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| January 2007 »
Well, here it is, the end of another year and that can only mean one thing - resolution time. Though I may be speaking too early, I think it's probably safe to say that for the first time, I actually stayed true and committed to my 2006 New Year's resolution: to stay out of the hospital for one full calendar year! You may snicker, but that's easier said than done with me. Picture Gerald Ford with a chainsaw. I'm clumsier even than that. So this year, I've avoided chainsaws, motorcycles, evil women and all those other things that can hurt you. But, admittedly, I've been injured in many innocuous ways as well, so I've really had to keep one eye over my shoulder for pianos falling from third-story balconies, etc. So long as I make it through today, I would have made my resolution for 2006! There will be champagne at midnight, so long as I don't put my eye out with the cork.
Ah, but now it's 2007. In one of the "About the Author" sections in one of my books, it lists "quitting smoking" among my many hobbies. It was a kind of tongue-in-cheek inclusion, but it's also been very true. I'm 42 years old and I know that it's time, after dozens of tries through the years, to kick this habit. Sometimes I'm successful for three months, ten months, five years one time. But for some reason, I've always gone back to the habit.
I'm near desperate with this now. I've tried the patch, tried hypnosis (which actually worked very well!) and tried everything else, short of sewing my lips shut with baling wire. Now, my doctor has prescribed some sort of Welbutrin knock-off, an anti-depressant. Reading the long list of cautions, possible side-effects, etc., I don't think I want to take the medication. I don't want an anti-depressant to give me thoughts of suicide. I don't want seizures or blackouts, or any of the other possible side effects. So I think I'll give it another good Christian go with the patch.
What have you tried? What really works? Is there anything out there that really works? I know that most of it is upstairs in your head but no matter how determined and committed I get, there's still that little siren song that plays up in the attic at the most inopportune times. You know the one. If you're a smoker, you've heard it to.
Okay, I finally did it. I sent a letter off to Mr. William Gates of Microsoft. Now I know he's not the "hands on" guy there now, and I know that my letter will likely not be read by anyone who really cares, but it made me feel better to send it. I vented! My beef is not with Microsoft so much but with Dell Computers. I bought an XPS system some months ago and they did not ship an operating system CD with it. Instead, there was a note in the box that told me that I could use an included application to burn a "one time only" copy of the system utilities/drivers disk and the OS. I looked everywhere, but that application was not included with the system. When I contacted Dell Support, I told Mr. Abdullah Omar Docar (who went by the name of "Bob") that the application wasn't there. He insisted that it was and that I just couldn't find it. I pursued it a bit further but finally, just dropped it, frustrated with Dell. I bought a top of the line HP dual core system and just hoped for the best with my Dell. But, as luck would have it, we had a serious storm two weeks ago that resulted in us losing power for five days. When it came back on, there was a tremendous power surge a day later that took out the Dell. I spent $800 to fix the problem and part of that included buying a full copy of Windows XP Professional Edition to replace the XP Pro that I already legally owned, but had no disk for. What follows is my letter to Bill Gates - a letter that just expresses frustration with corporations that get so huge they live in a fantasy world and are basically untouchable, though they think that they really are in touch. I will have additional posts about Dell and some of it is good. I'll get to those as I have time. But for now, I think I'll be moving to HP when I eventually replace some of the other computers on my network.
What do YOU think of the practice of not including OS disks when you purchase your system? How often have you needed your OS disk and didn't have it? I would be interested in your stories.
Mr. Gates,
Greetings. I have a situation with one of your distributors, Dell. I know there’s nothing you can do about this, but I thought I would share it as it basically illustrates some of the disconnect between large, powerful corporations and the end user. And as Dell does resell your products, it could reflect badly on Microsoft should it happen to others, though it does not have that effect on me.
