Performance Zen

Author: spierzchala

  • Dell: So close…but you just missed

    Dell:

    You just missed on a chance to over-deliver to me.

    I got my brand-new Dimension E310 on Monday — ok, it’s ZenWife’s computer and it has been sitting in a box all week because I have been in San Francisco.

    I get home, fire it up, throw in the wireless card and works like a charm.

    Except for one VERY annoying thing: the ATI TV tuner card doesn’t work. And this is the whole reason I chose an XP Media Edition machine. Media Edition doesn’t even detect the card; it simply doesn’t exist.

    And no, I will not call support, because the machine should not have left the factory without being tested. And Dell knows that its support is not world-class. I will just yank the TV tuner out — and write a blog post about it.

    Dell, you ALMOST had me sold that you could get it right.

    This is the last Dell I buy.

    UPDATE (Mar 26 2006): Ok, I sent an e-mail to Dell support, and THEY CAME THROUGH! They are going to send out a technician to replace the TV Tuner card. This should be interesting…

    UPDATE (Mar 28 2006): Dell Tech came out and replaced the TV tuner card. No luck. Dell’s helpful response to the tech: re-install the operating system.

    No. I don’t think so.

    DELL: Replace the machine…NOW!

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  • The Hierarchy of Assumed Privilege

    I have been sitting at Gate 86 at SFO watching a little drama that gets played out thousands of times a day around the world. I call it the Hierarchy of Assumed Privilege.

    The direct flight from SFO to Boston (the one I am not on) was full; nay, bursting.

    Yet there were executive-types who were ANGRY at the counter staff when they couldn’t get their upgrades. The ones that they assume they are entitled to.

    This is a completely asinine view of the world. Yes you support one airline and fly it a lot, and spend a lot of money with them. But unless you originally BOUGHT the (business|first)-class ticket in the first place, and those seats are gone, why are you venting your unnecessary frustration onto the one person who might be able to help you.

    I have to laugh at people who use the anger card to try and get what they want. It shows that they don’t have anything left in their arsenal, and they don’t know that graciously accepting that they won’t get the upgrade may see them get treated in a more positive way, getting some upgrade of whatever kind is available.

    Humans have to understand that we are all the same. We are all born, live in the same biosphere, perform similar biological functions, and we all die. And thinking that what you do entitles you to be better than the rest means that you have failed as a human.

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  • At SFO…

    At Gate 80, Terminal 3, SFO. Likely I will be in and around this area for a while, as my flight leaves at 23:20 PST (It’s currently 17:20 PST).

    Drop by if you’re in the area…Heh!

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  • BC Ferries: Queen of the North Sinks

    The BC Ferries vessel Queen of the North ran aground and sank last night. [here]

    This is one of the ferries that sails the rounte from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert through the Inside Passage. Only two passengers are unaccounted for, and they may have headed home on their own.

    This is the first sinking in the history of BC Ferries, and when you consider the number of people they transport and the number of runs that they have made, this is an amazing safety record.

    And, as everyone expected, the crew of the vessel responded magnificently and got all passengers off. Thankfully, it is the “slow” season, and only about 100 people were onboard; in the summer, that number would have been up to 700.

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  • Statcounter: I can’t get to my stats — is this a problem?

    I got a comment from someone yesterday saying that they couldn’t get to their Statcounter Web site stats. I thought it was an issue on the user end and he reported that he finally got in with another browser.

    Well, I just tried with all three of my browsers and I can’t get to the Statcounter stats that I pay for. This is somewhat distressing to me.

    And it appears to be some form of DNS issue.

    I have submitted an email to the Statcounter team and I hope to hear from them soon.

    Not a good start to my Wednesday.

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  • Weird encounters continue…

    Standing in the security line at LAX.

    Me: Nice Timbuk2 bag.
    Guy: How do you know about Timbuk2 bags?
    Me: A lot of people I know have them. they are pretty cool. [Editor: Sorry David! When you have a crappy bag like mine, they are cool!]
    Guy: Thanks! Good to hear. I own the company.

    “Guy” turns out to be Marc Dwight, owner of Timbuk2.

    Weird day….

    Marc Dwight was no longer at Timbuk2 only a few short months later [here].

  • LA

    Ya know…

    …I still think I deserve combat pay when I come to LA.

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  • People you see in the Bay Area

    Ok…I think I had a 101 moment this morning. Dave Bresci, if you’re out there, were you driving southbound on 101 on March 21 at about 7:15AM PST?

    And then! I saw a former supervisor of mine at my previous company in the security line at SJC. He knew who I was but tried to ignore me. He’s not someone I would want to see, and frankly, I thought he was dead.

    Weird days.

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  • Taquerias in San Mateo

    For those of you who live or have lived in San Mateo, CA, the choice of taqueria is often a heated and divided debate. The conflict arises between proponents of Pancho Villa and La Cumbre.

    I fall in the Pancho Villa camp and had my first steak and shrimp burrito in nearly 2 years. It was as good, if not better, than what I remember. It is likely that I will eat there every night on this trip.

    Call me boring; but I am led by my stomach. And the steak and shrimp burrito is calling my name.

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  • Nice weather…when does monsoon season end?

    I land at SFO.

    I think we landed on the runway; hard to tell the difference between the ocean and the runway.

    The sky over the city looks menacing from Burlingame.

    Time to hunker down and do some work.

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