WTF

February 10, 2011

FLOTUS in the ATL

Mobama2_830699l
Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com


First Lady Michelle Obama was in Atlanta yesterday to talk about Let's Move! her initiative to restore healthy food choices for school meals and to inspire American families to fight childhood obesity.

Her speech at North Point Community Church (Andy Stanley's congregation) was terrific.  Read it and remember the days when you could really BE a free range kid who stayed outdoors until called home for dinner. 

And she quoted my friend Aaron Mark, proud dad of Murray!

Aaron Marks, a father from Decatur, Georgia, wasn't happy when he found out that his four year-old son was eating pizza for breakfast at school...and donuts and cookies for snacks. So he talked to the school administrators. He joined the school's nutrition committee. And he helped raise money to plant a garden. As he put it: "You just can't take no for an answer. You have to be tenacious." So it's never easy.

Posted at 12:33 PM in Atlanta, Current Affairs, Family , Food and Drink, Spirit, WTF | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 12, 2010

Seen at the Airport

NoSnowGloves

Snapped this at LaGuardia yesterday on my way to Akron, which was my overnight stop on the way home (at last) to Atlanta.  Just in case you were wondering if you should bring snow globes on an airplane, now you know . . . don't.   Isn't airport security making you feel safer?

Posted at 01:32 PM in Just Funny, WTF | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

March 30, 2009

WTF: My Dad's On Twitter

Twitter_logo_125x29

My Dad send me an email that he has signed up for Twitter.  He's 86 years old and god bless him, he wants to give it a try.  As a 50-something who only recently discovered why one might need to text instead of phone someone, I have to say, I'm proud of the guy. 

I'm an ad woman because of my dad, the ad man.  He taught me about headlines.  He gave me my feel for the short form -- :30 second tv commercials.  I'll be curious to see what he does with his 140 characters. 

I guess the same way there's been an avalanche of boomers flocking to Facebook, which is becoming more Twitter-like with every passing day, Twitter is also gaining ground.  Me, I'm still feeling the overload managing all these platforms.  And then there's the feeling that life should be lived, not continually commented on. 

Posted at 02:32 PM in Family , Marketing, New Media, Web/Tech, WTF | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

March 03, 2009

The World Is Flat: Rizah the Comcast Guy

Partially redacted online conversation to restore home VOIP service.
Guarantee: All diaglogue verbatim.
Estimated length of call: 35 minutes



user Nina_ has entered room

analyst Rizah has entered room

Rizah>
Hello Nina_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. 
My name is Rizah. Please give me one moment to review your 
information.

Nina_>
Can you please reinstate my phone service

Rizah>
How are you today?

Rizah>
One moment please.

Nina_>
A little annoyed. I've been home since 8:00 am waiting for phone 
technician

Nina_>
Now they tell me my phone service was cancelled. Please reinstate. 
Does this REALLY require a service call?


Rizah>
One moment. Let me check your account first.

Nina_>
Phone number is 404-***-****...haven't had landline service for 
over a week. Please reinstate

Rizah>
Okay, may I are correct--

Nina_>
Shoot


Thank you. I am now pulling up your address in our system.

Rizah>
I am in the account now. May I have the last four digits of ssn 
in the account for verification purposes.

Nina_>
Mine is ****

Rizah>
Thank you.

Nina_>
OK, so please reinstate under my name ASAP

Rizah>
Okay. I will add it now.

Nina_>
We have the modem here for Internet and Cable...this shouldn't 
require a service visit at all

Nina_>
Can the whole account now be put in my name, as I have been paying 
the bills all along?

Rizah>
With regard to changing the name in the account to your name, you 
will need to do this to our local outlet and bring a valid ID 
together with your lease of agreement or title of ownership of 
the house.

Nina_>
OK, for today just give me my phone service back :-)

Rizah>
Thanks.

Nina_>
Where is nearest local outlet?

Rizah>
One moment please.

