The Haphazard Blog

I just read about the filing of a lawsuit against Apple over their iPhone 4 antenna/reception problems. It turns out, this is the fourth lawsuit filed over the barely week old iPhone. I imagine Apple’s response would be a copy of their return policy:

If you are not satisfied with your iPhone purchase, please visit online Order Status or call 1-800-676-2775 to request a return. The iPhone must be returned to our warehouse within 30 calendar days from shipment to avoid an $175 early termination fee. The iPhone must be returned in the original packaging, including any accessories, manuals, and documentation.

They also said in the case of the iPhone 4 they would give a full refund (they normally have a 10% restocking fee).

Plaintiff seeks actual and/or compensatory damages; restitution; equitable relief, including the replacement and/or recall of the defective iPhone4; costs and expenses of litigation, including attorneys’ fees; and all additional and further relief that may be available. Plaintiff reserves the right to amend his Complaint to add additional relief as permitted under the CLRA or other applicable law.

How much damage can there be in a week? Especially when you can return your phone (your contract is also canceled). I’m far from an Apple apologist, but this just seems like people wanting their 15 minutes.

My backup team is out. Brazil went down 1-2 after taking an early 1-0 lead. They grew more and more frustrated (Melo got a straight red card for cleating) and could not tie it up. Early on, the Dutch were diving like crazy, but in the end, they played the better game.

Watching the Ghana game, the way it ended, I wonder if a referee should be allowed to simply award a goal. I know this is in direct reaction to this game. What the Uruguayan player did was smart, and certainly against the rules. But it essentially took what was a definite goal, turned it into a potential goal via a penalty kick and as we all saw, that shot hit the crossbar. The game then immediately went to a shootout that Ghana lost. So, at the cost of a red card, Uruguay advances and Ghana goes home. No team would ever pass on that chance no matter who the player they lose is.

In the NFL, the rule book allows for a referee to award a TD in egregious and extreme conditions. I don’t think it has ever happened, but it takes into account what would happen if a player from the sidelines ran onto the field and made a tackle. In FIFA’s case, the referee would have the ability to award a goal or a penalty kick in this circumstance. The goal would only be awarded when it is clear a goal was about to be scored. And in reality, the only scenario I can think of is a hand ball with the trajectory of the ball clearly being on target to go in the goal. So maybe it should really be some type of rule specific to hand balls that prevent a goal.

It just seems wrong that Ghana is out given the way it played out.

Now I’m on the Germany bandwagon. Hopefully that does not end tomorrow.