In early 2006, I purchased a new Dell XPS system direct from Dell. To my dismay, there was no OS CD included but the instructions told me that I could make one backup copy using an application included on the hard drive of the machine. That application was not included on the machine. After contacting Dell, I was told that it had to be my fault, that I just wasn’t seeing it. I told them that no, the application really wasn’t there and it turned into a big finger-pointing exercise with no resolution. As a result, I was never able to back up my operating system.
Two weeks ago, we had our big windstorm and five-day power outage. I did everything right – turned off the breakers to the house before the storm hit and then powered appliances back on slowly over the course of a day when power had been restored. After 20 hours of good, stable power, we had a surge and momentary blackout that lasted only two seconds – but it did in my Dell. Now I need to replace the hard drive and … I have no OS backup.
I wrote to Dell about this and got nothing other than emails from auto-responders.
My observations are that as companies get larger and larger, customer service goes out the window. But, like the emperor with no clothes, the company has a perception that it truly does offer good customer service. My experience with Dell shows a tremendous lack of service. For one, I can barely understand the support personnel when I have called them in past. And, secondly, they seem to treat everyone as if we’re all beginners and have no computer experience. I have fifteen years of programming experience and generally build my computers from the ground up, or continuously rebuild them to keep current with technology. If I tell a support person that an application is missing from my pre-packaged system, they can believe that it is, indeed, missing.
I have a lot of respect for Microsoft, but it’s almost more of the same. I have no idea who to send this to, so I send it to you. I fully expect that it will be opened by someone in the organization and it may be routed three or four times in inter-departmental mail before winding up beneath a pile of Cheeto’s wrappers on someone’s desk, there to languish until found next Spring.
I’m only writing so that hopefully you can get a little sense of the frustration from the consumer end. My frustration is not so much with Microsoft as with Dell. As Microsoft has a more powerful relationship with Dell than I do, perhaps Microsoft can implement changes in vendor practices that can benefit the consumer as well has the vendor. For one, having a physical, tangible copy of the OS is critical and should be included with the system, not left up to the end user to create as any number of things could go wrong. In this instance, the application to create the CD wasn’t bundled into the system.
As for me, I’ll buy a new 500 gb SATA drive for the computer and will buy another XP Pro, even though I’ve already paid for and own a licensed copy for that computer. But then, I may as well wait for Vista, but that will mean two months without the XPS on the network. That is my kids’ and my wife’s system.
Best regards and Happy New Year,
Jim W. Coleman III
P.S. In case you’re interested, when I bought the Dell XPS, I also bought a high-end system from HP. I have had no problems with HP – either on the support side or with the hardware. My home network is presently made up of three Dell and one HP systems. I think I’ll be phasing out the Dell hardware over the next several years.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Being a huge Charlie Brown fan, I have my own version of the Charlie Brown tree - a miniature tree that, year after year, is dwarfed by the huge bay window at the front of the house. It's Christmas! As I write this, I'm waiting for my three daughters to come over from their mom's house for what will be their best Christmas ever! And, because they will be here, it will be my best Christmas ever, as it is every year that they are here. For the next 48 hours, I promise to not stir the pot, to not pick on anyone, to not expose sex predators in the ministry, to not comment about our Governor's inefficiency, to not openly criticize American citizens who are too lazy to learn English ... and so on. After all, it's Christmas. I'm just going to sit and admire my little tree and say this to you: "Good Grief! Merry Christmas!"
I was going to get around to posting this, but have been swamped by the holidays. Thanks to Daren Handley for passing this along:
Washington Capitol: Menorah OK, Nativity Scene Not
Read the article by Clicking here.
A popular Chanukkah song titled Maoz Tzur (Rocky Fortress) features these lines,
And there we will give thanks with an offering
When you have prepared the slaughter
for the blaspheming foe
Christmas celebrates the birth of 'The Prince of Peace' while Chanukkah celebrates the slaughter of Greeks.
2%
Merry Christmas!
THANK YOU, DAREN for passing this along. It was something that caught my eye but between a five-day Pacific Northwest power outtage, 2 1/4 inches of snow this morning and a host of other holiday woes, I haven't gotten around to posting this. Thank you for bringing it up here.
