Well, my phone was fixed, for a few hours, then broke again. I asked my Mom to report it, because (surprise, surprise) I have no line with which to do that, and even though it is a free number, if you call from a mobile phone y ou are charged. Also, becauyse it is a free call (supposedly) you are on hold for at least 5 minutes.
Long story short, the lady to whom my Mother spoke was so brazen as to instruct my mother to tell me that I should upgrade my service to whatever the hell she was selling.
How rude!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Stupid Americans!
I was watching an Oprah show where a 911 widow – Kathy Trant was defending her spending the $5m she was given as part of her settlement for the victim’s fund. Apparently, there has been a huge outcry that she has spent her money which has come from the government and various charitable donations on redoing her house - $250 000 on her kitchen, $120 000 on the pool, sports centre thingy, brickwork, and fence in the back yard, and at least one million on designer shoes, handbags, and dresses.
More power to her I say. If that is how she grieves, then let her do whatever she wants. Surely EVEN the Americans cannot be so arrogant that they believe they can tell people how to spend money they give each other?
Anyway.
Listening to her speak, I began to realise again, and still more how I just don’t understand how this event has had such a powerful effect on the psyche of America. She kept on saying that 3000 people were “brutally murdered” that day, and that their country did not protect them, and that they don’t even have a memorial. Blah blah fishpaste.
What I can’t reconcile is that 1000s of people die in African countries every day. Blown up by landmines, killed in ethnic cleansing, and even in our own ugly past, as South Africans…
And what about the Nazi holocaust? There are still people who refuse to believe it happened. What about the tens of thousands pf people who died there? What about the mass graves they have just found in Ethiopia? What about the Tsunami, and the flooding in the south of America? What about their own victims there?
But of course, this 911 crisis, (5 years later!) is still the main story on the lips of several Americans.
Maybe I am being mean and un-empathetic, but I fail to see why the Americans are so special that they are the only ones in the whole world that ever lost a husband / brother / father / mother / sister / daughter; and Oh woe is my, I will never be able to get over losing a loved one, and the rest of the world must somehow allow them to wallow in pity and grief.
I have never been a fan of America, and am even less of one now.
Uncle Sam wants YOU to take some responsibility for yourself you stupid rednecks! Get over it, get on with it, and leave everyone else alone.
And stop using 911 as an excuse to bully everyone. Learn from out history. Making something a law doesn’t make it right.
More power to her I say. If that is how she grieves, then let her do whatever she wants. Surely EVEN the Americans cannot be so arrogant that they believe they can tell people how to spend money they give each other?
Anyway.
Listening to her speak, I began to realise again, and still more how I just don’t understand how this event has had such a powerful effect on the psyche of America. She kept on saying that 3000 people were “brutally murdered” that day, and that their country did not protect them, and that they don’t even have a memorial. Blah blah fishpaste.
What I can’t reconcile is that 1000s of people die in African countries every day. Blown up by landmines, killed in ethnic cleansing, and even in our own ugly past, as South Africans…
And what about the Nazi holocaust? There are still people who refuse to believe it happened. What about the tens of thousands pf people who died there? What about the mass graves they have just found in Ethiopia? What about the Tsunami, and the flooding in the south of America? What about their own victims there?
But of course, this 911 crisis, (5 years later!) is still the main story on the lips of several Americans.
Maybe I am being mean and un-empathetic, but I fail to see why the Americans are so special that they are the only ones in the whole world that ever lost a husband / brother / father / mother / sister / daughter; and Oh woe is my, I will never be able to get over losing a loved one, and the rest of the world must somehow allow them to wallow in pity and grief.
I have never been a fan of America, and am even less of one now.
Uncle Sam wants YOU to take some responsibility for yourself you stupid rednecks! Get over it, get on with it, and leave everyone else alone.
And stop using 911 as an excuse to bully everyone. Learn from out history. Making something a law doesn’t make it right.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Telkom strikes again!
So my landline was not working on Saturday, and I tried to report it as a faulty line, but when I called the offices, the woman I spoke to said she could not report it as they had a fault on their line, and their system was down.
