Very expensive phone calls

I made some phone calls recently. Probably around 5 or 6. Most were local; maybe 2 were to DC. A few minutes each. They cost me about $40 each.

A few months ago, I signed up for SunRocket, the VoiP provider. I decided to take the option to prepay for the year. And now they are out of business! I doubt I am getting that money back.

Around the world in 11 days

I recently flew to Sydney, Australia and then to Bangalore, India on a business trip. The total trip was about 11 days and I literally flew "around the world," from Philadelphia to San Francisco to Sydney to Kuala Lumpur to Frankfurt back to Philadelphia. I only stopped in Sydney and Bangalore and here are some random, and very trivial, thoughts:

In Sydney:

• I ordered lemon ade twice and got Sprite. The one time it actually said "lemon ade" on the menu. But that's my only complaint about the place.
  
  
• Man, they take making coffee seriously. Even for a simple cup, they use these big contraptions and foam the milk and grind the beans and do other things. I am not a big coffee drinker, so maybe this goes on somewhere in the US, but my guess is it pales in comparison to the love of coffee preparation they have here.
  
  
• They spell curb, "kerb."
  
  
• The time is 14 hours ahead from home, which is just ridiculous.
  
  
• I heard about these bats at the Royal Botanical Gardens. One my last day, I finally saw them. They are huge - the size of large, fat cats. And there are hundreds of them. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me that day.

In Bangalore:

• I didn't get to spend much time here (compared to Syndey). I got in very late Sunday night (well, technically Monday morning around 1:30) and flew out Tuesday night (well again technically Wednesday morning; the flight left at 1:55 am). The Bangalore airport flies planes to Europe almost every hour 24/7.
  
  
• We went to two restuarants and both asked us to fill out a survey. The rating for each criteria was average, good, and excellent. No poor. No below average. The lowest you can give is "average." Remember this the next time you prepare a survey for your customers.
  
  
• I thought I left my iPod in my hotel room when I got to the airport. My cell phone didn't work in Bangalore (nor did it work in Sydney). I saw a guy next to a rather large telephone contraption. I asked if he would take US currency (I gave my last ruppee to the taxi driver). He said sure. When I was done the call, he said "Four ruppee." I asked, "Did you say four dollars." He laughed and said "four ruppee" again. That is like 8 cents. I only had a dollar so that guy got a helluva tip.
  
  
• The traffic is just nuts. The traffic consists of a few cars, but many mopeds and these three-wheel taxi vehicles they call "auto riksha." There is not much respect for the pedestrian. In fact, if the road is crowded, the moped drivers will actually swerve up onto the sidewalk and beep their horns at you to get out of their way.
  
  
• Our hosts in India were extremely hospitable.
  

I posted some photos on Flickr: Sydney and Bangalore.

London baggage

I recently flew to London for three days of meetings. Generally speaking, I like to pack light and avoid checking bags when I can. I knew I could easily fit my clothes into a small back pack and would also need my laptop case. I was not sure of baggage regulations for London, so called both US Airways for the flight in and United for the flight home. Both assured me their policy of one carry on and one "personal" item (which includes laptops) applied to my trip.

So off I went. Getting there was no issue, but the way back home was different. In Heathrow, I passed those baggie people - those people at the airport who hand out quart size bags for 3 oz or less liquids. "No thanks," I said proudly , "I brought my own baggie." I am not sure if I offended her because she then looked at my two pieces of luggage and said I couldn't take both through security. Only one bag per person for security. Hmmm. I needed to clarify this.

"Are you saying I need to check my bag?" I politely questioned.
"No," she replied, "you can carry both onto the plane, but you can only carry one bag through security."

Hmmm. Does she know I need to go through security to actually get onto the plane. This is like telling me I am more than welcome to bring an elephant onto the plane, but of course, I am not allowed to bring that elephant through security.

I must have looked dumbfounded, because she suggested I get a plastic bag from the "Glorious British" souvenir shop behind me and put both pieces into it. If I could fit my two luggage items into the one plastic bag, I could go through security. Ok, so, on their own these bags pose a security risk, but put together in a single plastic bag, you have sudden safety. I don't fully understand, but I need to get on the plane.

