as bad as brighthouse service can be, sometimes the ridiculous stupidity of humanity shows itself in more destructive ways and something like this madness happens...
and i look at some of the things i wrote today, i wonder about the connections of energy in this life and in this universe, but beyond my egocentric wonderings, i realize that the title of this blog, meaningless complaints, fits so well... one customer experience related on the net, one person's opinion posted on the web, what does it mean really... and even if the complaints are valid and real and meaningful to many, when compared to the madness of humanity, everything else is a minor complaint...
so i look around at the thoughts on the web about humanity and find simple stuff that is nothing new, but i realize that even though little seems to change in the world, the wars continue, the killing of innocents continue, the exploitation and manipulation by people in power continues, the hypocrisy continues, the lies and fear-driven hate continues, there are still some who see how sad and sick humanity really is and there, in knowing some are aware, is hope...
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
waiting for the brighthouse connection
i occasionally get a message here or by phone from brighthouse sales or technicians that appear to be efforts to resolve the on-going service interruptions i frequently experience, a few of which have been chronicled in this blog... today i am brought here due to continued poor service preventing me from enjoying cable programming... in this entry, i will also address why i have stopped responding to the brighthouse calls... the bottom line is this - if the solution brighthouse is offering does not start with a monthly discount for my time, energy, and interrupted service, i am not interested in wasting more of my time trying to fix the continuing brighthouse problems...
now to today's issue...
first, should it take 3-5 minutes to use the remote to use the search feature to find a specific show you want?... when you press your remote, does nothing happen for ten seconds or longer?... when scrolling through channels, does the scrolling freeze and take sixty seconds to get through the first 100 channels?...
when you want to find out when specific shows are on, for instance, which football games are being broadcast on which channels at what time, can you do that in less than 5 minutes without loosing your feed to the game you are currently watching?...
if you can do these things with brighthouse, then you are getting better service than i am... i do not know if it is the converter box or the line conditions or something at the brighthouse connections or bandwidth or something else, but the delays in receiving signals simply switching stations or scrolling through the stations is unacceptably long...
let's look at the solutions and customer satisfaction...
the first solution is change the batteries in the remote... i do that monthly, even more often at times... i do not use the remote daily... the batteries i remove from the remote are still very effective in any other electronic product and testing shows they are still good batteries... i have changed the remote several times... the remote does not seem to be the primary problem...
the next solution is reboot the box (again, a weekly activity which is ridiculous inconvenience and lowers my customer satisfaction a lot)... i do not work for brighthouse... i pay brighthouse for service...
it is as simple as this...
i should not have to provide service for brighthouse equipment unless brighthouse pays me to provide service... to resolve this customer dissatisfaction, i should be paid for each service i provide for brighthouse equipment... my time and energy has value... a $5 discount for each required reboot would be appropriate...
as i manually reboot on average weekly due to lagging service or other issues, a $20 discount monthly is required for customer satisfaction as much as the reboot is required just to use the service i pay for...
this does not include the auto-reboots that the box does when i am in the middle of watching a show - that is an intrusion that is not acceptable and a dollar amount will not provide satisfaction, however a punitive dollar amount might encourage brighthouse to not randomly interrupt the service i am paying for... $50 would be fair, considering the level of customer dissatisfaction and the profit margin brighthouse currently provides... the risk of a $50 refund should be incentive enough for brighthouse technicians to stop randomly interrupting the service i pay for... might as well have satellite...
the next solution to any issue is to call brighthouse... that averages more than 30 minutes and takes me away from work or life activities that of my choosing... essentially, it puts me in the position of working for brighthouse... i should be compensated at $15 an hour for my time when i am required to call brighthouse just to use the service i am paying for...
the next solution is a home service call... that requires a change in my schedule and anywhere 2-4 hours of down time waiting for the service technician... i have experienced at least two no-shows and may have forgotten more... again, a minimum of $15 per hour for the time i give to brighthouse required to use the service i pay for... since the best they do is a 2-hour window, a minimum $30 refund of my money is fair for each service call...
these are very fair wage compensations for my time as i could be earning much more per hour if i chose not to give brighthouse my time... this is also an excellent performance improvement incentive for brighthouse to improve their product and customer service as the responsibility for not paying me would be set directly on brighthouse - provide the service i pay for without glitches and interruptions and you refund me nothing, you get more than $1,000 a year from me...
so, to the brighthouse techs and csrs and managers who may read this, if your proposed resolutions to the issues i have been reporting for the last few years does not include monetary compensation for my time, energy, troubleshooting, and inconvenience... then please do not offer the appearance of a blank check "let me help you" in my comments here or on the phone... your "help" costs me time and money... and the dozens of calls and home service calls i've given you over the years has has not resolved the issues...
keep in mind that what brings me here today is the same thing that has brought me to write every blog entry about brighthouse service, dissatisfaction with the brighthouse product... if there was not an issue preventing me from using the product today, i would not be writing this... i am not looking for money, i am looking for the service in pay for... at this point however; i have given enough time and energy to brighthouse without fair compensation and propose the refund plan in this entry as a last effort to keep me as a brighthouse customer...
as a quality manager myself, understanding the customer's dissatisfaction and needs is an essential aspect of customer satisfaction... hopefully this writing has provided you with the specific information you need to satisfy this customer...
i am likely not the only customer who would approve of this plan...
UPDATE: why should today have only one issue, it's brighthouse service, after all...
I get home and find the show guide is suddenly changed to ridiculously huge letters so the stations can't be read and only the first word for any show name is visible... why am i not surprised that the box reset itself again and now does not provide a useable guide to what is on...
it's not like we have only one issue each day... we have several on-going issues every day... like the cable box still turns on and switches to mute for some reason and we have to change channels a certain way with the remote to get sound... if we actually watched tv daily we'd have a different service...
what baffles me most is how people who actually watch tv daily put up with brighthouse... i know what keeps me is the internet, not the best but the fastest around here... and also the fact that i get a discount some months i spend time trying to get the service fixed... but the fix has not worked in the past few years since i've had the service... we plan on moving early next year and moving with brighthouse does not look likely...
Monday, December 3, 2012
sub-par subs
The following is most of an email I decided to send at my roommate's suggestion to Firehouse Subs after a recent unappetizing experience.
If I get a response, I will try to remember to share it here. If the response comes quickly, I likely will. I am sad as Firehouse was our favorite sub place in the area, but I suppose it is time to explore the others.
I have eaten Firehouse subs for years, usually once a week or so. I've had them all and until today was usually satisfied, often delighted. Recently I've noticed the meat subs are skimping on meats. Tonight (Sunday about 7PM) we went into our nearby store (gave them the location) and bought four subs for a group and the subs were extremely disappointing. The place ran out of turkey, which eliminated half the choices on the menu, so maybe the problem was low inventory, but poor quality was a factor as well. I noticed one employee look at his watch as he saw a line of about ten people forming behind us as we waited for him to come to the register. He did not look happy to see customers. My disappointment was in the quality of the food.
The pastrami was so fatty, we threw it out. A first. We could not tell if there was cheese on the sub or not because it was so fatty.
I've never seen so little meat on the New York Steamer and the sub fell apart when picked up as if the bread was stale. Again, it appeared they forgot the cheese.
The Italian was ham, no other meats. Again, less meat and cheese than the usual. The bread was not as fresh as we were used to.
The meatball was not the usual quality, but was the best of the subs we purchased. The bread was not as fresh as we were used to.
I have never written to Firehouse before and probably should have sent some positive feedback over the years because a few years ago I was very pleased and even surprised with the quality and amount of meat on your subs. Firehouse was one of the few places I would buy pastrami because of the quality. The subs always were abundant with meat and the bread was always fresh. In the last year or two I've noticed the gradual shrinkage in meats, less fresh bread, and reduction in quality.
Firehouse has gone from the no-doubt first choice for subs to just one of the sub places I choose. Tonight hit a surprising new low and I will likely not return to this particular Firehouse.
I would like a few honest answers.
- Have economic factors compelled a company-wide reduction in the amount of meat and freshness of bread or was I simply unwise to go to a Firehouse on a Sunday evening?
- When do Firehouse stores get delivery of fresh meats and breads?
- Has there been a change in the pastrami product over the past year or few that I simply did not notice until tonight?
I appreciate your time and hope for honest answers, not sales pitches. I am not complaining as much as I am seeking knowledge. I will most likely buy Firehouse subs again as there are other locations a bit further away from my home, though the closer sub places will likely see an increase in my business when I am in a hurry or simply do not want to drive further. You did not lose customers tonight, you lost some automatic expectation of quality and some sales.
If I get a response, I will try to remember to share it here. If the response comes quickly, I likely will. I am sad as Firehouse was our favorite sub place in the area, but I suppose it is time to explore the others.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
caution: music plays here - blogger dumb, google?
CLICK PAUSE ON THE PLAYER BELOW
IF YOU DO NOT WANT MUSIC TO PLAY
APOLOGIES,
GOOGLE CHROME DOES NOT ALLOW MUSIC TO
NOT
AUTOMATICALLY PLAY
DUMB MOVE, GOOGLE
if you did not click pause, perhaps you see, or rather hear what i mean?
this one is supposed to work in chrome - it does not in mine... you tell me, does it?
the point here is that Google is supposed to be one of the most technologically advanced companies in the world, right?... so why does Google FAIL at creating a browser that can do the simple task of reading a code accepted in other browsers, a code that simple respects readers and sets music inserted into a blog post to NOT play automatically... music automatically playing can be intrusive to any reader attempting to read a page without sound... so does that mean the creativity of music or sound is to be ignored when writing a blog post or creating a web page?... Google apparently thinks so... dumb move Google... I've been using Chrome for a while, but realizing this flaw, I am switching back to Internet Explorer and/or Firefox... you need to get your act together Google... I like chrome, but it's lacking an essential audio ability... and sadly, it's been that way for years according to the research i've done...
let me know when you get it fixed...
Monday, November 12, 2012
brighthouse continues to suck
so after a wonderful day out playing softball with friends and a wonderful evening home enjoying dinner with friends i decide to give up sleep tonight to watch something i was looking forward to for weeks, a 10 year reunion show for firefly and five minutes into the show for reasons only the intrusive people and computers at brighthouse know, the cable box turns off and goes into some sort of countdown followed by another countdown followed by a reboot and twenty minutes later i am still wondering why i don't just cancel this crap brighthouse service because the show will not go on...
so i will not get back the time or sleep i gave up tonight and i still do not get to watch the show i wanted to watch and brigthouse still charges more than they charged last year for service that gets worse every month... yes, besides exploring alternbative tv services and in spite of offers to help which do nothing to stop the deteriorating service and continuing service interruptions... in fact just it continues to get worse... i started keeping track and the current stats are:
brighthouse digital hd cable tv (table updated 12/14/12, still trending downward):
so i will not get back the time or sleep i gave up tonight and i still do not get to watch the show i wanted to watch and brigthouse still charges more than they charged last year for service that gets worse every month... yes, besides exploring alternbative tv services and in spite of offers to help which do nothing to stop the deteriorating service and continuing service interruptions... in fact just it continues to get worse... i started keeping track and the current stats are:
brighthouse digital hd cable tv (table updated 12/14/12, still trending downward):
| working perfectly working adequately not working properly not working at all | 0% of the time 0% of the time 90% of the time 10% of the time | no problems delays, box/channels reset occasionally, software does not adjust aspect ratio and picture size automatically sound does not go on at start, box resets/blinks every 60 seconds, aspect ratio and picture size are off box/channel resets every 10-15 seconds or other issue requires reboot, call to tech support, or visit |
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
why republicans lost me
i dislike politics because it has so little to do with public service and so much to do with destroying everything good that could come from fair and honest government... i support no particular party and stay as far away from politics as i do from news and most people these days... but i find myself anti-republican insensitvity and hate-mongering more and more and this is just one example of why... bless you John Franklin Stephens...
Maybe it's just time we all grew up and stopped insulting anybody for the way they are, the damage caused may never be...
Posted by Geoff McDermott on Monday, August 31, 2015
Saturday, October 27, 2012
weather idiots
also know as weathermen (and not weatherwomen, but that's a prejudice so inherent in our language and culture it deserves complaints of it's own so we won't let this one get too distracted for now) and meteorologists... giving the people in this particular field of study some benefit of doubt, i will not propose to assume that all those who study meteorology are idiots... this complaint is primarily about tv meteorologists anyway... even there i will not propose to assume that all tv weather-people are idiots either... what i will state as this complaint is that almost all tv meteorologists appear to be idiots in the way they are scripted, presented, and possibly manipulated... business as usual, the media is selling product and not reporting the news accurately without bias and ulterior motives...
what i mean is... just like the news, the weather sells product... the news (and sports and weather) programming is big business and made way more dramatic, scary, shocking, and stupid than it needs to be to do what it is supposed to do, present an accurate report on real events outside of our homes and immediate daily experience... we want to know there are traffic delays on our routes to work or wherever we go, we don't need to know how many people died or are injured and what agony their family is going through "how do you feel about the critical condition your son is in?" type reporting... we want to know it is going to rain or snow or storm, but we do not need to know live coverage of idiots hanging on to street light polls in hurricanes telling us not to leave our homes...
today, i refer to an even more serious stupidity... a dangerous stupidity... i refer to the vultures picking at the carcass of potential news, specifically the over-excited alarmists trying to make much more out of the weather than is necessary or responsible... the problem with meteorologists who pander to the news media and actively represent themselves as prophets of doom on television is that goes beyond the irresponsible scare tactics that manipulate viewers... the serious issue is that people are conditioned to worry, stress, and even panic over storms that never appear and then are complacent when a real threat arises...
today's tv meteorologists are boys (and girls) who cry wolf and much like the story about the boy who cried wolf, they reduce their value to the public to side show annoyances... they find the one power line that is down and present it as widespread damage... they find the one branch that fell on one car and interview the owner as if he is one of many who were devastated by the storm... they "predict" worse case scenarios as if there is no doubt that we are all in serious danger...
earlier this year they did this with a storm that never actually became a hurricane but was still presented as a potentially catastrophic event... Hurricane Sandy that is heading up the east coast of the USA this week is the latest storm to be the fuel for irresponsible and dangerous reporting... if the world (God, Mother Nature, or whatever you believe might control the world) had a Risk Management department would identify the irresponsible cry wolf reporting by television meteorologists as a potential risk reducing actual preparedness for an actual serious weather event...
the culpability of the news media for false reporting and actively pre-determining heightened threats could be called into question in court by a savvy lawyer who demonstrates that repeated exposure to over-zealous television meteorological reports could desensitize and therein give credible cause for inadequate preparation that leads to serious injury by the public the news organizations are commissioned to serve...
beyond litigation, people can be hurt and killed because they do not take weather dangers seriously because they have repeatedly been exposed to television weather idiots who manipulate news to over-state dangers only to be repeatedly proven to be wrong...
what i mean is... just like the news, the weather sells product... the news (and sports and weather) programming is big business and made way more dramatic, scary, shocking, and stupid than it needs to be to do what it is supposed to do, present an accurate report on real events outside of our homes and immediate daily experience... we want to know there are traffic delays on our routes to work or wherever we go, we don't need to know how many people died or are injured and what agony their family is going through "how do you feel about the critical condition your son is in?" type reporting... we want to know it is going to rain or snow or storm, but we do not need to know live coverage of idiots hanging on to street light polls in hurricanes telling us not to leave our homes...
today, i refer to an even more serious stupidity... a dangerous stupidity... i refer to the vultures picking at the carcass of potential news, specifically the over-excited alarmists trying to make much more out of the weather than is necessary or responsible... the problem with meteorologists who pander to the news media and actively represent themselves as prophets of doom on television is that goes beyond the irresponsible scare tactics that manipulate viewers... the serious issue is that people are conditioned to worry, stress, and even panic over storms that never appear and then are complacent when a real threat arises...
today's tv meteorologists are boys (and girls) who cry wolf and much like the story about the boy who cried wolf, they reduce their value to the public to side show annoyances... they find the one power line that is down and present it as widespread damage... they find the one branch that fell on one car and interview the owner as if he is one of many who were devastated by the storm... they "predict" worse case scenarios as if there is no doubt that we are all in serious danger...
earlier this year they did this with a storm that never actually became a hurricane but was still presented as a potentially catastrophic event... Hurricane Sandy that is heading up the east coast of the USA this week is the latest storm to be the fuel for irresponsible and dangerous reporting... if the world (God, Mother Nature, or whatever you believe might control the world) had a Risk Management department would identify the irresponsible cry wolf reporting by television meteorologists as a potential risk reducing actual preparedness for an actual serious weather event...
the culpability of the news media for false reporting and actively pre-determining heightened threats could be called into question in court by a savvy lawyer who demonstrates that repeated exposure to over-zealous television meteorological reports could desensitize and therein give credible cause for inadequate preparation that leads to serious injury by the public the news organizations are commissioned to serve...
beyond litigation, people can be hurt and killed because they do not take weather dangers seriously because they have repeatedly been exposed to television weather idiots who manipulate news to over-state dangers only to be repeatedly proven to be wrong...
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Google Fail
yes, #GoogleFail and also #BloggerFail... I am hating on the new forced on users blogger format... i see less options on the page... more hidden options means more time to navigate and use the page... i do not see all of my blogs on my dashboard without clicking on the 'more blogs' link, extra clicking, wasted time... while every change has a learning curve and it takes time to develop a comfort level with every interface, immediate and obvious inconveniences should not be the first thing noticed...
and apparently all my preferences were reset to google blogger default as i am wasting more time setting up formats and options that i need to remember in order to maintain continuity in my blogs... and obviously the interface is developed for bloggers with fewer blogs than i have... more obviously i need to explore wordpress and other blog options...
it did not help that microsoft vista sucked royally and it's taken almost two hours to actually start blogging tonight...
and apparently all my preferences were reset to google blogger default as i am wasting more time setting up formats and options that i need to remember in order to maintain continuity in my blogs... and obviously the interface is developed for bloggers with fewer blogs than i have... more obviously i need to explore wordpress and other blog options...
it did not help that microsoft vista sucked royally and it's taken almost two hours to actually start blogging tonight...
Monday, September 17, 2012
NFL Fail
the nfl really sucks this year mostly due to the inexperienced officials losing control of games and making very bad calls that effect the momentum and the outcome of games... no amount of spin is going to convince me that this season's first two weeks would have had different outcomes of some games if the regular refs were out there...
it is apparent now that the nfl commissioner and bosses were lying over the last few years when they stated they were imposing fines and changing rules to protect players... they obviously do not care about players... say it again - the decision to let players play under these poorly officiated out of control conditions is proof the bosses do not care about player safety...
the commissioner is certainly a gambler... gambling fans will watch crap and gambling nobody will get hurt enough to permanently scar nfl football... i hope a superstar's career is not ended because the nfl is allowing this fiasco to continue because that would be a permanent scar and legacy for this current commissioner...
it is apparent now that the nfl commissioner and bosses were lying over the last few years when they stated they were imposing fines and changing rules to protect players... they obviously do not care about players... say it again - the decision to let players play under these poorly officiated out of control conditions is proof the bosses do not care about player safety...
the commissioner is certainly a gambler... gambling fans will watch crap and gambling nobody will get hurt enough to permanently scar nfl football... i hope a superstar's career is not ended because the nfl is allowing this fiasco to continue because that would be a permanent scar and legacy for this current commissioner...
Thursday, September 6, 2012
vista fail
as in microsoft vista so totally sucks and fails it is not funny... yes, #VistaFail is added to the growing list of #Fail hashtags and labels and no, it is nothing new, it is just getting worse and worse and there is no logical reason for software to deteriorate and consume more time and memory when nothing changes on a computer... so i guess i will simply get used to restarting every day and giving up 15 minutes or more daily to microsoft... if the software was free that would be barely reasonable...
i'm so fed up with microsoft vista i don't even want to continue...
i'm so fed up with microsoft vista i don't even want to continue...
Thursday, August 30, 2012
cable and internet search
the box once again is acting up, flicking the picture and sound on and off and preventing the signal from reaching the tv... shutting it off a few times and waiting did not help this time... a manual reboot is next... and since the brighthouse service will not work and not allow me to watch tv, it is time to invest some time in research for better service - so let's see what else is available at my address...
comcast... $40 cable and $30 internet from road runner (same company brighthouse uses)... the $30 internet is without taxes and without internet speed boosts... and is a time-limited offer, 6 months and then it goes to $50... a package for $80 sounds very similar to what i am currently getting from brighthouse for at least $20 more, so there is a draw for comcast... the site does not make comparison shopping easy and does not offer any comparison to brighthouse... a prime example can be found here on this page where they have the starter tv and the internet package for $30 each and then the combo of those two services for $70... simple math suggests this company has some serious math problems (and i should trust their tech knowledge?)...
even more unfortunately, it looks like a 2 year commitment is required, which is a big turn off for me as i might find major flaws in the service in the first few months and be stuck for two years... the lack of required commitments still keeps brighthouse ahead in spite of the horrible service lately...
still, saving $20-$30 a month is a major draw so i will explore comcast further... reviews show just as many complaints about comcast as there are for brighthouse, so the switch would have to be based on the details of costs, channels, internet speed, and the roll of the dice that the service may be a bit better... sometimes, after continuous dissatisfaction, any change is better than continued poor service... ultimately, the comcast experience may be better or worse than the brighthouse experience, but i will not know unless i try it...
centurylink (orlando)... sounds similar in cost, though i have not explored the details of the services and packages offered yet...
cleartv offers a bundle of tv and internet for $65, almost half the price i currently pay per month plus one month free, so it's worth a look as i continue searching... the page, however, gives the feel of a scam (not suggesting it is, it just lacks depth and detailed information and requests contact info immediately, before providing any shopping experience)... also appears to be a 4G at best internet, much slower than high-speed cable...
att u-verse presented challenging to find in this internet search and appears to require $91 to get HDTV, which is unacceptable pricing... also, the complicated internet presence presents a lot of scam-like "authorized representatives" so finding the source provider is not easy... at&t also requires a log-in to shop "build-your own" bundles on their site, definitely marketing that borders on the spam sites...
so after jumping through a few hoops i found that max internet is $63 and 300 channels is $87 and after rebates or whatever promo offers, it's $115 a month including a dvr and an additional $100 rebate for signing up for a year... still, i do not believe this includes HDTV, so not acceptable... bundling wireless service reduces the monthly bill to $110... knowing att, there is some hoop-jumping involved, as their complicated website showed...
