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The new minimum wage will be a world wide phenomenon, and 95% of Americans who have not amassed enough capital to live off the income, and a fully paid for place to live, can expect their standards of living to plummet. We are returning to the serfs and nobles of the early Middle Ages. One might also expect the value of real estate to drop like a rock too, except for one thing....
Those in the top .1% abroad will buy their summer/seasonal homes here, so high end resort areas will boom, or at least not lose value. Likewise primo cities, like San Francisco.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
What to do with Goldman Sachs Contributions?
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All major receivers of Sachs cash should get together, and jointly give every cent to the results of a nationwide poll of the top 100 best charities in an 8 week video shootout, American Idol style. The top five vote getters split the main pot, each vote costing 50 cents, which is also added to the pot. The early rounds voting costs go to the charities voted for. Simple, simple!
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All major receivers of Sachs cash should get together, and jointly give every cent to the results of a nationwide poll of the top 100 best charities in an 8 week video shootout, American Idol style. The top five vote getters split the main pot, each vote costing 50 cents, which is also added to the pot. The early rounds voting costs go to the charities voted for. Simple, simple!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Living in a Lumpy Culture
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We escaped Europe because we were "weird." We agreed to "get along" once we got here, which basically meant we didn't hang those who were members of other escapee groups on sight, with a few notable exceptions. Even by the change of the century in 1900 many Protestants thought Catholics were secretly arming and training for a takeover, down in Los Angeles, see Keith Lummis's autobiography.
Today of course we have far more differences as we've dumped in folks from a much wider range of cultures than Northern Europe. Now the Tea Party is trying to become what their ancestors tried to escape, a dominent force that rejects any idea or culture that doesn't fall within their strict limitations of how the world should be. The Tea Party may become the blinders on the horses that pull the USA over the cliff and into cultural oblivion. It's up to the rest of us to stop them. They are not for the ideals embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They are using those documents to cover their naked narrow minds.
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We escaped Europe because we were "weird." We agreed to "get along" once we got here, which basically meant we didn't hang those who were members of other escapee groups on sight, with a few notable exceptions. Even by the change of the century in 1900 many Protestants thought Catholics were secretly arming and training for a takeover, down in Los Angeles, see Keith Lummis's autobiography.
Today of course we have far more differences as we've dumped in folks from a much wider range of cultures than Northern Europe. Now the Tea Party is trying to become what their ancestors tried to escape, a dominent force that rejects any idea or culture that doesn't fall within their strict limitations of how the world should be. The Tea Party may become the blinders on the horses that pull the USA over the cliff and into cultural oblivion. It's up to the rest of us to stop them. They are not for the ideals embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They are using those documents to cover their naked narrow minds.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
I Like the Palindrome Collection from Chu
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Speaking about motivations, the Queen of the Baggers, the Killa from Wasila is now knocking down about 12 million a year from here speaking engagements while flying around the country on private jets and demanding that any speaking engagement (and God knows speaking is a term we use loosely when it comes to Caribou Barbie) she agrees to get highly paid to do, has to insure that she'll have no pesky questions coming directly from the people who are expected to pay $500.00 a ticket to hear her mash up Republican-bagger talking points.Look, there's no doubt that the the people who are manipulating that bagger masses will do whatever they can to not only undermine Obama, but destabilize the entire idea of government as well so they can create their idea of heaven, a totally corporate run, privatized state.The poor baggers are dupes and they've yet to learn that fact.
Payless should be in conversation with Carly Fiorina on the future of the USA for at least 2 hours, live and unrehearsed. We'd all learn a lot.
