This was the question of the hour when news broke on Twitter of pitchman Billy Mays death. He's best known for the Oxiclean infomercial that propelled the product to astronomical sales.
While I didn't recognize his name I immediately identified him when my spouse said "Oxiclean" as Mays was synonymous with this product. I've been using it since discovering it at the Los Angeles County Fair. Soon Mays was pitching it on TV on the rest is Infomercial King history.
Many people would like the Grim Reaper to simply leave earth's celebrities alone so we can catch our breath and process everything. I doubt this will happen because the old superstition of celebrities dying in threes is ensconced in pop culture.
So we've lost Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson in the same week. Billy Mays started off the new week and we'll see if the superstition holds true, I'm hoping it doesn't because I, for one, have had enough shockers to last me a good while.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Media Circus
The self proclaimed King of Pop is dead and his body lays at the Los Angeles County Coroner's office, which I drive past daily on my way to work. Talk about a media frenzy surrounding this location at the intersection of Marengo Street and Mission Road. I was ready to call in to work and tell them that I was going to be late.
As we traveled southbound on Mission Road from Valley Boulevard I could see traffic backed up and what looked like a motorcade of white trucks off to the side. As we neared Mission and Zonal I could distinguish the white trucks as media vehicles equipped with huge satellite dishes.
They lined both sides of Mission Road reducing traffic to one lane each side, which explained why we were jammed like sardines. Everywhere I looked I saw Digital SLRs with behemoth lenses and flanks of video cameras pointed at the gates leading to the Coroner's office, each group prepared to capture a glimpse of anything.
This media circus was a perfect reflection of Jackson's real life. He reveled in the spotlight and courted the attention and adulation of thousands, now they waited around the world for final word of what caused his untimely death.
The throngs of reporters, photographers and fans was simply too much. I wanted my carpool friend to get us the hell out of there. It was stifling to see so many people in one place jockeying for position and for a very brief moment I felt I could understand what celebrities experience daily. It's paralyzing and crushing and something I hope to never experience again.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A Crazy Day
Sometime past I had a conversation with my mother about how certain celebrities or politicians define an era or generation. Certainly for my mom’s generation it was the death of J.F.K. that defined the sixties. In the seventies she said the passing of Elvis Presley left an indelible mark. I shared that John Lennon’s murder was a defining moment and I’ll never forget where I was or what I was doing when I heard the horrible news.
I feel this way today with the shocking news that Michael Jackson died suddenly at age 50. Always slender and seemingly in good health, I never imagined that he would die so young. Yes, I said young. The average life expectancy is 80 years old, which means Jackson died prematurely by 30 years. So yes, it is very shocking to me.
I was at work when my mom phoned to tell me that the media was reporting Michael Jackson may have been rushed to the hospital due to cardiac arrest. I can understand the media being evasive as immediate family members should always be the first to know.
I immediately went outside to surf the web for real time information about what was occurring. I tried for 7 minutes and could not connect to anything - not even Summize.com. It was like the entire Internet and web were down.
When my mom phoned again to tell me there were unconfirmed reports of his death, I felt strangely light headed. Here was someone I identified with as being from my generation and I couldn’t quite process the information. Disbelief enveloped me.
The Jackson Five and later Michael Jackson were the soundtrack of my life. So many rites of passage are recalled when I listen to I'll Be There, Got To Be There, Dancing Machine, Billie Jean, Off The Wall, etc.
It’s been a crazy day with the passing of Farrah Fawcett, even if her demise was expected due to cancer I was greatly saddened by her death. And then several hours later on this same day we lost Michael Jackson. Immediately Farrah Fawcett was relegated to the sidebar on the front page of the L.A. Times.
I vaguely remember Charlie's Angels probably because I didn't watch much T.V. then. I was always more of a music lover, but nonetheless, after viewing the documentary about Farrah's three year battle I had nothing but admiration for her courage and desire to live.
So we have lost two wonderful people today, two individuals who have brought us a lot of joy and entertained us through the years. May they rest in peace.
I feel this way today with the shocking news that Michael Jackson died suddenly at age 50. Always slender and seemingly in good health, I never imagined that he would die so young. Yes, I said young. The average life expectancy is 80 years old, which means Jackson died prematurely by 30 years. So yes, it is very shocking to me.
I was at work when my mom phoned to tell me that the media was reporting Michael Jackson may have been rushed to the hospital due to cardiac arrest. I can understand the media being evasive as immediate family members should always be the first to know.
I immediately went outside to surf the web for real time information about what was occurring. I tried for 7 minutes and could not connect to anything - not even Summize.com. It was like the entire Internet and web were down.