Ha ha.
But I should call again later and report it. Yeah, right.
I tried again a few hours later - still no joy, but at least this time the person took my name.
I called again this morning (2 days later) and spoke to a man whose name I shall not place here in order to protect his identity. I said to him "Hi, I would like to report my phone - the line seems to be faulty - it is not working".
He said "what is wrong with it?" Okay, now either he is not listening, or he is just trying to annoy me. All I know is that the phone is not working. I explaind that again using small words, speaking slowly and without getting annoyed, although by this time I was already irritated.
Then, the next thing he does is try to sell me additional services. I am not even joking.
I politely told him I was not interested, and just asked him when he thought technicians would be ale to fix my line. He replied I had to test it with at least two phones or he could not send someone out because then they could not be sure if it was the phone or the instrument. I explained that I had tried with my computer and modem to dial and it was not working. He said I had to test it with two instruments. I tried to explain that I had done that. AFter about 10 minutes of arguing, he said they would charge me for a call out if the line was not faulty and they came anyway (by this time - I don't care if they take my first born...) so I anwer - that's fine mumble mumble.
He says please will I wait while he tests the line...
"Yes, Miss Goodwin", (clearly cannot read too well either) there is definatly a fault on your line (so why the *^%^&$ can't he do this before arguing with me causing my blood pressure to go up?). Is there permanentmy someone at your home?"
Long story short, due to the rain and whatever else, (probably also the fact that I gave him attitude)my name is on a list (maybe at the bottom for a few days, sigh) and someone will call me when they are ready to help me.
I bet that in a few weeks, a man will call from my house and ask where I am. I did clearly state that I am at work and they need to let me know when I must go home to wait for them, but they never do.
Watch this space.
Ha ha.
But I should call again later and report it. Yeah, right.
I tried again a few hours later - still no joy, but at least this time the person took my name.
I called again this morning (2 days later) and spoke to a man whose name I shall not place here in order to protect his identity. I said to him "Hi, I would like to report my phone - the line seems to be faulty - it is not working".
He said "what is wrong with it?" Okay, now either he is not listening, or he is just trying to annoy me. All I know is that the phone is not working. I explaind that again using small words, speaking slowly and without getting annoyed, although by this time I was already irritated.
Then, the next thing he does is try to sell me additional services. I am not even joking.
I politely told him I was not interested, and just asked him when he thought technicians would be ale to fix my line. He replied I had to test it with at least two phones or he could not send someone out because then they could not be sure if it was the phone or the instrument. I explained that I had tried with my computer and modem to dial and it was not working. He said I had to test it with two instruments. I tried to explain that I had done that. AFter about 10 minutes of arguing, he said they would charge me for a call out if the line was not faulty and they came anyway (by this time - I don't care if they take my first born...) so I anwer - that's fine mumble mumble.
He says please will I wait while he tests the line...
"Yes, Miss Goodwin", (clearly cannot read too well either) there is definatly a fault on your line (so why the *^%^&$ can't he do this before arguing with me causing my blood pressure to go up?). Is there permanentmy someone at your home?"
Long story short, due to the rain and whatever else, (probably also the fact that I gave him attitude)my name is on a list (maybe at the bottom for a few days, sigh) and someone will call me when they are ready to help me.
I bet that in a few weeks, a man will call from my house and ask where I am. I did clearly state that I am at work and they need to let me know when I must go home to wait for them, but they never do.
Watch this space.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Cars, anyone?
Yesterday was a good day to steal cars. Apparently. That is, if you had a Tracker fitted that used the Vodacom network to track the vehicle.
Of course, I don’t know if this is true, but I received a message yesterday saying that my tracker self test had failed and that I needed to call the office and report the fact. Being a geek, I did. They told me that I needed to wait another 72 hours so they could do an air test, but not to worry as last nigh all the self-tests failed as there was a problem on the network.
Not sure if they should have told me that. Or that they should have told me that it can be a problem if there is a problem with the network. Hmmmm.
