potholes & pitstops

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Friday, April 11, 2008

Flight of the Conchords @ The Town Hall

My favorite folk duo parody comedy team from New Zealand are playing two shows at The Town Hall in May. The Town Hall is ticketed by none other than that evil corporate empire, Ticketmaster. For whom, in the age of the internets, it is apparently still acceptable to completely rape consumers by adding all sorts of extraneous charges like "convenience fees." Isn't it convenient that they no longer have to pay people wages for answering the phones and taking orders? Shouldn't we be getting a discount now that they are saving on labor and benefits and phone bills? Of course, it's their insatiable greed that keeps ticket fees going up and up. Maybe they should just be honest and call the additional $20 for a show the "We charge you because we can get away with it!" fee.

When I realized that my job is only about 8 blocks from the venue, I decided to go buy the tickets in person for a measly $1.50 surcharge. I'd be getting a brisk walk, paying about 10 dollars less per ticket and sticking it to the man. I had done this for Pink Martini, too, way back when. Here's the shocking sight I found when I skipped up to the box office:

I couldn't believe it! The man had figured out how to screw me again! I'd have to sit at my computer hitting the "go back & try again" button on Ticketmaster's site until I finally got through and then give them my hard earned $$'s. I don't know why, but I walked into the box office and was horrified to see this:

I asked the dude how quickly the tickets had gone and he said, "About 1 minute, or so." I ask you people, how is this possible?? Are there really thousands of people with their fingers on their mouses at noon hitting the site all at once? And then it's over? Are they fans? Or scalpers? wtf??

When I got back to the office I consoled myself by looking at some FOTC fan sites. Here's one. Here's another.

I felt a lot better after I watched this:

Friday, March 28, 2008

Round mirror on the ceiling

G line Flushing stop, Brooklyn

iPhone

I dropped my iPhone from about 2 feet off the ground while it was wearing it's rubbery little case. It froze. I restarted. Nothing. I went on-line to make an appointment for the genius bar at the Apple store Soho. After you schedule your time the site asks if there's anything else they should know about your visit. I wrote: "I'm probably going to cry."

They fixed me right up. No tears. Thanks again, Apple!