All Narfed Up photography and words by Bryan Villarin

After a day and a half without a Verizon Wireless signal at home, it’s back at full strength.

I got home Sunday after lunch and noticed that my cell phone was showing from zero to one bar of signal strength. I let it linger, hoping that Verizon Wireless might notice it and get it fixed.

It was still the same Monday morning. Jordan and Andy, who both happen to live a few blocks from me, had the same problem. Boo.

Once I got to work in Los Angeles, I called Verizon Wireless customer service from my office phone. I told them the problem, that I wasn’t the only one, then I was forwarded to tech support. After what seemed like a lot of typing over the phone, I was given a trouble ticket and assurance that someone would call me to follow-up within 24-48 hours.

Last night, I came home to find a full signal. How awesome is that?

I don’t claim to be the only one who complained, but it wasn’t reported when I called. I say it’s better to be safe by double-checking, rather than waiting to see if it’ll fix itself. Sure, they should probably know the issue already, but who says they can’t use a nudge?

Update 9:30am: I got a phone call at 8:59am. A technican left a message that they reset the problem cell site. I’m not sure if that took place yesterday or early this morning, but I’m just stoked they’re on top of it. Can you hear me now? Good.

I haven’t tried Adobe Photoshop Express, but until there’s a change in their Terms of Use, steer clear.

Keep your eye on John Nack on Adobe. You can also see other bloggers talking about it through Technorati. Wired explains it best.

Newlaunches.com is using my photo of The Party Button for one of their blog posts.

Problem? I’m upset because they didn’t ask permission and they’re serving tons of ads. So, they’re making money from other people’s content.

I’m not linking to them because I don’t want to drive traffic there. But, if you’re using Firefox and Adblock Plus, it’s okay — you shouldn’t see any of the ads. At the time of this post, I’m currently displayed on page four.

The following is my email exchange with them, trying to get them to remove the photo.

My initial email — 12:51 AM on 3/27/08:

Please remove this post:

http://newlaunches.com/archives/the_ultimate_party_button.php

I did not give you permission to use it.

Thanks.

Newlaunches.com — 7:38 AM on 3/27/08:

Bryan,

We have linked it to your Flickr page. It is cool and would love if it was
on our site. We can link to your homepage if you want.

If you still want we will delete the post.

Regards,
Dhiram

Me — 9:15 AM on 3/27/08:

I’m flattered you think it’s cool and you want it on your site.

I know you’re linking to my Flickr page, however you need to check the copyright before you use someone’s content, *especially since you’re serving a lot of ads on your site*.

If you asked permission first and offered a kickback, it’d be a different story.

I am happy that you’re willing to comply, though, so please delete the post.

Thanks.

It’s now been almost a day without another reply and the post is still there.

Now what?

Update 6:03 AM PDT –

Bryan,

The post has been deleted.

Dhiram

Unfortunately, none of my points were addressed. Clueless.

I’m expecting a package that was supposed to be delivered by FedEx yesterday, March 12th. They “tried”, but nobody was here. “Customer not available or business closed.” Lies! My mom was home at 4:47pm and she didn’t hear anything.

Today, March 13th at 3:52pm, I’m home. I check the FedEx tracking number a little after 4pm, and I get the same message.

Erroneous!

I called customer support and told them what happened. The address was verified correctly, so that wasn’t the problem. She notated the complaint, which doesn’t help the situation at all. I want justice.

Since they can’t deliver in a timely manner, I offered to drive to Hacienda Heights to pick it up. Nope, they closed at 4pm. Plus, if I wanted to pick it up, they’d have to notate it to the terminal, which would take 24-48 hours. Wait a minute - are they using pigeons to send messages back and forth?

Ridiculous. FedEx, stop giving me problems and do your job.

If you don’t have contact information handy for your business, photowalks, meetups and other social gatherings, this has to be the best deal I’ve seen for quality, full-color business cards.

From now until next Tuesday (March 18th), all Business Cards are 50% off. Order now and experience the quality and precision you get with press-printed Business Cards from Mpix! They are fun to design, easy to order, and we’ll ship to you in 24 hours!

With this promotion you can order as few as 100 cards for $10. Order 1,000 cards and pay only $50!

I think I’ll be ordering a bunch this weekend, which means I’ll need to design them. (Wait, I’m not a designer! Oh well, I’ll give it a shot.)

