Hi Carlos,

Thought you’d want to know – we just got word of a slight delay with your shipment. We hate waiting for new gear too, but it’s always better to know what’s up than be in the dark.

So here’s the deal: your package is on its way with a modified delivery date. The report from UPS says that since you were not available for delivery, UPS will make a 2nd attempt very soon.. To get the full details on your shipment’s progress, call UPS at 800-742-5877. We appreciate your patience, and can’t wait to get that brown box full of gear into your hands.

When you touch base with UPS, have your tracking number and order number handy to make your call quick and effective. We already did the legwork – check it out:

UPS Tracking Number: 1ZR7V93XXXX655XXXX
Backcountry.com Order Number: 44XXX62

I’ve never received a notice from a retailer after the order has shipped before. They went one extra step to make sure that the customer is aware of the status of their package rather than leaving it to them to dig up the tracking number had UPS not left a note. Good on Backcountry, and I anxiously await my new laptop messenger bag.

Fix it, Apple.

On the other hand, I’m not having nearly as bad a time as most others are reporting with the new software and third-party applications. I’ve only had one random crash which happened with the WHERE application, but otherwise it’s been smooth sailing. The finance application from Bloomberg is fantastic – it gives charts and stock quotes alongside their news headlines in a simple and speedy interface. It’s one of the few that doesn’t seem to be simply a mobile-optimized website as its own application (I’m looking at you – BofA Mobile Banking). Here’s hoping that iPhone 2.1 software is released with a slew of bug fixes before I buy my iPhone 3G.

The question being overlooked is – won’t somebody think of the children? Oh, it doesn’t render well in Internet Explorer 5 for Mac.

Stop whining and update your browser.

.. Returned home for Spring Break, have been engaging in a whole lot of nothing. I can be happy about the fact that there is a 15Mb/s connection here as compared to some places.

.. Successfully sold the 17″ MacBook Pro and settled on the newer 15″. Craigslist works surprisingly well in the Santa Barbara area; although I did have a run-in with a Mitt Romney supporter. Long story.

.. In the rush to purchase books for the new quarter, a single textbook for an intermediate accounting course costs $186.00. One hundred and eighty-six dollars. I’ll mull over the new quarter a bit later here, but, just, wow.

Kyle: “What part of being infected with a deadly disease do you find funny?”
Cartman: “I don’t think it’s funny.”
Kyle: “Then stop saying you’re not just sure, you’re HIV-positive.
This isn’t funny, AIDS isn’t funny, dying isn’t funny, so shut the **** up.”
Cartman: “Well, excuse me Kyle for trying to keep some optimism. Sometimes when things seem their darkest you need to try and stay HIV-positive. But if you want to be so HIV-negative all the time.”
Kyle: “Knock it off, right now! This isn’t funny! At all”
Cartman: “Are you sure?”
Kyle: “Yes!”
Cartman: “Are you HIV-positive?”

*punches Cartman in the face*

…and yes I do hate myself for finding this funny.