One semester in college, I took a course in advertising. I wanted to learn the basics of why we see (and hear) what we hear (and see) on television. I don't recall why I chose this exact course, perhaps my parents had said something about me watching too much TV. (If they didn't, they should have.)
All these maaaaany years later, I still notice more about advertising because of that course. I notice colors, sooundtracks and actions that subtly (and not-so-subtly) drive home the message we're supposed to get.
So when I see ads that show cartoon bears who don't shit in the woods and have problems using toilet paper, I make a note to never, ever buy that product because I find their line of advertising distasteful and stupid. There were many ways they could've gotten their message across - this wasn't a good choice.
When I hear ads that feature insipidly sweet-voiced singers telling us to drink their magic pink beverage for an energy boost and they'll donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, I get irritated at the overall stupidity of the agency who got the account. Having lots of energy (and being pink, for that matter) has - trust me on this - NOTHING to do with cancer.
And while we're at it, showing your sports car skidding sideways across the TV doesn't show me how cool and sleek your car is. It shows me you've designed a product that can go fast and lose control at the same time, even with a professional driver behind the wheel. So thanks, but I'll pass.
Lately there's been advertising for Microsoft Internet Explorer 9. I know it's for IE9 ONLY because I just looked it up. It could have been for a laptop or a video game or an animated series. Anyway, the ad shows all the cool things you can do, create, watch, post, find, and listen to using their product. My issue is the soundtrack. Yes, having thumping, energetic background music was a good call. But did anyone in the agency listen to the lyrics?
"And it feels like I am just too close to love you", warbles the singer. Wait so I'm supposed to LOVE IE9? We're just being introduced. And yet I'm already too close and I can't love it?
"There's nothing I can really say", continues the song. Isn't IE9 supposed to help me communicate better? And now I can't say anything at all because I'm too close? Or don't love it? Wait- what?
"I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more, got to be true to myself". So letsee - pre-IE9, I was lying and hiding and faking myself out with other products? And now, with IE9 (which, again, I'm too close to and can't love) I can be real and honest. That's convoluted, at best.
"And it feels like I am just too close to love you, so I'll be on my way" which very much makes it sound like I don't get to use IE9 and I'm walking away without it. The exact opposite thing the advertiser wants me to do.
While it's not part of the advertising being aired currently, later in the lyrics is "I must leave without you. You know we're headed separate ways." Nice going, Microsoft - way to get your customer base locked down.
Now the old Meow-Mix ads ... THERE was some great advertising. Gosh, those were talented felines ...
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2012
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"Everything Is Good - Such A Cozy Room"
After many months of cold or rainy or gray or windy or snowy ... gonna be snowy ... was just snowy ... still too snowy... gonna snow more ... thunder snowing (no, I'm NOT making that one up, I swear) and, my personal favorite, "it hasn't snowed like this for yeeeears! Wow - really - this is unusual for us to get this much snow" snowing, we had just the BEST Spring weather this weekend.
The weather hasn't been getting me down at all, 'tho I did start to question the brilliance of having a convertible sports car sometime around January. Any qualms I had blew away as I zoomed my way around town doing errands, getting breakfast, or even grabbed groceries. It's just been too beautiful outside to be sulking about the weather of Winter 2009.
The Awesome Boyfriend and I spent a couple of hours on Saturday cleaning up from said weather, 'tho. A tree in the front yard lost a sizeable limb from the weight of (hmmm ... this is embarrassing ... uh ... it's that white stuff that falls from the sky ... I forget the name ... not sleet or ice, really ... OH yeah!) snow and then had a wonderful dinner out in the city. We awoke Sunday morning, did a few short errands, and then we started moving furniture. Well, in fairness, *he* started moving furniture - it took me a few minutes to realize that he wasn't just talking about a lamp or a chair or something easy. We moved - I'm guessing - maybe 9 pieces of various sizes of furniture. And some was really light and easy but some ... I won't lie to you ... I had my doubts we'd accomplish what all we did.
And then we started hanging pictures and artwork on walls. Now in my world, that means ya' find a wall that's kinda bare or needs a little color, ya' figure out how high or low you want the piece of art to hang, ya' hold the piece there for a second to make sure it works, you train your eyes on the area that the nail(s) will go, you bang in said nail(s) - or hooks, if it's heavier stuff - and voila - art on the wall. Check it for level and move on.
