POLITICAL: Time fo go back to the drawing board with Gooferment

Sunday, March 20, 2011

http://www.lewrockwell.com/holland/holland43.1.html

A Middle East Warning: American-Style Democracy Isnt the Answer by Ron Holland

*** begin quote ***

Build your system of government based on the successful Swiss model of Confederation government which gives the people the right to create and cancel legislation and laws when your legislative body or leaders fail to follow the majority will of the people.

*** end quote ***

Yup, the Swiss did “government” better than the USA did. The Dead Old White Guys underestimated the threat of Gooferment. It took more than 200 years for the wheels to come off. But come off they did.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

HARDWARE: Verizon sucks; FIOS NOTRECOMMENDED!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

It was a pleasure to assist you. Your chat session has ended. Thank You.

  Your chat ID number is 03191189238.

Chat Subject: FiOS Television (Other)

Your Question: Box is cycling every few minutes.

A Verizon Service Representative will be with you shortly. Thank you. (21:05:16)

<<< Ten minutes?>>>

21:15:01 Estimated wait time is 4 mins 42 secs. We apologize for the delay. You are next in the queue. A representative will be with you shortly.

Agent George has joined. (21:15:22)

George : Chat ID for this session is 03191189238. (21:15:22)

George(21:15:27): Thank you for using Verizon FiOS Technical Support. I apologize for any delays in reaching an agent today.

My name is George, for security purposes please post the name and address on the account as well as a good can be reached telephone number.

While I access your account and start running some diagnostic tests, please open a new browser window and type http://www.verizon.com/inhomeagent in the address bar and follow the prompts to download our new In Home Agent support tool, if you?ve not already done so.

Ferdinand Reinke(21:15:28): I don’t think there is much that can be done. The box is recycling every few minutes. And, my other box is running fine. Argh!

Ferdinand Reinke(21:16:11): I don’t want the inhome agent on my hardware.

George(21:16:36): please provide the information, i have asked for above please

Ferdinand Reinke(21:16:50): {Extraneous Deleted}

George(21:17:30): address on the account also

Ferdinand Reinke(21:17:45): {Extraneous Deleted}

George(21:18:20): ok

George(21:18:30): After our chat session is completed, I will send you a helpful email to the email address listed above reinke@reinke.cc

George(21:18:30): I’m sorry for any frustration this has caused, but I’d be glad to assist you with your issue today.

George(21:18:51): For security purposes can I please get you to confirm the account number, the last amount you paid, or the install date, please.

Ferdinand Reinke(21:19:07): I have no idea of that information.

George(21:19:42): i also need that information, i can wait also. if you need me to

Ferdinand Reinke(21:20:26):

{Extraneous Deleted}

George(21:21:01): thank you

George(21:21:27): also which box has the issue, the dvr or the sd box?

Ferdinand Reinke(21:21:51): the hd dvr box

George(21:22:22): is there any clicking or humming noise from the dvr/

Ferdinand Reinke(21:22:29): no

George(21:22:50): are you in front of it now?

George(21:22:55): i just flashed the programming on it

George(21:23:00): i need you to test it and see if it reboots

Ferdinand Reinke(21:23:03): sounds like the other tv has stopped playing

Ferdinand Reinke(21:23:19): press menu

George(21:23:34): i programmed both

George(21:23:40): go ahead and press menu

Ferdinand Reinke(21:23:44): done

George(21:23:54): picture?

Ferdinand Reinke(21:23:57): yes

George(21:24:03): let it play ok

Ferdinand Reinke(21:24:08): yup

Ferdinand Reinke(21:24:18): recylced

George(21:24:29): just did?

Ferdinand Reinke(21:24:32): yes

George(21:25:07): I’m going to mail out a replacement Set Top Box to you. It will arrive by UPS Next-Day Air (typically within 2-3 business days).

1. Once you receive the new Set Top Box, unplug the bad STB and power adapter and use the new STB and power adapter.

2. Then send back the bad Set Top Box using the supplied UPS shipping label and dropoff at the nearest UPS Store (www.theupsstore.com) or UPS Dropoff location.

