Technically Speaking

I’ve updated the backend of my blog, WordPress, to the latest version. I actually skipped a number of upgrades, because I was afraid that some of my favorite plugins would be broken. However, all appears good on my end.  Let me know if you find things that are suddenly broken, and I’ll see what I can do to fix them.

Upgrades are a pain, but are necessary in order to keep everything working smoothly, with as few security risks as possible.

Did you see the Dilbert cartoon for May 29, 2007?

The cartoon is no longer available in the Dilbert archive so I’ll describe it to you. The first panel is Dilbert’s bedroom. Dilbert is tying his tie, presumably getting ready for work. The rat is standing on Dilbert’s bed, and says, “Today you will wear clothes you don’t want to wear.” The second frame is a close-up of the rat who continues, “You’ll drive somewhere you don’t want to be, and do things you don’t want to do.” The final panel shows Dilbert and the rat, who finishes: “Have a nice day.”

Can I tell you how lucky I feel to not have a job like that? I am sitting at my desk, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, working for an employer that I genuinely like, with co-workers that I respect and admire, doing a job I really like doing. Some days I can’t believe that I actually get PAID to do this.

If only everybody could love their jobs as much as I love mine…

Edit: 12/18/2007: This post originally linked to the image in the Dilbert archive. The archive is only available for about a month. After a received a comment about the broken link, I reworded the first two sentences of this post and removed the link.  

I used to really like T-Mobile. That was until I my phone suffered from Water Damage.

I recognize that it was my own dumb fault that the phone got ruined. I called T-Mobile and explained that my phone had Water Damage and I needed to know what to do next. The customer service rep (who, incidentally, was very professional and nice) did some checking and told me that I would (A) have to buy a new phone (not a huge surprise; I didn’t expect the warranty to cover water damage) AND (B) have to pay a $100 fee due to violating the warranty by causing Water Damage to the phone.

The second one caused me to double-take. I asked a question for verification: “So you’re saying that if I had lost my phone, you would replace it for the price of the phone, but no additional fee, but because I got my phone wet, I have to pay for the price of a new phone PLUS a $100 fee?”

“That is correct” was the reply.

I can only assume that T-Mobile’s actual policy was portrayed inaccurately to me, as I can’t figure out what difference it makes to T-Mobile whether I lost my phone, dropped it in a pool, or accidentally left it on the moon. I need a new phone.

So, if you are a T-Mobile customer and due to Water Damage you phone becomes inoperable, I’d recommend that you just lose it. Like, in the trash can on garbage day [see note, below].

I’m going to get clarification on this issue from T-Mobile. Then I think I’ll ask them what they would do if I lost my phone by dropping it in a lake. That should be an interesting paradox.

________________________________
[Note: I actually know that you shouldn’t discard electronic items in the garbage, as there are better venues where your electronics can be recycled without polluting the environment. In fact, I support such measures. Let “in the trash can on garbage day” be a metaphor for disposing of your electronics in an environmentally-friendly manner.]

I’m here today to tell you a Very Sad Tale.
It is a tale of a Very Wet Phone.
It would be sad if it weren’t so funny.
So get ready to laugh as I drone.

I awoke last Saturday morning
ready to Race for the Cure™.
I looked and looked for my cell phone
It was nowhere to be found, that’s for sure.

I thought long and hard where I’d had it.
I looked on the living room floor.
We had gone swimming on Friday evening,
so I sat and thought long, hard, and more.

The phone wasn’t in or by the pool.
It hadn’t been turned in either.
It wasn’t in the grass, nor
by the sidewalk neither.

Saturday turned into Sunday.
I still didn’t know where to look.
Then it was Monday,
and I searched every nannie and crook.

I called up the provider, T-Mobile.
The phone, it hadn’t been used.
I supposed that it hadn’t been stolen,
“It must be at home,” I mused.

Finally I searched in the bathroom.
My swim trunks were still hanging, now dry.
Inside the pocket, I found it.
But my Very Wet Phone was fried.

I tried to charge it, but it failed.
The rust marks inside looked awful.
There was corrosion and junk on the battery.
Yet still, my story was about to get more stressful.

See, all the data on the phone was lost.
If I had your number, I don’t anymore.
If you want me to call you again, send be your info.
In my new phone’s memory, I’ll put it in store.

I Stumbled across the following image today, which I thought was pretty funny. Enjoy!

Source: http://i.thefairest.info/funniest_thumbs/QaDdYu.jpeg