The Awesome Boyfriend is far more meticulous, however. His method - which, I completely agree is the proper and correct way of doing this task, I just don't have the patience that he does - involves actual MATH and stuff. By the 6th or 7th piece of art though even he was basically saying "hey - there's a nail on this wall. Do ya' have anything about this size?"
Anyway, it's a little after 8pm now. We're both supremely tired. We have lots of bookshelves to figure out and a few odds and ends that will need to find places to be in the current setup but this may be the most "moved in" that I've ever felt. Not just here - but anywhere. And that's saying something, 'cause I've spent significant time in some of my past abodes.
In a few short weeks, we'll be entertaining an actual house guest - something I've never done before. And when we welcome her into our home, I know that I'll be smiling really REALLY wide as I let the phrase echo in my head ...
"Come on in to our home."
"Our home."
"Home."
The weather hasn't been getting me down at all, 'tho I did start to question the brilliance of having a convertible sports car sometime around January. Any qualms I had blew away as I zoomed my way around town doing errands, getting breakfast, or even grabbed groceries. It's just been too beautiful outside to be sulking about the weather of Winter 2009.
The Awesome Boyfriend and I spent a couple of hours on Saturday cleaning up from said weather, 'tho. A tree in the front yard lost a sizeable limb from the weight of (hmmm ... this is embarrassing ... uh ... it's that white stuff that falls from the sky ... I forget the name ... not sleet or ice, really ... OH yeah!) snow and then had a wonderful dinner out in the city. We awoke Sunday morning, did a few short errands, and then we started moving furniture. Well, in fairness, *he* started moving furniture - it took me a few minutes to realize that he wasn't just talking about a lamp or a chair or something easy. We moved - I'm guessing - maybe 9 pieces of various sizes of furniture. And some was really light and easy but some ... I won't lie to you ... I had my doubts we'd accomplish what all we did.
And then we started hanging pictures and artwork on walls. Now in my world, that means ya' find a wall that's kinda bare or needs a little color, ya' figure out how high or low you want the piece of art to hang, ya' hold the piece there for a second to make sure it works, you train your eyes on the area that the nail(s) will go, you bang in said nail(s) - or hooks, if it's heavier stuff - and voila - art on the wall. Check it for level and move on.
The Awesome Boyfriend is far more meticulous, however. His method - which, I completely agree is the proper and correct way of doing this task, I just don't have the patience that he does - involves actual MATH and stuff. By the 6th or 7th piece of art though even he was basically saying "hey - there's a nail on this wall. Do ya' have anything about this size?"
Anyway, it's a little after 8pm now. We're both supremely tired. We have lots of bookshelves to figure out and a few odds and ends that will need to find places to be in the current setup but this may be the most "moved in" that I've ever felt. Not just here - but anywhere. And that's saying something, 'cause I've spent significant time in some of my past abodes.
In a few short weeks, we'll be entertaining an actual house guest - something I've never done before. And when we welcome her into our home, I know that I'll be smiling really REALLY wide as I let the phrase echo in my head ...
"Come on in to our home."
"Our home."
"Home."
Friday, March 5, 2010
When did ...
Ingrid Michaelson sell her soul to the producers of "Grey's Anatomy"?
It seems like every song of hers has some fan-created YouTube video that just ... bites.
It seems like every song of hers has some fan-created YouTube video that just ... bites.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Now THIS Is Refreshing!
If you watched the Superbowl last year, you MAY remember this ad.
I actually remember the ad because my first thought was "Ancient Bob Dylan Song remix. Ok - time for a snack" (I'm not what one would call a Dylan fan) but before I could stand up, the lyrics caught my attention:
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true.
May you always do for others,
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung.
And may you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift.
And may you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
And may your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung.
May you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
I liked the message. They weren't talking about their product, for one ('tho I do prefer it as a cola) but I just liked what they were saying.
Well they've put their considerable money where their mouth is. This year, the first time in 23 years, Pepsi will NOT run any advertisments during the SuperBowl. Which is not to say they don't have anything to launch or discuss with the upwards of 100 million sets of eyes that they COULD be infront of. They've just decided to do something else with that $12 million dollars (for just 2 60-second spots). Check THIS out ... www.refresheverything.com/?or=pusa.1159.