You know, this is not a whole lot different from what we saw during the "Sea-Tac Scrooge" incident. And, like then, there will likely be a whole lot of capitulation, the story will change, etc. etc. - but in this case, as in the case of the Sea-Tac Christmas Tree incident, first impressions make all the difference. You can capitulate and apologize and rationalize a stance further on down the line but by then it's too late - you've already impressed yourself on the national conscience and shown your true colors. Same with the Rabbi in the previous story, same with the People's Republic of Washington State officials in this story.
Daren, I echo your sentiments: MERRY CHRISTMAS, from a proud American Infidel!
What did the lady say to Michael Jackson when she saw him on the beach?
Hey, get out of my sun! (Get it?)
Oh wow. Just when I think I've run out of good things to post on my blog, I turn on my radio and hear some egg-head religious leader advising me not to shop at Walmart because "Jesus would not shop at Walmart." Apparently, there is a union-led movement calling for evangelicals and anyone else to boycott Walmart because of alleged and supposed injustices by Walmart upon our society. Though I normally would not direct any traffic to raving lunatics, you can click here to read more of what these idiots are up to.
For one, I don't picture Jesus as a consumer. And for another, WHO CARES?!!!
The major problem with the Islamic nations in the Middle East is that there is no separation of church and state. All decisions, politically or otherwise, are made and evaluated through religion-tainted glasses. Everything is based on their religion and there is no escaping it (outside of the obvious escape - brutal death).
Are we to follow in their footsteps and devolve our society to their level? Am I to begin making consumer choices based on what I think Jesus would do? If that were the case, I would begin spending money (okay, you got me - I meant to say that I would spend MORE money) at leper colonies and whore houses. Jesus, to his credit, hung with these folk.
And I've seen them at Walmart. So, by that logic, Jesus probably would shop at Walmart. I rest my case.
I stress in all my postings that I make a hard and fast distinction between spirituality and the trappings of religion. And this "Would Jesus shop at Walmart" is just another example of the lunacy and danger of whacked out religion in our society. The best charitable donor is the anonymous one and the most powerful prayer is said in a dark room - not blurted out from a pulpit or a television by someone with bad hair.
OMG! Let me repeat that: OMG!!! I'm going to be rich! I can pay off my house and retire!!! You see, while rummaging around in a bag of potatoes, I came across a heart-shaped potato with an apparent apparition of Jesus on it! I take this as a sign from God that I truly am the honorable Reverend Jim - the man with a plan for mankind, the blessed one who will probably now finally be able to announce an impending IPO based on this holiest of fruit (or vegetable?). We all remember the lady who got so much money for the image of Mother Mary on her burned grilled cheese sandwich - but that pales in significance beside a genuine heart-shaped potato with the image of Jesus on it! Click to see the potato and to read more about it:
My first thought was to put it on Ebay - and I may just do that. But I'm sure it has far more value than that. I'm actually thinking of having a limited-edition aftermarket run made of the sacred spud. They will be signed and numbered. I think the poor of the world could probably afford those as I could keep the price reasonable - say about $250. I've seen how much money those who can least afford to give cough up for those greaseball televangelists on the loser channel. If I threw in a prayer hankie, I could probably add another $80 to the price. I think I'll have my people contact Jimmy Swaggart's people, ORAL Roberts or, better yet, that whacky faith healer guy on tv. That's it! He could place the potato Jesus on an poor suffering individual's head, push back with force, knock them into the waiting arms of poorly-paid stage hands and reap enough monetary reward to build more amusement parks! Jesus would be proud!
And the original. Wow! I tremble with excitement. That should bring in a very high price at auction, but I won't go blue-collar Ebay with that. I'm thinking of having it insured (Lloyd's of London?) and then contacting some higher end auctions that cater to rich celebrities who don't wear panties and can't control themselves at parties. Or, simply go public with it, and use it's equity for a stock offering. Jesus was really into offerings (if you don't believe it, walk into any Baptist church and they will make that abundantly clear) so that type of thing should reap me great rewards.
