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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Thursday, December 23
Christmas Spirit
A new Christmas is upon us but somehow it seems like recent Christmas' past: a suicide bomber in Mosul blew up an Army mess tent and killed or injured almost 100; President Bush is going to renominate 20 judicial candidates who have not passed earlier muster - (Democrats say they approved 240 of the President's nominations and sacked only 10); the market is having a Christmas upswing, but the dollar has fallen against the Euro and a it takes almost two dollars to get a British pound. Happy New Year!
#239 (04-88)
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A new Christmas is upon us but somehow it seems like recent Christmas' past: a suicide bomber in Mosul blew up an Army mess tent and killed or injured almost 100; President Bush is going to renominate 20 judicial candidates who have not passed earlier muster - (Democrats say they approved 240 of the President's nominations and sacked only 10); the market is having a Christmas upswing, but the dollar has fallen against the Euro and a it takes almost two dollars to get a British pound. Happy New Year!
#239 (04-88)
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Friday, November 19
And we thought Democrats could spend
Last night the Republican controlled Congress approved passage of the debt ceiling increase. The government's borrowing limit has climbed by $2.23 trillion since President Bush took office with Republicans in control of Congress: by $450 billion in 2002, by a record $984 billion in 2003 and by $800 billion this year. The increase in the debt ceiling alone over the past three years is nearly 2 1/2 times the entire federal debt accumulated between 1776 and 1980.
A recession, a sluggish economy and five tax cuts in four years -- coupled with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and rising domestic spending -- have turned record surpluses that Bush inherited into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year.
#238 (04-87)
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Last night the Republican controlled Congress approved passage of the debt ceiling increase. The government's borrowing limit has climbed by $2.23 trillion since President Bush took office with Republicans in control of Congress: by $450 billion in 2002, by a record $984 billion in 2003 and by $800 billion this year. The increase in the debt ceiling alone over the past three years is nearly 2 1/2 times the entire federal debt accumulated between 1776 and 1980.
A recession, a sluggish economy and five tax cuts in four years -- coupled with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and rising domestic spending -- have turned record surpluses that Bush inherited into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year.
#238 (04-87)
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Tuesday, November 16
Hazardous to your health
Deep frying a Thanksgiving turkey can be hazardous; last year 15 people burned their houses down and hundreds wound up in hospital emergency rooms. Time to buy that canned ham.
#237 (04-86)
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Deep frying a Thanksgiving turkey can be hazardous; last year 15 people burned their houses down and hundreds wound up in hospital emergency rooms. Time to buy that canned ham.
#237 (04-86)
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Bond. James Bond
Super-spy James Bond is born today in 1924. After a rebellious school career, the half-Swiss/half Scots Bond attends Cambridge University before joining the Royal Navy and latterly, the British Secret Service. Although now aged 80, the unstoppable Bond shows no sign of slowing down due to his ability to magically transfer himself into the bodies of various younger men such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
#236 (04-85)
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Super-spy James Bond is born today in 1924. After a rebellious school career, the half-Swiss/half Scots Bond attends Cambridge University before joining the Royal Navy and latterly, the British Secret Service. Although now aged 80, the unstoppable Bond shows no sign of slowing down due to his ability to magically transfer himself into the bodies of various younger men such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
#236 (04-85)
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Tuesday, November 9
Shooting in the night
The shooting on Election Eve into a front room window in my house was - I believe - a politically motivated hate crime. For details click on COLUMNS in the header.
#235 (04-84)
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The shooting on Election Eve into a front room window in my house was - I believe - a politically motivated hate crime. For details click on COLUMNS in the header.
#235 (04-84)
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Friday, November 5
Comment on Ordained Ministers
From a lady in Goose Creek, SC: "I firmly agree. Also, do not think churches should have political meetings. The church is there for teachings of Christ - and nothing else. If they so choose, then they should be taxed as any other operating business with a political agenda”.
From an Ordained Minister in England: “From a British perspective ....... we would always say that no minister who took seriously the claims of the Kingdom of God would ever entertain being involved in party politics ...... ‘Social action against injustice’, Yes, but party politics...never. There is no such animal as an altruistic politician. Every Blessing”
From a man in Arlington, VA: “Well said. One of my neighbors worked on his staff at the Senate. He thinks Danforth is great. But what does he know. He voted ‘against’ Bush. I tend to agree with you.”
From an Ordained Minister in SC who added: “Me either” to this unsourced quote - “…the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government.”
From a lady in Hanahan, SC: “I agree,” (with your thoughts).
