I recently did this for a local computer store. I feel the need to reprint my reviews here. I think my friends need to know. I orginally posted about this back in March 2009, but it needs repeating. Here’s my original two-star Yelp review of Quality Computer Systems:

OK, they get two stars, but that’s more than my experience warrants.

First experience: A couple of years ago, I had a 12 PowerBook that I spilled a bit of water on. It immediately went dead and would not boot, even after several hours to let it dry. I thought I hosed the computer, so I took it to QCS for their diagnosis. After it sat there for about three days, they called me and said it was ready. Apparently, just letting it dry for a bit longer was all that was necessary; that’ll be $85. “For what,” I asked. “Well, it did boot, but we ran diagnostics to see if everything was OK.” Fine, I thought, paying the money, but feeling ripped off. I made a mental note at the time never to go back there again. They could have at least called me before they ran those diagnostics.

Second experience: Several weeks ago, my MacBook Pro’s monitor died. It just would not come on, even though the computer booted. I packed up my ailing MBP and headed to QCS. This was a Thursday. Nearly a week later (after they told me it would “tomorrow”), they called me to report my logic board needed to be replaced (the video card is shot, and that lives on the logic board). A new logic board would be about $1200. I told them I’d just come get the computer. “That’ll be $85.” I paid it without a word. While it did take them a week to get to it, it wasn’t their fault my computer seemed beyond repair.

A quick call to Apple, and I had had a new quote: $350. They had a box here the next day, and my computer back to me within a week — less time than it sat there at QCS.

As for QCS: couldn’t they have called Apple for me? The more I think about it, the more upset I get. This is what local customer service has turned in to. I guess, because of geography, they feel they have some sort of monopoly here in central Georgia (is that called an oligopoly?). I think they could have done more. I’m out $160+ from my two experiences with them, and what did I get either time? Really. I will not be going back, and I actually feel like writing to the owner. I would, if I felt it would do any good.

Be careful.

Subsequently (a year-and-a-half later!), their owner has taken a notice of my review and contacted me. At first, it seemed as if he was going to make amends. No such luck. His phone call this morning prompted a review update:

Update: As Brad mentioned, he contacted me about these issues. But, rather then helping me, he begins arguing with me about them. He claims that QCS “negotiated with Apple” for the price I ultimately received on my MBP!? Man, it’s great that they want to take the credit for that NOW!? He claims they informed me, but that is not true. They seem to be trying pretty hard to put a revisionist spin on poor business decisions.

After reading my initial review, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t mention my third experience with QCS. It was when Apple’s Snow Leopard operating system came out last year. I’m always an early adopter of Apple products, and this operating system was supposed to be a major update. I called QCS (I know, but Best Buy was not carrying it, and QCS was the only Apple retailer in town at that time), and the dude told me they have it. The upgrade was supposed to be $29, but when he rung me up, he said $42 (or something close to that). When I asked about the discrepancy, he said the owner added $10 to it to cover shipping. This was strike three. Here’s what Brad said about that:

“I did have to pay apple next day air.  Once I got my next shipment in 3 days later it was $29.  Apple does not “FIX” prices, vendors can charge what they need to to be able to cover costs.  FYI if you charge what apple does on the web site you make 5% if the customer pays with an AMEX there is 3%, whatever to cover it’s share of ground shipping and you are lucky to pay a salesperson to answer the phone.”

You know what: too bad. Was it really worth it, Brad? You already gouged me twice. You want to take advantage of the loyalist Apple customers? You can explain all you want, but it sure looks like you’re were taking advantage of your no-longer unique position of being the only Apple retailer in Macon.

Finally, here’s what he said about the MBP in our last email:

“I do not want you to have a bad feeling about my business.  If you can bring me a copy of the service order from apple with what they did and to fix the problem with pricing, and your full name so I can look you up on my system I would be happy to refund the $85 for the MacBook Pro.”

I have the documents he asked for, but no refund. Instead, he called to harass me — to tell me I was wrong. Great business sense. And I have an even WORSE feeling about your business now, Brad.

Now, I have just two words for QCS: Peach Mac! Let me say them again: PEACH MAC! PEACH MAC! PEACH MAC!

Unfortunately, I have to revise my last review: run run run — take your computer elsewhere — buy your computers elsewhere. Peach Mac just opened up the road. They are WAY better than this sorry excuse for a business. In fact, I’m going to make sure Apple gets a letter about QCS, too.

Way to go, Brad. Needless to say, my original two-stars is now just one.

Now, I’m going for a bike ride.