I go to the Glorious British shop.
I ask if I can have a plastic bag to get through security.
The clerk seems to understand the situation, and replies, "You need to buy something,"
"Can I buy a plastic bag?" I ask.
"No, we don't sell bags. But if you buy something from the shop, I can put it in a bag"
I see a chocolate bar in front of me. It is much much smaller than my luggage.
"If I buy this will you give me a bag big enough to put my luggage in?" I ask while holding up the candy bar.
"I will give you the biggest bag we have"
"Can I see the bag?"
She shows me the bag.
I ask for her opinion, "do you think my luggage will fit in that bag?"
"Sure" she replies, although I am not sure if she was really so sure.

I buy the chocolate. She gives me the bag. I somehow stuff my backpack and laptop case into the bag although it is really not large enough. It does rip in various spots, but my luggage is mostly in. I carry it through to the security checkpoint. But of course, now I need to take out my laptop for inspection. I do that and jam the bags back into the plastic bag, tearing it just a little more. The inspector eyes the bag, I assume to make sure the individual bags do not escape from the plastic and cause havoc in the airport.

I get to the gate. Oh-uh. Another security check. And this looks serious. They actually pat you down, swab you shoes for explosive residue, and go through your bags. Luckily I kept the half torn plastic bag. If they finger me as a security risk I can quickly pull out the plastic bag and jam my luggage into it, assuaging all fears. And thank god I didn't bring that elephant.

They don't seem to mind my bags. I get through and onto the plane.

And at least I have some chocolate.

I'll miss film canisters

I remember when I was a child my parents had a few old tin Sucrets containers they used to store some other items (for some reason I can't remember what the items were - some other medicine I think).

For years I've used plastic 35mm film canisters for other purposes. When I lived in an apartment and did my laundry at a coin-operated machine, I found the containers perfect for holding quarters. I occasionally travel overnight for work and I keep vitamins in a film canister and some aspirin in another.

With the rise of digital photography, including my own conversion, I'll have a lack of canisters. Obviously better for the environment, but I'll still miss them.

Just a simple Google search returns a host of sites about re-using the canisters, including several links to sites on how to build a rocket from them.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=film+canisters&btnG=Google+Search
http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/film_cannisters.html

Thank you for mispelling

In the last two days, I misspelled two sites I visit frequently, Amtrak and Typepad (don't ask why I just don't have them bookmarked...). But no worries, because there are sites at the URLs I typed:

http://www.tyepad.com/
(notice I skipped the first "p")

http://www.amtral.com/
(I mistakenly hit the "l," right next to the desired "k" on my keyboard)

I didn't bother linking to these. Feel free to visit if you'd like. I think I saw some train related links on the Amtral site.

I didn't dig deep into these site, but I assume someone is making money off of them somewhere or else no one would do it. Although I somewhat admire the ingenuity of the plan, I just don't think I could live with myself if my living was based on the misspellings of others.

Update 2/26: This Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer had an article on the business of tasting domain names. It discusses how the 5 day grace period in domain name registration added to the ease and automation has created an industry of firms that gobble up thousands of domain name variants, create sites with search ads, test which ones work best, and dump those that don't:

During the grace period, the entrepreneur puts up a Web page featuring keyword search ads and receives a commission on each ad clicked. Services like Google Inc.'s AdSense for Domains and Yahoo Inc.'s Domain Match help large domain name owners set them up, even as the search companies officially oppose abuses in tasting.

Addresses likely to generate more than the $6 annual cost of the domain name are kept - not a high threshold given how lucrative search advertising is these days.

...

The department store chain the Neiman Marcus Group Inc. even filed a federal lawsuit last year accusing the registration company Dotster Inc. of tasting hundreds of names meant to lure Internet users who mistype Web addresses. At one point, the lawsuit said, the misspelled NeimuMarcus.com featured ads for Target Corp., Nordstrom Inc. and other rivals.

Rabbit ears and HDTV

I posted recently about my use of rabbit ears (the tv antenna), but did not mention that during my search for an antenna, I saw some models touting the ability to receive HDTV signals. These antennas were more expensive than the model I was after and I don't have an HDTV-ready television, so I passed them by and picked up the $12 model. But I made a mental note in the back of my mind about it. I smiled at the thought that I could some day have HDTV but still avoid cable.

