I got it into my head sometime in December 2004 that I wanted order a laptop computer. I thought I would get one from the hugely popular computer company that allows you to call their 800 number and custom order what you want. Presto, like magic, it appears at your doorstep in days.
Since I live in Mexico, I was forced to order from their online site-in Spanish. The company designed this site for Mexicans only. The order form required four names, a common custom in Latin America, and something called a “RFC” number. At the time I hadn’t clue what that was.
I tried filling out the form the best I could, inserting my credit card number, but it would not send and rejected all my attempts. The site was insistent that I had to have four names and an “RFC” number. So I made up something! I put my mother’s maiden name and my social security number on the recalcitrant form.
It went through. A customized, popular name brand laptop was on its way! Within days I would finally own a computer whose American TV commercials (”Dude you’re getting a ______!”) had convinced me that its brand would make my computing life complete.
The next day, the wife and I trudge down to the local Internet Caf
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