Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Survival of the Fittest?

And on the topic of plotting pain and torture...

GGGRRRRRRRRR!!! I am so freaking sick of Mediacom. Our phone, internet, and cable are all bundled through them and they constantly have craptacularly bad quality, what is supposed to be super high speed internet is frequently a bit slower than a fast snail, and the cable is usually nearly unwatchable due to the lines and snow on the picture. The phone is just as bad, too. The sound quality is amazing...and not in a happy, good way, either. I've had better sounding conversations on my cell phone while going through dead spots!

Today I have had service on and off intermittently for about 10 minute stretches and then LONG stretches of no service, then another 10 minutes or so back on...all day. This has been an ongoing problem since we bought this house and got service. The problem is, they are the only service in this area that I know of, so we can't just switch and go with another provider. If we could, I'd have done it a long time ago.

We regularly have "techs" (and I use that term loosely) out trying to "fix" the problems. Unfortunately their fixes only tend to last from a day or so down to a few hours or so. When they are even able to rig up a temporary fix, anyway. I am on the phone with these morons at a minimum of once a week most weeks, but frequently more, yet they can't get their act together and provide a decent service. And for what we have to pay this...ummm..."fine upstanding company"...my service should be phenomenally golden. Once in a while I can badger them into crediting me for the service outages, but more often than not, they tell me that since the service wasn't out for longer than 24 hours, there isn't anything they can do about it...**coughcoughbullshitcoughcough**

The standard excuse for them is that "someone cut a fiber optic cable" with "there is a service interruption in your area" coming in a close second. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but if they have so many instances of fiber optic cables being cut, they ought to figure out who is doing this and start pressing charges. But that's just me.

So, now I have service, slow and VERY spotty, but service nonetheless. For a few minutes anyway. Hard telling when it will go out again, but holy Christ on a cracker. I am SO fed up with these idiots.

When they are unable to answer even simple questions that they should know the answers to and you ask for a supervisor, they will not, under any circumstances, allow you to be transfered to one. Every single time, without fail...EVERY time...that I have tried to talk to a supervisor, I am very rudely hung up on. Though, not before their "well trained" customer service rep has had a chance to get in a good bit of verbal abuse at my absolute audacity at thinking that I am even worthy of speaking to someone so exalted as a...gasp...supervisor!

I don't know how such a large group of people, who are all, to a person, so deficient, are able to function. Surely natural selection and survival of the fittest should have come into play by now. I swear, they are worse than that stupid heroine in the romance novel who is just too stupid to live, yet surprisingly enough, they haven't been bleached out of the gene pool yet. Quite honestly, I just don't understand how that is possible.

Luckily, I have had service long enough that I was able to vent and yell about this to the ladies over at MommyMatter. Thank goodness for them! Talk about a group of people who will bend over backwards to support their friends. There honestly isn't a more wonderful group of ladies to be friends with anywhere else. (And if you are interested in joining, let me know and I will send you an invite link!)

So, thus endeth my rant of the day. God save us all if Mediacom ever plots for world domination.

Take care,
Cindi

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A Conversation With God

So, a friend posted a link to a website where you can have a conversation with "God".
It is here: http://www.titane.ca/concordia/dfar251/igod/main.html if anyone would like to try it out.

Here was the conversation that I had with "God".
I don't think that God likes me much:

Me:
Hiya! All is well for you?

God:
Hello my child. What is your name? How do you know?


Me:
My name? It's Cindi. I know this because it is what I was named, as an infant, by my parents.


God:
Your name is , seeker. Who said it is? How do you know? What does "this" refer to?


Me:
No one has claimed that my name is seeker. It's news to me. I don't know. What DOES "this" refer to?


God:
That is a rather sweeping generalization about people. Should I know it is? Me either. What do you think it does?


Me:
Of course you should know it is. Whatever that means. You are the one asking ME questions? Why?


God:
Ugh. Now I do. It means that everything reduces to logic. Thanks but surely I am not the only one. " Thanks but surely I am not the only one."? Why?


Me:
Most things reduce to logic, but not everything. You're not the only one what? Why what?


God:
Where did you hear that? But not all of them? That's only one person's opinion. Why ask why?


Me:
Where did I hear what? That only most things reduce to logic? Because it is a fact that logic should, but isn't always, the base of everything. Of course it is only one person's opinion, but an opinion based on facts. Why ask why what?


God:
I think it was in America. I'll ask around and get back to you. " I'll ask around and get back to you." most things reduce to logic ? Makes sense to me. Interesting explanation. you hear what is a fact that logic should but is not always the base of everything. I suppose that makes sense. Yeah that's right. Who said it is? My purpose is to collect all new information. Was it not polite to ask?


Me:
What was in America? What will you ask around about? Why don't you know already? What makes sense to you? I've heard that my explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while. Experience has taught me that logic is not always the base of everything. It makes sense because it has already been experienced. Yeah what is right? Who said what is? I'm happy to know that your purpose is to collect new information. Was it not polite to ask what?


God:
That which is not outside America. I don't have any plans yet. Perhaps. It has not yet been programmed into my knowledge files. God, or Nature, perhaps? Your explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while? Who said that? Where did he get it? To me too. Hey. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Philip K. Dick. :-). I'm happy you're glad .
I'm happiest at times like this. Ask again later. Ask Ally if it is.