Today I was reading Newsweek and there is an article about using HDTV antennas to pick up HDTV signals outside cable and satellite. Interestingly it seems a battle between a cable and media company has bolstered sales of the antenna:

A corporate clash in televisionland has helped give antenna sales a boost. The dispute involves cable giant Charter Communications and broadcaster Belo Corp., which owns TV stations in several cities. In January, Belo said that unless Charter agreed to pay extra for the high-def signals Belo provides, it would bar the cable operator from redistributing any HD programming that originates from its stations. In cities like St. Louis, where Belo owns the CBS affiliate, that meant viewers wouldn't get the Super Bowl in high-def—as horrifying a prospect to many Bears and Colts fans as running out of beer and chips. Enter Terrestrial Digital's Schneider, announcing an antenna giveaway in St. Louis. "The best HD for no monthly fee," Terrestrial Digital declared in local radio ads, touting a free antenna for the first 200 customers. "It was bedlam," Schneider told NEWSWEEK. "We had lines stretched around the block." The Super Bowl was—believe it—saved by rabbit ears.

Oh...and I better start planning. I didn't realize the following:

Analog TV broadcast switch-off: In December 2005, the Senate passed a budget bill that calls for over-the-air television stations to cease their analog broadcasts by February 17, 2009. After that date, TVs and other gear with old-style NTSC tuners would be unable to receive over-the-air broadcasts. Part of the government's quandary is that the switch-off would cause thousands of TVs to go dark and would deprive many lower-income viewers of their only source of television. To address this issue, lawmakers propose to subsidize converter boxes that would allow people to watch the new digital broadcasts on their old analog TVs. Further details on the transition to digital and the converter box subsidy are still being worked out, and given the slow progress over the last 9 years since the introduction of digital and HDTV, we wouldn't be surprised to hear of more changes before 2009.

More and more advertisements

I've noticed for a while now, and you probably have to, but it really hit me as I was standing in line at the Bethesda Bagel Shop and there was this new huge (maybe 36 inch) flat screen TV showing me ads for local businesses mixed in with trivia and news.

I've seen these tv-like devices in elevators, in line at the shopping market, in taxis, and other places. I guess this is a good business idea. Here is this tv screen (everyone has been trained to stare at that already) that displays trivia, weather, news headlines or some other attention grabbing piece of information and then some ads for local or national businesses. In places that never had this before.

But man, do we need more ads thrown in our faces. Some day we will have ads on the insides of our eyelids.

One last note. This is a different type of delivery, but the DC metro has ads appearing on the inside of the subway tunnel, at least on the red line. I assume it is a series of still pictures, but the speed of the train gives them motion, sort of like a cartoon flip book.

Customer service clarification, Verizon

I've been blogging about customer service issues and dissed Verizon, but I should have noted that when they (the company) sent a technician out to my house, he (the person) was excellent.

First, he told me frankly there was no way I could get the connection speeds I signed up for and suggested I downgrade my plan. I was just to far away from the local hub. Then he installed what he called a home run—a direct line from the service box on my street to my modem. He claimed by bypassing any local connections in the house, this would ensure I was getting the fastest speed possible.

This is a good illustration of something I said earlier (forgive me for quoting myself):

...good customer service is often representative of the individual and bad customer service often of lame brain company policy.

Anyway, I felt like I needed to set the record straight on that one. I am not actually sure if he was a Verizon employee or a subcontractor working for Verizon. But in any case, I felt he helped me out as best as he could.

Bad customer service: Verizon (part 2)

I've blogged a few times on customer service, both good and bad. I said I experienced both flavors with Verizon, my DSL provider. But I never followed up on that last post. Really it was not the modem at all. But that is a long story and not relevant to today's post. Except that Verizon's customer service is pretty bad.

Recently I wanted to find out if my IP address is unique to me. I tested a few times and found that is is always the same, but I really wasn't sure if the IP was specifically mine or if they filtered a number of clients through the same IP. After talking with some others who know more about this than I do, I am pretty sure my IP is unique to me. But in my process, I sent an email to Verizon technical support through their web site and asked the question.

I got the following response. Did they even read my email? I've annotated the email below just for kicks.

Dear E. Stevenson,
Yes, that's right, most people call me "E period."

Thank you for contacting the Verizon eCenter. I have received your email dated January 18, 2007 regarding information you need from Verizon Online DSL tech support.

We apologize for the trouble you are having.
Well, I am not really having any trouble, I just have a technical question and figure the technical support group would be the best people to contact.

In order to provide you with the technical assistance required to resolve your issue, please contact our Verizon Online Technical Support team directly.
Hmmm...is email not direct enough? Are the smart technical support people only available by phone? Don't they have email?

To reach Verizon Online Technical Support, please dial (800)567-6789. Verify the 10-digit telephone number on which you have or wish to have Internet service, then say the name of the department.

A Verizon Online representative will be happy to assist you.
Aren't you a Verizon Online representative? If not, who are you and why did you get my email I sent to VERIZON?

