Trudeau Cuisine – awesome customer service

Really have to give a huge shout out to Trudeau Cuisine.

It was only a pepper grinder, but when a piece of plastic broke off, and Rachel still had the receipt and even the packaging, which clearly stated “Lifetime Guarantee”, we thought, “what have we got to lose?”.

What we expected was the run around: “take it to the reseller”, or “send the item to our distributor”, or one of the usual tactics designed to make claiming warranty more trouble than it’s worth. What we got was: “Sorry, we don’t make that model any more. Here are three of similar value, choose one and we’ll ship it to you.”.

This was rather astonishing, given that we weren’t just around the corner – we’re talking Québec to Melbourne, but less than a week later, we had our shiny new grinder. That is so impressive!

Around about Google Maps

Been a long time since I had a whine about Google Maps, but lately I’ve been noticing some serious issues with directions when I’m out in the country. The worst instances have seen me end up five kilometres away from my intended destination.

Back when Google Maps was new, you couldn’t really trust it, so I developed a habit of checking the suggested directions before starting off. The service improved over time to the point that I’d got used to just trusting it. Now, I’m losing that trust again. Take this example the other day.

I had decided to stop a little short of my final destination, just a few hundred metres down the road, but I noticed that Google had other ideas.

Here, the app is suggesting I take a closed, private road a distance ten times longer than required.

In fact, more than closed, I know it’s impassable in one section – just grassy paddocks, because about 12 months ago, it tried to send me down there in the opposite direction!

Now, once upon a time, you’d take the good with the bad, and accept that there was room for improvement, but these days we expect better.

Bustin’ chrome

Good, simple bugs are rare in software these days. Someone’s just found a beauty in Chrome.

Even hovering over this link: http://a/%%30%30 causes Chrome (just the tab you’re on) to crash.

I’m currently using Version 45.0.2454.99 (64-bit). I don’t expect the bug to last very long. Enjoy it while you can 😉

Why does it happen? Something, something null, I dunno! ask this guy.

Net work

woowoowoo posted a photo:

Net work

The most remarkable (judging by conversations) aspect of the building seemed to be the nets. Presumably, they are to stop stressed Phd students ending it all spectacularly on the floor of the atrium. Unfortunately, I found they just ruined the idea of interior interior space entirely. Instead of a sense of air and freedom, you feel like so many sardines trapped by a trawler. It looks half arsed, dystopian, prisonlike, an afterthought to resolve the disjoint between an architects vision, and the real world. Did not like.

Oh, and as for safety. The net just screams out “CLIMB ME”. They say it’s not going to happen. I’m sorry, my tip is that there’ll be organised flag races before the first semester is up.

One thing I liked. The little study tables around the balcony (you can just see the corner of one on the left), they give a nod to the old style drafting table. Wood trim and green linoleum covering.

Last friday, staff were invited to inspect the new Faculty of Architecture building. It reeks of … architecture!

via Flickr / woowoowoo

Splash

woowoowoo posted a photo:

Splash

An interesting break in the colour scheme. Is this a nod to the 80’s?

By the way, this shot was taken from a walkway where anything dropped will fall some 20m. onto whoever happens to be passing below. Does anyone else see a problem with that?

Last friday, staff were invited to inspect the new Faculty of Architecture building. It reeks of … architecture!

via Flickr / woowoowoo