Cross-Selling Fail

Here in the land of the uneasy Internet connection I finally placed a call to my ISP to see whether they had any vision for restoring my balky service. First I played the dial-up game: "For permahold, please press one; for holiday-themed muzak, press two; for voice mail hell, press three; to preserve the illusion that meaningful human contact is still possible, press four". After two tries I hit a winning combination and managed to speak to a representative who, I have no doubt, was trying to be helpful.

"So you're having problems with your internet? I'm going to connect you to our tech support in just a moment, but first, let me ask you this - are you using DISH or Direct TV for your television?  If you are, you might want to consider bundling our internet and television services."

I explained, perhaps too forcefully, that I wan't interested in paying for even more services from a company that couldn't even deliver the service they had already  been paid for.  He parried with the notion that he was only trying to save me some money, but when I started screaming that I was only interested in trying to save his life he put me through to the tech people.

And a day later, my problem remains unresolved.  Grr.

Comments

[PD]

If it's any consolation, we'll happily enjoy our own Internet access on your behalf.

Hope your problems get resolved soon, though.

[bolitha]

Boxing Day is over!!! And Clarice is back. All is well.

[hit and run]

1,493 comments to go for the all time record!

[NK]

TomM -- Welcome Back!! It sounds like Cablevision's Optonline service s suffering during this harsh Connecticut winter. here are the current conditions: http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/darien-ct/06820/weather-forecast/332267

[Benjamin Franklin]

Maguire;

Just change providers.....it's the FREEEEEEEEE Market !

[Thomas Collins]

With Boxing Day coming to an end, I didn't want Ignatz's definition of trojan to get lost in the shuffle:

"A trojan is something which appears harmless and is allowed onto your computer but harbors inside it a bunch of creepy Geeks bearing unpleasant gifts."

[Benjamin Franklin]

Four day Boxing day. How many rounds?

[sbw]

Heh! Sounds like Lily Tomlin:

Are you the person to whom I am talking?
-
We're the telephone company. We don't care. We don't have to.
-
Do you ever get the feeling that progress isn't necessarily headed in the right direction?

Happy New Year's Eve Eve Day!

[Clarice]

TM, My kind of guy." I started screaming that I was only interested in trying to save his life"--such a humanitarian.

[BB Key]

966 rounds

[centralcal]

Well, TM, at least you didn't get "Peggy" on the other end as "tech" support! Or, did you?

[Clarice]

Where is TM that the dial in service didn't have a Spanish button.

[Thomas Collins]

On occasion, through Google or, pre-Internet, the Directory of Corporate Counsel, I've been able to find the phone number of a person who could actually deal with my complaint without going through the pre-fab talking points (such as the endless repetition of "it's company policy"). Although the phone folks infuriate me, I try to keep in mind that they are simply on the front line implementing company policy.

[Rocco]

How to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS, TDL3, or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKiller

What this infection does:

TDSS, or TDL3, is the name of a family of rootkits for the Windows operating system that downloads and execute other malware, delivers advertisements to your computer, and block programs from running. This rootkit infects your computer in various ways that include replacing hard disk drivers with malicious versions. Once a computer is infected, TDSS will be invisible to Windows and anti-malware programs while downloading and executing further malware and delivering advertisements to your computer. This particular infections is detected under various names depending on the particular anti-virus vendor. A list of vendors and their detection names for TDSS can be found below.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-tdss-tdl3-alureon-rootkit-using-tdsskiller

[Neo]

I decided to click on one of thsoe "Verizon FIOS" bundles that promised a "triple-play" for $79.95.
When I got there they asked for my address so they could check to see if FIOS was available at my location.
It came back with a "double-play" for $79.95
Seems that Comcast is playing a franchise fee to my local government for their cable TV service, but Verizon wants none of that so they can't offer TV service to me.

[Thomas Collins]

In many cases, what 1-800 responders say in response to a request for help is best described by this clip from My Cousin Vinnie.

[pagar]

The leftist thieves are doing their cross selling too.

http://pjmedia.com/blog/meet-your-seiu-baby-sitter-and-the-lefts-scheme-to-unionize-everything/

Is Gov Walker the only American willing to stand up to these union goons?

