Whatever you do, don't complain about Microsoft's Anti-competitive practices using Netscape

The Microsoft website doesn't allow the use of the Netscape browser (or others for that matter).

FYI - I've been using Mozilla at home, and I'm really pleased with it. My previous experiences with Netscape were less than satisfying.


Microsoft antitrust complaint site only accepts Internet Explorer browsers, claim

Finally, like a new Googleteer(tm) search

The Googleteer comes out of hibrernation for this search

"hilary duff" "I'm like" "it's like"

(All 3 must be hits)

506 hits


I'm like so annoyed when every other like word is like, it's like so annoying.



Google Search: "hilary duff" "I'm like" "it's like"

Most improved player - 2004 Saturn Vue (V6 models anyway)

Below is a link to a review by NewCars.com that touts the improved character of the 2004 Saturn Vue.


2004 Saturn VUE Review

Edmunds Deals of the month - A 2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra for $18860 Wow - except . ..

I saw this on Edmunds.com's deal's of the month. 2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra AWD. (That's the high line version with all the stuff & the new 3.6 liter twincam v-6.) $18860 after rebate. Wow. Except, this just isn't right. These prices are way off, at least $10k. Oh well. Edmunds is usually reliable.

Best new auto prices from Edmunds TMV

The next wave in Globalism - Debt Collection is being outsourced to India.


Justice comes in all forms I suppose --

"I understand that you lost your job, Mr. Smith, with My employer NCO, but that's no excuse for not paying your bill. Now excuse me while I eat my curry."

Collecting debt going overseas

Road Trip Suggestion - Rube Goldberg Competitions
Chicago April 17
West Lafayette Indiana April 3



If you are in the midwest and are looking for an April road trip. You can do a lot worse than checking out the Rube Goldberg Machine competitions that are being held in Chicago and in West Lafayette Indiana (Purdue University).

The Chicago competition is for the high school competitors.
And the Purdue competition is for the college competitors.

My family went to the Purdue competition a few years ago, and it was a lot of fun. I think they had about 100 steps to fry an egg or something like that.

Argonne Rube Goldberg Home Page

Twin sons of Different Mothers? NOLSW/UAW Local 2320 and AFSCME 3357

Check out the similarities between the websites for the National Association of Legal Service Workers (UAW Local 2320) and our AFSCME 3357 site.


index

Wacky Packages are back

I spent all my money on these from age 7-10.


MSNBC - ‘Wacky Packages’ make a comeback

Ford Escape Hybrid to use Toyota Technology

Toyota's standing at the top of the hybrid hill was confirmed with a public press release that Ford will be using Toyota technology in its upcoming Escape Hybrid SUV. Toyota has been public in its ambitions to license the technology widely, but as far as I know, until now had no publicly announced takers.

I talked to someone at a Nissan dealership who indicated that Nissan may be the next to announce the licensing of the Toyota technology.

Ordinarily, I would criticize Ford for licensing the technology rather than developing its own, but in this case I think it is the right approach. Toyota has shown that it is at least a generation ahead of everybody else. It makes no sense to try to reinvent the wheel.

If you haven't tried out the 2004 Toyota Prius, you really should drive one. The car is amazingly good. I probably would have put my name on the waiting list the day I drove the car except that my contract with UAW-LSP prevents me from driving a non-UAW built car to work.

IHT: Ford will use Toyota's hybrid technology

The Teflon(tm) finally starts to Peel off Paypal

As an attorney with UAW Legal Services, I have fielded a number of complaints by our clients against Paypal. Consumers sign up for the Paypal service to buffer the risk of internet auction sites only to find that Paypal lets them down time and time again.

In essence, Paypal is an escrow service that denies it's an escrow service. At least it denies the fiduciary responsibilities that generally come with being an escrow service.

Paypal performs some of the functions of a bank, yet it is not regulated as a bank.

The New York Attorney General's office just entered into a consent arrangement with Paypal over its dispute handling procedures. This promises to be a fast-evolving story over the next few months. The site below, auctionbytes.com seems to keep good track of Paypal and has numerous stories indexed.

What bugs me most about Paypal is that the company is in a fabulous niche. It could be a great company. Even though I have fielded numerous complaints, even I recognize that over 99% of the time, the transactions go through Paypal with no problems at all. Fundamentally, Paypal's management needs to recognize that when you are in a service business, you have to have a service attitude.

In the long run this scrutiny will force the company to improve its business practices. I have a hunch that a year from now Paypal will be a much better company to do business with. (Yes, I know I ended a sentence with a preposition. Deal with it.)



Online Payment Systems At a Glance