The Lord would have me to be a good steward, so I will have to really put some thought into how I leverage the Heart-Shaped Potato Jesus apparition so that it continues to bless and bless and bless abundantly not only for me, but for my family and my family's family and my family's family's family.
Here is a photo of the Heart-Shaped Potato Jesus apparition. (Note, the word apparition is only used to score high in the search engine for lonely rich, misguided people who are disillusioned with life and are looking for images of the divine on common household items).
Bear in mind that while you are reading this, spyware has been downloaded onto your computer to log all keystrokes. Soon, I will have your passwords, your social security number, your credit card number and all those "midnight chats" you have with your "special friend" while your spouse is sleeping. I can probably monetize those too. All in the name of God.
The sad fact, my friend, is that this is nothing compared to how well you can be "taken" by organized religion, especially the kind on television. Stay away from it. This is just a potato - and those shucksters are potato-heads - laughable at best, dangerous in every way and, as so often turns out, usually hyprocrites, criminals, scam artists, pedophiles - take your pick.
I hope this touched you in ways you never thought you'd let me touch you. It was good for me. :)
While watching KIRO 7 News this morning, a story was aired about the dismantling of Christmas trees at the Sea-Tac (Seattle) International airport. According to the news anchor, a "prominent religious figure" complained that the Christmas trees at the airport were exclusive of all other religions and, in all likelihood, offensive to some. Because of this one complaint, workers are busily dismantling all the Christmas trees and packing them away while airport officials "review their holiday policies."
This, again, is why I don't like religion and why I would walk a mile to avoid a religious person. As I've said before, I have no problem with spiritual people. I have no problem with Christians, Buddhists, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. It's when they feel compelled to impose their religion on me that my Bullshit detector wails alarmingly and I stiff-arm these people out to a comfortable distance.
So one jerkweed "prominent religious figure" has just ruined Christmas for tens of thousands of people because a handful of individuals might be offended by the lovely sight of Christmas trees, blinking lights and holiday garland. I am not Catholic but when I see the Pope on my television, I am not offended. I usually change the channel. When I'm driving to work and I see a large cross on top of a church, I am not offended. When I see the 10 Commandments at the local courthouse, I am not offended. If I saw a Star of David on a billboard, I would not be offended. If I passed a Muslim mosque on the way to work, I would not be offended.
Since when is a Christmas tree a religious symbol anyway? Did the three kings follow the star to present sweet baby Jesus with holiday ornaments, glass balls and garland?
In the effort to be politically correct and non-offensive, we're rolling out society into one thin sheet of tasteless dough. The joys of life come from the spices in life but we're removing all the spices. We're attempting to create a one-size-fits-all society and that, my friend, spells imminent danger. We travel to experience new things, whether it's around the block or across the country. But now, we're afraid of those differences and we want everything to be the same for everyone. We used to be a more tolerant society. We used to celebrate and enjoy our differences. I don't want everyone else to be just like me. I don't want every place I visit to be identical to the place I just left. I want to see people engaging in different activities, different religions, different pasttimes. It keeps me alert and entertained. I learn new things. I can enjoy a different experience with each step I take and that adds to my quality of life.
I heard on the news that Wal*Mart, Target and a number of other stores are once again allowing their employees to say "Merry Christmas." I say, "Good for them!" And if anyone is offended by that greeting, there are lots of other places to shop.
If you are offended by a Christmas tree, you are a coward. You are not offended by it, you are threatened by it, afraid of it. Afraid of what it may or may not represent. You have issues. And you're forcing your issues out into the general population, expecting the rest of us to coddle and comfort you.
But you did accomplish one thing - now we all know that the Sea-Tac Airport officials and Port Commissioners have no balls. I always suspected as much.
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