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Speaking about motivations, the Queen of the Baggers, the Killa from Wasila is now knocking down about 12 million a year from here speaking engagements while flying around the country on private jets and demanding that any speaking engagement (and God knows speaking is a term we use loosely when it comes to Caribou Barbie) she agrees to get highly paid to do, has to insure that she'll have no pesky questions coming directly from the people who are expected to pay $500.00 a ticket to hear her mash up Republican-bagger talking points.Look, there's no doubt that the the people who are manipulating that bagger masses will do whatever they can to not only undermine Obama, but destabilize the entire idea of government as well so they can create their idea of heaven, a totally corporate run, privatized state.The poor baggers are dupes and they've yet to learn that fact.
Payless should be in conversation with Carly Fiorina on the future of the USA for at least 2 hours, live and unrehearsed. We'd all learn a lot.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Illegal Aliens, SOLVED!
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"But our handicapped language no longer supports a clear discussion of the illegal alien problem. "
Nope, it is not a language problem. It is a logic problem. Why do the come? They come for money. How do they get money? They often work for it, and an employer gives it to them.
How do you efficiently stop the cycle?
You fine or jail the employers, if they are caught hiring illegals. How will they know? After the first 100 are sitting in jail, having paid out $10,000, no one will hire anyone.
Oh really? A new industry will spring up, that creates biometric ID for workers, having very carefully vetted them. Employers will pay to have the vetting company issue a bond certifying the bear of said ID to be a citizen of the USA.
Of course the Repubbys who hire cheap labor and depend on it for union busting will never let it go through. Americans won't pick crops? Elephant exhaust! For $20/hour they will. Pass the cost on to the consumer. Oh, the consumer will only buy produce from overseas? Overseas doesn't produce enough. California exports food.
Dems want voters? Nowhere near as bad as Repubbys want their illegal workers.
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"But our handicapped language no longer supports a clear discussion of the illegal alien problem. "
Nope, it is not a language problem. It is a logic problem. Why do the come? They come for money. How do they get money? They often work for it, and an employer gives it to them.
How do you efficiently stop the cycle?
You fine or jail the employers, if they are caught hiring illegals. How will they know? After the first 100 are sitting in jail, having paid out $10,000, no one will hire anyone.
Oh really? A new industry will spring up, that creates biometric ID for workers, having very carefully vetted them. Employers will pay to have the vetting company issue a bond certifying the bear of said ID to be a citizen of the USA.
Of course the Repubbys who hire cheap labor and depend on it for union busting will never let it go through. Americans won't pick crops? Elephant exhaust! For $20/hour they will. Pass the cost on to the consumer. Oh, the consumer will only buy produce from overseas? Overseas doesn't produce enough. California exports food.
Dems want voters? Nowhere near as bad as Repubbys want their illegal workers.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Corporations Need Litter Boxes, etc.
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Corporations are not people, and they are not potty trained either. They need to stay outside the legislative arena, and survive on their, "invisible hand of the free markets" rather than the iron grip of their lobbyists.
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Corporations are not people, and they are not potty trained either. They need to stay outside the legislative arena, and survive on their, "invisible hand of the free markets" rather than the iron grip of their lobbyists.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Teachers have it SO EASY!
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"Teachers are very well paid and compensated relative to actual time spent in the classroom." You try teaching and grading papers and holding parent conferences at the same time. That's multi-tasking I'd lie to see. Now let's see you get it all done in 8 hours, so you can head for a brewski.
Summer the season and the portion of summer that teachers get are two entirely different animals. Add in in service training days, and summer can be less than 9 weeks long for a teacher. The unpaid overtime of grading papers and after school meetings more than makes up for any lost "summertime." Plus, to have a decent salary, worthy of other professionals, you need to teach. "Summer School." Whoopido!
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"Teachers are very well paid and compensated relative to actual time spent in the classroom." You try teaching and grading papers and holding parent conferences at the same time. That's multi-tasking I'd lie to see. Now let's see you get it all done in 8 hours, so you can head for a brewski.
Summer the season and the portion of summer that teachers get are two entirely different animals. Add in in service training days, and summer can be less than 9 weeks long for a teacher. The unpaid overtime of grading papers and after school meetings more than makes up for any lost "summertime." Plus, to have a decent salary, worthy of other professionals, you need to teach. "Summer School." Whoopido!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Engineers vs Social Scientists
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There's been quite an interesting battle going on at The Union newspaper in the commenting area, working the gay vs. Fundy angle. This is my last post in that area.
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There's been quite an interesting battle going on at The Union newspaper in the commenting area, working the gay vs. Fundy angle. This is my last post in that area.
Keachie, Release 4.0 wrote:
It is entirely possible the critter known as Mom of Four is actually an engineer of a rightish persuasion who feels that his areas of expertise are God's highest gifts to humanity, and that he has been entertaining himself by pretending to be a halfwit social scientist.
While exploring the root sources of existence itself are notable endeavors, and you can always get reportable results of some kind when smashing sub atomic pumpkins together with the extreme expenditures of energy and resources, I wish to note here that looking for the root sources of human conflict and ways to ameliorate them is actually an even higher calling, precisely because the problems are more difficult and the answers are more elusive.
More on this concept later.
While exploring the root sources of existence itself are notable endeavors, and you can always get reportable results of some kind when smashing sub atomic pumpkins together with the extreme expenditures of energy and resources, I wish to note here that looking for the root sources of human conflict and ways to ameliorate them is actually an even higher calling, precisely because the problems are more difficult and the answers are more elusive.
More on this concept later.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Why We've had a 1/3rd Dropout Rate for 80 + Years
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From a psychological point of view, it is not hard to understand the 1/3rd dropout rate that never goes away. From the beginning, 1st grade and up, kids are "graded." Not surprisingly, those at the top of the scale, tend to stay there, and so on.
After 8 to 10 years of humiliation at being on the bottom, those kids say, "enough is enough, I'm out of here." Classes where they can be rewarded for achievements outside the reading, writing, and math skills sets, sadly seem to be the first to be chopped. Art, music, and voc ed cost more money, but pay back by generating islands of success for the kids at the bottom, and give them reason to live, and a chance to rub shoulders and even surpass the academic breadwinners. Overall, they raise all boats, and allow for for more than just the high SAT performers to feel good about themselves, and to go on to serve themselves and society better
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From a psychological point of view, it is not hard to understand the 1/3rd dropout rate that never goes away. From the beginning, 1st grade and up, kids are "graded." Not surprisingly, those at the top of the scale, tend to stay there, and so on.
After 8 to 10 years of humiliation at being on the bottom, those kids say, "enough is enough, I'm out of here." Classes where they can be rewarded for achievements outside the reading, writing, and math skills sets, sadly seem to be the first to be chopped. Art, music, and voc ed cost more money, but pay back by generating islands of success for the kids at the bottom, and give them reason to live, and a chance to rub shoulders and even surpass the academic breadwinners. Overall, they raise all boats, and allow for for more than just the high SAT performers to feel good about themselves, and to go on to serve themselves and society better
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Difference Between Rush Limbaugh & Dr. Dean Edell
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Given a choice between Rush and Dr. Edell, for an emergency appendectomy, who do you pick? Who do you think will live longer? Exactly what is it about Dr Edell's show that you find, "political?" Even with the very best MRI, X-ray, CAT Scans, and blood tests, it is very difficult to tell the difference between a liberal and a conservative. Someday, however, they may be able to detect the hardening of the neurons in the latter...rimshot!
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Given a choice between Rush and Dr. Edell, for an emergency appendectomy, who do you pick? Who do you think will live longer? Exactly what is it about Dr Edell's show that you find, "political?" Even with the very best MRI, X-ray, CAT Scans, and blood tests, it is very difficult to tell the difference between a liberal and a conservative. Someday, however, they may be able to detect the hardening of the neurons in the latter...rimshot!
Friday, February 05, 2010
Foothill Snobbery Club
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(A Response to a poster who complained about "flatlander bicyclists" riding in pairs.)