#234 (04-83)
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From a lady in Goose Creek, SC: "I firmly agree. Also, do not think churches should have political meetings. The church is there for teachings of Christ - and nothing else. If they so choose, then they should be taxed as any other operating business with a political agenda”.
From an Ordained Minister in England: “From a British perspective ....... we would always say that no minister who took seriously the claims of the Kingdom of God would ever entertain being involved in party politics ...... ‘Social action against injustice’, Yes, but party politics...never. There is no such animal as an altruistic politician. Every Blessing”
From a man in Arlington, VA: “Well said. One of my neighbors worked on his staff at the Senate. He thinks Danforth is great. But what does he know. He voted ‘against’ Bush. I tend to agree with you.”
From an Ordained Minister in SC who added: “Me either” to this unsourced quote - “…the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government.”
From a lady in Hanahan, SC: “I agree,” (with your thoughts).
#234 (04-83)
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Ordained Ministers
There may be some others, but when I think of "ordained ministers in government, " Cardinal Richelieu (who raised taxes on those who could least afford it and antagonized just about everyone in France is his day)
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Cardinal-Richelieu comes to mind and the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government. All of this is fueled by speculation in the news today in Washington that John Danforth, a former Senator, currently US Ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained minister may be in line to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. Mr. Danforth may be a nice gentleman but President Bush ought to respect the historic line between National government and religion.
#233 (04-82)
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There may be some others, but when I think of "ordained ministers in government, " Cardinal Richelieu (who raised taxes on those who could least afford it and antagonized just about everyone in France is his day)
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Cardinal-Richelieu comes to mind and the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government. All of this is fueled by speculation in the news today in Washington that John Danforth, a former Senator, currently US Ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained minister may be in line to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. Mr. Danforth may be a nice gentleman but President Bush ought to respect the historic line between National government and religion.
#233 (04-82)
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Wednesday, October 27
Red Sox Win...Red Sox Win
The Boston Red Sox are again World Champions, the win coming in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a great baseball team, 3-0, and comes after only 31,458 days since the last time.
#232 (04-81)
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The Boston Red Sox are again World Champions, the win coming in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a great baseball team, 3-0, and comes after only 31,458 days since the last time.
#232 (04-81)
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Tuesday, October 26
Red Sox Win Game Three
Backed with some good fielding and hitting, Pedro Martinez shut down the Cardinals and pitched the Sox into a 3-0 lead in the World Series. This is the beginning of the end of "The curse of the Bambino."
#231 (04-80)
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Backed with some good fielding and hitting, Pedro Martinez shut down the Cardinals and pitched the Sox into a 3-0 lead in the World Series. This is the beginning of the end of "The curse of the Bambino."
#231 (04-80)
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Sunday, October 24
Red Sox Win Game Two
Despite another night with four miserable defensive errors, the Red Sox won game two and now lead the World Series two games to none. They are going to end "The curse of the Bambino."
#230 (04-79)
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Despite another night with four miserable defensive errors, the Red Sox won game two and now lead the World Series two games to none. They are going to end "The curse of the Bambino."
#230 (04-79)
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Red Sox Win Game One
Despite some pitiful defense, the Red Sox offense has them up in the first game of the series that will end forever "The curse of the Bambino." Remember you read it here.
#229 (04-78)
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Despite some pitiful defense, the Red Sox offense has them up in the first game of the series that will end forever "The curse of the Bambino." Remember you read it here.
#229 (04-78)
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Thursday, October 21
Red Sox Win 7th Game and ALCS
"Other sports dream of a great rivalry like this. Now there is a new twist to the old story. The Red Sox have staged the greatest comeback in the history of postseason baseball.
"For the tormented region called Red Sox Nation, what makes this feat roughly 10 times sweeter is that they did it to the Yankees. They did it to their rivals."
(George Vecsey, The New York Times, 10/21/2004)
#228 (04-77)
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"Other sports dream of a great rivalry like this. Now there is a new twist to the old story. The Red Sox have staged the greatest comeback in the history of postseason baseball.
"For the tormented region called Red Sox Nation, what makes this feat roughly 10 times sweeter is that they did it to the Yankees. They did it to their rivals."
(George Vecsey, The New York Times, 10/21/2004)
#228 (04-77)
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Wednesday, October 20
"A dead chicken"
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(Letter to the editor, The Chicago Tribune, by Stuart Shea, published October 20, 2004)
"Why even bother trying to explain your endorsement of President Bush? The Tribune would endorse a dead chicken for president if it were running Republican."
#227 (04-76)
"Why even bother trying to explain your endorsement of President Bush? The Tribune would endorse a dead chicken for president if it were running Republican."
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