Off Topic!, For all our "general" off topic tendencies Options

[Samuel]

SOS.

I will like to more often come to the USA, (New York Boston Washington and to go in Connecticut) but that costs very expensive. In May I will have liked to come 4 days to attend the annual meal of Refugees International, unfortunately that would cost me 1.200.00 euros plus ceremony 300.00$Have an idea to travel not too expensive? perhaps by renting a room at the inhabitant....... All the idea (serious) will be good. Thank you

[stefanl]

I'm not making this up, because, while I have an active imagination, the irony is just too unbearable. I am back on the phone, on hold waiting for the next available consultant and listening to Muzac. They are playing "To Dream the Impossible Dream"!

Gotta find me some windmills to tilt against.

[Tina70]

<br />I'm not making this up, because, while I have an active imagination, the irony is just too unbearable. I am back on the phone, on hold waiting for the next available consultant and listening to Muzac. They are playing &quot;To Dream the Impossible Dream&quot;! <br />

<br /><br /><br />

Well, all I can say is ... "Thank you for your patience while holding!" (argh). I love it when a voicemail system says this to me. What makes them think I'm holding "patiently"?! ;-)

My favourite trick to avoid telephone queues (don't know that it will work in the US unless the phone tree is bilingual): press 2 for French. Far fewer French-speaking callers than English-speaking, and all the francophone callers are bilingual. In my job capacity I spend a lot of time on the phone to government offices. So - this is a handy trick. I get to a french caller and then say "aw, shucks, I must have pressed the wrong button. English, please". LOL

[Mari Welsh]

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Well, all I can say is ... "Thank you for your patience while holding!" (argh). I love it when a voicemail system says this to me. What makes them think I'm holding "patiently"?! ;-)

My favourite trick to avoid telephone queues (don't know that it will work in the US unless the phone tree is bilingual): press 2 for French. Far fewer French-speaking callers than English-speaking, and all the francophone callers are bilingual. In my job capacity I spend a lot of time on the phone to government offices. So - this is a handy trick. I get to a french caller and then say "aw, shucks, I must have pressed the wrong button. English, please". LOL

That is exactly what I just PMd Linda, Kristina! Although I go with the French person I get. Il est beaucoup deranger moins! Make me happier, and cuts out hours of drama.
Mari

[stefanl]

Suren. What a wonderful name and what a wonderfully calming influence he had on my elevated blood pressure. What a load of crap when I got the next guy!

Okay, ran ANOTHER virus scan and found..... a tracking cookie! Suren gave me a phone number that (he promised) would get me a live person within a matter of minutes. (six days can be broken down to minutes too...) He told me the next person would be able to tell me what to do should I find something on my computer and he/she will then send me back to the regular tech after it has been resolved.

Tracking cookie!!!

The next guy I do get quickly after several busy signals. The next guy tells me he will have to charge me $59.95 to remove the virus from my computer. The Norton software already cost me $59.95. If I had gotten the one for $69.95 would it have cost me THAT much?! I told him that he's NOT charging me $59.95. I already paid them that much for software that's stopped my machine from working and they are NOT getting another $59.95 outta me. He needs to speak to his supervisor. I remove the blankety blank cookie myself while waiting. He comes back and tells me he can't help me if I don't want to pay. I tell him to transfer me, which he does and the new software we've NOW downloaded has been doing a live update to find system upgrades for the last 35 minutes.

They're SO not getting a Christmas card from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peachybc]

LOL to tracking cookie!!! Makes me shiver in downright fright!

Linda, so what's the deal...how is your computer honked because of this Norton install? What exactly is wrong with your computer now? Inquiring minds want to know.
Peachy

[stefanl]

LOL to tracking cookie!!! Makes me shiver in downright fright!

Linda, so what's the deal...how is your computer honked because of this Norton install? What exactly is wrong with your computer now? Inquiring minds want to know.
Peachy

"We don't understand why this is happening to your machine madam. If you would like me to speak to my manager I am not authorized to give you a refund myself. Please, let me to place you on hold for a minute or so and I will be right back." Muzac White Snake, not kidding.

I am sure I have spoken to every single person in that technical support office. There simply can not be that many different people working there. By the way, if you thought that calling them off hours would get you someone quicker, rethink that thunk.

It's been removed from the computer yet again. The darned thing froze after the final software removal that we did and I know I should do a defrag and disk clean up but I just can't look at that screen anymore. Excellent wall paper image that I've LOVED up until this past Friday, Goren from Chinioserie. Such long eyelashes .

So, here's what's the what. There is a conflict between some software that's currently on my computer and the new software I/they/us/we were trying to load. Why there was NO conflict with the previous version of their software that expired two weeks ago and all the same other software that's been resident on my computer is beyond me, them and their manager. I read them the entire list of software that is on my machine, they can't figure out which it could possibly be.

