I had a computer screen problem a month ago. Now I have it again. My laptop was "fixed" earlier as a warranty repair, only it wasn't fixed. The report revealed that nothing was really done. After a long period of black screen, the machine had decided to start working properly just when it was about to be fixed. And because it was working, it wasn't fixed. Now the black screen is back. I fear it will again temporarily fix itself before it reaches the repair person, and I will be labelled a paranoid customer for good. I'm sure they have a black list, since they have the power.

But I don't even know if I've made contact with these gatekeepers of IT society yet. I think they're closing doors as we speak. First the phone line kept me waiting and prompted me to drop a note about my repair need by e-mail instead. Then I had four e-mails boomerang back to me. The fifth has disappeared forever. It may have reached its destination. More probably, some embodiment of the computer age has simply eaten it for lunch. 15:45