I find it very interesting that Apple is retuning some of their practices only after a Chinese employee commits suicide.  The suicide came about after the individual had been scrutinized and harassed by security personnel over a missing iPhone prototype.  Shortly after Apple released a statement saying all employees and contractors “must be treated with dignity and respect.”  Is this really true personification the idea ”Think different,” that founder Steve Jobs promotes in the advertisements his company is so well known for? 

     The article from the Associated Press, mentions seventeen different violations including three where workers were hired underage,  eight infractions wherein workers paying “recruitment” fees were above the legal limits in those countries; three cases in which suppliers used non-certified vendors to dispose of hazardous waste; and three others where the companies gave falsified records during the audits.

     You might guess that now “Think Different” may take on some new connotations,  in my case it is yet another shade in the smorgasbord of issues with Apple products.

     I’ve had this song on in Phone’s media player for the better part of a year now.

(Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuV-Rw4H-wA)

     Feels even more appropriate after Wednesdays rash of calls and the ridiculous voicemails attached.  That’s a bunch of drama I haven’t been anywhere near in a long, long time… so why do they keep trying to suck me back in?

BREAKING NEWS ALERT!

     On February 3rd, 2010, armed with a black t-shirt with the words, “Life is too Short to Listen to Shitty Music,” Facebook user “Coral Anne” started a group called, “Can this pickle get more fans than Nickleback?”
     Some pedantic Twits have refused to join the group, due to the intentional mispelling of the band’s name, and labeled the group simply, “Stupid.”  Apparently, they didn’t bother to read the Info page (much like that of “Sorry, I’m allergic to bullshiit,” which some people wouldn’t join because of the intentional misspelling, since Facebook won’t allow you to create a page with the word “bullshit” in the title — how’s that for bullshit?). In fact, the reason is simple:

I am fully aware that I misspelled Nickelback as “Nickleback” in the name of the page. This is because Facebook doesn’t allow you to put the word Nickelback in the name of a page because I guess if someone did it would be copyright infringement.

     A mere hour ago, the message was posted on the site’s information Wall:

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!! I’m at work right now. here’s the deal, you guys need to report this when it happens to ALL radio stations in your area! My work is playing 102.9 K-Lite FM, and they do play Nickelback all the time, so whoever tells them will be in my heart!!

     But, at approximately 11:30PM US/Eastern, it happened. The Pickle’s Page now boasts over 1,413,826 Facebook fans, compared to Nickelback’s 1,413,495 fans.

     A mere Seventeen days, and Coral Anne has managed to secure over 1.4 Million fans.  An incredible feat!  I am thinking some record company should should hire this girl for PR, however, I’m sure that even though she’s dwarfed their records with no Commercial airplay, she’d also decline due to the fact that the majority of Commercial music just sucks a giant left nut.
     But, ya know, Coral Anne, if you get bored — I can think of a few places where I might be able to utilize your skills!

     (* Shutup, perverts.  I meant for work, not that.  I happen to think her twisted sense of humor and incredible Viral Marketing skills could be exceptionally beneficial. *)

     And now on to Step #2:  Getting the Pickle to host Saturday Night Live.

     Glenn said I’d have some news to post on February 18th.  I’m not sure what that news will be, so I’m writing this pre-emptive post prior to the 18th to be posted at 1:42AM US/Eastern.  Because there has to be something, as Glenn already said there would be.
     I think it’s his queue for me to, “Get on with it.”

     First, the bad news.

     It’s rained a lot, with some snow and ice, too, for good measure.  That weirdo I never dated eleven years ago keeps trying to make herself an annoyance.  Business has sucked, so Glenn the media-hound & software developer, Dave the post-Production video editor and this offbeat Business/IT/Security Analyst are looking for jobs.  I’ve been about as broke as broke can be.  I’m apparently secreting some rather strong pheremones, which is attracting some rather unwanted attention from both couples and the occasional disturbing guy who just won’t get the Hell away from me and ends up being forcibly ejected from my presence by others who don’t want bloodshed in their establishments.

     Then the good news.

     But … Some friends and I took a snowball fight inside a bar a few weeks ago.  I’ve run into fifty or more people I haven’t seen in at least fifteen years, the majority of whom I didn’t mind running into.  I’ve been spending a lot more time out and around friends after pretty much sitting at home moping for the last year and a half.  I’m apparently secreting some rather strong pheremones, but most of the women they attract are pretty hot, and some of them even buy me beer when I’m broke (*thank you! I love you all!*) .

     And then the ambivalence to bind it all together.

     I’m a big fan the “Meh” response. 

     So, Glenn?  Meh…

     Unlike the last post about cake, this blog post contains absolutely no subliminal messages whatsoever, especially for anyone who enjoys a really good cheesecake.

     If you do not enjoy cheesecake, then this post is completely of no consequence.