Ferdinand Reinke(21:26:11): And I’m supposed to be happy about that. I’m without the TV service for 2-3 business days and I lose all the programs on the DVR?

George(21:26:31): yes you will lose all the recorded programs

Ferdinand Reinke(21:26:47): I know but I am NOT happy about that.

George(21:27:02): i am sorry, there is nothing we can do to make it not reboot

Ferdinand Reinke(21:27:36): OK let’s delete the DVR service completely. Just send me a replacement HD box.

George(21:28:06): can not do that, you have to talk to billing to do that

Ferdinand Reinke(21:28:26): This is the third DVR box that is being replaced.

George(21:28:31): if you want to swap to a lower priced box, they will have to do an ordr

George(21:28:36): i am sorry, but this isnt billing and orders

George(21:28:52): we do not, do orders to downgrade your box

George(21:29:02): i can only send you out a like for like unit

George(21:29:07): no downgrades

Ferdinand Reinke(21:29:43): Well you can credit the bill for at least four days out of service.

George(21:29:53): no

George(21:29:59): this isnt biling, this is repair

Ferdinand Reinke(21:30:04): NO>

George(21:30:24): repair, does not handle your bill or orders

Ferdinand Reinke(21:30:25): just shaking my head.

George(21:30:45): you understand, in repair we do not handle billing or orders

George(21:30:45): correct?

George(21:31:00): im going to send you out a replacement unit for your dvr

Ferdinand Reinke(21:31:00): I understand only to well.

George(21:31:05): since it keeps rebooting

George(21:31:11): it has been ordered

George(21:34:07): do you have any other questions, about the replacement unit

Ferdinand Reinke(21:34:32): NO!

George(21:35:08): I’m glad I could help. Chat Support is available everyday from 8am-9pm Central. Additional information on all 3 FiOS services can be found online at http://verizon.com/residentialhelp/.

Also, we have the Verizon In Home Agent that you can download at http://www.verizon.com/inhomeagent Thank you for choosing Verizon and have a great day.

Your session is now closed.

Thank you, have a nice day.

Your session is now closed.

Thank you, have a nice day.

# # # # #

This is not help.

This is the THIRD DVR!

VERIZON FIOS is NOTRECOMMENDED!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE, NOTRECOMMENDED, VERIZON | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Another panic

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INSPIRATIONAL: Death linked to inability to pay

Saturday, March 19, 2011

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9577

Immigrant’s death linked to inability to pay for medical care
March 11, 2011

*** begin quote ***

A comatose immigrant woman died after she was discharged from Georgetown University Hospital and removed from her feeding tubes—against the wishes of her family—in a case that has raised concerns about the impact of finance on medical care.

*** and ***

A New York Times report on the case quotes bioethicist Arthur Caplan: “Any hint that withdrawing treatment might be linked to financial considerations—that’s a big ethical no-no. That’s death panel stuff.”

Moreover, providing nutrition through a feeding tube is not normally classified as “treatment,” but as fundamental “care” for a patient. The Vatican has indicated that the removal of nutrition and hydration, in order to hasten the advent of death, is never morally acceptable.

*** end quote ***

Having just had to make a similar hard decision, I can understand how difficult it is.

In my case it was easy since Frau Reinke and I had discussions about it as recent as the week before the inevitable happened.

That’s why it’s important to have all your papers in order.

Her wish was always to go home. If she couldn’t, she didn’t want absurd heroics. It never came to that. But, I was ready to execute her wishes.

To have someone’s ability to pay intrude on decisions is sad. To have it at a supposedly “catholic” institution is very sad.

Donna Nobis Pacem

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | INSPIRATIONAL | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SOFTWARE: Chrome takes all free disk space

Saturday, March 19, 2011

OK, I think I have ‘evidence’.

With only POSTBOX2 and CHROME running I get message ‘no space’. So, I quit CHROME and now I have 1+ Gig back.

(I have to figure out how to shrink IPHOTO. But there doesn’t seem to be any way to do it other than just delete stuff. Argh!)

Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SOFTWARE | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Panic on sleep?

Saturday, March 19, 2011

This is getting absurd. Every time I come back to MCBA it fails to resume. Argh! In the ultimate act of desperation, I turned off all hibernation. WINDOZE is beginning to look better. Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

HARDWARE: VERIZON FIOS TV/DVR problems

Friday, March 18, 2011

2011-03-17 @ 2241

Several dropped signals and restarts early this evening. I just noticed that the DVR is working. “Cloud crap”? Argh!

Inet working fine. Don’t know about phone.

# # # # #

2011-03-18 @ 0845

Checking the DVR and the initial menu comes up. But then it recycles. Powering down the DVR.

Watched TV again. Get ready to touch the DVR and it recycles. No signal. “Press menu to watch”

(Argh!)

Ran the DVR trying to find the Jaspers on Saint Pat’s Parade. Recycles again.

@0854 recycles again.

(Argh!)

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Fixing Social Security

Friday, March 18, 2011

http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/social-security-how-to-deal-with-your-biggest-problem

March 9, 2011
Social Security: How to deal with your biggest problem
Posted by James Leroy Wilson

*** begin quote ***

Quote of the Day: “He who will not economize will have to agonize.” — Confucius [Kung Fu-tse] (551-479 B.C.)

*** and ***

1. Phase in a gradual increase in the retirement age (Retirement Age)

2. Means-test Social Security benefits to pay less to those who have other means of support (Means-test)

3. Allow young Americans to keep some of their Social Security taxes in return for forgoing future Social Security benefits (Partial Opt-out)

4. Reduce other federal spending in order to maintain Social Security for those who depend on it, while improving the opt-out deal for young people (Budget Cuts)

*** end quote ***

It’s going to be painful, but what else can be done?

# # # # #

2 Comments | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INSPIRATIONAL: Nice to be held in high regard

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A certain young lady I know called me to announce her engagement. I was so pleased to hear that. She’s great young lady and deserves every happiness in the world.

I was modestly embarrassed that she felt it necessary to tell me herself before I read it on Facebook. Folks don’t have to show me such respect.

Remember the one of the sources of my education: … … and creating caring human relationships from studying the movie roles of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey!

So, I was honored by the call.

Today, I got a call from the Mother of the Bride. Of course, she’s tickled. And, we chatted about it.

Then she said something that really moved me. “When {Privacy Invoked} told me, she said: “He’s just like Uncle John but younger.”

I was stunned some one using me as a measuring stick. I’d say that is very small stick and should be easy to surpass.

I hope he’s much better than me. Because I know all my short comings and failures.

In a very bad year, this could be high point.

Mozel Tov.

And, I’d have been just happy if I had read it on Facebook.

Remember Frau Reinke dictum: “Don’t give him any compliments. His head barely fits through the door now.” She, of course, was absolutely right.

Now how will I get this giant head in the front door? Guess I can get it in through the patio sliding glass one.

Hope this makes you laugh. It makes me very humble.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | INSPIRATIONAL | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

FUN: Little children are fun to watch when they are in their zone

Thursday, March 17, 2011

DSCN0078

Went to M’s play last night.

(I’ll skip over the obvious Socialist education messages. “Wishing we could change ancient laws that are just wrong.” Yeah, I know me, and my tin foil hat, see Socialists and Big Gooferment subliminal advertising everywhere in the Gooferment Skrules!)

The entrance was manned by a “welcoming committee”. With water, apples, and shopping bags. (Shopping bags? Courtesy of the local school improvement cooperative.) Adults were asked if they’d like to register to vote. (School funding?) And, if you said that you were registered, they offered you, what I would call, a “wake up service”. They gave you a form to fill out and some one from the collective “would call and remind you when it was time to vote for better schools”. (I swear. No joke. I listened very carefully. I couldn’t make this up.)

But this isn’t about politics!