and ah, i believe (again, the site is not simple to navigate) i found HD and it is an extra $10 a month, so $120 now... this plan includes a movie package for $20... unfortunately, it does not appear possible to remove the movie package and still get HDTV as HDTV is not available with lower priced packages... the $100 rebate brings the monthly cost down about for the initial year, so $112 a month, about the same as the current brighthouse we pay without the two dvrs and more channels...
the catch may be that after the 12 month required contract, the $46 per month discount ends and the monthly cost is $166, are they nuts?... i'd have to speak with them before ordering, but the $112 for more channels, 2 dvr boxes (one wireless), and more sounds appealing...
directv... $40 cable for equivalent station lineup to what i have now and a dvr... regular price $70... requires a 2 year contract and goes up to $50 the second year... while the website makes comparing packages simpler than the cable providers sites, the discounts appear complicated as they are rebates requiring online submission and the risk of not getting the rebates if you do not do it correctly, typical pain-in-the-ass marketing technique)... also, auto-payment is required... again, road runner is the separate company that is bundled for high-speed internet access... the free nfl package makes directv a very serious draw in spite of the hoop-jumping required, however the time-sensitive rebate hoops make it a fourth choice for now behind the two cable providers bh and cc and att...
without the hoop-jumping, directv sounds pretty good... but the hoop-jumping suggest to me that dealing with this company will not be a simple or happy consumer experience...
brighthouse (central florida) currently charges us $120 for the cable internet (roadrunner) package (this includes taxes) for one cable box and this does not include a dvr... definitely the most expensive of the lot...
going to their bundles page i see an offer for $110 that includes phone... and $100 for the service i currently get (and why do i pay more for this, probably because i am not a new subscriber which adds to the price appeal of comcast and directv)... though the directv page makes it much easier to find prices, channel lineup details, and compare packages, the simplicity of no contract and no rebates makes this the simplest and most attractive front-end package i've found so far, yet the add-on packs can become confusing and the price difference combined with the actual experience of the poor quality of service brighthouse provides still leaves me a very dissatisfied customer looking for another provider...
it is interesting to note that brighthouse does not show up on the first search page doing a google search for "tv and internet costs orlando florida"... no charge for the marketing information, brighthouse...
wow, that was a long few hours to find all this information (and there are plenty of details i would dig deeper for before a final decision) and in fact, while this started out as a complaint, it may just be edited and become a consumer blog entry... but for this place, ultimately, i am leaning toward switching to providers unless brighthouse either improves service or meets a competitive monthly price... why pay $110+ a month for crap service when i can try an alternative with the same channels and internet speed and includes a dvr and more tvs for a lower price...
good question, aye?
comcast... $40 cable and $30 internet from road runner (same company brighthouse uses)... the $30 internet is without taxes and without internet speed boosts... and is a time-limited offer, 6 months and then it goes to $50... a package for $80 sounds very similar to what i am currently getting from brighthouse for at least $20 more, so there is a draw for comcast... the site does not make comparison shopping easy and does not offer any comparison to brighthouse... a prime example can be found here on this page where they have the starter tv and the internet package for $30 each and then the combo of those two services for $70... simple math suggests this company has some serious math problems (and i should trust their tech knowledge?)...
even more unfortunately, it looks like a 2 year commitment is required, which is a big turn off for me as i might find major flaws in the service in the first few months and be stuck for two years... the lack of required commitments still keeps brighthouse ahead in spite of the horrible service lately...
still, saving $20-$30 a month is a major draw so i will explore comcast further... reviews show just as many complaints about comcast as there are for brighthouse, so the switch would have to be based on the details of costs, channels, internet speed, and the roll of the dice that the service may be a bit better... sometimes, after continuous dissatisfaction, any change is better than continued poor service... ultimately, the comcast experience may be better or worse than the brighthouse experience, but i will not know unless i try it...
centurylink (orlando)... sounds similar in cost, though i have not explored the details of the services and packages offered yet...
cleartv offers a bundle of tv and internet for $65, almost half the price i currently pay per month plus one month free, so it's worth a look as i continue searching... the page, however, gives the feel of a scam (not suggesting it is, it just lacks depth and detailed information and requests contact info immediately, before providing any shopping experience)... also appears to be a 4G at best internet, much slower than high-speed cable...
att u-verse presented challenging to find in this internet search and appears to require $91 to get HDTV, which is unacceptable pricing... also, the complicated internet presence presents a lot of scam-like "authorized representatives" so finding the source provider is not easy... at&t also requires a log-in to shop "build-your own" bundles on their site, definitely marketing that borders on the spam sites...
so after jumping through a few hoops i found that max internet is $63 and 300 channels is $87 and after rebates or whatever promo offers, it's $115 a month including a dvr and an additional $100 rebate for signing up for a year... still, i do not believe this includes HDTV, so not acceptable... bundling wireless service reduces the monthly bill to $110... knowing att, there is some hoop-jumping involved, as their complicated website showed...
and ah, i believe (again, the site is not simple to navigate) i found HD and it is an extra $10 a month, so $120 now... this plan includes a movie package for $20... unfortunately, it does not appear possible to remove the movie package and still get HDTV as HDTV is not available with lower priced packages... the $100 rebate brings the monthly cost down about for the initial year, so $112 a month, about the same as the current brighthouse we pay without the two dvrs and more channels...
the catch may be that after the 12 month required contract, the $46 per month discount ends and the monthly cost is $166, are they nuts?... i'd have to speak with them before ordering, but the $112 for more channels, 2 dvr boxes (one wireless), and more sounds appealing...
directv... $40 cable for equivalent station lineup to what i have now and a dvr... regular price $70... requires a 2 year contract and goes up to $50 the second year... while the website makes comparing packages simpler than the cable providers sites, the discounts appear complicated as they are rebates requiring online submission and the risk of not getting the rebates if you do not do it correctly, typical pain-in-the-ass marketing technique)... also, auto-payment is required... again, road runner is the separate company that is bundled for high-speed internet access... the free nfl package makes directv a very serious draw in spite of the hoop-jumping required, however the time-sensitive rebate hoops make it a fourth choice for now behind the two cable providers bh and cc and att...
without the hoop-jumping, directv sounds pretty good... but the hoop-jumping suggest to me that dealing with this company will not be a simple or happy consumer experience...
brighthouse (central florida) currently charges us $120 for the cable internet (roadrunner) package (this includes taxes) for one cable box and this does not include a dvr... definitely the most expensive of the lot...
going to their bundles page i see an offer for $110 that includes phone... and $100 for the service i currently get (and why do i pay more for this, probably because i am not a new subscriber which adds to the price appeal of comcast and directv)... though the directv page makes it much easier to find prices, channel lineup details, and compare packages, the simplicity of no contract and no rebates makes this the simplest and most attractive front-end package i've found so far, yet the add-on packs can become confusing and the price difference combined with the actual experience of the poor quality of service brighthouse provides still leaves me a very dissatisfied customer looking for another provider...
it is interesting to note that brighthouse does not show up on the first search page doing a google search for "tv and internet costs orlando florida"... no charge for the marketing information, brighthouse...
wow, that was a long few hours to find all this information (and there are plenty of details i would dig deeper for before a final decision) and in fact, while this started out as a complaint, it may just be edited and become a consumer blog entry... but for this place, ultimately, i am leaning toward switching to providers unless brighthouse either improves service or meets a competitive monthly price... why pay $110+ a month for crap service when i can try an alternative with the same channels and internet speed and includes a dvr and more tvs for a lower price...
good question, aye?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
not brighthouse
so once again i sit here with a lost internet connection and a lost tv cable connection in the middle of working and right at the beginning of a show so watching brighthouse cable tv is pointless and the job search i was in the middle of is not just pointless, but possibly a waste of the last hour or more since websites might not let me continue filling out their pages when the connection finally returns... how many ways can brighthouse suck...
and what will wasting more time on the phone with the tech department or wasting even more time rearranging my schedule for home visits really do that has not been done in the dozens of hours i've already wasted, really... as i said in a previous entry
there comes a time after speaking with a dozen different representatives and having a half dozen house calls over a couple of months that i run out of patience and more, i run out of belief that the brighthouse reps can fix the problem and need to take a break...
i have probably never been more ready for a sales pitch from dish or direct or u-verse or anyone but brighthouse...
... 18 MINUTES LATER... and now that the box FINALLY reset, i turn it back on (because it does not reset to the channel and show it interrupted, of course) and i return to the show i was watching and the box is blinking on and off, resetting every ten seconds or so... brighthouse decided i should not watch this show, obviously...
what kind of CRAP SERVICE is this - BRIGHTHOUSE SUCKS...
.... and now a few minutes later after turning off the box and tv and waiting and turning both on again, there is no sound... this happens at least 80% of the time we turn on the box and tv and the solution is switching stations, sometimes a few times, sometimes using the FAV button on the remote... this usually bring sound on most of the time...
i don't even mention the no sound and don't come here to record every box reset or glitch in service because this is just the kind of crap service brighthouse provides, but at least i found a fix for the no-sound problem... perhaps brighhouse sucks needs a blog all it's own because brighthouse is definitely spoiling the tongue-in-cheek tone this blog was intended to maintain because BRIGHTHOUSE SUCKS too much to laugh about it...
at least not all the time (though i should laugh at myself for capitalizations when i finally stop being angry at this latest brighthouse service failure...
sheesh...
and what will wasting more time on the phone with the tech department or wasting even more time rearranging my schedule for home visits really do that has not been done in the dozens of hours i've already wasted, really... as i said in a previous entry
there comes a time after speaking with a dozen different representatives and having a half dozen house calls over a couple of months that i run out of patience and more, i run out of belief that the brighthouse reps can fix the problem and need to take a break...
i have probably never been more ready for a sales pitch from dish or direct or u-verse or anyone but brighthouse...
... 18 MINUTES LATER... and now that the box FINALLY reset, i turn it back on (because it does not reset to the channel and show it interrupted, of course) and i return to the show i was watching and the box is blinking on and off, resetting every ten seconds or so... brighthouse decided i should not watch this show, obviously...
what kind of CRAP SERVICE is this - BRIGHTHOUSE SUCKS...
.... and now a few minutes later after turning off the box and tv and waiting and turning both on again, there is no sound... this happens at least 80% of the time we turn on the box and tv and the solution is switching stations, sometimes a few times, sometimes using the FAV button on the remote... this usually bring sound on most of the time...
i don't even mention the no sound and don't come here to record every box reset or glitch in service because this is just the kind of crap service brighthouse provides, but at least i found a fix for the no-sound problem... perhaps brighhouse sucks needs a blog all it's own because brighthouse is definitely spoiling the tongue-in-cheek tone this blog was intended to maintain because BRIGHTHOUSE SUCKS too much to laugh about it...
at least not all the time (though i should laugh at myself for capitalizations when i finally stop being angry at this latest brighthouse service failure...
sheesh...
