Originally published at Хованка Кота Бегемота. You can comment there.
 | High / Low (°F) | Precip. % | | ||
| Today Jul 02 |  | Scattered T-Storms | 93°/80° | 40 % | |
| Fri Jul 03 |  | Mostly Sunny | 100°/82° | 20 % | |
| Sat Jul 04 | | Mostly Sunny | 104°/82° | 0 % | |
| Sun Jul 05 |  | Sunny | 104°/80° | 0 % | |
| Mon Jul 06 | | Sunny | 101°/79° | 0 % | |
| Tue Jul 07 | | Sunny | 101°/77° | 0 % | |
Картинок много не обещаю, но должно получится лучше, чем в прошлый раз, потому что никто мешать не будет.
Кстати, ВНЕЗАПНО обнаружил, что в бложике давно не было сисек. Поскольку сегодня четверг, а не пятница - сегодня будут не большие красивые сиськи, а про то как эти большие сиськи различать на настоящие и не совсем. Видео - под катом.
Originally published at Хованка Кота Бегемота. You can comment there.
Первое впечатление от телефона не было строго положительным. Для меня он слишком легкий и слишком скользкий - я все-таки привык к "кирпичам" и мне даже нравится определенная тяжесть. С другой стороны - именно эта тяжесть забодала менять чехлы от телефона, которые рвутся со скоростью звука. На данный момент у меня только один чехол, из которого iPhone достается целиком, то есть опять в руках легкий и скользкий корпус. Видимо придется разорится на прорезиненный (или из чего они там делаются), который прилипает к рукам.
Неглубокий экскурс в AppStore открыл неожиданный факт. В AppStore на сегодняшний день мне не удалось найти ни одного бесплатного ssh терминала. Зато RDP для Windows - бесплатных аж два. Это, если кто не знает, инструменты управления серверами под *nix и Windows. Очевидно, что iPhone позиционируется не только как игрушка для гламурных кисо и альтернативно-сексуальных мальчиков, но и для гиков. Потому что никому кроме гика на сотовом телефоне ssh терминал нахрен не нужен.
Помимо всего прочего первым делом впихнул на телефон приложения Pandora (интернет-радио), Skype, IM+, eReader, Free RSS и кропалку для фоток. Последняя нужна для следующего пункта сегодняшнего меню.
На одном из недавних митингов мне стало очень скучно и от нечего делать я принялся рисовать план предстоящего отпуска. Не писать - а именно рисовать. Ну там кровать с телами, чашка кофе, два человечка бродящих по улице, ложка-вилка-тарелка, концертный зал, опять два человечка и опять кровать. Как-то так, в общем - я-то нихрена не художник. И сразу логично пришла в голову мысль - раз ты нихрена не художник (да, я сам с собой часто разговариваю, если я не перебиваю, то интересные диалоги получаются), то хотя бы фоткай все эти радости - и получится такой себе дневник.
Но придумать-то легко, а вот воплотить эту хрень в жизнь несколько сложнее. Потому что это ж надо достать фотки из фотоаппарата, исправить, залить на какой-нибудь хост, опубликовать... Короче - даже перечислять все действия лень. А вот с сотового фотографии претендующие исключительно на дневниковость - вполне просто кидать на Flickr, а ленту публиковать в блоге - она в правом столбике очень аккуратно так располагается.
Как в ЖЖ постить это дело - еще не сообразил, потому что по два раза отправлять одно и то же не хочется.
Originally published at Small business, Marketing, Promotion and Web Design. Please comment there.
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Just when I was about to write how our local UPS office picked up the ball after main office dropped it - they blew it above the sky. Hour later I got a call from our local UPS office and nice lady promised that driver would contact me about an hour before dropping off my package AND drop-off will happen after five. Well, I said, thank you, this really saves me a lot of trouble.
I got home something before six o'clock and find a third UPS InfoNotice flying on the floor. Which means that driver didn't call me, at least I haven't seen any missed calls on my phone. Tough luck, I said, and drove my 30 minutes to UPS pickup location. Today was a lights-on day, since the garbage truck garage across from UPS yard was lit to its fullest. Nice teamwork! Got inside at around 9:30pm - and the line was worse than those at the airport on Thanksgiving. In just under 30 minutes I got to the clerk who grabbed my InfoNotice and went after my package. In about two minutes he emerged back only to tell me that... they lost my package. "It's somewhere in the building, we just can't find it". Nice. The guy seemed upset that I came over for the missing package and I kind of agreed that I was better off picking up the package that wasn't missing. But this is life and my package that UPS was trying to deliver three times got lost. Guess it got upset too.
Now to the brighter part. Few hours after I've published the previous post I got a comment from UPS's PR lady. I held off the comment until I came back from pickup to at least say that the problem got resolved. Well it's not and it's not actually my problem. Here's why.
UPS is best if you order something to the location where you are present during business hours. These guys probably great for serving businesses and all, but regular folks who work day jobs and hope they can get their stuff after hours get sidestepped. I'd rather take my wife to a movie or take her out on a Friday night than spend hour and half picking up stuff that was supposed to be delivered three days ago. So, here my words to Debbie, who wrote "you’ve really had a hassle with this shipment". Debbie, I hadn't had a hassle. It's the way UPS works for all who can't schedule a delivery to their work address. That's the kind of service (or rather lack of it) that all those people in line at 10PM on Friday night are getting. It would be just honest to state right there on your brown web site: "We're doing business from 9 to 5. If you want to pick up your stuff any other time - come and get it yourself, you loosers".
Rant mode off. Debbie, this is still for you, though. The economy is tough, and if tomorrow someone's gonna start a shitstorm on Twitter about how not to use UPS but use FedEx or USPS instead - you gonna have a problem. I don't depend on UPS in my ways of doing business, but I have plenty of clients who do and they aren't all that satisfied either. Here's the moment of opportunity and innovation for UPS. Google the term "cell phone". I've heard they're good in establishing a two-way communication between two people, in your case - the driver and dispatch. You can also google "blackberry" and "gps phone". Sending one-way messages to driver's pager is so last century. Call those guys at Sprint, AT&T or Verizon, get a contract. I'm sure with tough times like these you will have an upper hand in negotiation a good deal. Next step - map your drivers. Know exactly where they are any time of the day. If you need someone to do it for you - hire me, I can get this done for you. Next step (here comes the trick!) - ask your customers when they want their package delivered. Seriously. For real. Don't just game the numbers ("we deliver more packages..."), but actually deliver them. When customers want. Here's how: you have live traffic maps (Google does it as well as other providers) plus you have exact location of each of your drivers. You can minimize their time driving by reshaping their route in real time according to traffic patterns. This means less gas burned, less time wasted, less destinations visited multiple times. With the money saved ask a quarter of your drivers to work second shift - from 2pm to 11pm. You won't need many people because I imagine most of the deliveries would still be within 8 to 6 time frame. You already charge a bit more for residential deliveries, so here's a way to put those extras plus whatever you saved to good use. This will unload the 8 to 6 schedule somewhat and reduce return trips. I'm sure you can have your own quality improvement department cough up the real numbers to do the math. But in addition to this all - you will get a customer satisfaction beyond any imaginable level. Which means - more business for your company. Isn't it a win-win?
Originally published at Хованка Кота Бегемота. You can comment there.
Мой дедушка отдал мне свой магнитофон (Десна, вроде), когда мне было где-то около 12 лет. Магнитофон этот был портативный и монофонический, без крышки, в старом потертом кожаном футляре. Блок питания к нему был то ли слишком тяжелый, то ли потерялся, но работал у меня этот магнитофон исключительно от шести батареек. Сначала крутить на нем было нечего, но году этак к 86 - 88 какие-то кассеты стали появляться. Постепенно стали вырисовываться музыкальные предпочтения и кассетой номер один стала какая-то затертая МК-60, которая начиналась с песни группы Status Quo "You're In The Army Now". Следом, если я правильно помню, шла группа Europe с песней "Final Countdown", про которую кто-то где-то рассказывал, что якобы певец на стадионе исполнял ее 8 минут - ровно столько, сколько летит ракета от Америки до СССР (или наоборот). И якобы смысл песни в том, что песня против гонки вооружений, последний отсчет уже пошел и пора остановится. Однако даже тогдашние мои познания в английском вполне давали понять что песня совсем про другое. Забавно еще и то, что долгое время ни одной другой песни этих двух групп я не слышал, а когда услышал - не был впечатлен.
