Yep. I can't let it go.
Anyhoo, my good friend Google showed me a news article about Verizon Wireless building a switching center in Southfield, Michigan about four years ago. My good friend Mapquest shows a total distance of just over 5 miles between these 'burbs, give or take a bit of distance as I don't know the exact addresses of the facilities.
So! This means that, if indeed Verizon does have a switching center in Southfield, it's very possible, indeed probable, that switching center could have been affected by the same power outage that was at the root of AT&T's problems.
The difference? We haven't heard any news about Verizon customers being affected in the same way AT&T customers were.
Do I believe a power outage could cause a service disruption like this? Yes, but I also believe there were several failures along the way that caused this. Whether that's from a lazy NOC tech, lazy field tech, lackadaisical management or a combo thereof, I don't know.
What I do know is I'm sick of media outlets taking the word of public relations people as the gospel truth. Hard questions need to be asked, and some way or another, AT&T needs to be held accountable.
31 December 2008
29 December 2008
Dentists, insurance and incompetence
I was going through some old mail recently. I have a bad habit of not opening mail right away. I'd seen something from my old dentist, the fellow I used to go to when I worked with AT&T.
As I'm now working at Motorola and have different insurance, I have since visited a different dentist, one within walking distance of my apartment. I had my normally scheduled checkup a couple weeks ago. Thinking that the mail from the old dentist was a checkup reminder, I put it aside.
A few days ago, as I was going through all the crap mail that I get and shredding it, I saw the mail again. Imagine my surprise when I saw I had a past due balance due of close to $200.
I had last visited this dentist in August of 2007. More than 16 months later, they finally sent me the bill. No explanation. Just that I owed $200. This place has screwed up my bill before, confusing me with a 70-year-old man.
So, upon seeing the bill, I called the dentist's office last weekend, leaving a message asking why I owed this when clearly my old insurance would have covered the bill.
This afternoon, I received a phone call from the office. The stupid woman told me that the office had submitted the claim, but they never received any correspondence from the insurance company. More importantly, they had never received the money to cover my visit.
So, this stupid woman asked if the insurance company had mailed the check to me. No, I explained. This stupid woman than explained that the office had, allegedly, submitted the claim twice and heard nothing from the insurance company.
"Did you try calling them?" I asked.
"Oh, well it's a pain dealing with the insurance company," she said. "Sometimes, we have better luck if the patient calls the insurance company."
Wha.....?
"So, did your office make any attempt whatsoever to actually place a phone call to the insurance company?"
More hemming and hawing. More I don't know-ing.
"So, you can't call the insurance company right now and ask them what's going on?"
"Well....uh....uh....uh...."
By this point I was furious. For one thing, I'd been woken up. I work nights, after all, and I gotta sleep during the day to have any chance of not working while dead. That I can understand, as they're working during normal business hours. Anyway. For another, they sent me a bill sixteen frakking months after I'd actually been there, with no explanation, with no reason why I owed it. For another thing, I went out of my way to visit this particular dentist.
This particular dentist, and my former general physician, both had offices pretty close to my parents' house. I'd been to both since my family moved to Chicago more than 20 years ago. My parents have fallen on hard financial times in the last few years, and both offices had previously made efforts to work with my parents in still getting them the care they needed with a price plan they could afford.
For that matter, I wasn't doing so hot financially for a number of years. It took me several years and some hard work to get a good credit score after falling into trouble in my early 20s.
So, I continued to visit these particular doctors because I figured that if they helped my folks, I should continue to do business with them.
Take that all into account, and I think you'd feel pretty betrayed by this, too.
Yeah, I was pissed off. I'm still pissed off.
I'm pissed off because this frakking place wants me to do their work. Shouldn't they be contacting the insurance company? Couldn't they place a phone call? A simple frakking phone call?
So, in the interests of protecting my credit, I called the insurance company. A five-minute conversation revealed everything I needed to know. They haven't received any claims for all of 2007. The last claim they filled for me was in 2006, which coincidentally was the previous time I'd visited this dentist. To get the claim filled, the dentist must provide proof that they filed the claim before the one year deadline, which was August of this year.
This was all painfully simple stuff. This was something that a simple phone call from the office to the insurance company could have resolved. This was something that should never have involved me, especially more than a year after I last visited. This was something that could have easily been documented in my file.
So, after calling the insurance company, I called the office back. I advised them that this level of ineptitude and laziness is unacceptable. I advised that they need to work this out with the insurance company. I advised that their failure is not my problem. I advised her to call the insurance company and get the information they needed. Chances are she won't.
The next step is a written letter to the office, either hand delivered by me or sent via certified mail. Considering the level of screwups that have occurred, those are my options. I can't trust standard mail or a fax to these idiots. If they don't misplace it, they won't know what to do with it.
There is zero chance of me paying this bill. If the dentist doesn't get his money, that's not my problem. I was covered under insurance at the time of the visit. The office's failure to follow up properly and make sure they got paid is not my problem.
I know it won't make much difference, but I will make every effort to publicize the sheer stupidity employed by this dentist. I'll go to the Better Business Bureau.
Stuff like this clearly demonstrates why loyalty never goes unpunished.
As I'm now working at Motorola and have different insurance, I have since visited a different dentist, one within walking distance of my apartment. I had my normally scheduled checkup a couple weeks ago. Thinking that the mail from the old dentist was a checkup reminder, I put it aside.
A few days ago, as I was going through all the crap mail that I get and shredding it, I saw the mail again. Imagine my surprise when I saw I had a past due balance due of close to $200.
I had last visited this dentist in August of 2007. More than 16 months later, they finally sent me the bill. No explanation. Just that I owed $200. This place has screwed up my bill before, confusing me with a 70-year-old man.
So, upon seeing the bill, I called the dentist's office last weekend, leaving a message asking why I owed this when clearly my old insurance would have covered the bill.
This afternoon, I received a phone call from the office. The stupid woman told me that the office had submitted the claim, but they never received any correspondence from the insurance company. More importantly, they had never received the money to cover my visit.
So, this stupid woman asked if the insurance company had mailed the check to me. No, I explained. This stupid woman than explained that the office had, allegedly, submitted the claim twice and heard nothing from the insurance company.
"Did you try calling them?" I asked.
