Baltimore21201.Com - The Blog

Baltimore Friends: Can You Help Me Regain Access to My Facebook Account?

A couple of days ago I tried to post a story from my blog on Facebook. And, I received an error message. I tried to comment on a friend's post, couldn't do it—got an error message—albeit a different one. Here's what I'm seeing:

This one says:

The link you are trying to visit has been reported as abusive by Facebook users. To learn more about staying save on the internet, visit Facebook's Security Page. Please also read the Wikipedia articles on malware and phishing.

And, this one:

The content you're trying to share includes a link that's been blocked for being spammy or unsafe: Body of an error/warning message. Title is: Sorry, this post contains a blocked URL

For more information, visit the Help Center. If you think you're seeing this my mistake, please let us know.

I'd appreciate it greatly if someone coud help me out with this issue. And please, if you know a real Facebook wiz, forward this. 

Baltimore 21201. The Blog, The Swan Song

That's it for this blog. To quote my favorite broadcast journalist, Edward R Murrow, "Good night and good luck.

To my friends, Keep On Truckin'.

Tested My Twitter Avatar for Easter...

             ...if It Can Make It There, It'll make It Anywhere

Yep, it's a keeper.

I'm on Twitter. Give me a follow.

One More Reason That I'll Never Again Buy a Product From Dell

A few days ago I ordered a small, inexpensive MP3 player for Jacob to use in the car and at work to replace his old one that finally crashed and burned.

The player arrived with a tiny "get started" booklet written in several languages. Basically the booklet said: connect, charge, and use. Well, that didn't really cover the functions so I went back to Dell.Com, logged in and opened an online chat. I just wanted to download the full user manual.

Here's the transcript of the chat:

Time     Details 

09/29/2010 06:32:13PM    System: "Thanks for choosing Chat to assist you in making your purchase on Dell.com. A Dell.com Chat Expert will be with you shortly."

09/29/2010 06:32:14PM    Session Started with Agent (Jennifer M)

09/29/2010 06:32:32PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "Welcome to Dell US Chat! My name is Jennifer and I will be your Dell.com Sales Chat Expert. I can be reached at us_dhs_sp_sales@dell.com or via phone at 1-****-****-**** ext. 7244161. How can I help you today?"

09/29/2010 06:32:40PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Where do I find the full user manual for Manufacturer Part# : SDMX14R-004GK-A57 | Dell Part# : A1702663"

09/29/2010 06:32:43PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "Hi there Stephen"

09/29/2010 06:33:41PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Hi Jennifer, can you give me the link to the full user manual for Manufacturer Part# : SDMX14R-004GK-A57 | Dell Part# : A1702663"

09/29/2010 06:33:41PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "will this be for the : SanDisk 4 GB Sansa Fuze MP3 Player - Black?"

09/29/2010 06:33:54PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Yes, thanks"

09/29/2010 06:35:14PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "for full user manual for this model you may get that directly @ www.sandisk.com"

09/29/2010 06:35:56PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Do you have a link to the page, I've looked and can't find it on their site."

09/29/2010 06:37:53PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "i apologize but you can only get the manuals directly from the Mfg web site."

09/29/2010 06:38:18PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Why is that, i bought it from DELL!"

09/29/2010 06:39:18PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "I understand that, but still it's a third party item"

09/29/2010 06:40:29PM    Stephen Brockelman: "If you sell a third party item all parts and instructions need to be in the box or you need a disclaimer on the sale. Can you connect me with a supervisor?"

09/29/2010 06:41:38PM    Stephen Brockelman: "I bought from DELL because I trust DELL. What would Michael Dell think of your response?"

09/29/2010 06:44:14PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "I completely understand your concern, but we dont support manuals for non-dell items like this SanDisk MP3 player"

09/29/2010 06:44:15PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Are you still with me?"

09/29/2010 06:45:31PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Where on your DELL website does it say that you don't support the items that you sell?"

09/29/2010 06:46:32PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Jennifer M? Are you there?"

09/29/2010 06:47:35PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "with regards to this concern, it will be appropriate if you speak with our speak with our Customer Service, they have the proper applications and ways that can help you resolve this kind of concern. The Customer Service number for you reference is 1-****-****-**** / 1-****-****-**** They are open Mon – Fri. 8-9 CST."

09/29/2010 06:48:41PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Thanks, one final question: Where in the world are you located? Are you in the United States?"

09/29/2010 06:49:38PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "yes from round rock"

09/29/2010 06:53:04PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "I would really want to help you, but this concern can only be resolve with our customer service. The number for your reference is 1-****-****-****."

09/29/2010 06:53:27PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "I apologize for the inconvenience, We look forward to your business and will be happy to assist you again."

09/29/2010 06:53:41PM    Stephen Brockelman: "Texas? Thanks. I've recorded the text of this and will be reporting that Dell doesn't support all of the products that it sells on it's website, that Dell doesn't offer manuals for all of the products it sells and, that Dell -- unlike what Michael Dell would like us to believe -- Dell has become a pitiful company with no customer service. You, Jennifer M, haven't answered a single question. You've just tried to dismiss me and send me to another source. Twice."

