Brrrrr...It is SO FREAKING COLD....and of Course, Friday "News on the Run"

Brrrr....DANG, it is seriously cold outside, especially with the howling winds blowing down Main Street, the tattered awnings outside my window fluttering in the breeze.   Not saying it is cold out, but my car doors were frozen solid...took 10 minutes to get in.    This weather will seem like a CAKE WALK by tomorrow night when it is supposed to go down to single digits...as in 2 DEGREES!  So much for that theory I was working on about a mild winter.

To my local friends (Mike, Mark, Patty and Iris) who gave me venison this year, thank you so very much.  Having two small steaks for dinner this evening, and it is ever so tasty.  Pan cooked, some capers, Bermuda onion, herbs, spices, and some Merlot...OMG...so simple, yet so very good...did I mention garlic?

A local recommendation...went over to 2 Good Guys Auto Repair the other day to get a couple of new tires and a oil change.  Great folks, great work, and the price was very reasonable as well.  Give them a call at (845) 434-4107...they do towing to (nice to know in winter)...the towing number is (845) 428-0174.

Reginald Williams

2 Good Guys Auto Repair

49 Roosevelt Ave.

Woodridge, NY 12789

Friday "News on the Run"

The big news for those of us here in New York (besides the weather) involves FRACKING.  Seems that the US EPA beat the comments submission deadline by a scant three hours, and they have quite a bit to say, much of it ANGERING THE INDUSTRY.  Seems like many of us, they do not feel some of the rules go far enough, and specifically, they are calling for LARGER setbacks for our drinking water, while the industry (big surprise) wants even smaller set backs when it comes to protecting our water.  When I ponder the industry's wishes, why does the phrase, "Take a hike" jump quickly to mind.  Could it have anything to do with the fact that I know they are LYING to us?

In his harshest attacks yet on Mitt Romney's job creation claims, Newt Gingrich LAUGHED at him today in Miami...in breaking news...When Newt Gingrich smiled, his face cracked.  In all seriousness, even though I despise Mitt Romney, sure he is having the last laugh knowing that Newt is not n the ballot in his own home state of Virginia where he has lived since becoming a perennial Washington, DC insider. 

A report that made me smile...seems that Apple, who has no clue when it comes to customer service (waving at RW), also has no problems with its supply chain (manufacturing locations) having some pretty horrid work place practices!  Maybe it is time everyone seriously considers boycotting Apple till they can get their customer service and production issues resolved in a HUMANE FASHION?

Black Friday Marred By Violence...Friday's "News on the Run"

It's a beautiful, almost balmy day here in Mountaindale NY, and I am recovering from all the calories consumed yesterday. Watching CNN as I have a lazy day about it, shocked to see the serious violence surrounding Black Friday, most of it occurring at Walmart stores. Two people have been shot, and over a dozen others pepper sprayed by an irate customer, while others were pepper sprayed for grabbing items off of a palette. Seriously, if a 42" flat screen TV for under $200 worth it if you have to risk your life trying to get one?

Black Friday "News on the Run"

Mass protest (riot) against Egypt Army...these new gatherings seem far more dark and foreboding than the ones we witnessed this spring.

Americans held in Egypt are now free...interview with father of one of the students on CNN...father was asked if his son has been injured, and he would not comment on it until after his son is safely out of country...look for horror stories on students treatment when they are back on America soil.

Syria defies Arab League Deadline as violence against citizens continues unabated...again, where is a NATO No Fly Zone?

Apple Black Friday deals not all that exciting...if you were looking for a seriously great deal on say an Apple IPad or IPod touch, forget about.

Almost half of all Americans are out shopping today, and thinking the number of Americans having left over might be even higher. Enjoy the day folks, and if you are traveling back home this weekend, be be safe, and don't be in a hurry.

The Sad Tale Of My Apple IPOD Touch

I am sitting here listening to Arlo Guthrie's "Alice Restaurant" as I write this tale of woe...the song seems an appropriate epic song to enjoy as I share the sad tale of my defunct Apple IPOD Touch. As luck would have it, my new favorite toy which I acquired this past March (2011) gave up the ghost, ceased working less than 24 hours after the passing of Steve Jobs.

Having the extended AppleCare Protection Plan, with tears in my eyes, I got on the phone and called Apple Tech Support knowing they would resolve my problem for me as they had always done in the past. After sitting around on hold for close on too 20 minutes I was connected to someone in tech support who walked me through various attempts to resuscitate my beloved IPOD Touch, but alas, it was not to be, the technician basically informing me that my IPOD Touch was dead, the music on it (that unfortunately was not synched to my new laptop) gone.

The good news in this tragic story is they would be sending out a pick up request, and once they received my dearly loved IPOD, they would be sending me out a brand new working one. The tag was supposed to be here last Friday, and today or tomorrow I should have had my new replacement IPOD Touch...the keywords in that sentence being SHOULD HAVE.

Enter Murphy's Law (being nice) or blame it on an inept employee, as of today, October 12, 2011 I am still waiting on said pick up tag, so I took it upon myself to get on the phone, sit on hold again for close on too 20 minutes to check on the status of my repair ticket. A nice friendly female voice finally gets on the line, and after explaining to her the entire story in four part harmony she asks if she can transfer me to someone else that can help me in resolving the problem with my repair order.

Enter one Brett Shaff in Apple's Customer Support Center...After a wait of around five minutes, I was transferred to this gentleman, and again in four part harmony explained the situation to him. He asked a few questions, and after giving him the ticket number he tracked down the root of the problem...for whatever reasons, the person who wrote up the original ticket has put a hold on it as the computerized system Apple uses was unable to verify my address...although Brett did verify that the address they had was 100 percent CORRECT. Brett was also somewhat surprised that no one (either by email or phone) had gotten back to me to resolve this problem or glitch, and told me he was going to see what he could do to expedite a resolution to the situation for me.

More time on hold...Brett comes back and informs me that his phone call was fruitless, and he was told to send a recap of the problem via email to his contact IN INDIA! As you can imagine, I was not finding much solace in knowing my customer service issue was now getting more convoluted and international in scope. I give Brett credit...he did his best, tried really hard, but the bottom line was simple, "I would not be seeing my IPOD Touch today, tomorrow, or for that matter any time this week.

Not satisfied, I contacted Apple Corporate Headquarters where after again being put on hold I was passed through to one RW (that's right, I was not given a real name, just initials) who asked me to let him look into the issue for me, as he wanted me to again be a happy Apple camper. This said, he put me on hold...something that would occur numerous times during my conversation with him as he researched and sought out answers and solutions.

The bottom line according to RW was simple...Apple made a mistake, and he would be issuing a new call tag, sending me out the pickup box that should have been in my hands last Friday. IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT he informed me, I would have my laptop before the end of next week...that's right, the Apple IPOD Touch I was supposed to have today or tomorrow might be here by the end of next week IF I AM LUCKY.

At this point, I have some three hours of time invested in this process, and even assuming no further errors or mistakes on the part of Apple, I will be able to wash my hands of this sad tale sometime next week with a time investment of about four hours worth of angst and frustration. Perhaps it is just pure chance, but never in all my involvements with Apple during the Steve Jobs years did I have these kinds of problems with Apple Customer Support. Let's hope my experience this time around is an exception to the rules, rather than a insight of things to come. I have to admit here, that the Apple IPAD I am coveting, have been saving up for needs perhaps some more consideration...RW said he would be contacting me next week to see if I got my new IPOD, and make sure it was working properly, and at that point in time would see what Apple could do to restore my confidence in the company...I will keep everyone posted on the progress of that conversation.