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
news and weather
i am beginning to feel enough dislike (i really hate the word hate ya know) the news and weather media in the usa... it is madness and so very unhealthy, which is why i stay away from watching or reading it quite often... the fear-driven culture we live in has produced a society of adrenaline junkies afraid of everything and worse, unable to think for themselves... a clear sign of a failing culture...
what brings this meaningless complaint out today is the tropical storm isaac reports that have been pounding into millions of people's heads over the past week, especially the last few days as the news people are begging for the national weather service to call this storm a hurricane (in fact, the weather people have mistakenly called it a hurricane more than a few times, on the weather channel no less, where they are supposed to know what they are doing - and don't they?... they know scaring people gets more people to watch and rating and selling products is their first priority, not protecting people or providing fair and accurate reporting of the news... journalism is such a dead profession these days in the usa)...
and after hours of telling us that the 11am national weather service report should upgrade the storm to a hurricane (note, that's an upgrade - sick) again and again and the disappointment was obvious in the reporters voices and words, even questioning the national weather service making statements like "it would have been better if they upgraded to a hurricane"...
how shameful greed is so acceptable...
how irresponsible fear-mongering is so acceptable...
everybody be afraid, stop thinking, just be afraid and above all else - keep watching the news because we have very important commercial messages you need to see between all the fear-mongering reports we repeat over and over...
how ignorant will this culture get before it collapses?...
did i just fear-monger?
what brings this meaningless complaint out today is the tropical storm isaac reports that have been pounding into millions of people's heads over the past week, especially the last few days as the news people are begging for the national weather service to call this storm a hurricane (in fact, the weather people have mistakenly called it a hurricane more than a few times, on the weather channel no less, where they are supposed to know what they are doing - and don't they?... they know scaring people gets more people to watch and rating and selling products is their first priority, not protecting people or providing fair and accurate reporting of the news... journalism is such a dead profession these days in the usa)...
and after hours of telling us that the 11am national weather service report should upgrade the storm to a hurricane (note, that's an upgrade - sick) again and again and the disappointment was obvious in the reporters voices and words, even questioning the national weather service making statements like "it would have been better if they upgraded to a hurricane"...
how shameful greed is so acceptable...
how irresponsible fear-mongering is so acceptable...
everybody be afraid, stop thinking, just be afraid and above all else - keep watching the news because we have very important commercial messages you need to see between all the fear-mongering reports we repeat over and over...
how ignorant will this culture get before it collapses?...
did i just fear-monger?
Saturday, August 25, 2012
brighthouse service, not
once again the cable box brighthouse provides is resetting itself every ten seconds... turns off, turns on, just for whatever reasons...
so fed up with this crap brighthouse sucks service i don't even feel like a proper venting...
and they want to talk about it?
so fed up with this crap brighthouse sucks service i don't even feel like a proper venting...
and they want to talk about it?
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
education in the USA
It is sad that leaders in the USA do not understand how important education to national security. Comparison scores declined for decades last century. Some improvement can be seen this century, but USA scores still fall shamefully behind other countries.
1995 results: "...tests showed U.S. fourth-graders performing poorly, middle school students worse. and high school students are unable to compete. By the same criteria used to say we were "average" in elementary school, "we appear to be "near the bottom" at the high school level. source
2003 comparison of more than 250,000 15-year old students from 41 countries. USA Ranks: Math: 27th, Reading: 18th, Science: 22nd. source
2010 Ranks show minor improvement, but when considering the wealth and resources available in the USA, these scores still show a sad disregard for education in the USA: Math: 25th, Reading: 14th, Science: 17th.
source
This does not address the unavailability of higher education for the majority of Americans who cannot afford $100,000+ for a basic college education and double that for an advanced degree. Government loans and long-term debt or bankruptcy is not the answer, but the only alternative for many young people.
Until Education is as high a priority as Defense, no amount of bombs/guns will protect us from the defenselessness of technological and intellectual inferiority.
brighthouse sucks, again
once again, in the middle of a program i am watching, the cable box is resetting on it's own... so i will miss ten or more minutes of the program i wanted to watch thanks to brighthouse sucks... they should just add the suck to their name... or put fail in their smiley face logo... i really do not want the horrible brighthouse service statistics i started keeping while waiting for service repairs to dominate this blog, in fact, i really don't want to be inspired to come to this blog in the first place, but i find that coming here and venting my immediate complaint, however meaningless, helps me deal with the frustration and anger i feel when my life and entertainment is interrupted or stopped by a corporate decision like right now... and it passes the time while i am waiting for the brighthouse service to return... i suppose it is just way too difficult (or simply a level of customer service that brighthouse does not wish to provide) to have a pop up on the screen ask me if this would be a good time to reboot the box or upgrade the software... especially since it also messes with my expensive plasma tv and the remote synch that is yet another frequent complaint... remotes could be so much more functional...
so the cable box is rebooting and the tv lost it's signal and is confused and thinks there was a power outage or hack attempt or virus or something as it went into emergency shut down mode... a smart tv knows when an unexpected shut down and signal change occurs, just like a computer does... but based on the poor service and products, it does not seem that the brighthouse people or software are up to speed with the latest tech... so the box is stuck on L-8 and has been since i started writing this comment... i mean, if the reboot reset upgrade or whatever is happening only took a minute, it would not be such a frustrating forget watching what you wanted to watch experience and probably wouldn't bring me to seek the distraction and venting of this complaint, but the box takes forever to do whatever it is doing without my consent... pathetic customer service...
almost any decent reliable software has a setting to "ask me before uploading updates" and "ask me before rebooting"... even microsoft in their all-powerful we-can-do-anything mindset finally understood that customer service... but not brighthouse...
not very bright, these people who make the big decisions at brighthouse...
and then of course when the box finally is rebooted, it defaults to off so i must turn it on which turns off the tv so i must get the tv remote to turn on the tv and of course the box returns to the start-up channel which comes on without sound as usual, just one more brighthouse fail i am ridiculously learning to live with... how much longer is getting shorter with each meaningless complaint (so maybe they are not as meaningless as they appear, aye?)...
and now i press the remote button to go to the next channel and i get a black screen partially burning into my plasma screen because it is a partial black screen and the box wants me to "please wait"... as if i have not waited enough...
no, i am not ready to spend a few hours and set up more appointments to try to fix things again... brighthouse wasted a lot of my time this year (and tonight( and giving them even more time just seems like getting screwed further... maybe next month...
UPDATE 3am = no, once was not enough tonight, another brighthouse interruption of service long enough to bring me here happens to ruin yet another hour of my viewing, that's three hours tonight of wasting my time paying for brighouse crappy service that is not providing what my contract says it will provide... and now the box decided to reboot yet again after another upgrade of some sort... so this is ridiculous... so yet another call to tech support to find out why my cable box is repeatingly rebooting tonight... one reboot ruining my viewing experience over two hours is not enough, another ruining a third show had to be done...
no warning, no prompt asking if this is a good time to shut down my tv enjoyment... just interrupt the shows and shut off the box after rebooting forcing me to deal with the crappy remote and the resetting of the sound because the box doesn't work right when it is turned on and resetting my tv and re-finding the channel i was watching... rub my nose in how crappy the brighthouse service really is...
it's ok, i can miss the first or last fifteen minutes of shows and still enjoy them... and adding insult to injury, the first thing i see is that bullshit brighthouse tv commercial... days are numbered for brighthouse getting my money if this keeps up...
so the cable box is rebooting and the tv lost it's signal and is confused and thinks there was a power outage or hack attempt or virus or something as it went into emergency shut down mode... a smart tv knows when an unexpected shut down and signal change occurs, just like a computer does... but based on the poor service and products, it does not seem that the brighthouse people or software are up to speed with the latest tech... so the box is stuck on L-8 and has been since i started writing this comment... i mean, if the reboot reset upgrade or whatever is happening only took a minute, it would not be such a frustrating forget watching what you wanted to watch experience and probably wouldn't bring me to seek the distraction and venting of this complaint, but the box takes forever to do whatever it is doing without my consent... pathetic customer service...
almost any decent reliable software has a setting to "ask me before uploading updates" and "ask me before rebooting"... even microsoft in their all-powerful we-can-do-anything mindset finally understood that customer service... but not brighthouse...
not very bright, these people who make the big decisions at brighthouse...
and then of course when the box finally is rebooted, it defaults to off so i must turn it on which turns off the tv so i must get the tv remote to turn on the tv and of course the box returns to the start-up channel which comes on without sound as usual, just one more brighthouse fail i am ridiculously learning to live with... how much longer is getting shorter with each meaningless complaint (so maybe they are not as meaningless as they appear, aye?)...
and now i press the remote button to go to the next channel and i get a black screen partially burning into my plasma screen because it is a partial black screen and the box wants me to "please wait"... as if i have not waited enough...
no, i am not ready to spend a few hours and set up more appointments to try to fix things again... brighthouse wasted a lot of my time this year (and tonight( and giving them even more time just seems like getting screwed further... maybe next month...
UPDATE 3am = no, once was not enough tonight, another brighthouse interruption of service long enough to bring me here happens to ruin yet another hour of my viewing, that's three hours tonight of wasting my time paying for brighouse crappy service that is not providing what my contract says it will provide... and now the box decided to reboot yet again after another upgrade of some sort... so this is ridiculous... so yet another call to tech support to find out why my cable box is repeatingly rebooting tonight... one reboot ruining my viewing experience over two hours is not enough, another ruining a third show had to be done...
no warning, no prompt asking if this is a good time to shut down my tv enjoyment... just interrupt the shows and shut off the box after rebooting forcing me to deal with the crappy remote and the resetting of the sound because the box doesn't work right when it is turned on and resetting my tv and re-finding the channel i was watching... rub my nose in how crappy the brighthouse service really is...
it's ok, i can miss the first or last fifteen minutes of shows and still enjoy them... and adding insult to injury, the first thing i see is that bullshit brighthouse tv commercial... days are numbered for brighthouse getting my money if this keeps up...
Thursday, August 16, 2012
brighthouse sucks, chapter whatever
yes, brighthouse brings me here again... let's do a quick status check:
brighthouse digital hd cable tv (table updated 11/12/12, still trending downward):
brighthouse roadrunner broadband turbo internet (updated 9/5/12, trending upward):
and the vent as it was happening...
another hour and a half of my time working for brighthouse and i am paying them to work for them... i was working for myself on the net juggling a lot of tabs searching for tires and blogging and the modem decided to stop, blink, just stop... i rebooted four times and nothing... next came shutting down the computer and it took a half hour to save all the work i was in the middle of, but i saved everything and shut down the computer... turned it on, no change... local service only... we've been here before a few times and it ended up with blaming my computer and then service calls and then changing out the modem... i hope this isn't the start of yet another time consuming no-service cycle as i need to stay connected to continue job hunting...
i called brighthouse and was on hold a half hour listening to how easy it is to resolve modem issues by rebooting the modem... reboot, no change... reboot the modem again... no change... again, no change... reboot the computer again, no change...
after about an hour of rebooting the modem and the computer, suddenly there is a connection again... i was still on hold with brighthouse listening to the repetitive messages, so i hung up... thanks for the crappy service once again, brighthouse...
yeah, i know a brighthouse representative left a message here last month offering to help, but there comes a time after speaking with a dozen different representatives and having a half dozen house calls over a couple of months that i run out of patience and more, i run out of belief that the brighthouse reps can fix the problem and need to take a break...
the tv cable box still sucks too, but at least it's been working adequately most nights... sometimes it just starts blanking out every fifteen seconds or so and sometimes it works ok... sometimes the sound works when the box and tv go on, sometimes it doesn't... the channel needs to be changed to get the sound to work and that works about 75% of the time... the box needs rebooting at least once a week... it's a shame that i've gotten used to such poor service...
and the long term damage that i am going to have to remedy is that the box is definitely the wrong box for a plasma tv because the box does not resize the images like the other box does (a difference in software i am told, but can i believe the techs?) so some burning in of the images on the plasma screen has started... i just have not had the patience to call and set up yet another service call to change boxes again because this box at least works about 60-70% of the time and the last few boxes have not been nearly as mediocre ( in other words, they worked worse)...
one of these days i will just have to make the time to research the alternatives, direct tv, dish, u-verse, century link... friends have those others services and most seem to like them... there are drawbacks to all of them, but brighthouse is just becoming intolerable and they are the highest price service of them all...
i am so tired of wasting my time with them...
