ABOUT CLICKED

The modern news consumer ignores Weblogs and online citizen journalism at his own peril. But not everyone has the time to keep track of what's going on the Web. With this blog we hope to track the highlights of what's being discussed online so when news breaks from the Web, we're ready.

Will Femia is a Weblog enthusiast who, through good fortune and dumb luck, was introduced to the form as his position as chat producer for MSNBC.com careered into obsolescence. On any given day, Will can be found having already spent an unhealthy amount of time squinting at a computer screen.

Send a message to Will at spotter@msnbc.com



I've got mail

Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:49 PM by Will Femia

What I clicked when I went through my backlog of mail this morning:

Will,
This is a very bizarre and shady story.
Take care,
G. Wrinkle

Will replies: G, that is the story that keeps on giving. Every sentence is more bizarre than the previous. I couldn't even recommend it as inspiration for creative writing because I don't think there's anything left to add. Amazing.

Rich points out a site that would have been good with yesterday's item about being a little too enthusiastic about the promise of stem cells.  This company wants you to store your menstrual blood. NOTE: Flash video/audio plays automatically when the page loads.

Rich also sent this one about a guy who refused to show his receipt to the security guard at the exit of a Circuit City and ends up calling the police and getting himself arrested. At first I was sure he was just a jerk but by the end of the story I understood his point.

Jan sends this snowflake maker.

I am sure you get lots of email from people who read your column, but I thought it would be great since you posted so much about the Virginia Tech tragedy to see/share this.
Thanks.
Eric sent this collection of lightning porn.
Will,
This Free Rice website will donate 10 grains of rice through the UN to help end world hunger for every vocab word you get correct. I found the link through the bbc.com news site.  I think it may be worth a mention.
Gillian
Will replies: Gillian, when this came out the link spread like wildfire but I resisted because I can't shake that scammy feeling. I looked around and I see a lot of other people who got the same feeling but also couldn't find any facts to justify the feeling. I think what bothers me is that grain isn't purchased by the grain, so to say that you've donated ten grains is already working from a dishonest premise. I'm even suspicious of the word game, it feels like busywork. Am I contributing to some kind of user generated dictionary? Anyway, like I said, I don't find any facts to support my feeling so I'll just shut up and share the link. Thanks. :)

If you like The Who, and you use msn.com or another site or a blog, you can find more great music at: http://www.seeqpod.com/music. Just type "The Who" or another favorite band in the search box and find their music freely with full playable tracks. To put the player on your page, move the songs to a playlist and click 'Embed,’ then copy the code to your page.
All the best,
The SeeqPod Team
Will gesticulates wildly: I've been listening to this thing all morning and it's amazing. I don't remember why I was looking for The Who but I listened to Won't Get Fooled Again and Real Me and then just started adding stuff from the stream. Stuff I've heard of but never heard, stuff I never heard of at all. I didn't register or log in or do anything, it just starting making all this music, it's crazy! It loads the longs lightning fast, no choppy/laggy loads. Here's a NOTE: for ya: This thing can totally suck up a lot of your day without you realizing it because you'll find yourself peeking at the cascade of new songs every few seconds and adding here and there to the playlist. So far I've mostly just listened and haven't taken the time for a full exploration of what's going on here but it's definitely the most impressive music app I've played with in recent memory.

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Comments

I completely agree with the actions of the man arrested at Circuit City. Personally, I am tired of some store employee (usually very old or very young) standing at store exits looking at receipts. First off, they barely glance at the thing so, if someone did shoplift an item they wouldn't even know it. Secondly, it makes people have to stand and wait instead of just being able to exit which is more of a hassle now with the holiday shoppers. Finally, there are alarm systems and security cameras to catch thiefs. I doubt that someone looking at a receipt for one second and drawing a line through it is really helping the shoplifting situation.

I'm also glad to see that he didn't allow the cop to try to bully him into giving up information. Sure, it was a pain having to get arrested, fight the charges, and still have to pay legal fees, but unfortunately drastic measures are sometimes needed to make sure our rights are not violated.

