The second boy is all boy.  He is aggressive, loud, physical and charges into things head on, resulting in many bumps and bruises along the way.  I consider this part of life, and figure I just need to be ready for whatever may happen.  I just cross my fingers and hope we avoid any major breaks or cuts.  This is how kids learn their capabilities, where they end, and why boundaries can be important.  This is hard for some parents to realize, and some never learn, preferring to isolate their kids from ever experiencing consequences.
Last year he was drawn into the Heely craze big time.  He wanted them more than anything, and really could not think of much else.  Fortunately for him Christmas came around, and a pair of Heely’s were under the tree.  He has loved those things, and from our perspective the scrapes and bruises he has gained while learning to use them are par for the course.

I came across an AP article today published our our local rag talking about the safety concerns related to Heelys.  Some doctors are advising that Heely’s are more dangerous than you might at first think, and several stats are quoted of Heely related injuries.  Even one death occurred.

The part that sparked this rant though was the mother quoted that threw her kid’s Heelys after the kid got hurt on them.  Oh my, are these things really dangerous?  I better not let my kid use them.  She also mentions previously throwing out the trampoline after reading about all the related safety hazards.  Gee, you think bouncing high in the air in a small defined space with hard ground around that space would be dangerous?  You might have predicted that problem prior to making the initial purchase with perhaps even a little forethought.
Give me a break!  Kids can get hurt walking down the street!  Their growing bodies cause all kids of coordination problems that make the old cliche of walking chewing gum at the same time a real difficulty.  If I took away every possible recreational activity that my kids could possibly harm themselves doing, they would do nothing at all.  But then, doing nothing would make them fat and lazy, so I guess they will get hurt if I do that too.  I can’t win!

Think back to all the things we did as kids, some we got hurt doing, others we managed to avoid injury by the skin of our teeth.  What you remember most though was…it was fun!  We may not all be daredevils, but as kids we all need some amount of physical activity every day as part of our physical growth and development.  Everything physical we do carries a level of risk.  Remember the old skates we had that you could strap on to your shoes?  Now those were safe…  Those old metal wheels would launch you through the air with even the smallest pebble or crack in the sidewalk.

Even baseball is one of the highest injury related sports, but we’re not giving that up!  Kids gotta live life to enjoy it; and they gotta live life to get good at it.  Protect your kids from the really dangerous stuff, and do your best to advise them on the rest.  They’ll listen sometimes, and other times it will take experiencing the consequences to learn to listen in the future.  That’s life.  Those are some powerful lessons to learn as a kid so you can be a somewhat intelligent adult.  Look around and tell me you can’t identify the adults that didn’t learn their life lessons as kids.  If you can’t, you may just be one of them!

Of course, any time a new service is launched that offers a unique view of our world, the right to privacy concerns are raised. In this case I am not sure I agree with it though. The New York Times has an article highlighting a specific instance of a lady voicing her privacy concerns that is just one small point in the growing debate.
Google Earth was one of their first to bring up such concerns, providing a very public view of satellite imagery. Of course this is done in a resolution that is less than personally identifiable. Later lawsuits requiring search engines to reveal search habits and history of individuals were an even greater concern. What they know about us online is scary. Now, with street level photography if you happen to be doing something less than flattering at the moment such a camera equipped vehicle drives by, your actions might be immortalized for some time to come.

The concern here is your right to privacy vs the First Amendment right to document public spaces. I really am not all that torn on this issue as I feel public spaces are just that, public. Of course I live in a fairly rural area, so the likelihood of me being document is next to nothing. Still, I feel like if you are doing something in public view, you better be sure it is something you don’t mind the world seeing. What is the difference between what you are fairly consciously allowing your neighbors to see vs the whole world seeing that same thing? If you want something private, close the curtains or be sure you are doing that where noone can see.

