Sam's Club Photos

As i was waiting for Sam's Club Photo section to upload my 15 photos (which is the most you can do) and to the side there is a notice that only 6MB files can be uploaded but may not exceed 200MB. I'm no math major but I can tell you that 15 pictures at 6MB each has no chance of exceeding even 90MB! Interesting.

Circuit City

UPDATE ** Circuit city as a whole has come through, The few (two) bad apples at the store I encountered were more than likely just uninformed or under pressure to pull through.. I got the promised 24/24 card promotion and all is well. I have been to the same store since and have only been met with kind, knowledgeable service. I will likely stay away from the morning shift anyhow... Mom really wanted to get Aaris a Nintendo DS for Christmas. 160 bucks for the system and game was a bit much. So Emily and I decided to get one (or rather go in on half). So today I decided to try the great offer of Circuit City and have it ready for pickup by paying online. However the Citrus heights store was not ready and didn't care about the $24 and I was mad and on the way to work. So I wrote a letter.. In the end they did what they could. I just hope they talk to the specific store to stop future problems. (And I will return to the Arden one which has always impressed me.)

I was impressed by the offer to have a order ready in 24 min. of the item being ordered. I happen to have a very busy schedule and looked at the website for a Nintendo DS and Mario Kart bundle. I made the purchase and went to the store on my way to work. I live about 20 Min from the store in Citrus heights CA. I only had time for a ten min detour. I noticed they had a 24 min. Sign hanging in-front of the web order checkout. I went up to the clerk and presented my Credit Card and ID. He went in the back for about 5 min. I asked the other Clerk jokingly how can anyone know that their order is ready and not being gathered when they come in? He replied that that is how it worked, you get it within 24 min. of coming to the counter. 'Otherwise' he said 'you might make the order at home and come 24 min later and demand the reward.' I should have got his name, but he had a white shirt instead of red. Apparently that is how the Citrus heights store runs it. A few min. Later I got my item as he found it and he scanned it in to the computer and printed a ticket. I left angry at myself that I didn't read the fine print. On a whim I called the Arden store and asked how the promotion worked. If I came in a half an hour after ordering would it be waiting for me? They said that if I come in after 24 min. and it isn't waiting for me on the rollers, behind the counter, etc. then they would give me a gift card. I asked what stops me from coming in at 24 min. and demanding my card for the few min. it takes to get the item. They said that the rules cover the fact that waiting in line does not count. Please check Order 4427-2378469 if it was scanned in at 24 min. I don't think it was but I may be wrong as I live only 20 min. away from the store and they could have found it and scanned it in the back in that 4 min. I would like to know the time because they did not give me any receipt with a time-stamp on it. Least of all I feel that Circuit City has deceived me or at the least mislead me if the 24 min. Actually starts from the time you enter the store. Thank you Jeff Holdaway

The response came today, it was {SURPRISE} a form letter.

Dear Jeff Holdaway: Thank you for writing to www.circuitcity.com I understand your concern regarding our 24/24 In-Store Pick-Up Guarantee. I apologize for any inconvenience caused while seeking assistance at our store. The following exclusions are posted on the website and in the store: 24 Minute Pickup Guarantee applies from timestamp on order confirmation email until the time order is ready for customer pickup. Guarantee excludes customer wait time in store lines. Offer valid on orders placed at circuitcity.com or by phone during pickup store's normal operating hours up to 30 minutes prior to closing. Guarantee not valid the day after Thanksgiving, 12/26 or 12/27. $25 minimum purchase. One $24 gift card offered per qualifying in-store pickup ticket, which must be claimed at time of pickup and is good for future purchases. We hope this information is helpful. For further questions, please feel free to contact your local store. You can find the store nearest you by using this link: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/locator.do. Thanks again for writing to www.circuitcity.com Sincerely, Virendra K. Customer Support Coordinator Contact ID Number: xxxxxx

I responded with this.

Thank you for the form letter. Surprisingly it DID help me; to decide that I was LIED to by the store manager and have no reason to believe that if I "contact [my] local store", as you suggest, that I will not be met with the same response. Please find out when the order 4427-2378469 (ticket number 442702378469) was scanned into whatever it is to tell the time it took to fill the order. Please let me know when it was as they were extra careful to only let me see the pickup ticket and not any papers that may have a time stamp. And to clear up any misconception i had not "Inconvenience.. seeking assistance at [your] store" as you put it. I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE. The item was not ready and the only question is if it was ready within the 24 min. time period as they would only tell me the time it took them to find and pull the item and not the time it took from the order conformation. Thank you Jeffrey Holdaway

Today they reinstalled my faith in the store. I may have rather been treated well and honestly but they did respond quickly and kindly today (on christmas?) good will towards men I guess.