Oh well, luckily, I won’t try blow up the network and steal cars. Or would I?
Of course, I don’t know if this is true, but I received a message yesterday saying that my tracker self test had failed and that I needed to call the office and report the fact. Being a geek, I did. They told me that I needed to wait another 72 hours so they could do an air test, but not to worry as last nigh all the self-tests failed as there was a problem on the network.
Not sure if they should have told me that. Or that they should have told me that it can be a problem if there is a problem with the network. Hmmmm.
Oh well, luckily, I won’t try blow up the network and steal cars. Or would I?
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Manners? what the hell are those?
I have decided that I am now officially old. I can remember a time when Chappies Bubblegum was half a cent for one. Now they are 25 cents for one. Talk about inflation. Et cetera.
But what about manners?
I know that no family actually sits down at a dinner table anymore for a family meal to talk about their day, or eats with silver cutlery. Never mind using more than one knife and fork for starters, fish, and desert... What? Mommy, this knife is broken. It is a strange shape. And why is this fork more like a spoon? People now days don't recognise different cutlery or even know what it is used for. And what about standing back at doors or giving up seats for old people?
I have realised that manners have gone the way of the Dodo. That is to say - they are not only dead, but extinct with absolutely NO CHANCE of coming back. Not even with heroic measures and gene therapy, or finding little blobs of it left in amber and creating islands where it can mutate.
Manners are gone. If I hold a door for people they not only strean through and ignore me, but hordes of others stream through after them. I have now taken to proclaiming in a loud voice "it is a pleasure", followed by a sotto vocce "you ignorant plebs" or (depending on my mood) something that would require an age restiction. And doors are not the only place this happens. In supermarkets, if you stand back for people in the aisles, they will push their trolleys in front of you and stand there blocking your view of the produce, and then proceed to look at their lists, talk on the phone, pick their noses, or do just about anything else they can think of to be annoying.
I don't know if people are rude or just stupid. Juding by the way they drive out of hte parking lot, I'd say the latter, but that is another story for another time.
Here's to the few gentlemen there are left - that hold the doors for me, and are surprised when I thank them. You are my heros. If you weren't married, I'd ask you myself.
But what about manners?
I know that no family actually sits down at a dinner table anymore for a family meal to talk about their day, or eats with silver cutlery. Never mind using more than one knife and fork for starters, fish, and desert... What? Mommy, this knife is broken. It is a strange shape. And why is this fork more like a spoon? People now days don't recognise different cutlery or even know what it is used for. And what about standing back at doors or giving up seats for old people?
I have realised that manners have gone the way of the Dodo. That is to say - they are not only dead, but extinct with absolutely NO CHANCE of coming back. Not even with heroic measures and gene therapy, or finding little blobs of it left in amber and creating islands where it can mutate.
Manners are gone. If I hold a door for people they not only strean through and ignore me, but hordes of others stream through after them. I have now taken to proclaiming in a loud voice "it is a pleasure", followed by a sotto vocce "you ignorant plebs" or (depending on my mood) something that would require an age restiction. And doors are not the only place this happens. In supermarkets, if you stand back for people in the aisles, they will push their trolleys in front of you and stand there blocking your view of the produce, and then proceed to look at their lists, talk on the phone, pick their noses, or do just about anything else they can think of to be annoying.
I don't know if people are rude or just stupid. Juding by the way they drive out of hte parking lot, I'd say the latter, but that is another story for another time.
Here's to the few gentlemen there are left - that hold the doors for me, and are surprised when I thank them. You are my heros. If you weren't married, I'd ask you myself.
Friday, February 03, 2006
million-dollar body - five cent brain -- supported by Deloitte!
Okay - I admit it. I am a big fan of wrestling. Huge. Not that local crap either, but the real thing - the WWE RAW, Smackdown, and Velocity, although until the draft lottery last year, my all time fav was RAW.
