Last week, Wamajama begged the question, do we like to listen to new music, or are we satisfied listening to what we grew up with. When I was growing up, it always seemed like the adults I knew listened to their music, and my friends and I listened to our music. I always figured that there would be a day when new music either didn't make sense to me, or I would simply not like new music anymore and settle down with the music of "my day". In two months I am going to enter the 3rd decade of my life, and I haven't hit that point yet. In fact, I listen to some of the same music that my 12-year old listens to. What can I say, the boy has taste.
I find it hard to not listen for new music, when bands like Breaking Benjamin are out there that produce a cd like Saturate, that is so good, it was instantly one of my all time favorites, start to finish, a couple of years ago. Now usually when a band has a instant hit with their first cd, ahem, 3rd Eye Blind, their second work is usually nowhere close to as good. I just heard Breaking Benjamin's follow up, We Are Not Alone, and amazingly, it may just be better than the first.
So tell me, what do you listen to? Are you listening to what you "grew up" with, or do you still have your ear to the floor listening for new stuff?
Oh and by the way, just in case you were worried that I may have slipped this past weekend, My Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 10 days, 6 hours, 1 minute and 4 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 103
Lifetime Saved: 18 hours
Money Saved: $19.41
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Monday, August 09, 2004
You've Got GMail
For the past month or so, I've had a GMail account. What is Gmail? GMail is google's attempt at making email better and easier. GMail is free, like Yahoo! or Hotmail, but unlike Yahoo! or Hotmail you get 1 GB of storage space and can send and receive attachments up to 10 MBs. Sound pretty cool? It is. It's the best web based email account I have ever had, and as Marcy will be able to tell you, I've had my share. Where can you get yours? That's a little bit trickier. Google is only releasing so much server space at a time, as to not bog down their new service with everyone signing up at once. So what they do is let their current users invite people they know, one or two at a time.
Why am I bringing this up if you can't freely sign up for an account? I ust received an invite to give away. If you would like to try GMail out for yourself, leave me a comment, or shoot me an e-mail and let me know. If I get a lot of requests I'll either think of some kind of contest, or I'll just give it to whoever I like best.
Why am I bringing this up if you can't freely sign up for an account? I ust received an invite to give away. If you would like to try GMail out for yourself, leave me a comment, or shoot me an e-mail and let me know. If I get a lot of requests I'll either think of some kind of contest, or I'll just give it to whoever I like best.
Filed in: InformationDesk Tech
Friday, August 06, 2004
And The Wine Flowed
As I mentioned last night, my bro-in-law Bobby came home yesterday for a visit. He loves his wine just as much as Marcy and I do, so I brought some out that he hadn't had a chance to taste yet. And the wine, it flowed. Then Marcy got home from work, and the wine, it flowed some more. Because of that, I am not capable of intelligent thought yet this morning, at least not this early. Thank you and have a nice Friday.
I do have to mention one thing, however, and I'd like to do this with a Haiku. Ahem, hem:
A Leo is she
Prouder of, I could not be
The Mom who raised Me
Happy Birthday Mom, We Love You.
My Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 6 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 35 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 63
Lifetime Saved: 11 hours
Money Saved: $12.35
I do have to mention one thing, however, and I'd like to do this with a Haiku. Ahem, hem:
A Leo is she
Prouder of, I could not be
The Mom who raised Me
Happy Birthday Mom, We Love You.
My Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 6 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 35 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 63
Lifetime Saved: 11 hours
Money Saved: $12.35
Filed in: Family
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Customer Service
I do not understand the term "customer service" anymore, especially on the telephone. I believe that companies try to make it easier for both the customer and the employee by implementing computer generated messages, but in the end it only frustrates customers. The experience I had on the phone yesterday with a certain phone company happens more often than not. It is becoming the norm of telephone customer service.