When my mom phoned again to tell me there were unconfirmed reports of his death, I felt strangely light headed. Here was someone I identified with as being from my generation and I couldn’t quite process the information. Disbelief enveloped me.
The Jackson Five and later Michael Jackson were the soundtrack of my life. So many rites of passage are recalled when I listen to I'll Be There, Got To Be There, Dancing Machine, Billie Jean, Off The Wall, etc.
It’s been a crazy day with the passing of Farrah Fawcett, even if her demise was expected due to cancer I was greatly saddened by her death. And then several hours later on this same day we lost Michael Jackson. Immediately Farrah Fawcett was relegated to the sidebar on the front page of the L.A. Times.
I vaguely remember Charlie's Angels probably because I didn't watch much T.V. then. I was always more of a music lover, but nonetheless, after viewing the documentary about Farrah's three year battle I had nothing but admiration for her courage and desire to live.
So we have lost two wonderful people today, two individuals who have brought us a lot of joy and entertained us through the years. May they rest in peace.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Do companies care about providing Customer Service?
Anyone who's had to renew a service (i.e. cable TV, broadband connectivity, cell phone) can relate to speaking with a customer service representative who wields the power of offering and / or approving a promotion. They hold us in their death grip as they contemplate if they're in a good mood or not. Feeling helpful or not.
Such was my experience with Charter Communications Cable. I've been a cable TV customer for as long as they've been in my town. Last year I opted for a one year cable Internet promotion that bundled the cable TV and Internet at a competitive price. The promotion expired yesterday prompting me to phone Charter Communications.
The first CSR, a male, tried to up sell me to a land line, TV and Internet bundle. I presently have land line service with AT&T and am content. I declined and inquired about any TV / Internet offer currently available. His tone became very cold and distant as he stated that the phone / TV / Internet bundle was the only option. I declined his more than generous offer after his assurance that I had been offered the best deal available.
I phoned again and was assisted by a female CSR who explained in great detail what my present TV package included, what my Internet package cost under the expired promotion and what it would cost now. She also explained that for a one year contract I could pay $30 monthly for Internet plus $3.95 for the modem rental. She could not assure me that my TV package would remain unaffected and did not counter with an offer.
Dissatisfied I phoned again and spoke with a female who seemed genuinely confused about my inquiry and offered to discontinue service straight away if I so desired, no attempt at retaining me as a customer. Has Charter Communications, like so many other conglomerates, forgotten the adage "It's less expensive to keep current customers happy than to attract new ones"?
After speaking with Boo we decided to make one final call, surely someone must care enough to use their skill and experience to keep us as a paid subscriber.
The fourth call was the charm a male CSR explained my expired plan versus what I would pay now then countered with a one year contract commitment for Internet at $30 monthly and a guarantee that my cable TV package options and pricing would remain the same. Bingo! We had a deal.
I have been a happy Charter Communications cable TV customer for years. My first year's experience of cable Internet exceeded my expectations. I experienced downtime only once and it was due to weather-related damage. As a customer I can't understand nor excuse why companies allow their customers to be disrespected and maligned with such shoddy customer service.
Customer service representatives should be discouraged from using brass knuckle tactics in customer retention and be encouraged to retain the customer through courtesy, patience and communication. I shouldn't become an adversary simply because my promotion has expired. It should not be incumbent on me to make numerous phone calls in an attempt to retain service at a reasonable price.
It's ridiculous that I had to phone Charter Communications four times before receiving satisfactory assistance resulting in positive resolution. Had the fourth CSR been unwilling / unable to assist me, I was prepared to make DSL Extreme my new broadband provider.
I'm sure that Charter Communications would have contacted me within two months after termination in an attempt to re-establish me as a customer, a tactic which is inherently flawed. By the time they would be willing to make concessions to woo me back, I would already have established rapport with the new provider, have a worsening image of their brand and service, likely be bound to the new service under contractual obligation and not desire to be inconvenienced by waiting for the installer, etc. and wasting more time.
Charter Communications the reason you're losing paying customers isn't because of Hulu.com or Apple TV or the Internet and illegal file sharing, it's because your customer service is atrocious! The sites mentioned were created out of frustration with your industry's lack of service and dearth of flexibility.
Such was my experience with Charter Communications Cable. I've been a cable TV customer for as long as they've been in my town. Last year I opted for a one year cable Internet promotion that bundled the cable TV and Internet at a competitive price. The promotion expired yesterday prompting me to phone Charter Communications.
The first CSR, a male, tried to up sell me to a land line, TV and Internet bundle. I presently have land line service with AT&T and am content. I declined and inquired about any TV / Internet offer currently available. His tone became very cold and distant as he stated that the phone / TV / Internet bundle was the only option. I declined his more than generous offer after his assurance that I had been offered the best deal available.