I have never encountered a pair of bicyclists who did not promptly single file themselves, allowing me to get by easily. Seems to me that in terms of being, "down to earth," those closer to the center of the planet would have an edge over those who place themselves on high pedestals, raised SUV's, etc..
By the very act of proclaiming themselves "better" because they were "born" here, the members of the Foothills Snobbery Club display their lack of maturity. Just because I was born in San Francisco, and just because it was founded 50 plus years before Grass Valley even saw the white man, and just because we are world class famous, and have more spectacular earthquakes, and a rapid transit that works, it doesn't make me any better than members of the fussy FSC's.
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(A Response to a poster who complained about "flatlander bicyclists" riding in pairs.)
I have never encountered a pair of bicyclists who did not promptly single file themselves, allowing me to get by easily. Seems to me that in terms of being, "down to earth," those closer to the center of the planet would have an edge over those who place themselves on high pedestals, raised SUV's, etc..
By the very act of proclaiming themselves "better" because they were "born" here, the members of the Foothills Snobbery Club display their lack of maturity. Just because I was born in San Francisco, and just because it was founded 50 plus years before Grass Valley even saw the white man, and just because we are world class famous, and have more spectacular earthquakes, and a rapid transit that works, it doesn't make me any better than members of the fussy FSC's.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Everything Explained
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The rich in this country are so short sighted to have sold out to the lure of cheap labor overseas. Their apparent goal is a world wide minimum wage, and they don't care if the bulk of this country goes to hell, as long as they've got theirs. The leaders abroad are smirking at the stupidity of the American wealthy, and smacking their lips.
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The rich in this country are so short sighted to have sold out to the lure of cheap labor overseas. Their apparent goal is a world wide minimum wage, and they don't care if the bulk of this country goes to hell, as long as they've got theirs. The leaders abroad are smirking at the stupidity of the American wealthy, and smacking their lips.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Aunty Freedom Says:
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Aunty Freedom says: All candidates shall start anonymously online, stating their views and the office (Congress and Presidency) that they are running for. Of the thousands who start, possibly years in advance, only a few, will make the cut, for a public outing. Each citizen gets one vote each week for each office, during the last 12 months. The top 50% each week go on to the next week's competition, until the public outing, 3 months before the election. Prior to The Outing, you cannot tell who you are, or what you have done. You can only tell what you propose to do. Candidates will be selected on the merits of their ideas, as interpreted by the people.
Once the outing occurs, then 4 more weeks of eliminations, and then public campaign financing kicks in. This way most of the costs will already be taken care of, because the public will be curious to see who is behind what ideas, and will be up to speed on them.
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Aunty Freedom says: All candidates shall start anonymously online, stating their views and the office (Congress and Presidency) that they are running for. Of the thousands who start, possibly years in advance, only a few, will make the cut, for a public outing. Each citizen gets one vote each week for each office, during the last 12 months. The top 50% each week go on to the next week's competition, until the public outing, 3 months before the election. Prior to The Outing, you cannot tell who you are, or what you have done. You can only tell what you propose to do. Candidates will be selected on the merits of their ideas, as interpreted by the people.
Once the outing occurs, then 4 more weeks of eliminations, and then public campaign financing kicks in. This way most of the costs will already be taken care of, because the public will be curious to see who is behind what ideas, and will be up to speed on them.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Server at The Union Down, Friday, 9:20 am
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Haven't been able to get in, either using Firefox or IE, as guest or anything. Both browsers work just fine elsewhere. Will reboot hub and computers.
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Haven't been able to get in, either using Firefox or IE, as guest or anything. Both browsers work just fine elsewhere. Will reboot hub and computers.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Stop Planes from Falling Out of the Sky
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Thinking about the plane bomb situation, I realized that one solution would be to have everyone vet their seatmates in the immediate vicinity. You know, yak it up with them, look them up on the internet via cell phones (change rules and availability here) and just get a sense of who they are. If they raise suspicions, have another do the same. If three people say, "search'em Dano," then they are off the plane for a very thorough examination. This is all done before the plane leaves the terminal, and could begin before the plane even gets to the terminal, in a sealed waiting room.