The company in question has multiple phone numbers on their bill for their different departments. I chose the billing 800 number, which was unique from the rest of the phone numbers and dialed, only to be confronted by a computer generated message and menu structure. The computer asked me what department I wanted and gave me choices. In my mind, if I wanted any of these other departments, I would have called a different number, but ok, I'll play along and push the selection for billing questions. With my selection made, the computer then tells me that to speed up service, I should enter my telephone number, starting with the area code, of the account I have a question about. So I did, which led me to believe that when I got a customer service agent on the phone, that person would have my account up and ready to review, but that would not be the case.
After spending a short amount of time on hold, nothing to complain about, I was greeted by a person who asked me how she could help me. When I explained my query, she asked me for the phone number on the account starting with the area code. Ok, wait a minute. What happened to the computer system? I just assumed that "faster service" meant the computer would actually forward my account on to the representative. I guess not. Don't get me wrong, the representative was very friendly, and did answer my question, after asking me to verbally give my permission to review the account, twice, but if a company is going to implement a computer answering system, why not use the information it asks of the customer. It's kind of a waste of money, in my opinion, to not use it. Why not just have someone answer the phone and ask what department the caller would like. Now that would speed up service, without having to listen to a phone book's full of departments to select the one that you want.
In short this phone company has paid, I'm sure, a lot of money to help implement a customer service system. They pay for different 800 numbers for all of their departments. They pay for a computer generated answering system to help expedite the call, and prepare the customer service agent to assist the caller. Neither of these systems are used, however, and in the end the extra overhead comes, most likely, out of the pockets of the consumers in our bills, which begs one question....why?
My Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 5 days, 6 hours, 2 minutes and 54 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 53
Lifetime Saved: 9 hours
Money Saved: $10.59
The company in question has multiple phone numbers on their bill for their different departments. I chose the billing 800 number, which was unique from the rest of the phone numbers and dialed, only to be confronted by a computer generated message and menu structure. The computer asked me what department I wanted and gave me choices. In my mind, if I wanted any of these other departments, I would have called a different number, but ok, I'll play along and push the selection for billing questions. With my selection made, the computer then tells me that to speed up service, I should enter my telephone number, starting with the area code, of the account I have a question about. So I did, which led me to believe that when I got a customer service agent on the phone, that person would have my account up and ready to review, but that would not be the case.
After spending a short amount of time on hold, nothing to complain about, I was greeted by a person who asked me how she could help me. When I explained my query, she asked me for the phone number on the account starting with the area code. Ok, wait a minute. What happened to the computer system? I just assumed that "faster service" meant the computer would actually forward my account on to the representative. I guess not. Don't get me wrong, the representative was very friendly, and did answer my question, after asking me to verbally give my permission to review the account, twice, but if a company is going to implement a computer answering system, why not use the information it asks of the customer. It's kind of a waste of money, in my opinion, to not use it. Why not just have someone answer the phone and ask what department the caller would like. Now that would speed up service, without having to listen to a phone book's full of departments to select the one that you want.
In short this phone company has paid, I'm sure, a lot of money to help implement a customer service system. They pay for different 800 numbers for all of their departments. They pay for a computer generated answering system to help expedite the call, and prepare the customer service agent to assist the caller. Neither of these systems are used, however, and in the end the extra overhead comes, most likely, out of the pockets of the consumers in our bills, which begs one question....why?
My Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 5 days, 6 hours, 2 minutes and 54 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 53
Lifetime Saved: 9 hours
Money Saved: $10.59
Filed in: Ranting UncommonlySenseless
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
ADD Test
I tried to take this self test, but I got too distracted. Wait, what were we talking about?
ADD/ADHD Self Test
ADD/ADHD Self Test
Filed in: Links
Backwards Thinking
And here I thought we were supposed to stay out of the sun and wear lots of sunscreen:
Health Tip for August 4, 2004
Older people worried about osteoporosis should pay attention to the SPF (sunscreen protection factor) on sunscreens.
Because the body cannot absorb sufficient calcium without vitamin D, a vitamin D deficiency can be a major factor in bone loss. The skin makes Vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. Sunscreens with an SPF above eight, block the ultraviolet wavelengths that convert vitamin D into the form needed by the body.
