I'm in the same boat. I've tried time and time again to get put on the e-billing system for all of my Comcast services and failed each and EVERY time.
I've even gone to the point of finding my nearest billing center, showing up one day after work, filling out all the required paperwork, providing proof of residence (apparently my State issued I/D isn't good enough proof) and proof of employment. I was told that on the second billing cycle following the current, I'd be able to setup automatic checking account deductions, or pay on the comcast site with my chosen account and credit/debit card.
I'm still waiting...
I've exchanged several emails with their support staff about it and spent countless calls with tech support and billing trying to hammer out the issue. What really chaps my a** about all this is I work on the road a lot, visiting company locations, and frequently forget to bring along a checkbook let alone remembering when the different bills are due. You see for some reason they can't bill me for my Digital Cable AND my CableModem on the same freaking bill, or date!
Until they can get this right, or at the very least live up the the promised bandwidth increases (originally we were 1.5/128, then 1.5/256 and have been told for a month that it's now 3.0/512 for standard 49.99 fare, I've yet to ever see > 768/256) I'm on the lookout for another ISP. Only one problem there, I can't get DSL as I've severed all ties with Verizon. In a moderate city of 60-75k residents and 100k+ in the surrounding burbs, I still can't get decent phone service from them with working VM and Caller-ID. Two things,IMHO, that are absolutely necessary for even the lowliest of tech workers in today's job climate. Companies are still using/buying IT, but they aren't paying as much for it anymore.
Ahh, long gone are the early days of non-DOCSIS, fully snmp enabled CM whose firmware and.cfg could easily be messed with...and the knowledge of network operations that went with them.
I've been a trackball user since building my first 486DX4100 machine and the days of GLQuake and QuakeWorld. I started with a buddy's Kensington Orb that he thought was broken and replaced, and I simply tore apart and cleaned, restoring it to perfect working order. He let me keep it for showing him how to safely clean the LED's, wheels and sensors. They weren't horrible as trackballs go, but required a lot of cleaning (as they weren't 'truly' optical).
Ultimately I decided the ball was just a bit too small for detail work, PhotoShop and gaming. I went in search of a new trackball. I saw the new line of TrackMan trackballs from logitech. Truly optical, only moving parts being the ball (which hardly ever needed cleaning, provided you don't eat while you spin) and the momentary switches used for the left and right mouse buttons(although I only ever had to do that once after spilling Dew on the sucker!) The 2 side mounted programmable buttons were a godsend when setup properly using the Mouseman software in Windows and served as a trusty middle button in X. My only complaint at all was that long periods of resting your wrist on the 'ergo' base of the unit would cause killer cramps, you could even see the blood collecting at times. I only wish they could have made that part with a softer or more forgiving material. I like the idea of the new wireless Fx's, but their practicality is in question when it comes to gaming. I don't exactly feel like forking over the cash to find out it bombs in DooMIII or HL2.
I've also tried the MS Explorer series, and the speed ring or whatever they call it is intriguing, but again the balls are miniscule in contrast to my FX, and I just love the side hole for my thumb (think fine adjustments to a selection area in PhotoShop, or a pseudo 200 yd. shot with a rail in Splinter Cell and take the guys eyeball out) I know I'm being a fan-boy here, but it really is the best combo of features. I recently found a couple on e-bay for 40 bucks each still in the original packaging. I now have 2 at home, plus the Logitch Cordles Mx duo, and and MS Natural Elite w/ an Fx at work.
If anyone can suggest a good replacement, I don't think I'll be able to keep up with the slowly escalating auction prices and scarcity.
It normally takes my Zen about double that time to get a full recharge from USB only. Which in an of itself is not all that bad. One thing that does irritate the shit out of me though: If you are using playcenter or notmad to transfer music, the Connection manager does a sort of keep alive to the device. While it is in connected mode, you can't recharge (I believe this is purely a firmware issue. I mean, if you're not actively transferring files, I see no reason the USB port couldn't supply enough current to charge the device, but alas, it will not) So I have found myself on occassion forgetting that the soft connect was on and I wake up the next morning to find it completely dead, which takes about 3-4 hours to recharge fully using the AC adapter.
Actually if we ever catch up to Japan, that's the exact model we'll have here. People will be Encouraged to/gasp/ 'sample' music! I realize I'll probably get my asbestos boxers yanked over my neck (atomic wedgie style) for this heresay but:
I have a friend living in japan right now and they're decades ahead of us in the music side of things.
- You can RENT cd's for around 2 bucks a week.
- You can buy mix cd's right at the damn record store.
- Bands give out data cd's with mp3's/ogg's and other cool digital media right at the concerts.
That's just a quick listing of what he's enjoying, even as a gaijin over there right now. And it's not like he's in downotown Tokyo either!
Very true, I didn't even check to see if this was the one I used, was just the first google hit I found. In total for round trip with 4 movies, I spent 39.95. Depending on how often the guy is intending on making the trip, in the short term that would be cheaper. Like I mentioned, my rental was from takeoff to landing, the site I posted is a 10-day package deal.
As far as your plan, just do it at Circuit City and there's no restocking fee! And...they won't even ask why you're returning it!
Although the coverage isn't universal, most airports have kiosks setup to rent players and discs for the duration of your flights. My first flight from Pittsburgh to Seattle would have been unbearable had I not seen the kiosk in the terminal. Unless you're willing to get a nice laptop, I'd check the site out!
Double check your math there, fella. The article states.8 CENTS / minute, not 8 as you based your daily example. Granted even at a modest 5 bucks a day, its still well out of the range of a semi-3rd world country. (I use semi only due to the advances india seems to be making in pulling itself out of the gutter)
Now, answer me this...Whens the last time you spent 10 hr's/day on a phone??? I work in tech support and call locations all over the US for 8+ hours/day and let me just tell you, when I'm not at work, I sure as HELL am not on the phone!
Actually, a majority of currently available cooling solutions all use some type of Freon for the cooling medium (The major exceptions being HVAC units on large buildings which are typically bromide units)
The only real change in this type of cooling is the types of freons available and the controls used when doing initial charge, recharge or disposal of the gases.
IANAHVACTech but last I heard, the best freon solution out there was R-134a, which still poses environmental risks and causes great problems in reciprocating units (due to absorption in the lubricant...Imagine disposing of used freon tainted oil?!?!)
Perhaps I should have been more specific. To quote the email:
>>This allows them to not only log all http requests, but to also log the
>>response. Maybe they want to profile their customer browsing history for
>>subsidiaries or resale to marketers. Maybe they want to do their part in
>>The War on Freedom. Maybe they just want passwords to porn sites.
>>
Apparently they aren't using it to maximize bandwidth, because it's not
>>configured to serve cached data
In saying "I've detected no use of proxies" I was referring to the fact that at no time during my being a subscriber have I ever received cached data from the proxies.
As far as evidence, if you'd like I could do some quick diagnostics (I don't have any log files handy with the relevant info) to prove what was already stated in the email
. But you already read that...right?
Actually, no it's not possible. Had comcast ever used any type of proxy setup, your scenario would be a sound one. I have been a Comcast subscriber for almost a year now (due to geographical isolation in the sticks of Southern Jersey) and at no point during my use have I ever detected the use of any type of proxies.
Although I agree that said use would not only be efficient, but if documented properly in the TOS, legal, those circumstances just don't exist.
So in this instance, not only were they in the wrong, they were downright despicable (in tying their "aggregate" usage statistics to individual users)
Actually, it depends on what type of extinguisher is in service. Most commercially available portable fire extinguishers use CO2 as the extinguishing agent.
I believe the type you are referring to is PKP (aka Purple Kake Powder). AFAIK these are primarily in service in areas where class B/C fires are a potential hazard.
And more often than not, it's not the powder itself that is the problem, it's the CO2 cylinder that provides the pressure to exhaust the chemical that fails.
While I agree that removing options so as not to 'confuse' the user, I disagree that intelligent features can't be added with negligible detriment and tremendous benefit.
For example, what about a single standard document format, that no matter what the content, every program could read (to some extent) and deliver pertinent information.
A good example is that of mp3 playlists. I have my entire cd collection backed up on/dev/hda in 256kbps mp3's and very often make mix-cd's for roadtrips or the like. The real problem being, no mp3 player and cd-burner software are completely compatbile, they don't truly understand what the file you're requesting them to manipulate contains. And, no combo that I've yet found will load an mp3 playlist and make an appropriate cue sheet to burn the cd from that playlist. So, in the meantime I've hacked together a perl script to parse my.m3u's when I've saved them and create the cue sheet to load in my burner software.
While this is just a modest application of such interoperability, one could expand the idea here to many applications. Rather than just having a static file manager and some pertinent information stored about the file types registered on that machine, why not have a dynamic file manager/shell that actually knew how to open a file! If the file manager/shell knew the limitations of programs (which could easily be intercepted via error handling) one would no longer have to manually update config files/registry entries to make the appropriate actions occur when you requested a certain type of file be opened.
Well, that's just my 2
ALL programs have a bug. ALL programs can be reduced by 1 line of code.
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I'm in the same boat. I've tried time and time again to get put on the e-billing system for all of my Comcast services and failed each and EVERY time.
I've even gone to the point of finding my nearest billing center, showing up one day after work, filling out all the required paperwork, providing proof of residence (apparently my State issued I/D isn't good enough proof) and proof of employment. I was told that on the second billing cycle following the current, I'd be able to setup automatic checking account deductions, or pay on the comcast site with my chosen account and credit/debit card.
I'm still waiting...
I've exchanged several emails with their support staff about it and spent countless calls with tech support and billing trying to hammer out the issue. What really chaps my a** about all this is I work on the road a lot, visiting company locations, and frequently forget to bring along a checkbook let alone remembering when the different bills are due. You see for some reason they can't bill me for my Digital Cable AND my CableModem on the same freaking bill, or date!
Until they can get this right, or at the very least live up the the promised bandwidth increases (originally we were 1.5/128, then 1.5/256 and have been told for a month that it's now 3.0/512 for standard 49.99 fare, I've yet to ever see > 768/256) I'm on the lookout for another ISP. Only one problem there, I can't get DSL as I've severed all ties with Verizon. In a moderate city of 60-75k residents and 100k+ in the surrounding burbs, I still can't get decent phone service from them with working VM and Caller-ID. Two things ,IMHO, that are absolutely necessary for even the lowliest of tech workers in today's job climate. Companies are still using/buying IT, but they aren't paying as much for it anymore.
Ahh, long gone are the early days of non-DOCSIS, fully snmp enabled CM whose firmware and .cfg could easily be messed with...and the knowledge of network operations that went with them.
That's what I thought, but was too lazy to look up something I couldn't just plug into google. I gess that makes me as bad as the story submitter.
I've been a trackball user since building my first 486DX4100 machine and the days of GLQuake and QuakeWorld. I started with a buddy's Kensington Orb that he thought was broken and replaced, and I simply tore apart and cleaned, restoring it to perfect working order. He let me keep it for showing him how to safely clean the LED's, wheels and sensors. They weren't horrible as trackballs go, but required a lot of cleaning (as they weren't 'truly' optical).
Ultimately I decided the ball was just a bit too small for detail work, PhotoShop and gaming. I went in search of a new trackball. I saw the new line of TrackMan trackballs from logitech. Truly optical, only moving parts being the ball (which hardly ever needed cleaning, provided you don't eat while you spin) and the momentary switches used for the left and right mouse buttons(although I only ever had to do that once after spilling Dew on the sucker!) The 2 side mounted programmable buttons were a godsend when setup properly using the Mouseman software in Windows and served as a trusty middle button in X. My only complaint at all was that long periods of resting your wrist on the 'ergo' base of the unit would cause killer cramps, you could even see the blood collecting at times. I only wish they could have made that part with a softer or more forgiving material. I like the idea of the new wireless Fx's, but their practicality is in question when it comes to gaming. I don't exactly feel like forking over the cash to find out it bombs in DooMIII or HL2.
I've also tried the MS Explorer series, and the speed ring or whatever they call it is intriguing, but again the balls are miniscule in contrast to my FX, and I just love the side hole for my thumb (think fine adjustments to a selection area in PhotoShop, or a pseudo 200 yd. shot with a rail in Splinter Cell and take the guys eyeball out) I know I'm being a fan-boy here, but it really is the best combo of features. I recently found a couple on e-bay for 40 bucks each still in the original packaging. I now have 2 at home, plus the Logitch Cordles Mx duo, and and MS Natural Elite w/ an Fx at work. If anyone can suggest a good replacement, I don't think I'll be able to keep up with the slowly escalating auction prices and scarcity.
Well, yes and no...
It normally takes my Zen about double that time to get a full recharge from USB only. Which in an of itself is not all that bad. One thing that does irritate the shit out of me though: If you are using playcenter or notmad to transfer music, the Connection manager does a sort of keep alive to the device. While it is in connected mode, you can't recharge (I believe this is purely a firmware issue. I mean, if you're not actively transferring files, I see no reason the USB port couldn't supply enough current to charge the device, but alas, it will not) So I have found myself on occassion forgetting that the soft connect was on and I wake up the next morning to find it completely dead, which takes about 3-4 hours to recharge fully using the AC adapter.
Actually if we ever catch up to Japan, that's the exact model we'll have here. People will be Encouraged to /gasp/ 'sample' music! I realize I'll probably get my asbestos boxers yanked over my neck (atomic wedgie style) for this heresay but:
I have a friend living in japan right now and they're decades ahead of us in the music side of things.
- You can RENT cd's for around 2 bucks a week.
- You can buy mix cd's right at the damn record store.
- Bands give out data cd's with mp3's/ogg's and other cool digital media right at the concerts.
That's just a quick listing of what he's enjoying, even as a gaijin over there right now. And it's not like he's in downotown Tokyo either!
Very true, I didn't even check to see if this was the one I used, was just the first google hit I found. In total for round trip with 4 movies, I spent 39.95. Depending on how often the guy is intending on making the trip, in the short term that would be cheaper. Like I mentioned, my rental was from takeoff to landing, the site I posted is a 10-day package deal.
As far as your plan, just do it at Circuit City and there's no restocking fee! And...they won't even ask why you're returning it!
http://www.portabledvdrentals.com/default.htm
Although the coverage isn't universal, most airports have kiosks setup to rent players and discs for the duration of your flights. My first flight from Pittsburgh to Seattle would have been unbearable had I not seen the kiosk in the terminal. Unless you're willing to get a nice laptop, I'd check the site out!
Double check your math there, fella. The article states .8 CENTS / minute, not 8 as you based your daily example. Granted even at a modest 5 bucks a day, its still well out of the range of a semi-3rd world country. (I use semi only due to the advances india seems to be making in pulling itself out of the gutter)
Now, answer me this...Whens the last time you spent 10 hr's/day on a phone??? I work in tech support and call locations all over the US for 8+ hours/day and let me just tell you, when I'm not at work, I sure as HELL am not on the phone!
It's called Mozilla! (Or Phoenix, whichever fits your predilections best!)
Actually, a majority of currently available cooling solutions all use some type of Freon for the cooling medium (The major exceptions being HVAC units on large buildings which are typically bromide units)
The only real change in this type of cooling is the types of freons available and the controls used when doing initial charge, recharge or disposal of the gases.
IANAHVACTech but last I heard, the best freon solution out there was R-134a, which still poses environmental risks and causes great problems in reciprocating units (due to absorption in the lubricant...Imagine disposing of used freon tainted oil?!?!)
In saying "I've detected no use of proxies" I was referring to the fact that at no time during my being a subscriber have I ever received cached data from the proxies.
As far as evidence, if you'd like I could do some quick diagnostics (I don't have any log files handy with the relevant info) to prove what was already stated in the email . But you already read that...right?
Actually, no it's not possible. Had comcast ever used any type of proxy setup, your scenario would be a sound one. I have been a Comcast subscriber for almost a year now (due to geographical isolation in the sticks of Southern Jersey) and at no point during my use have I ever detected the use of any type of proxies.
Although I agree that said use would not only be efficient, but if documented properly in the TOS, legal, those circumstances just don't exist.
So in this instance, not only were they in the wrong, they were downright despicable (in tying their "aggregate" usage statistics to individual users)
Damn energizer bunny geeks!!!
/globallib.php on line 30
13 comments and this is all the website is spitting back:
Warning: Too many connections in
Error connecting to mySQL server...blame the admins!
One of these days the editors will drop 'the admins' a line prior to sending an avalanche of traffic their way!
Actually, it depends on what type of extinguisher is in service. Most commercially available portable fire extinguishers use CO2 as the extinguishing agent.
I believe the type you are referring to is PKP (aka Purple Kake Powder). AFAIK these are primarily in service in areas where class B/C fires are a potential hazard.
And more often than not, it's not the powder itself that is the problem, it's the CO2 cylinder that provides the pressure to exhaust the chemical that fails.
For example, what about a single standard document format, that no matter what the content, every program could read (to some extent) and deliver pertinent information.
A good example is that of mp3 playlists. I have my entire cd collection backed up on /dev/hda in 256kbps mp3's and very often make mix-cd's for roadtrips or the like. The real problem being, no mp3 player and cd-burner software are completely compatbile, they don't truly understand what the file you're requesting them to manipulate contains. And, no combo that I've yet found will load an mp3 playlist and make an appropriate cue sheet to burn the cd from that playlist. So, in the meantime I've hacked together a perl script to parse my .m3u's when I've saved them and create the cue sheet to load in my burner software.
While this is just a modest application of such interoperability, one could expand the idea here to many applications. Rather than just having a static file manager and some pertinent information stored about the file types registered on that machine, why not have a dynamic file manager/shell that actually knew how to open a file! If the file manager/shell knew the limitations of programs (which could easily be intercepted via error handling) one would no longer have to manually update config files/registry entries to make the appropriate actions occur when you requested a certain type of file be opened.Well, that's just my 2
ALL programs have a bug.
ALL programs can be reduced by 1 line of code.