I Feel Like I Got Hosed a Little Bit by Walmart.com

Our condo association has decided to clean up some empty space in our basement and turn it into a 'gym'. So for my contribution to the 'gym' I bought an Everlast Heavy Bag Stand from Walmart.com.


Walmart.com order confirmation for Everlast Heavy Bag Stand

This past weekend I finally made the time to try and assemble it. I dread this kind of thing because I'm not particularly 'handy'. But I manage to get it together and am ready to hook up my bag when I notice there's no heavy bag chain, despite that fact that it's listed on the parts list.


Parts list that came with Everlast Heavy Bag Stand from Walmart.com; red box highlights the 'heavy bag chain' that is supposed to be in the box - click image for larger view

So I email Walmart.com and they bounce back to me saying that the chain isn't included. I email them back a PDF scan of the parts list. They email me back saying we need to try and resolve this over the phone (not convenient - why can't we handle this by email?). I go look online to see if the product is still available so I can add a note/review/warning that the chain isn't included, but I find that Walmart.com no longer sells the piece.



That's kind of frustrating.

But the next email from Walmart let's me know that I can bring it back to their store and return it. Yeah, that's helpful. I'll just disassemble it and truck it right down to my nearest Walmart. That's what I want to do with my free time. Aggravating.

Anyway, this is clearly not an end of the world kind of nuisance, but it's still a pain in the ass. Maybe I'm old school, but if you freaking list the part on the parts list, it should be in the box. And if it's not in the box, you should then send me one. Damn.

Attention Owners of 1041 W. Berwyn - Your Real Estate Agent's Sales Tactics are Moronic

(Psst, Tod Pratt of yourhomeinchicago.com, I'm talking to you.)

While checking the rss feed from EveryBlock.com I saw a listing for a townhouse a couple blocks away from my condo. Figured I'd check it out to see what is justifying a $459,900 price tag in this neighborhood.




The main photo is pretty generic, so I try to click on the "Extra Photos" link (maybe that should have been my clue, the word "extra" rather than "more"), and I get hit with a "Be My Guest" registration pop-up, saying "Registering as our guest allows you to access special features for this and all other properties."

Really? You're asking me to register before I can see pictures of the townhouse you're trying to sell. In this real estate climate? Really? Good luck with that.

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Hillary's Latest Appalling Crap

Have we had enough of her yet? Maybe now, eh? This is some of Olbermann's best stuff. He's so much better when he's angry and working with a boatload of substantiation than when he's off the cuff and trying to be funny. And with this one, he had a lot to work with. Brilliant piece, sir.

The Current community is talking about this too.

Bloggers Unite for Human Rights May 15, 2008

Just Added "The Dumbest Generation" to My Amazon Wish List

I've been wondering if the population at large is getting dumber in general over time and it sounds like The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future may have evidence that is indeed the case. I also wonder how this generation or century compares to previous eras in terms of intelligence distribution throughout the population - would love to see some stats on that.

Quote from Can U Read Kant? - WSJ.com:

"Naomi Baron, in her recent book, 'Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World,' cites the NAEP to note that 'only 24% of twelfth-graders are 'capable of composing organized, coherent prose in clear language with correct spelling and grammar.'"

Spotted: Another Jackass - Driving an H2 in Bumper to Bumper Traffic

Driving an H2 in any non-commercial capacity is grossly wasteful. Driving an H2 in the city at any point in time is pretty obnoxious. But driving solo in an H2 during bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic on Lake Shore Drive is a pretty bold signal that you are a thoroughly self-centered person in the worst sense of the word and just have total disregard for the current global situation. Climate change? People starving because prices have doubled for basic food staples? I don't know what you're talking about - I'm oblivious to all that nonsense while I execute my 6-mile commute in my perceived status symbol so I can impress other a-holes who care about such superficial things.

Is it a Good Thing that Racists are Allowed to Vote?

From the LA Times:

"Exit polls from Pennsylvania showed that about 20% of voters said race was a major factor in deciding whom to support. White voters who cited race as a factor went for Clinton by a 3-to-1 margin."

So, should racists be allowed to vote? (And this applies equally to white racists, black racists, Hispanic racists and Asian racists)