"Oh, well it's a pain dealing with the insurance company," she said. "Sometimes, we have better luck if the patient calls the insurance company."
Wha.....?
"So, did your office make any attempt whatsoever to actually place a phone call to the insurance company?"
More hemming and hawing. More I don't know-ing.
"So, you can't call the insurance company right now and ask them what's going on?"
"Well....uh....uh....uh...."
By this point I was furious. For one thing, I'd been woken up. I work nights, after all, and I gotta sleep during the day to have any chance of not working while dead. That I can understand, as they're working during normal business hours. Anyway. For another, they sent me a bill sixteen frakking months after I'd actually been there, with no explanation, with no reason why I owed it. For another thing, I went out of my way to visit this particular dentist.
This particular dentist, and my former general physician, both had offices pretty close to my parents' house. I'd been to both since my family moved to Chicago more than 20 years ago. My parents have fallen on hard financial times in the last few years, and both offices had previously made efforts to work with my parents in still getting them the care they needed with a price plan they could afford.
For that matter, I wasn't doing so hot financially for a number of years. It took me several years and some hard work to get a good credit score after falling into trouble in my early 20s.
So, I continued to visit these particular doctors because I figured that if they helped my folks, I should continue to do business with them.
Take that all into account, and I think you'd feel pretty betrayed by this, too.
Yeah, I was pissed off. I'm still pissed off.
I'm pissed off because this frakking place wants me to do their work. Shouldn't they be contacting the insurance company? Couldn't they place a phone call? A simple frakking phone call?
So, in the interests of protecting my credit, I called the insurance company. A five-minute conversation revealed everything I needed to know. They haven't received any claims for all of 2007. The last claim they filled for me was in 2006, which coincidentally was the previous time I'd visited this dentist. To get the claim filled, the dentist must provide proof that they filed the claim before the one year deadline, which was August of this year.
This was all painfully simple stuff. This was something that a simple phone call from the office to the insurance company could have resolved. This was something that should never have involved me, especially more than a year after I last visited. This was something that could have easily been documented in my file.
So, after calling the insurance company, I called the office back. I advised them that this level of ineptitude and laziness is unacceptable. I advised that they need to work this out with the insurance company. I advised that their failure is not my problem. I advised her to call the insurance company and get the information they needed. Chances are she won't.
The next step is a written letter to the office, either hand delivered by me or sent via certified mail. Considering the level of screwups that have occurred, those are my options. I can't trust standard mail or a fax to these idiots. If they don't misplace it, they won't know what to do with it.
There is zero chance of me paying this bill. If the dentist doesn't get his money, that's not my problem. I was covered under insurance at the time of the visit. The office's failure to follow up properly and make sure they got paid is not my problem.
I know it won't make much difference, but I will make every effort to publicize the sheer stupidity employed by this dentist. I'll go to the Better Business Bureau.
Stuff like this clearly demonstrates why loyalty never goes unpunished.
AT&T rant continued....
This is hilarious.
According to the AT&T paid mouth, it was difficult for them to notify customers about the outage because the service was allegedly only sporadically affected. In the same statement, the mouth attributes the problems to a power outage in a specific area.
Hmmm. So, you can pinpoint it, but you can't tell folks about it. Interesting.
This problem shouldn't have happened in the first place. The tomfoolery is compounded by the lack of any specific communication to the public in a decent amount of time.
Make no mistake, AT&T knows, or at least should know, which customers would be affected by this type of outage. It should be a simple matter to say, "AT&T customers in (insert cities and states here) may experience (insert types of service disruption) due to a commercial power outage at our facility in (insert location here). We are working to restore service as quickly as possible. We apologize for any trouble this has caused."
Simple. See?
Yet by not explaining, the company only creates more questions.
That is, it creates questions for those few who actually care to ask.
According to the AT&T paid mouth, it was difficult for them to notify customers about the outage because the service was allegedly only sporadically affected. In the same statement, the mouth attributes the problems to a power outage in a specific area.
Hmmm. So, you can pinpoint it, but you can't tell folks about it. Interesting.
This problem shouldn't have happened in the first place. The tomfoolery is compounded by the lack of any specific communication to the public in a decent amount of time.
Make no mistake, AT&T knows, or at least should know, which customers would be affected by this type of outage. It should be a simple matter to say, "AT&T customers in (insert cities and states here) may experience (insert types of service disruption) due to a commercial power outage at our facility in (insert location here). We are working to restore service as quickly as possible. We apologize for any trouble this has caused."
Simple. See?
Yet by not explaining, the company only creates more questions.
That is, it creates questions for those few who actually care to ask.
AT&T has the most screwups of any national carrier!
I love stories like this lovely linkage.
Please allow me to put on my telecom/tech hat for a moment. Stuff like this shouldn't happen unless there's a severe lack of redundancy or a really major disaster, like, oh, Hurricane Katrina.
Big facilities, like the one that lost power in Michigan, usually have battery and generator backups for commercial power outages. These facilities are sometimes unmanned. I'm sure there were relatively few, if any, people at this particular facility at the time of the outage.
That the facility was possibly unmanned at the time of the power outage isn't itself a screwup. That the facility ran on backup power and then lost service is a major screwup.
Explanation: all telecom companies have NOCs, Network Operations Centers. Most carriers have one nationwide, bigger ones, like AT&T, have two. These NOCs monitor alarms for any elements tied to their network. There are some more exotic alarms that my feeble mind can't explain, but the really important alarms are telco and environmental alarms. Telco alarms typically occur if there's a problem with the cable between a cell site and the landline provider. Environmental alarms are things like door intrusions, loss of power, high temp, etc.
These alarms are relayed to the NOC, where someone monitors these alarms and responds accordingly. A power alarm at an individual cell site is a big deal, enough to open a top severity case. A power alarm at the Bloomfield facility, which handles service for a wide geographic area, should not only be ticketed right away, it should be escalated to upper management. Phone calls should be made to make sure reserve power can be maintained until such time as commercial power can be restored. This means hauling in huge batteries, fueling generators, and so forth.
Big facilities like the one in Bloomfield usually have enough batteries and generator fuel to provide power for at least a few hours.
