On a trip to SE Asia
On January 20, I will leave on a trip to SE Asia with planned stops in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Three Gorges in China, Bangkok, New Delhi and other points in the area. Two months have been allocated for this overseas adventure, my first since visiting South Africa from January to March 2003.
#246 (05-07)
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Saturday, January 8
The Economist and Einstein
Dear James,
I cannot express adequately how glad I am that you turned me on to The Economist a couple of years ago. I often enjoy reading their diverse essays and commentaries and marvel at how much my mind has been expanded and knowledge increased. So it was especially so this week as I ploughed into the three page Science and Technology essay which celebrates the 100 years of Einstein and where the editors "attempt to elucidate" on Einstein's theories about (1) atoms, (2) relativity, and (3) quantum physics. Being, however, a social science major who matriculated in mid-life, I have no f****** idea what the hell they or Einstein are talking about. I thought I would share this with you. I did enjoy Lord Scarman's obituary, although the world is poorer for his passing.
Dad
#245 (05-06)
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Dear James,
I cannot express adequately how glad I am that you turned me on to The Economist a couple of years ago. I often enjoy reading their diverse essays and commentaries and marvel at how much my mind has been expanded and knowledge increased. So it was especially so this week as I ploughed into the three page Science and Technology essay which celebrates the 100 years of Einstein and where the editors "attempt to elucidate" on Einstein's theories about (1) atoms, (2) relativity, and (3) quantum physics. Being, however, a social science major who matriculated in mid-life, I have no f****** idea what the hell they or Einstein are talking about. I thought I would share this with you. I did enjoy Lord Scarman's obituary, although the world is poorer for his passing.
Dad
#245 (05-06)
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Friday, January 7
One vote against bathing
A long time good friend wrote: "Believe it or not, I knew a woman who died in a bathtub; her doctor husband electrocuted her by dropping a radio into the water and trying to make it look accidental. He was caught."
#244 (05-05)
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A long time good friend wrote: "Believe it or not, I knew a woman who died in a bathtub; her doctor husband electrocuted her by dropping a radio into the water and trying to make it look accidental. He was caught."
#244 (05-05)
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Thursday, January 6
Reasons to stop bathing or gambling
Your lifetime odds of dying in a bathtub are 1 in 11,469; the odds of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 120, 526,770. (Source: David Wessel, The Wall Street Journal, Jan.6, 2005, pg 2.)
#243 (05-04)
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Your lifetime odds of dying in a bathtub are 1 in 11,469; the odds of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 120, 526,770. (Source: David Wessel, The Wall Street Journal, Jan.6, 2005, pg 2.)
#243 (05-04)
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Wednesday, January 5
Readers comments on automated phone systems
(1) The main utility in New York City, Con Edison, has a diabolical voice mail. If you hit "0”, a cheery voice says "thank you for calling Con Edison" and disconnects the line. The only way to get a real live person is to punch the code for reporting a gas emergency.
(2)My mother who had trouble with her eyes could not see well enough to press those numbers and had to take the phone from her ear to look at the numbers so she could press whatever button she needed. Sometimes it would disconnect her before she could push the right button. She would get so frustrated and call me to help. I think this is a sorry situation for all of us but especially for our elders who might have trouble hearing and seeing.
(3) I too have encountered some automated business call systems that made me want to drive right over and change my account or service to another company. However, I have encountered some that were both easy to use and led me to an answer quicker than an employee in a busy office could have helped me alone. The technical difference is simply in the programming. The human difference is, I suspect, in whether anybody high enough up in the company that they really ought to making decisions affecting their customers' satisfaction ever sat down and actually tried the new service experience before its installation.
(4) Oh, you cannot know the meaning of aggravation until you have tried to reach the good folks at AT&T. I asked the young lady in Bombay (and I'm not complaining that I was talking to someone in India) to please fwd my concern as high as she could that it was ironic to see this giant of American communications technology reduced to an impenetrable voice messaging system.
(5) Amen--and there are many more companies and businesses that provide the same "automated" service!
242 (05-03)
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Credit Union Telephone Service
It is a new year and time to strike back at those systems and things that aggravate a man's soul. We were not put on this earth to be abused by businesses that won't put a human being on the phone when we call. I understand efficiency, but I also learned almost sixty years ago that the customer is number one - or ought to be. Herewith my opening salvo in this year's first crusade. If you have similar or dissimilar thoughts send them to me for posting on my blog.
January 5, 2005
Chairman, Supervisory Committee
SC Federal Credit Union
PO Box 190012
North Charleston 29419-9012
Dear Sir,
Again today, I had to call the Credit Union to tell them that we could not access our iTeller statements after receiving e-mail messages that the statements were available. The computer system was not responding for statements until after 12:30 in the day.
The main thrust of this letter is to express my aggravation at the automated telephone answering system in use by the Credit Union. This system may be the cat’s meow to some employee technical geek who thinks he or she has brought the Credit Union into the 21st century but from a user’s standpoint, it is a blood pressure raising aggravation designed to increase the frustration level. The voice recording the messages is an irritation and the number of buttons you have to press to get anything done is ridiculous.
I do not call the credit union much anymore because you cannot talk to an individual unless you wade through the automated system. It occurs to me that if the next time I have to call the system is not improved, then my family will be better served by moving our accounts elsewhere.
Cordially,
Francis X. Archibald
#241 (05-02)
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It is a new year and time to strike back at those systems and things that aggravate a man's soul. We were not put on this earth to be abused by businesses that won't put a human being on the phone when we call. I understand efficiency, but I also learned almost sixty years ago that the customer is number one - or ought to be. Herewith my opening salvo in this year's first crusade. If you have similar or dissimilar thoughts send them to me for posting on my blog.
January 5, 2005
Chairman, Supervisory Committee
SC Federal Credit Union
PO Box 190012
North Charleston 29419-9012
Dear Sir,
Again today, I had to call the Credit Union to tell them that we could not access our iTeller statements after receiving e-mail messages that the statements were available. The computer system was not responding for statements until after 12:30 in the day.
The main thrust of this letter is to express my aggravation at the automated telephone answering system in use by the Credit Union. This system may be the cat’s meow to some employee technical geek who thinks he or she has brought the Credit Union into the 21st century but from a user’s standpoint, it is a blood pressure raising aggravation designed to increase the frustration level. The voice recording the messages is an irritation and the number of buttons you have to press to get anything done is ridiculous.
I do not call the credit union much anymore because you cannot talk to an individual unless you wade through the automated system. It occurs to me that if the next time I have to call the system is not improved, then my family will be better served by moving our accounts elsewhere.
Cordially,
Francis X. Archibald
#241 (05-02)
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Monday, January 3
Doctors Without Borders
DWB are rendering emergency aid throughout the stricken SE Asia area and elsewhere in Sudan, particularly the Darfur Region. If you can, make a contribution today at www.doctorswithoutborders.org . It will give you a good feeling throughout your body and soul.
#240 (05-01)
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DWB are rendering emergency aid throughout the stricken SE Asia area and elsewhere in Sudan, particularly the Darfur Region. If you can, make a contribution today at www.doctorswithoutborders.org . It will give you a good feeling throughout your body and soul.
#240 (05-01)
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