Ticketmaster update

Well, look at my surprise.
(You can't actually look at my surprise-- I'm not posting a picture or anything).

After that last note to ticketmaster, they sent me a whopping refund for $8, even more than the convenience charge I had to pay. While I still don't like the exorbitant service charges they add to my purchases, at least they deal with complaints. I'm going to have to go back to hating on Best Buy, who has ignored two emails in a row despite a $70 premium service package I paid them to keep my computer running smoothly (and where, because they don't have a monopoly, I can and will never shop again).

Dear Ticketmaster

(I sent this to ticketmaster's customer service today. Let's find out if the company that monopolizes the ticket industry A) provides some sort of refund to smooth over the problem, B) issues an empty apology, or C) ignores me.)

I tried to pick up my tickets today at the kiosk in The Bay at Oakridge Mall. The computer system was being upgraded in the middle of their operating hours and I was told to come back in half an hour. When I did that, the clerk was not making eye contact with me or the girl in front of me in line. After a few seconds he just put up a sign that said "Back in 10 minutes". When I asked if that meant we still couldn't get tickets, he replied, "Maybe 15 more minutes" (still no eye contact). This came as a surprise to me and the girl in front of me who apparently didn't know she would have to wait. So I left and I'll have to go back again another day.

My question is, where in this experience am I getting the value of having paid a $5.50 "convenience" charge? This seems entirely like an inconvenience to me. Or perhaps more to the point, how does your company define "convenience", because driving out of the way to be treated rudely by the outlet operator and not get my tickets doesn't fit the definition in any dictionary I'm aware of.

Shaun Stewart

Update: It was A. They refunded me $8. Nice going, ticketmaster... this time.

2 Girls 1 Cup: My reaction

Okay, I'm almost 2 years behind on this, but I finally watched the phenomenon known as 2 Girls 1 Cup so I could show you my reaction:

Twilight: some questions

These are directed at the film-makers. Not sure who to blame for this awful, awful movie, but until Rifftrax can provide commentary for the book, I'm not reading it, and I don't want to just assume it's as bad. (It probably is).

-Why does your protagonist never do anything right? At all. For instance, sure, she's weaker than the vampires-- she can't help that, so if she's going to confront an evil vampire holding her mother hostage, why not take some good vampires with her?

-While we're on the subject, you can't just throw in some good vampires without explanation. This also goes for vampires that sparkle in the sunlight and have reflections. They're not vampires. Call them something else. I realize there's not a question here.

-Why give the protagonist's boyfriend, clearly displayed as if he is an ideal man, all the classic hallmarks of an abuser? What are you trying to tell your target audience of teenage girls?

-Why is Edward Cullen still in high school? He could easily pass for a 20-year-old. Give him a job at the lumber-yard-- he'd be good at it and it would give him the illusion of a normal life. He's what, like 100-and-something years old? If he's in high school he's either reall stupid or really creepy. I'd belive both those based on the movie-- it's just that you should explain that.

-The Cullens are "vegetarians" because they only eat meat? Couldn't have found a better way to word that?

-That high-kick baseball pitch was ridiculous in a non-endearing way, and I think you know it.

-Why did a 1500 mile road trip pursued by an evil vampire take 3 seconds of screen time? Not that I think this bloated corpse of a movie should have been longer.

-Why did this vampire bother chsing Bella so far. He seriously couldn't find another human to eat at incredibly smaller risk and effort?

-Why would you ruin a perfectly good Iron & Wine song?

Justice Pals Interviews

Once again, I am posting something that isn't a top 5 list. I'll probably have to change the blog's name again. Instead here are a couple of videos. First, The Eric Fell Interviews: Part 1.



And now my response, which I recorded long ago and have just now gotten around to posting:

Hello again, isn't news stupid?

Wow, this top 5 stuff has gotten easy to ignore. But hey, check this out. In a CBC story today about iPod thefts in Toronto, this photo is displayed with the caption, "Digital music players like this iPod are in high demand amongst thieves, according to Toronto police."



Are you kidding me, CBC? iPods like this one are not in high demand by anyone. If I was a thief and robbed someone because I saw their earplugs and wanted their iPod, I'd beat them up for insulting me by still having the iPod 1G. Hell, even my video iPod isn't at risk of being stolen, and it has a colour screen. I hope to Christ this isn't a recent photo.

Corporate Gross-out!

Read this article. Just watch how the asshole representing corporate America digs himself deeper and deeper with every response to the situation he's gotten himself into. Now go back to your day. Thank you.