This is not to say I am in favor of virtual peeping, but in our world of increasing digital exposure we need to face reality. If you are out in public, there is a good chance your presence can be documented in some fashion. How often have you noticed that as you are casually at the park or anywhere, you happen to get caught in the background of someone taking a photo. Have you ever taken time to look in the background of your own photos or video to see what you didn’t notice you were capturing? It happens innocently all the time.

I am increasingly intrigued by new technology that links together all the digital media being published out there. I am extremely confident that YouTube and Flickr are just the tip of the iceberg as to what the near future holds in social networking media. As more of this media is publicly available, more technology will be developed to create better access to it, stringing together the collective effort into a massive mindshare. I find it exciting rather than intimidating.

In the case of the “cat lady” mentioned in the NY Times article above, I think her complaint is petty but still representative of the concerning being voiced. Her blurry view of a cat in the window is the least of my concerns, but apparently high on hers. At least with Google they offer the ability to request the removal of a photo, though in her case I am not sure if they will honor it.
So, word to the wise, realize public these days really means wide open to the view of the entire world. Be aware and mindful of it, and you have nothing to fear!

You see, in my situation I can usually find a professional reason to justify buying the “better” option when it comes to most any electronic device. Whether it is a computer, camera, or anything of this nature, I have made my hobbies so much a part of my work that they have become one and the same. Not that I am not complaining, because I love what I do, but it does create a situation where I am always looking at the high end, expensive options. I do have a level head on my shoulders, and I don’t gravitate to the highest priced option available. I do have a taste for quality though, so when I read about the shortcomings of one option I start to climb the ladder up to the next best option.

When I talk about an upgrade, I’m not talking about what that uninformed sap at Circuit City tries to convince you to buy just because it has a better commission for him. I’m not talking about that extended warranty but you get the high-pressure sale on. I’m talking about better models with better quality results. I researched things that I’m going to purchase way too much, until I practically know their spec sheets inside and out. I could quote you the stats on one camera versus another, and I often do. That’s another one of my problems, I talked way too much about what I’m currently researching, to the point that everyone around me I am sure is thinking just “buy it already so we can quit hearing about it!”

Sometimes I think that if I could just settle with a good option, that would be good enough and I wouldn’t notice the difference. The problem is I know that wouldn’t be true. What I know of a shortcoming my mind gets stuck on it and watches for it in everything I do. Is that shortcoming shows up when I kick myself for having been too cheap to get the better option.

In today’s world of electronics though, when you spend that big money to get the best of the options that year, you know it’s going to lose its not you within the next year to come. The new options will come out with better technology for less money and you’ll be stuck with either using the device you bought in the past and try to be happy with it, or selling it for a loss from what you paid in buying the next best option. I hate that ride as well.

Right now my big dilemma is on a video camera. I have a project this year that could potentially require a high quality HD camera, and plenty of other personal projects that I could make use of it as well. I’ve had my eye on the Sanyo HD2 for some time, but now that it’s released I’ve read several customer reviews that point out many of the shortcomings. I’ve seen some sample video and noticed things that would likely bother me. I was so excited for its ability to save HD quality video to SD cards that I had built up my hopes beyond what it appears to have become now that it is released. I have also looked at the JVC Everio line of HD video cameras, but they have their shortcomings as well; particularly that they cost twice as much!

So that is my big dilemma right now. Not all that interesting, but I figure I had to write about it since it’s been bothering me so much. I’m spoiled, I know; but when you do some of these things were living it becomes a big part of your life. More than likely I will just continue to research the options over the next coming months and try to make some decision. In the meantime I’ll stick to the lower quality video I get out of my wife’s point-and-shoot camera.

I am really not sure what it is about Apple that generates so much brand loyalty, but believe me, they have it. I have owned a few in my day, all the way back to the Apple IIc. I enjoyed the computers when I owned them, but at heart I consider myself brand and operating system agnostic. Not carefully the definition pertaining to doubtful and noncommittal, not the god part though that could apply to how some fanboys seem to believe in Steve Jobs. I consider myself computer versatile enough to get my job done on any computer, just give me a few minutes to figure it out.

