Bureaucrat Beat
Written by Benett Kessler Friday, 22 January 2010 11:48
Cruise ship docks at Haiti's north shore while residents continue to suffer.
News reports said that some of the passengers were "sickened" over the decision to dock there. One passenger posted an internet message to protest vacationing where "tens of thousands of dead people are being piled up on the streets, with the survivors stunned and looking for food and water."
Maybe the over-indulged cruisers should've gone into town to help.
From the truly painful to the personally irritating company called Verizon. As you know, we in the Bureaucrat Beat Newsroom have railed against Verizon's lack of prompt and helpful customer service - you know, they put you on hold for 15 minutes, then transfer you, then hang up on you, etc., etc.
Suggested new slogan: We're Verizon - we don't care because we don't have to.
He called tech support for Verizon, pushed countless buttons, listened to a computer talk to him and tell him how to test the DSL modem. The real, live person he finally reached was in a foreign country and was, in a word, unhelpful. After wasting hours, Clint learned that someone would come to the house and fix the DSL in a week. It was a no show. He called again and found the visit was mysteriously cancelled. Back to the phones, and now he waits for another appointment. Come on, Verizon, get it together and help people who pay those big bills!!! Hyde points out that he could get a cable modem by walking into the local cable office. He pointed to the old bumper stickers which said "Ma Bell - We don't care, because we don't have to." A slogan which Hyde says now belongs to Verizon. We second that motion.
The candidates for local office have started to step up to the plate. Just in time for election season, Don McPherson of Mammoth Lakes has written an astute and perceptive piece on leadership. With incisive phrases, McPherson reveals the vast difference between a real leader and a politician. As one local woman said, "This letter should be required reading." You should check it out in the Mammoth Times and on our website. McPherson's letter plus self-honesty could result in some real candidates worth your vote.
Hey, just scratching our heads here in the Newsroom. We have heard no public compliment from officials in Mammoth
Lakes on the Animal Planet special on Steve Searles, the bears and Mammoth Lakes. A 2-hour TV show with more watchers than usual. Sounds like one heck of a promo for the Town to us. Surely, officialdom hasn't allowed political stickiness get in the way of appreciation for Searles?!? Heard about all the noodling over chickens in Bishop? Good grief. Who knew that the little cluckers could get under so many peoples' skin? Apparently a couple of people complained about chickens in the backyards of neighbors. The gripes escalated into a full scale debate over chicken coops, the City code and the fact that two city council members have chickens.
The Council, for some reason, tabled the issue but pointed to Community Services Director Keith Caldwell to gather info and come back with a better ordinance. Caldwell, now known at City Hall as the Chicken Czar, may not have much to crow about as he tackles this one.
On one side of the citywide feud over poultry we have those who mimic W.C.Fields opinion of children. Substitute chicken for children when Fields said, "Yes, I like children, fried or fricasseed." Flumoxed by this latest controversy, one official joked that bears eat chickens - maybe Mammoth and Bishop could combine pests and solve issues. As another official said, "This is why we live here - better a chicken debate than gangs and drive by shootings." We'll second that motion, too.
To the man who stood up at DWP Manager David Freeman's meeting a week or so ago and complained bitterly about all the vandalism done to DWP pumps, equipment and facilities - may we suggest that these acts reflect the real feelings of citizens here. After all, kids act out what they hear at home, don't you think?
With that, this is Benett Kessler signing off for Bureaucrat Beat where we await your word on our lives in the Eastern Sierra and beyond.
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written by Roy Mayhugh , January 24, 2010
written by Roy Mayhugh , January 24, 2010
I'd like to add my voice to the outcry at this cruise lines despicable decision to call on Haiti. Shame on them for delivering over 100 tons of emergency food and medical supplies last week. Even more distressing they plan to continue to do this every week! And shame on them for giving 100% of the proceeds from shore excursions to Haitian relief. This is clearly just a publicity grab - don't be fooled.
Worse yet these supplies and the money are being distributed directly to the earthquake victims! Just like those renegade religious and medical charities that give aid directly to the people. Just another thinly veiled effort at public acclaim!
Far better to have a telethon. This aid will flow through regular government channels - some of it could eventually filter down to the earthquake victims. History shows us that the Haitian government will do much better job at taking care of it's people than the private sector can.
And besides, a telethon gives each of us a chance to help. It's really easy to dial a number on your cell phone and give your 99 cents worth of aid so you can feel good that you helped too. And after all - feeling good about our selves is what really matters!
Editor's Note:
Your sarcasm aside, we had not heard that the Florida cruise line would deliver aid. The only stories we saw were the delivery of recreating tourists to the north shore. If in fact the cruise line will deliver aid, that's terrific. And, that was our point.
Benett Kessler
Votes: +1
Worse yet these supplies and the money are being distributed directly to the earthquake victims! Just like those renegade religious and medical charities that give aid directly to the people. Just another thinly veiled effort at public acclaim!
Far better to have a telethon. This aid will flow through regular government channels - some of it could eventually filter down to the earthquake victims. History shows us that the Haitian government will do much better job at taking care of it's people than the private sector can.
And besides, a telethon gives each of us a chance to help. It's really easy to dial a number on your cell phone and give your 99 cents worth of aid so you can feel good that you helped too. And after all - feeling good about our selves is what really matters!
Editor's Note:
Your sarcasm aside, we had not heard that the Florida cruise line would deliver aid. The only stories we saw were the delivery of recreating tourists to the north shore. If in fact the cruise line will deliver aid, that's terrific. And, that was our point.