Interesting idea. Give children and adults apples as refreshments. But no paper towels? Obviously a well-thought out plan to have sticky hands and a lot of people holding cores. (Being a fat old white guy injineer, I immediately look for paper products but couldn’t find any. And, being a bit of fanatic, I wasn’t sure if they were washed so I declined. Algar? Wasn’t that the greenies’ scare that ruined the Washington apple industry until sanity resumed to people who asked for evidence that we were all going to roll up and die eating it. If unwashed, should folks have been keeling over in the aisle. Maybe humans, like pigs, can eat anything and survive?)

After the obligatory “welcome” by one of the less senior Gooferment Skrule Bureaucrat. Complete with “rules”. (Do they think that they are dealing with “large size children”.) And, an urging to “support our schools”. They got organized.

Wish I could rescue all the children from, as Rush says, “having their little minds filled with mush! But wishing ain’t gonna make it so.

Tough night.

At various spots in the play, I saw flashes of enthusiasm and happiness on many little faces. Surprisingly, even M looked positively joyous at one point. I wish I could have had a picture of that.

There were no child prodigies. No Andrea McArdle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfvxYTL7EkM (I saw here on Broadway. Fantastic! Always inspiring when you see someone in their bliss. In the zone. Reaching their potential.) But there were some introverts, some extroverts, some with raw talent, some with what would be be characterized as “enthusiasm”. At several times in the play, usually in the group songs, the cast really put their hearts and souls in the song.

Interestingly one of the non-singing points were I saw enthusiasm was in the “magic carpet ride” scene. Even those in the chorus, who were sitting quietly, were somehow happily transfixed on the actions — perhaps dreaming of escape on a magic carpet with a beautiful price or princess.

(Do kids really believe this stuff? They are so hard to communicate with. It’s difficult to determine what they believe. Other than I need a puppy. My assistant photographer and ipad game playing best bud again put his pitch in that I need a puppy so I’m not lonely. I patiently re-explained my “one dog, one wife, one house” policy. He just nodded knowingly.)

The other time the children were really happy and excited was at the end of the play (Me2!) when they recognized and gave a gift bag to each one of those that helped. Big cheers and instance for the Student Teacher to come out. But more about that later.

The “big honcho” Gooferment Skrules Bureaucrat came out to close. He reminded us that these were just little kids who had put in 96 hours of time and more than 20 rehearsals. (First, did any one think they were on Broadway? Or that these were just small adults. Second, maybe this is as good as they could be, but may they needed more time or talent. Or better Gooferment Skrules Bureaucrats?) He again gave us more rules and 15 minute deadline before the children had to be at their cast party.

Then the children passed around the mike for the recognizing those helpers and give their gift bags.

(Couldn’t catch the names, the children were so excited. They become almost non-verbal. But their actions said volumes. You could sense who was really loved and who was just an obligatory “ty”. That was infectious. But those called out from the audience were really embarrassed. But the children insisted.)

The teacher, the music guy, some lady who did something, and M’s Mom got applause. (I left my audience participation noise meter at home, but clearly to this fat old white guy injineer the Student Teacher was the most beloved. And humorously the most embarrassed. (Thought that was cute, and the children were most animated. The young woman obviously had touched their hearts and souls. That was nice to see.)

Then the cast was free. Adults were up to the stage taking pictures. Some girls got flowers. Some of the children looked like they were lost in a busy train station. By my eye M had the most flowers. And seemed pleased with the attention.

M’s brothers were ready to go home. (Me2!) They had just sat through their second viewing since they had seen it that afternoon. My assistant photographer’s only comment was “It was better the first time.” From the mouths of babes. Things usually are.

So I was trooper and represented Frau Reinke at this family event. About mid way through, I was very sad that she missed it. She would have loved it. She was always happy any time she saw someone “hitting their stride”. In basketball, even if her girls lost, as long as the played their best and had fun, she was happy. (Of course, she liked to win. But that wasn’t the only thing.) She’s have been positive that the children were beautiful and the production was one step from Broadway. (I’d say a LONG step.) But, I’d agree that the children had fun and at times hit their bliss. So on that scale, it was a hit!

However, I couldn’t get to sleep until about 3AM thinking about all she had missed.

Donna Nobis Pacem.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | FUN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »