What was I saying just the other day? Something about Apple not coming clean about imperfect iBooks? Well, just look at yesterday’s late edition news:
“We have determined that a small number of iBooks introduced in 2002 have a display problem caused by a component failure on the logic board,” said Phil Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing for Apple in a statement emailed to Reuters.
I’d call that progress. Admittedly, none of us are getting brand-spanking new iBooks to replace our faulty models, but an extended period of free repairs is something better than nothing.
I consider myself lucky. It’s been a little over a month since my iBook was serviced by AIS. I don’t mind mentioning AIS by name because AIS has proved to be far more adept than the so-called Geniuses (Genii?) at the actual Apple Store. So for your North Atlantan Apple needs, you’ll probably be happier at AIS. Got it?
(Of course, this might be just another calm before another storm — and by “storm” I mean another annoying series of mysterious shutdowns and test-pattern screen failures and application burps.)
Like I said, I’m lucky. So many others with the same iBook model are suffering some horrible fates. I mentioned the impending civil suit back in December. At the time, there were about 300 interested parties. That number is now over 2000. And while Apple still fails to notice the distinct scent of lemon on the air, the stories are out there.
So here’s the deal… Eventually, someone has to admit something. Apple is a proud company. They have taken great pride in their ability to generate an instant community around their products, and now that community is circling the wagons and demanding a little attention. Apple is a strong company, made stronger still by their recent record-breaking iPod sales. By virtue of this strength and pride, Apple should recognize their production of a faulty product and set that wrong to right.
With that in mind, I am offering what assistance I can to anyone who has their own logic board story to offer. Share your tale with me and I will provide a simple page herein where that story can be read by any one who might be interested. Of course, the more documentation you have, the better, as a proven plight is much more convincing than a raging rant.
Interested? Comment here, leave a viable email address and let’s see what we can accomplish.
Oscar noms were announced today. Nicole and Tom were ignored. Hobbits caught several considerations. And thankfully, Phil Collins is nowhere near the Best Song category. Hallelujah!
And so, without further ado, I present my yearly list of double-sided Oscar-ific predictions.
Sorry. I’ve not written lately. I’ve posted, but I’ve not really written. Life has been frothing a bit. Nothing horrible or even bad. Actually, quite good. In all of the foam and mash, certain activities slide to the side, waiting to be picked up later. But something is coming. Somethings. There are a couple of reviews percolating. There’s a story from Corporata Americana that will finally be revealed. And then there is this whole world out there, all of it drawing so many opinions out of me, pointing to the left and to the right.
Mostly to the left, I’m afraid.
In the meantime, let me direct your attention to the importance of today’s date, as today marks the start of the Year of the Monkey.
If you missed making resolutions on January 1, here’s your second chance.
If you’re wondering just why we bother with these silly weblogs, you will get a double-handful of insight from the surprisingly bright Wonderchicken.
Should these things prove to worldly or heady, you may seek solace by determining the trajectory of a lovingly swatted penguin.
Forgive me, but I need to post a shopping list and here is as good a place as any. The Mighty Dell is reaching the crumbly brink of obsolescence and it is time to trade-up to a better machine. I’ve tried to be patient while waiting for a Big Sale to drop out of the electric heavens and offer me the perfect newness for ready and minimal money, but it is just not going to happen. And even if it did, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be all that I’d need. So I’ve made a list of components. Starting next month, I’ll start acquiring these pieces…
By the middle of the summer, I will have a sweet little desktop hot rod that can keep me running with the rush of technology for another couple of years. Then I can pseudo-retire the Mighty Dell to a relevant and relaxed life as a household MP3 repository. After such loyal service, it deserves no less.
And if the techish among you have any advice, feel free to comment.
“I speak as a citizen of the world, for the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I speak as one who loves America, to the leaders of our own nation: The great initiative in this war is ours; the initiative to stop it must be ours…
We must rapidly begin [applause], we must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.
A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”
… Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from “Beyond Vietnam” (April 4, 1967)
President Bush laid a wreath at Dr. King’s grave yesterday, then meditated for 15 seconds. Busy man that he is, he couldn’t afford to stay longer. As we all know, when people are paying $2,000 a plate to see your grinning face behind a podium, it is so impolite to keep them waiting. In retrospect, he could’ve made even more than his disappointing $1.3 million by just slinging that memorial wreath out his limousine window and arriving a few minutes earlier.
JIVE has posted their Best of 2003 article, and I’m in it. They’ve declared my strange and delayed interview with Neil Gaiman their interview of the year. If you could look through my window, you would see me grinning like an idiot.
Of course, if you are… why are you floating two-stories off the ground…?
Bush Signs Anti-Corruption Proclamation
” Corruption of public institutions hampers U.S. efforts to promote security and strengthen democratic institutions and free-market systems, Bush said in a proclamation the White House released at the two-day summit, which began Monday. He said the United States is acting to restrict international travel and prevent entry into the country of people who have committed, participated in or benefited from corruption conducted while performing public functions.”*
I had a witty remark to insert here, but the irony of this article keeps whopping me across the back of the head. Ow! So forgive me for leaving you to … Ow! … come up with your own… Ow! Quit it!
Had to eat my lunch through an audio haze of a so-called “Great 80s Music” station. What’s sad is that these 80s are not the 80s that I remember, or at least they’re not the 80s that I want to remember. Sure, Billy Ocean was all over the dial at the time, but who really needs to hear “Carribbean Queen” now? Yeah, this is going to come off as elitist, but I just know how choosy I was then and how much more choosy I’ve become. With that in mind, here are some of the 80s albums that are actually worth remembering…
- Upstairs At Eric’s - Yaz
- The Communards - The Communards
- Heavy Metal - Original Soundtrack
- Welcome to the Pleasuredome - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- Long Cold Winter - Cinderella
- Pump - Aerosmith
- Passion - Peter Gabriel
- Trinity Session - Cowboy Junkies
- In My Tribe - 10,000 Maniacs
- Synchronicity - The Police
- Floodland - Sisters of Mercy
- The Hurting - Tears for Fears
- Seven and The Ragged Tiger - Duran Duran
- Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C.
- Hold Your Fire - Rush
That’s more like it…
I’ll leave the comments up to you.
