I've often asked friends not to send me jokes via email. Still they come. I generally delete them immediately since I don't know where they originate. And the hackers are getting closer.
Just recently we received two emails from a friend that suggested we link to something that looked odd to me. So I sent the email back to my friend for verification. Sure enough someone had stolen their address book and was emailing all their friends with these bogus links.
The same thing happened not too long ago to the rabbi of our synagogue. This was a classic call for financial assistance from overseas. I'm sure you've all had those hard-luck emails that ask you to send money to bail out a person in distress. No way, no how.
Another thing popped up this week. Facebook, which I rarely use, sends me a notice once in a while to check in because I have new photo tags and should log in to look at them. When I did I found links to virtually every member of our congregation. Unnecessary and unwanted.
This urge to be “friended” or be in constant touch is truly getting out of hand. Although some in the mainstream media are finally recognizing this trend can be harmful by and large every new bit of technology still is hyped as if it's the cure for all communications ills.
I didn't realize we were that ill-equipped to talk to one another. If you've got something to say, call me. That still works.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Meeting Expectations
I just completed one of those “did we meet your expectations” surveys on-line purveyors love to send me. Anytime you buy a ticket or use customer service or a help line right away they want to know how you felt about it.
The short answer is if you did it right the first time I wouldn't have to bother customer relations. These surveys follow billing and/or technical problems as well as ticket purchases.
My son introduced me to StubHub which sells tickets for everything but we use it mostly for baseball games. I like to go to a Yankees game once a year and this was the first time I used StubHub to buy my tickets. I got the seats I wanted at the price I wanted to pay and the tickets arrived in a timely fashion.
So all in all I was pretty satisfied with the deal. Then comes the email survey from StubHub wanting to know all about my purchasing experience. The survey was 40 questions when one would have sufficed. Were you satisfied? Yes. End of survey.
Instead it went on and on and because I WAS satisfied I answered all the questions except those that got a little too personal. Like household income, minors in the household, etc. I “preferred not to answer.”
The other regular surveyor is Verizon. You call them with a question about a bill or a technical matter and within minutes you get an email asking you take just a few minutes to answer questions about whether they were helpful or not.
One time we actually received a phone call from a Verizon rep wanting to discuss a transaction my wife had with their billing department. My wife couldn't come to the phone just then so I asked the lady if she would mind calling back later. She said she would but we haven't heard from her since. If 10 is exceptional and 1 is terrible, that's a 1.
What happens to all those survey answers anyway? Does anyone really read them? Do they actually result in improved service?
We'll take a survey to find out. Don't wait up.
The short answer is if you did it right the first time I wouldn't have to bother customer relations. These surveys follow billing and/or technical problems as well as ticket purchases.
My son introduced me to StubHub which sells tickets for everything but we use it mostly for baseball games. I like to go to a Yankees game once a year and this was the first time I used StubHub to buy my tickets. I got the seats I wanted at the price I wanted to pay and the tickets arrived in a timely fashion.
So all in all I was pretty satisfied with the deal. Then comes the email survey from StubHub wanting to know all about my purchasing experience. The survey was 40 questions when one would have sufficed. Were you satisfied? Yes. End of survey.
Instead it went on and on and because I WAS satisfied I answered all the questions except those that got a little too personal. Like household income, minors in the household, etc. I “preferred not to answer.”
The other regular surveyor is Verizon. You call them with a question about a bill or a technical matter and within minutes you get an email asking you take just a few minutes to answer questions about whether they were helpful or not.
One time we actually received a phone call from a Verizon rep wanting to discuss a transaction my wife had with their billing department. My wife couldn't come to the phone just then so I asked the lady if she would mind calling back later. She said she would but we haven't heard from her since. If 10 is exceptional and 1 is terrible, that's a 1.
What happens to all those survey answers anyway? Does anyone really read them? Do they actually result in improved service?
We'll take a survey to find out. Don't wait up.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Brain, Plus
I learned a lot about the brain today at the American Museum of Natural History, my favorite museum of all time. Like most visitors to the museum I started going there as a kid.
I went with a group of other 9 and 10-year-olds led by a young man who was a camp counselor during the summer and who made spending money during the winter by taking us off our parents hands for a Saturday afternoon. We did a lot of outdoor stuff but any time it rained you could find as us at one museum or another in New York, but mostly at the Natural History museum.
It's changed a lot since I was a kid but it always has some reminders of my first time. Like the giant redwood tree trunk with all its rings showing how old, old, old it was before it was cut down or fell. I never did find out which. And the dusty hall of the American Indian is still there although under renovation. Is it still called that or have they changed it to the Hall of the Native American? I hope not.
