A customer called in asking for help installing his lamp. Unfortunately the lamp did not fire, so I went through a serious of steps to help him out. Around here, we know DLP UHP Lamps by Philips have a mere .03% failure rate, so most likely the downed television is caused by user error or another failed component. After about 10 minutes of troubleshooting, I ask the customer to unplug the television thinking maybe a hard reset after five minutes might do the trick for his Samsung DLP, BP96-01653A lamp code. The customer then says, “Oh, it’s already unplugged.” I then tell them to plug the television in and try the original steps. The lamp fires and the television is working again.

The end.

An Op-Ed article from the New York Times recently analyzed the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and tells of the cover-up and innocence behind the photos. Of course, one can’t genuinely call the photos innocent, but they do show a side of intrigue and conspiracy that is lesser known to the general public. The article is located here, written by Errol Morris.

Abstract: The CIA, or OGA (Other Government Agency), covered up the interrogation of a suspected terrorist. During the interrogation, unorthodox means were used to get the suspect to talk. After being beaten and strung up as if he were being crucified, the prisoner died from his injuries or other unspecified causes. The next day, the famous “thumbs-up” photo was taken by US soldiers, seemingly out of curiosity. The same soldier also took multiple pictures after she realized the prisoner may have been murdered. The conflicting accounts come from the fact that there were only 50 detainees listed, though in actuality, 55 were present. The descrepency was caused because of the conspiracy to detain and interrogate prisoners by the OGA, which is now known to be the CIA. The author then analyzes the innocence of Sabrina Harman, now famous for her smile and “thumbs up” in front of the dead prisoner. By Sabrina’s account, she was merely taking photos with a dead body. After further investigation, we find that she was not a participant in the murder, nor the subsequent cover-up.

A reader posted this:

The reader is kind of a jack ass, the kind that says, he look, look what’s in my hand? A nickel. You see a nickel. What are you looking at? There’s no nickel in my hand. Look at my other hand. There’s a shinney penny. It’s way better than that nick–I mean, there’s nothing in my other hand.

The point is, some people only think in dualistic terms and derrides the author of this text because it diverts focus from his own agenda, or an agenda he perceives to be his own. It’s a longing to be apart of a culture. It’s a want that this person has to be apart of something bigger than himself. Well, Erik Goodell, join a fucking book club.

Entered on 05/12/2008 at 10:28:00 by Customer:
What are you mean? I don’t understand. “We do not see a database attached.” I was requested database to restore old to replace current database. Because database was haking by hacker. I would like to restore request databse to replace.

Thank ever so much

We restored their database and there was a minor DBO Issue that we had to resolve. Before we could resolve it, they wrote in with this:

Entered on 05/12/2008 at 11:47:45 by Customer:
Can I create database name “tat”? If I create old data lost? Because before you restore all data back at MSSQL 2000 SERVER on control panel show database name after restore database not show on MSSQL 2000 SERVER.

How I can do to database name show on MSSQL 2000 SERVER?
Thank ever so much

CUSTOMER:
Order #12075…hello..I paid for 3 day shipping and should receive my package today. I tracked my order and it says it’s due to be delivered tomorrow. I called fed ex..and they are telling me..more like friday…Upset, because I paid for 3 day shipping…can u help?

Welcome CUSTOMER! Your request has been directed to the Customer Service department. Please wait for our operator to answer your call.

Call accepted by operator Liz. Currently in room: Liz, CUSTOMER.

Liz:
[Tracking number provided]

CUSTOMER:
i saw that…i called…they said more like friday the 9th….it should have been here today…..I ordered on Sunday…3 days would be today…
CUSTOMER:
I have a problem paying for something (the shipping) that I dont get…
Liz:
It was picked up Monday, Fedex does not delivery on Sundays, so you have to receive it by Thursday, it will be really late if you get it by Friday.
CUSTOMER:
so do i get my shipping charges refunded?…even tomorrow is late…monday (1) tuesday (2) wednesday (3) thursday (4)
Liz:
The third day will be Thursday because it left Monday.
CUSTOMER:
wow….apparently I can’t count….Let me try again..ordered on Sunday (Day 0) Monday (day 1) Tuesday (day 2) Wednesday (day 3) Thursday (day 4)…did I miss something Liz?
Liz:
Fedex picks up on Monday evening, so Tues is the first day.
CUSTOMER:
Wish I would have known that when I ordered…I wouldnt have paid for 3 day shipping that takes 4 or 5 days…..Would you?
Liz:
No shipping occurs on Sunday. Most businesses are like that. We process orders on Sunday, which is better than all of our competitors.
Liz:
I’m sorry if there was any misunderstanding in that matter.
CUSTOMER:
What time Fed ex picks up on Monday is not my problem…or yours….so long as it gets to it’s destination on time….3 days..simply means..3 days..not four…not five…..
Liz:
Sir, the shipping transit time is correct.
CUSTOMER:
It was fair for me to pay for 3 day shipping..If I receive my package in 3 days…
Liz:
If you can show me a major shipping carrier that picks up on Sunday, I will refund your shipment. Only one carrier delivers on Sunday, the rest of the carriers use Sunday as a transit day for express packages.
CUSTOMER:
Liz….go back to where I counted Sunday as day ZERO…..I CAN COUNT
Liz:
This is our Knowledge Base article on shipping http://www.discount-merchant.com/kb_results.asp?ID=8
Liz:
You cannot count Sunday as zero. Monday is counted at zero.
CUSTOMER:
holy cow……nothing is getting accomplished here
Liz:
Today is Wednesday.
Liz:
Monday = 0, Tuesday = 1, Wednesday = 2. Did you pay for 2 day or 3 day shipping?
CUSTOMER:
Really….it’s Wednesday In California too
Liz:
Shipping is counted from the day it is shipped. We ship every day except Sunday.
Liz:
We are in California, just south of you.
Liz:
If you had paid for USPS it would have taken 1 day.
CUSTOMER:
It was shipped on Monday…..day one
Liz:
Monday to Tuesday is the first day
CUSTOMER:
this is fun……like talking to a brick wall
Liz:
If you’d like to talk to a supervisor, please give us a call.
Liz:
Or I can have a number for them to reach you?
CUSTOMER:
sounds like fun…go with the number……hopefully I can figure it out….told Im bad with numbers
CUSTOMER:
This is completely outlandish!
CUSTOMER:
Balderdash!
CUSTOMER:
Iniquitous!
Liz:
619-710-2637 x203
CUSTOMER:
no wonder…..rude San Diegans!
CUSTOMER:
Have a nice day Liz
Liz:
My manager will call you. Thank you, Michael.

Post Chat Survey
Comments: because the cust svc rep cannot count properly….
Politeness: 1
Proficiency: 1