The thing that gets me with apple press is they seem to get positive coverage, no matter what they do. Granted, they have done some good things. The iPod along with iTunes received the blessing of the industry and has done what no others have been able to do in such a big way. Their current computers, both hardware and software, have broken a long slump that they were stuck in, now providing something worth considering using, albeit with a pretty good sized budget.

What about the failures? Those seem to go away without fanfare and seemingly without a blemish on Apple’s reputation, or ego for that matter. What every happened to the Newton, the mini or the much touted yet far underperforming line of computers throughout the mid-90s? Those just slide under the rug. But the loyalists in the media foam at the mouth come each MacWorld for the next big product announcement. Hollywood seems to love placing macs in every movie and show – ok, they do look better in that home office scene than a boxy PC, I’ll give them that.

The iPhone looks like it could be a decent PDA with some nifty new things. The big touch screen look could be some fun, but destined for some serious scratches from the way I have seen most phones handled. I think the software ideas could be good, but the first generation is bound to have its issues and limitations. I do hope they make it easy for the independent developers to make some cool little apps for it, because that is what has made my Treo such a fun phone to have.

Just to counter some of the fanfare and flagwaving, here is what I think to be a realistic review that notes a few caveats when considering jumping on the iPhone bandwagon. Plus, just announced a day after the big iPhone hoopla, Cisco – who everyone knew owns the trademark on the word iPhone for a product – has announced their lawsuit against Apple. Apparently those licensing talks that Steve was confident enough were done weren’t quite as complete as anticipated. No worries, Steve will make it happen.

All joking aside, I do hope Apple can push the industry to do more with the mobile phone, particularly the mobile computing variety. Apple, with their loyal fanbase, has a way of entering an industry and doing something to shake it up with a little style and panache (look it up, it’s good). What typically follows is the vast legions of companies that simply follow Apple’s lead and produce worthy knock offs drive the big players in the market to play catch up. in the end we get better, more interesting products to choose from – most of which are more reasonably priced and capable that what we had to begin with.

So maybe all the Apple fanfare is a good thing. Go Apple, do your thing!

I will forgo including any references to our specific products, because my point here isn’t to raise debate on our products, how they are presented, or to even market the products for that matter.  My point here is that though plenty of people “get” it and either choose to continue with the product or not that we provided an incentive for them to try, there is a sub-section that just doesn’t get it.  These are the people we hear from.

When I say we, I am again being general.  The people that take the brunt of all this is our customer service department.  This is a tough job emotionally because the only ones you typically hear from are the complainers who either a) flat out didn’t get the fact that they signed up for something more than just the freebie, b) didn’t read the terms and conditions, or c) are lying and basically making up anything to try and get their money back.

I should clarify here, we don’t try to hide the fact that our incentive is just that, and it is tied to a product we would like you to try out.  There are plenty of sites that trick you with their offer or otherwise do things consumer protection outfits are there to get after.  We hope you will enjoy our product or service, we just know it takes marketing gimmicks often to get customers in the door.  Still, for all those sites that do have lengthy T&Cs to hide the meat of what they are doing, you as the consumer need to take the time to read what you are agreeing to.   If you agree to it, you are responsible to it.  Make educated decisions online, and generally speaking you will be ok.

I have taken and listened in to a myriad of customer service calls, not only where I work now but all over, and continue to be amazed by the audacity of some, and the stupidity of so many others.  Yes, I know actual fraud exists out there, but just because you didn’t read the terms to the freebie doesn’t mean we owe you back all the money you spent with interest and a little extra to make you feel better.  The one that gets me is how many start right into the fraud angle.  Why is this charge on my card, you must be a fraudulent company that STOLE my credit card, because I did not authorize this charge.  I can’t tell you how many times we hear that on a daily basis.  Our customer service reps try, most often in vain, to talk some logic into them, pointing out our extensive records of when they made the purchase, the incentive they received and what they agreed to purchase after a trial period.