I'll wait while you surf.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ok now think about this. Rather than just saying that they'd "like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony" - yes, that's a poke - the folks at Pepsi are asking for ideas in YOUR town. What do YOU wanna see? What do YOU wanna make better?
So - just for asking, I'd like to say that Pepsi already won the SuperBowl ad race. Could this backfire? Sure - of course it could. But it's not as 'tho they'll lose ALL their market by not broadcasting during the SuperBowl. And hey - they can always do it again next year. But it takes a large set of ... nerves ... to do what they're planning on doing.
And that's refreshing as heck to me.
May you grow up to be righteous.
May you grow up to be true.
May you always know the truth,
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong.
May you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
I actually remember the ad because my first thought was "Ancient Bob Dylan Song remix. Ok - time for a snack" (I'm not what one would call a Dylan fan) but before I could stand up, the lyrics caught my attention:
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true.
May you always do for others,
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung.
And may you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift.
And may you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
And may your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung.
May you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
I liked the message. They weren't talking about their product, for one ('tho I do prefer it as a cola) but I just liked what they were saying.
Well they've put their considerable money where their mouth is. This year, the first time in 23 years, Pepsi will NOT run any advertisments during the SuperBowl. Which is not to say they don't have anything to launch or discuss with the upwards of 100 million sets of eyes that they COULD be infront of. They've just decided to do something else with that $12 million dollars (for just 2 60-second spots). Check THIS out ... www.refresheverything.com/?or=pusa.1159.
I'll wait while you surf.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ok now think about this. Rather than just saying that they'd "like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony" - yes, that's a poke - the folks at Pepsi are asking for ideas in YOUR town. What do YOU wanna see? What do YOU wanna make better?
So - just for asking, I'd like to say that Pepsi already won the SuperBowl ad race. Could this backfire? Sure - of course it could. But it's not as 'tho they'll lose ALL their market by not broadcasting during the SuperBowl. And hey - they can always do it again next year. But it takes a large set of ... nerves ... to do what they're planning on doing.
And that's refreshing as heck to me.
May you grow up to be righteous.
May you grow up to be true.
May you always know the truth,
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong.
May you stay forever young.
May you stay forever young.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
All That You Can't Leave Behind
There was a time, about a decade ago, when I was VERY into wine. This was a time when I had a lot of people around me whom I called my friends, a quiet evening at home would be something I'd do only as a very last resort, and I was just starting to think about buying a brand-new vehicle just for me, even though it wasn't really necessary. It wouldn't be totally inaccurate to say that I was very wrapped up in "things".
Today I sold my collection of wine, dusty from years of inactivity, to a local agency. I used that "just for me" vehicle to do this and, after I dropped off the bottles, I did a few around town errands. I've got a mental checklist that tells me I need to visit one of my closest friends for a little catch-up time, and have been enjoying MANY quiet evenings. My days are spent donating, boxing up, or throwing out "things". It seems that there is very little that I can't leave behind.
Life, it seems, has been very kind to me overall and has given me many things to think about. Oh sure - when I've lost sight of what REALLY matters, life has had no problem in smackin' me around a little bit (as this space and those closest to me will attest). But those smaller disappointments saved me from making HUGE mistakes in the long run. Any wounds that life inflicted are now just foggy memories ... ghosts with no one left to haunt.
It's more than just my being in everlasting love that does this. It's more than the sweetest thing or terrific blue sky days or having a plan in place that I will follow and everyone embraces. It's more than amazing timing or tossing a coin into a wishing well and wishing for someone else's wish to come true or just desire itself. In fact, as of late, when I look at the world, it is - indeed - a beautiful day. And, in a little while?
Grace.
(Written while listening to U2 ... duh.)
Today I sold my collection of wine, dusty from years of inactivity, to a local agency. I used that "just for me" vehicle to do this and, after I dropped off the bottles, I did a few around town errands. I've got a mental checklist that tells me I need to visit one of my closest friends for a little catch-up time, and have been enjoying MANY quiet evenings. My days are spent donating, boxing up, or throwing out "things". It seems that there is very little that I can't leave behind.