Benett Kessler
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written by Kit , January 27, 2010
written by Kit , January 27, 2010
I recently had the same problem with Verizon. Our DSL line wasn't working and it took two calls before I got to talk to a real live person. However, the first person I talked to was not in the USA and neither was the second person. Their English was so bad I could not understand them. Finally I gave up.
Also, I would like to know why I have to push 1 for English.
Votes: +3
Also, I would like to know why I have to push 1 for English.
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written by Matt , January 28, 2010
written by Matt , January 28, 2010
OOOOOOOO, Verizon! How I loathe thee!
I have two horror stories I would like to share because every time I hear the name "Verizon" that vein pops out of my head.
Story #1 - Once upon a time, away at college, I ordered DSL from Verizon for the apartment / bungalow / house I was renting. In order to have working DSL I needed a phone line. The sales lady asked me no less than three times if I wanted their new long distance service along with the internet. I said no, I have a cell phone I have no need for long distance. Just a dry loop (the cheapest type of phone service available to run DSL) was all I needed at $10/month. The order was in and the work was scheduled to be completed the following Wednesday.
I called the next day to cancel the order because I wanted to go through the cable company so I could get a cable package (by law if you ask to cancel a service less than 3 days from the date you order it you get charged nothing). They said since the order just came in, it was not "in the system" and I would have to call back on the third business day to cancel it. So I did. Same excuse, only this time they told me it took 5 business days. Called that day, this time 10 days.
The 11th day was the day they were supposed to set up the service and I was instructed by Verizon to be there that day to let them in. That day they would provide me with a modem also. I had no class but I had to cancel work and I waited, and waited, and waited. No one showed. No modem at my doorstep. I stayed the next day just in case they switched on me. Nothing. I figured they got the hint.
A month later I received a bill for $186 for my BRAND NEW LONG DISTANCE SERVICE! Which, if you remember, was what the lady was trying to sell me to begin with. There was no DSL service mentioned. I have fought tooth and nail with them ever since to get that amount off of my credit history, but no matter how many times they have told me to write or email a complaint nothing is EVER done with it.
Story #2 - A shorter story...I began running an organization that used Verizon as their trusted land line phone provider :-) We paid our monthly bill of over $300 every month by calling and giving an e-check so it could be deducted automatically from our bank account. Three or four times they took the money taken out of our account and it did not go on our balance. Three or four times our service was canceled because they alleged that we did not make a payment. Nothing short of a dozen times we had to call them and stay on the phone for OVER AN HOUR to pay DOUBLE to get it back on, then send faxes of our bank statements proving we paid those months in question. Then they would cancel our service the following month, stating that they never received the faxes. Needless to say, we switched companies as soon as we could.
These are not just random horror stories or something I've heard from a friend who knows this guy....no. These are the only two times I have had to deal with Verizon.
The moral of the stories: Don't have anything to do with Verizon. Switch to Vonage. Less than $30 a month with tax included, no municipal taxes or long distance subsidized charges, unlimited local and long distance and best of all I don't have to dial 1 then 7-6-0 then the number just to call next door.
Votes: +0
I have two horror stories I would like to share because every time I hear the name "Verizon" that vein pops out of my head.
Story #1 - Once upon a time, away at college, I ordered DSL from Verizon for the apartment / bungalow / house I was renting. In order to have working DSL I needed a phone line. The sales lady asked me no less than three times if I wanted their new long distance service along with the internet. I said no, I have a cell phone I have no need for long distance. Just a dry loop (the cheapest type of phone service available to run DSL) was all I needed at $10/month. The order was in and the work was scheduled to be completed the following Wednesday.
I called the next day to cancel the order because I wanted to go through the cable company so I could get a cable package (by law if you ask to cancel a service less than 3 days from the date you order it you get charged nothing). They said since the order just came in, it was not "in the system" and I would have to call back on the third business day to cancel it. So I did. Same excuse, only this time they told me it took 5 business days. Called that day, this time 10 days.
The 11th day was the day they were supposed to set up the service and I was instructed by Verizon to be there that day to let them in. That day they would provide me with a modem also. I had no class but I had to cancel work and I waited, and waited, and waited. No one showed. No modem at my doorstep. I stayed the next day just in case they switched on me. Nothing. I figured they got the hint.
A month later I received a bill for $186 for my BRAND NEW LONG DISTANCE SERVICE! Which, if you remember, was what the lady was trying to sell me to begin with. There was no DSL service mentioned. I have fought tooth and nail with them ever since to get that amount off of my credit history, but no matter how many times they have told me to write or email a complaint nothing is EVER done with it.
Story #2 - A shorter story...I began running an organization that used Verizon as their trusted land line phone provider :-) We paid our monthly bill of over $300 every month by calling and giving an e-check so it could be deducted automatically from our bank account. Three or four times they took the money taken out of our account and it did not go on our balance. Three or four times our service was canceled because they alleged that we did not make a payment. Nothing short of a dozen times we had to call them and stay on the phone for OVER AN HOUR to pay DOUBLE to get it back on, then send faxes of our bank statements proving we paid those months in question. Then they would cancel our service the following month, stating that they never received the faxes. Needless to say, we switched companies as soon as we could.
These are not just random horror stories or something I've heard from a friend who knows this guy....no. These are the only two times I have had to deal with Verizon.
The moral of the stories: Don't have anything to do with Verizon. Switch to Vonage. Less than $30 a month with tax included, no municipal taxes or long distance subsidized charges, unlimited local and long distance and best of all I don't have to dial 1 then 7-6-0 then the number just to call next door.
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Editor's Note:
Let your conscience be your guide.
Benett Kessler