Trust me when I say I'm not just spouting random nonsense. I've seen a facility like the one in Bloomfield firsthand, and I've monitored stuff like this in the past. I know how stuff should be backed up, and I know what the response to something like this should be.
One thing I would like to point is the minimum amount of time that passed between the time the power outage occurred and the time that AT&T's service was affected. According to the article I posted above, Chicago's wireless service was interrupted at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
However, this lovely linkage from the Detroit Free Press quotes one woman who noticed her power was off at 5 a.m. Eastern time, which of course is 4 a.m. Central.
Using my mad math skills, that's at least five and a half hours between the time that commercial power was lost and the time that AT&T wireless service was actually affected. That's time that someone should have opened a ticket, called the power company, notified management, and called someone who actually worked at that facility to get their asses over there and make sure the generators were working.
I believe the word that applies here is fail. Maybe even two words: epic fail.
Of course, you won't see any reporters question this. "Oh, power's out, what can you do?" Few people actually know how things work or are even interested in learning remotely how things work.
Here's what I would really like to know. When did AT&T become aware of the power outage? If it was indeed at 9:30 a.m. Central, why didn't they know about it sooner? If they did know about it early Sunday morning, what was the response? When were field technicians engaged? Why did so much time pass between the time of the initial power outage and the time customer service was affected? How does the company plan to avoid situations like this in the future?
But hey, what do I know? I'm no good. That's why they laid my ass off last year. All in the name of Ed Whitacre's $160-million retirement package.
My job. Delivered.
Please allow me to put on my telecom/tech hat for a moment. Stuff like this shouldn't happen unless there's a severe lack of redundancy or a really major disaster, like, oh, Hurricane Katrina.
Big facilities, like the one that lost power in Michigan, usually have battery and generator backups for commercial power outages. These facilities are sometimes unmanned. I'm sure there were relatively few, if any, people at this particular facility at the time of the outage.
That the facility was possibly unmanned at the time of the power outage isn't itself a screwup. That the facility ran on backup power and then lost service is a major screwup.
Explanation: all telecom companies have NOCs, Network Operations Centers. Most carriers have one nationwide, bigger ones, like AT&T, have two. These NOCs monitor alarms for any elements tied to their network. There are some more exotic alarms that my feeble mind can't explain, but the really important alarms are telco and environmental alarms. Telco alarms typically occur if there's a problem with the cable between a cell site and the landline provider. Environmental alarms are things like door intrusions, loss of power, high temp, etc.
These alarms are relayed to the NOC, where someone monitors these alarms and responds accordingly. A power alarm at an individual cell site is a big deal, enough to open a top severity case. A power alarm at the Bloomfield facility, which handles service for a wide geographic area, should not only be ticketed right away, it should be escalated to upper management. Phone calls should be made to make sure reserve power can be maintained until such time as commercial power can be restored. This means hauling in huge batteries, fueling generators, and so forth.
Big facilities like the one in Bloomfield usually have enough batteries and generator fuel to provide power for at least a few hours.
Trust me when I say I'm not just spouting random nonsense. I've seen a facility like the one in Bloomfield firsthand, and I've monitored stuff like this in the past. I know how stuff should be backed up, and I know what the response to something like this should be.
One thing I would like to point is the minimum amount of time that passed between the time the power outage occurred and the time that AT&T's service was affected. According to the article I posted above, Chicago's wireless service was interrupted at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
However, this lovely linkage from the Detroit Free Press quotes one woman who noticed her power was off at 5 a.m. Eastern time, which of course is 4 a.m. Central.
Using my mad math skills, that's at least five and a half hours between the time that commercial power was lost and the time that AT&T wireless service was actually affected. That's time that someone should have opened a ticket, called the power company, notified management, and called someone who actually worked at that facility to get their asses over there and make sure the generators were working.
I believe the word that applies here is fail. Maybe even two words: epic fail.
Of course, you won't see any reporters question this. "Oh, power's out, what can you do?" Few people actually know how things work or are even interested in learning remotely how things work.
Here's what I would really like to know. When did AT&T become aware of the power outage? If it was indeed at 9:30 a.m. Central, why didn't they know about it sooner? If they did know about it early Sunday morning, what was the response? When were field technicians engaged? Why did so much time pass between the time of the initial power outage and the time customer service was affected? How does the company plan to avoid situations like this in the future?
But hey, what do I know? I'm no good. That's why they laid my ass off last year. All in the name of Ed Whitacre's $160-million retirement package.
My job. Delivered.
23 December 2008
Why Metallica no longer deserves my money
Believe it or not, there are times that Dan raises legitimate points about things. A tale of a blind squirrel finding the occasional nut comes to mind. Having seen his comment about my Metallica dislike, I figured I should point out why they get no more money from me.
Yes, the Napster episode is a big reason. Initially, I believed in their point of view, that they reserve the right to profit from their own materials. They wrote and performed the stuff after all. However, Metallica's rise to popularity came about largely from a heavy bootlegging culture. In their very early days, the band heavily encourage tape swapping. In my opinion, Napster was a lot like that when Metallica basically shut it down.
Metallica made their living from being counter-culture, anti-authority, anti-mainstream. So, for them to swoop in like vultures in the whole Napster fiasco made them look more than a bit like hypocrites. Bands sell image along with their music and whatever message that music has. So, when you're playing along with the government to clamp down on something you once endorsed, that makes you lose some fans. You've ruined the image that helped you sell so many records.
And before anyone says anything about reserving the right of an artist to make a profit, I say if you really believed that, then you'd go out and buy legit copies of every single song you've ever copied from anywhere. So, how many MP3's do you have from albums you've conveniently borrowed from someone?
Even more important to my reasoning is the quality, or lack thereof, in the band's more recent output. I ran out and bought St. Anger like a good little fanboy when it was released. I've farted better music than anything that appeared on the album. I tried listening to it, really. I gave it a few listens. I haven't been able to make myself listen to it in over five years. Between the tin can drum sound, Hetfield's melodramatic wailing and the lack of anything resembling anything good, I'd have to say it's the single worst album that I own.
I tried to listen to the most recent stuff. Some of it sounded halfway decent. It was a bit like a waking dream, when you're talking to a long-dead loved one. The voice sounds familiar, and you even think they've come back. Then you wake up, realizing it was all just a dream. The Unforgiven was a good tune. Unforgiven 2? Uh, I guess. Unforgiven 3? That's a rehash I just don't need to deal with.