I phoned again and was assisted by a female CSR who explained in great detail what my present TV package included, what my Internet package cost under the expired promotion and what it would cost now. She also explained that for a one year contract I could pay $30 monthly for Internet plus $3.95 for the modem rental. She could not assure me that my TV package would remain unaffected and did not counter with an offer.
Dissatisfied I phoned again and spoke with a female who seemed genuinely confused about my inquiry and offered to discontinue service straight away if I so desired, no attempt at retaining me as a customer. Has Charter Communications, like so many other conglomerates, forgotten the adage "It's less expensive to keep current customers happy than to attract new ones"?
After speaking with Boo we decided to make one final call, surely someone must care enough to use their skill and experience to keep us as a paid subscriber.
The fourth call was the charm a male CSR explained my expired plan versus what I would pay now then countered with a one year contract commitment for Internet at $30 monthly and a guarantee that my cable TV package options and pricing would remain the same. Bingo! We had a deal.
I have been a happy Charter Communications cable TV customer for years. My first year's experience of cable Internet exceeded my expectations. I experienced downtime only once and it was due to weather-related damage. As a customer I can't understand nor excuse why companies allow their customers to be disrespected and maligned with such shoddy customer service.
Customer service representatives should be discouraged from using brass knuckle tactics in customer retention and be encouraged to retain the customer through courtesy, patience and communication. I shouldn't become an adversary simply because my promotion has expired. It should not be incumbent on me to make numerous phone calls in an attempt to retain service at a reasonable price.
It's ridiculous that I had to phone Charter Communications four times before receiving satisfactory assistance resulting in positive resolution. Had the fourth CSR been unwilling / unable to assist me, I was prepared to make DSL Extreme my new broadband provider.
I'm sure that Charter Communications would have contacted me within two months after termination in an attempt to re-establish me as a customer, a tactic which is inherently flawed. By the time they would be willing to make concessions to woo me back, I would already have established rapport with the new provider, have a worsening image of their brand and service, likely be bound to the new service under contractual obligation and not desire to be inconvenienced by waiting for the installer, etc. and wasting more time.
Charter Communications the reason you're losing paying customers isn't because of Hulu.com or Apple TV or the Internet and illegal file sharing, it's because your customer service is atrocious! The sites mentioned were created out of frustration with your industry's lack of service and dearth of flexibility.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Mobile Broadband / Pre-Paid Mobile Offerings
It seems the big three providers: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have settled on $60 per month for mobile broadband with a 5 gig cap. They vary on the cost per megabyte when exceeding the 5 gig cap. Mobile Broadband was very helpful by providing a comparison chart of a sampling of providers and listing their respective features.
Virgin Mobile announced Broadband 2 Go which is a pre-paid mobile broadband offering starting as low as $10 for 100 megabytes of usage within 10 days. There is no activation fee, contract, early termination fee or overage charge. You must purchase a $149.99 Novatel modem from Best Buy and pre-pay for your usage. The most expensive option being $60 for up to one gigabyte of usage within 30 days. Megabytes can not be rolled over; unused gigs within 30 days are lost.
Verizon offers a Broadband Day Pass at $15 for 24 hours of continuous use. Restrictions for megabytes downloaded / used do apply and you must purchase a Verizon broadband modem or, if your netbook / notebook has mobile broadband built-in, you may purchase an ExpressCard.
Virgin Mobile announced Broadband 2 Go which is a pre-paid mobile broadband offering starting as low as $10 for 100 megabytes of usage within 10 days. There is no activation fee, contract, early termination fee or overage charge. You must purchase a $149.99 Novatel modem from Best Buy and pre-pay for your usage. The most expensive option being $60 for up to one gigabyte of usage within 30 days. Megabytes can not be rolled over; unused gigs within 30 days are lost.
Verizon offers a Broadband Day Pass at $15 for 24 hours of continuous use. Restrictions for megabytes downloaded / used do apply and you must purchase a Verizon broadband modem or, if your netbook / notebook has mobile broadband built-in, you may purchase an ExpressCard.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
In the Swing of Things - Not!
Getting back in the groove at work has been more challenging than I expected. I've been returning home so tired and drained and yet, the pace I'm working is much slower and less challenging. Shouldn't I be more relaxed since I'm not pushing myself?
I've also noticed that I'm less engaged with my co-workers, I have less interest in what they're up to or interested in. I find my mind wandering to being at home and day dreaming about what I'd be doing if I were home. I don't dislike or hate my job, but I do appear to have lost enthusiasm and passion for it.
I need to get back on track and in the swing of things before my circumstance worsens.