For more information, see the Mpix blog.

Note: I’m not affiliated with Mpix. I’ve printed two photos and love their quality.

A plug for a friend. Cara Roberts — model and designer — just started an online store at Etsy. She’s selling cute clothes and crafts. Granted, this is more for women, but I still think you should take a gander! RAINIES.etsy.com

Tidbit: I didn’t know this, but she was on Project Runway (Season 2). Sweetness.

I saw this post about Best Buy from Matt Devino in the Canon DSLR User Group at Flickr and I feel compelled to repost it:

I just thought I should share this news with anyone considering buying a camera, any camera, from Best Buy.

On Feb. 2, I went into my local Best Buy in Burbank, CA and purchased a Canon 40D with the 28-135 lens kit. When I got home, I opened the box and inside was a 30D. The 30D was brand new. I tried to return the camera for the correct one and they refused. I contacted corporate and got all the way up to their Public Defender on their Executive Resolution team, just to have them say no 4 different times. Their excuse was that they never carried the 30D (so if anyone ever bought a 30D from Best Buy I would love to know about it).

Now Canon is involved and is taking it very seriously. Hopefully they will be able to resolve the issue and give me the correct camera. I just thought I should warn as many people as I can about this so you don’t end up in the same situation I did. Don’t buy from Best Buy, but if you do open your box in the store in front of an employee.

Although I pretty much avoid Best Buy, most of you are cool with them. So, if you’re going to buy something from there, please open it in-store to make sure you’re getting what you bought. That way, they can’t complain because it’s been in their “sight” the whole time. (You’ll have the added help of security cameras.)

After a lot of advice from Brian Auer, I’m using Imagekind to sell fine art prints! (You know, the best of my photos.)

*** Warning: technical jargon after this point ***

Earlier in the week, I was reading a lot about aspect ratios pertaining to my cameras and print sizes. I learned that my current digital SLR camera shot in 3:2 and my previous point-and-shoot (P&S) cameras shot in 4:3. That means my P&S photos can at least be printed in 4×5.33, 5×6.66, and 8×10.66 - without cropping. My SLR photos can at least be printed in 4×6, 5×7.5, and 8×12 - without cropping.

Unfortunately, common print sizes here in the U.S. are 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, and 11×14.

Printing through Flickr in which allows me to pickup prints from Target restricts me to the “standard” (common) print sizes I just listed. Non-standard print sizes means I’ll have to wait for prints in the mail.

I don’t want someone else to crop a photo that can’t be cropped any further. The inexpensive services do that because most of their photos aren’t art - they’re usually snapshots and stuff.

Brian put it best in his email to me:

“For the aspect ratios, [Imagekind will] usually print to the longest edge of the photo. So, if you order an 8×10, you’ll get something that’s 10″ on the long edge OR 8″ on the short edge, whichever hits first. Think of the print size they specify as a bounding box for your photo rather than an actual aspect ratio.”

*** End technical jargon ***

Before: I would order prints through Flickr and pick them up at my nearest Target. However, in order to get prints at Target, I’d have to order them at the standard sizes. (Little did I know that would introduce cropping, which I didn’t want.) If it’s a non-standard size, I’d have to wait for the print in the mail.

Then, I deliver the print to the customer or mail it to them.

Now: With Imagekind, they’re managing orders, printing, and mailing for me. Granted, they’ll be more expensive, but it’s easier for the customers who wants a print because they don’t have to email me with the Flickr photo URL.

Lastly, if someone asks for a smaller print (not through Imagekind) that requires cropping, I’m just going to give them the proper sizes that don’t.

Ultimately, I’m outsourcing the administrative tasks so I can focus on the art.

If you have any further thoughts or elaborations, I’d love to hear them. Please leave a comment or contact me!

Looking for a job in the Atlanta area? Jungle Disk is hiring, and they sound really cool. They’re definitely my choice for online backup and storage - I’ve been using them for months now.

I’m posting this for that $1,000 referral bonus, too, but I really think they’ve got things going for themselves.

I tried three Redbox codes tonight that should have worked: NEWYEAR, OOPS, and HDU942. They all expire at midnight. But, none of them worked.

I already complained to Redbox after NEWYEAR didn’t work. Then, they sent all Redbox users an apology email and a new code: OOPS.

Redbox, fix the system. I don’t care that it’s a buck a night, but don’t give away free codes that don’t even work.