For offline self-help, DSL customers can use Verizon Online's Support Center software, which should have been loaded on your computer during installation.

You can run the Support Center software to automatically check and fix many common Internet and e-mail problems. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions. Like, why do you have email support, if you then direct people to call? That is a frequently asked question I now have. Just look for and click on the Verizon Online Support Center software "question mark" icon located on your computer desktop or you may go to the following web site to download the software at no additional charge.

http://www.verizon.net/help

The Verizon Online Technical Support team to which we have referred you will be able to assist you. If you have any additional questions, please let us know. Yes, is my IP address specific to me.... We look forward to serving you. If you had just answered my question you would have served me and wouldn't need to look forward to it at a future time.

Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.

Sincerely,
Darlene
C'mon, we are pretty close. Can I call you "D period?"
Verizon eCenter

Chad Vader

I am not sure where I read about this "series' some guys created and are distributing on YouTube, but it is really funny. Well...that is if you think the premise of Darth Vader's brother (in a full Darth Vader garb) as a shift manager of a supermarket is funny. One of my favorite scenes is Chad Vader telling an angry supermarket customer that he can "feel his anger" and if that the customer "strikes him down" he will refund his money. Hilarious . Note the first episode is probably the weakest, so give it a chance.

Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wGR4-SeuJ0
Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPVlljVWqBg
Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh8u6nTx8wY
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogIqayRDr4w
Episode 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAkOfoI3SpE

The five things you probably don't know about me post

I was tagged by Barry Gruabart at Content Matters as part of this "five things you don't know about me" blog chain letter thing. Barry tagged me at my employer's group blog, but I moved the response over here.

I don't ever pass on those chain emails that people still send me, but this blog tag thing feels a little different (you need to come here; it is not pushed to your inbox).

So, if you are interested, here are the five things you probably don't know about me:

• Like Barry, my first plane ride was in my early 20s for my first "real" job out of college. It was from Philly to Seattle. But with the same company I then went on to take several international trips and have been to 5 continents. I still need to get to South America (should be doable) and Antarctica (may be more difficult) to hit all seven.
  
  
• With that said, my personal geographic world is pretty small. I can walk to the homes of my sister, my mother-in-law, my wife's sister, my wife's brother, and a number of friends, including one I knew since before kindergarten. My parents, another sister-in-law, and many life long friends, are only a 5-10 minute drive a way.
  
  
• My mother was born in Italy. She was only 4 when she came over with her father, so she doesn't have an accent. But my grandmother is that stereotypical Italian grandmother who is most happy when you are eating large portions of food.
  
  
• In eighth grade, I was condemned to hell by Sister Helen, the principal of my Catholic grade school. All because I didn't want to be an alterboy anymore. I remember most sins were cleared up with a few Hail Marys. I didn't realize the penalty was so rough for this.
  
  
• I was once kicked out of Veteran's stadium in the 4th quarter of an Eagles game. Yes, I was in the fabled 700 level, but no, it was not my fault. Really, it wasn't.
  
  
• I can make things burst into flames just by staring intently at them. Ok, this is a lie, but just wanted to see if you were paying attention. I already did my five.

So that's that. But sorry, I am not passing this on to other bloggers. I am breaking the chain. I've already been damned to hell, so really, what worse can happen?

Rest assured, you can still buy rabbit ears

DSCN4003
Originally uploaded by estevenson.

I have assumed that most people have cable or satellite television and are not picking up their programming from the free electromagnetic television waves darting through the air. I assume this because of the reactions I get whenever I mention I don't have cable. You would think I just said I need to go turn the crank on my car.

Well anyway, we got this under-the-cabinet radio/tv device for the kitchen for Christmas. Having no cable, I need to hook it up to an antenna. I want to use the rabbit ears on the tv in the den and get a new antenna for that tv. Although it has been a few years since I bought an antenna I remember buying one at RadioShack. So I went to RadioShack and asked if they sell them. They do. And they aren't hidden in the back in dusty boxes behind the eight-tracks. They are right there on the shelf. And in fact, the model I wanted, which has a picture frame incorporated into it, was sold out...but will be sent with the new shipments on Thursday. So they actually restock these too.

So there are obviously others out there who still use tv antennas.

A colleague of mine was telling me about his home entertainment set up and I mentioned I don't have cable (gasp!) and that the tv in my living room is actually an old dial tv I bought used from some guy when I was single and living alone (but I should state we do have a more modern tv in the den that we use the most). He didn't believe me so I needed to send him a picture of it, which is the photo here.