So last Saturday (the 20th), the display adapter in my HP notebook failed. It’s about three years old, and considering the fact that Brent spilled beer all over it in late 2008, I’m surprised this is the first problem I’ve seen.

I got on HP’s website, and to my delight I discovered that they now have chat support. I was excited, as this meant that I didn’t have to decode someone’s accent while still trying to properly communicate the problem I was experiencing. I told the chat technician of my problem, and a few other cosmetic defects that my warranty also covers, gave him my info, and we were done. A box was on it’s way to my place.

I impatiently watched the tracking on the FedEx site. It showed up a few days later… but at the wrong place. The place I lived in 2007. This is a problem.

So I called the 800 number, and told them of the mishap. They created a new service order, collected my current address, and a new box was on it’s way to my place.

Again, I awaited the “Delivered!” status on the FedEx site. Again, it was shipped to the wrong address. Now putting the wrong address on the order once was excusable. These things happen. Doing it a second time, when I called to correct the issue, was a little ridiculous.

So I looked up and called their corporate office (650-857-1501), and told the operator of my issue. She quickly forwarded me to a support manager, and a new box was on it’s way. This time the box showed up the next day! Less than 24 hours later. They shipped it Priority Overnight, signature required, to my front door.

So the only problem we have now is that with this new order (they apparently have to make a whole new service order to change one detail, which I find weird), the description of the problem has gone from “no display, missing keys, cracked case” to “System no function,” which I don’t think really explains the problem fully.

I guess I’m gonna have to stick little red arrows all over it and include a letter with large type telling the technicians what to fix. I’ve sent this laptop in for repair in the past, and they’ve traditionally been really bad about fixing it. They usually replace something that didn’t need to be replaced, and the broken piece remains broken, forcing me to send it back again.

Wish me luck. I’ll update here on the progress.

Okay, Facebook. It’s time we had a talk.

Now, we both know why I left MySpace. I can’t have a relationship with a social network that’s so flaky. What, with the slow servers, the errors left and right, the images that never load, and don’t even get me started on the links that never worked…

Well, Facebook, I’ve started to recognize a few of these ‘qualities’ in you over the past few months, and I’m disappointed. You can be better than this. I know you can. If things don’t get better, I fear I may have to leave you, too.

Please don’t let me down… Make me a happy man.

Dear bicyclists of [insert city/municipality name here]:

Please consider a few things before you rant about my driving practices and complain about my discontent for how the majority of bicyclists handle themselves on major streets amongst traffic.

1 – I, contrary to what you may think, have no problem with you. Please don’t take my discontent for the average bicyclist to heart. Unless, of course, you were the one driving in the middle of the right lane of the curvy part of Lamar at 15mph during rush hour. In that case, screw you. You need to either learn to use back roads or learn to ride your bicycle faster than 15mph.

2 – I support public transportation, walking, bicycling, and carpooling. I care about the environment, and I do as much as I can to reduce my impact on it, as well as the impact of those around me. I live at The Triangle. You may say it’s just like Dallas (*obviously* you’ve never been to Dallas), but it affords me the ability to walk to several restaurants/eateries, a few convenience stores, a drug store, a liquor store, and my favorite bar. I have a bicycle. I don’t ride it because I’m too tired after my 60 hour work week to even think, yet alone pedal around in 104 degree heat.

3 – Why is it that you MUST take major roads all the way to your destination? I know that it’s not possible in all cases to take back roads, but it is in most. There is no reason you need to ride 12mph down a 3 mile stretch of Guadalupe. Take Rio Grande or Ave H. They all go to the same place. Taking back roads for the majority of your trip is not only less annoying for drivers-of-cars, but safer for you. Far, far safer. Have you seen the way most people operate motor vehicles? I’m afraid to be in a car near them, yet alone a bike.

4 – I don’t drive like the people you talk about when you bitch about clumsy, inconsiderate driving. Please keep this in mind when bitching at me about how hard it is to ride a bicycle in the city.

