Craig.Carlen[Online].com

So reading this blog one could come to the conclusion that I am out to get Apple and Comcast. That couldn’t be further from the truth…when the need arises I consider myself equal opportunity to pointing out poor or abusive examples of how technology impacts our lives.

I had visions of my many attempts to get $300 in rebates from Dell for my wife’s laptop when I read this article on The Consumerist website. I really enjoyed the parting shot from this rather angry consumer:

But somehow, thanks to the power of corporate magic Dell is not really responsible for this. They owe me nothing for my time and my grief and while they are very sorry for the fact I am effectively up the creek without a paddle, AND while they pretty much admit that they pointed me to this particular creek and then stole my paddle, I’m really on my own here.

A Texas women is suing Blockbuster for allegedly telling all her friends on Facebook what her rental habits are. In the lawsuit that was filed last week, the woman alleges Blockbuster violated the federal Videotape Privacy Protection Act by sharing information about her movie rentals as well as video sales with Facebook and thus her network of friends without first obtaining her written consent. And I’m sure you’re dying to know how that happened. It seems Facebook has been utilizing a new advertising platform called Beacon. A platform most Facebook users are most likely very much unaware of.

HD - High Definition. Usually synonymous with television or video, HD is one of the new digital broadcast standards that will be fully implemented by February 17, 2009. But one of our local news stations has taken HD to a new level…and I’m not sure what to think of it.

Take the time to know me and you’ll soon find out I can be a bit critical of the local new stations in this market. West Michigan is the 38th largest television market in the United States and I swear we have some of the cheesiest newscasting in the country. We have reporters and anchors that get so involved with a story that it’s as if they have a personal stake in the outcome. It’s rare, but it happens. And when it does happen, it’s painfully obvious. I recall when Grand Rapids wanted to sell some city owned property near the water treatment facility on Monroe Ave.