habanerodude

Really? No, Sirius-ly??

2012-01-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

So, back in March 2011, I was supposed to get a 6-month "FREE*" trial of Sirius Satellite Radio with my VW Golf. Unfortunately, some Bozo activated the receiver while it sat on the car lot...by the time I bought the car, the subscription was expired.

After contacting Sirius XM about this, they finally offered to give me a 3-month "FREE*" trial. After getting that concession from Sirius, I contacted the car dealer and asked they shell out some dough to cover another 3 months...which they did in the form of a $55 Sirius Gift Card.

Shortly after the Gift Card arrived, I attempted to redeem the card via the Sirius website; seemed simple enough but Sirius couldn't handle simple apparently. So I call the "Customer Care" number and speak with someone with a very thick accent. After explaining the whole situation, I finally get through to him and he applies the card. At that time, the monthly fee was $14.95 which gave me 3 months with some extra leftover. By my math, that gave me signal until October. I purposely asked for the monthly plan so the gift card would cover just over 3-months.

Anyway, once that was sorted out I parsed through the bazillion radio channels and programmed 12 into the car-radio presets (and it took a long time to fill 12 presets). Basically, I added NPR, BBC News, a few rock channels, a sports channel and I can't remember the others.

On the first few long drives to the coast, I listened to several of the channels and frankly wasn't impressed with either the audio quality or the reception. I was losing signal frequently throughout the coast range near Alsea and Waldport. Eventually, I stopped using the service.

In late September, while stuck in traffic on the I-205, I pressed the satellite radio button only to find out my presets were gone and I was only receiving the "Preview Channel" (just like when I bought the car)...naturally I thought "Oh, my Gift Card ran out". Yes and No. Apparently, Sirius automatically renews their plans, however, since I did not give them a credit card number (GO ME!) they just shut my receiver off...BUT, they still renewed my plan AND sent me a past due notice.

I wonder what the overseas "Customer Service" representative didn't understand about my request when I redeemed the card, and shouldn't he have informed me that plan may auto-renew? From what I've read, this isn't the first time this has happened, in fact Sirius XM got in trouble for this in Florida. If you've stumbled upon this blog while searching for feedback on Sirius XM, please consider the M.O. of Sirius before subscribing.

Zippadeedoodaa...

2011-10-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

Zippadeeyay My oh my what a wonderful day.

This was the sight I saw after riding the MAX home from work on Monday. A spectacular day in many ways.

Perhaps now I can get a good night of sleep

2011-10-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day at WGD, after over 4 years in the "stored value" industry, I have moved back into commercial print. Leaving my co-workers was incredibly tough to do, as I felt a family-like bond with them. True, they'll be just across town and I do plan to stay in contact with many of them...but, the daily interactions are gone. Throughout my working life, I've been blessed with opportunities to work at top-notch companies; I can honestly say my years at WGD have been the best.

Now, a new chapter begins and I'm excited for the journey and challenges ahead. I visited my new workplace briefly today, and I'm feeling it'll be a very good fit. The people, the ideals and vibes are all good.

Is it Monday yet?

ch-ch-changes

2011-09-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

coming soon...new job
closer to home
less hours
less stress
more free-time
more happiness
creativity
yippee!

Hiding in plain sight

2011-09-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

A few times this week, my brain has proved that I only see what I (or my brain) wants to see. So funny to experience but also scary. Being receptive to all we see and hear seems to be key to recognizing or accepting all of our possibilities. Simple to say , but apparently not so simple to do...at least not without some shift in thinking. I am working to "see" more...how about you?

5 day weekend - Day One

2011-08-20T08:03:00.001-07:00

Not starting out so well. Boarded the plane at 6:30 and thought it might get off the ground a few minutes early...nooooo. Instead, the plane's mechanics apparently forgot to fix something. 90 minutes later, still at the gate. On the bright side, I do have a comfy 1st class seat...now if they'd just serve some drinks.

The guy in front of me is getting angry and won't shut up. Dude, letting the flight crew know about your anger wont get you anywhere, so shut the fuck up.

Toot - TOOOOOT!

2011-06-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

My new stress-relief mechanism: The Bullshit Barge. Now leaving Portland...pile on your crap!

Balmy weather

2011-01-13T21:15:00.001-08:00

Just a couple of days ago, we had a sNOwpacolypse in PDX. A hyped up storm which never materialized. Sure, it was c-c-cold; high 20's and blustery, however not the 5" of snow and ice originally forecast.

And today was Springlike; 57 degrees and showery. Climate change - get used to it.

eMusic? Well not quite....

2010-11-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

...the Better Business Bureau of New York thinks they're fmusic. In fact, there's a lot of complaints against these jokers. Click on this post's title to see the BBB's report.

Folks, stay away from eMusic. They're all about "bait n switch", just to get more money. You'd think they'd be concerned about integrity, not bucks. But they're not.

I signed up for a one-year membership with eMusic in May. They were offering 35 tracks per month for $151.99, which I thought was a good deal. Well, a few weeks ago, eMusic decided they weren't making enough money, so their plans changed. The "per track credit" system was becoming currency based instead. That means the track price is going up, but your credit (in my a case $12.67 per month) would stay the same. Okay, to be fair, they gave me a $5 per month "BONUS".

new geeky toys

2010-09-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

So I finally cut Sprint loose in August. They served me well in SD but nearly every call at my PDX home was dropped or had drop-outs. When the new iPhone came out, I knew it would satisfy my geekyness and provide more reliable phone service.

Anyway, I am so freakin' excited to find apps for FTP and HTML editing. The iPhone takes decent pics so now I can bore y'all even if I don't have my PC handy! Neat, huh?

I had a feeling...