[Neo]

I see Raz is back to -19.
I guess a $40 payroll tax cut is only good for a couple of days of goodwill.

[Captain Hate]

Did anybody offer to fix typhuspad?

[Captain Hate]

I guess a $40 payroll tax cut is only good for a couple of days of goodwill.

The tone-deafness of those idiots on this just points out how little the donks have a connection with people that work for a living.

[JM Hanes]

O/T Bleg:

My emails to Instapundit clearly go into the slush pile, but if anybody here is on his reading list, I hope they'll let him know that the Blogger who created the chart being highlighted by Instapundit & James Pethokoukis as one of "The 7 Most Illuminating Economic Charts of 2011" deserves a lot of credit that he is not getting! After his first couple of installments, I suggested he incorporate his URL into the image, which, sadly, he never did.

[Walter]

After two separate times whence our internet access went down on work-from-home-because-the-kids-are-home-sick days, we ended up buying high-speed from both the cable and phone companies. They still go out, but (so far) not at the same time.

[Clarice]

JMH--Try punditatinstapunditdotcom

I think he said he's been having trouble accessing his emails.

[Danube of Thought]

We're the telephone company. We don't care. We don't have to.

That's the way it was back when AT&T still had a government-sanctioned monopoly. No more.

[PD]

And that's the way health care will be when it's a government-sanctioned-and-operated monopoly.

[geoff]

After his first couple of installments, I suggested he incorporate his URL into the image, which, sadly, he never did.

Au contraire, mon frere. Subsequent versions (at both Innocent Bystanders and Ace of Spades) did have URL info. Thanks for the advice and the acknowledgment.

[JM Hanes]

I don't think my emails make it through the strainer, Clarice. I've brought numerous things to his attention which show up in emails from other people whom he quotes much later, so I've pretty much quit bothering. I did send one off this time, but I thought someone who normally makes the cut might have more success than I usually do.

Slight correction to the bleg above, the underlying chart was created by the Obama Administration, the uncredited genius of the thing was plugging the actual (red) numbers in for comparison to the spin.

[JM Hanes]

geoff:

Wow! I didn't realize you were here! Should have refreshed before I posted again. I'm so pleased to hear you haven't been slighted after all, because I think your chart is not just one of the seven most illuminating, it deserves Hall of Fame status as The Most Emblematic Obama Administration Chart Evah.

[Danube of Thought]

For those who haven't seen it, here's the story of the Tennessee woman with a carry permit who made the mistake of taking her piece to NYC. She's charged with a felony and facing a mandatory 3 1/2 years in prison, and Nanny Bloomberg has no sympathy whatsoever. She's out on a $2,000 bond.

Question: if she goes home to Tennessee and never returns to NY, can they get her? I should think a Tennessee court might balk at sending her back, but I have no idea how this works.

[Benjamin Franklin]

JMH;

He hides. First it was no comments; then, email-fail.

He used to respond to my emails, even. Imagine. That was six years ago. He's bigger than that, now.

[bolitha]

Well, don't take it personally, JM, Insty probably receives tons and tons of emails.

[JM Hanes]

I don't, bolitha. I just figure it's probably more effective to try to rope in someone higher up on the list to email him when it's something that seems important. I'm sure there's no way he can possibly read through all the stuff he must get.

[Captain Hate]

DoT, that woman obviously isn't very NYC savvy. She should've said after watching Law and Order SVU she was very concerned about being raped by bands of right-wing skinheads.

[Ranger]

Since we are talking about the briliant tracking chart, may I suggest that another verson be done with unemployment calculated on a stable, rather than a shrinking labor force, which would put unemployment up over 11%.

[bolitha]

OT--Being a Southerner--although with Yankee great grandparents--I always MUST have ham, black-eyed peas and collards for New Year's Day. Easy recipe--served on rice. Chop med. onion, 1 garlic clove and cut 4 oz. ham in 1/4 inch dice. Cook over mod. heat until onion is pale golden. Put 1/2 lb. collards, stems and center ribs discarded and finely chopped in with 3 c. chicken broth and simmer until collards are tender, about 20 mins.(If you think too thick, can add 1 c. water.) Rinse and drain 1 can black-eyed peas. Mash half of peas w/a fork. Stir mashed and whole peas into soup and simmer 5 mins. Season w/salt and pepper and 1 tsp. cider vinegar. Eating this should bring you health, wealth and happiness in the New Year!