UPDATE 3:15AM... and about ten minutes later... this entry was uploaded and the brighthouse service went out again so i called brighthouse back... good news, this time i was actually connected to a tech support rep after about five minutes... this time the modem reset itself, all lights blinking off and then back on just before the rep came on the line... i shut down the computer again and when i turned it back on, it was connected again... the rep put me on hold and returned a few minutes later informing me that the tests he ran showed the modem was shutting down on it's own... well at least they see that on their end... now i am waiting for a level 1 support tech troubleshoot the problem... i hold we don't have to go to yet another visit from brighthouse to exchange modems again...
oh crap, i am listening to the annoying modem reset message again... i hope this does not mean i was reset in the queue and have an hour wait like last time... the more i listen to that stupid unplug your modem message, the more i want to hang up and unplug from brighthouse for good... i will be back later with an update...
UPDATE 3:34AM: waiting for the level 1 tech... they finally came on after 20 minutes and gave me the there is an outage in your area and technicians are working on it line... i had to wait 20 more minutes and give my telephone number and identification information and explain the problem again just to get that standard line... the previous tech could not say that... this tech chould not just say that without my repeating the ID info and problem again... they just wasted another half hour of my time... what is wrong with that picture?...
brighthouse - still poor equipment, poor technical service, and poor customer service... at least they are consistent...
brighthouse digital hd cable tv (table updated 11/12/12, still trending downward):
| working perfectly working adequately not working properly not working at all | 4% of the time 8% of the time 68% of the time 20% of the time | no problems delays, box/channels reset occasionally, software does not adjust aspect ratio and picture size automatically sound does not go on at start, box resets/blinks every 60 seconds, aspect ratio and picture size are off box/channel resets every 10-15 seconds or other issue requires reboot, call to tech support, or visit |
brighthouse roadrunner broadband turbo internet (updated 9/5/12, trending upward):
| working near perfectly working adequately not working properly not working at all | 55% of the time 30% of the time 10% of the time 5% of the time | no problems slow downs modem requires a reboot requires a call to tech support or repair visit |
and the vent as it was happening...
another hour and a half of my time working for brighthouse and i am paying them to work for them... i was working for myself on the net juggling a lot of tabs searching for tires and blogging and the modem decided to stop, blink, just stop... i rebooted four times and nothing... next came shutting down the computer and it took a half hour to save all the work i was in the middle of, but i saved everything and shut down the computer... turned it on, no change... local service only... we've been here before a few times and it ended up with blaming my computer and then service calls and then changing out the modem... i hope this isn't the start of yet another time consuming no-service cycle as i need to stay connected to continue job hunting...
i called brighthouse and was on hold a half hour listening to how easy it is to resolve modem issues by rebooting the modem... reboot, no change... reboot the modem again... no change... again, no change... reboot the computer again, no change...
after about an hour of rebooting the modem and the computer, suddenly there is a connection again... i was still on hold with brighthouse listening to the repetitive messages, so i hung up... thanks for the crappy service once again, brighthouse...
yeah, i know a brighthouse representative left a message here last month offering to help, but there comes a time after speaking with a dozen different representatives and having a half dozen house calls over a couple of months that i run out of patience and more, i run out of belief that the brighthouse reps can fix the problem and need to take a break...
the tv cable box still sucks too, but at least it's been working adequately most nights... sometimes it just starts blanking out every fifteen seconds or so and sometimes it works ok... sometimes the sound works when the box and tv go on, sometimes it doesn't... the channel needs to be changed to get the sound to work and that works about 75% of the time... the box needs rebooting at least once a week... it's a shame that i've gotten used to such poor service...
and the long term damage that i am going to have to remedy is that the box is definitely the wrong box for a plasma tv because the box does not resize the images like the other box does (a difference in software i am told, but can i believe the techs?) so some burning in of the images on the plasma screen has started... i just have not had the patience to call and set up yet another service call to change boxes again because this box at least works about 60-70% of the time and the last few boxes have not been nearly as mediocre ( in other words, they worked worse)...
one of these days i will just have to make the time to research the alternatives, direct tv, dish, u-verse, century link... friends have those others services and most seem to like them... there are drawbacks to all of them, but brighthouse is just becoming intolerable and they are the highest price service of them all...
i am so tired of wasting my time with them...
UPDATE 3:15AM... and about ten minutes later... this entry was uploaded and the brighthouse service went out again so i called brighthouse back... good news, this time i was actually connected to a tech support rep after about five minutes... this time the modem reset itself, all lights blinking off and then back on just before the rep came on the line... i shut down the computer again and when i turned it back on, it was connected again... the rep put me on hold and returned a few minutes later informing me that the tests he ran showed the modem was shutting down on it's own... well at least they see that on their end... now i am waiting for a level 1 support tech troubleshoot the problem... i hold we don't have to go to yet another visit from brighthouse to exchange modems again...
oh crap, i am listening to the annoying modem reset message again... i hope this does not mean i was reset in the queue and have an hour wait like last time... the more i listen to that stupid unplug your modem message, the more i want to hang up and unplug from brighthouse for good... i will be back later with an update...
UPDATE 3:34AM: waiting for the level 1 tech... they finally came on after 20 minutes and gave me the there is an outage in your area and technicians are working on it line... i had to wait 20 more minutes and give my telephone number and identification information and explain the problem again just to get that standard line... the previous tech could not say that... this tech chould not just say that without my repeating the ID info and problem again... they just wasted another half hour of my time... what is wrong with that picture?...
brighthouse - still poor equipment, poor technical service, and poor customer service... at least they are consistent...
Monday, August 13, 2012
#NBCFail
the person and/or people in charge of the NBC broadcast of the 2012 Olympics learned nothing from two weeks of harsh criticism and complaints from thousands (at least) of viewers and most of the media critics as the hashtag #NBCFail appears all over the internet... sadly, the error that Twitter made in supporting and even colluding with the #NBCFail failure compounded itself tonight as they blocked the #NBCFail hashtag from showing up as trending in spite of the hundreds of tweets per minute with the #NBCFail tag... #TwitterFail hurts even more as it shows the new boss is the same as the old boss and people are getting fooled again...
the irony of the song lyric reference is excruciating as perhaps the largest exclamation point on the #NBCFail failures was to edit to death the closing ceremonies (editing out Muse, the band that wrote and played the Olympics theme song, among other bands) and almost an hour of the closing ceremony production and finally cutting away just before the finale starring The Who to insert a new #NBCFail sit-com - without commercial interruption (after more than 33% commercials per hour throughout the Olympics, that is insult upon injury) - and pushing the finale off for an hour to midnight on a Sunday night (so even non-internet savvy people, their primary demographic audience perhaps, had to miss the 2012 Olympics finale - getting up for work in the morning, are we?... and each night Ryan Seacrest (who was definitely not cresting this week) was asked how they were doing on the social networks to lead into a segment on how social media was talking about the Olympics and they lied by omission as the dozens of articles and many thousands of complaints were never address #NBCFail...
even the lead commentator for NBC, Bob Costas, acknowledged the issues and validated the complaints tonight as he noted that the next Olympics will be just in a much closer time zone, referencing the complaints over ridiculously alienating (and poorly produced) tape-delays... but like a nightmare that repeats, NBC failed again tonight even bigger than previous nights... the band playing the final song?... The Who... the song?... My Generation.... yeah, and we did get fooled again...
Costas also mentioned that two high ranking NBC sports producers did call this their last Olympics... whether that was their intention before the games or whether the criticism and their poor judgment calls lead to the resignations or retirements is for anyone to speculate)... most Olympics viewers are shuddering to think about the next few Olympics as #NBCFail has exclusive rights to mess up those broadcasts too...
The New York Times agrees, establishment enough for you, #NBCFail producers?
I turned off #NBCFail and missed the fiasco, but it was interesting reading all over the internet... sad that #TwitterFail conspired in the corporate betrayal of consumers... but the bigger they get, the more out of touch they get... history repeats, redundantly... la la la...
and the NY Times was not alone... i'll be back with more as this turns into a rant for other blogs... StarTribune - monkey shine perez hilton just look up (Google for you younger folk... snark at m-m-my generation nyuk nyuk narf... oh, and you'll have to use -zimmerman in your search query or you'll get all the apologies NBC made in their George Zimmerman reporting mess-up... if you don't understand, then google how to use google for advanced searches or boelean searches and you'll be fine... aherm) apology online (especially the past 24 hours) and even Google will prove #NBCFail - it even gets it's own label...
so how was your night? (laughing with me, i hope :)
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
cable services
maybe it's not as bad as brighthouse sucks, but maybe... three or four services calls in the past two weeks and still not right...
so the cable guy finally showed up and after asking what's wrong (why do i call in a service request giving details of what's wrong if the request is not documented for the tech?) and he played with the box a bit (my request was a replacement box due to the box repeatedly freezing)... he came and went twice bringing in two other replacement boxes until one seemed to work... jackson had to all him back in from his truck cuz the HD aspect ratio was off and he explained that the samsung software accounted for that but the sysco software did not and they've been having a lot of problems with the samsung box... so ok, i said i'd explore the features and he said call us anytime...
every cable guy has different answers and excuses and none have been proven right... worse yet, each cable guy set the features, remote, resolution, aspect ratio, and so on differently... they do not seem to know the best settings for a given HD tv... poor training, poor knowledge, poor service...
and i discover that this latest box (maybe the seventh or eight box this year) apparently does not convert to a 1080 signal so the max resolution is 720 and that is a downgrade from the previous box... yeah, it froze, but i want 1080 resolution (why buy a tv if you can't use the features, right?)... so i went online and wrote brighthouse support by email instead of calling... i am tired of calling... definitely not a satisfied customer...
they did give me the second discount for this year so the recognize the shoddy service, but saving $37 bucks is not fixing the problem... so the continuing saga of poor cable service drums up this meaningless complaint...
so the cable guy finally showed up and after asking what's wrong (why do i call in a service request giving details of what's wrong if the request is not documented for the tech?) and he played with the box a bit (my request was a replacement box due to the box repeatedly freezing)... he came and went twice bringing in two other replacement boxes until one seemed to work... jackson had to all him back in from his truck cuz the HD aspect ratio was off and he explained that the samsung software accounted for that but the sysco software did not and they've been having a lot of problems with the samsung box... so ok, i said i'd explore the features and he said call us anytime...
every cable guy has different answers and excuses and none have been proven right... worse yet, each cable guy set the features, remote, resolution, aspect ratio, and so on differently... they do not seem to know the best settings for a given HD tv... poor training, poor knowledge, poor service...
and i discover that this latest box (maybe the seventh or eight box this year) apparently does not convert to a 1080 signal so the max resolution is 720 and that is a downgrade from the previous box... yeah, it froze, but i want 1080 resolution (why buy a tv if you can't use the features, right?)... so i went online and wrote brighthouse support by email instead of calling... i am tired of calling... definitely not a satisfied customer...
they did give me the second discount for this year so the recognize the shoddy service, but saving $37 bucks is not fixing the problem... so the continuing saga of poor cable service drums up this meaningless complaint...