The last guy I spoke to admitted that they have been having a "great number of issues" with this particular package. He says that my credit card will be credited with the return, so now I have to check back in my records to figure out WHICH card I used to buy the danged thing so I can see that I'm actually refunded.

Thank the good people at work who saw fit to giving each of us a wireless capable laptop computer or I would be crawling up the walls!

Thank you for letting me blow off steam.

Rant over, again.

[peachybc]

Ah...the age old software conflict problem.


I forgot to add a tidbit that I learned from my hubby, who's a programmer. Odd release numbers of programs (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) invariably have problems. While even number program releases (2, 4, 6, 8...) don't. Interesting, eh what?

The programmers get out release number one; it's full of bugs. Release number 2 fixes bugs in release number one. Release number three everybody gets brave again and adds new stuff -- bug problems again. lol Release number 4 fixes bugs in release number 3...and so and so on.

I would definitely defrag. Your box is probably one giant, scattered mess at the moment.

Rant all you want. There's nothing worse than computer problems -- except losing electrical power, in which case all pooter problems become mute!
Peachy

[CvlSrvnt]

I've been running AVG/ewido free software since I got sick of Norton last year. Haven't had any problems so far. You can download it free online.

And the bilingual trick doesn't work in the States. The other option here is Spanish, and (depending on who you're calling), the line is usually even longer on that side.

[Mari Welsh]

^^Ay caramba! I hadn't thought they even had bi-lingual lines in the US, Cvl! I was wondering, how is it going today, Linda? Or should we not even ask?
Mari
PS I am having my own issues, my satellite died on Sunday, just prior to the beginning of The Sopranos, so I have been playing telephone tag for a few days as well. Sympathy abounds!

[stefanl]

I've been running AVG/ewido free software since I got sick of Norton last year. Haven't had any problems so far. You can download it free online.

And the bilingual trick doesn't work in the States. The other option here is Spanish, and (depending on who you're calling), the line is usually even longer on that side.

I spoke to my network director today about something totally unrelated and brought up the lunatic weekend from h*ll. He laughed and laughed. Thought it was great fun and also suggested either AVG or McAfee. AVG is the smaller program and won't weigh down my computer nearly as badly as the Norton thing did. It's also a ton cheaper than either McAfee or Norton.

Thanks, Cvl!

[CvlSrvnt]

I spoke to my network director today about something totally unrelated and brought up the lunatic weekend from h*ll. He laughed and laughed. Thought it was great fun and also suggested either AVG or McAfee. AVG is the smaller program and won't weigh down my computer nearly as badly as the Norton thing did. It's also a ton cheaper than either McAfee or Norton.

Thanks, Cvl!

Anything to feed your online addiction - just call me the Enabler!

[stefanl]

^^Ay caramba! I hadn't thought they even had bi-lingual lines in the US, Cvl! I was wondering, how is it going today, Linda? Or should we not even ask?
Mari
PS I am having my own issues, my satellite died on Sunday, just prior to the beginning of The Sopranos, so I have been playing telephone tag for a few days as well. Sympathy abounds!

So far so good. I removed the final bit of the software last night and the computer is running smoothly. I ran a defrag and a disk clean up this morning before work and will probably go with my IT guy, Manish's suggestion of AVG.

My computer's boot speed slowed down from less than a minute before this fiasco to well over 4 minutes with Norton in place and it ran like it was wearing chest waders in three feet of mud. When I explained to Manish what was happening he said he wasn't surprised and that Norton is NOT the direction to go if your computer doesn't already have it loaded. Their programs don't even "play well" with their own programs.

Peachy, I don't know what to suggest to you about your computer when the program expires in a couple of months. I can tell you the website to go to that will totally remove the entire software program from every little electronic nook and crannie and then you can load with a different program. Your hubby can probably do this just as easily for you, but my suggestion would be to stay away from Symantec in droves.

[peachybc]

So far so good. I removed the final bit of the software last night and the computer is running smoothly. I ran a defrag and a disk clean up this morning before work and will probably go with my IT guy, Manish's suggestion of AVG.

My computer's boot speed slowed down from less than a minute before this fiasco to well over 4 minutes with Norton in place and it ran like it was wearing chest waders in three feet of mud. When I explained to Manish what was happening he said he wasn't surprised and that Norton is NOT the direction to go if your computer doesn't already have it loaded. Their programs don't even "play well" with their own programs.

