Canadian punk princess Avril Lavigne is being sued by U.S. songwriters who claim that her smash hit "Girlfriend" sounds suspiciously like a single ("I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend") they released in the 1970s. The Rubinoos song came out in 1979 and features the poppy chorus: “Hey, hey, you, you, I wanna be your boyfriend,” much like Lavigne's more up-tempo hit, which goes, “Hey, hey, you, you, I don't like your girlfriend.”
Um...hey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloud...
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Next Harry Potter?
With The Deathly Hallows looming for Harry Potter, Hollywood is casting around hoping to find new British fantasy figures with equal box-office magic. Two contenders emerged Thursday as Harry's home studio of Warner Bros. announced it had snapped up the movie rights to the seven-book Septimus Heap saga, while the production company Relativity Media conjured up a deal for Tunnels, based on a book series that hasn't even been published Stateside. Conceived by U.K. author Angie Sage, Septimus Heap follows the adventures of two babies switched at birth: a boy fated to become a powerful wizard and a girl, who discovers her royal lineage.
Um...Star Wars, anyone? Jedi Master Luke and Princess Leia?
Um...Star Wars, anyone? Jedi Master Luke and Princess Leia?
We welcome your comments! (if you can figure out how to get them to us)
My friend and I own a timeshare together and subscribe to RCI so we can trade our timeshare for others around the US and -- hopefully someday -- world. After our latest trip, I logged on to RCI's website (www.rci.com) and found:
We want to hear from you. Comment cards will be available for completion after your vacation.
Select the Comment Card you want to complete.
So, naturally, I selected the trip we just went on. Rather than just giving me a survey that would be matched up with that particular resort, I was asked the following:
Please enter the Resort ID # and Reservation number indicated on your comment card. (For Weeks members and Cruise exchangers your reservation number is the combination of your member id and exchange number. For example, member id 1111-01234 and exchange number 00099, the reservation number would be 11110123400099). Your input is very important to us. Your comments contribute to the overall rating of the resort and will be shared with resorts so they can improve their services to you.
I tried...and tried...and gave up. Apparently this "exchange number" was something pulled out of their ass which would have taken me hours to figure out. After several attempts, I wrote an email asking why it was so complicated to provide feedback (and it was even good!). They responded and gave me the number they were looking for and apologized with, "We regret it is not more intuitive." Basically, "we regret you weren't smart enough to figure it out, you idiot. " They further explain that the reviews are being phased out and they were done by third party vendors anyway. However, if I want to write a review, I can happily visit http://www.igougo.com/.
Hey--how about this? I tell you to go fuck yourself and stop wasting my fucking time trying to provide you and your clients a service by responding to a survey you initiated.
We want to hear from you. Comment cards will be available for completion after your vacation.
Select the Comment Card you want to complete.
So, naturally, I selected the trip we just went on. Rather than just giving me a survey that would be matched up with that particular resort, I was asked the following:
Please enter the Resort ID # and Reservation number indicated on your comment card. (For Weeks members and Cruise exchangers your reservation number is the combination of your member id and exchange number. For example, member id 1111-01234 and exchange number 00099, the reservation number would be 11110123400099). Your input is very important to us. Your comments contribute to the overall rating of the resort and will be shared with resorts so they can improve their services to you.
I tried...and tried...and gave up. Apparently this "exchange number" was something pulled out of their ass which would have taken me hours to figure out. After several attempts, I wrote an email asking why it was so complicated to provide feedback (and it was even good!). They responded and gave me the number they were looking for and apologized with, "We regret it is not more intuitive." Basically, "we regret you weren't smart enough to figure it out, you idiot. " They further explain that the reviews are being phased out and they were done by third party vendors anyway. However, if I want to write a review, I can happily visit http://www.igougo.com/.
Hey--how about this? I tell you to go fuck yourself and stop wasting my fucking time trying to provide you and your clients a service by responding to a survey you initiated.
Feets of Clay
Singer Clay Aiken apparently got into a dispute with a woman during a flight to Tulsa, drawing some scrutiny from FBI agents but no charges, a newspaper reported. The 2003 "American Idol" runner-up was on the Saturday morning Continental Airlines flight for a evening show, and concertgoers said afterward that Aiken joked on-stage about being beaten up by a girl earlier in the day. FBI Special Agent Gary Johnson told the Tulsa World there was a dispute between a male passenger and a woman on the flight. He said the man was a former "American Idol" contestant but did not give his name. Johnson said the dispute was over the male passenger's foot resting on the woman's armrest. He said there was an allegation the woman gave the male passenger a "minor shove" during the argument.
Hmm...where to begin...where to begin? Let's start with this: the FBI had to be called in? What the fuck? Slow day at the office? No terrorists to catch? Second: Was Clay flying in coach? If not (and he probably wasn't), aren't the first class seats big enough for you, Clay? Remember: you're not big fat Ruben (even though he won). Third: Not his arm, but his foot? Again: what the fuck? Note to Clay: you're an in-the-closet skanky North Carolina freak. Get over yourself.
