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.

Secure Your MacBook

iAlertU from SlappingTurtle Software is a free application to secure your MacBook computer in public places like cafes or meeting rooms. iAlertU is like a car alarm for your laptop which uses the built-in sudden motion sensor device of the MacBook.

iAlertU can be armed using either the keyboard or the remote. Movement of the MacBook or keyboard/trackpad activity will trigger an audible alarm that will continue sounding even if the computer is closed. The MacBook's built-in iSight camera will snap a photo of the villain and email it to a specified address.

Verizon DSL Tech Support - Kudos!

In the past I have not had good experiences with Verizon DSL Tech Support. So when I couldn't get my new MacBook to wirelessly connect to my router, I was not looking gleefully forward to calling that dreaded number again.

Things started in the usual, anticipated way. First call, bad connection, had to hang up and retry. Second call, worked my way through the annoying menu system and finally got directed to Mac DSL support. Held for several minutes before an automated voice announces they are over capacity, please hang up and retry later. Call number 3, the voice recognition suddenly seems to have become hearing-impaired necessitating at least three repetitions of every command. Finally, however, I reach a real live tech support human.

This guy was fantastic! He quickly diagnosed the problem (needed modem/router firmware upgraded) and walked me through the process. Once we got the MacBook online, the iPod Touch went offline. So, he worked to resolve that issue. He was extremely courteous, pleasant and competent. 

This is my first Verizon Tech Support issue that didn't end up with me frustrated, angry and demanding a supervisor. Big props to this individual!!

Keep Your Weiner Safe

Saw this video on Cali Lewis' GeekBrief.tv podcast.

Thanks to modern technology we can now end senseless weiner tragedies. Seriously, as my dad was a carpenter, looks as though it could be something good. But, how does it know?

SawStop

Listen to Your iPod with any FM Receiver

Forget bothering with external speakers for your iPod.

This tiny FM transmitter from Small Dog Electronics allows you to listen to your iPod using any FM radio.

I got one to use in the car and I liked it so much I got another one for the house.

It's powered by your iPod, transmits on any frequency from 87.9 to 107.9 and remembers the last frequency used. It has a pass-through port for charging and comes in five cool colors. The list price is $19.99.

Compatible with 1st and 2nd gen iPod Nano (non-video models), video, mini, photo, 4G and 3G

OMG!!!

Is this the first sign of the end of humanity as we know it? Better lay in a supply of joe to get through this crisis!

Starbucks to close all stores for three hours - Food Inc.- msnbc.com

Just in ... Dunkin' Donuts to offer 99 cent lattes and cappuccino during Starbucks blackout.

The Refurb Depot

I'm a real believer in buying refurbished products when I can. Both my Apple computers, my Kodak camera, and several other things were bought refurbished with no problems.

The Refurb Depot | #1 Source For All Things Refurbished

These products often (but, not always, check) come with the same warranty as the new product. Usually, any bugs have already shown up and been corrected.

Many refurbished items were not defective, just returned for various other reasons.

10 Surprising Uses For Aspirin

Here's another collection of tips on how to get more out of common products.

10 Surprising Uses For Aspirin

I always wonder who was the first to attempt this trick and why did they try it.

Happy Birthday 2 U

What's shiny, round, has a hole in the center, and more than 200 billion have been made since being introduced 17 August 1982?

Wired Blogs: Gadget Lab

Looking for that one really clever idea that will make a fortune?

The Directors Bureau Special Projects Idea Generator may be just the trick for for you.

Spin the wheel and you'll get three words that may spawn the next big thing. Following are some examples of ideas I generated:

• oversized nuclear vehicle
• erotic vibrating book
• electric torture furniture
• dramatic concrete clothing
• geometric virtual furniture

Take the wheel for a spin or two. You never know what could spark that magical concept.

Another Miraculous Product

I've been an advocate of vinegar as multi-use product for some time. The applications for vinegar around the house are numerous. This article from because you value your body lists 62 interesting uses.

Some of these which I particularly like are --

• Remove stubborn coffee stains from cups and pots. Fill the cup with vinegar overnight, then rinse with hot soapy water.
• Keep a garbage disposal clean and smelling fresh. Mix one cup of vinegar in enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze the mixture, grind the cubes through the disposal, and flush with cold water.
• Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight. Coat the window with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water.
• Prevent lint from clinging to clothes. Add one cup vinegar to each wash load.

62 Little Known Uses Of Vinegar | because you value your body

Super Miracle Wonder Product with Thousands of Uses

The Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club has posted a seemingly infinite list of uses for this miraculous product. And, you probably have some of this stuff around the house right now.

Among its uses --

• Removes crayon from walls and carpet
• Prevents mildew growth on fountain
• Removes tomato stains from clothes
• Camouflages scratches in ceramic tile
• Removes rust from cookie tins
• Spray on bathroom mirror to keep it from fogging
• Displaces moisture from submerged cellular phones
• Cleans clogged inkjet nozzle
• Coat wire tomato plant cages to keep insects away
• Removes snarls from horse hair & manes
• and much, much more

Click here to discover what this wonder product is.

Where the Beer is Made

Yesterday, Ken and I visited the Straub Brewery in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. Straub's is a family-owned and -operated brewery making beer from all natural brewing ingredients. No sugar, salt, or preservatives are used.

Free tours of the brewery are offered Monday through Friday mornings. Highlights of the tour include a bottle of Straub's pulled off the bottling line (as fresh a beer as you'll ever get), and the Eternal Tap where adults are free to enjoy up to two drafts.

FREE Shipping Materials from USPS

You can get free shipping materials from the US Postal Service, envelopes. labels, boxes of many sorts. Yes, FREE!

Why give your money to Staples when your tax dollars have already kindly bought these things for you.

Gotta love free stuff!

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets

Dust venetian blinds, prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage, loosen caked-on food from a pan, freshen smelly shoes, more ...

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets | RealSimple.com:

Perfect Glass

I've long been looking for some kind of glass cleaner that would not streak or leave a fuzzy residue on the windows of my car. Furthermore, I have several large mirrored surfaces in my home that I could never get to look the way they should.

I've tried various commercial products and home-made solutions, sprays, wipes, etc . . I'd think I had the windows or mirrors really clean. Then the light or my angle would change, and I would be amazed at how horrible the glass looked. Every time I saw a new product I would try it out.

Yesterday, in Lowe's, I saw a product called Perfect Glass. It came in spray and wipes. I decided to try the wipes. I am very impressed. Though not totally 100% streak-free, the results are very, very good. I recommend this product to anyone frustrated by their inability to get clean, streak-free glass.

100% STREAK FREE
Hopes' Perfect Glass is a new 100% streak-free glass cleaner specifically developed for those who are frustrated with the haze and residue that ordinary household glass cleaners can leave behind.

INNOVATIVE FORMULA!
Thanks to it's unique no-residue formula, Hope's Perfect Glass cleans quickly and completely, leaving windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces looking perfect!

SAFE AND PLEASANT!
Hope's Perfect Glass is ammonia free, pleasantly scented, and nontoxic. It is gentle on hands, safe for food preparation surfaces and will not harm tinted windows.