Peachy, I don't know what to suggest to you about your computer when the program expires in a couple of months. I can tell you the website to go to that will totally remove the entire software program from every little electronic nook and crannie and then you can load with a different program. Your hubby can probably do this just as easily for you, but my suggestion would be to stay away from Symantec in droves.

Interesting, Linda...

I've been running Norton on this box and my other pooter from the get go. I've never had any problems with it, including no upgrading problems. I wonder if my luck is about to run out? I hope not! Hang on to that website removal info though just in case!

As far as hubby helping out, that gets a HUGE chuckle from me! I know this box better than he does and can usually fix it better/faster than he can!
Peachy

[Mari Welsh]

Happy the light is at the end of the tunnel, Linda! (Which, in my mind, is a frieght train, however, I am sending happy vibes!) I rely on my very long time BF's little bro, interestingly, also Manish, to help me out...oh synchronicity!

Apropo of nothing, which, I am sure you have all noticed is how my brain works...I was thinking about "Silencer" the other day, and I saw this news story, which is interesting in it's own right, and it lends itself to the discussion we were all having about being Deaf and the issues of surgery, etc. This is about a Deaf dolphin, and in a creature which is a sonic life form, this seems interesting in many levels.
Yahoo news.
Mari

[SaiyajinQueen]

I was sitting under the tree earlier minding my own business. All of a sudden something hit my head from above. Ouch… that was really smarts! When I looked down beside me, the apple was cut in half. My head must have done that. That was pretty strong. After I washed it, I ate it with one gulp. Now, that satisfies my appetite, but I crave for more.

[peachybc]

This is certainly OT...this TV NBC news blurb caught my eye.

Tom Selleck In Negotiations To Lead Las Vegas
Posted on April 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Emmy winner Tom Selleck is in discussions to join NBC’s Las Vegas as the fast-paced drama’s new leading man. He would play the smart, powerful, fun-loving new owner of Montecito Resort & Casino, a new character designed to fill the void left by the recent departure of the show’s star James Caan. Vegas, from NBC Universal TV Studio and DreamWorks TV, was picked up for a fifth season in February and is slated to begin production on its order soon. The show also is looking to add a beautiful female concierge in the wake of the departure of co-star Nikki Cox. Josh Duhamel also stars on Vegas, with Molly Sims, James Lesure and Vanessa Marcil rounding out the cast.

This info is from The TV remote.com
Peachy

[Mari Welsh]

This is certainly OT...this TV NBC news blurb caught my eye.

Tom Selleck In Negotiations To Lead Las Vegas
Posted on April 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Emmy winner Tom Selleck is in discussions to join NBC’s Las Vegas as the fast-paced drama’s new leading man. He would play the smart, powerful, fun-loving new owner of Montecito Resort & Casino, a new character designed to fill the void left by the recent departure of the show’s star James Caan. Vegas, from NBC Universal TV Studio and DreamWorks TV, was picked up for a fifth season in February and is slated to begin production on its order soon. The show also is looking to add a beautiful female concierge in the wake of the departure of co-star Nikki Cox. Josh Duhamel also stars on Vegas, with Molly Sims, James Lesure and Vanessa Marcil rounding out the cast.

This info is from The TV remote.com
Peachy

For the first time, I would tune in to Las Vegas! Er, purely to examine the new direction the series is taking, of course. ( Vis a vis our PM discussion, Peachy, I am stopping here!)
Mari

[gorenpal88]

I'd stopped watching X-Files waaay before then, but you've gotta love the moves made for TV big fishes with dreams of movie stardom!!

One thing that's always bothered me with that whole ego phenomenon, and the failure that goes along with it, is that David Caruso was mocked visciously for leaving NYPD Blue to "become a movie star". It's amazing how every single entertainment reporting outlet across the US decided to come together in faux amnesia blatantly ignoring the fact that the man started out in movies in the first d'amn place!!! I saw him in King of New York yeeeeaaaarrs before NYPD Blue was even on the air.

'course, none of any of this has dook to do with Vincent or LOCI, but I just thought I'd take this opportunity to put forth the rare 'public' comment defending David Caruso! gotta love your fellow man...

I'm with you naydi. David Caruso certainly paid his dang dues ten times over for leaving NYPD Blue. And I also saw him in some movies way before being on NYPD. You can tell the earlier CSI:Miami shows and the later ones. Daivid doesn't have as many wrinkles in the older ones. But, personally, I think getting older for him has added a LOT of character to his face. Dang, does he look good in black or what!!

[stefanl]

Is the page running slow for anyone else today? I've had a couple of instances with different threads where the page just would not load and I've had to kill the weblink via the task manager (never a dull moment ). It's not on the computer that was having the trouble last week either. It, by the way, is running beautifully.

Just wondering because it's happened on three separate occasions throughout the morning.