That's about it. The band has betrayed their fan base, and they can't make any more good music. That's why they don't get my money anymore.
Yes, the Napster episode is a big reason. Initially, I believed in their point of view, that they reserve the right to profit from their own materials. They wrote and performed the stuff after all. However, Metallica's rise to popularity came about largely from a heavy bootlegging culture. In their very early days, the band heavily encourage tape swapping. In my opinion, Napster was a lot like that when Metallica basically shut it down.
Metallica made their living from being counter-culture, anti-authority, anti-mainstream. So, for them to swoop in like vultures in the whole Napster fiasco made them look more than a bit like hypocrites. Bands sell image along with their music and whatever message that music has. So, when you're playing along with the government to clamp down on something you once endorsed, that makes you lose some fans. You've ruined the image that helped you sell so many records.
And before anyone says anything about reserving the right of an artist to make a profit, I say if you really believed that, then you'd go out and buy legit copies of every single song you've ever copied from anywhere. So, how many MP3's do you have from albums you've conveniently borrowed from someone?
Even more important to my reasoning is the quality, or lack thereof, in the band's more recent output. I ran out and bought St. Anger like a good little fanboy when it was released. I've farted better music than anything that appeared on the album. I tried listening to it, really. I gave it a few listens. I haven't been able to make myself listen to it in over five years. Between the tin can drum sound, Hetfield's melodramatic wailing and the lack of anything resembling anything good, I'd have to say it's the single worst album that I own.
I tried to listen to the most recent stuff. Some of it sounded halfway decent. It was a bit like a waking dream, when you're talking to a long-dead loved one. The voice sounds familiar, and you even think they've come back. Then you wake up, realizing it was all just a dream. The Unforgiven was a good tune. Unforgiven 2? Uh, I guess. Unforgiven 3? That's a rehash I just don't need to deal with.
That's about it. The band has betrayed their fan base, and they can't make any more good music. That's why they don't get my money anymore.
22 December 2008
Merry Christmas to all!
Dan likes this one. So do I, for that matter. Audio is required for full enjoyment.
14 December 2008
Chinese Democracy: some thoughts
Yes, the punchline is now a reality. And yes, I was compelled to buy the album.
Yes, I know Axl fired everyone from the original lineup, save himself. Yes, I know the band lineup changed several times between the Use Your Illusion albums and the new one.
And still, the album is pretty good.
I think the album would have sounded much better if it had come out, oh, 10 years ago or so. There's clearly some industrial and hip hop sound on the album.
The album cost several million dollars to produce. Thankfully, some of it comes through on the finished product. Note to other bands (I'm looking at you, Metallica): poor production does not equal edginess or metal-ness. It just equals crap.
As songs go, there are a number of standouts. I personally like Scraped, Better, Sorry and Riad And The Bedouins. There's a ballad or two I could do without, but overall, I think the album is pretty good.
It's something of a minor miracle that Axl released it at all.
If Axl can finally release Chinese Democracy, then I can finally publish the next great American novel.
Just give me another 10 years or so.
Yes, I know Axl fired everyone from the original lineup, save himself. Yes, I know the band lineup changed several times between the Use Your Illusion albums and the new one.
And still, the album is pretty good.
I think the album would have sounded much better if it had come out, oh, 10 years ago or so. There's clearly some industrial and hip hop sound on the album.
The album cost several million dollars to produce. Thankfully, some of it comes through on the finished product. Note to other bands (I'm looking at you, Metallica): poor production does not equal edginess or metal-ness. It just equals crap.
As songs go, there are a number of standouts. I personally like Scraped, Better, Sorry and Riad And The Bedouins. There's a ballad or two I could do without, but overall, I think the album is pretty good.
It's something of a minor miracle that Axl released it at all.
If Axl can finally release Chinese Democracy, then I can finally publish the next great American novel.
Just give me another 10 years or so.
10 December 2008
Dump the Antibacterial Soap
I am amazed at the power of marketing and hysteria in the U.S. of freakin' A at times. Then again, considering the previous posts, not really.
But something that I think I should at least mention is the scourge (scourge, I say!) of antibacterial soap.
"Whaaaaat? You're off your meds again." True! But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.
We have been told, through our watchful media, that bacteria are bad. Bacteria are germs, germs are bad, and so we shall kill them whereever they hide. It makes sense.
The problem is, these people told you eggs were bad, then they weren't. They told you MSG was bad for you, until it wasn't. Fluorine in water- bad, until it's not. They tell you fat is bad for you, until it isn't. Carbs are bad, unless, y'know, they're not. Gluten is the new rage fad food-to-hate.
As with everything the media reports on, they never do their jobs by reporting balanced news- that's hard. No. Sensationalism- especially when it comes to science- that sells! Scare people with psuedo-science and they'll feel grateful.
Your body is covered in bacteria, whether you like it or not. Even better- it is theorized that there's more bacteria on you than you have skin cells! Yet, surprisingly, you're not dead?
That's because there is some bacteria that lives in symbiosis with you. (that means the lives of both benefit from each other's presence, Hronek) 70% of your bacteria lives in your gut. It breaks down components of your food and allows it to be absorbed by the body. They also enable white blood cells. In fact, the cleaner you are the more likely you are to be susceptable to random diseases, like colds and flu.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Antibacterial_cleaning_products?open
http://www.ei-resource.org/expert-columns/dr.-gloria-gilberes-column/bacteria:-the-good,-bad-and-the-ugly/
http://intlxpatr.wordpress.com/2007/03/18/bacteria-helpful-not-harmful/?referer=sphere_related_content/
http://media.www.thenorthernlight.org/media/storage/paper960/news/2008/11/11/MedicalIncredible/AntiBacterial.Helpful.But.Possibly.Harmful.In.The.Long.Run-3537672.shtml
The use of antibacterial soaps kills all bacteria, sure. Including, eventually, the good ones. Strangely enough, all soap is inherently antibacterial. The difference is that soaps labeled "antibacterial" contain added bacteriocides. There is a place for antibacterial soaps- hospitals. That's it. Humans don't need antibacterial soap. In a way, it's similar to the thought process "if one aspirin is good, then ten will really help."
