Contrary to current advice that sun exposure is bad for you, scientists now believe that going out in the midday sun without sunscreen for 10-15 minutes is actually good for you.

Latest research shows that a short burst of sunshine on unprotected skin at noon can maximize vitamin D production, which is essential for healthy teeth and bones.

Furthermore, researchers have suggested that Vitamin D can protect against some forms of Cancer.

How ironic.
Sun can both cause and protect against Cancer.

However, no matter what research says, I’m going to protect my skin and get my Vitamin D supplements elsewhere.

There is nothing worse than knowing that you are a victim of injustice and being powerless to do anything about it.

Further to my post on May 16 about the incompetence of Qwest, here is another example of Qwest’s failing customer service and inherenet incompetency.

Why does everything have to be a scam these days? Where’s the honesty? Where is trust hiding?

When you are researching different telephone and Internet services companies and call different companies to price them out, you expect the pricing information you are given to be accurate, especially if you confirm the rate on more than one occasion.

Therefore, imagine my surprise when my first Qwest bill arrived and the amount due was considerably more than I had been expecting. No, it wasn’t a case of concealed charges; no, I hadn’t made a lot of long distance calls. The discrepancy was between the amount I had been quoted for my television package and the amount I was now being charged, a difference of $12 per month, $144 per year.

Qwest’s response? Denial, of course.
Qwest claimed that they had never offered the package at the price I had been quoted.

Further to my recent post about advertising sneaking into T.V. shows, yet another example came to my attention yesterday while watching prime time T.V. show “24″.

We have all seen the AllState advertisements featuring “President Palmer” from the previous series of “24″. Not only are these ads aired in every commercial break during “24″, but yesterday, the promotion was taken even further.

It would seem that AllState’s motto “are you in good hands?” was carefully integrated into the script. Commenting on the sudden arrival of ex-President Palmer at the White House as the new President’s advisor, one politician couldn’t help but add, “I’m glad we’re in good hands.”

If ever there was an example of subliminal advertising, this is it.

Many companies use their excellent customer service as a unique selling point. However, I am personally finding that the statement “the customer is always right” is quickly becoming extinct.

I feel that we are experiencing an increasing dichotomy of customer service standards. While many businesses go above and beyond (to an annoying level) to serve their clientele, other companies are failing to meet minimum expectations.

For example: The majority of Telephone and Internet service providers have a policy where they will not commit to making appointments for installing telephone and Internet connections. Instead, they provide a window of time in which they “may” arrive.

Last week, I had a frustrating experience with Qwest. When I arranged for the technician to come out, I explained to the customer service rep that it was vital that the technician come as early as possible since I needed to work from home. The rep told me that she would place a special request on my account and that the technicians usually respect these requests. I was, therefore, very annoyed to find that, not only did the technician not come as early as possible, but he didn’t even arrive during the window of time that I had been given. Having expected the technician to arrive at 8 am, I was appalled that I was forced to wait at home until 4 pm.

Ever heard “any kind of exposure is good exposure”?

Of course to Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson, the uncovering of their various misdemeanors would make them feel to the contrary.

However, elsewhere in the celebrity world, popstars such as Jessica and Ashley Simpson have in fact gained their fame from what we would consider negative PR exposure.

Jessica Simpson did not top the Billboard charts until after her reality show “Newlyweds” had hit T.V. screens. Not only did her record sales increase significantly after she made her infamous “chicken of the sea” comment, but tuna sales also rocketed. Being known as pop’s biggest dummy is not the best kind of exposure for Jessica, but it has certainly helped elevate her to one of the biggest names in pop music.

Jessica Simpson’s sister, Ashley, and American Idol’s Paula Abdul, are finding that ridiculing themselves is the best way to react to negative exposure and use it to their advantage.

Ashley Simpson was only known as a weak interpretation of her sister until she was caught lipsynching on Saturday Night Live. Since appearing in self-depracating comedy sketches, Ashley has not only seen her record sales increase, but she has also been given her own reality show.

Recent talk of American Idol corruption is indicative of how we can no longer enjoy simple, clean entertainment. While Paula Abdul is drunk, drugged up on pain killers and allegedly cavorting with former contestants, anti-American Idol protestors are bent on sabotaging the series with an online campaign to vote for the worst.

Why do people have such an urge to disrupt and destroy?
As humans, we are all entitled to our own opinion, but when it comes to something as simple as American Idol, why maliciously sabotage it?

Can’t those of us who actually like American Idol (and there are plenty of us!) just enjoy the young would-be popstars singing and Simon’s inevitable retorts? Let’s face it, this show is not meant to be taken so seriously.

But it is.
Millions of Americans vote for their favorite idol every week and many campaign fervently for their chosen one’s cause. As Bill O’Reilly said on his show last week, what a pity that so many Americans are not as motivated to vote for American President as they are for American Idol.

Technology is forever evolving and we are continually amazed by modern technology’s capabilities.

We’re living in an age where cell phones are now smaller than your palm and can take photographs and play movies in addition to their traditional role as communicators. It makes you wonder how different the World will be in 25 years from now.

Despite so much complex and intricate technology being developed, the fact remains that the simple necessities in life don’t get any easier.

If modern technology can do so much, why is moving house such a hassle? Why does it take the telephone company and DSL Internet 2 weeks to hook up a telephone line and Internet connection? With modern technology advancing so quickly, why can’t these utility companies just flick a switch?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for retaining the human element. I don’t want to see the world taken over by machines. Yet, I am annoyed with utility companies that do not have sufficient manpower to meet the demand for their technology.

There is no point leaping forward with technology if we, as humans, cannot keep up with it, specifically in terms of customer service.