Let’s you have a website. Now you work on it to get it just the way they want it. It may have taken longer to set up but it the way they want it. Great. You tweak it so there customers can find what they need and a clear format.

Then one day one asshole gets lost and can’t fine the thing he was looking for and emails the people on the site and says they had a problem. Now this site may get up to a 1000 hits a day, and has been live for over 2 years. That’s right, one complaint in 2 years about there format.

So now they want to change the look and feel on one page because of one complaint. Now this page is not any different then any other page, it just list different content. I tried to tell them, the flow will not be the same. Everything about what they wanted will now be different. And there answer is “The customer is always right” Well if that is so, the customer is an asshole, because there not!

So how did I handle my customer? Did I change her website? Did I fold under because “The customer is always right”?

F##k NO! At some point you have to say “enough is enough” and walk away.

Yes I could use the money, Yes, they have been a customer for many years.

I guess I’m just getting sick of people telling how to be my job, when they have no idea what it takes to do it.

A friend who has a podcast talked about friends who ever call. And I started to think about this because this is one of my biggest problems. No, I’m not the one waiting for someone who never calls, I’m the one who never calls. And I got to say that it’s been that why for me since I could remember.

Now days I have tried to be the point of contact, but it isn’t my thing. I don’t know why I just don’t like talking on the phone that much. Now I guess it all depends on who I’m talking to, like my wife or kids. I don’t go out of my why to not talk to my friend, the few I have, I just have a hard time picking up the phone and calling them.

I’m write this post on calling people because I have found myself in the same spot. I guess what goes around comes around. I have someone who I would call my friend. And of late, it seems like I’m the only one calling. So for the next few weeks I’m going to not call just to see if they call me. I think they will not. I think this because things between us have changed. How? Don’t know. They act like something is wrong any time I see them. (I say “they” us I don’t want to say he or she. ) I have asked if everything is OK, and they say fine. I know it not. Oh well, if there is a problem and they can’t talk to me about it, then there’s not much I can do. So the waiting game starts now.

If things change, I will update this post, if only for me. See you later as I will not be calling.

Tiger Woods Chrismas Card

Hi HT guys!
I just experience 24 hours of “hell”, involving a failed install of AT&T’s U-Verse, from which perhaps some of your listeners might be able to get some recautionary tips from.  It’s a little long, but I’ll try to summarize as much as possible, and maybe you can as well!

Some background:  I live in a suburb of Chicago, about 40 miles directly west of the best city in America  (Go Bears!!), called West Chicago (go figure eh!). By some strange quirk, my lot is unincorporated, but we ARE slap bang in the middle of civilization, with a new housing development not more than one block south of me.   My lot is very wooded with old, established white oaks, many of which are 80+ feet high.

We’ve been here about 10 years, and when we moved in we found that we did not have any cable service to our house despite the fact that our neighbor, about 300 foot away did.  So satellite, DirecTV,  became the main vehicle for obtaining TV signals, as the OTA wasn’t that good either (more on this later).   It took me 18 months of exploration to find a good spot where my dish would pick up the standard satellite signal - I found one, and pointing through a crack in the trees and getting 100% signal on nearly all channels.  I did get a slightly larger dish to the normal one (off ebay!), so that snow and rain fade are not a major issue.

All good so far!!  But then along came HD, and of course like most people I was excited and asked DirecTV to install it.

Full stop there - because the HD channels are carried on different satellites, the dish would need to point to a slightly different location and guess what!  Yup, mother nature had grown a large oak tree right in the path of the signal.

I hear people saying, cut down the tree.  Aside from that being an expensive proposition (have you ever contracted a tree feller - mucho bucks), we love our trees, and trees in general, so this was not an option.  I learned to live with OTA HD signals via an HD antenna, on an extended height pole.  Come the digital changeover this year, the local channels actually come in better but I still have to turn my antenna from time to time to accomodate weather and wind conditions.  OK - I get the Bears in HD, so I’m OK with it for now.

A Shining White Knight?
In the meantime, in a phone land far far away, the great digital leader, ATT, was proclaiming great things for his empire called U-Verse.

Yes, I had heard about this and longed for the day when they brought this to my door, seeing it as a savior of digital media.  After all, I had phone lines, and DSL internet albeit at the 1.5mb speed (from AT&T already), because they told me I was at the end of the drop so would not get a faster speed.
U-Verse, FIOS based, it seemed would be the answer because it was faster and broader and would deliver TV, phone and internet in one cool package. And as I was refinishing my basement to be a home theater - English pub combo, I had invested in some good equipment to match that (Samsung UN55B7000, Denon AVR-2309CI, and a set of KEF 3000 speakers - Oppo DVD player to be purchased later based on your review!!)

The AT&T sales people did a good job of selling, spending a good hour explaining how it all worked and answering my questions. However, there was one crucial question that needed answering and one crucial point that was not discussed that we will reveal later.