Впрочем, вернемся к "You're In The Army Now". Оказывается песню написали нихрена не британцы Status Quo в 1986, а вовсе даже голландцы Bolland and Bolland в 1981. Впрочем, про версию, которая была на кассете мне даже успели рассказать что это именно Bolland and Bolland, что было, разумеется, неправдой. Вот широко известный вариант в исполнении Status Quo, а вот - в исполнении авторов (забавно сделанный клип, из автомата даже гильзы летят, если присмотреться). Честно сказать - на мой неискушенный взгляд у британцев получилось живее. В 1994 словенская Laibach слабала свою версию, которая должна была сносить моск (и, наверное, сносила - в 94), но на мой взгляд там безнадежно убит ритм, что является основой песни (особенно, если она про армию). Мультик, впрочем, хоть и претендует на психоделию, но тоже не доставляет. Впрочем, духовно богатые рашисты вполне могут обосраться от радости, потому что мультик - про плохое НАТО.
В девяносто-не помню каком году советский певец ртом и диджей Советского Союза Сергей Минаев по-советски просто скоммуниздил мелодию и написал супер-мега-гимн офисных работников "Тяжелый День". В музыкальном видео показаны тяжелые страдания работников малоумственного труда в офисе и указано на некоторые, еще кое-где встревающиеся недостатки с питанием в общественных столовых. Песня, кстати, доставляет до сих пор, особенно в сочетании с первой частью клипа.
А уже в 2009 году французы решили, что они ничем не хуже Минаева. А может решили, что даже лучше. И тоже скоммуниздили песню для благотворительного проекта Restaurants du Cœur (Les Restos du Cœur) - раздачи жрачки бедным. В варианте французов песня называется "Ici les enfoirés" - "Вот тупые". Но речь в ней идет не про американцев, как этого очень хочется духовно богатым рашистам, а про певцов и исполнителей, которые раз за разом участвуют в благотворительных концертах, средства от которых идут на еду бедным и неимущим.
Originally published at Small business, Marketing, Promotion and Web Design. Please comment there.
That's when the fun starts. In case you live in the UPS local center you should know that annoying female voice that reads all the voice prompts. I needed the customer service rep, but she insisted on choosing either to track a package or order shipments. Once you concede - she will read you the status of the package. Hm... let's see... I know what the status is, that's exactly why I am calling! Let's try to ask for customer service again. "I can connect you, but this is the latest information on your package that we have". Right, why else would I want to talk to the operator - to find out if UPS is hiding the status of the package. Black helicopters, anyone?
The operator was slow enough not to realize what exactly am I asking of him. Once he told me the UPS will call me to notify of the time I will be able to pick up the package I asked where would I be picking it up - at home or at local UPS? I asked this question no less than six times, only to be told that (these are actual responses to my question, I omitted repetitions only):
- The UPS will call me
- I will receive the call from UPS within an hour
- I could be anywhere to receive the call
- UPS drivers leave early in the morning before anyone else is up
- all UPS drivers drive UPS trucks
- UPS drivers come back to local station around 6 PM
- the UPS will call me to arrange pickup
This guys is a genius, I think he's a next UPS's CEO. Too bad no one cares about UPS's customer service for individuals.
Originally published at Small business, Marketing, Promotion and Web Design. Please comment there.
That's when the fun starts. In case you live in the UPS local center you should know that annoying female voice that reads all the voice prompts. I needed the customer service rep, but she insisted on choosing either to track a package or order shipments. Once you concede - she will read you the status of the package. Hm... let's see... I know what the status is, that's exactly why I am calling! Let's try to ask for customer service again. "I can connect you, but this is the latest informatio on your package that we have". Right, why else would I want to talk to the operator - to find out if UPS is hiding the status of the package. Black helicopters, anyone?
The operator was slow enough not to realize what exactly am I asking of him. Once he told me the UPS will call me to notify of the time I will be able to pick up the package I asked where would I be picking it up - at home or at local UPS? I asked this question no less than six times, only to be told that (these are actual responses to my question, I omitted repetitions only):
- The UPS will call me
- I will receive the call from UPS within an hour
- I could be anywhere to receive the call
- UPS drivers leave early in the morning before anyone else is up
- all UPS drivers drive UPS trucks
- UPS drivers come back to local station around 6 PM
- the UPS will call me to arrange pickup
This guys is a genius, I think he's a next UPS's CEO. Too bad no one cares about UPS's customer service for individuals.
Originally published at Хованка Кота Бегемота. You can comment there.
Originally published at Хованка Кота Бегемота. You can comment there.
