. My college bears a striking resemblance to a cold war concrete fortress. And my future is, in fact, so bright that I am, on occasion, required to wear protective tinted eyewear.

22:19 / 29.03.04

Night, Grey Area.

Goodness Gracious Meme

22:27 / 29.03.04

Think it's time for me and duvet to re-acquaint. 'nnight all.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

22:33 / 29.03.04

I have lots of people playing frisbee etc where I live. However, they also play drums including bongos and smoke vast quantities of pot. What decade am I living in? I'm decadally confused.

And they ride Vespas.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

22:36 / 29.03.04

G'night, sleeping people.

23:11 / 29.03.04

I'd say you're living in the late sixties early seventies. My fiance and I have been discussing getting rid of my crappy weak car and his tank-like money pit of car and getting a normal, solid car and a Vespa. I would probably take the Vespa, generally, maybe get a bus pass for the winter. The newer models can get close to 70 miles per hour, or so I hear. I would wear a silly looking helmet.

Vroom.

Cat Chant

19:35 / 30.03.04

Is it late yet? And do you think there is a rule against using the phrase "fierce and tender" in more than one story?

God, maybe all the thousands and thousands of words of slash I've ever written were just trying to get at the collocation of fierce and tender. Maybe I should stop writing now. God. What a scary thought.

19:43 / 30.03.04

It is, most definately, late. And as for the use of fierce and tender...I'd say as long as you only use it once in every story you're getting away with it. Just.

Never know, it could become your trademark...

Cat Chant

19:46 / 30.03.04

Okay, good. "Ravenous and lonely" really wasn't working for me.

Cat Chant

19:55 / 30.03.04

Goddamnit, my first Lateshift in weeks and I wuss out. There is to be no fierce tenderness tonight, so I'm going to sleep in the hope that I might get some work done tomorrow. Have fun without me, you youngsters you.

Ariadne

20:02 / 30.03.04

I'm no good at lateshift either. I barely look at this thread and I feel sleepy. Of course, once I get into bed I'll lie awake for hours. We need a computer outside the bedroom, then I could get up again and talk nonsense all night.

ONLY NICE THINGS

20:05 / 30.03.04

Hello all. Just in from Barbedrinks, which were terribly nice. And dude! I totally had my identity stolen today. Although I suspect the other party didn't carry it off terribly well...

20:38 / 30.03.04

Identity theft? How did you find out???