Life, it seems, has been very kind to me overall and has given me many things to think about. Oh sure - when I've lost sight of what REALLY matters, life has had no problem in smackin' me around a little bit (as this space and those closest to me will attest). But those smaller disappointments saved me from making HUGE mistakes in the long run. Any wounds that life inflicted are now just foggy memories ... ghosts with no one left to haunt.
It's more than just my being in everlasting love that does this. It's more than the sweetest thing or terrific blue sky days or having a plan in place that I will follow and everyone embraces. It's more than amazing timing or tossing a coin into a wishing well and wishing for someone else's wish to come true or just desire itself. In fact, as of late, when I look at the world, it is - indeed - a beautiful day. And, in a little while?
Grace.
(Written while listening to U2 ... duh.)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Just Da' Fact(oid)s
Factoid #1: It's no surprise that I'm rediscovering music I'd forgotten I had. Working with my online musical library means that tunes I'd downloaded or moved over from CD are once again coming to my attention.
Factoid #2: I've been doing well over the past week or so. I've been keeping busy (on purpose), and there are places and people and things that I allow myself to dream about ... future-type places and people and things ... places and people and things that I'm 120% sure about. However, so as to not drive myself TOO crazy, I try to keep the daydreaming at a minimum and keep it to myself.
So, for instance, it'd be unlike me to write that while I was electronically flipping through my music collection, I found myself listening to a song and thinking "Gosh, what a perfectly lovely song that'd be to use in a wedding".
It was written that I would love you from the minute I opened my eyes.
And the morning when I first saw you gave me life under Calico skies.
I will hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
Always looking for ways to love you. Never failing to fight at your side.
While the angels of love protect us from the inner most secrets we hide.
I'll hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
I'll love you for the rest of my life.
Long live all of us crazy soldiers who were born under Calico skies.
May we never be called to handle all the weapons of war we despise.
I'll hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
I'll love you for as long as you like.
I'll love you for the rest of my ... for the rest of my life.
Yeah, it'd be unlikely for me to write that. But I'm 120% sure it would be.
Factoid #2: I've been doing well over the past week or so. I've been keeping busy (on purpose), and there are places and people and things that I allow myself to dream about ... future-type places and people and things ... places and people and things that I'm 120% sure about. However, so as to not drive myself TOO crazy, I try to keep the daydreaming at a minimum and keep it to myself.
So, for instance, it'd be unlike me to write that while I was electronically flipping through my music collection, I found myself listening to a song and thinking "Gosh, what a perfectly lovely song that'd be to use in a wedding".
It was written that I would love you from the minute I opened my eyes.
And the morning when I first saw you gave me life under Calico skies.
I will hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
Always looking for ways to love you. Never failing to fight at your side.
While the angels of love protect us from the inner most secrets we hide.
I'll hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
I'll love you for the rest of my life.
Long live all of us crazy soldiers who were born under Calico skies.
May we never be called to handle all the weapons of war we despise.
I'll hold you for as long as you like. I'll hold you for the rest of my life.
I'll love you for as long as you like.
I'll love you for the rest of my ... for the rest of my life.
Yeah, it'd be unlikely for me to write that. But I'm 120% sure it would be.
Geniuses or Geeks?
First off - geeks. All the way. No question. All the brains and NONE of the superior, condescending, smarmy attitude. Give me a geek every day of the week. (Ok if the genius in question also happens to be a geek - ala Johnny Galecki's Dr. Leonard Hofstadter? Oh yeeeeah, I'd bend the rules for Johnn ... I mean for Leonard.)
Secondly - a pondering that I've been chewing on. If you created a customer-facing product, and you wanted it to seem accessible and friendly to your average consumer, why would you then tell said potential customer "oh and if you need help, talk to one of our Geniuses?" I mean - doesn't that make it seem like the product is so confusing and befuddling that it takes a GENIUS to make it work? Or am I just being slow here? After all, I'm no genius.
Here's what's going on:
I have three products from the company that makes the portable music devices - so clearly, I'm a fan. All three products are used in various ways and none of them have ever given me a lick of trouble. Until now. See - I have a new home laptop and wanted to have the same musical library on my portable devices live on this new laptop. And it WAS working on it too, for a while ... but I noticed that my purchased file wasn't matching up. One of my devices said I had 297 purchased songs, while the laptop says that I have 93. So there's a significant chunk of music that's gone missing. Now rounding up by one whole penny, that's $204 worth of missing music ... and seeing as how I have only legally purchased music (heck - I fully admit I'm not smart enough to know how I'd go about downloading anything illegally), that's $204 I'd rather not spend again.