The new exhibit we saw today, through the courtesy of friends who volunteer there, was The Brain. I knew something about the brain before but it never hurts to know more. And I'm probably firing off more neurons right now by writing this as opposed to just vegging out. They say exercising the brain keeps it healthy. I hope so.
But to me the main exhibit at this magnificent institution today was the people who were there. The place was jumping with kids, parents, teenagers, tourists from all over the world, all excited to be there and anxious to see what they could see and wonder about.
Oh, and did I say it was raining?
I went with a group of other 9 and 10-year-olds led by a young man who was a camp counselor during the summer and who made spending money during the winter by taking us off our parents hands for a Saturday afternoon. We did a lot of outdoor stuff but any time it rained you could find as us at one museum or another in New York, but mostly at the Natural History museum.
It's changed a lot since I was a kid but it always has some reminders of my first time. Like the giant redwood tree trunk with all its rings showing how old, old, old it was before it was cut down or fell. I never did find out which. And the dusty hall of the American Indian is still there although under renovation. Is it still called that or have they changed it to the Hall of the Native American? I hope not.
The new exhibit we saw today, through the courtesy of friends who volunteer there, was The Brain. I knew something about the brain before but it never hurts to know more. And I'm probably firing off more neurons right now by writing this as opposed to just vegging out. They say exercising the brain keeps it healthy. I hope so.
But to me the main exhibit at this magnificent institution today was the people who were there. The place was jumping with kids, parents, teenagers, tourists from all over the world, all excited to be there and anxious to see what they could see and wonder about.
Oh, and did I say it was raining?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Live Chat
I had a question for Verizon this evening and thought I would call technical support for advice. I was immediately informed by their voice mail genie there was an unusually heavy call volume and it might be a while before anyone could help me.
I stayed with it anyway and pressed some more numbers and actually thought I was going to be connected to a live agent. As soon as the phone stopped ringing, however, a voice on the other end announced the call was being terminated. How's that for support?
Not to be daunted, I thought I'd try their “Vz In-Home Agent,” which is an online site that's supposed to be helpful. And it was, sort of.
I selected their Live Chat window which is somewhat misleading because you don't actually “chat” with anyone but exchange typed messages in a Q-and-A format. My contact at the other end was identified as “Ismael” and we had a few back and forths and he was able to answer my question. So I guess this works in a pinch.
I'd still rather talk with someone directly. It just seems companies are putting more and more obstacles in the way of direct contact with their customers. I don't like that.
I stayed with it anyway and pressed some more numbers and actually thought I was going to be connected to a live agent. As soon as the phone stopped ringing, however, a voice on the other end announced the call was being terminated. How's that for support?
Not to be daunted, I thought I'd try their “Vz In-Home Agent,” which is an online site that's supposed to be helpful. And it was, sort of.
I selected their Live Chat window which is somewhat misleading because you don't actually “chat” with anyone but exchange typed messages in a Q-and-A format. My contact at the other end was identified as “Ismael” and we had a few back and forths and he was able to answer my question. So I guess this works in a pinch.
I'd still rather talk with someone directly. It just seems companies are putting more and more obstacles in the way of direct contact with their customers. I don't like that.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Eighteen “Great” Minutes
I spent 18 minutes with the great granddaughters in Israel via Skype today and it was delightful. The girls are two-and-a-half and 15 months. The older took to the experience like any women would: she loved the phone and waved at the picture of great-grandpa and showed off her vocabulary for me.
The younger was a little shy at first but with prompting from her father she loosened up and said a few words, waved to me and was otherwise adorable. In case you were wondering, Grandma was at the beauty parlor so I had the girls all to myself.
Naturally, I also spoke with their parents and the chances are we will visit via Skype again from time to time. It's a very nice experience.
Of course there's always a downside but this has nothing to do with the kids or our visit. It's all about Skype. They bug me. Despite the fact that I'm now a member, or whatever they call their users, they keep sending me emails to sign in, make calls, urge others to sign up, buy stuff.
Enough already! I'll make calls when I want to and I'll encourage people to use the service when it benefits them or me. I see Skype as a useful utility but I don't want to be harassed because I'm not using it enough.
Does your gas company urge you to cook more so you can use up more gas? Turn down the burners Skypers, you got a good thing going. Let it simmer awhile.
The younger was a little shy at first but with prompting from her father she loosened up and said a few words, waved to me and was otherwise adorable. In case you were wondering, Grandma was at the beauty parlor so I had the girls all to myself.
Naturally, I also spoke with their parents and the chances are we will visit via Skype again from time to time. It's a very nice experience.