I called it in to John Rothman's show last night on KGO and learned, "that's how they do it in Israel, but it will never catch on here..." I'll bet it will catch on real fast after another couple of planes come down in pieces over metro areas.
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Thinking about the plane bomb situation, I realized that one solution would be to have everyone vet their seatmates in the immediate vicinity. You know, yak it up with them, look them up on the internet via cell phones (change rules and availability here) and just get a sense of who they are. If they raise suspicions, have another do the same. If three people say, "search'em Dano," then they are off the plane for a very thorough examination. This is all done before the plane leaves the terminal, and could begin before the plane even gets to the terminal, in a sealed waiting room.
I called it in to John Rothman's show last night on KGO and learned, "that's how they do it in Israel, but it will never catch on here..." I'll bet it will catch on real fast after another couple of planes come down in pieces over metro areas.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Verizon Users, Your Information IS About to be SHARED!
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That innocuous little "privacy" notice you just got gives Verizon the right to sell everything they know about your account, who you call, etc., for a fee, with whomever they choose, unless YOU OPT OUT, inside of 45 days! They call it CPNI (could stand for Cyber Ninnies, I suppose) Call 800-333-9956 to opt out via phone droid, or 800-922-0204 to opt out via human Or do it online, if you've set up a MyVerizon account.
Oh Joy!
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That innocuous little "privacy" notice you just got gives Verizon the right to sell everything they know about your account, who you call, etc., for a fee, with whomever they choose, unless YOU OPT OUT, inside of 45 days! They call it CPNI (could stand for Cyber Ninnies, I suppose) Call 800-333-9956 to opt out via phone droid, or 800-922-0204 to opt out via human Or do it online, if you've set up a MyVerizon account.
Oh Joy!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Lowell Newspaper Scammed
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In the Lowell High School newspaper, an Ultra right group manages to place an ad, referencing a website that has content that initially appears innocuous, and which, when the ad is printed, changes to an ultra right site:
http://www.victoryforever.com/
full story at www.sfgate.com
Wonder who inherited Pete Hammer's old job?
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In the Lowell High School newspaper, an Ultra right group manages to place an ad, referencing a website that has content that initially appears innocuous, and which, when the ad is printed, changes to an ultra right site:
http://www.victoryforever.com/
full story at www.sfgate.com
Wonder who inherited Pete Hammer's old job?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Why I Have Issues with FedEX of Oroville
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For some crazy crazy reason, from time to time, FedEx get a wild hare up their pasture, and instead of shipping from Sacto to Grass Valley, 20 minutes from here, they ship the stuff to Oroville. Case in point, an Epson Artsan 810 printed makes it from Indianapolis to Sacto in three days. Instead of shipping it to Grass Valley, they send it off to Oroville, where they make trips every now and then up to North San Juan. Net result, it is now 5 days since the package hit Oroville, and it is still yet to show here.
I hate Fed Ex when they lie about communications with their trucks. I sign for a package and the truck can barely make it to highway 49 before the fact that I just signed for it shows up on my computer. For them to claim it is only one way, and only consisted of drop off information, is a total and complete LIE. Those trucks are linked by private radio networks, and have at a minimum their version of texting, if not full two way voice communication, either via private radio, or more likely now, via cell phone. It is very unproductive for America to have people hanging around home base all day, waiting for stuff with no assurance that it will even show.
I'm also sure the trucks all have GPS units that show where they are. They deny that too.
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For some crazy crazy reason, from time to time, FedEx get a wild hare up their pasture, and instead of shipping from Sacto to Grass Valley, 20 minutes from here, they ship the stuff to Oroville. Case in point, an Epson Artsan 810 printed makes it from Indianapolis to Sacto in three days. Instead of shipping it to Grass Valley, they send it off to Oroville, where they make trips every now and then up to North San Juan. Net result, it is now 5 days since the package hit Oroville, and it is still yet to show here.