[daddy]

Yay TM,

I was about to hire Gloria Allred to bring a Carpel Tunnel Syndrom Lawsuit against you.

[Ranger]

He hides. First it was no comments; then, email-fail.

He used to respond to my emails, even. Imagine. That was six years ago. He's bigger than that, now.

Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | December 30, 2011 at 02:18 PM

Well, he does have reasonable standards for integrity, and your silly little semantic games clearly are below those standards.

[Porchlight]

Rocco, thanks so much for the TDSSkiller link! When I get two minutes to rub together, I will go through the instructions carefully. Or I will make my malware-fixing-wizard brother log in remotely and do it. ;)

[Porchlight]

Don't forget the hot sauce, bolitha!

Can't wait for peas and greens on Jan 1. Thanks for the reminder that I need to shop.

[daddy]

Pre-dog walk OT on Charles Darwin:

The Fukushima Garbage washing up in Kodiak, after a 4,000 mile Pan Pacific Journey, and this new story about Asian Redwing Thrushes being blown across the Bering Straits by last months massive storm, reminded me of Darwin's attempts 150 years ago to explain how species from one continent could cross such an expanse of ocean to become the material for natural selection on another continent or far flung island.

I recall that when Darwin was wrestling with this problem he started putting seeds and such into tanks of seawater fir hundreds of days and then trying to germinate them, in efforts to show how sea currents might disperse such plants thousands of miles off to the Galapagos etc.

I always loved how one of his kids said maybe birds ate the seeds and then they died and floated across the ocean, so Darwin shoved seeds down some Pidgeons gullet, strangled it, and set it in the fishtank to rot for a couple months. Voila, I recall they germinated.

Anyhow, just thought it interesting today upon seeing one of our local Bird Expert's from the Anchorage Audubon Society, Luke DeCicco, all hot to try about his recent sighting of The wayward Dusky Thrush:

"It's just a wicked cool bird," said DeCicco. "It's rare, and you probably won't have another chance in Alaska to have access to this for more than one day."

Bonus question:

I like my DeCicco's. Can anyone guess without clicking who my favorite DeCicco is? Bet it's your favorite DeCicco also. Brocton, Mass...Ring any Bells?

Dress warm puppies, it's 4 degrees.
KayyyyyyyyyyyRooooooooo!

[bolitha]

Of course Tabasco, Porchlight! My daughters who live in the South buy bagged collard greens which I think is a sacrilege.

[Jack is Back! (Still Celebrating Boxing Day)]

bolitha,

We're of British heritage and practice Hogamany at New Year's. No Haggis but we do shortbreads, Bubble and Squeak and Venizon Pie (no venizon, substitute rabbit). Use to observe First Footing but our neighbors here are in bed by 9:00pm and there is no one to usher in the new year by bringing the coal, cake and whisky to the door.

If you haven't ever enjoyed a traditional Hogamany in Scotland including the bringing-in of the Haggis and the singing of Auld Lang Syne you are missing something special. No one drinks until midnight but after that its "Katie bar the door":)

[geoff]

I'm so pleased to hear you haven't been slighted after all,

Well, people have been linking to other versions of it for awhile, because they didn't seem to able to follow it from IB to AoSHQ. The thing I prefer about my current version is that I include Geithner's March 2010 prediction of unemployment, which is pretty much exactly tracking our current situation.

When he made the prediction I said he should have been fired for not having a plan to fix it. Now that it's come true, I think that's doubly true.

...I think your chart is not just one of the seven most illuminating, it deserves Hall of Fame status as The Most Emblematic Obama Administration Chart Evah.

Thanks - I like to think that it was instrumental in dissipating Obama's momentum and giving the GOP some traction. Back when I first put it up, the Dems seemed like a juggernaut. Then the chart went viral...

[Danube of Thought]

Think I forgot to link to the gun article. Can't do it now; I'm on iPad in a reataurant enjoying a fine Martini whilst awaiting lunch.