I don't even know what impact these soaps have on the water supply, as it works its way through the sanitization plants and their filters of bacteria, then out into the water supply, into water plants and fish. I mean, no one is projecting panic over it and maybe it is effectively filtered somewhere... but it can't be good.
My advice- dump the antibacterial and get a bottle of plain ol' liquid soap. I haven't used antibacterial soap at home in over 5 years, and I haven't gotten a cold or flu once either. An oversimplification, sure, but it's at least semi plausible.
But something that I think I should at least mention is the scourge (scourge, I say!) of antibacterial soap.
"Whaaaaat? You're off your meds again." True! But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.
We have been told, through our watchful media, that bacteria are bad. Bacteria are germs, germs are bad, and so we shall kill them whereever they hide. It makes sense.
The problem is, these people told you eggs were bad, then they weren't. They told you MSG was bad for you, until it wasn't. Fluorine in water- bad, until it's not. They tell you fat is bad for you, until it isn't. Carbs are bad, unless, y'know, they're not. Gluten is the new rage fad food-to-hate.
As with everything the media reports on, they never do their jobs by reporting balanced news- that's hard. No. Sensationalism- especially when it comes to science- that sells! Scare people with psuedo-science and they'll feel grateful.
Your body is covered in bacteria, whether you like it or not. Even better- it is theorized that there's more bacteria on you than you have skin cells! Yet, surprisingly, you're not dead?
That's because there is some bacteria that lives in symbiosis with you. (that means the lives of both benefit from each other's presence, Hronek) 70% of your bacteria lives in your gut. It breaks down components of your food and allows it to be absorbed by the body. They also enable white blood cells. In fact, the cleaner you are the more likely you are to be susceptable to random diseases, like colds and flu.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Antibacterial_cleaning_products?open
http://www.ei-resource.org/expert-columns/dr.-gloria-gilberes-column/bacteria:-the-good,-bad-and-the-ugly/
http://intlxpatr.wordpress.com/2007/03/18/bacteria-helpful-not-harmful/?referer=sphere_related_content/
http://media.www.thenorthernlight.org/media/storage/paper960/news/2008/11/11/MedicalIncredible/AntiBacterial.Helpful.But.Possibly.Harmful.In.The.Long.Run-3537672.shtml
The use of antibacterial soaps kills all bacteria, sure. Including, eventually, the good ones. Strangely enough, all soap is inherently antibacterial. The difference is that soaps labeled "antibacterial" contain added bacteriocides. There is a place for antibacterial soaps- hospitals. That's it. Humans don't need antibacterial soap. In a way, it's similar to the thought process "if one aspirin is good, then ten will really help."
I don't even know what impact these soaps have on the water supply, as it works its way through the sanitization plants and their filters of bacteria, then out into the water supply, into water plants and fish. I mean, no one is projecting panic over it and maybe it is effectively filtered somewhere... but it can't be good.
My advice- dump the antibacterial and get a bottle of plain ol' liquid soap. I haven't used antibacterial soap at home in over 5 years, and I haven't gotten a cold or flu once either. An oversimplification, sure, but it's at least semi plausible.
09 December 2008
Piling On da Gov
"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said.
"The charges in the criminal complaint are, in fact, staggering. They are stunning. Eyepopping. Gobsmacking. Jaw-dropping. Appalling. Unprecedented in their alleged brazenness." -Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
"Many, including myself, thought that the recent conviction of a former governor would usher in a new era of honesty and reform in Illinois politics," FBI special agent in charge Grant said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-governors,0,1319988.htmlpage
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4B854120081209
http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/opinion/mcclendon/2008/08/nepotism-cronysim-and-chicago.html
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/ISHS/ishs-2004autumn/ishs-2004autumn255.pdf
Really? This isn't an excuse for hyperbole or other dramatic language? This is not shocking to anyone who's cast a semi-critical eye on Illinois government since 1850.
"In Illinois, with its flamboyant history of corruption, those [charges] are only too believable." -Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune
"In a city like Chicago, with its history of muscle and clout and corruption, it's probably not the first time—just the first we know of." -Prof. Norman Sims, U. Mass-Amherst
I have said since I moved away that I have nothing against the people of Illinois. Except Hronek. F*^k Hronek. No, not them- I wish to see every member of Illinois government brutally sodomized while they serve the consecutive life sentences they all deserve. There may be a few that are decent. Oscar Schindler tried to fight against the tide too, all that got him was an occasional mention in obscure history books and a movie- and he saved the Jews during the Holocaust. The baby has to go with the bathwater here.
"The state of Illinois is on kind of a bad run," Sen. Harry Reid (D) NV
Senators aren't supposed to be kings of understatement, there, Har. YOU THINK?!?!?
And for you mouth breathing leftists that hate Republicans, this guy and all their ilk are from the camp that claims to represent YOU. Fitzgerald's better than his label. You better hope to Obama that he doesn't find a link to the President Elect. Like, I don't know, a guy like Tony Rezko or Billy Ayers.
Blagojevich. Democrat. (D)-IL. Who else....?
"The charges in the criminal complaint are, in fact, staggering. They are stunning. Eyepopping. Gobsmacking. Jaw-dropping. Appalling. Unprecedented in their alleged brazenness." -Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
"Many, including myself, thought that the recent conviction of a former governor would usher in a new era of honesty and reform in Illinois politics," FBI special agent in charge Grant said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-governors,0,1319988.htmlpage
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4B854120081209
http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/opinion/mcclendon/2008/08/nepotism-cronysim-and-chicago.html
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/ISHS/ishs-2004autumn/ishs-2004autumn255.pdf
Really? This isn't an excuse for hyperbole or other dramatic language? This is not shocking to anyone who's cast a semi-critical eye on Illinois government since 1850.
"In Illinois, with its flamboyant history of corruption, those [charges] are only too believable." -Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune
"In a city like Chicago, with its history of muscle and clout and corruption, it's probably not the first time—just the first we know of." -Prof. Norman Sims, U. Mass-Amherst
I have said since I moved away that I have nothing against the people of Illinois. Except Hronek. F*^k Hronek. No, not them- I wish to see every member of Illinois government brutally sodomized while they serve the consecutive life sentences they all deserve. There may be a few that are decent. Oscar Schindler tried to fight against the tide too, all that got him was an occasional mention in obscure history books and a movie- and he saved the Jews during the Holocaust. The baby has to go with the bathwater here.