The Apartment Waiting List
One year ago this month, I was looking for a one-bedroom apartment after my live-in boyfriend of over 2 years decided to "suddenly" move in with someone else. Another beau. I found a one-bedroom apartment and have been successfully living independently.
Today, I received an email from "Goldie" at an apartment complex I inquired about ONE YEAR AGO. She wrote: "I am just following up with you in regards to your apartment search. Have you found something, or are you still looking? I have a quote below for you, this is a one bedroom, one bath apartment available for a move in on July 27th. Please let me know what you think about this."
I wrote back and said, "I think you're about one year too late. I was looking for a place last July and found one. Thank you, though." Way to follow up!
Goldie then had the audicity to write me back: "Thanks for your response, are you happy where you are?"
I glanced at the quote Goldie provided...and laughed. There was a $100 per person application fee, $250 fee PER pet (and I have two), and a $250 per prospect fee (whatever the fuck that is), in addition to a $1263 per month rent cost for a 700 square foot apartment near downtown. Not IN downtown, but near it.
I live in a fairly new apartment complex, can walk a few to the pool or the gym, and have immediate access to a highway which takes me right into downtown. For $710 per month...which is higher than most similar one-bedroom apartments, but it's newer, cleaner, and safer.
I wrote her back (for a final time) and told her that I was happy...for $500 less per month. Good luck with filling that apartment!
Today, I received an email from "Goldie" at an apartment complex I inquired about ONE YEAR AGO. She wrote: "I am just following up with you in regards to your apartment search. Have you found something, or are you still looking? I have a quote below for you, this is a one bedroom, one bath apartment available for a move in on July 27th. Please let me know what you think about this."
I wrote back and said, "I think you're about one year too late. I was looking for a place last July and found one. Thank you, though." Way to follow up!
Goldie then had the audicity to write me back: "Thanks for your response, are you happy where you are?"
I glanced at the quote Goldie provided...and laughed. There was a $100 per person application fee, $250 fee PER pet (and I have two), and a $250 per prospect fee (whatever the fuck that is), in addition to a $1263 per month rent cost for a 700 square foot apartment near downtown. Not IN downtown, but near it.
I live in a fairly new apartment complex, can walk a few to the pool or the gym, and have immediate access to a highway which takes me right into downtown. For $710 per month...which is higher than most similar one-bedroom apartments, but it's newer, cleaner, and safer.
I wrote her back (for a final time) and told her that I was happy...for $500 less per month. Good luck with filling that apartment!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Mail-In Rebates
Growing up, my family always purchased Peter Pan peanut butter. To this day, it's remained my favorite. It seems to have more peanutty taste and doesn't taste as dry as other peanut butters. Therefore, I was sad and disappointed to learn that Peter Pan peanut butter was pulled from the shelves in February 2007 due to salmonella poisoning. It's been almost six months now, and while I haven't gone peanut butterless, I do miss my Peter Pan. I purchased the latest release of Disney's animated Peter Pan DVD in March 2007. Unfortunately, due to pre-packaging, the DVD was released with an offer from ConAgra Foods (the producer of Peter Pan peanut butter) for a $3 rebate when you purchased a loaf of Wonder Bread, the Peter Pan DVD, and a jar of Peter Pan peanut butter. ConAgra said ON THEIR WEBSITE they would honor the rebate if you downloaded their "special" rebate form and purchased the first two items and ANY jar of peanut butter, despite the pulling from shelves of their own peanut butter.
I normally don't buy Wonder Bread anymore (as I'm no longer an 8-year-old kid and prefer heartier varieties of bread), but I chose to buy it since it would be like I was getting it for free once I fulfilled the obligations of the rebate. I got everything together and mailed off my rebate. Two months later, I get a notice that I did NOT fulfill my obligations. I thoroughly examine the evidence and, in my haste, apparently enclosed all the original receipts for the (circled) items, but not the Peter Pan DVD proof of purchase. It was at this time that I debated whether or not the $3 was worth it anymore since I had by now spent about 80 cents in postage. I mailed it in, though, and awaited my $3 rebate check.
A month later (today), I receive another letter saying that I STILL have NOT fulfilled my obligations. I reread everything again and I had submitted everything as instructed the second time around. I don't know what else to do. I'm dumbfounded and completely irritated at the scam. Obviously, ConAgra is trying to recoup their losses by not honoring the rebate, hoping everyone will just drop their efforts. Sadly, this is not the first time I've run into this problem with so-called rebate promises. Many, many different companies have done the same thing to me, even though I've taken the time to gather and send all the necessary proofs of purchases, receipts, and whatever garbage or proof of life they request. I would invite them to my home to see the actual items, but then they'd probably just tell me that I stole them. Congratulations, ConAgra. Please...enjoy my $3.
Rants
In addition to rants on celebrities' lives, their selfishness, and stupidity; I'm going to devote this blog to rants on various companies. Why? Because lately, a lot of them have really been pissing me off without just cause, making me aggravated and wasting my time. It's called "poor customer service" or "lack of quality customer service" or just plain "morons and assholes who I wonder how (and why) they stay in business." Please read on...
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