amy cham :: pixels + people

Irked at LinkedIn

'Kay then...in the past I have indicated my affinity for LinkedIn. In general, I really like it, even more so now that it appears they have hired actual customer service people to respond to emails.

Today, however, I am rather irritated with my friend.  I got the following in my messages inbox yesterday:

Now, as one who creates and builds web content, I fully appreciate the need to support free content and services with advertising revenue.  Even those of us who do this because we think it's fun still want to make some money, right? Go forth and prosper!!!

Here's the thing that's bugging me...I'm a paying customer.  If I am not paying for a service or content, I fully expect to be advertised to.  I have no objection to the ads sprinkled through my Facebook stream...it's my payment for a service that I enjoy.  But if I am paying $150 per year for a business account on LinkedIn, I do NOT expect to start wading through junkmail in my messages.  (Why Hilton seems to think I'm an event planner is beyond me.)

LinkedIn, don't waste your goodwill sending ads to paying customers (and brand advocates) like me, especially ones as poorly targeted as this one.  I can live with the on-page text ads, but things like this just gunk up an otherwise valuable and well-purposed communication channel and waste my time.

This is not what we are paying you for.

The curse of the phone number

Upon finishing school, I relocated to Manhattan.  My cell phone, however, still thinks I live in Rochester. As I am getting things started for my business, I decided it was time for a Manhattan number so I can get my new cards printed and put it on my website (currently under development).  Last time I changed my number (a landline), they just ran a little recording saying "This number has been changed to....."  Simple transition, right? I was especially hopeful since my provider claims a mysterious service called "EZ Move"...

Dear Congress: Are you kidding me?

So...the fallout from our little experiment in controlling time...my desktop computer knows what time it is. However, my Outlook calendar, my cell phone, and my atomic alarm clock all failed to read the memo.  (Okay, our sys admin at school told us to download some program to get Outlook on track, but I've been too busy to pay attention.)

The next three weeks should be fun.  Especially the alarm clock bit.

I applaud our legislature's newfound fervor for conserving energy.  However, I find it hard to believe that using a small portion of our lightbulbs for one less hour a day for three weeks is going to solve the problem.

Dear Congress,

Thank you for caring about our environment.  As a concerned, and presently annoyed citizen, may I humbly suggest that you turn your attentions to investment in realistically applicable alternative fuels, viable public transportation systems, and efficiency-enhancing technologies like better home insulation and fuel efficient airplanes.  The light bulbs ain't gonna do it.

Must go now...I'm probably late for something.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Updated:  So I finally installed the little program to fix Outlook. If you're calendar is similarly wacked out, you can download the fix here.