Apparently, the Georgia legislature feels, almost unanimously, that we citizens need to be armed. The right to bear arms is not enough: we have a compulsion to bear arms. In a gun bill that passed yesterday, 43-10, our wise legislators decided that guns are necessary in churches, bars, and airports. We must protect physically ourselves from errant ministers, other saloon patrons that might be trying to cheat us at cards, and, well, foreigners getting off the plane. Right?

I kept waiting to read about colleges and universities entering the new old west, and I was not disappointed. In a paragraph near the end of the article, we get:

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Like parishioners, students should pack heat. I know that my lectures are often physically threatening. I know that there’s a lot of racial and gender diversity in my classes, and we also get the occasional Muslim. Who knows when someone different looking and scary will just snap and start running amok. Or worse, when they snap and start saying something that is disagreeable and even controversial, politically challenging, or emotionally hurtful.

Well, we know these days that no one is capable of talking — of compromising in the least. We’re fighting an ideological war here, so we must arm ourselves in the places where that war is most likely to rear its frightening head. Maybe the legislature is wiser than I thought.

I mean, I should probably watch my mouth a bit more than I do. I know I got tenure — a system thought up by the academic elite in order to protect academic freedoms of faculty from politics — but that doesn’t mean I should be able to say what I want with impunity. Some things are just beyond reproach. I need to watch it.

And now, with the increasing likelihood that some of my students might be exercising their right to bear arms in my class, I have even more incentive to watch what I say. There’s nothing like the threat of being shot to keep me in my place. To keep all of us elitists in line, under control, and — you know — silent.

Can this be what all the hoopla is about? Is this part of a political agenda to impose an authoritarian oppression on those who challenge the status quo? The country does seem to be going down the shitter, you know, since that socialist Barack Hussein Obama took office. Don’t we need to protect ’Merica from those who want to steal it from us, including our own government? Indeed, that socialist medical bill just shows that they’re trying to take away our right to be controlled in the way we’re used to: by capitalism and patriarchy. The southern types and teabaggers seem to be the most offended, as they showed their outrage on Capital Hill on Sunday. Maybe someone would have brought a gun? That would show those uppity homosexuals and civil rights activists just what true fear looks like.

What happens when the second amendment trumps the first? Here’s the first amendment of the Bill of Rights:

And the second:

Laws like the one just passed in Georgia nuance the second and therefore threaten the first. If I know a student is legally carrying a gun in my classroom, what does that say to me? Seriously. Yes, I have a right as a tenured professor and a citizen of the US to say what I want, but those ideological freedoms cannot stand up to the physical reality of a gun in my classroom. Period.

The language from the AJC I quoted above seems to suggest that colleges and universities will be able to institute their own gun policies. But I ask: for how long? The current climate of the university system in just the last year has been one of paranoid liability. Can’t we just see some gun zealot hiring an eager young attorney to sue Macon State or the entire university system because we instituted a policy of no handguns on campus? We can’t afford it. Therefore, I’m sorry to say, I don’t see a policy coming from the BOR or the college outlawing guns. I hope I’m wrong.

So, are we ready for the new old west? I better oil up my ol’ six-shooter.

About suffering they were never wrong,
The Old Masters; how well, they understood
Its human position; how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;
How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting
For the miraculous birth, there always must be
Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating
On a pond at the edge of the wood:
They never forgot
That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer’s horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.

In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on.

–W. H. Auden, 1938, 1940

Brueghel's "Icarus"

Actually, Giles and I went a couple of days early to photograph Savannah for Regional Imagery. The weather in Savannah on Monday and Tuesday was pretty bad: cloudy, rainy, windy and frakin’ cold. Still, Savannah’s charm is warming, and I think we got some good shots. I have several galleries in my Savannah collection; they include images of downtown, a visit to Ft. Jackson, Savannah at Night, and two cemeteries.

Autumn joined us on Wednesday, just as Giles was departing. We lunched at Paula Deen’s restaurant before spending the rest of our anniversary day exploring more of Savannah. The weather was still crap, but at least it had warmed up. We had dinner at this cool Asian fusion place and finished the evening with a nightcap at a Scottish pub. I put photos of Autumn in a separate gallery.

The next day found us in Charleston, just 100 miles up the road. We were famished by the time we pulled in, so we took the recommendation of the concierge and went to the Fleet Landing Restaurant for lunch and beer. I’m glad we did: the food rocked. The weather cleared by the afternoon, so we walked around the historic section of downtown. We dined at the famous Hyman’s Seafood restaurant and had an excellent meal. When we next visit, we plan on spending a bit more time in Charleston.

In all: a great trip. Thanks to my lovely wife Autumn for another wonderful year. And thanks to Giles for the company early in the week.