"The state of Illinois is on kind of a bad run," Sen. Harry Reid (D) NV
Senators aren't supposed to be kings of understatement, there, Har. YOU THINK?!?!?
And for you mouth breathing leftists that hate Republicans, this guy and all their ilk are from the camp that claims to represent YOU. Fitzgerald's better than his label. You better hope to Obama that he doesn't find a link to the President Elect. Like, I don't know, a guy like Tony Rezko or Billy Ayers.
Blagojevich. Democrat. (D)-IL. Who else....?
Maybe he and George can play hide the soap
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested earlier this morning.
Shockingly, the allegations include federal corruption charges. I know, this is difficult to believe, considering the level of honor and respect Illinois politicians have served their constituents.
Wow. Just....wow.
I didn't think Rod would get arrested while still in office. Guess he left enough of a trail that he could finally be charged.
It's funny. When Rod first ran for governor 6 years ago, George Ryan was in the midst of a federal investigation. Rod had promised "change."
The only thing that changed was whose hands taxpayers' money was funneled to.
One of the more interesting, and by interesting I mean f#^@ing frightening, accusations is that Blagojevich had offered state help to Tribune upper management in selling the Cubs in exchange for firing editors critical of him and his administration.
Have I mentioned I don't like this guy?
No wonder so many politicians in Illinois want stricter gun laws. They're afraid people will take up arms against them.
Have I also mentioned yay second amendment?
And yay first amendment?
Ugh. No wonder so few people vote here.
I wonder what the conversation between Rod and George will be like when they're both in the slammer.
Shockingly, the allegations include federal corruption charges. I know, this is difficult to believe, considering the level of honor and respect Illinois politicians have served their constituents.
Wow. Just....wow.
I didn't think Rod would get arrested while still in office. Guess he left enough of a trail that he could finally be charged.
It's funny. When Rod first ran for governor 6 years ago, George Ryan was in the midst of a federal investigation. Rod had promised "change."
The only thing that changed was whose hands taxpayers' money was funneled to.
One of the more interesting, and by interesting I mean f#^@ing frightening, accusations is that Blagojevich had offered state help to Tribune upper management in selling the Cubs in exchange for firing editors critical of him and his administration.
Have I mentioned I don't like this guy?
No wonder so many politicians in Illinois want stricter gun laws. They're afraid people will take up arms against them.
Have I also mentioned yay second amendment?
And yay first amendment?
Ugh. No wonder so few people vote here.
I wonder what the conversation between Rod and George will be like when they're both in the slammer.
02 December 2008
An Open Response to the AT&T Complainant
For those unaware (and the 3 or 4 people other than the authors who actually read this), I used to work for AT&T. I lost my job about 14 months ago when it was decided it would be cheaper to fund outgoing CEO Ed Whitacre's $160 million golden parachute than to keep some jobs in Chicago. The worthless union cost me and my colleagues some significant severance pay, not to mention benefits.
Yeah, I'm still bitter.
Dan's situation sucked. I would not have wanted to deal with the same problems. We spoke briefly about a month ago about this, and the only thing I could really tell him was to get service somewhere other than AT&T, even if it meant spending more than he wanted to.
I'm not a fan of the company's service, nor am I a fan of how they treat their employees.
It is in that spirit I have written the following reply to Dan's open letter. Please note I don't agree with how Dan was treated, no matter how much I may hate him. This response is intended to mock AT&T, not Dan.
Dear sir/madam;
Thank you for your letter concerning your perceived vision of our failures. It always entertains us to read a letter from someone thinking they can make a difference.
We were even more entertained by the various ways in which you called us stupid. To know that you would waste so much time and intellect on something we don't care about gladdens our hearts.
If you think we don't care about your business, you're right. Let's be honest: your piddly stream of income for cheap services amounts to a raindrop in the ocean. Do you really think you're going to get the same treatment as someone who pays a lot more money to us? Really? Now, who's the stupid one?
We think it's cute that you'll tell everyone to not get our service. Let us know how that works out for you. For every rare, supposedly intelligent individual like yourself, we have a hundred stupid sheep lining up to get our service.
You know why? It's called PR. Word of mouth means nothing. Word from commercials and other advertisements carry the day. If we pay to say we have the most reliable service, clearly it must be true.
Please. Continue your one-man gang war on us. We need the laugh. We expect you'll have the same success in this as every other sorry sack who's said the same thing. Very original of you. In the meantime, we'll continue to increase our government influence and squash competition.
We are particularly pleased with your ISO 9001 reference. Ooooooh, scary. Do you think we really care? Do you think we don't know how to hide these sorts of things? Please. The only thing transparent about this company is the tape we use for cable repairs.
We'll file this in the same place we file all complaints from people as equally insignificant as you. Thanks for saving us money on toilet paper.
The fact of the matter is we are too big to fail. We make money. We have friends with more power than you could possibly conceive. We have the most customers, the most money, the most power, the best employees. We have the fewest dropped calls. Just look at our advertising. The fact is you really don't have much choice.
And when you're left with no other choice but us, we will welcome your grovelling and your money with open arms.
Say hi to your wife for us.
Sincerely,
The new AT&T.
Your ass. Delivered.
Yeah, I'm still bitter.
Dan's situation sucked. I would not have wanted to deal with the same problems. We spoke briefly about a month ago about this, and the only thing I could really tell him was to get service somewhere other than AT&T, even if it meant spending more than he wanted to.
I'm not a fan of the company's service, nor am I a fan of how they treat their employees.
It is in that spirit I have written the following reply to Dan's open letter. Please note I don't agree with how Dan was treated, no matter how much I may hate him. This response is intended to mock AT&T, not Dan.
Dear sir/madam;
Thank you for your letter concerning your perceived vision of our failures. It always entertains us to read a letter from someone thinking they can make a difference.
We were even more entertained by the various ways in which you called us stupid. To know that you would waste so much time and intellect on something we don't care about gladdens our hearts.