Of course there's always a downside but this has nothing to do with the kids or our visit. It's all about Skype. They bug me. Despite the fact that I'm now a member, or whatever they call their users, they keep sending me emails to sign in, make calls, urge others to sign up, buy stuff.
Enough already! I'll make calls when I want to and I'll encourage people to use the service when it benefits them or me. I see Skype as a useful utility but I don't want to be harassed because I'm not using it enough.
Does your gas company urge you to cook more so you can use up more gas? Turn down the burners Skypers, you got a good thing going. Let it simmer awhile.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Trying Again
I'm giving Skype a second chance. My Israeli grandson called (via telephone) this afternoon and said he was now on Skype and would I please sign up so we could have free real time face-to-face visits with our great granddaughters. As well as he and his wife, of course.
I told him I tried Skype once and found it cumbersome. But how can you pass up an opportunity to visit with the young great granddaughters. So I entered the mysterious realm of Skype once again.
Amid all the hype and sales pitches for hardware, software and sundry other items of no interest to me I finally got a Skype name and password. But once again it proved difficult to make a call. However, spurred on by the promise of instant grandparently gratification I persevered.
I finally succeeded in making a video call to Israel, live and in color. My wife and I chatted briefly with our grandson (the children were asleep by the time I got through)and he promised to call tomorrow with the two great granddaughters camera ready.
I'm hoping this will be the start of a very satisfying long distance relationship.
I told him I tried Skype once and found it cumbersome. But how can you pass up an opportunity to visit with the young great granddaughters. So I entered the mysterious realm of Skype once again.
Amid all the hype and sales pitches for hardware, software and sundry other items of no interest to me I finally got a Skype name and password. But once again it proved difficult to make a call. However, spurred on by the promise of instant grandparently gratification I persevered.
I finally succeeded in making a video call to Israel, live and in color. My wife and I chatted briefly with our grandson (the children were asleep by the time I got through)and he promised to call tomorrow with the two great granddaughters camera ready.
I'm hoping this will be the start of a very satisfying long distance relationship.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Something's Brewing
It's our beer brewing in a sealed container at The Brewer's Apprentice, a business in Freehold, NJ, that caters to people who want to brew their own beer.
The idea of brewing our beer originated with my son, Rob, who lives in nearby Colts Neck. And what better way to spend a Father's Day than brewing your own beer together. Well, there may be other ways to spend this day, but this one was fine.
As a matter of fact there were several families sharing our experience at The Brewer's Apprentice. Who knew brew-your-own beer was such a popular pastime? It's not as if it's inexpensive. But it is interesting, fun and it doesn't take a lot of time.
We had selected a Luebecker Lager from the many brews on the menu. It most resembles Rob's favorite YingLing beer. When we arrived at the appointed time (you had to make a reservation) we were ushered to our station and given instructions. There was a big kettle of boiling water awaiting us and we had to add Extracts, a molasses type goo that I suppose gives body and color to our beer.
We used a large steel paddle to mix it. After a half hour we added our Bittering Hops and did more stirring. All the while the mixture is boiling. Our final step was adding “Finishing Hops.”
After a few minutes, our guide, Phil, siphoned our kettle into a large plastic container and carted it off to the yeasting room where it will sit for two weeks becoming beer. We'll go back then to fill 144 12-ounce bottles with our ready-to-drink Luebecker Lager, and add the labels we've created for our brew.
May I offer you a bottle? Or two? Or more?
The idea of brewing our beer originated with my son, Rob, who lives in nearby Colts Neck. And what better way to spend a Father's Day than brewing your own beer together. Well, there may be other ways to spend this day, but this one was fine.
As a matter of fact there were several families sharing our experience at The Brewer's Apprentice. Who knew brew-your-own beer was such a popular pastime? It's not as if it's inexpensive. But it is interesting, fun and it doesn't take a lot of time.
We had selected a Luebecker Lager from the many brews on the menu. It most resembles Rob's favorite YingLing beer. When we arrived at the appointed time (you had to make a reservation) we were ushered to our station and given instructions. There was a big kettle of boiling water awaiting us and we had to add Extracts, a molasses type goo that I suppose gives body and color to our beer.
We used a large steel paddle to mix it. After a half hour we added our Bittering Hops and did more stirring. All the while the mixture is boiling. Our final step was adding “Finishing Hops.”
After a few minutes, our guide, Phil, siphoned our kettle into a large plastic container and carted it off to the yeasting room where it will sit for two weeks becoming beer. We'll go back then to fill 144 12-ounce bottles with our ready-to-drink Luebecker Lager, and add the labels we've created for our brew.
May I offer you a bottle? Or two? Or more?
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