To FedEx: Email generated from templates can be a bad thing

The section below is from a FedEx automatic package update email.

Our records indicate that the following shipment has been delivered:
Tracking number:                  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ship (P/U) date:                  Feb 22, 2007
Delivery date:                    Feb 26, 2007 9:12 AM
Sign for by:                      Signature Release on file
Delivered to:                     Residence
Service type:                     FedEx Priority Overnight
Packaging type:                   FedEx Envelope
Number of pieces:                 1
Weight:                           0.50 lb.

This was a FedEx package I WANTED delivered overnight. I paid premium just for that. They delivered it in four days and with no shame tell me that service type requested and paid for was "FedEx Priority Overnight". :-)

They should change their motto to "FedEx - You ask what you want but you will accept what we give anyways".

1000 words, etc

devolution
Originally uploaded by a.ma.r.

Maybe I am a prude

blogpost0214
Originally uploaded by a.ma.r.

I came across this a few minutes back on the Google news home page.

All these years the news related to breast feeding of babies was lacking something. Duh! of course! It was lacking a picture of a baby feeding from a breast right next to it.

Is the image relevant to the story - 100%
Is the image absolutely necessary for the story or does it add anything to the news story - very weak case to be made if any.

I don't think it is Google's fault. I am sure the robot generating the news page grabbed the relevant image for this news story and plugged it next to the title.
So can Google do better with this implementation, I certainly hope so.

Is this because of lack of choices?

From an San Francisco Chronicle article about Gavin Newsom who is running for re-election as Mayor.
Fact:

On Feb. 1, the mayor publicly admitted the accuracy of a Chronicle report that he had a sexual affair with his appointments secretary, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of Alex Tourk, a friend of Newsom's who at the time of the affair was his deputy chief of staff.

Tourk later managed Newsom's re-election campaign, but he resigned late last month after learning of the affair. Newsom disclosed four days after admitting the affair that he would seek treatment for an alcohol problem. He publicly apologized again today to Tourk and his family.

The article continues with some responses from the residents of San Francisco,

"I am not going away. I care so deeply about you and this city," he (Newsom) said to cheers and applause.

His speech had the desired effect.

"I think he's good for the city," said Ralph Romberg, a lower Pacific Heights resident who has volunteered on Newsom's two past campaigns, for mayor and for supervisor. "I'm not interested in his private life. It's not my business."

Pacific Heights resident Yvonne Thompson shook Newsom's hand and told him to "hang in there."

"We all have some skeletons in our closet," Thompson said. "He's a nice person and supportive to the African American community."

Not only is he getting away with this behavior (which would be unacceptable if our son/dad/uncle did it) but he is "good for the city".

Why..?