[bolitha]

JiB, My husband and I and our four girls did spend New Year's Eve in Edinburgh one year--we were supposed to go back to London, but there was a great blizzard. The hotel where we stayed was great fun with everyone dressed in their kilts, etc. My husband and I ate the Haggis, but the girls declined.

[narciso]

In keeping with this thread, it's not a simple fan replacement on the laptop, it can only be accessed by dismantling it, and removing the motherboard.

[Rick Ballard]

geoff,

I concur with the Hall of Fame status. Will you be adjusting the chart to account for the Census population control revisions that will appear in the January report? The BLS will be making their regular adjustment (+200K jobs for '11) but the Census revision will probably be a reduction in the labor force of around 500K, based upon the '10 Census.

There will undoubtedly be a great clamor in the MFM regarding "it's much better than expected", even though the adjustments are pure statistical artifacts without any meaning to the real economy.

[Captain Hate]

As a son of the South, I *hated* black-eyed peas on New Years. Mother Hate being a wretched cook may have had something to do with it.

[bolitha]

Well, CH, I have never been a big fan of black-eyed peas because they were always just cooked, served on rice and then the slimy collards. My soup recipe changed my mind--try it for luck, wealth and happiness.

[Rocco]

You're welcome porch, since the trojan wouldn't let me open windows explorer, I used my wife's clean laptop and a flash drive to transfer the tools needed to my infected computer. Good luck

[Porchlight]

Rocco, I tried it but the same thing happened - it found but could not cure/delete the trojan. So I'll try their plan B next.

[Jack is Back! (Still Celebrating Boxing Day)]

DoT,

Here is the story from the Knoxville papers.

I'll bet Say Uncle, Insty and other 2nd Amendment defenders will have lots on this from now on.

[geoff]

Will you be adjusting the chart...

Not the chart itself - I've always felt that the strongest point of the chart is that it uses data and predictions from the Obama administration itself, with no manipulation or adjustment by me. But interpreting the BLS employment situation reports certainly calls for some additional analysis.

[Jack is Back! (Still Celebrating Boxing Day)]

geoff,

Do you know the genesis of that Obama regime chart? Was it modeled using historical economic data vis a vis government spending and increased employment? Or was it wishful thinking with data mining to support it (sort of like AGW climate models)?

It seems to me that at least your points of data are based on reality whereas the Obama projections seem to be SWAGS.

[jimmyk]

Porch, I (fortunately) haven't been to bleepingcomputer in the last six months, but to be more specific, I went to the "Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Logs" forum, followed the instructions carefully, and waited for one of their expert/volunteers to contact me. In one case it took a couple of days, another just a few hours. But once they start working with you, they will give you instructions on what to do, then you report back, and after a few back-and-forths you will have a clean computer. They will also recommend various steps to keep your computer clean. In fact, if you've got nothing better to do you can find my threads--I'm "jimmyk1" over there--and see how it went.

[Neo]

Spain's business daily Expansion predicted a series of other austerity measures:

-- A 30-percent cut in spending at government ministries, equal to a reduction of 1.9 billion euros, with official cars, food, travel and consultancies in the firing line to set a public example;

-- A freeze in public sector pay;

-- A sharp reduction in investment in public works.

Also, the government will not replace workers who retire or leave.

[Ralph L]

If you eat collards on New Year's Day, the rest of the year is bound to be better.

You're also supposed to lay heather on the hearth for good luck. Once is enough.

[PD]

We're of British heritage and practice Hogamany at New Year's. No Haggis but we do shortbreads, Bubble and Squeak and Venizon Pie

What, no fadge?

[Old Lurker]

"practice Hogamany"

Oh that's just too easy. Bad would have a field day with that one.

[henry]

Well Narciso, somewhere on the last thread was a suggestion to use an external cooling fan (can't remember who, Stephanie?). Hardware is going the way of the paper cup ... My laptops are 15 and 26 yrs old and pretty good at Zaxxon and nothing else.

[centralcal]

Bolitha - I might try your recipe. I have never had black-eyed peas with collard greens. Does it have to be served over rice or can it be eaten as is? Also, is there a canned b-e-pea brand you recommend?