5 – I would ride the bus to work if I could. I have before, and only stopped after my life was threatened on the 338 by a man with a knife who followed me home. As it stands, I would have to transfer twice, then walk or ride a bicycle the rest of the way. That would be fine with me if the rest of the way wasn’t a 3 mile leg of Capitol of Texas Highway through the hill country. I work in a professional environment, and carry a laptop to work every day. The risk is far too high for me to be riding a bicycle down Highway 360 at rush hour twice a day. Not to mention, it looks bad to walk into a 9:00 conference covered in sweat. This is Texas, after all. Given this information, how do you propose I get to and from work without the assistance of a motor vehicle? Please, indulge me.

6 – I will vote yes on the bicycle paths. I will do my best to help this city accommodate bicycle and foot traffic. I am, after all, a pedestrian myself. I will not, however, stand idly by and let laws be created that disadvantage me when a bicyclist does something stupid like pull out in front of me when I’m going 40mph. Given the choice to swerve into another car, or hit the bicyclist, I’ll probably choose the bicyclist. They may die. That is not my fault, and I refuse to let it be. Your bicycle will do far less damage to my car than my car and the car I would hit avoiding you will do to each other. Not to mention, if I swerve into that car, multiple people could die, not just one. Drive your bicycle with the same precaution and consideration with which you expect me to drive my car. It’s only fair.

7 – No, I will not give you and your bike a ride home from downtown because you’re too tired to ride. You should have thought of that before you rode your bike downtown. Take the bus next time.

These are just a few of my thoughts on a recent rant by a bicyclist friend of mine. I’d love some feedback. Only constructive conversation, though. No bitching. That would wholly defeat the purpose of this post.

I am at my wits end. After having the refurbished iPhone for 3 days, there is again dust under the screen. Let me clarify that I take excellent care of my electronics. I keep my phone in a case, never drop it, and it doesn’t spend much time in my pocket (it usually sits on my desk, night stand or coffee table).

This is unacceptable.

That’s right, guys. This is my 6th one. No, it’s not new. It’s another refurb.

How did this happen? This time, it was actually not a functionality defect, but rather just dust under the screen. Granted, it was excessive dust, that severely affected my user experience. For a 2-month old phone, it was definitely unacceptable. And considering that I’ve not seen an iPhone with dust under the screen before, I considered it a manufacturing defect.

So, the Apple Store again refused to replace my NEW phone with another new phone. I got a refurbished phone as replacement. I still maintain my opinion that that policy is complete and utter bullshit, and sends a very bad message to the customer.

I’m hoping for Apple’s sake that this one doesn’t sprout some weird issue in the coming weeks, because that will be the straw that breaks this camel’s back.

I will, at that point, take on the daunting task of switching BACK to T-Mobile, BACK to Windows Mobile 6, and getting my money back from Apple. Of course, this would involve returning the iPhone as well (and good riddance as far as I’m concerned). However, it will also involve Apple paying for my T-Mobile cutoff fees, my AT&T deposit, my AT&T cutoff fees, and if necessary, my new T-Mobile deposit (since the only reason I switched to AT&T was to get the iPhone, leaving T-Mobile and their better coverage, fewer dropped calls, lower prices and better customer service). I may just throw in the amount of money I have spent in the App Store as well, since all of those apps are decidedly useless without an iPhone. And, if I’m feeling adventurous, I may also ask for the money back for the 3 cases I’ve had to purchase for my iPhone, since Apple makes the ONLY mobile phone on the market that requires a case/skin, yet Apple doesn’t make a case/skin for it (Blackberry, for the record, gives you a free case with every phone. And it’s not required, either.).

If Apple is resistant in this case, I will have to move on to more offensive measures, starting with the local newspaper, and moving my way up.

Apple, You had better cross your fingers that this refurbished iPhone 3G doesn’t have any issues. Else I will make your fruity rainbow-flavored apple-with-a-bite-missing (coincidence?) ass pay for this debacle with as much of a stink as one person is able to manufacture with empirical evidence and total dissatisfaction.