Came the install day.  I arose excited and happy about my pending move into the full HD world!
As i work from home, I had risen early complete my days work on the computer as I felt that as some time they may have to disconnect my DSL to switch over.  As I had my DSL on a second and separate line to where the U-Verse was being installed, I felt confident that it might not be a lengthy outage. WRONG!! 

And here’s the first lesson learned:
U-verse and DSL do not live together, even if you have two phone lines for each separate one.  You cannot have them on the same outside phone block!

So AT&T had politely put through a DSL disconnect order, which came about at least 4 hours before the install was scheduled, and in this case continued for a full 24 hours!!  Maybe not a biggie for most people, but if you work at home it is huge.  Plus, and I hate saying this…do you know how much we rely on the internet now!!  Without it, you feel alone and stranded on an island.  Eeek!

Ok - to continue….
The installers arrived and the first job for them was to test the line for quality and capability.  Full stop!
They told me that as I was at the end of the line, the signal might not be strong enough, and even if it was I might only be able to view/record one HD channel at a time.   Still hope!
A line technician was dispatched and did an outstanding job of cleaning and tweaking the line to match the specs for what was needed for U-Verse. He failed, but at least I have one of the cleanest internet and phone lines in the neighborhood!

Second lesson learned:
If you are looking at U-Verse, then please ask them to test the line ahead of time, or at least ask them where you are in relation to the main phone box, so you can get an idea if it is even possible to get anything!!So, I’m back to my limited HD reception again, using my OTA to bring in only the local channels.

There is a good note at the end of this debacle that I should mention to be fair to AT&T - after I managed to reach a customer service manager to complain about all the problems I had had that day (and I had many more than listed here, mainly with the poor coordination between DSL and U-verse departments), they did compensate me with discounted services, for the loss of service and the angst and personal stress.  At least they realized they screwed up!

Back to my problem of obtaining good HD content, I would like to ask you and your listeners if they have any bright ideas as to how I can get this?

My next calls are to my village to ask whether they have any cable companies who might run to my house, and to DirecTV to see if they provide access via OnDemand to HD programs that I can download, despite not being able to receive the live HD signals.

Great show, keep up the good work, and I know that someday my HD prince will come….

Cheers!
Phil Clark
Landlord
www.thebritandyankee.com

(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)

Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test.
So, here is my Question: Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass - doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could title that program, ‘Urine or You’re Out’.

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all will pass it along, though. Some thing has to change in this country — and soon!!!!!!!

teck support cheet sheet

Author: unknown

Yes it’s summer and it’s time to party.Well this weekend (June 6) there is a plary at the Two Brothers Brewing Company .
The event is “For The Love of Hops“. Here what they say about it.

A day long beer and music festival centered around the 2009 release of Hop Juice Double IPA.

For more information follow the links to the Two Brothers Website.
Phil & I will also be recording the next Brit and Yankee show as we walk around and eat and drink the best beer in the mid-west.
We hope to see you there.
If you did go, please post your thought.
Thanks

http://www.thebritandyankee.com

Billy Mays yelling,

cool aid man saying”oh ya”,

I hate commercials

Don’t you?

When entertainer and internet broadcaster Richard Vobes (real name Richard Lindsey), aged 46 from Worthing West Sussex, caught an amoebic bug through bad contact lens hygiene in the autumn of 2006, little did he realise he was the road to severe pain, loss of work and total blindness. Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) is a rare bug, caught through contacts lens misuse, that’s eats away at the cornea causing in extreme cases loss of sight and potential removal of the eye.

Once diagnosed, Richard was transferred quickly to Moorfields eye hospital in London under world leading AK specialist Doctor John Dart, who treated him with a series of anti- amoebic drugs, one chlorine based, the same stuff they put into swimming pools, but in Richard case, as can happen in some resistant patents, little proved to work.

The symptoms of the AK causes, extreme soreness, the inability of being out in daylight and holding down a regular job. Richard was forced to change his profession many times from entertainer, to video producer to internet radio presenter.

Jonathan Ross listens to the Vobes.

‘I had being running a radio show on-line part time for three years with listeners from all over the world, including famous stars like Jonathan Ross and Danny Baker’ Richard explains.

BBC Presenter Jonathan Ross called into the show one day and when asked why he listened said, ‘Richard, there are very few mavericks left and you must be encouraged and supported.

Ref: (http://members.vobes.com/media/calls/JonathanRoss.mp3)

Danny baker from BBC Five Live said, ‘Richard, you will be surprised who listens to you’.

Ref: (http://members.vobes.com/media/calls/dannybaker.mp3)

Recession

Thanks to the recession and with work drying up and the limited ability to get out do it anyway, Richard felt the only option was to put all his eggs in to one basket make hsi radio show pay. But the eye problem was getting worse and unless he could stop the pain and get back to work he would lose his house.

