Postal rates go up again tomorrow. I understand that part of the issue is that the cost of fuel is through the roof. But, the PO is still complaining that e-mail has eroded their business and driven up their cost per letter. This comes from the same hypocrites that gave away CD ROMS for the world’s largest ISP in every one of their lobbies.

"Here’s your sign!" (With apologies to Bill Engvall)

Maryland is considering a law that would make it illegal to send text messages while driving. Is it me, or is it ludicrous that it isn’t already against the law?

Frankly, just outlawing text messaging doesn’t go far enough. Every day, I see people reading books, using laptops — even eating bowls of cereal — all while hurtling down the highway.

More than laws, though, we need to exercise common sense. People, if you’ve got to take your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, you probably ought not be doing whatever it is that you’re doing. Think about it.

I heard on this morning’s news that, at least in Baltimore County, homes and businesses are going to be required to display the street number on the back of the building. The idea is to make it easier for emergency crews to find an address from the alleyway. I think this is a fantastic idea.

But, what I think would be really helpful would be for the law requiring street numbers on the front of the building be enforced.

Way #1 — Live in Maryland

Maryland has, for years, been known as “The Fee State.” Well, now it’s January 3, 2008, and Maryland’s new sales tax is in effect — 6% now, instead of 5%, as well as a doubled cigarette tax! At least the ciggie tax doesn’t affect me. And, fortunately, we bought the new car last year. Unfortunately, we still need a new computer … 

Way #2 — Buy a Dell PDA

Last year sometime, I bought a Dell X51v PDA. It’s a nice enough device, but it’s becoming increasingly useless. I can connect to fewer and fewer WIFI networks with it, as WAP security protocols get tighter and tighter. Of course, increased security is a good thing. The bad thing is that Dell have no plans for any OS upgrades. Or any other upgrades or updates. The “updates” on their web site are older than the firmware in my unit.  The fact is, they seem to have washed their hands of the whole thing. That’s the last Dell product I’ll ever buy.

Way #3 — Get a Rhapsody Account

Actually, opening the account isn’t the way to get screwed. However, trying to cancel the service will. Despite receiving a confirmation number from the customer service rep who simply couldn’t believe that I’d rather use a free service, or none at all, my credit card is still being charged. Which leads me to …

Way #4 — Use a Capital One Credit Card

Since Rhapsody have been no help, choosing instead to simply ignore me, I went to my credit card company, Capital One. I spent a fair amount of time online, filling out a form explaining the entire situation. A few days later, I was interviewed (more like interrogated) by a customer service rep, who then sent out a form for me to fill out — the same damned thing as the online form. Another call to the CSR, and I found out that they need a signature on the form. Okay, that made sense. So, I filled the thing out, mailed it in, and they lost it. In the meantime, they’ve re-billed my account.

Way #5 — Verizon Cell Phones

We have Verizon for our cellular service. Everything was pretty good, until we got the latest phones (the old ones were wearing out, and the upgrade was free). I got an LG VX8100. According to the LG site, there were all kinds of really neat, useful or fun features. However, some of the most basic, Verizon have disabled — like the MP3 player. Instead, they’ve dumped their own VCast player on there that only plays WMA files. At the same time, they’ve managed to lock me out of the account management functions on the web site, so I can’t even find out how much longer I have to put up with this piece of crap phone, and their service. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble it’s going to be to try to use the phone as a Bluetooth modem for the PDA.

So, that ends my rant for the moment. I’m sure I could come up with some more ways to get screwed, given a couple of minutes thought. But, I’ve got other stuff to do.

Whatever respect I had left for Merriam-Webster and their little book of words has evaporated with the announcement of this years word of the year:

w00t

What?!? It’s not even a word! It’s got two zeros in there. Words are made up of letters, not numerals. GMAFB!

At least the Oxford folks’ word of the year makes some sense: locavore. That one I like.

You may recall a couple of days ago, I rambled on about the logistics of trying to get a car worked on, and relayed my hatred on automobiles. Well today, the car got the last laugh.

I had headed over to the Eastern Shore for the day to help a friend with an open house. On the way home, I noticed that a couple of the idiot lights were glowing dimly on the dashboard. Within a couple of miles, the car experienced a pretty complete meltdown.

Usually, an idiot light coming on is warning that you need to get your car to a service station in a reasonably short time. However, this dim light was a prelude to one of the more spectacular automotive failures I’ve experienced. I suddenly lost engine power, lights and all dashboard functions. A few seconds later, after several violent back-fires, all engine function ceased, and all I was left with was minimal electrical function (I could just about run the flashers).

I drifted to the side of the road, popped to hood and hopped out. What I saw under the hood was nothing short of amazing. The exhaust manifold was glowing a bright, cheery orange, and a large section of the splash pan had melted away! What was still dripping from that was not just soft plastic — it was liquid!

Needless to say, I am not a happy person. Donna had to rent a car to come get me, and the car is sitting adjacent a driveway in the middle of nowhere on the Eastern Shore. I’m supposed to go to a client job next week, and now I have to muck about with getting a car fixed. And, it seems just a little too much of a coincidence that it was just in the shop last week. I’ve got to wonder, just what did they do to my car …

via e-mail

This came across me e-mail some time back, and I’ve finally had time to read it. It’s pretty darned good, so, I’m copying it onto the site. If you want more, go get the book.

By Lee Iacocca with Catherine Whitney

Had Enough?

Am I the only guy in this country who’s fed up with what’s happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We’ve got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we’ve got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can’t even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, “Stay the course.”

Stay the course? You’ve got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I’ll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!

Keep reading →

more social commentary: with 15 quakes & almost 8000 dead in Indonesia over the past not-quite-three years, how is it that Britney’s recent performance rates ANY attention at ALL??? 

p.s. no, i DIDN’t watch it, but i did watch in disbelief as a local a.m. ’news’caster spent three minutes decrying Spears’ reported lack of enthusiasm — as i was thinking “WHO CARES?!!!”

I think this guy’s right (at least until the part about the reader caring about celebrities, because I don’t give a rat’s behind about celebs).

Anyway, Read this article, and comment on why you think our media is so messed up, our priorities are wrong, whatever you think is the root of the problem.

Donna sent me a link to this article on the Time/CNN web site a little while ago. Go read the article now, and then come back to the rest of this post.

Keep reading →