I discovered that the EVIL ONE (the trustee of my parent’s estate) paid the landscaper that has destroyed my yard.  I am no longer able to enjoy the use of my back yard AT ALL!!  In the next post I will include the name of the landscaper as well as a link to the pictures of the “work” that was done — to destroy my yard!  I will also name the trustee — I see no reason not to disclose names.  I am furious!!  I have documentation showing that my father did not want the trustee who is the trustee doing anything with his estate.  Thank GOD there is a GOD who will deal with her — I just wish that there were proper laws in Virginia.  If you live in Virginia — be aware that ANYONE can take control of your money if you let them.  NO credentials required.  OH – I know – give me your money and I will take care of it (i.e. steal it :)  My PARENTS money has not gone to anything that they wanted it too — i.e., me, my cousins, and the animals. Both of my parents were strong animal advocates – and gave to animal concerns.  My mother (the longer survivor) wanted to support homeless animals — and yet I can not do this!!  But be sure, the Trustee is taking care of herself!! 

Tags: trust, landscpaper, complaints,

yikes!  For nearly a month I have been unable to deal with the frustration that is my computer!!  A new Dell laptop – the speaker sound is distorted, the OS crashes and is incompatible with the software…. I am so disappointed with this new computer I can’t even express it!  I hate to look at it, much less turn it on and try to use it….

I do not recommend Dell laptops — I had a Gateway previously which I was extremely happy with for 10 years… Damn, I wish I had replaced it with another Gateway instead of this thing… I can’t afford to buy another computer at this time – If I could, this one would be traded in for an apple, I think.  I think a big part of my frustration is due to the new Windows OS Vista — I was never crazy about Windows, but this new one is really, really irritating!  I can’t run “my” programs, and when I try to run the ones that are “supposed” to be compatible – the system crashes, or functioning is compromised.

As far as Dell is concerned – the software provided with the computer that was supposed to work with Vista doesn’t.  So either they didn’t adequately test it, or they lied.  Either way, the consumer is frustrated and screwed.

Tags: Dell, Vista, complaints, Windows, laptops, pc

“It’s no secret to most readers that Comcast’s outsourced techs are often late, rude and incompetent, and that calling customer service is more akin to improving dialogue in a Beckett play, but as this exclusively obtained internal Comcast powerpoint shows, it’s no secret to the cable company either.”

read more | digg story

“You need only look at the strict regulations and checkups heading down the home stretch of this year’s Sprint Cup season to see that even an organization as fundamentally conservative as NASCAR has been forced to modify its safety standards. Racing tends to change only when it has to…”

read more | digg story

Some more things to keep in mind! :)

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Some things to think about when you visit the pharmacy.

read more | digg story

I’m using a pre-packaged blog from WordPress.  The one I initially chose is Kubrick – and it is flexible, but a knowledge of CSS is required to make the most of it.   I know nothing of CSS.

I may be trying out a variety of formats.  Be fore-warned! :)

I just received a letter from Comcast saying they are raising their rates — I haven’t figured out the percentage but it looks like quite a bit — they like to nickel and dime.

The reason???  They want to blame health care costs.  What???  As a customer, I am not responsible nor do I care what benefits they provide for their employees.  That is their problem.  If it costs them too much, then don’t offer it as a benefit.  I would think that Comcast should be thinking about their customers and their shareholders.  How to turn a profit.

I would love to see the financials for Comcast.  Its hard to believe that they are not turning a significant profit — once the hardware is installed — all they do is collect payments, don’t they?

I think Comcast and I will be parting ways very shortly… and then I won’t be posting again until I find a new ISP.  Television — well I think that when next February roles around — there will be hell to pay!  I don’t know the percentage of folks that still use over-the-air as their primary source of television — but I can assure you that even with a digital box — there is minimal digital signal where there is sufficient analog signal.

One lady here tried to switch to digital — and she said “I didn’t have television when I was young, and it looks like I won’t have it when I’m old.”

I’m seriously considering that option.  I will be getting my “free” digital boxes this week — and looking into the cost of a sufficient digital antenna for my area.  Fortunately, there are plenty of “free” channels here — if I can receive them.  If not — gosh, I guess I will have to start reading again.

Tags: Comcast, complaints

The last time I posted about Comcast, I was contacted by Comcast Cares and asked to elaborate.

I am using this space to collect my thoughts… which may take a while.

1) For three (3!!) years I made multiply complaints that I was not receiving Fox in Stereo. I received all kinds of responses, all illustrating the um.. oh god I want to say stupidity, but that would be rude… the um… ignorance or poorly educated responses of Comcast employees –

I was told that not all programs are broadcast in stereo, or I didn’t know what I was talking about, etc.

Let me say who *I* am. I am a member of Mensa, and I hold a degree in Electrical Engineering. I am also a woman — which makes the uniformed male think they can lie to me and I won’t know the difference. I also have a memory like an elephant — especially when I am lied to to. I believe in a previous post I mentioned that I hate lies and liars. Tell me the truth — and I may not like it, but I will respect you. Lie to me and, well, all bets are off. If I can find a way to bring you to your knees and screw you to the wall and cost you your job — I will do it!! Do not ever lie to me! It *will* cost you!

I do take detailed notes — I have contemporaneous notebooks — which name names, dates, etc. If I am not “made whole” in a timely manner — all will be revealed.

For 3 years I was told that I didn’t know what I was talking about. I knew that the persons I was dealing with were clearly misinformed… Surely cable could not be inferior to the over the air signal?? The over the air signal for 24, American Idol, etc. were in stereo. As well as all commercials and everything else broadcast 24/7 from the local Fox station.

Eventually — serendipitously I made the acquaintance of the Comcast liaison to Best Buy.

He made arrangements to send yet another tech to my home — and (miraculously!) the evening before the tech’s visit — my Fox channel became stereo!!!

2) It seems that Comcast is biased against Fox — while the local Fox channel is finally available “digital” — all the other Fox networks are not digital nor even stereo. No Fox programming — Fx: Damages, The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, etc.; Fox News, Speed TV, etc., etc. And not available “ON Demand” either.

3) I had a list of stations that I was not receiving in Stereo — I called the stations and was told that they provided the broadcasting to Comcast in Stereo. I provided the information to Comcast — and requested them to provide me with a list of channels indicating which ones they believed that they provided as stereo or not. I was told that they didn’t know. What??

4) Comcast has a channel that is supposed to provide local information — some as commercial advertising, some political info, local events, etc. I do not receive that channel. The tech I had at the house called his boss and was told that I didn’t subscribe to the proper level. Hmm… I subscribe to premium digital, with HBO and Showtime. The only thing I don’t subscribe to is all the movie channels and the sports tier and the Ethnic tiers (Latino, Indian, etc.) And I’m supposed to believe that it is necessary to pay more for advertising!

5) I have a hole in my wall — provided to me by Comcast four (4!!!) years ago. I was adding a cable outlet to my den – and the installer put the hole in the wall — and then decided it was in a place he couldn’t use. (He also did some other shoddy work, which Comcast did eventually repair.) The hole is still there – even though I was told that Comcast would send someone to repair it…. Four years later — its still there!!!!!

6) I was subscribed to a “special” that I was happy with — however, when I called because I was having trouble with my service — I was told on two different occasions that I would receive “credits” — once for $10 and a second time for $25. Neither credit ever appeared on my bill. (I did mention how much I hate being lied to, correct?)

7) One of the customer service reps told me that my “special” was time-limited – and she could offer me a better deal that would be a permanent rate (ie, would never increase — unless I changed my level of service). I reluctantly agreed to the change – and, of course, it turned out to be yet anther LIE. And I had to pay double the first month — of a reduced rate? Comcast has a screwed up accounting system — I still haven’t seen a credit for the double payment — I better see it when I drop Comcast….

To be continued…

Tags: Comcast, complaints, opinion, Fox

I normally keep my computer on a table near the window seat – but today I can tell it is almost time to draw the drapes for the winter. :(  I get so cold sitting in the window seat… this house doesn’t seem to have much insulation.  I have never cared for winter — spring is my favorite season… I have to wait so long for it, it seems!

Maybe there will be an Indian summer yet — I hope so!!