Saturday, June 23, 2012
go figure
i fall in love again and she disappears... i went back to the website called orlandofriends by fluke and found i had not logged in since 2003 or some ancient time and so i logged in and saw messages from 2007 and 2008 and 2009 and i responded and the next day those same messages were from that next day, interesting little script that, changing the date as if i didn't notice the messages the first time... and then, one of the people inspires rhymes and reasons and falling in love and then... poof (yeah, they are all the same link, it's a meaningless complaint, after all)... alas, she may never know or if she did get my message, she may never find me now... true love shattered by the internet, alas...
Friday, June 22, 2012
instagram?
why would anyone give any app this much permission?
from the Google Play Instagram Permissions page:
THIS APPLICATION HAS ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING:
HARDWARE CONTROLS
TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS
Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This allows the app at any time to collect images the camera is seeing.
any time? so the app can collect images without my knowledge?
YOUR LOCATION
FINE (GPS) LOCATION
Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the tablet, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power. Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the phone, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
i can't turn it off when i don't want to use it?
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Allows the app to create network sockets.
why and do what with them?
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
READ CONTACT DATA
Allows the app to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your tablet. Malicious apps may use this to send your data to other people. Allows the app to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your phone. Malicious apps may use this to send your data to other people.
why do the makers of this app need my friends information?
STORAGE
MODIFY/DELETE USB STORAGE CONTENTS MODIFY/DELETE SD CARD CONTENTS
Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.
seems almost reasonable
SYSTEM TOOLS
PREVENT TABLET FROM SLEEPING PREVENT PHONE FROM SLEEPING
Allows the app to prevent the tablet from going to sleep. Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
sleep is necessary to conserve battery - seems this app wants way too much control
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
Allows the app to retrieve information about currently and recently running tasks. Malicious apps may discover private information about other apps.
Hide
this is ridiculous
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
RECEIVE DATA FROM INTERNET
Allows apps to accept cloud to device messages sent by the app's service. Using this service will incur data usage. Malicious apps could cause excess data usage.
this app wants way too much control, can destroy a battery, make the phone useless, cost money in phone data charges, and violates privacy way too much - definitely something fishy about google wanting all this power in every phone they can get...
from the Google Play Instagram Permissions page:
THIS APPLICATION HAS ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING:
HARDWARE CONTROLS
TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS
Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This allows the app at any time to collect images the camera is seeing.
any time? so the app can collect images without my knowledge?
YOUR LOCATION
FINE (GPS) LOCATION
Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the tablet, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power. Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the phone, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
i can't turn it off when i don't want to use it?
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Allows the app to create network sockets.
why and do what with them?
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
READ CONTACT DATA
Allows the app to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your tablet. Malicious apps may use this to send your data to other people. Allows the app to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your phone. Malicious apps may use this to send your data to other people.
why do the makers of this app need my friends information?
STORAGE
MODIFY/DELETE USB STORAGE CONTENTS MODIFY/DELETE SD CARD CONTENTS
Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.
seems almost reasonable
SYSTEM TOOLS
PREVENT TABLET FROM SLEEPING PREVENT PHONE FROM SLEEPING
Allows the app to prevent the tablet from going to sleep. Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
sleep is necessary to conserve battery - seems this app wants way too much control
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
Allows the app to retrieve information about currently and recently running tasks. Malicious apps may discover private information about other apps.
Hide
this is ridiculous
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
RECEIVE DATA FROM INTERNET
Allows apps to accept cloud to device messages sent by the app's service. Using this service will incur data usage. Malicious apps could cause excess data usage.
this app wants way too much control, can destroy a battery, make the phone useless, cost money in phone data charges, and violates privacy way too much - definitely something fishy about google wanting all this power in every phone they can get...
Thursday, June 21, 2012
so glad the nba is over
i watched less than a quarter of game 4 and about 6 minutes of game 5 before the obvious bias had me changing channels to the ncaa college world series... it is pathetic that such unprofessional officiating could be see at the supposedly highest level of the sport... you could see it in the faces before and during the game... phantom fouls when lebron, wade, or most heat get the ball... no fouls when the thunder get obviously hit... why bother playing... people with money must think most people are just stupid... i miss what professional basketball used to be and won't go out of my way to watch again...
the heat might have won this series without the refs, but we will never know...
the heat might have won this series without the refs, but we will never know...
Sunday, June 17, 2012
whatever they are called
tv ads, tv pop ups, the bottom third, ad crawlers, bottom screen ads, digital tv, samsung's mistake, whatever, they suck... first, they destroy the stories they interrupt, creative suicide for anyone producing shows for television... then, annoying interruptions do not inspire me to watch the show interrupting the show i want to watch... in fact, the show i pay to watch... i pay to go to the theatre, i would resent a scrolling banner on the scenery advertising anything - it is not part of the show i paid to see... i pay for a ticket to watch a movie in a theatre without commercial interruption... and i pay for cable television... it is reasonable that the free tv networks force advertising down our throats to pay for their shows, but when i pay for a service i do not want advertising...
i mean, why watch regular tv anymore, or even cable... they take commercialism too far, so we find other ways to entertain ourselves... foolish greed has brought so many great nations down, when will they ever learn...
simply, watching movies on tv is a waste of time for me... there is no hollywood magic, no getting into a story... there is a random and even sometimes constant distraction of a network logo or upcoming show advertisement distracting from the movie... sometimes it is an animated pop up totally destroying any mood or ambiance the actors and director and movie crew were trying to create... it's gotten ridiculous... and just one more reason tv falls further and further into the background...
i mean, why watch regular tv anymore, or even cable... they take commercialism too far, so we find other ways to entertain ourselves... foolish greed has brought so many great nations down, when will they ever learn...
simply, watching movies on tv is a waste of time for me... there is no hollywood magic, no getting into a story... there is a random and even sometimes constant distraction of a network logo or upcoming show advertisement distracting from the movie... sometimes it is an animated pop up totally destroying any mood or ambiance the actors and director and movie crew were trying to create... it's gotten ridiculous... and just one more reason tv falls further and further into the background...
Friday, June 15, 2012
dey was robbed
okc, that is... too many times the prima donnas on miami get away with fouls that effect the score and it is a shame that the favoritism and bias toward superstars is so blatant... with two points down and 12 seconds to go labron james hacks kevin durant so obviously a blind person would have heard it and called the foul, but three refs miss it and the shot does not go in and instead of shooting two foul shots with a chance to tie at home, the game is over and miami is given a gift...
OKC 1 MIAMI 0 REFs 1
it doesn't matter that miami appeared to dominate the game, that okc was shooting poorly and miami was on fire and had huge leads all game... there were 12 seconds left and it was a 2 point game and one player clearly fouled another player who was going to tie the game... so the serious is still 1-0 in my book with the refs taking one game... the game gets cheaper and more meaningless with every critical last 30 second blown call... and i don't want to hear how challenging it is to be a ref, hire more if three are not enough to get the calls right - with the price of tickets and the millions in tv revenue, they can surely afford enough officials to get the calls right, especially at the end of close games... so is it a deliberate attempt to influence who wins by the nba front office or are the refs corrupt or just incompetent?... either way, it is irresponsible to let bad calls decide championship games...
yeah, i know this is meaningless compared to the stupidity of the injustice and oppressive society explored in the previous entry, but still, these are meaningless complaints after all...
UPDATED 6/18/12
Labron elbowed Harden three times in the last 30 seconds, obvious offensive fouls, and the ref called a foul on Harden giving Miami game three... don't just take my word for it... that makes it:
OKC 1 MIAMI 0 REFs 2
OKC 1 MIAMI 0 REFs 1
it doesn't matter that miami appeared to dominate the game, that okc was shooting poorly and miami was on fire and had huge leads all game... there were 12 seconds left and it was a 2 point game and one player clearly fouled another player who was going to tie the game... so the serious is still 1-0 in my book with the refs taking one game... the game gets cheaper and more meaningless with every critical last 30 second blown call... and i don't want to hear how challenging it is to be a ref, hire more if three are not enough to get the calls right - with the price of tickets and the millions in tv revenue, they can surely afford enough officials to get the calls right, especially at the end of close games... so is it a deliberate attempt to influence who wins by the nba front office or are the refs corrupt or just incompetent?... either way, it is irresponsible to let bad calls decide championship games...
yeah, i know this is meaningless compared to the stupidity of the injustice and oppressive society explored in the previous entry, but still, these are meaningless complaints after all...
UPDATED 6/18/12
Labron elbowed Harden three times in the last 30 seconds, obvious offensive fouls, and the ref called a foul on Harden giving Miami game three... don't just take my word for it... that makes it:
OKC 1 MIAMI 0 REFs 2
Sunday, June 10, 2012
perhaps we consider prisons
and what prisons mean in a society... and what putting people in prisons mean to a culture... i mean, what kind of people want to put a lot of people in prison (not to mention spending a fortune keeping people behind bars... surely not any people who believe in freedom, equality, justice, and giving all people the opportunity for success like the american dreams says, right?)... considering that a prison is the best place for a person to get an education in how to be a criminal, prisons are pretty much universities for advanced degrees in crime... so who wants a lot of people in prison?...
Iceland, Finland, and Pakistan (yes, Pakistan) all have 60 or less people in prisons per 100,000 people which are some of the lowest rates in the world... we can expect low prison rates from highly evolved, enlightened, peaceful cultures that focus on human rights and freedom and family and high ideals and creating a positive opportunity for all of it's citizens to choose healthy and productive and non-criminal activities, right?... Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland each have less than 80 per 100,000 in prison... Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, South Korea, Ireland, have less than 100 per 100,000... Iraq has 101 per 100,000 people in prison... China has 120 per 100,000... Vietnam 122... wait a minute, highly evolved, enlightened, peaceful, free, human rights, family, high ideals, equal opportunities, what?... lots of other countries fall in on the list that are not mentioned here, but the point is taking a look at how the USA compares with the world in putting people in prison... Iran is at 222 per 100,000 people in prison... and don't the leaders of the USA tell us we need to teach Iraq and Iran (not to mention China and lots of others) about human rights and freedom and how to take care of their people properly?... how about the communist and former communist countries?...
Kazakhstan has 400 per 100,000 and Georgia has 531 per 100,00 while Cuba has 537 per 100,000 people in prison... now that's expected, surely, because communism is corrupt and oppresses people creating a criminal culture and little opportunity for the poor to find a healthy way out, naturally... the US Virgin Islands have 561 people in prison per 100,000 people (oh wait, they are not communist, are they?... was that sarcastic?)...
ok, seriously...
Russia has 582 people in prison for each 100,000 people, so that sure shows how little respect for human rights and how poorly Russia still takes care of their society to this day - focusing on spending a fortune keeping people in jails rather than education and rehab and providing alternatives to prison which essential is the best place to get a serious education in criminology from the criminal's perspective...
the USA has 743 people in prison per 100,000 people... nobody higher...
what?