I gathered up my three portable music devices and my laptop and headed to the store that solely represents the company behind the devices. I was greeted immediately at the front of their door and barely started to explain my issue when Trevor, the bouncer at the door, asked if I had an appointment with one of their Geniuses. "No", I said. "I KNOW this is user error and I'm hoping that if I could just be shown the steps I'm not doing correctly, I'll be able to fix the problem on my own." I then went into a Readers-digest version of what was going wrong but barely got into the problem when Trevor interrupted "oh - yeaaaah - we can't help you. You see - while you're clearly NOT stealing music, what you're describing is how one WOULD do that and so we are legally not supposed to assist. However, if you go online and download this freeware product called notgonnanameithere.com, you should be fine." "Really?" I said, incredulously. "Because I'd have NO problem being charged for a fix - I'm just not all that comfortable and this IS your product after all."
After realizing that Trevor wasn't gonna let me anywhere near his precious geniuses no matter what the cost, I walked out of the store and I'll admit - I was feeling a little bit more comfortable with trying to troubleshoot the problem on my own. After all, while they wouldn't do it for me, I had been given a lead for a fix.
That feeling lasted right up until the VERY FIRST window from stillnotgonnanameithere.com popped up. "You have too many libraries and we cannot tell which device maps to which computer. Please type in the correct mapping justification in the next 8 seconds but be careful - if you get it wrong, we'll erase your devices, reformat your laptop and you'll be marked forever as a failure" said the window. (No, not really, but it may as WELL have said that.) Sooooooo I shut down and decided to sleep on it for a night. Perhaps I'd have a stroke of ... well, genius in my sleep.
Alas, I did not.
The next day, I again gathered up my toys and headed to the local "1st-place Purchase" store. I was greeted at the customer help desk by Kevin, who listened and - get this - TOOK NOTES!! - as I explained my problem. He then said "so fixing this would mean that your three devices and your laptop all had the same music on them, right?" "Exactly!" I said. Kevin and Tanya then spent 40 minutes - with me right there with them - as we three tried things we could think of. After that time, Tanya said "Yanno, I think we should open a ticket for you. Can you leave these items with us?" "Sure", I said. "Take your time . Heck - clearly I've been dealing with this for months now so there's no rush. I just want it to work." Kevin said he'd call me before his day ended to let me know what they'd done and what they could recommend. He also asked if a $30 charge could be added to the ticket, because he had a suspicion that they had a software package that could help with the problem. (Kevin would call, as he promised, to say that the software cannot work with my "bit size" and has already credited my account.)
I've had a day or two to think about this:
The place that CREATED the items in question would not let me talk to anyone significantly knowledgeable without an appointment, pointed me to a freeware product that isn't even connected to their company to fix the issue, and sent me on my way without ever even turning on my laptop.
The place that I purchased the laptop from, however, took my issue as a personal challenge - something almost fun for them to track down and solve, and they even offered to give me a loaner laptop while they trouble-shoot the issue. I'm typing this on my new laptop and have all my musical devices back with me. The problem still exists but I now hear from Kevin and Tanya at least twice a day as they continue to try to think of solutions. It's incredible customer service - especially when you consider that they've each spent several hours of their time pondering and surfing and researching and thus have charged me a total of 30 minutes of labor hours, which I'm more than happy to pay.
So Geeks or Geniuses?
The geeks shall inherit the Earth. (And, let's face it, it'll be a friendlier place when they do.)
**************
*Note: No real products or stores have been named in this rant but I think ya' should be able to figure out the cast of characters anyway.
Secondly - a pondering that I've been chewing on. If you created a customer-facing product, and you wanted it to seem accessible and friendly to your average consumer, why would you then tell said potential customer "oh and if you need help, talk to one of our Geniuses?" I mean - doesn't that make it seem like the product is so confusing and befuddling that it takes a GENIUS to make it work? Or am I just being slow here? After all, I'm no genius.
