Friday, July 31, 2009
What we have here is a "failure to communicate"
The hinge on the cell phone I own recently broke and I was pleased to learn that Verizon would replace the entire phone at no charge. I am only 45 days away from the free upgrade and didn't want to have to buy a phone.
The replacement phone arrived yesterday, so I dutifully unpacked the phone and began the programming to get the phone operational. When I originally went to the Verizon store, the clerk told me that they would replace the phone under warranty and there would be no charge. What he FAILED to inform me was that I would receive a reconditioned/refurbished phone. The new phone is the exact same model as the old one. The performance, however, is not. After charging it overnight, the damn thing does not work. If I remove the battery and put it back into the original phone, life is good. Insert battery into new phone: no go. So, it's off to the retail Hell known as the phone store to try to get some help. I equate this to a visit to Chuck E Cheese when I was younger: necessary but not actually pleasant.
The replacement phone arrived yesterday, so I dutifully unpacked the phone and began the programming to get the phone operational. When I originally went to the Verizon store, the clerk told me that they would replace the phone under warranty and there would be no charge. What he FAILED to inform me was that I would receive a reconditioned/refurbished phone. The new phone is the exact same model as the old one. The performance, however, is not. After charging it overnight, the damn thing does not work. If I remove the battery and put it back into the original phone, life is good. Insert battery into new phone: no go. So, it's off to the retail Hell known as the phone store to try to get some help. I equate this to a visit to Chuck E Cheese when I was younger: necessary but not actually pleasant.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
I think that German Engineering thing is going a bit too far
Mrs. Kfred drives a 12 year old BMW. It's a good car, with low miles, looks good, and I try to take care of it and address any problems as soon as possible. She recently informed me of the fact that both the front AND rear beverage cup holders were non-working and broken and asked me to take a look at them to see if I could repair each. After determining both were hopelessly broken and would need to be replaced, I called the local dealer to get price quotes.
Imagine my shock and surprise when said dealer quoted me the price of $68 each for these precision parts! $68 friggin' dollars! EACH! The guy did admit "yeah, they are pretty cheap (flimsy) and we've got a bunch of them in stock". Gosh, I wonder why. I have no idea what these cost to produce. I am willing to bet, however, that at $68 each for a couple of pieces of molded plastic, the German economy is on a solid path to economic rebound and soundness.
Needless to say, this repair has immediately moved to the bottom of the priority list. Mrs. Kfred has been informed that any of her future beverage holding needs will be met by the age old solution for most drivers: place the beverage firmly between her knees. Ah, the ultimate driving experience.
Imagine my shock and surprise when said dealer quoted me the price of $68 each for these precision parts! $68 friggin' dollars! EACH! The guy did admit "yeah, they are pretty cheap (flimsy) and we've got a bunch of them in stock". Gosh, I wonder why. I have no idea what these cost to produce. I am willing to bet, however, that at $68 each for a couple of pieces of molded plastic, the German economy is on a solid path to economic rebound and soundness.
Needless to say, this repair has immediately moved to the bottom of the priority list. Mrs. Kfred has been informed that any of her future beverage holding needs will be met by the age old solution for most drivers: place the beverage firmly between her knees. Ah, the ultimate driving experience.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thanks, Boss
Today marks the rising of the Federal minumum wage to $7.25 an hour. There are competing arguments whether this is a good thing or not.
The quote “In the wealthiest country in the world, it is an outrage that anyone who works full-time still winds up in poverty,” by Rep. George Miller, chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor and the House’s lead sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act caused the Factorcrap Truthometer Deluxe to malfunction. You see, the minimum wage was not designed to be a wage capable to support anyone. It was intended to be a base, a floor, a bottom, a MINIMUM, amount that a worker would earn regardless of the task involved. While you are earning that base, the thinking is that you would develop skills and knowledge to move off of the floor and move up the income ladder. Somehow, it has morphed into the concept that 2 working adults can earn nothing but minimum wage, raise 2 kids, and live in a home, all at the same time and still survive as a "living" wage. Don't try to better your skills, or learn something of value; just settle for what you have.
This truly epitomizes "flatline thinking".
The quote “In the wealthiest country in the world, it is an outrage that anyone who works full-time still winds up in poverty,” by Rep. George Miller, chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor and the House’s lead sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act caused the Factorcrap Truthometer Deluxe to malfunction. You see, the minimum wage was not designed to be a wage capable to support anyone. It was intended to be a base, a floor, a bottom, a MINIMUM, amount that a worker would earn regardless of the task involved. While you are earning that base, the thinking is that you would develop skills and knowledge to move off of the floor and move up the income ladder. Somehow, it has morphed into the concept that 2 working adults can earn nothing but minimum wage, raise 2 kids, and live in a home, all at the same time and still survive as a "living" wage. Don't try to better your skills, or learn something of value; just settle for what you have.
This truly epitomizes "flatline thinking".
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
You can pay my receptionist out front
The recent announcement by the President not to sign any new healthcare legislation that would add to the deficit is certainly encouraging. Standing by this anouncement might be a little harder, however.
The problem is that the Congessional Budget Office has stated that the pending legislation would not curb federal spending and that more forceful action would need to be taken. The President, though, is stating his opponents (and the CBO) are the "folks who controlled the White House and Congress for the last 8 years" and are arguing that record deficits are ahead. And that is "simply not true."
The CBO is recognized as the politically "neutral" arm of Congress. Their figures are normally viewed as reliable and without bias to either side when cited. They don't control Congress. The group that has controlled Congress in the last 2 years? They have the letter "D" next to their names. This whole matter is too big of an issue to try to rush through Congress in order to meet a self imposed deadline of the August Congressional recess.
Let's go back to the days of "Now, rub a little dirt on it and get back out there. You'll be OK."
The problem is that the Congessional Budget Office has stated that the pending legislation would not curb federal spending and that more forceful action would need to be taken. The President, though, is stating his opponents (and the CBO) are the "folks who controlled the White House and Congress for the last 8 years" and are arguing that record deficits are ahead. And that is "simply not true."
The CBO is recognized as the politically "neutral" arm of Congress. Their figures are normally viewed as reliable and without bias to either side when cited. They don't control Congress. The group that has controlled Congress in the last 2 years? They have the letter "D" next to their names. This whole matter is too big of an issue to try to rush through Congress in order to meet a self imposed deadline of the August Congressional recess.
Let's go back to the days of "Now, rub a little dirt on it and get back out there. You'll be OK."
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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