I've also noticed that I'm less engaged with my co-workers, I have less interest in what they're up to or interested in. I find my mind wandering to being at home and day dreaming about what I'd be doing if I were home. I don't dislike or hate my job, but I do appear to have lost enthusiasm and passion for it.
I need to get back on track and in the swing of things before my circumstance worsens.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Mobile Broadband
I didn't broach the subject this weekend as we were quite busy with birthday celebrations and friends' crises. After evaluating everything that was going on I decided my timing was way off and I'd need to wait at least another month. I'm disappointed of course, but realize that timing is of the essence and I'll only have one clear shot at my making my case.
It seems that of all the wireless services available my co-workers use AT&T because it has the strongest signal and most reliable connection in our work space. I checked with security personnel and they explained that AT&T has an antenna atop our building, they're one of the few cell companies that agreed to do this to improve the signal.
I can find plenty of people with cell phone service but inquiring about mobile broadband elicits blank stares. The personnel that do use mobile broadband are on business accounts paid for by our company and they don't want to divulge which company we use.
I'll continue trying to break through barriers in my quest to have Internet access from the dungeon. What amount of "viewing" lifestream feeds amounts to 5 gigs each month? Does anyone know or can point me in the direction of where to find out?
It seems that of all the wireless services available my co-workers use AT&T because it has the strongest signal and most reliable connection in our work space. I checked with security personnel and they explained that AT&T has an antenna atop our building, they're one of the few cell companies that agreed to do this to improve the signal.
I can find plenty of people with cell phone service but inquiring about mobile broadband elicits blank stares. The personnel that do use mobile broadband are on business accounts paid for by our company and they don't want to divulge which company we use.
I'll continue trying to break through barriers in my quest to have Internet access from the dungeon. What amount of "viewing" lifestream feeds amounts to 5 gigs each month? Does anyone know or can point me in the direction of where to find out?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Microsoft Bing
I've been using Microsoft's Bing search site which is providing different results than Google, especially when doing an image search. It's efficient, fast and its results page is uncluttered and nicely arranged. The news section is less comprehensive than Google's and needs improvement. Nonetheless, I haven't been this excited about a Microsoft product in years. I've been a hardcore Google supporter and never imagined using another search engine. Of course, there hasn't been any real competition for a long time. Yahoo? Yawn. MSN Search? Blech!
As in all things in real life it is important that Google has healthy competition. Watch out Google Bing has it going on!
As in all things in real life it is important that Google has healthy competition. Watch out Google Bing has it going on!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Twitter Search Blocked
My days at work are long and dismal with no end in sight .... am I in a dungeon cut off from civilization? No, not literally. However since my employer has blocked summize.com I might as well be! I am unable to access Twitter from work thus making my day long, laborious and so unkind. I used Summize to stay on top of what was happening locally, as well as abroad. I would also monitor tweets addressed to me, as well as those of a select few I wanted to follow as close to real time as possible.
I have searched for summize-like alternatives that WebSense may be unaware of in the "social media" category but have had no luck. Instead the day drolls on with anal banter and childish behavior among my co-workers. I can bring my laptop with wireless capability but there are no wi-fi networks in my building or immediate surrounding area. It's deader than a doorknob in here.
I'm researching AT&T, Verizon and Sprint wireless solutions hoping that I can entice Boo to agree to yet another expense. Of course one road block is that I'm physically located in the basement and surrounded by concrete and rebar. It's quite possible none of the wireless services will work from my cubicle. A wonderful resource for feature and pricing comparison among providers is the Mobile Broadband site. It seems providers have settled on a 5 gig cap per month at $60 per month.
How is it that the major providers arrived at the same price? Where's the competition? Where's the incentive to switch networks? It smacks of price fixing and I wonder why this has been allowed to stand. Well, this weekend I will broach the $60 expense and hope for the best!
I have searched for summize-like alternatives that WebSense may be unaware of in the "social media" category but have had no luck. Instead the day drolls on with anal banter and childish behavior among my co-workers. I can bring my laptop with wireless capability but there are no wi-fi networks in my building or immediate surrounding area. It's deader than a doorknob in here.
I'm researching AT&T, Verizon and Sprint wireless solutions hoping that I can entice Boo to agree to yet another expense. Of course one road block is that I'm physically located in the basement and surrounded by concrete and rebar. It's quite possible none of the wireless services will work from my cubicle. A wonderful resource for feature and pricing comparison among providers is the Mobile Broadband site. It seems providers have settled on a 5 gig cap per month at $60 per month.
How is it that the major providers arrived at the same price? Where's the competition? Where's the incentive to switch networks? It smacks of price fixing and I wonder why this has been allowed to stand. Well, this weekend I will broach the $60 expense and hope for the best!
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