Google 411

UPDATE: Google discontinued this service. Apparently the purpose of this service was to collect many examples of people talking to help improve their voice recognition software.

Google's 411 telephone service, known as GOOG-411, is extremely helpful. I use it often to find either find a business in the first place or to find the address or phone number of a business.



It is not always perfect. For example, my family is in Rochester, MN for my dad's surgery. When we were trying to figure out how to order pizza from Zadeos Pizza. According to GOOG-411, the two results for "Zadeos Pizza" in Rochester, MN are:

1. Zadeos Pizza, 303 Elton Hills Drive Northwest, (507) 281-1330
2. Zadeos Pizza North, 3120 Wellner Drive Northeast, (507) 281-1330

(The links are to the online version of the GOOG-411 search results.)

Two things about this seem off. First, the phone number for both results are the same (but the addresses are different) and the naming structure is not parallel. The naming structure would be "parallel" if there were both "Zadeos Pizza" or if second result was named "Zadeos Pizza [direction]".

The correct answer is that the first result should be

Zadeos Pizza South, 1021 15th Ave Southeast, (507) 282-5898.

The worst part about all of this is that I do not know how to inform Google about their mistake. According to this GOOG-411 page, the GOOG-411 results come from Google Maps. However, this also seems incorrect because the Google Maps search results for "Zadeos Pizza" in Rochester, MN is has both of the two correct results as well as the incorrect GOOG-411 result.

I was able to use the "report a problem" link to inform Google about the mistake in Google Maps, but GOOG-411 does not have a "report a problem" link. I figure that either this link is missing on accident, or Google decided that GOOG-411 does not deserve its own "report a problem" link since it is really just a different front end to Google Maps.

I think my pesudo-bug report here proves that GOOG-411 needs its own "report a problem" link. Let's go Google. Help me (and and your other passionate users) help you by adding a "report a problem" link for your GOOG-411 service.

Blue Gold: World Water Wars

Blue Gold: World Water Wars is a documentary about the increasing scarcity of drinking water. I tried to avoid using bottled water even before watching this. One think that I learned from this film is how "bad" bottled water really is.

There are several ways to obtain this film from its website. However, my preferred method is via bittorrent, accompanied by a donation. And don't worry. Sam Bozzo, the maker of this film, supports this method as well.

I prefer this for two reasons. The version downloaded via bittorrent has no restrictions; you can watch it when you want and how you want. Also, donating directly to the film gives them a much larger percentage of your money.

Here is a trailer.

Copyright Education: A FedEx Kinko's Case Study

Wake up class. It is time for some more copyright education.

Does everyone remember our previous lesson? It was about a KODAK photo printing kiosk that I found in a Target store. This time, our case study is from a FedEx Kinko printing store where Shannon was printing some resumes. Reviewing the KODAK case study will help significantly in today's case study.

Ok class. Let's begin.

This notice is next to a computer.

Copyright Law Notice:
The Copyright Law of the U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted works. A computer program or software protected by copyright may not be copied without the authorization of the copyright owner, except that a copy may be made in accordance with §117 of the Copyright Law for backup purposes for protection in the event that the original software malfunctions. FedEx Kinko's Office and Printing Services, Inc. does not authorize the use for this computer of the reproduction of copyrighted software other than allowed under §117. The person using this machine is responsible for and would be liable for any infringement. Our primary objective is to take care of your needs. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation in complying with the FedEx Kinko's copying policy.

Who can spot the first sentence with a false statement? Well, it is the second sentence.

A computer program or software protected by copyright may not be copied without the authorization of the copyright owner, except that a copy may be made in accordance with §117 of the Copyright Law for backup purposes for protection in the event that the original software malfunctions.

Like last time, copying software can be legal by fair use. Specifically, the two (court approved) fair uses are

• modification of copyright software for personal use (Galoob v. Nintendo) and
• making copies in the course of is a fair use, when it is the only way to get access to the "ideas and functional elements" in the copyrighted code, and when "there is a legitimate reason for seeking such access" (Sega v. Accolade).

The second reason that the sentence is wrong is similar to last time. Even if the copyright owner does not "authorize" the copying of their software, it is still legal to do so if the copyright of the software says that it is legal to copy the software. The most popular software copyright with this property is the GPL.

You might be wondering, "why would the copyright owner copyright their software under a copyright like the GPL if they do not authorize copying?" The easiest explanation for this is that the copyright owner changed their mind, such as when the copyright is sold to another party.

There are no more factual errors in this copyright notice, but there is an interesting contradiction yet to be discussed.

FedEx Kinko's Office and Printing Services, Inc. does not authorize the use for this computer of the reproduction of copyrighted software other than allowed under §117. ... Our primary objective is to take care of your needs.

If the "primary objective" of FedEx Kinko is to serve their customers, then they would allow there customers to do any legal activities (such as copying GPL'ed software or copying any software for fair use).

This sign was next to a location where someone would connect a laptop.

The Copyright Law:
The Copyright Law of the U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted works.

The Person using the reproduction equipment is liable for any infringement.

For more information on the laws regarding copyrights contact the United States Copyright Office at 202.707.3000.

The FedEx Kinko's policy requires written permission from the copyright holder in order to reproduce any copyrighted works.

Our primary objective is to take care of your needs. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation in complying with the FedEx Kinko's copying policy. Thank you for your business.

Please see a FedEx Kinko's team member to obtain a Copyright Permission Request form.

It is the prerogative of FedEx Kinko to stipulate what services the do and do not offer, but their "primary objective" is certainly not "taking care of your needs" if they burden you by requiring you to go above and beyond what is required by law in order to create a legal reproduction of a copyrighted work.

With such taxing requirements to carrying out a legal activity, it is clear that FedEx Kinko is "primarily" concerned for copyright holders and only secondarily concerned for their customers.

Another Wells Fargo Secret about Cash Advances

I previously revealed a secret about Wells Fargo's overdraft protection. The crux of the secret is that any transfer from a credit card to savings or checking account is called a "cash advance" and costs an extremely high interest rate. Well, here is something else that everyone should now about cash advances at Wells Fargo.

Like the story of my previously revealed secret, this one starts with a mistake of my own. After being paid today, I initiated a transfer of funds to begin the bill pay process. I meant to transfer all of the money that I would need to pay off my credit card and other bills to my checking account (from my savings account). Instead, I transferred all of this money to my credit card.

"Well crap," I thought, but this should not be a big deal. I should be able to cancel the transaction because it is only pending; it has not actually happened yet. No dice. Not me nor "anyone" at Wells Fargo can do anything for me until the transaction has "posted" (according to a Wells Fargo customer service agent). Ok, time for plan B. Since my credit card balance is negative, I should be able to transfer that "negative" money to my checking account without the penalties associated with a cash advance because I am not advancing any cash. I only want to advance cash that already exists...no advancing going on...right? NO, NOT RIGHT!!!!

WELLS FARGO CHANGES CASH ADVANCE FEES EVEN ON "NEGATIVE" CREDIT!

I am very unhappy with Wells Fargo at this point. I even have another story in the queue that I am refraining from telling until I know how it will end! In the span of four months, I have had four "issues" with Wells Fargo. This is completely unacceptable. How can Wells Fargo expect to keep my business if they keep giving me a reason to leave every month?!