Here's what's going on:
I have three products from the company that makes the portable music devices - so clearly, I'm a fan. All three products are used in various ways and none of them have ever given me a lick of trouble. Until now. See - I have a new home laptop and wanted to have the same musical library on my portable devices live on this new laptop. And it WAS working on it too, for a while ... but I noticed that my purchased file wasn't matching up. One of my devices said I had 297 purchased songs, while the laptop says that I have 93. So there's a significant chunk of music that's gone missing. Now rounding up by one whole penny, that's $204 worth of missing music ... and seeing as how I have only legally purchased music (heck - I fully admit I'm not smart enough to know how I'd go about downloading anything illegally), that's $204 I'd rather not spend again.
I gathered up my three portable music devices and my laptop and headed to the store that solely represents the company behind the devices. I was greeted immediately at the front of their door and barely started to explain my issue when Trevor, the bouncer at the door, asked if I had an appointment with one of their Geniuses. "No", I said. "I KNOW this is user error and I'm hoping that if I could just be shown the steps I'm not doing correctly, I'll be able to fix the problem on my own." I then went into a Readers-digest version of what was going wrong but barely got into the problem when Trevor interrupted "oh - yeaaaah - we can't help you. You see - while you're clearly NOT stealing music, what you're describing is how one WOULD do that and so we are legally not supposed to assist. However, if you go online and download this freeware product called notgonnanameithere.com, you should be fine." "Really?" I said, incredulously. "Because I'd have NO problem being charged for a fix - I'm just not all that comfortable and this IS your product after all."
After realizing that Trevor wasn't gonna let me anywhere near his precious geniuses no matter what the cost, I walked out of the store and I'll admit - I was feeling a little bit more comfortable with trying to troubleshoot the problem on my own. After all, while they wouldn't do it for me, I had been given a lead for a fix.
That feeling lasted right up until the VERY FIRST window from stillnotgonnanameithere.com popped up. "You have too many libraries and we cannot tell which device maps to which computer. Please type in the correct mapping justification in the next 8 seconds but be careful - if you get it wrong, we'll erase your devices, reformat your laptop and you'll be marked forever as a failure" said the window. (No, not really, but it may as WELL have said that.) Sooooooo I shut down and decided to sleep on it for a night. Perhaps I'd have a stroke of ... well, genius in my sleep.
Alas, I did not.
The next day, I again gathered up my toys and headed to the local "1st-place Purchase" store. I was greeted at the customer help desk by Kevin, who listened and - get this - TOOK NOTES!! - as I explained my problem. He then said "so fixing this would mean that your three devices and your laptop all had the same music on them, right?" "Exactly!" I said. Kevin and Tanya then spent 40 minutes - with me right there with them - as we three tried things we could think of. After that time, Tanya said "Yanno, I think we should open a ticket for you. Can you leave these items with us?" "Sure", I said. "Take your time . Heck - clearly I've been dealing with this for months now so there's no rush. I just want it to work." Kevin said he'd call me before his day ended to let me know what they'd done and what they could recommend. He also asked if a $30 charge could be added to the ticket, because he had a suspicion that they had a software package that could help with the problem. (Kevin would call, as he promised, to say that the software cannot work with my "bit size" and has already credited my account.)
I've had a day or two to think about this:
The place that CREATED the items in question would not let me talk to anyone significantly knowledgeable without an appointment, pointed me to a freeware product that isn't even connected to their company to fix the issue, and sent me on my way without ever even turning on my laptop.
The place that I purchased the laptop from, however, took my issue as a personal challenge - something almost fun for them to track down and solve, and they even offered to give me a loaner laptop while they trouble-shoot the issue. I'm typing this on my new laptop and have all my musical devices back with me. The problem still exists but I now hear from Kevin and Tanya at least twice a day as they continue to try to think of solutions. It's incredible customer service - especially when you consider that they've each spent several hours of their time pondering and surfing and researching and thus have charged me a total of 30 minutes of labor hours, which I'm more than happy to pay.
So Geeks or Geniuses?
The geeks shall inherit the Earth. (And, let's face it, it'll be a friendlier place when they do.)
**************
*Note: No real products or stores have been named in this rant but I think ya' should be able to figure out the cast of characters anyway.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Keeper
So I was half-watching TV last night (really I was more listening with my eyes closed than watching actually) and a commercial came on for a device of some kind (no free-advertising today). And the thirty seconds of music that was playing in the background of this ad reminded me of a song that I always liked but ... well ... I wasn't awake enough to write down a note to myself to look up the tune later.