Изначально речь шла о зарплатах в CIA, FBI и NSA, я написал что зарплаты там значительно повысились (например обычный Application Developer начинает с $103 000), появился знающий товарищ и отважно начал срывать покровы. Поинтересовался откуда у него такая информация, с нетерпением жду ответа. Что характерно - ни возраст, не место проживания у п0циента в профиле не указано. Что какбе намекает нам...
[caption id="attachment_940" align="aligncenter" width="528" caption="Хабрахабр жжот!"]
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Originally published at Small business, Marketing, Promotion and Web Design. Please comment there.
To much of my surprise someone from Advantage Rent-A-Car actually called me next day. Imagine that! I was told that they have recalculated my rates and the final amount would be something around 20 dollars less than the amount on the receipt I have. However, the representative declined the responsibility for overcharging my account. Overall I had a feeling she thinks she's doing me a favor.
Therefore I guess the issue is resolved. I will try my best to avoid Advantage Rent-A-Car given how horrible their service is and how time consuming it is dealing with this company. Please understand - I am still at a loss here, since aside from the overdraft of the account I had to spend a few hours waiting on hold, dealing with ARAC customer service and so on.
Below is the text I had included with the documents from my car rental for Advantage Rent-A-Car.
The following contract is the only receipt I have so far for the Advantage Rent-A-Car rental that has occurred between May 24th to May 31st. As you can see the amount on the receipt is $XXX.xx whereas the amount that was billed to the card is $ZZZ.zz. Overcharging the account has also resulted in bank fees for funds overdraft.
The reservation was first made through Expedia.com. After 40 minutes waiting for shuttle to pick us up I have arrived at ARAC location near the Orlando International Airport. I wanted to upgrade the rental to a better car - Ford Mustang, of which a contract has been prepared by customer service rep. At the time of creating the contract I have declined personal insurance but kept the insurance that would cover the car.
At the time of loading my luggage into the car I have discovered that the car was infested with ants. I have quickly removed my luggage from the infested car and asked for a replacement. The car I was given (Toyota Avalon) was showing rusted spots. It also had mechanical issues at the speeds higher then 35 mph which were obviously impossible to spot while driving through parking lot to the exit.
Upon agreeing on the car the customer service rep decided to amend the receipt by hand writing on the existing contract instead of printing out a new one. At this moment the overall time spent at the Advantage Rent-A-Car facility was about one hour, which is about four times longer than any other rental car agency I have dealt with so far.
At the exit gate of the Advantage Rent-A-Car parking lot the security guard stated that the contract is wrong, but he's going to let us through anyway because he's tired of diverting people back to the office.
The car was returned on May 31st, at which moment I was called into the reception area because of "some problems with contract". After waiting just short of 20 minutes, I was told that the contract I had all along is wrong and not valid. A customer service representative spent another 20 minutes trying to enter a new contract into system, but for some reason was unable to do so. Another Advantage Rent-A-Car representative, who I believe was a manager, asked the rep who was working on our contract to draft one on a hand-written form to be able to let us go in order not to miss the plane, since the total time we have spent there was approaching one hour. The form was prepared by Advantage Rent-A-Car representative and signed by me. This is the only receipt I have in regards to this rental. I was also assured by Advantage Rent-A-Car customer service representative that $XXX.xx would be the final charge that should appear on the credit card statement.
Since Advantage Rent-A-Car failed to produce any other receipts that confirm that I had a rental agreement with Advantage Rent-A-Car/SimplyWheelz, I understand that the $XXX.xx is the final charge I am responsible for. Having my credit card charged for a greater amount resulted in overdraft of funds, and me incurring additional bank penalties of $68.00. Therefore the following charges are disputed:
Rental overcharge in the amount of: $65.24
Bank fees resulted in account being overcharged: 68.00
Total disputed: $133.24
On June 3rd, 2009 I have called Advantage Rent-A-Car customer servce and spoke with representative called Denise. She asked me to fax the receipt and bank statement showing the overdraft charges to the fax # (800) 654-9925, which I did at around 3:40pm - 3:50pm same day. Denise promised that someone from billing department would get back to me within 24 to 48 hours period. Today is June 16, 2009 and I haven't head anyone calling me with this issue.
I would like this issue resolved promptly and completely as soon as possible. So far Advantage Rent-A-Car customer service hasn't demonstrated that they have any concern for the clients whatsoever. Hope you can break this impression and straighten things out.
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