I hate Fed Ex when they lie about communications with their trucks. I sign for a package and the truck can barely make it to highway 49 before the fact that I just signed for it shows up on my computer. For them to claim it is only one way, and only consisted of drop off information, is a total and complete LIE. Those trucks are linked by private radio networks, and have at a minimum their version of texting, if not full two way voice communication, either via private radio, or more likely now, via cell phone. It is very unproductive for America to have people hanging around home base all day, waiting for stuff with no assurance that it will even show.
I'm also sure the trucks all have GPS units that show where they are. They deny that too.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
277FOTO Covers Yuba River Charter School's 2009 Moondance
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I took some great photos at the Moondance, put on by the Yuba River Charter School, last night, November 7th, 2009. The event took place at the Nevada City Miners' Foundry. You can see the entire batch as I put them up, at www.flickr.com/photos/keachie . The images will be in the Set, a Flickr term for Album, Moondance 2009, so do a search within Keachie's photostream. There are 11 photos there now, and there will be at least 100 more added over the next week or two. Redeye removal, cropping, and color adjustments take time.
Douglas Keachie, your friendly village photographer.
PS, I also took some middlin' pictures, which will be posted too, so everyone gets to see themselves. If you'd rather an image not be posted, please let me know. 277FOTO is a local cell, as well as a soon to be active, website.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Microsoft Support is So Bad...You Can't Even Pay for It!
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I was trying to renew a domain name I had through Microsoft Live, which has expired. My Microsoft Live Email was being rejected as non existent, and so I tried calling. One of the the options was "pay for it" support. Rather than waste a lot of time, I thought I would pay for it. So I sat on hold for 15 minutes, no human, just muzak.
It hung up on me.
A chance to hire back the 800 employees they just laid off, and the phone hung up on me.
Here's the response I got after emailing for support, as it was recommended by Microsoft that I do, to: SUPPORT@OfficeLive.com:
Envelope-to: doug207@keachie.com
Delivery-date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:55:05 -0700
Received: from bay0-xmr-012.hotmail.com ([65.54.241.164] helo=BAY0-XMR-012.phx.gbl)
by host133.hostmonster.com with esmtp (Exim 4.69)
(envelope-from )
id 1N64fx-0005Xz-Eo
for doug2009@keachie.com; Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:55:05 -0700
Received: from mail pickup service by BAY0-XMR-012.phx.gbl with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:55:04 -0800
To: doug207@keachie.com
From: Microsoft Office Live
Subject: Domain Renewal, Login Issues
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit
References:
Message-ID:
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 05 Nov 2009 15:55:04.0384 (UTC) FILETIME=[56F55400:01CA5E30]
Date: 5 Nov 2009 07:55:04 -0800
You have reached an unmonitored e-mail address; we apologize that we cannot directly reply to your message.
For help with Office Live Workspace, please see http://workspace.officelive.com/support
For help with Office Live Small Business, please see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX101954801033.aspx
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I was trying to renew a domain name I had through Microsoft Live, which has expired. My Microsoft Live Email was being rejected as non existent, and so I tried calling. One of the the options was "pay for it" support. Rather than waste a lot of time, I thought I would pay for it. So I sat on hold for 15 minutes, no human, just muzak.
It hung up on me.
A chance to hire back the 800 employees they just laid off, and the phone hung up on me.
Here's the response I got after emailing for support, as it was recommended by Microsoft that I do, to: SUPPORT@OfficeLive.com:
Envelope-to: doug207@keachie.com
Delivery-date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:55:05 -0700
Received: from bay0-xmr-012.hotmail.com ([65.54.241.164] helo=BAY0-XMR-012.phx.gbl)
Received: from mail pickup service by BAY0-XMR-012.phx.gbl with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
To: doug207@keachie.com
From: Microsoft Office Live
Subject: Domain Renewal, Login Issues
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit
References:
Message-ID:
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 05 Nov 2009 15:55:04.0384 (UTC) FILETIME=[56F55400:01CA5E30]
Date: 5 Nov 2009 07:55:04 -0800
You have reached an unmonitored e-mail address; we apologize that we cannot directly reply to your message.
