How to solder like a man
Hello, everyone! I�m Molly Wood and welcome to the CNET Mailbag, the show where
soldering tips, international drama, and condom complaints collide. Let�s begin � with
the complaints.
Sam in Australia writes:
The new crave blog looks great! There is just one issue I have with it, advertising. �
Trojan! Really? Are you kidding me. The design fits in so well with the site that you two
must have collaborated. I usually don't get this pissed but you don't put up ads for
condoms often. RAGE!!
And wahyu writes:
Thanks to Crave gadget blog I had to explain my 6 YEAR OLD brother about what is a
condom, I had to lie to him but he asked my parents and even his teacher this question,
can you please change the advertisement on Crave, Some young minded people go to
CNET too you know..
Ok, you guys. I passed these complaints along to the sales team. First, on the design
question, I see the similarity, but I have been assured, by many people, that it�s just a
coincidence. As for the ad campaign itself, we do have guidelines for appropriate content,
and the Trojan campaign does meet those guidelines. I mean, come on. It could be a lot
worse, right? But we�ll take your feedback into account for future campaigns. I promise.
In international complaints, Jill writes to say:
Could I please ask your staff to be aware that you have many avid followers outside of
USA. It is so frustrating when things are explained on cnet videos and then they aren't
applicable outside USA.
In the IPOD tips section I watched the excellent video on how to "watch free TV shows
on your iPhone"
I followed all the instructions and all I got was "unable to play video".
After some investigating on google I found it was due to the material not being available
outside USA.
Please - when this is the case, just a short sentence at the end of the broadcast indicating
that these services were not available elsewhere would be so helpful and save a lot of
frustration.
Thank you, Jill. That�s a good point, AND a good suggestion. We�ll try to note that
whenever we can.
In random questions, June asks:
I was just wondering where Tom gets all those stuff to give away in Top 5 Lame Prize
giveaway? Do Cnet people just donate their own stuff that they don't really want? And...I
just wanted to see my email appear on your show. Hopefully it will :)
Congratulations, June. You�re on the show. And yes, some of that stuff is indeed Tom�s
own, actual stuff -- like, the Star Wars stuff? All Tom. But our editors pick up little
schwaggy things at conferences, or viewers like you send us things, or we just collect
junk � and yeah. Giving it away is the best way to get rid of it!
And speaking of Tom, got several emails in response to his latest Hacks video. Brandon
says:
I was watching Toms recent hack video about the home made aux jack. First off I
have to ask, does this really qualify as a hack or should this be categorized under
Martha Stuarts gadget tips special?
Second, in the video Tom faced the dangerous task of stripping a wire. Apparently
this step is so risky that Tom finds it necessary to put on safety goggles and
recommends that I do the same. Really? Man up Tom! Take some tips from the
Jack Bauer/Chuck Norris like Brian Cooley. Brian probably doesnt even hold the
scissors properly as he walks across the room. Tom might think this is dangerous,
but that is the kind of risk he needs to take to earn some street cred.
Snotty, Brandon. Snotty. Let�s see how snotty YOU are when you work for a giant
media conglomerate who gets sued out of existence because some Chuck Norris
wannabe tries stripping a wire in just his boxers and loses an eye. Or worse. It�s
called liability.
And then Freddy says:
YOU SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE SOLDER TO THE IRON UNLESS U ARE TINNING THE
TIP AT THE BEGINNING OR THE END
and i dont me to sandbag u tom
I don�t know what that means. But it�s funny.
And finally, to Connor, thank you for sending us your term paper on the history of Apple!
I like your conclusion that it�s an extremely special company, and by the way, good
indenting and double-spacing. Teachers love that.
And that�s it for this week, everyone! Keep the feedback, questions, and crazy mail
coming! Email me at Mailbag@cnet.com, or send your snail mail to 235 2nd St., San
Francisco, CA, 94105. Thanks for watching, everyone.
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