If you think we don't care about your business, you're right. Let's be honest: your piddly stream of income for cheap services amounts to a raindrop in the ocean. Do you really think you're going to get the same treatment as someone who pays a lot more money to us? Really? Now, who's the stupid one?
We think it's cute that you'll tell everyone to not get our service. Let us know how that works out for you. For every rare, supposedly intelligent individual like yourself, we have a hundred stupid sheep lining up to get our service.
You know why? It's called PR. Word of mouth means nothing. Word from commercials and other advertisements carry the day. If we pay to say we have the most reliable service, clearly it must be true.
Please. Continue your one-man gang war on us. We need the laugh. We expect you'll have the same success in this as every other sorry sack who's said the same thing. Very original of you. In the meantime, we'll continue to increase our government influence and squash competition.
We are particularly pleased with your ISO 9001 reference. Ooooooh, scary. Do you think we really care? Do you think we don't know how to hide these sorts of things? Please. The only thing transparent about this company is the tape we use for cable repairs.
We'll file this in the same place we file all complaints from people as equally insignificant as you. Thanks for saving us money on toilet paper.
The fact of the matter is we are too big to fail. We make money. We have friends with more power than you could possibly conceive. We have the most customers, the most money, the most power, the best employees. We have the fewest dropped calls. Just look at our advertising. The fact is you really don't have much choice.
And when you're left with no other choice but us, we will welcome your grovelling and your money with open arms.
Say hi to your wife for us.
Sincerely,
The new AT&T.
Your ass. Delivered.
An Open Letter to AT&T
Dear AT&T Quality Assurance Personnel:
I'm writing this letter to inform denizens of the web, those who may search through Google and Yahoo and any other search engine, about how horrible your ability to perform basic phone services has become.
I'm not disgruntled. I'm furious. Your incompetence drove my wife to tears, inconvenienced our lives for over 6 weeks, and lost our business.
We chose to subscribe to AT&T land service via your website. We've done this before and all efforts have gone well multiple times in places other than Maryland. In Maryland, however, your company is too cheap to afford technicians that can count on things other than their fingers.
After being quoted 5-10 business days for installation, we were disappointed to learn the earliest installation date would be 12 business days later. On the day of the first scheduled installation, you cancelled. Your techs said they were too busy. They were too busy the next day. And the next. We called whatever number you gave us, and they gave us the same song and dance. Our phone was installed a week late.
We also requested that you install DSL on our phone line. Again, no problems with previous service in places other than Maryland. But in Maryland, your organization has difficulty not swallowing its tongue. Nowhere on your website does the DSL service installation say "you need to first have a phone line, THEN request DSL." So we were told that we couldn't have DSL because, duh, we had no phone. We were then told we needed to schedule the technician to install DSL... and that the installation date would be 5-10 business days later.
Not only was our phone installed a week late, but it was installed with the wrong phone number. We called whatever number you gave us, and they essentially said, "Huh. That's weird," and hung up on us. We called again, and they said "we'll figure it out and call you back."
I would have thought that working for the phone company, you may have the ability to press the number buttons on a phone. But your fingers were too busy probing orifices in your body to press the buttons, because we never received that call. Then again, you may have been trying to call us with the number we ordered but that your technicians were too incompetent to install.
TWO WEEKS later, we finally had a phone rep at a number that alledged to do service for you, try and solve the problem. After my wife spent FOUR HOURS on the phone, waiting for your crack bureaucracy to figure out how to tie their shoes, she was told that they would... call her back. I have never heard my wife scream in anger until that moment.
Eventually, one of your atypical representatives spun a resonable (if not accurate) sounding story about how your repair department said we had phone service but your main business said we did not, and that the technician just flipped a switch to give us phone service instead of giving us the phone number we requested. This person was helpful and friendly, very understanding, and I have no doubt that you have already fired her for being overqualified.
After she figured out what to tell us, she told us that yes, we would have to wait another 5-10 business days. Throw a few holidays into this mix. Then we could get DSL, once the phone was installed and would have to wait an additional 5-10 business days which would have pushed into December. Not only that, but a DSL modem- one that we already had from previous service with your bungling company- was going to be sent to us even though we asked one not be sent. The reason- because you have to send one. We were told to just refuse delivery. Normally I would ask how stupid a company would have to be to spend money on shipping for an item that the customer has declined in advance, but the track record is well established by now.
Your company, utterly incapable of making logical business decisions, scheduled to send us a DSL modem that we didn't need. We figured that since the technician's union likely has from Thanksgiving until Easter as a holiday, it made sense to forgo DSL installation as we were not going to actually receive it until May.
The unfortunate fact for you is that I was able, within the span of three days, to obtain a cable modem and have broadband internet installed. Three days. Not 6-12 business weeks.
You can consider this a "complaint." As a former ISO 9001 auditor, I might suggest you file this complaint under "total company failure." Optionally, you may file individual complaints with: your internet site for not reserving the requested phone number, the repair department for not communicating with other departments to determine why phone installation had not occurred, your customer service department for not knowing how to solve a customer problem at least four times, two complaints with your technicians for being three days late and installing the wrong number, and your top management for allowing this farce you call operations to continue in this manner.
You are not too big to fail. Might as well focus on the iPhone, it's the only business on which you haven't completely dropped the ball. I'm telling everyone I know not to get your phone service. Good luck watching your core business crash and burn.
Daniel Walter
I'm writing this letter to inform denizens of the web, those who may search through Google and Yahoo and any other search engine, about how horrible your ability to perform basic phone services has become.
I'm not disgruntled. I'm furious. Your incompetence drove my wife to tears, inconvenienced our lives for over 6 weeks, and lost our business.
We chose to subscribe to AT&T land service via your website. We've done this before and all efforts have gone well multiple times in places other than Maryland. In Maryland, however, your company is too cheap to afford technicians that can count on things other than their fingers.
After being quoted 5-10 business days for installation, we were disappointed to learn the earliest installation date would be 12 business days later. On the day of the first scheduled installation, you cancelled. Your techs said they were too busy. They were too busy the next day. And the next. We called whatever number you gave us, and they gave us the same song and dance. Our phone was installed a week late.