Norma, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:38 PM)

Here is the Snopes.com info on free rice: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/freerice.asp

Denise (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:58 PM)

Will,

Your first instinct was right, the man was a jerk. If he had simply shown the guard his receipt, he would have been on his way in a matter of seconds. Now, he has many court dates and legal expenses. Will anything be accomplished other than the establishment of his criminal record and a waste of the court's time? Absolutely not. Several stores in my area practice this technique for reducing shoplifting. I always hold my receipt and have it ready for the guard at the door. I've never had a problem. What an idiot this man was.

Bob, Trumbull, CT (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 2:26 PM)

I also am uneasy with some of the security tactics.  Why doesn't Circuit City just have cattle gates after the register that lead you right out the door?  You just went through the purchasing process, then a few feet later, on the way out the door you have to prove you just paid for what they put in the bag.  I think they could save money this way.  And for those that think it will increase their costs if they don't check bags - you are already paying to cover shoplifting costs.  I agree with Michael Righi about the showing of a license. We do not have to carry papers like in Nazi Germany, yet. I hope the charges were dropped and he sues Circuit City.  They had no right to block his father's vehicle.  We bought our last computer there.  Maybe we will not buy there again.

PeaceOnYou (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 2:53 PM)

I'd probably agree with the circuit city guy if I hadn't spent time working at Best Buy.  You'd be suprised how much effort is put into "policing" that small amount of space between the register and the door.  It is literally the only location in the store where you can be spotted as shop lifting.  Because you don't actually steal anything until you pass up the opportunity to pay for it.  The ability to inspect bags after purchase is a HUGE tool in loss prevention.  Really in reality short of someone volting some barriers to escape a store, the inspection at the door is the only way to CATCH shoplifters.  The cameras and door sensors are filling in the cracks that are missed because they can't feasibly inspect every bag.  What the gentleman really is overlooking(admitedly in the face of some much larger issues) is that theft is one of the major instigators of product pricing.  Sure CD/DVD companies make a lot of money on a .50 DVD sold at $10, but the fact that they have to essentially right off 30% of product shipped due to theft is a huge contributer to why small items like cds and dvds rarely see price fall(of course huge profits are probably a bigger reason).  In the end I guess that I don't mind letting some guy peak into my bag for 30 secs to do my little part to help out loss prevention.  more info => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_prevention

DanE, chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:44 PM)

I still don't understand why the word "lightning porn"?

Shoaib, Pittsbiurgh, Pennsylvania (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:48 PM)

Folks should have followed the links to the updated blog which show that the charges were dropped Sept. 20th, and to where he quotes Ohio law about what needs be provided a police officer, leading to the dropping of the charges .

p.s. thanks for posting my earlier comment -- i didn;t realize later that i'd probably goofed by sending you a Fox story, but you were gracious to post it anyway.

tg

tony gallucci (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:02 PM)

Thanks for posting the virginia tech message. im an alum and heard about this while watching the va tech game aginast uva. while i didnt know anyone who got shot, id like to thank everyone as well. the outpouring of support was constant and genuine. i also would like to toot the horn of my fellow hokies and say that this was a great way to give thanks. apparently they knew when the sattelite was going to pass over the drill field but they only had a 15 minute window.

Rob, Long Island (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:07 PM)

Will,
Totally on the side of the "jerk."
Money has changed hands, transaction over...accuse me of a crime or let me go.  dont rifle through MY stuff.

Chris Browning (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:12 PM)

Will,
The guy who got arrested is an idiot.  He's right along side those people who go to the emergency room for a head cold.  The police officer had the right to arrest him for using a number, 911, reserved for emergency use only.  If any of you people out there get yourself into a similar stupid situation, please call your local police department or better yet just show the receipt.
Speaking of police, because of an idiotic law, police cars here in Puerto Rico have to drive with their lights flashing at all times during the night--why? the criminals can see them coming from a mile away, duh?

Maria, Puerto Rico (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:41 PM)

OK...I'm not sure how Seeqpod works, but it is fantastic!  I gesticulate wildly with you :)  I now have so many options for my daily Colin Hay fix it isn't even funny.  Thanks Will.

Gillian, Madison, Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:52 AM)



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