How Super Bowl Footballs are Made

This video essay by AP Photographer Amy Sancetta shows how Wilson is making the balls for Super Bowl XLIII.

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Inaugural Address Word Clouds

Word clouds of the inaugural addresses of George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama

First George Bush address 2001






















Second George Bush address 2005





















Barack Obama address 2009





















Made with Wordle

Pres. Obama's Inaugural Speech in Wordle

Wordle of President Obama's inauguration speech ...

Now It's Buy.com's Turn to **** Me!

Since my last post on this issue, I was finally able to reach Buy.com customer service. I had to do a Google to find their CS number which appears nowhere on their website (That's not a good sign!).

Foolishly I thought that since they were the merchant who took my money, they might be interested in helping me resolve my issue with Westinghouse Digital. Ha!

Buy.com told me that the defective TV had to be returned to the manufacturer. Now they tell me that since I returned it to the manufacturer instead of to Buy.com, they can't help me.

Buy.com has my money. Westinghouse Digital has the TV. I have nothing but annoyance, frustration, and aggravation!

Next stop, my credit card company.

Video of US Airways 1549 Landing in the Hudson

The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board has posted a remarkable video to its YouTube channel showing the emergency landing of US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15. Be patient, the plane comes into view from the left about 2 minutes into the recording, then it zooms in.

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No Joy from Westinghouse Digital

In a recent post I described my battle with Westinghouse Digital regarding my attempt to exchange a defective TV.

After waiting about two more days from that time, I again called Westinghouse Digital "customer service." They still claimed the returned TV was not in their system, whatever that means. I reminded them I have delivery verification. If they don't know where it is, that's their problem, not mine.

I suggested they just grab another TV, put a shipping label on it, and send it on its merry way. Then they can worry about locating the returned TV. Of course, "We can't do that." They say they can't send out a replacement until they locate the return. Does this mean that if they can never locate it, I'll never get a new TV?

I asked to speak to a supervisor, but the was "no supervisor available." The rep said a supervisor would call me within 24 to 48 hours. We'll see.

Stay tuned, no pun intended.

Circuit City Closing

Pictures from the first day of Circuit City's liquidation ...

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Another Myth Dispelled

"It's really tough to beat a team three times in one year!" A myth as seen in this shot of a Jim Rome interview with Steelers corner Ike Taylor ...GO, STEELERS!

After the Storm

A short walk through the neighborhood this morning following last night's snowfall ...

After the Storm from Thomas Boito on Vimeo.

I am Being Screwed by WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL

I bought a Westinghouse LCD HDTV from Buy.com in late November. It proved to be defective and it was necessary to return it to WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL for exchange.
I shipped it by UPS back to WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL on Dec 22, at MY OWN EXPENSE. It was signed for at WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL's El Paso facility just before 11 am, Dec 30. I have called WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL "customer service" at least three times since for a status report, most recently this afternoon. I CANNOT get ANY information as to what's going on. WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL doesn't even acknowledge that they have received the TV.

I told WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL that I would call back in a day or two and if I was not satisfied with the situation I wanted my money back. WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL said they couldn't do that since I purchased from Buy.com, not directly from WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL. I will contact Buy.com and if they're no help, I will try working through my credit card company.

I will NEVER buy another WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL product. I will NEVER recommend a WESTINGHOUSE DIGITAL product to anyone I know.

Let It Snow

The snow can be really pretty so long as I don't have to go out and drive in it ...

The view from my kitchen window on the morning of Jan 8, 2009.

Saving Money in Plain English

Saving is becoming cool again. Over-spending is so passé.

Saving Money in Plain English is another excellent video from Lee LeFever and the good folks at Common Craft. It's an introduction to the magic of compound interest and how it helps money grow over time.

Sittin' by the Fire

First time I ever got the fireplace table at Panera. So cool!

So comfy, cozy ...