Then there are the obvious fraudsters on the customer end of things.  These are the people that figure they have the system dialed in.  They order freebies and later demand their money back, which after receiving a refund they go back to their credit card company and also reverse charges on, hoping to double their money and keep the freebie.  We spend many, many resources tracking and defeating these situations, which ads to our overall overhead in offering our products.  These are the ones that make businesses have to write more extensive T&Cs to protect themselves, in turn making it harder for average customers to understand what they are getting in to.

As a customer, read those terms and conditions.  Be aware of what you are purchasing, even if it seems like a pretty straightforward offer.  If you like what you read, then make the purchase.  If something is free, I can pretty much guarantee it is not.  As much as we would all like to believe that the Internet is our generations attempt at free society, business runs on making money.  But, just because there is a trial offer associated with a giveaway, doesn’t mean it is bad either.  Just be aware of it, and who knows, maybe you will like the product you try out.  Just be informed, and save yourself and likely the company unnecessary grief.

You want my business, have a decent number of these things on hand!  It should be about at least a bit of customer satisfaction, right?  I’ll tell you what, I sing the praises of a store I got a killer deal at.  But, if I show up and what I was looking for is gone, I don’t stick around and shop for something else just because I am in the buying mood.  I wanted the deal or a few of the deals.  I’m pretty level-headed about it, I don’t show up at the end of the day expecting they will still have them.  I have a head on my shoulders.  But if I am there within the first hour of opening, come on, there should still be some inventory there.

Again, I think I am pretty reasonable on my expectations.  Black Friday featured some incredible laptop deals at some of the big retailers.  Take a moment to read the fine print?  “At least 8 available at each store.”  Whoa, a whole 8 of them?  If this is a big loss leader though, I don’t expect hundreds of this to be there, so it doesn’t even cross my mind to go after these.  What I am talking about is the DVDs mentioned above.  I burn a lot of these with the kind of work I do with computers.  These are a resource I fly through.  Bring a good amount of these in so I can show up, grab one and feel like I have won.  Once I have a deal in hand, I am going to browse around the store happy as a lark, looking for anything else that tickles my fancy.

I often wonder though how bad this situation is in other states.  I live in a state full of pretty “cheap” people.  I don’t mean they are bad people, just on the whole this crowd wants to spend as little as possible and it doesn’t take much of a sale to get them in a fervor.  Free hot dogs at the local R.C. Willey (furniture store for all you outsiders) brings people in droves.  Hey, we have lots of kids here, feeding the family a free meal means something.  Do other states burn through a stores entire sale inventory at near the speed of light, or is that a local phenomenon?  I am guessing we may lead the pack, but that the situation is still a common one.

So anyone that may work at a Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Staples, etc. who comes across this little rant of mine, perhaps you could think of my take on sales next time a big holiday comes around.  I would enjoy actually having a little customer satisfaction next sale day.  “Can’t get no, can’t get no, can’t get no satisfaction.”

I swear Murphy had wiper blades in mind when he came arrived at his philosophies in life.  Which blade is most likely to go out first?  The driver’s side of course.  Where does it fail?  Directly in your primary line of sight of course.  At what point does it fail?  When it is swiping back of course (not when it starts to clear the window, that is a perfect pass, just when coming back so you can’t see while waiting for the blades to come back).

Those ever present streaks from old blades are often worse that just never using them and trying to see through the accumulating rain drops.  Have any of you used the RainX or other branded “miracle” cures for seeing even in the rain?  I have.  They seem to work for a bit making the rain sheet off your window so you can see a bit better.  What happens when the solution wears out though and you have to turn on those blades?  Mega streaks to end all others.  Argh!

Do I ask for too much for a wiper blade made of some material that both works and lasts a decent amount of time?  This is obviously an industry that survives on forcing you to replace their product with regularity.  There are some products out there that are supposed to be better, but the price point drives away the common consumer, namely me.   What is their motivation to make an affordable better product?  None whatsoever.  So don’t hold your breath expecting any improvement in this area.