Shop at Best Buy

This post was planned before I hit "publish" on the previous one.

I just read a couple of days ago that Best Buy has canceled its restocking fee policy. For a long time, they have had high restocking fees on things. Walmart and Meijer haven't. So when I've talked to someone thinking of buying something like a laptop and they are considering Best Buy, I've told them to beware, because of the high restocking fee. Things like, yeah the selection is a lot better than Walmart, but if it's a bad laptop, it's a lot easier to take it back to Walmart, because they won't charge you for bringing it back.

But now I won't do that. I won't say that. Best Buy is to be commended for getting rid of this unfriendly sales-discouraging policy. I'll be giving them more consideration again (at least on items that don't cost 1/30th as much from online retailers).

Which actually ties into P.J. Grath's comment on my previous post. One way the "brick and Mortar" stores always have online retailers beat is what to do if you have to return things. Returning things and shipping again with online is such a hassle that many people are probably discouraged from doing so.

Don't shop at Best Buy.

Just a word of advice to those thinking of buying mobile/cell phone accessories at Best Buy. If you are thinking of buying something like that there, make sure to check online, such as eBay.

I wanted a nice case for my new Android phone, and decided to see what they had at Best Buy. I found what I was looking for for $25.00.

Then I went home and searched for the same thing on eBay, and found it for about $5.65, including shipping. I saw it going for a lot less, too. I ordered it and got it, and am very happy with it.

So you might save a lot of money on things like this checking on eBay.

There's something similar for USB wall plugs, that let you plug USB devices into the wall for charging. I see these at Walmarts and such places for $10.00 to $20.00. But I ordered one online for $1, which actually included shipping.

Census Results: Michigan moves to Texas.

The news came out yesterday of the initial 2010 US Census results. Congratulations to the Census Bureau on a job well done, doing the hard work of getting out there and "counting noses" (as opposed to sitting in offices and making up imaginary citizens using "sampling" as some want them to do).

Well, the results show Michigan as the only state to actually lose population. We'll be losing a congressional seat, too. Texas had a big gain in population, and will likely gain 4 congressional seats. Let the gerrymandering season begin!

I guess Michigan's loss is Texas' gain.

Here's what they have to look forward to in Texas with the new demographics, and the continued influx of Michigan residents:

* New Texas residents who grew up thinking "south of the border" means Canada.

* Trading in the Dogman for El Chupacabra

* More new people in Texas drinking Michigan's most famous soda pop, Vernor's Ginger Ale. Oh wait, that stuff actually comes from Plano north of Dallas.

* Michael Moore

* Lots of horribly rusty cars now on Texas streets, driven by new residents who actually know how to drive if the roads ever get covered in ice.

* Old English D, meet Big D. Leelanau, meet Llano. Pinconning, meet the Panhandle. Midland, meet... well, Midland. Grand Rapids, meet Grand Prairie. Ann Arbor, meet Amarillo. Wixom, meet Waco. Frankfort, meet Fort Worth. Ludington, meet Lubbock. Washtenaw County, meet Wichita Falls. Elk Rapids, meet El Paso. Kalamazoo, meet... well, nothing comes close to that one!

* People who trade in the stocking cap for a cowboy hat.

* Classified ads in Texas newspapers for really cheap snowmobiles being sold by those dumb enough to move south with them.

* Michiganders having to get used to to a football team that has pretty much the same colors as the Detroit Lions, but is actually expected to win games.

* New Texas residents who will run the air conditioner and stay indoors any time it gets over 70 degrees, which in Texas is about 352 days a year.

* An influx of Euchre players into Texas. Anyone outside of Michigan play Euchre? Thought not.

* New Texas residents trying to hold up their hand as a diagram to show where they live and giving up after a while.

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Anyone think of anything else?

Harry Potter and the Galaxie of 500

Harry Potter returns in another old family photo. Looks like here he is getting ready to go to Hogwarts. The photo is blurry, but doesn't that tie look awful? Filch might not let him in wearing that thing. Looks like one of the Weasley boys is standing in front of him. And that is indeed a Ford Galaxie 500 (year 1971 maybe?) in the garage to the left.

In another photo, it appears that that Weasley kid, in his unbelievable red getup , has made it to Hogwarts, and is standing on the steps at one of the entrances. (Actually a church)

Harry Potter and the Island of No Cars

Another family photo slide, this one from 1975. I'm rather sure it is in Mackinac Island, in front of the Grand Hotel.

I really do not know who it is. It's rather blurred, and starts to look like Harry Potter with some sort of disappearing spell starting up. And Harry has pink pants. I really do not know who it is or was... But I'm pretty sure it wasn't me.

A good example of how problems with a photo (either badly taken, or light making it fade) makes it a lot more mysterious.

It gets snowy in the great white north.

I just read that the Metrodome fell in. The huge stadium in downtown Minneapolis. I remember when it wasn't there: there was an ugly rusty stadium the Vikings played in, instead. Then they built the new dome downtown, and the Mall of America replaced the rusty stadium. Now the dome has fallen in. It's one of those things, like when the face fell of in New Hampshire.

Do you think they can go back and play football in the Mall of America now?

Southland Center, Dallas, 1960

I found this slide among the family photos. It's the Southland Center in Dallas, Texas, from 1960. My dad (the photographer in the family) did not take this one: it is printed on the margins as a commercial slide. I keep finding more stuff.

The Southland Center is now a Sheraton hotel. It appears to be from that ugly building era that reigned in the 1950s, and it was built in 1955. It has hosted conventions, including one for anime fans, and another for Twihards. The photo in the Wikipedia page shows that they actually have managed to make the building look better. I've not been to this place. but I've probably seen it on the skyline. It's a substantial building. I like Sharaton's, so it is probably a nice place to stay at.

Christmas in Iowa, 1959

Another family photo:
The Christmas tree from 1959. The Iowa years. The tree sure is short and squat. And I doubt Santa's going to be coming down the chimney now that the chimney is in the living room with a tree stuck on top of it.

Don and Shirley, 1959

Going through old family photos and slides, I find this one labelled "Don and Shirley" 1959.

Thing is, I have no idea who Don and Shirley are. Some friend of the family, I am sure. I have no way of finding out who they are (or were) either. Looks rather Ward and June Cleaverish, and there are interesting details such as the copper jello molds on the wall.

Phil Collins and Taylor Lautner walk into a bar...

Well, it sounds like a joke. But it was pretty close to reality a few days ago, when Phil Collins and Taylor Lautner showed up at the Ruby Tuesday's in town , and at least one other location [read here]. It would have been cool to have been there, because I've been a major Genesis fan for so long. Phil's daughter was there too. I kind of doubt I would have asked for his autograph, because I am generally of the idea that it is rude to bother celebrities when they are just living life.

Here's Phil Collins with "In The Air Tonight":



Genesis in Cadillac. Nothing happens in Cadillac, really. But the place was KISS'ed 35 years ago, when KISS came to town.