For help with Office Live Workspace, please see http://workspace.officelive.com/support
For help with Office Live Small Business, please see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX101954801033.aspx
Monday, November 02, 2009
"We'd Like to Know a Little About You for Our Files..."
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I pay $588/month for medical through United Health Services, and there is a mental health coverage. Mom died, and I thought it would be good to get some counseling. Made arrangements, followed procedures, and then got this form in the mail. Basically it is a suicide and drug and drinking questionnaire, with the results to be FAXXED to a number where a minimum wage worker will see the last four of my social, my full name, and my accurate birthdate. Do they even bother to shred? I never give out the birthdate accurately, except in absolute need to know situations. Suffice it to say, I'll pay for any therapy out of pocket, and cross this "benefit" off as one that puts you on all kinds of lists, and exposes you to a risk of identity theft, and porbably even asking to exercise this benefit will affect my ability to get other coverages, including life insurance. One good thing, maybe fewer mailers from life insurance companies...
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Online Consumers vs MegaCorps, Score, 0 to 99
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After a couple of years, I've had a new occasion file a major complaint about a product. Last time I did this there were many sites for consumers to blow off steam, and educate one another. Made the Mega Corps mad, and what they couldn't stop legally, they bought out, by grabbing the websites. Many of them were on the order of www.megaCorpsoandsosucks.com. The one from Home Depot was particularly choice, with hundreds of pages of horror stories, both from employess and customers. Today the site is still up, and at first glance it looks like they are going strong. Look closely, nothing newer than 2005, none of the disgruntled employees, etc. It's a camouflaged buyout.
Epson makes no bones about it. www.epsonsucks.com goes directly to a site that directs you to all the normal Epson sites. So here I am, the only place to post about an Epson Artisan 810 that just won't go after printing 10 pages total since new is here. Technorati will index it so other consumers can find it? Used to, not any more. Not unless you have established a following of at least several hundred. Less than that, and they don't even index your site any more. The promise of the Internet to help consumers is being destroyed, quietly, so as to not disturb the buying public.
The Consumerist www.consumerist.com , used to be great. Now you can't comment unless you are witty and creative and approved by their "board." Their content is now all largely coupons, and stories that have already hit the newswires. You want to post something new about a problem with a printer, FAT CHANCE! Now it is one big ad for Consumers reports. Those that started these sites are probably living well on their buyouts....the American Way strikes again.
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
After a couple of years, I've had a new occasion file a major complaint about a product. Last time I did this there were many sites for consumers to blow off steam, and educate one another. Made the Mega Corps mad, and what they couldn't stop legally, they bought out, by grabbing the websites. Many of them were on the order of www.megaCorpsoandsosucks.com. The one from Home Depot was particularly choice, with hundreds of pages of horror stories, both from employess and customers. Today the site is still up, and at first glance it looks like they are going strong. Look closely, nothing newer than 2005, none of the disgruntled employees, etc. It's a camouflaged buyout.
Epson makes no bones about it. www.epsonsucks.com goes directly to a site that directs you to all the normal Epson sites. So here I am, the only place to post about an Epson Artisan 810 that just won't go after printing 10 pages total since new is here. Technorati will index it so other consumers can find it? Used to, not any more. Not unless you have established a following of at least several hundred. Less than that, and they don't even index your site any more. The promise of the Internet to help consumers is being destroyed, quietly, so as to not disturb the buying public.