Eye Operations

In 2008, Richard had a biopsy to remove the infected tissue, this unfortunately proved unsuccessful and on April 1st, 2009, he had to have a cornea graff transplant. However, 30 days later, by Friday last week this had torn and started to melt as a result of a further attack from the amebic bug and his eye chamber had started to leak, potentially leading to the collapse of his eye.

Rushed to A&E at Moorfields on Friday, Richard had come to the end of this tether and was requesting a glass eye to give him closure from this condition.

‘I needed to work on my new business before the money runs out. I have to feed the kids, pay the utility bills and most important keep the mortgage going.’ Richard said.

Doctor Dart, confessed that many patients reached the same conclusion after prolonged exposure to Acanthamoeba Keratitis, but he persuaded Richard there was still a chance to save the eye albeit little hope gaining much of the vision with a second cornea replacement graff. Knowing this meant more time away from his work, and potential loss of his home, Richard has gambled on this procedure and underwent the operation on Saturday 2nd May.  

There is no guarantee this will work as the Acanthamoeba keratitis is still latent and a prosthetic eye may be the final outcome.

‘I cannot praise enough the splendid work that Moorfields do and dedication Dr. Dart and his staff have for their patients. It is extremely rare that some get to be as unlucky as I, but my fingers are crossed for a positive outcome!’ Richard said in spite of his ongoing problems.

You can catch Richard’s internet radio show at http://www.vobes.com everyday Monday to Friday.

References:

AK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthamoeba_keratitis

Dr. Dart - Moorfields

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)64138-4/fulltext

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/310/6994/1567

Richard Vobes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Vobes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4626445.stm

http://www.vobes.com/

Play Audio

a lone blue flower

with soft petals smelling sweet

it is so calming.

It is, isn’t it?

I know it’s been some time since I last wrote. A few things have changed. March 1, 2009 my dad passed away. He was not having any health problems so this shocked us all.

I guess the only reason I’m writing this is for me, so if you want to tune out go for it.

My dad’s wife (my step-mom) passed away about 18 months ago and we thought he would take it hard, which he did. But in his own way. My brothers and sister and there spouses did a great job in keeping him busy and focused on the living and the now. Even my own wife had him go on a trip with her and my sister-in-law.

I on the other have been busy on my own. Yes to busy to go see him but for a few time a year. OK, not so much busy as didn’t make time to go see him. Now he was OK with this as we were cut from the same stone.  The other difference is he wasn’t lazy, I am.

I only have had my dad back in my life for about 20 years or so. (Long story and I’m not going in to it) I really didn’t know how much he loved me. Yes he said it and I believed him but I really didn’t know until the will was read. He took the time to add a few line in there that I will never forgot.

So do me a favor. Today, tomorrow and everyday after this look at the people you love and tell them that you love them. And don’t just say it, Say it!

Remember what the song said “Don’t blink”

I love you Dad. Thanks for being in my life! You da man…

1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.

2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.

3. Sorry to have missed you, but I’m at the doctor’s having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.

4. I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from vacation. Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see who did this over and over and over…)

7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8. Hi, I’m thinking about what you’ve just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

9. I’ve run away to join a different circus.

10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as ‘Lucille’ instead of Steve.

Go to http://www.woot.com and get in on all the good stuff.

Remember, Woot Offs only are there for 24 to 48 hours so check back.

First his blog about driving a bus. (http://www.busdriverjimmy.blogspot.com/)

Jimmy list great personal stories and other stories that relate to buses and the people who drive and ride them. Please check out Jimmy’s blog called “Driving a bus? - Diary of a man starting out on the road to becoming a bus driver.”

http://www.busdriverjimmy.blogspot.com/

His next site has to do with food. It’s called “Can You Eat It”.  (http://www.canieatit.co.uk/) Now this site has great detail on how to plant seeds. Well, it’s not that easy, but Jimmy shows you many different plates and what he did to get the very best out of your seeds. He also shows you a few different projects he’s working on or have finished.

Check out “Can You Eat It”.

http://www.canieatit.co.uk/

Jimmy has another site called “Can You Eat It”. But this one deals with chocolate. (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/halfajob/Chocolate/) As of the date of this post, Jimmy has tried 78 bar of chocolate. Jimmy gives you details like where the chocolate comes from, how big is it, what’s in it and how much it cost. Real chocolate lovers need to check this site out as it will make your mouth water.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/halfajob/Chocolate/

And last one that subject that is something we all love BEER!!! But the only bad thing about this for me is I can’t get to any pubs Jimmy is talking about because this site is about pubs in his home town of Worthing. Site is called “Worthing Pubs - A History”

(http://www.worthingpubs.com/) This is a great site. I love history and this site gives you a brake down the pubs in Worthing and if they are still serving or not. It also shows you where they are on old maps and if they are published, old and new photos of the pubs.

Each pub has a history brake down and facts about it. If you check out one site of Jimmy’s, this is the one for you.

Great job Jimmy and thanks for giving us all more information about what our friend across the pond is up to.