We also requested that you install DSL on our phone line. Again, no problems with previous service in places other than Maryland. But in Maryland, your organization has difficulty not swallowing its tongue. Nowhere on your website does the DSL service installation say "you need to first have a phone line, THEN request DSL." So we were told that we couldn't have DSL because, duh, we had no phone. We were then told we needed to schedule the technician to install DSL... and that the installation date would be 5-10 business days later.
Not only was our phone installed a week late, but it was installed with the wrong phone number. We called whatever number you gave us, and they essentially said, "Huh. That's weird," and hung up on us. We called again, and they said "we'll figure it out and call you back."
I would have thought that working for the phone company, you may have the ability to press the number buttons on a phone. But your fingers were too busy probing orifices in your body to press the buttons, because we never received that call. Then again, you may have been trying to call us with the number we ordered but that your technicians were too incompetent to install.
TWO WEEKS later, we finally had a phone rep at a number that alledged to do service for you, try and solve the problem. After my wife spent FOUR HOURS on the phone, waiting for your crack bureaucracy to figure out how to tie their shoes, she was told that they would... call her back. I have never heard my wife scream in anger until that moment.
Eventually, one of your atypical representatives spun a resonable (if not accurate) sounding story about how your repair department said we had phone service but your main business said we did not, and that the technician just flipped a switch to give us phone service instead of giving us the phone number we requested. This person was helpful and friendly, very understanding, and I have no doubt that you have already fired her for being overqualified.
After she figured out what to tell us, she told us that yes, we would have to wait another 5-10 business days. Throw a few holidays into this mix. Then we could get DSL, once the phone was installed and would have to wait an additional 5-10 business days which would have pushed into December. Not only that, but a DSL modem- one that we already had from previous service with your bungling company- was going to be sent to us even though we asked one not be sent. The reason- because you have to send one. We were told to just refuse delivery. Normally I would ask how stupid a company would have to be to spend money on shipping for an item that the customer has declined in advance, but the track record is well established by now.
Your company, utterly incapable of making logical business decisions, scheduled to send us a DSL modem that we didn't need. We figured that since the technician's union likely has from Thanksgiving until Easter as a holiday, it made sense to forgo DSL installation as we were not going to actually receive it until May.
The unfortunate fact for you is that I was able, within the span of three days, to obtain a cable modem and have broadband internet installed. Three days. Not 6-12 business weeks.
You can consider this a "complaint." As a former ISO 9001 auditor, I might suggest you file this complaint under "total company failure." Optionally, you may file individual complaints with: your internet site for not reserving the requested phone number, the repair department for not communicating with other departments to determine why phone installation had not occurred, your customer service department for not knowing how to solve a customer problem at least four times, two complaints with your technicians for being three days late and installing the wrong number, and your top management for allowing this farce you call operations to continue in this manner.
You are not too big to fail. Might as well focus on the iPhone, it's the only business on which you haven't completely dropped the ball. I'm telling everyone I know not to get your phone service. Good luck watching your core business crash and burn.
Daniel Walter
Regulators!... Mount Up!
"Nate Dogg and Warren G gotta regulate..."
That's what I do now. I'm a regulator. You may know for whom, but you won't know specifically. No using-my-internet-posts as blackmail for you.
Working for the gov't is, sadly, everything that the stereotypes claim it is.
There was an interminably long period of time where the only internet access I had at all was either from my parents' house or through my cell phone. As a result, I got really good with using my cell phone. And thank Jebuz I have unlimited usage in my plan, cuz I downloaded half the Library of Congress in October.
It's also a great way to surf at work while, y'know, working. Multitasking. The downside is that in the cell phone mobile browsers it doesn't allow posting to blogs. Most sites have trimmed down mobile content, etc.
I'm glad to be back in my home area, but then, there are a few people that deserve special attention...
That's what I do now. I'm a regulator. You may know for whom, but you won't know specifically. No using-my-internet-posts as blackmail for you.
Working for the gov't is, sadly, everything that the stereotypes claim it is.
There was an interminably long period of time where the only internet access I had at all was either from my parents' house or through my cell phone. As a result, I got really good with using my cell phone. And thank Jebuz I have unlimited usage in my plan, cuz I downloaded half the Library of Congress in October.
It's also a great way to surf at work while, y'know, working. Multitasking. The downside is that in the cell phone mobile browsers it doesn't allow posting to blogs. Most sites have trimmed down mobile content, etc.
I'm glad to be back in my home area, but then, there are a few people that deserve special attention...
01 December 2008
How to lose lots of voter support quickly
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced today that he would in fact ask outgoing President George Bush to commute disgraced former Governor George Ryan's sentence to time served.
This should disgust anyone with any semblance of a sense of justice. It should even further disgust the people who just voted Durbin in for another 6-year term just a few weeks ago.
Sheesh. The really pathetic thing about this is, if Durbin does run again in 6 years, this will be forgotten about. Or, if he decides to step down, I'm sure whoever his handpicked successor is will be elected.
It's just business as usual in Illinois. Unreal.
It's become beyond pathetic. In just the last few years, Todd Stroger inherited his dad's position as Cook County board president. Dan Lipinski inherited his father's 3rd district congressional seat. Emil Jones, the outgoing president of the Illinois state senate, timed his departure to conveniently allow his son, Jones the third, to take his place.
And yet, the voters continue to tolerate this.
Have I mentioned how disgusted I am with this?
There's a saying about how voters get the government we deserve. By continuing to elect these cretins, Illinois voters have reaped exactly what they deserved.
This should disgust anyone with any semblance of a sense of justice. It should even further disgust the people who just voted Durbin in for another 6-year term just a few weeks ago.
Sheesh. The really pathetic thing about this is, if Durbin does run again in 6 years, this will be forgotten about. Or, if he decides to step down, I'm sure whoever his handpicked successor is will be elected.
It's just business as usual in Illinois. Unreal.
It's become beyond pathetic. In just the last few years, Todd Stroger inherited his dad's position as Cook County board president. Dan Lipinski inherited his father's 3rd district congressional seat. Emil Jones, the outgoing president of the Illinois state senate, timed his departure to conveniently allow his son, Jones the third, to take his place.
And yet, the voters continue to tolerate this.
Have I mentioned how disgusted I am with this?
There's a saying about how voters get the government we deserve. By continuing to elect these cretins, Illinois voters have reaped exactly what they deserved.
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