The Consumerist www.consumerist.com , used to be great. Now you can't comment unless you are witty and creative and approved by their "board." Their content is now all largely coupons, and stories that have already hit the newswires. You want to post something new about a problem with a printer, FAT CHANCE! Now it is one big ad for Consumers reports. Those that started these sites are probably living well on their buyouts....the American Way strikes again.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tractors 4 Poppies will Beat the Taliban
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Let's face it, Obama has an awful lot on his plate, but yes, even the Left expects action. As for me, take the dollars spent in Afghanistan, and send them seeds, fertilizers, tractors, PVC solar panels and pumps in exchange for the opium poppies. Suspend trade with any country that buys these tractors etc from the Taliban. Oh, don't forget sat receivers, production equipment, and tv's.
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Let's face it, Obama has an awful lot on his plate, but yes, even the Left expects action. As for me, take the dollars spent in Afghanistan, and send them seeds, fertilizers, tractors, PVC solar panels and pumps in exchange for the opium poppies. Suspend trade with any country that buys these tractors etc from the Taliban. Oh, don't forget sat receivers, production equipment, and tv's.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
US Paper Seeks Pot Correspondent
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This is just too funny not to republish, from the BBc, thanks!
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
This is just too funny not to republish, from the BBc, thanks!
US paper seeks pot correspondent
 The medical marijuana business is booming in California and Colorado |
A US newspaper says it has received well over 100 applicants for the post of marijuana critic - many of whom have offered to work for free.
The alternative Denver newspaper, Westword, is seeking a writer for its weekly review of Colorado's booming medical marijuana dispensaries.
But there is a catch - candidates must have a medical ailment allowing them to enter a dispensary and use marijuana.
Fourteen US states now allow the sale of some sort of medical cannabis.
'Stoned'
 |  Compensation will be meagre - and no, we can't expense your purchases  Westword job posting |
"Keep in mind this isn't about assessing the quality of the medicine on site; it's about evaluating the quality of the establishment," says the Westword job posting.
"After all, we can't have our reviewer be stoned all the time."
States like Colorado and California, where medical use is legal, have seen an explosion in the number of pot shops - ranging from upmarket clinics to dingy drugs dens.
The dispensaries sell more than a dozen varieties, from White Widow to the less expensive Afghan Gold Seal. Some cost up to $130 (£78) an ounce.
But the writer of Westword's Mile Highs and Lows column is expected to focus on the dispensaries, not the drugs.
"Compensation will be meagre," says the posting. It says the paper can't pay for marijuana purchases, "although that would be pretty cool."
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Microsoft Trashes Firefox, Moving to Opera, Linux?
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Microsoft moved an addin into Firefox which has left in vulnerable, and in my case, unfixable. History no longer works. Eudora has also just been kicked out of being my primary email, in favor of Outlook, and Eudora can't change the registry back. Thank you, Microsoft!
just like the good old days when Windows first came out, with a deliberate timed cripple against WordPerfect which got progressively worse until it was unusable. Linux is looking better again, and with swappable drives so easy to arrange these days, I may go there. One to boot to Windows for the apps that use it, another to boot to Linux for all communications with the Internet, Email and Web, and possibly two different machines, the laptop for web, the desktop for heavy duty graphics, and a network storage device, accessable from both.
And to think Microsoft want us to pay for System 7?
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
Microsoft moved an addin into Firefox which has left in vulnerable, and in my case, unfixable. History no longer works. Eudora has also just been kicked out of being my primary email, in favor of Outlook, and Eudora can't change the registry back. Thank you, Microsoft!
just like the good old days when Windows first came out, with a deliberate timed cripple against WordPerfect which got progressively worse until it was unusable. Linux is looking better again, and with swappable drives so easy to arrange these days, I may go there. One to boot to Windows for the apps that use it, another to boot to Linux for all communications with the Internet, Email and Web, and possibly two different machines, the laptop for web, the desktop for heavy duty graphics, and a network storage device, accessable from both.
And to think Microsoft want us to pay for System 7?
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