09/29/2010 06:54:37PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "I apologize for the inconvenience, We look forward to your business and will be happy to assist you again."

09/29/2010 06:54:46PM    Agent (Jennifer M): "Thank you for choosing Dell Consumer Solutions Sales Chat."

09/29/2010 06:55:08PM    Session Ended [Session Ended by Dell] 

That was a whole lot of fuss for an inexpensive product. Where is customer service these days?

I'm going to search out companies with reliable customer service and only buy from them.

You?

Is Your Company in Good Company... Are You?

If you haven't -- and apparently lots of you haven't -- go to BmoreFiber.Com and support the Baltimore initiative to persuade Google to invest billions in our city's infrastructure.

As of this evening, nearly 1300 Baltimore individuals have signed on. With your help Baltimore can do much better. And, just over 100 Baltimore businesses are showing their support. Come on people.

We have to get on with it. Showing your support for a top-tier, next generation, blindingly fast Internet connection system will benefit every man, woman, child, business, organization, charity, and government entity in Maryland.

Here are two more reasons to put your name and your company's name on the line:

1. It only takes 2 minutes and it's free, 2. you'll be in really good company.

One final thought. If the state capital of Kansas can change the city name from Topeka, Kansas to Google, Kansas for a month surely Baltimore can do better. Much better.

I'm challenging you.

Please challenge everyone you know.

Apparently, I've Been Arrested. In Texas.

Or, Why It Might Be A Good Idea to Google Yourself Now and Then, from Time to Time.

When I was in elementary school, I thought that I had a reasonably unusual name. There were a lot of guys named Steve and lots more named Steven. Not many guys I knew could claim the spelling "Stephen" ...

Combined with a surname like Brockelman, it seemed that I'd probably not be mistaken for anyone else.

Lately, there seem to be a bunch of folks named Stephen Brockelman showing up on the radar. Some are doing good things in the world. Others, well not so much.

Above, is a notice from the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The only way I learned about this Texas police blotter-entry was via a potential client. The client is in the Dallas - Ft. Worth area. I sent her a proposal and a couple of days later she responded, "Been in Tyler lately"?

The lesson is, check on your identity. Be cautious of what personal information you give out. Hope for potential clients with a sense of humor. And, watch your social networking.

People, sometimes important people, are looking you up.

Baltimore Sun: What the Hell Are You People Doing?

You'd think that a venerable publisher like The Baltimore Sun would be careful about syndicated ad placement above the fold, top right, page one. Oh, that's right, the Sun is a Tribune paper. Maybe that explains it.

This afternoon I went to the Sun's website to check on info about today's Ravens - Bears game and the local TV Listings.

What did I find? A misleading ad block that overpowered every headline on page one.

And, what was the big ad selling?

Maryland "Style" Crab Cakes.

The ad head reads, "Dinner Without the Prep" -- ad subhead, "Choose a Meal for Home Delivery" -- first product listed was, yep, you guessed it: Maryland "Style" Crab Cakes. Here's the ad link photo for the crab cakes.

But wait... Does the above look like any kind of Maryland Crab Cake that you've ever seen? To me, it doesn't look like any kind of crab cake that I've ever seen. It doesn't even look like the cart vendor crab cakes at the Maryland State Fair or from the vendors at ArtScape. That's the package the Sun is selling though. Yum, yum.

Perhaps the crab cakes, offered via the Sun, look strange because they truly are. They're a mail-order thing from the institutional food seller, Schwan's.

On closer inspection of the offering, the crab in these cakes is Blue Swimmer Crab also called a Flower Crab, or Portunus Pelagicus. They are mud crabs from the Pacific, heavily harvested in China and India.

Portunus Pelagicus, is harvested in the regions tagged in red, above. Yep, those puppies will make a true Maryland style crab cake.

When a newspaper is fighting for its very life, perhaps some due diligence is in order. Or, perhaps before adding food ads to page one, the paper should ask their food editor about the rotation.

I'm thinking that Elizabeth Large could have spotted this mess.

I try to protect the reputation of my favorite city... perhaps the Baltimore Sun should, also.

Young Mr Oliver Likes Twitter

He's my office manager and he gets the social media business and online networking concept. And, he may just get a promotion to WOM Engineer at my business website, Baltimore's Copywriter.

His favorites: @petfoodindustry, @moderncat, and @enginecats.

Actually, Young Mr Oliver has a small, but growing, Baltimore Fan Base.

Ruby at Engine Performance on Baltimore's Historic Charles Street is one beautiful, fuzzy fan. And, we love Ruby and her little buddy, Frodo, also.

Viral Marketing At Its Best, I May Have a New Career, & Elect Stephen Brockelman

When it works, Viral Marketing works wonders. Sometimes in just hours. This latest effort by PalTalk is a perfect example of the best of show.

I don't belong to any video chat rooms like those that PalTalk is promoting, so the chances are slim to none that I would ever have known the company's name without this campaign. The keys to the success of this effort are:  1. Ease of use (fill in a name and email or embed it), 2. It's funny and current (and clean), 3. It has the WOW-factor, and 4. It takes the recipient or viewer directly to the website (everyone wonders: how'd they do that?)... Advertising and marketing are going through some astonishing changes. And, I'm enjoying the show.