Iceland, Finland, and Pakistan (yes, Pakistan) all have 60 or less people in prisons per 100,000 people which are some of the lowest rates in the world... we can expect low prison rates from highly evolved, enlightened, peaceful cultures that focus on human rights and freedom and family and high ideals and creating a positive opportunity for all of it's citizens to choose healthy and productive and non-criminal activities, right?... Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland each have less than 80 per 100,000 in prison... Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, South Korea, Ireland, have less than 100 per 100,000... Iraq has 101 per 100,000 people in prison... China has 120 per 100,000... Vietnam 122... wait a minute, highly evolved, enlightened, peaceful, free, human rights, family, high ideals, equal opportunities, what?... lots of other countries fall in on the list that are not mentioned here, but the point is taking a look at how the USA compares with the world in putting people in prison... Iran is at 222 per 100,000 people in prison... and don't the leaders of the USA tell us we need to teach Iraq and Iran (not to mention China and lots of others) about human rights and freedom and how to take care of their people properly?... how about the communist and former communist countries?...
Kazakhstan has 400 per 100,000 and Georgia has 531 per 100,00 while Cuba has 537 per 100,000 people in prison... now that's expected, surely, because communism is corrupt and oppresses people creating a criminal culture and little opportunity for the poor to find a healthy way out, naturally... the US Virgin Islands have 561 people in prison per 100,000 people (oh wait, they are not communist, are they?... was that sarcastic?)...
ok, seriously...
Russia has 582 people in prison for each 100,000 people, so that sure shows how little respect for human rights and how poorly Russia still takes care of their society to this day - focusing on spending a fortune keeping people in jails rather than education and rehab and providing alternatives to prison which essential is the best place to get a serious education in criminology from the criminal's perspective...
the USA has 743 people in prison per 100,000 people... nobody higher...
what?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
refs 2, boston 0
the game is tied 105-105 and rondo drives for a lay-up... a flagrant foul, a hard blow to the head knocking his head back hard, knocking him to the ground, slow to get up... no call... no call giving miami a fast break and a two point lead... how do you miss such an obvious foul under the basket?... you don't, not if you are good at your job,,, you don't, not unless you are are incompetent - or you have an agenda...
one minute left... so a four point swing for miami with less than 90 seconds and the next series, a clear offensive foul, a kick with the foot to knock the defensive player back, but it's miami so it is allowed and worse, the foul is called on boston... no foul call against miami on a blow to the head which by rule is flagrant, no foul call against miami on an obvious offensive kick, foul called against boston to a slap to the arm after getting kicked out of the way... five point lead under a minute...
seven fouls for boston, zero fouls for miami in the first 7 minutes of the game... fifteen more fouls against boston than against miami... similar to game one... it's no coincidence... a key star for boston fouls out again just like the first game... it's no coincidence... it is such a sad shame that the refs dominate the play leaning to one side so much...
all game the refs made miami calls giving miami a lopsided advantage in foul shots and still, game tied in overtime... and then, one minute left, tie game, and a blown flagrant foul call gives miami a bogus lead... you can't beat a team with the refs on their side and that was clear tonight...
ridiculous win for the refs and miami... they needed the refs just to get the game tied and sent to overtime... no team can win a close game when the refs are so clearly biased to pne side... anyone who respects this miami win did not watch the game, especially not the last 90 seconds when the refs took over and game the game to miami...
it's professional sports... the refs calls in the last two minutes should not be one of the subjects discussed by objective sportscasters in the post game shows... the refs calls should not be a topic of discussion after the game two games in a row... boston is getting a raw deal... two ridiculous technical fouls in the first game had sports commentators raging and wondering if the refs have a specific agenda... are the refs getting told what to do by the nba management?... so it seems to the professionals watching, so it seems to this sports fan...
but the fact is, it would be very bad for business for the nba for the spoiled and arrogant golden boys of miami to not make it to the finals... due to their own immaturity and boasts, they'd be a laughing stock if they don't win a championship soon... so they can get away with much more... the refs bias may be ignored after the obvious immediate commentary points it out... but for anyone really watching, really paying attention, really looking for sportmanship, it cheapens the game of basketball...
whatever...
one minute left... so a four point swing for miami with less than 90 seconds and the next series, a clear offensive foul, a kick with the foot to knock the defensive player back, but it's miami so it is allowed and worse, the foul is called on boston... no foul call against miami on a blow to the head which by rule is flagrant, no foul call against miami on an obvious offensive kick, foul called against boston to a slap to the arm after getting kicked out of the way... five point lead under a minute...
seven fouls for boston, zero fouls for miami in the first 7 minutes of the game... fifteen more fouls against boston than against miami... similar to game one... it's no coincidence... a key star for boston fouls out again just like the first game... it's no coincidence... it is such a sad shame that the refs dominate the play leaning to one side so much...
all game the refs made miami calls giving miami a lopsided advantage in foul shots and still, game tied in overtime... and then, one minute left, tie game, and a blown flagrant foul call gives miami a bogus lead... you can't beat a team with the refs on their side and that was clear tonight...
ridiculous win for the refs and miami... they needed the refs just to get the game tied and sent to overtime... no team can win a close game when the refs are so clearly biased to pne side... anyone who respects this miami win did not watch the game, especially not the last 90 seconds when the refs took over and game the game to miami...
it's professional sports... the refs calls in the last two minutes should not be one of the subjects discussed by objective sportscasters in the post game shows... the refs calls should not be a topic of discussion after the game two games in a row... boston is getting a raw deal... two ridiculous technical fouls in the first game had sports commentators raging and wondering if the refs have a specific agenda... are the refs getting told what to do by the nba management?... so it seems to the professionals watching, so it seems to this sports fan...
but the fact is, it would be very bad for business for the nba for the spoiled and arrogant golden boys of miami to not make it to the finals... due to their own immaturity and boasts, they'd be a laughing stock if they don't win a championship soon... so they can get away with much more... the refs bias may be ignored after the obvious immediate commentary points it out... but for anyone really watching, really paying attention, really looking for sportmanship, it cheapens the game of basketball...
whatever...
Sunday, May 20, 2012
facebook, just another multi-national corp
banned again... apparently you must be someone's friend before sending them a friend request, which is an oxymoron (not to mention impossible) and the antithesis of social networking (but that is the last thing facebook is about, really), and i think it is really just because they want to discourage people from being on facebook too much as their servers can get overloaded, especially on weekends... so they say no new friends for you! for 14 days... and no communication with anyone who isn't already my friend {so i can't even thank people for posting inspiring or clever stuff, in other words, i can't even be friendly and respectful with anyone who isn't already on my friends list}... and go figure, i have five more friends now than i had this morning because five people asked to be my friend based on comments i left on my friends walls... it is bug business seldom makes sense except when it comes to their bottom line, the profit)...
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
wtf blogger?
in the middle of an entry the google machine decides to log me out and instead of publishing, takes me to a log in page and of course when i log in and get back to the blog, the writing was not saved... luckily i copied it so i was able to paste it and didn't lose words, but DONT TRUST GOOGLE is the message i am hearing loud and clear in my head right now... but then, what can we expect from a free lunch, gourmet fair?... why do they do it, anyway?... i mean give all that free server space to anyone who wants it... there must be something in it for them... still, the technology is not to be trusted with the words, so i need to make time to download all the blogs again soon...
so i came here to remind myself...
so i came here to remind myself...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
pain sucks... modern medicine sucks more...
really, it sucks... here's my meaningless complaint about it... see the italics below for the really ridiculous reason drugs are illegal and so easy to get...
mine is not to know just why, mine is just to feel this pain increasing daily to a point where i caved into my resistance to using drugs (mostly because the drugs i would choose are not what the medical profession offers and i believe the drugs the medical profession offers are usually not good for my body... like the hydrocodone with acetaminophen this woman (receptionist, perhaps nurse, but i doubt it) called into a pharmacy on the authorization of a physician's assistant who misread my xrays and didn't really examine my foot, which, as i've been reading, is par for the course for ankle injuries... i will call the doctor's office and ask to move my two-week follow-up appointment up a week on monday...
maybe taking four 325mg aspirins masked the pain (one reason i do not like )so well i did not take it seriously enough to insist on seeing a doctor right away cuz i was basically putting pressure on the heel in and out of the boot and gently manipulating the ankle and foot to reduce swelling, increase circulation, and expedite healing on my own since the pa said nothing was seriously wrong and i should start moving and walking on it when i could without pain...
yesterday around noon i stopped the aspirins mostly because nsaids raise blood pressure and because i started feeling the slight burn in my stomach that can be a sign of bleeding from too much aspirin... by yesterday evening the foot was more painful than it has been since the first twist/break and it's been getting progressively worse... so i called for meds and my roommate was able to pick up hyrocodone, only the most abused narcotic in this country, without me even being there... 30 tabs, $5, by phone, by proxy...
it could have been make-up on my foot... modern medicine, it's all about the money... of course they sold me a $150+ boot and would have sold me crutches if i didn't walk in on a borrowed pair... no real examination, just given me money and here is stuff and pills...
i took one three hours ago... minimal effect... script says every 4-6 hours... i will take another one in a few... the problem is it is combined with acetaminophen and contrary to modern pop-medical opinions and commercial sales pitches, that is not good for the liver or kidneys and i do not have the best liver or kidneys... so i am forced to take a medication i do not want or take no medication, at least until i see the doctor... hopefully the pain will not continue getting worse... as if i did not know, but next time, no getting triaged, i ask for a doctor and get a doctor... i was just hoping it was not serious and maybe it isn't but this pain is...
mine is not to know just why, mine is just to feel this pain increasing daily to a point where i caved into my resistance to using drugs (mostly because the drugs i would choose are not what the medical profession offers and i believe the drugs the medical profession offers are usually not good for my body... like the hydrocodone with acetaminophen this woman (receptionist, perhaps nurse, but i doubt it) called into a pharmacy on the authorization of a physician's assistant who misread my xrays and didn't really examine my foot, which, as i've been reading, is par for the course for ankle injuries... i will call the doctor's office and ask to move my two-week follow-up appointment up a week on monday...
maybe taking four 325mg aspirins masked the pain (one reason i do not like )so well i did not take it seriously enough to insist on seeing a doctor right away cuz i was basically putting pressure on the heel in and out of the boot and gently manipulating the ankle and foot to reduce swelling, increase circulation, and expedite healing on my own since the pa said nothing was seriously wrong and i should start moving and walking on it when i could without pain...
yesterday around noon i stopped the aspirins mostly because nsaids raise blood pressure and because i started feeling the slight burn in my stomach that can be a sign of bleeding from too much aspirin... by yesterday evening the foot was more painful than it has been since the first twist/break and it's been getting progressively worse... so i called for meds and my roommate was able to pick up hyrocodone, only the most abused narcotic in this country, without me even being there... 30 tabs, $5, by phone, by proxy...
it could have been make-up on my foot... modern medicine, it's all about the money... of course they sold me a $150+ boot and would have sold me crutches if i didn't walk in on a borrowed pair... no real examination, just given me money and here is stuff and pills...
i took one three hours ago... minimal effect... script says every 4-6 hours... i will take another one in a few... the problem is it is combined with acetaminophen and contrary to modern pop-medical opinions and commercial sales pitches, that is not good for the liver or kidneys and i do not have the best liver or kidneys... so i am forced to take a medication i do not want or take no medication, at least until i see the doctor... hopefully the pain will not continue getting worse... as if i did not know, but next time, no getting triaged, i ask for a doctor and get a doctor... i was just hoping it was not serious and maybe it isn't but this pain is...