Rizah>
About the installation, I am going to add it for now without the 
installation. As far as I know, there is a need for an 
installation for this since the service has been cancelled. 
If the phone still wont't work even if I already added it here, 
it means that you will really need an installation for this service.

Rizah>
Will that work for you?

Nina_>
Just get me the quickest appointment you can...

Nina_>
I can't really miss another 1/2 day of work

Rizah>
Okay.

Nina_>
There is still no dial tone

Rizah>
One moment.

Rizah>
May I know your phone number please?

Nina_>
404-***-****

Rizah>
Thanks.

Rizah>
I am still here working on this for you.

Rizah>
Thank you for waiting.

Nina_>
OK

Rizah>
Nina, I am getting an error because of the installation. The 
account is not updated without it.

Nina_>
so please, just schedule installation

Rizah>
Yes.

Nina_>
Can it be Saturday morning?

Rizah>
Let me check.

Nina_>
Rizah...any news?

Rizah>
Thank you so much for waiting. It's just that I have been 
encountering an error with the intstallation. Yes, the 
installation can be done on Saturday.

Rizah>
It is between 8-11am.

Nina_>
OK perfect!

Rizah>
How about that?

Nina_>
Yes, book it please.

Nina_>
And thanks. Are we finished?

Rizah>
Great!

Rizah>
I will reserve it for you now.

Rizah>
Wait, I will give you your new phone number.

Nina_>
New phone number? I don't want a new phone number. I want my 
old one back PLEASE!!!

Rizah>
Let me try if we can still use it.

Nina_>
Please Rizah

Rizah>
Good, it worked.

Rizah>
Do have a home alarm system? We will need to note the order if 
you do as the technician will need to work with the company 
to ensure that your service is working correctly with the alarm 
system.

Nina_>
Don't worry about it

Rizah>
Okay.

Rizah>
May I know if you would like your phone number listed in the 
phone book?

Nina_>
Unlisted, please

Rizah>
There is a $3 a month fee for that.

Rizah>
Is that okay with you?

Nina_>
No, please list the number in the phonebook then.

Rizah>
Okay.

Rizah>
May I know the number to call you on the day of installation 
and the cross street to your home?

Nina_>
Cross street is B****** Road. Number to call is 404-***-****

Rizah>
Thank you. I will take note of that.

Rizah>
We are now offering a Service Protection Plan for $1.50 a month.

Rizah>
The plan covers for service calls like repair to Comcast wiring 
(telephone, cable television, or internet), customer education 
with respect to Comcast services and products, and or 
identifying the source of a service problem.

Rizah>
Would you like to have the Service Protection Plan added to 
your account today?

Nina_>
No

Rizah>
Okay, no problem.

Nina_>
Rizah, where is your call center based?

Rizah>
I would like to tell you that you will be required to pay for 
the installation fee upon installation. You will be able to pay 
it to the technician through money order or check.

Rizah>
It is $44.95.

Rizah>
We are in Southeast Asia.

Rizah>
Please have someone who is 18 or older available for the scheduled 
date and time at the service address.

Nina_>
Yes, I will be home.

Rizah>
The installation is on the 7th, Saturday between 8-11am. Please 
don't forget.

Nina_>
I won't. Thank you Rizah. Just thought you might like to know that 
in Atlanta we have 3" of snow on the ground. Very unusual for March.

Rizah>
I am glad to know that.

Nina_>
Are we finished now?

Rizah>
Nina, the schedule has been changed between 11-2pm on Saturday.

Rizah>
I hope that is fine with you.

Nina_>
Argh... It will have to be.

Rizah>
I just updated the account now since we are all done.

Nina_>
Thank you Rizah.

Rizah>
And the available time is now between 11-2pm.

Rizah>
Oh, thank you for understanding.

Rizah>
smile

Nina_>
Goodbye.

Rizah>
Here is your order confirmation number ***************

Rizah>
Please take note of that.

Rizah>
Wait.

Rizah>
To ensure that all customers receive their carriers of choice for 
their telephone service, you need to complete Third Party 
Verification. Please click on this link 
https:********* and visit the verification Web site.