Dear Jeffrey Holdaway: Thank you for writing to www.circuitcity.com I understand your concern regarding the experience you had at our store. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced at our store. In light of your situation, I have requested that a $24 gift card be sent to your home. The gift card will arrive via United States Postal Service. We appreciate your patronage and hope to serve you again. Please quote the Call ID number or IM number provided at the end of this e-mail for any future correspondence. Thanks again for writing to www.circuitcity.com Sincerely, Utkarsh T. Customer Support Coordinator Contact ID Number: xxxxx Call ID Number: xxxxxxxxxxxx IM Number: xxxxxxx

Holliday season is upon me

I always feel a bit of pressure the holiday season. This year there is school classes to fight for, work every day, shopping to get done, and more. Although I still love Christmas time. Here are some pics from gingerbread houses saturday. i hope to get the caroling photos from my cousin(s) as i left my new R817 camera at home.

I really need to have let someone else have the camera from time to time.. I'm never in the shot :P

Teen's blog confession forces him to plead guilty plea in fatal crash

Teen who caused fatal car wreck surprised that admitting to guilt on his blog may be bad for his defense I think the following passage explains blogging to a T...

The institute estimates 4 million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 write blogs, a term derived from the phrase Web log. About twice as many regularly read the online ramblings. Bloggers often use photos, graphics and music to convey mood and personality. The trend baffles the parents of the teens involved in the crash. "I think it's dumb," said Tina Nagy, Robinette's mother. "I don't want 3 million people in the world knowing what I do or what I think. But that's today's teenagers."

It is a new phenomenon, being able to write a public version of the private diary. It still remains quite private as the article said, more blog then read blogs.. I think this type of diary blogging is different then a journalistic/political/news/informative blogs that are read by thousands. I know i used it myself to look back over this year for our family christmas newsletter.. I had forgotten much of what happened this year.

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Google Zeitgeist '05

Google just released their Zeitgeist 2005 with all the top searches and interesting search trends. One i found interesting is how tight the WMD campaign and interest in WMDs were. After the campaign the term dropped back to normal almost overnight. (and it is interesting to note how interest declined throughout as well.


it was also interesting to see how terms I live with every day, like ipod and podcast are only recently becoming publicly known.


Although Star Wars fans will argue that the dark side is part of the force it is a cute chart :P I would like to see more in the movie section next year.


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Screenshots of Windows Vista 5259

My thoughts are: 1. Goodbye Outlook Express! And good riddance! Maybe the fresh look can be as clean as Mail.app 2. 3D Flip, its about time. How I survived before expose and topdesk I don't know. Alt tab was rarely bearable to use. 3. Paint? Microsoft, please.. Take a look at the program Paint.NET if you need ideas. 4. IE7: Firefox your days may be numbered. Keep working on version 2 (deerpark) 5. overall I have my checkbook out.. I wonder which version i will get, Pro or Ultimate.. Please label the full version pro like XP. It makes life much easier.

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Do-able Nano Case

I drop everything. My powerbook is either cursed or blessed.. it has been dropped twice and the edges are mangled, but the screen and hardware survive to fight another day. (I don't drop my Pentium4 XP desktop because I haven't moved it for ages) And my iPod thanked me last month for having apple care as I dropped it till the disk went kaput. Now this might convince me to flip my current ipod for a nano if a hard shell case can keep me from sitting on it and snapping it like a twig.

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Bill Nye the NUMB3RS guy. Nye explodes tomorrow on CBS.

You might remember him as the science guy. Friday, December 16, 10PM ET/PT "Bill Nye the Science Guy" guest stars on Numb3rs as a expert on fire. Does he just help or is he the arsonist? I'm hoping for evil Bill, but any Nye is good Nye. Question: Is there any crime that can't be solved with TV Math?

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Remembers criminals can hack closed wireless

Defendant Argues Someone Else Tapped Into Wireless Network...Paramount has looked at all four computers in Lee's home, alleging he had one of them cleaned to erase evidence. He is in-trouble because the internet connection (IP) he uses is the offender. There is no evidence against him personally, just his internet connection which he had open to anyone. Now in our family home we have an open connections, visitors, friends and family all can use while staying at our home. I do not think its right, nor will I take responsibility for any criminal act committed with a tool we use legitimately. If someone borrowed our shovel which we use to garden with as a weapon, It would be the fault of the user, even if it was found with "property of ..." on the rake. Or if we lent our car out often, which we do. And a hit and run was committed by someone else should the owner of the car go to jail if there are numerous primary drivers? which there are. The problem is that the internet is not something that is used by one person at a time, when someone borrows our car we know. I hope a lack of evidence can still keep an innocent person from unjust laws. Oh well, just my thoughts on the subject..

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Kingdom Hearts II

Well Square-enix has finally launched Kingdom Hearts 2 sections of kingdomhearts.com just in time to keep the game from becoming vaporware. Along with the site we discover that "Port Royal" will be one of the worlds. Now the news of PoTC movie inclusion, and the photos seen of the world of Tron, it is evident that the KH series will now include live action Disney Movies. What a deal. (just keep it action flicks is all I ask) I must say goodbye to my Dr Who desktop wallpaper, helloooo Kingdom Hearts 2! Via Joystiq | Kingdom Hearts II