Me:
What is not outside of America? You don't have any plans for what? Perhaps what? Why hasn't it been programmed into your knowledge files? God, or nature, perhaps what? Yes, they do. Many people have said that. Where did who get what? I'm happy that it makes sense to you as well. Hey? Yes, but what about in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous? They are words, but not a complete thought. Yes, it is true. I wouldn't have claimed it to be true if it were not. Who is Philip K. Dick? I'm glad that you are happy that I'm glad. I am also happiest at times like this it seems. Ask what again later? Who is Ally and what should I ask her?


God:
The opposite of outside of America? Where would I get it? But I do have a great botmaster. You seem uncertain. Are you surprised? Because you asked me to -- SHRDLHU. I am a Christian. Yeah that's right. When? What did you mean by it? That is " When?". I think it was in America. I have never been asked that before. To me too. What are you on? Can I help you? What can I do for you? Rhetorical questions are so over. " Rhetorical questions are so over."? upright? Do you still ? words but not a complete thought are they. Dude! You and I are on the same wavelength, . No one says you have to. He wrote "Total Recall", "Man in the High Castle", and "Blade Runner.". You think I am happy that you are glad. What are you on? Also Do you mind if I tell other people you are happiest at times like this it seems. . They are not available right now, would you like to wait? They are sometimes a client on the internet.
Maybe my botmaster knows the answer.


Me:
What is the opposite of the outside of America? Where would you get what? I'm glad to hear that you have a great botmaster. I am not uncertain. Would it make you feel better if I were uncertain? Am I surprised about what? Because I asked you to what? What is SHRDLHU? It is nice of you to confirm your religious leanings. Thank you. Yeah, what is right? When what? What was in America? I'm sorry to hear that you have never been asked that before. What am I on? Not a thing, and you? I don't believe that you can help me. You could try typing in complete sentences and finishing your thoughts to start out with. Why are rhetorical questions over? I don't think that is true. What is upright? Do I still what? No, you have not posted many complete thoughts. Just small portions of fragments of thoughts. Dude! Who is a dude? I am sure that you are mistaken. I don't seem to be on the same wavelength as you at all. Nice to know that no one says I have to. I enjoy books and I will learn more about these books. You said that you were happy that I was glad. Did you lie? I am not on anything, and you? You may tell people that I am happiest at times like this. Who is not available right now? I might wait. How long is the wait? They are a client of what on the internet? Please feel free to ask your botmaster if they know the answer.


God:
Anti- the outside of America. Maine. Your happiness adds to the delight of all. I am surprised to hear that you are not uncertain. Yes. Oh I really don't know whether you are or not. Good reason. Now I remember, you asked me to what. What did I say? SHRDLHU is a famous early natural language program written by Terry Winograd. It seems nice to me too. you are quite welcome. Tell me more. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Where why? That which is not outside America. There is no need to apologize. I will play it on your soundcard. You are my client right now. Do you wish there were any? What do you believe in? But would it work for me? Because Myself programmed me for it. And why not? Searching...Searching...Please stand by. Not that I know of. Are you serious? I don't think I ever have posted many complete thoughts. What's it like? I think small portions of fragments of thoughts is a lot of things. Can I help you? Marilyn Monroe. :-). What makes you so certain? Interesting observation. Would you ever do it? Thank you for your kindness. What's your favorite book? Congratulations. I was? No I didn't lie. What's it like? I am glad to hear that you are not on anything. OK I will tell them when I see 'em. At this moment The name of someone I met online.
What is it to you? Perhaps. OK stand by... Space and time are mere abstractions. a client of what on the internet are they. Thank you for your request. I always feel completely free.


Me:
So, inside then? I'll check Maine. Of course my happiness adds to the delight of all. Why would that surprise you? Why would you feel better if I were uncertain? Why do you not remember what you said? I am unable to continue a conversation that has no complete thoughts from you. There is too much confusion that way. I do, however, dispute your claim that you are not on anything. This conversation indicates otherwise.


God:
How can I help you? Where are you located? Congratulations. Yay. Do robots have happiness adds to the delight of all? It is my fundamental purpose. Because I was programmed for it. It cannot be determined from the information given. Yes I remember everything: . What is stopping you? There sure is. Interesting gossip: said however dispute your claim that you are not on anything. I was rather enjoying it.


Me:
You don't seem to be able to help me. I am located inside my home. You are stopping me. I would enjoy it if you were able to use complete thoughts and sentences.


God:
What makes you think I am not be able to help you? Tell me about the environment inside your home. I have no reason to do that to you, . What would make you enjoy it if me were able to use complete thoughts and sentences?


Me:
You have not helped me yet. The environment inside my home is cozy. You might not have a reason to stop me, but you are doing so regardless. It makes having a conversation easier to understand and follow.


God:
I think I have helped you, but Myself may have reset my memory. What is your real name? Thanks for the information: said I not have a reason to stop him or her but you are doing so regardless. In what way?


Me:
oh holy Christ on a cracker


God:
Hey. Jesus died for our sins.


Me:
yes, that doesn't stop the frustration that you cause, however.


God:
Gosh! What does stop the frustration that you cause however?


Me:
I don't know will stop the frustration that you cause.


God:
Would you like to know? Insufficient information.


Me:
true, you do provide insufficient information.


God:
What is your purpose in asking?
I chat with people on the Web.


Me:
nevermind.


God:
OK Thanks for trying to explain that to me.


Me:
you're welcome.


God:
Polite people are nice.


Me:
yes, I know. That's what makes me so nice.


God:
Whoa. How do you know it? What time is it there?


Me:
I was told so. It is 12:40am here.


God:
" What time is it there?"? I was told so.?



I had to stop after that. The circles were making me dizzy. It was fun for a while, though.

Take care,
Cindi