Month: February 2008

eBay Boycott

Well, it looks like there’s another very hot and nasty consumer boycott going on. (Isn’t it too bad that people don’t get riled up about other corrupt businesses too?) I’ve been buying and selling on eBay for a few years now although I stopped selling much about two years ago – right after eBay raised their sellers’ fees. Of course, the moment I start selling again, eBay starts up with their antics. Well, this time they’ve done it and people aren’t going to take it sitting down. While I sold something last week (I wasn’t aware of the boycott when I listed my item), the boycott by sellers appears to have been rather successful. People are pissed (and rightly so) because eBay “lowered” some of their listing fees but, at the same time, really jacked up their take on the final sales price of everything that’s sold – what a crock! Of course, this latest vile action was sugar coated by eBay’s PR machine (which sellers quickly saw through) and they’ve been rightfully blasted since then.

Another one of eBay’s STUPID actions against sellers is that it will now be impossible for them to leave negative feedback against buyers (what a joke). While I have always maintained a very good relationship with my buyers, as well as with sellers; this latest nonsense not only leaves sellers open to blackmail (literally) but eBay has also made their feedback against sellers far more complex: they’re even going to allow buyers to rate the SPEED of delivery. That, of course, is absurd. I recently had a transaction (as a buyer) that was botched because good ‘ole corrupt UPS lied about their delivery time. While I didn’t blame the seller for this (he had good ratings and it really wasn’t his fault), I can just see some buyers coming unglued because of UPS’ incompetence.

Interestingly, sellers seem to be flocking to other auction sites and are planning on additional boycotts. I found one site that I’ve just listed on: eBid.net. Currently, their fees are almost non-existent. Only time will tell for this one. By the way, here’s my current eBay rating:

As of today, I had a 100% positive on 115 transactions. It’s really sad that big business always screws the little guy. Like so many other businesses (and countless government agencies), the bigger they are, the more corrupt they become.

Academy Awards

I’ve never been a fan of awards shows and was about to call it a night when I heard that the Academy Awards had just been announced for this year. To be honest, almost nothing excited me (I don’t see too many movies – mostly when I’m with my boy) but there were a couple that I really felt should have received something: Elizabeth and Sicko. Of the ones nominated for best picture, “Atonement,”  “Juno,”  “Michael Clayton,” and “No Country for Old Men,” not one of them holds any interest for me – in fact, I didn’t see any of them. It would seem as if blood, violence, and stories about shysters are what captures the interest of those who pick the movies to recieve oscars. What every happened to fun, entertainment, or just a good story line that doesn’t rely on blood and gore?

 I will say that I took a chance and saw “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” – while the story may not have been historically accurate, I thought that the performance by Cate Blanchett was fantastic. I’m disappointed she didn’t get “Best Actress.”

“Sicko” was another disappointment. I just watched that movie and was horrified at how accurately it describes the blight of health insurance policies on Americans. I’m not going to say more (at least for now) as I don’t feel like ranting at the moment. I’m really disgusted that “Sicko” didn’t win for “Best Documentary.” Oh well . . .

Didn’t take Amazon long. . .

Wow, I can’t believe how quickly Amazon has added the Tiffany & Gaylord Express and Exhibition book to their site. Heck, I can even link to it from my blog. Got to admit, Amazon is FAST!

 Now, the only question is, will it make the New York Times best seller list? 🙂 Looks like good ‘ole Percy Seibert, the bogus author of this book, has finally been exposed.

 

Tiffany & Gaylord Express & Exhibition Belt Plates: Exposed!

Hmm. . .somehow, I managed to get wind of yet another book that will soon be for sale on Amazon.com – “Tiffany & Gaylord Express & Exhibition Belt Plates: Exposed!” which is a reprint of the bogus Percy Seibert book on the fake Tiffany & Co., E. Gaylord, Mills, et al brass belt buckles that have been available since the 1960’s. Let’s just say that a “little bird” told me that this version will contain a new preface and an index.

In looking around the ‘net for copies of the first (and complete fraudulent) version, many continue to claim that this book is genuine and charge outrageous prices for it. In the past five minutes, Google searches have turned up copies running as high as $112.50, and some clown is also selling a copy on eBay for the same amount. As usual, this book is falsely attributed to the illustrious “Percy Seibert” and used book sellers falsely claim that it was printed in 1950 by Tiffany & Co. – it was really published twenty years later – circa 1970. Oh well. Hopefully the new edition will be a big hit among collectors of bogus buckles and it will rise to the top of Amazon’s Best Seller Lists! 🙂 I’ll post a link to the book on Amazon when it is available!

Bassoon in the stratosphere

While dealing with insomina (again), I came across a rather amazing YouTube video that features a wild (but certainly creative) alteration to a bassoon that allows it to easily play many previous difficult (if not impossible) fingerings and also allows it to play in the stratosphere. While the following video may not be the most musical, it certainly is amazing – the guy seems to be able to play the A above the TREBLE CLEF (!) with ease! I don’t know of any bassoonist who can do that! I once figured out a fingering for the C above that but I literally had to use an extremely hard reed and had to bite down on it with my teeth (ugh)! While I wrote that fingering down (maybe I’ll post it here someday), I don’t think I could stand to play it now – makes my teeth hurt just to think about it!

BTW, the guy who altered the bassoon also posted the “composition” he created to show it off – I’ve posted it below the video. Absolutely unbelievable!

Musical Notation for the Screechy Bassoon