Rizah>
You must complete all required fields on the form. If you do not 
complete all required fields, Comcast Digital Voice will be unable 
to complete your service request. The form will verify that you have 
selected Comcast for all of your home calling needs: local, 
international, across town, across country and worldwide.

Rizah>
This simply means that you are choosing Comcast to be your provider 
for all of your calling needs including in-state toll calls, 
state-to-state long distance calls and any international calls you 
may make. Local, local toll and long distance calls are included 
in your package price.

Rizah>
This is the last.

Rizah>
I am sorry, I forgot about this earlier.

Nina_>
OK....

Rizah>
I only need the confirmation number after you fill our the form.

Rizah>
Thanks a lot.

Nina_>
Where is the form?

Rizah>
You click the link.

Rizah>
https://*********************

Nina_>
OK, I've filled it out.

Rizah>
Let me know if you are done.

Rizah>
Do you have the confirmation number?

Nina_>
Yes, I printed the page out.

Rizah>
May I have it please?

Nina_>
****************

Rizah>
Thank you so much.

Rizah>
We are all set. Is there anything else that I can assist you with?

Nina_>
I think we're done. I'm off to work.

Rizah>
Okay.

Rizah>
Take care!

Rizah>
Thank you for choosing comcast. Please do not hesitate to chat 
with comcast again. Have a great day!

Rizah>
I will be closing the window now to assist another customer.

Rizah>
Goodbye!

Rizah>
Analyst has closed chat and left the room

analyst Rizah has left room

 Send


©2007 Comcast





Posted at 07:36 AM in Atlanta, Blogosphere, Just Funny, Web/Tech, WTF | | Comments (0)

About

Subscribe to this Blog

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

What I'm Reading

What I'm Cooking

  • Cheap Ceviche
    This is almost a mock ceviche because it's made with junk fish (tilapia) and surimi, the tofu of fish. However, with the right amounts of lime juice, cilantro, onion and hot sauce, even cheap fish makes a fabulous ceviche. I chopped up a 1/2 pound of tilapia and combined it with 2 packages of chunked surimi. Marinate in juice of 5 limes, 1/2 red onion chopped fine, and one head of cilantro chopped fine. Add a healthy squirt of Sriracha sauce and refrigerate.
  • Collard Greens
    My CSA is sending us lots of green love in the form of collard greens. Here's my very delicious veggie-but-smoky recipe. In a large pot add 1 cup vegetable broth, 1 cup water. Nice pinch of salt, and 3/4 tsp. Spanish smoked Paprika. Add your chopped collards and simmer gently for at least 45 minutes.
  • Tzatziki Sauce
    Just outstanding on everything. Take a container of Greek style yogurt (no-fat, low -fat, doesn't matter). Grate 2-3 thin skinned middle eastern cukes on a box grater and squeeze out all the water. Mince 3 cloves of garlic VERY fine. Stir cucumber and garlic into yogurt, add a splash of olive oil and a grind of black pepper. Dunk in vegetable of your choice, slather on spanakopitas, etc.
  • Polenta
    Apparently the par-boiled polenta I'm using is considered ca-ca by serious cooks. I've found it to be utterly delicious, especially smothered with sauteed portobello mushrooms. I will give plain old yellow cornmeal polenta a try after Thanksgiving.
  • Hangar Steak
    Grilled in a cast iron pan in the oven, on broil. Remarkably tender and so quick. Salt, pepper and smoked paprika for seasoning.
  • Brussels Sprouts + Corn
    A smashing combination -- the bitter tang of the Brussels Sprouts with the sweetness of corn. Saute with olive oil, salt and pepper. C'est tout!
  • Stuffed Cabbage
    My favorite recipe From the NY Times Jewish Cookbook, made with fresh cranberries and canned cranberry sauce. Total yum.

Archives

More...

Blog powered by Typepad
Member since 04/2007

Categories

Usage & Licenses