Since the body's ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight declines with age, older people are particularly at risk.
Filed in: Health
Monday, August 02, 2004
Another Party
On Saturday, with Marcy working, the kids and I had another party to go to. I know, we're party animals...but it's not a lifestyle by choice. This one was a barbecue in the park for the boys' Mema's (that would be a Grandma for those who don't know) birthday party. Now, I don't know how anyone ever gets to an event on time with kids in tow, no matter what age, but I can never seem to do so. Something always makes me late.
Both Marcy and I have been busy as of late, so Marcy asked me if I could go by the store and pick up a bag for the gift to go in on my way to the party. Little did I know this would be a problem for me. First of all, the party started at 2:30, so wanting to give us enough time to get there, we left at five minutes to 2. On our way in, however, we hit traffic and did not even get off the highway until 2:45 (should take 15 minutes). Then, the fun continued at the store.
After finally finding everything I needed to get I had to wait for ten minutes in a line because the check-out lady was talking to the people who were checking out in front of me. Sure, she was wrapping some of their items in tissue paper, but she could not have been moving any slower. Finally she finshed with them, and wrung up my items and we got out of there. I was about to leave for the park, but I thought I should get the present in the bag before we left.
I'm so glad I decided to do that because the bag that we got, the biggest bag in the store, was not big enough for the gift to fit in. Back inside the store to make sure that there wasn't any bigger bags, and there wasn't. I decided that I would have to wrap it so I bought some wrapping paper and tape. Check out, again, and head to the car to wrap our gift. If anyone could see me having a problem doing so with the items I have, please raise your hand and speak up, because it wasn't until I had the gift on the paper, trying to wrap it, that I realized I did not have any scissors to cut the wrapping paper with. I ended up having to literally rip the wrapping paper to wrap this gift, so it probably looked like my kids did it, but we finally were on our way and made it to the party...only an hour late.
On a positive note, though, Marcy and I are back on track with our bid to quit smoking, so things could have been worse.
Time Smoke-Free: 2 days, 6 hours, 8 minutes and 6 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 23
Lifetime Saved: 4 hours
Money Saved: $5.29
Both Marcy and I have been busy as of late, so Marcy asked me if I could go by the store and pick up a bag for the gift to go in on my way to the party. Little did I know this would be a problem for me. First of all, the party started at 2:30, so wanting to give us enough time to get there, we left at five minutes to 2. On our way in, however, we hit traffic and did not even get off the highway until 2:45 (should take 15 minutes). Then, the fun continued at the store.
After finally finding everything I needed to get I had to wait for ten minutes in a line because the check-out lady was talking to the people who were checking out in front of me. Sure, she was wrapping some of their items in tissue paper, but she could not have been moving any slower. Finally she finshed with them, and wrung up my items and we got out of there. I was about to leave for the park, but I thought I should get the present in the bag before we left.
I'm so glad I decided to do that because the bag that we got, the biggest bag in the store, was not big enough for the gift to fit in. Back inside the store to make sure that there wasn't any bigger bags, and there wasn't. I decided that I would have to wrap it so I bought some wrapping paper and tape. Check out, again, and head to the car to wrap our gift. If anyone could see me having a problem doing so with the items I have, please raise your hand and speak up, because it wasn't until I had the gift on the paper, trying to wrap it, that I realized I did not have any scissors to cut the wrapping paper with. I ended up having to literally rip the wrapping paper to wrap this gift, so it probably looked like my kids did it, but we finally were on our way and made it to the party...only an hour late.
On a positive note, though, Marcy and I are back on track with our bid to quit smoking, so things could have been worse.
Time Smoke-Free: 2 days, 6 hours, 8 minutes and 6 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 23
Lifetime Saved: 4 hours
Money Saved: $5.29
Filed in: Family Ranting UncommonlySenseless QuitJournal
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