My best characters (and yes - they are characters, because it is NOT real) are John Cena, Dave "the animal" Batista, and Chris "toothless agression" Benoit. There are a few others, but these three are my all-time best. They are the "gentlemen" of hte sport - if there are such things in that game.
A few notable events have occured lately - not the least of which was the untimely death of Latino Heat - Eddie Guererro, may he finally find some peace, the back and forth beween Lita, Kane, Matt, and Edge (what an idiot!), and that thing with the boggeyman and the worms down that chicks pants. WHATEVER!
But I digress.
Out coverage is between one and two months behind the states, and this week, Batista announced he was stepping down as the World Heavyweight Champion as he had to undergo surgery after an unprovoked and unsportsman-like attack which left him wounded. Now, if you have seen this 6 foot 2 inch, giant, you will know that it is NOT easy to hurt him. He was attacked by two cretins, but that is part of the game, and I guess he knows that. Anyway, he handed in his title to Smackdown general manager Teddy Long who announced that there would be an Over the Top Rope Battle Royal to determine the next Champion, and to cut a long story short - the ugliest, meanest, cheatingest man in the whole of hte WWE won. Kurt Angle (who isn't even from Smackdown - he is from RAW) won the match, and walked off with the title. At least he suffered a bit to win.
Again, I am digressing.
The point of this story is that when Dave announced his stepping down, the camera panned from an angle it does not usually show, and I noticed a company banner - Deloitte.
I work there. I know we spount all this crap about work-life balance and ebracing diversity, but who knew that Deloitte would want to be associated with a show such as this? That evening in Philly - when Dave (who by the way has described himself as having a million dollar body and a five cent brain)announed he was stepping down. I have gained a bit more respect for my company upon seeing that. I guess I could dig really deep and say I learned we should strive to be the best - to do the best with what we have, and support excellence everywhere we find it.
Or i could just agree that someone else enjoys watching these world-class sportsmen bash the heck out of each other.
My money is on the latter.
Dave - be back soon, and power bomb the (&^$#@ out of Kurt to get back your title.
My best characters (and yes - they are characters, because it is NOT real) are John Cena, Dave "the animal" Batista, and Chris "toothless agression" Benoit. There are a few others, but these three are my all-time best. They are the "gentlemen" of hte sport - if there are such things in that game.
A few notable events have occured lately - not the least of which was the untimely death of Latino Heat - Eddie Guererro, may he finally find some peace, the back and forth beween Lita, Kane, Matt, and Edge (what an idiot!), and that thing with the boggeyman and the worms down that chicks pants. WHATEVER!
But I digress.
Out coverage is between one and two months behind the states, and this week, Batista announced he was stepping down as the World Heavyweight Champion as he had to undergo surgery after an unprovoked and unsportsman-like attack which left him wounded. Now, if you have seen this 6 foot 2 inch, giant, you will know that it is NOT easy to hurt him. He was attacked by two cretins, but that is part of the game, and I guess he knows that. Anyway, he handed in his title to Smackdown general manager Teddy Long who announced that there would be an Over the Top Rope Battle Royal to determine the next Champion, and to cut a long story short - the ugliest, meanest, cheatingest man in the whole of hte WWE won. Kurt Angle (who isn't even from Smackdown - he is from RAW) won the match, and walked off with the title. At least he suffered a bit to win.
Again, I am digressing.
The point of this story is that when Dave announced his stepping down, the camera panned from an angle it does not usually show, and I noticed a company banner - Deloitte.
I work there. I know we spount all this crap about work-life balance and ebracing diversity, but who knew that Deloitte would want to be associated with a show such as this? That evening in Philly - when Dave (who by the way has described himself as having a million dollar body and a five cent brain)announed he was stepping down. I have gained a bit more respect for my company upon seeing that. I guess I could dig really deep and say I learned we should strive to be the best - to do the best with what we have, and support excellence everywhere we find it.
Or i could just agree that someone else enjoys watching these world-class sportsmen bash the heck out of each other.
My money is on the latter.
Dave - be back soon, and power bomb the (&^$#@ out of Kurt to get back your title.
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