Flash forward to today ...
I'm surfing for like 35 minutes for this silly ad. Now, I'm pretty resourceful. I know to use different terms when looking for something - heck, I even checked the message boards that were discussing the product in question, but I was batting ZERO. The product that was being advertised seemed to only have two commercials, and the music in both was NOT what caught my ear last night. I was moments from just giving up when I mentioned it to the boyfriend. I described the music (incorrectly, as it would turn out), told him the product that was being advertised, and that all my searching had led me nowhere. I even told him that I'd started to doubt that I was naming the right product ...
... and it took him just barely over five minutes to come up with the tune in question.
He's a keeper.
*****************
Since I haven't named the ad, the product, or the specific song ... how about ya' just respond with your favorite "guilty pleasure 80's or 90's" song?
Flash forward to today ...
I'm surfing for like 35 minutes for this silly ad. Now, I'm pretty resourceful. I know to use different terms when looking for something - heck, I even checked the message boards that were discussing the product in question, but I was batting ZERO. The product that was being advertised seemed to only have two commercials, and the music in both was NOT what caught my ear last night. I was moments from just giving up when I mentioned it to the boyfriend. I described the music (incorrectly, as it would turn out), told him the product that was being advertised, and that all my searching had led me nowhere. I even told him that I'd started to doubt that I was naming the right product ...
... and it took him just barely over five minutes to come up with the tune in question.
He's a keeper.
*****************
Since I haven't named the ad, the product, or the specific song ... how about ya' just respond with your favorite "guilty pleasure 80's or 90's" song?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Time After Time Traveling
Oh sure, musically I know what you're thinking. You've travelled to 1984 with Cyndi Lauper, or maybe you're in 2000 looking at Eva Cassidy's album, or heck - maybe ya' stopped off in 1991 to visit Ozzy Osbourne. Nope nope and nope.
I'm talking about 1947. Yeah - betcha didn't go there, huh? It was introduced to the general population by this guy Frank something or another (had a nickname of "Blue Eyes" I think), and it's been covered by Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, James Brown, Carol Burnett, The Temptations and a few hundred other folks that maybe ya' know about.
For your musical enjoyment today, I give you "Time After Time", words and music by Sammy Cohen and Jule Styne, and sung - quite nicely, I must say - by Carly Simon.
I'm talking about 1947. Yeah - betcha didn't go there, huh? It was introduced to the general population by this guy Frank something or another (had a nickname of "Blue Eyes" I think), and it's been covered by Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, James Brown, Carol Burnett, The Temptations and a few hundred other folks that maybe ya' know about.
For your musical enjoyment today, I give you "Time After Time", words and music by Sammy Cohen and Jule Styne, and sung - quite nicely, I must say - by Carly Simon.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
"Big Whiskey" Rocks
Yesterday I picked up "Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King" from Dave Matthews Band. Today I am suggesting you do the same.
It's a "chill and just snuggle" listen.
It's an "I can read to this" listen.
It's a "background music while cleaning the kitchen" listen.
It's a "music to drive with" listen.
Not every track will be your new favorite ... but I'll bet you'll find one or two in there.
If ya' ARE a fan, let me know whatcha' think. For me, this was worth the wait. And if you aren't a DMB fan? Well then - maybe next Tuesday will be YOUR rockin' Tuesday.
It's a "chill and just snuggle" listen.
It's an "I can read to this" listen.
It's a "background music while cleaning the kitchen" listen.
It's a "music to drive with" listen.
Not every track will be your new favorite ... but I'll bet you'll find one or two in there.
If ya' ARE a fan, let me know whatcha' think. For me, this was worth the wait. And if you aren't a DMB fan? Well then - maybe next Tuesday will be YOUR rockin' Tuesday.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Piano Man
You may have noticed from my most recent entry that my soundtrack this weekend was presented to me by Billy Joel. (In fact, he just finished singing the last few desperate words of "Pressure" in my ears.)
Every generation has their musical poet. There are those that say Bob Dylan holds this title, and maybe he does. I could never get past his voice to actually listen to (or even decipher, at times) what he was singing. I've been told it is moving and meaningful stuff. Maybe I'm thinking too hard about "what the hell did he just say?" to be moved.