First, I snapped a couple of shots of St. Paul’s and St. Joseph’s. I tried to catch the beautiful clouds and had the best luck at the latter, though I do like this one of the former. These shots are posted in my Downtown Macon gallery, presently the first ten, or so. The featured shot above is in front of St. Joseph’s; it looked like some folks were getting ready for a wedding.

Next, I hit Magnolia and four houses on that block, including two on Orange. These photos are in my Tour of Gardens gallery. I hope to add a couple more today, but the weather looks uncooperative. We’ll see.

Giles also posted some photos of the gardens, including some great portraits from the Kentucky Derby Party.

5/3/09 Update: I managed to get quite a few more photos today, but Zenfolio is acting up. Hopefully, I’ll have more images to show tomorrow.

We were home a bit early, but I did manage to get some photos for the Downtown Macon gallery, and portraits of Connor, Jack, and Autumn.

Like last year, I set up a portrait area and encouraged folks to have their picture taken. I was pretty successful in getting most of the couples to pause in their merry-making to indulge me — and most seemed to actually want to. There were some great outfits to go along with the excellent bands (a jazz combo and a more traditional cover band), copious drinks, historic atmosphere, and excellent food. I also managed to hand out most of my business cards. So, I’d say the night was pretty successful.

Have a look at the gallery and buy a print or two, especially if you’re in one. Also see Giles’ gallery, linked through his blog.

The meeting was in the Arts & Sciences building on the GCSU campus. I had been to Milledgeville before, but haven’t really explored the beautiful, but small, campus. It is full of southern charm — nicely landscaped and intimate. The meeting went well, and my London colleagues and I had lunch at a cool restaurant downtown called The Brick. I had a shrimp po’boy (wishing I was still in New Orleans, I guess) which was pretty darn tasty.

After lunch we went over a couple of logistical matters for London. It appears that the tickets have been purchased, so the fact that I’ll be in London in two months (from today, actually) is becoming more real for me. I have to finish my syllabi before next month’s meeting with the students, and I still don’t have a clear idea about my London as Text course. I better figure it out soon.

The ride home from Milledgeville was beautiful, and not as brisk as the ride out. It feels good to be back on the bike. Be sure to check out my meager Milledgeville gallery.

I started by myself in the morning. I had to run some errands, so I took the camera along with me. First, on the corner of Rivoli and Northside, I hit one on my favorite farms. The cherry blossoms were starting to fade, but I still got a few excellent shots. I posted these to my Cherry Blossoms gallery; they are currently the first photos in the gallery.

Next, I went to Rose Hill. Yes, I know, don’t I always? Well, I’ve never been with the new lens, so I took it for a spin in a familiar environment and updated the Rose Hill gallery with sixteen images. I’m pretty pleased with how most of these images came out. In my usual rating process, I give one to five stars; most in this group were at least one or two. Cool.

Finally, topping off my morning stroll was the Hay House. I didn’t go inside, but snapped a few photos of the outside. One day I do have to take the tour. I posted these to my Downtown Macon gallery.

Giles joined me in the afternoon. Our first stop was Forsyth, GA, about twenty miles or so northeast of Macon. We walked around the center of town — somewhere we’ve been before — and took a few shots. I added nine photos to my Forsyth gallery.

Our next stop was Barnesville, another fifteen miles or so northeast of Forsyth. The town center was beautiful, and we spent a bit of time snapping away. Many of the locals were spending time in town, so Barnesville seemed welcoming and and friendly as we walked around. Some of my favorite shots of the day are in my new Barnesville gallery.

Next was Thomaston. The road there from Barnesville passed through The Rock, GA, and by several closed factories. The center of Thomaston had many vacant store fronts, and the town looked like it has been hit hard by the current recession. Thomaston is a new gallery.

And finally, as we headed back to Macon for some dinner, we paused briefly in Yatesville for a couple of shots — mostly of a couple of building façades that looked interesting.

All in all, a great day. Giles has also posted a blog entry and photos.

Yes, Spring, but also the annual Cherry Blossom Festival here in Macon, Georgia. Today marks the official opening of the week-long event. This is a great time to live in Macon, especially if you’re a photographer. Yes, there are the blossoms, but the festivities bring all sorts colorful characters — and dogs. Tomorrow is the bed race, the lawnmower (!) race, and the Tunes and Balloons show, and next week is the Mulberry Street Festival — with a bunch in-between. See Macon.com for a complete list of events.

Yes, I will be out with my camera, and I’ll post photos from events I attend in my Cherry Blossom Festival 2009 gallery.