I was hassled for months by these two companies when they refused to fulfill an order for a replacement screen for my laptop.  It took 4 months to actually understand why they weren’t delivering my screen (the customer service doesn’t seem to have any connection with the actual company – I think it’s completely outsourced).

I received interesting responses to my inquiries about WHERE MY PURCHASED ITEM IS?!

Dear Steve

Thank you for your patience.
Sorry to bother you again.

We are not able to reship your screen out yesterday because of  the power failure here.
Your item will be shipped out asap.

I will offer you tracking number when it shipped out.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
Nicole
ScreenAid.com Service

Random power outages, natural disasters, lost-in-shipping, with the eventual response that not only could they not ship it, they couldn’t refund my money:

Dear Steve

Thank you so much for your email.
I am so sorry to tell you that the money is returned by the google checkout .
Could you please contact the google checkout to return your money since that our store on the google checkout was closed already and we are not able to log in it and return the money to you .

The google checkout have the right to issue refund to you .
Hoping your understanding and cooperation.
Please do us a favor.

Best regards and thanks in advance.
Nicole
ScreenAid.com Service

Guess what!?  Google doesn’t know anything about this, and has actually revoked the seller’s ability to sell via Google Checkout, probably because they were scamming and stealing from customers!  The only way to actually get a refund was to actually do a charge-back via the credit card company.

Bliss Computers gave me less of a hastle with the refund, but still dragged me out for many weeks with no idea about what the delays were in shipping my item. After 4 weeks or begging for information, I was finally given some information which I’m not sure I trust:

The resaon you were refunded is because the lcds we had in stock of that particular model had mura. We are still waiting for the new panels to arrive. I will send you a link that further explains what mura is.
http://ailab.snu.ac.kr/publication/down/SPIE2004.pdf
Thanks for your business

Michelle Ponce
michelle@blisscomputers.net

So there you have it, folks.  When buying a new or replacement LCD screen, DO NOT buy ANYTHING from ScreenAid.com or Bliss Computers.  They have terrible Customer Service and you may be the next victim.

A bicyclist also does not need to keep right if a lane is too narrow to let a bicycle and vehicle travel side-by-side, or if riding close to the edge of the roadway is unsafe because of parked vehicles, fixed or moving objects, animals, or road surface hazards. – Oregon Law (PDF - pg. 78)

Please respect a bicyclist’s right to take the lane.  Sometimes, there’s just not enough space and in that case, the cyclist always has the right of way.

Going crazy for my new touring bike, haven't packed those panniers yet!

We’re actually starting in Astoria, Oregon, which is a hair north of Portland but on the coast. Here’s a map:

View Larger Map

Here’s a rough itinerary with daily mileage, I think it’s changed a bit but you get the idea:

Day 1: Astoria to Manzanita (37.8)
Day 2: Manzanita to Netarts (40.1) via cheese and the capes
Day 3: Netarts to Lincoln City (48)
Day 4: Lincoln City to Yachats (49.9)
Day 5: Yachats to Reedsport (48.8)
Day 6: Reedsport to Bandon (54.8)
Day 7: Bandon to Gold Beach (57.5)
Day 8: Gold Beach to Cresent City (55.8)
Day 9: Cresent City to Orick (39)
Day 10: Orick to Eureka (46)
Day 11: Eureka to Redcrest (41.8)
Day 12: Redcrest to Leggett (55.8)
Day 13: Leggett to Fort Bragg (43.4)
Day 14: Fort Bragg to Point Arena (44.4)
Day 15: Point Arena to Jenner (51.6)
Day 17: Jenner to Point Reyes Station (42.5)
Day 18: Point Reyes Station to Golden Gate Bridge (35)

I think it may take up to 21 days with rest days and technical problems. I’ll try to send updates via my cell phone. I’m very stoked and very nervous. We’ll see how it goes!

From Bill Perry:

Absolutely OUTSTANDING interview !
‘Specially his aside to IRR troops, and the Constitutions’ Article 6, Section 2, not to mention the 5 or 6 locales where Matthis has “occupied countries all over the Planet”. I really liked how he nailed the FOX Talking Head on 9/11 being a CRIME, certainly not an act of war. Then, the “Unmovable object in the face of overwhelming opposition” was HOT.

Evann Orleck-Jetter testified at the public hearings on gay marriage last month before Vermont’s Joint Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Many legislators later told Evann and her parents that her testimony had moved them to support the bill.

Watch the interview on Democracy Now!

Youth advocacy is a vital component of social movement. Another reason to educate your community’s youth in media literacy, the legislative system, and how one person can make a difference.

“Where is the bill of rights?” one man asks as his comrades are taken away for peacefully protesting severe budget cuts that will severely impact the working poor and people-of-color in Philadelphia.

Probably the only time I’ll ever link to a report from Fox News!

Unbelievable! I love how the crowd goes wild for a good foam pour. This part of coffee culture is truly on the next level.

The wild buffalo herd of Yellowstone National Park represent the only genetically pure buffalo left in the world. They need to survive and be safe. Unfortunately, the Governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, has reinstituted a hunt, and in 2008 over 1,600 Yellowstone buffalo were killed. There are only about 2,000 of these wild buffalo remaining. This film, Hear The Buffalo, expresses the value of the Yellowstone wild buffalo herd, their critical importance to Native American culture, the abuses they currently undergo and is a heartfelt plea for their protection.

Directed by Gene Bernofsky for Wold Wide Film Expedition.