[daddy]

As Donkey so presciently told us near the end of Shrek 1, "Celebrity marriages, they never last."

[Extraneus]

We must have Hoppin' John here on New Years Day, too, bolitha. (That's what my SC/NC better half cousin of John C. Calhoun calls it.)

It's always seemed a bit plain to my taste, so I'll forward your recipe and see what happens this year.

[centralcal]

I just viewed a clip of Frank Luntz asking Newt about his mom. He chokes up and tears do flow. I have to admit I choke up too. Then I read about it at NRO and their commenters remarks and now I am in a really, really bad mood.

If DoT is already have martini's, I may start early on the manhattans.

[Rocco]

Sounds like you've got a stubborn one there Porch. Best of luck anyway.

[PD]

Also, the government will not replace workers who retire or leave.

Could backfire when people notice it makes no difference. 'twill fuel their appetite for more.

[Captain Hate]

daddy that soon to be ex-bride looks smokin' hot for 41. If you've ever done any layovers in Reykjavik you know it's blonde heaven.

[daddy]

Bet you guys thought I was talking about Katy Perry, not Cal Worthington.

[Ignatz]

--If you've ever done any layovers in Reykjavik you know it's blonde heaven.--

Speaking of field days for Bad.

[daddy]

Well Capt,

Cal is 50 years older than she is so maybe (as Tom Collin's mentioned overhearing in that IHOP this morning) she could also answer that "No, he didn't exactly wear her out last night."

[bolitha]

cc-No, it doesn't have to be eaten with rice. I just added that because I liked it. Have never been able to figure out all the symbols of food. Luck is the peas, wealth is the collards, health and happiness are, I guess the ham and rice but don't know which apply. Anyway, I eat the soup every New Year's and feel very virtuous.

[Captain Hate]

Yes daddy, even with chemical aides I'd say his assignment was emission impossible.

[bolitha]

cc-Bush's black-eyed peas.

[Ignatz]

Hogamany sounds like the word for polygamy as practiced in the boondocks of Arkansas.
Bound to be the newest civil rights battleground.

[geoff]

Do you know the genesis of that Obama regime chart? Was it modeled using historical economic data vis a vis government spending and increased employment?

I once wrote a post on that (towards the end).

[Captain Hate]

LOL Ig; a Clinton birthright.

[hit and run]

If anyone missed it when I originally posted the recipe -- or the next year when I re-linked it -- or the year after that...etc.

Here is my beer-eyed black-eyed pea recipe at my sis-in-law's blog.

That recipe was also picked up at craftbeer.com -- though I must say they laid a very heavy editorial hand on it.

If cooking times can't be presented in the amount of beers consumed,then the terrorists will have won.

[Rick Ballard]

JiB,

The chart is a graohic of the outcome of a macro economic model used by Romer despite the fact that the "results" flatly contradict the results of research conducted by her and her husband.

The technical term for the chart is "a [adjective supplied by reader] lie". It really is very emblematic of the entire Obama administration.

[centralcal]

I had forgotten the recipe, Hit, but I vaguely remember the cooking time. My kids, the beer drinkers, would love any recipe that called for the same cooking time.

[narciso]

Lutz gets a nazgul for that question, on a lighter note;

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=31080

[Sara]

My Dad always insisted on a dish of cold sauerkraut for New Year's as good luck for the rest of the year. I always thought this was a tradition from his mother's Bavarian roots, but my Bailey-Maxwell D-I-L's family has this tradition too, so not sure where it comes from.

[bolitha]

Ex, Yes, I have always called it Hoppin John, and I do agree it is bland--just peas and rice and collards. After having it for many, many years in North Carolina at my home, I changed the recipe when I married and lived in Atlanta. Much, much better, and yes, as Porch said, Tabasco is needed.

[bolitha]

Ralph L--What can I substitute for the heather? We have nothing like that on the Ga. coast.

[hit and run]

c-cal:
Also, is there a canned b-e-pea brand you recommend?

Man -- the first time I did black eyed peas at my sis-in-law's several years ago, my brother in law who manages an H-E-B* region brought home some fresh black eyed peas for me to cook.

It really made a huge difference,to my taste.