Thursday, April 26, 2012
sometimes it's personal
dozens of little complaints missed their chance to have their fifteen minutes of vent here over the past year simply cuz i have not had the time and don't keep track and let things go in the blink of an eye and don't take complaints seriously anyway, just like to vent the frustration rather than distract, when there is time... so today i have a vent about personal writing...
not so much personal life, cuz i have a roommate who takes care of me when i need help (and vice versa) and people around i can count on if i need something and i also have lots of social friends for sports and games and lots of activities, though a few (music, movies, shows, photography, all the expensive fun) i only get to do if i pay for whomever i go with), the missing piece is that i do not have anyone close personal and intimate to really show interest in me (like a best friend relationship or a relationship), but still and all, personal life is as busy as i want it to be...
here on the internet, however, in the written gardens, in the many blogs i update regularly, even on the social networks where i have many people on my friends list, there is a void, little or no actual interaction, no one has the time or interest to read and share the words...
there's a grumble, cuz i love sharing words... not just cuz i love attention and recognition and praise and even some critique (or there's something more than just critique cuz critique alone has suspect meaning for me, i mean, why critique if you don't care to find something positive to say as well... i am much more interested in focusing on the positive), but also cuz i love literary interaction, writing letters and sharing in words, especially when someone actually cares to read, understand, and share the meanings in the words...
nobody really wants to know me anymore...
maybe tomorrow :}
not so much personal life, cuz i have a roommate who takes care of me when i need help (and vice versa) and people around i can count on if i need something and i also have lots of social friends for sports and games and lots of activities, though a few (music, movies, shows, photography, all the expensive fun) i only get to do if i pay for whomever i go with), the missing piece is that i do not have anyone close personal and intimate to really show interest in me (like a best friend relationship or a relationship), but still and all, personal life is as busy as i want it to be...
here on the internet, however, in the written gardens, in the many blogs i update regularly, even on the social networks where i have many people on my friends list, there is a void, little or no actual interaction, no one has the time or interest to read and share the words...
there's a grumble, cuz i love sharing words... not just cuz i love attention and recognition and praise and even some critique (or there's something more than just critique cuz critique alone has suspect meaning for me, i mean, why critique if you don't care to find something positive to say as well... i am much more interested in focusing on the positive), but also cuz i love literary interaction, writing letters and sharing in words, especially when someone actually cares to read, understand, and share the meanings in the words...
nobody really wants to know me anymore...
maybe tomorrow :}
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
rush limbaugh wants to watch amateur porn?
no seriously, rush limpaw said what?... apparently rush limbaugh used his radio pulpit to call a woman who had the audacity to testify before congress a slut, yes he called her a slut... is that libel or slander?... howard stern said nappy head and what an uproar that caused... but rush didn't stop there, he went on to and demand she video tape herself having sex post them online so he and everyone can watch...
what kind of sleezebag is that guy?...
but then, he never had even a touch of class which is why they threw him off television years ago... he panders to the base hatred and ignorance in humanity and unfortunately, he proves there is still much of it out there and sadly, they seem to identify themselves as republicans... i would think republicans with any intelligence would not stand for such ignorance and personal insult, but then, perhaps that is the true nature defining republicans... i hope that can be proven wrong as they do make up about half of the usa...
These are the companies that pay Rush to insult women and pander for porn. If you give these comapnies money, then you are paying Rush too:
I know I will be avoiding these companies, meaningless as that might be to them... freedom of speech is one thing, but I don't have to pay for a prejudiced porn freak's fetishes to be broadcast nationally... no wonder the USA is becoming a laughing stock and losing respect in this world, why should the world respect us when we don't respect ourselves or each other...
what kind of sleezebag is that guy?...
but then, he never had even a touch of class which is why they threw him off television years ago... he panders to the base hatred and ignorance in humanity and unfortunately, he proves there is still much of it out there and sadly, they seem to identify themselves as republicans... i would think republicans with any intelligence would not stand for such ignorance and personal insult, but then, perhaps that is the true nature defining republicans... i hope that can be proven wrong as they do make up about half of the usa...
These are the companies that pay Rush to insult women and pander for porn. If you give these comapnies money, then you are paying Rush too:
NATIONAL SPONSORS OF RUSH, AN AMERICAN BULLY
Allstate Insurance
Constant Contact
Financial Providence Group
First Option Lending
Global Builder – Restoration
Goldworth.com
Hillsdale College
Income At Home.com
Lear Capital
Lifelock
Winning Our Future – Super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich
Robert Steinberg, Esq (Texas)
WOW Cable
I know I will be avoiding these companies, meaningless as that might be to them... freedom of speech is one thing, but I don't have to pay for a prejudiced porn freak's fetishes to be broadcast nationally... no wonder the USA is becoming a laughing stock and losing respect in this world, why should the world respect us when we don't respect ourselves or each other...
Monday, February 27, 2012
the continuing saga of brighthouse suckage
so for the fourth time i leave work early this month to head home for the brighthouse roadrunner internet tech and for the second time the tech does not show... this time i was here a half hour before the scheduled time and i said yes three times to confirmation phone calls, the last one being a half hour before the scheduled time... brighthouse has a very dissatisfied customer... hello friend my ass...
it may be time to explore the alternatives...
and as i type the last dot of that ellipsis and pause a moment, there is a knock on the door and it is the cable guy... an hour late and no call to let me know (and i was so ready to nap three hours ago and fought to stay awake so i wouldn't miss the guy and so much for catching up on sleep as i am out at 5am tomorrow and am frustrated now (and i do not like going to sleep frustrated) and of course the internet is fine now... for the moment... he unplugged and tested and reset and reconnected and all is well, for the moment... yet the telephone tech couldn't get it fixed last time on the phone which is why they escalated to an advanced tech home visit again...
maybe they just cut off my service when i am online too constantly, especially on certain websites that continuously update ads or whatever... maybe it is the time of month for a bandwidth issue... maybe it's just crappy old wiring that worked fine for ten months and then started going out... maybe it's a crowded apartment complex with a lot more users pulling bandwidth... maybe it's a hacker... maybe it's just brighthouse sucks...
and then keep calling to sell me more product and i keep asking why should i pay more when the product isn't working consistently... business... they could placate me with a free month or a free upgrade but they seem not to care... like most businesses, charge more, get less... hello friend my ass...
hello friend is their new ad campaign, in case you were wondering... they lie...
so now he is outside checking on the main wiring... and the internet went out again, so he must have disconnected the whole building to check the main line... hopefully i will get to upload this and be online a bit tonight... and now the internet is local only again...
it may be time to explore the alternatives...
and as i type the last dot of that ellipsis and pause a moment, there is a knock on the door and it is the cable guy... an hour late and no call to let me know (and i was so ready to nap three hours ago and fought to stay awake so i wouldn't miss the guy and so much for catching up on sleep as i am out at 5am tomorrow and am frustrated now (and i do not like going to sleep frustrated) and of course the internet is fine now... for the moment... he unplugged and tested and reset and reconnected and all is well, for the moment... yet the telephone tech couldn't get it fixed last time on the phone which is why they escalated to an advanced tech home visit again...
maybe they just cut off my service when i am online too constantly, especially on certain websites that continuously update ads or whatever... maybe it is the time of month for a bandwidth issue... maybe it's just crappy old wiring that worked fine for ten months and then started going out... maybe it's a crowded apartment complex with a lot more users pulling bandwidth... maybe it's a hacker... maybe it's just brighthouse sucks...
and then keep calling to sell me more product and i keep asking why should i pay more when the product isn't working consistently... business... they could placate me with a free month or a free upgrade but they seem not to care... like most businesses, charge more, get less... hello friend my ass...
hello friend is their new ad campaign, in case you were wondering... they lie...
so now he is outside checking on the main wiring... and the internet went out again, so he must have disconnected the whole building to check the main line... hopefully i will get to upload this and be online a bit tonight... and now the internet is local only again...
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
facebook fools
so after being away from the internet and facebook for a bit i return and find the brilliant people who run facebook have blocked me from sending friend requests for seven days... i don't remember the last friend request i sent and i have some pending friend requests that others have sent me, but somehow, without my being around, i've been blocked...
fools, aye?...
fools, aye?...
Friday, February 17, 2012
routine
more and more i am tiring of the routine, the same tv lacking in creativity, the same work lacking in appreciation, the same habits leaving me alone and relatively poor, the same old same old... and people, the same ignorance and fears... limited imaginations and whatever, yeah, whatever...
blah blah blah...
blah blah blah...
Sunday, February 12, 2012
bright house
pretty dark, actually, and definitely not my friend... intermittent internet at over $100 a month is really ridiculous...
bleep bleep bleep...
bleep bleep bleep...
Thursday, February 2, 2012
many missing complaints
so this complaint is about the lack of time to record complaints when they pop up and the lack of memory when i come to the computer (which only supports the contention that they are meaningless, after all, so get on with it already, alright?)...
someday, perhaps, they will return...
you?
someday, perhaps, they will return...
you?
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
the bcs system
i discovered tonight that ea sports ncaa college footbal is as badly flawed as the bcs system... to say a team can go undefeated for twelve years, win twelve bcs national championships in a row, be the defending champion, go undefeated yet another year, and still be ranked third... ridiculous, but that's the way the bcs is set up... it's worse in ea sports world though... i mean, tcu and west virginia are two of the top rated schools every year... bias?... but besides the built in bias, there is no computer rankings, just coach and media, which is arbitrary to say the least... add to the undefeated for almost 13 seasons, a winning streak of 192 games, ten straight national chamionships, a record of 87-1 against top 25 teams, breaking almost every record in the game, and having this latest undefeated season end with a #3 ranking the following...
W/L Opp. Top25 10 Win Teams Beaten Highest Rank Wins
the #1 team ... 12-0 ... 79-64 ... 2 ... 1 . . . . . . . . . #5, #19
the #2 team ... 12-0 ... 63-81 ... 3 ... 3 . . . . . . . . . #6, #11, #12
the #3 team ... 13-0 ... 91-67 ... 4 ... 4 . . . . . . . . . #7, #13, #14, #21
doesn't make much sense... Opp. is the opponents record... 10 win teams beaten is the number of teams defeated who have 10 wins on the season... top25 is the number of top 25 teams beaten (as of end of season rankings)... team # 3 actually scheduled 6 top 25 teams to play and played the four ranked teams as away games... we won't get into points margins because those are ridiculously in favor of team #3... so unfair it is, master yoda...
more later when i wake...
W/L Opp. Top25 10 Win Teams Beaten Highest Rank Wins
the #1 team ... 12-0 ... 79-64 ... 2 ... 1 . . . . . . . . . #5, #19
the #2 team ... 12-0 ... 63-81 ... 3 ... 3 . . . . . . . . . #6, #11, #12
the #3 team ... 13-0 ... 91-67 ... 4 ... 4 . . . . . . . . . #7, #13, #14, #21
doesn't make much sense... Opp. is the opponents record... 10 win teams beaten is the number of teams defeated who have 10 wins on the season... top25 is the number of top 25 teams beaten (as of end of season rankings)... team # 3 actually scheduled 6 top 25 teams to play and played the four ranked teams as away games... we won't get into points margins because those are ridiculously in favor of team #3... so unfair it is, master yoda...
more later when i wake...
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