Web Tracking Sucks
[Comic #281 from XKCD, by Randall Munroe]
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I recently had a package shipped from America to my apartment here. I received a tracking number for it via email. Normally, this makes me happy, because I can see the estimated delivery date - and sometimes even the time. This time, however, I was seriously let down. Web tracking is only helpful if it is updated as close to real-time as possible. The United States Postal Service needs to figure that out. I started tracking my package on its sojourn over the vast Pacific Ocean. According to the tracking, things were progressing well - but I started to get antsy at how much time was being consumed by the checkpoints. It was only when the package arrived at my house that the problem revealed itself. The tracking system was nearly 48 hours behind in updates! Hello! What is the point of a tracking system that will tell me I got something TWO DAYS after I get it? You’d think that I’d…you know…have caught on by then.
Long story short: web tracking sucks!
Bonus - I once sent 2 postcards from my university post office. One was sent to my hometown, located within state about 300 miles or so away. The other was sent to Skien, Norway. Guess which one got there first. Yes. The Norwegian post office should be proud. Or, again, the USPS should be ashamed. I can’t believe we subsidize this stuff.
Bonus #2 - the IRS needs to get on the ball, too. I received my Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 check in the mail about a week ago, out of the blue. Today, I got a notice that I should receive a check in the mail within 6 weeks of receiving the letter. Brilliant. Bureaucracy at work. (Also - sorry to all the people I inadvertently stole my “stimulus” check from. Since I earn less than $70,000 USD I am fully tax exempt so far as the IRS is concerned. That means I got some of YOUR money back. I appreciate it though. What to buy, what to buy…)