Category Archives: Consumer activism

Brief mention in the Boston Globe

From “MBTA announces latest arrival: Google mapping tool for riders“: But not everyone at yesterday’s news conference was trumpeting the partnership. Jonathan Kamens, 39, of Brighton said Google Maps’s public transit routes are faulty because they rely on schedules provided by the MBTA, which are sometimes wrong. Kamens, a software engineer, said his complaints to… Read More »

Micro Center enters the junk mail hall of shame

“For two years, I have been attempting to eliminate junk mail from my mailbox. In addition to signing up for the Direct Marketing Association’s “do not mail” list, I have contacted every single entity that has sent me junk mail, literally hundreds of them, and asked them to remove me from their lists. I can count on one hand the number of entities who have been incapable of honoring my request. Same on you for being one of them.

“I’ve spent so much time and effort combating junk mail because it is a huge scourge on the environment, and I actually care about the future of our planet. Apparently, your company does not.

“I will, of course, be posting this letter on my blog and encouraging all those who read it to shop elsewhere. Why should we patronize a store which thinks nothing of ignoring its customers’ wishes and destroying the environment?”

Tiggit Mail: Good program, great author

I recently set out to find a decent IMAP client for my BlackBerry Bold, since although the BlackBerry has native IMAP support, my employer’s IT department has disabled it. I found two to consider: LogicMail, which is free, and Tiggit Mail, which costs $30.  Both are under active development.  I evaluated them and found them both… Read More »

MBTA 2, Passengers 0

Mr. Houghton, Being a glutton for punishment, and having no better option, my daughter and I set out this morning once again to take the T from Brighton Center to Walnut Street in Newton, changing buses in Newton Corner. We were stationed at 400 Centre Street by 8:17, waiting for a 554 bus scheduled to… Read More »

The MBTA fails, yet again, to provide a minimal level of acceptable service

To: CabotSuperintendent@mbta.com Cc: <Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us>, <Rep.JosephWagner@hou.state.ma.us>, <Steven.Tolman@state.ma.us>, <Rep.KevinHonan@hou.state.ma.us>, <mayor@cityofboston.gov>, <Mark.Ciommo@cityofboston.gov>, <Michael.F.Flaherty@cityofboston.gov>, <Stephen.Murphy@cityofboston.gov>, <John.R.Connolly@cityofboston.gov>, <sam.yoon@cityofboston.gov>, “‘Governor Patrick’s Office (imailagent)’” <gov.webmail@state.ma.us>, “‘Halbert, David’” <David.Halbert@cityofboston.gov> John Houghton Superintendent, Cabot Bus Garage MBTA Dear Mr. Houghton, They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  If so, then I must… Read More »