Randomize

Richard Tallent’s occasional blog

Two Customer Service Experiences…

Sears (Kenmore) Paid $800 for a stand-alone refrigerator a few weeks ago, and $200 for the extended warranty. Upon delivery, saw a large scuff on the stainless exterior. Immediately called 1-800-4MYHOME, and spend upwards of FOUR HOURS getting them to answer the phone and deal with the issue. After several rescheduled deliveries, they showed up with a freezer. I was promised a call-back from the dispatch department, it was never received. Read more →

Escaping Inflation?

The US Dollar is on the rocks. No great mystery as to why: massive amounts of deficit spending. Regardless who wins the election, I don’t expect an immediate turn-around. So, to escape the falling value of the dollar, I’m wondering whether there is a benefit to storing our cash savings in a foreign bank in some other currency (such as Euros). Anyone know how to go about doing such a thing, and whether there are special tax implications or potential headaches? Read more →

Why Apple beats Microsoft in Innovation

Microsoft’s R&D budget is 10 times that of Google or Apple, and yet those companies seem to be running circles around Microsoft in terms of actual innovation. Many people comment that Apple “just” makes things better, easier, more consumer-friendly, etc. They miss the point–innovation rarely involves pure invention. Making existing things “easier” IS innovation. Making existing things “better” IS innovation. Microsoft Research has some really cool projects going on, but the bulk of their R&D seems to be going into useless buckets of failure like MSN Search, Surface, Vista’s UI, “Plays For Sure” and other DRM efforts, Office 2007’s toolbars, etc. Read more →

The Silent Talk Express

I probably alienate both readers of this blog with my political posts, but I’m, in general, more interested in honesty from a politician than I am with how much I agree with them. Well, with McCain, apparently his “straight talk” doesn’t actually translate into public positions on how he would spend the next generation’s tax money (ours is already spent, so the deficit is borrowing against our future). Edit: Joshua makes a good point–Obama and Hillary are ducking this survey too, but McCain is on the freaking board. Read more →

Not Cool Enough for this Shirt

Have you ever been browsing a web site full of great funny t-shirts, and then realize: “I don’t go anywhere cool enough to actually wear these.” For better or for worse, my time is usually at work, home, restaurants, church, and the movie theater, rather than pithy-T compatible places like classrooms, coffee shops, bars, LAN parties, malls, etc. The worst feeling is when I see something really funny and geeky–I know very few people IRL who can handle more geekiness than a USB printer cable. Read more →