Today, with close to 4,000 songs on my iTunes account, I have categories that possibly didn't exist when I was a child. What artist would I possibly categorize as "Funk Polka"? How would Scott Joplin feel to know that he's musically listed between Norah Jones and Keane? John Legend, John Lennon, Annie Lennox and Jerry Lee Lewis may wonder who the hell their musical neighbor, Lifehouse, is but thus far things seem calm enough.
I can't even say that Billy Joel is the musical poet of "my generation". I still fear that me and the rest of the 1968 children are unclaimed, generationally speaking. Musically, I missed the 60s and only became aware of so-named popular music in the mid-70s. I not only remember when MTV played music videos but, way before that, I remember thinking that Daryl Dragon was super dreamy, even with the hat.
Oh just shut up.
I'm about to shut this machine off for the evening, but I'd like to share this with you first. While it is clearly a song, I'd suggest reading it as a poem.
**********
In the beginning,
there was the cold and the night.
Prophets and angels gave us the fire and the light.
Man was triumphant,
armed with the faith and the will
that even the darkest ages couldn't kill.
Too many kingdoms,
too many flags on the field.
So many battles, so many wounds to be healed.
Time is relentless - only true love perseveres.
It's been a long time and now I'm with you
after two thousand years.
This is our moment
here at the crossroads of time.
We hope our children carry our dreams down the line.
They are the vintage.
What kind will they live?
Is this a curse or a blessing that we give?
Sometimes I wonder
why are we so blind to fate?
Without compassion, there can be no end to hate.
No end to sorrow caused by the same endless fears.
Why can't we learn from all we've been through
after two thousand years?
There will be miracles
after the last war is won.
Science and poetry rule in the new world to come.
Prophets and angels
gave us the power to see
what an amazing future there will be.
And, in the evening
after the fire and the light,
one thing is certain: nothing can hold back the night.
Time is relentless and, as the past disappears,
we're on the verge of all things new.
We are two thousand years.
**********
Every generation has their musical poet. There are those that say Bob Dylan holds this title, and maybe he does. I could never get past his voice to actually listen to (or even decipher, at times) what he was singing. I've been told it is moving and meaningful stuff. Maybe I'm thinking too hard about "what the hell did he just say?" to be moved.
Today, with close to 4,000 songs on my iTunes account, I have categories that possibly didn't exist when I was a child. What artist would I possibly categorize as "Funk Polka"? How would Scott Joplin feel to know that he's musically listed between Norah Jones and Keane? John Legend, John Lennon, Annie Lennox and Jerry Lee Lewis may wonder who the hell their musical neighbor, Lifehouse, is but thus far things seem calm enough.
I can't even say that Billy Joel is the musical poet of "my generation". I still fear that me and the rest of the 1968 children are unclaimed, generationally speaking. Musically, I missed the 60s and only became aware of so-named popular music in the mid-70s. I not only remember when MTV played music videos but, way before that, I remember thinking that Daryl Dragon was super dreamy, even with the hat.
Oh just shut up.
I'm about to shut this machine off for the evening, but I'd like to share this with you first. While it is clearly a song, I'd suggest reading it as a poem.
**********
In the beginning,
there was the cold and the night.
Prophets and angels gave us the fire and the light.
Man was triumphant,
armed with the faith and the will
that even the darkest ages couldn't kill.
Too many kingdoms,
too many flags on the field.
So many battles, so many wounds to be healed.
Time is relentless - only true love perseveres.
It's been a long time and now I'm with you
after two thousand years.
This is our moment
here at the crossroads of time.
We hope our children carry our dreams down the line.
They are the vintage.
What kind will they live?
Is this a curse or a blessing that we give?
Sometimes I wonder
why are we so blind to fate?
Without compassion, there can be no end to hate.
No end to sorrow caused by the same endless fears.
Why can't we learn from all we've been through
after two thousand years?
There will be miracles
after the last war is won.
Science and poetry rule in the new world to come.
Prophets and angels
gave us the power to see
what an amazing future there will be.
And, in the evening
after the fire and the light,
one thing is certain: nothing can hold back the night.
Time is relentless and, as the past disappears,
we're on the verge of all things new.
We are two thousand years.
**********
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