But my thanks also to bolitha for reminding me to do some shopping - this will be the first time we've actually been home here in NC for New Years in quite some years . . . I have not prepared as of yet for the occasion!

-------------------
*H-E-B is the Texas grocery store chain. I've told the story here before of Mr. Butts [as in H.E. Butts] lending his private plane to fly my b-i-l to San Antonio after he had a health incident while deer hunting along the Texas/Mexico border. But google doesn't want to play along for me to link back to it now.

[Jack is Back! (Still Celebrating Boxing Day)]

The latest in the Tallbloke computer confiscation saga Leslie Kaufman at the Old Grey Hag has asked for confirming information from Roger Tatersall. Good read but go to the comments especially those for Bob B. at the 2:06 mark about a theory on who FOIA.org could be.

As Arte Johson would say: "Wery Inderesting".

[Ignatz]

--My Dad always insisted on a dish of cold sauerkraut for New Year's as good luck for the rest of the year. I always thought this was a tradition from his mother's Bavarian roots, but my Bailey-Maxwell D-I-L's family has this tradition too, so not sure where it comes from.--

I think it stems from the idea that if you do the worst thing you can think of on the first day of the year the rest have to be looking up.

[henry]

PD, Althouse has a post on the recall being totally about union money. Just in case anyone argued from false pretenses on the last thread.

[daddy]

Ralph L you dirty dog you...

heather:)

[Jack is Back! (Still Celebrating Boxing Day)]

From the Cal Worthington story:

"The couple have no kids." [After only being married for several months].

As a kid we were stationed in Reykjvik with the Air Force at Keflavik [one of a few joint Navy - Air Force bases]. All I remember was that the Icelandars drank a lot and when it wasn't light all day it was dark all day.

[MaryD]

OT --Many thanks to DoT, JiB and the other martini connoisseurs who have mentored me on the martini project. Research is going extremely well, but more is needed, so I will carry on.

Note to DoT -- my husband has finally finished "Neptune's Inferno" and now it's my turn. Do I recall from months ago that you father was quite a big part of that battle?
If you don't mind giving out his name, I would love to have it as I begin the book. By the way, we have a 95 year old neighbor here in the White Mountains who is a veteran of the Guadalcanal battle. He is front and center, in uniform, at all of the parades and patriotic celebrations up here.

Happy New Year to all!

[centralcal]

Hit, fresh black eyed peas (with some green snaps) are the only kind I have ever had and the last time was about 20 years ago (we picked them ourselves at a farm in Tracy, CA). Fresh black-eyes are something I never ever see in stores, so I haven't had them since.

[PD]

Just in case anyone argued from false pretenses on the last thread.

Yeah, just in case. Hard to imagine anyone could do that!

[Gmax]

Black eyed peas are fine. Not sure about cold kraut, but I bet it beats raw herring in a creme sauce! I always thought the luck you got was not contracting salmonella...

[Captain Hate]

All I remember was that the Icelandars drank a lot and when it wasn't light all day it was dark all day.

They definitely pound the alc hard there; and the other side of the coin is that in Summer it never gets completely dark, ie we were riding horses after 11 pm.

[PD]

henry, thanks for the link. Great article.

Typical leftist "Democracy is defined as what we do, not what you do" comments, though. Recalls are Democracy in action, but the votes of the citizens of WI are, apparently, not, and must be overturned.

[Danube of Thought]

MaryD, you'll first meet him at around page 17 (I have the Kindle edition). He's the Assistant Gunnery Officer in USS Atlanta, showing off her weaponry to a visitor "with the same pride a mother would introduce her children."

[Rocco]

For your next Lobster Bake, might I suggest Lobstertini's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0USLed4PU

[Danube of Thought]

Couldn't get Geoff's link to work, but I think the original chart was rhe work of Christina Romer.

[bolitha]

Well, I hate cooking the bags of dried black-eyed peas--they always turn out mushy. I have seen, very rarely, fresh black-eyed peas, Hit, and especially here in this small no stop-light town on the Georgia coast, I would never expect to see fresh peas! So, on with the cooking for New Year's and also New Year's Eve.

[henry]

PD, I think the left goes crazy with comments there whenever light is shone on their activities. I suspect and hope that means we a heading to #RecallFail next spring.