I’ve registered for the NYC Photo Walk. Can’t wait!
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Package Tracking Junkie – Denied!
I admit it, I’m a Package Tracking Junkie. Every time I order something, I must have a tracking number. Except for deep REM sleep, I will go out of my way to track that package hourly. (Yes, light sleeping doesn’t prevent me as I’m sure I sleep walk.) Why write this blog entry? Hell, it’s my blog and I can do what I want.
Anyway – I’m hating on UPS today (generally it’s a lovefest.) I ordered a Dell Mini 9 netbook two days ago from Ebay (yeah, like I’m going to pay retail pricing for a netbook…) True to form, I got a tracking number and starting tracking the package. It was coming from Illinois so I should have in a couple of days by my estimation. I got an email from the vendor that confirmed that I should see it in a couple of days (friday this week.)
So – I start tracking it. UPS states that they received notification of the package. I check every couple of hours knowing that sometimes it takes awhile to get the system updated. I check over and over again and the same status. Yesterday, I reached out to the vendor – they ensured me it was picked up at 6pm the day I ordered it. So I wait for info.
I get the updated info today, the day it’s suppose to arrive. The day that I would fall in love with computers all over again. This package would allow me to spend the weekend in technical bliss.
Delivery RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY.
I hate UPS.
-JT
Seriously – a 100% mark-up for Netflix Blu-ray DVD access – Now it’s an extra $2/month! Come on!! I rather pay that extra $2 for additional titles on your on-demand service instead. Considering that the delivery of that service per movie is saving a TON of money — hence they are probably making a killing.
(yes, I’m on the 1 DVD at a time plan — I find it a hassle to run out to the mailbox, when I can simply get a movie on demand.)
-JT
Addendum: And it gets worse. According to this story – Netflix stock increased 5% on news of the price increase. The story also mentions that Netflix had increase their Blu-ray stock by 60% (they pretty much have to do b/c of the consumer demand for Blu-ray content in my opinion. This should be chalked up to the cost of doing business.) Here’s the clincher – they cite that Blu-Ray titles are 30% more expensive… so they decided that it’s fair to up the Blu-ray fee 100% to the consumer. Seriously… what the hell?
I’ve been meaning to post this blog entry for some time – but better late than never. In late February, as the kids were getting ready to leave for school in the morning, they mentioned to me that the TV in our Sunroom was not working and it had a blinking red light. I went downstairs sure enough my 42″ Philips Plasma TV (Model: 42PF9631D/37) would not turn on. After the jump I’ll explain how I fixed the problem for under $30.
I just love seeing these types of positives steps in the American Education System (and not just b/c it’s Apple Macbooks) :
Despite the economic turmoil, Maine is expanding its program to provide laptop computers to students.
[From The Associated Press: Maine expanding school laptop program with Apple]
Hopefully they will be able to negotiate a reasonable price for the laptops — and then the associated software/infrastructure improvements to make them usable in a classroom environment. Oh and possibly train any teacher that doesn’t have any computer experience (are there any left? If so, why?) to use the new tools. It’s going to be an expensive undertaking, but it’s good to see at least one government body that has made preparing their students for the new world a priority.
I know that this video has been around, but it doesn’t hurt to promote it a bit more… A colleague of mine sent me this link to a video called “Did You Know?” . Updated version (v.4) that includes some citations and updated data. It’s worth the 10 minutes to view them if you are at all concerned with the future of our students in the US. To be honest, it’s a good video to watch no matter what walk of life you’re in (white collar slug, corporate exec, blue collar worker, etc.) – as you can derive a lot of facts that pertain to you and your competition.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that these videos are to promote pro-American nationalism. The videos were not to design for that purpose – but rather to deliver some actual hard facts and ask some serious questions about where the US education system stands. It actually makes me a little sad to see the internet flame wars (which no one ever wins) that are posted in the comments of the YouTube pages of those two videos — a lot of people missed the point of the videos, and were stupid (yeah, I’ll go with ‘stupid’ as a term here) enough to put their thoughts down in writing.
-JT