2010-09-15T16:21:00.001-07:00

...the weather forecast shouldn't be trusted today.

No rain until after the pm commute, eh? It is gusty and rainy; I am glad to have ridden MAX today, instead of cycling. And, glad to have an extra raincoat in my office.

Damn, that was perfect timing!

2010-08-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

I didn't have time to pack lunch today, so I opted to skip my daily Americano to grab a Subway sandwich before the MAX arrived. But starting this grey day without a jolt of java didn't sound to appealing. The folks at Starbuck$ were quick and the train showed up just as I walked outside...let's hope the balance of the day goes this well.

Ronnie, "thanks" is hardly enough...but it's a start

2010-05-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today the world lost a truly amazing performer, Ronnie James Dio. I don't know how to describe his singing voice, but engaging, versatile, energetic, intense and powerful would be a good start.

Starting with "Man on the silver mountain", his voice powered my adolescence. In the early '80s, I was fortunate to see him perform with Black Sabbath and as Dio on a few occasions. One show I'll never forget was in San Diego in '82...the opening act was "The Outlaws", which seemed really odd at the time (still does). A Southern Rock band opening for a Sabbath? Actually, the Outlaws were another band I was into at the time, so I was "stoked". The show was awesome, of course.

I can't think of any songs featuring Ronnie's amazing voice which disappointed me...but a few continue to stand my hair on end. "The sign of the Southern Cross", "Voodoo", "Holy Diver", "Shame on the night", "Lonely is the word", "Heaven & Hell", "Lady Evil", "Walk Away"...

So, again Mr. Dio, THANKS for sharing your amazing talent, passion and energy with us...you will not be forgotten.

Finally, Visa is waking up

2010-05-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hey ProFlowers, I think your gig is up. Visa is putting an end to your scam...well, for Visa card customers at least. See article below or visit the the source

In case you're not familiar with ProFlowers.com and their scam involving Easy Savers, it works like this...

You buy flowers from ProFlowers then, after the transaction is complete, your credit card info is given to Easy Saver, who then charges you $14.95 per month for absolutely nothing. You lose money, ProFlowers and Easy Saver get your money. If you manage to catch their thievery, you can call them and get your money pack...otherwise they get fatter. Isn't that a sweet ploy?

In the news recently:

Visa has announced it is prohibiting web merchants from providing cardholder information to other companies without the consumer's knowledge or active consent. To address the data pass practice, Visa is requiring that "merchants will now have to prompt consumers to re-enter their card information to accept a subsequent offer from a third-party merchant. This provides a clear signal to cardholders that a second purchase is being initiated and protects them from questionable marketing practices."

According to Visa, "the misleading practice, called "data pass," usually involves a consumer shopping at a familiar retailer. At checkout, the consumer receives an offer for a discount or reward and does not realize it is from a different merchant and comes with unexpected monthly membership fees or recurring charges. Such deceptive marketing can result in high levels of consumer disputes and degrades the efficiency, reliability and security of the payment system. According to a 2009 U.S. Senate Commerce Committee staff report, 35 million consumers have paid $1.4 billion for "data pass" marketing offers."

"Visa's priority is protecting our cardholders and the integrity of the electronic payments system. Consumers who shop online using their Visa cards should be confident that they will only be charged for the products and services they legitimately intend to purchase -- not those that are foisted on them through deceptive data pass schemes," said Martin Elliott, senior business leader, U.S. Payment System Risk, Visa Inc.

"I applaud Visa's decision to prohibit merchants from using 'data pass' marketing on its network," said Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. "The Senate Commerce Committee's investigation showed that this aggressive marketing practice enabled unscrupulous e-commerce companies to scam millions of American consumers out of more than a billion dollars. Our Committee's investigation revealed how appalling this practice is and makes clear it should not be allowed -- I'm glad to see Visa has reached the same conclusion."

The announcement follows Visa's program launched in December with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau to educate consumers on deceptive marketing practices. Visa continues to aggressively enforce risk programs to identify and address merchants who use bogus marketing tactics to dupe consumers.

"Protecting cardholders is among Visa's highest priorities, and we want to ensure every business in the payments system has the same commitment to ensuring consumer confidence," said Elliott.

Clatsop County Tourism

2010-04-29T19:38:00.000-07:00

Clatsop County Tourism. Three words that belong together; mainly because tourism is Clatsop County's primary income. Too bad their government doesn't support tourism. Clatsop County won't see any of my money for a long time. Thankfully, there are plenty of other places to spend time and money along the Oregon coast. I had planned on taking my folks there for a long weekend this summer...we'll be going to Lincoln City, instead.

I guess if you arrive via cruise ship, you're probably safe. But beware if you travel along the ground. Even the Clatsop County website is messed up; you can't even view their county map online. C'mon Clatsop, get with it.

Lost in a familiar place

2010-02-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

There's no way to hide
my look of surprise
when I get lost in a familiar place

Warm and cold
the blanket folds of life
unknown riches of joy

See me from both sides
the tears flow from my eyes
washing dust from my face

Renew the old
a wipe of the lens
reveal a full-grown boy

Weird. No?

2010-01-30T11:58:00.001-08:00

No idea who it is...just a weird picture

ROI on my new wheels

2010-01-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

I'm a number geek, I'll admit it.

This weekend I'm buying a new bike and it is sweeeeeet! My 1998 Trek 930 MTB is still in great shape but I need a commuter bike now. Last Spring/Summer I commuted 45 miles per day (roundtrip),3 or 4 days a week. The gasoline savings alone are $8 per day and I lost nearly 20lbs. without dieting.

So anyway, today I analyzed how long it would take to recoup the entire cost of the new bike. I figure that riding 5 days a week from March 1st to October 4th will completely pay for the bike and the new accessories too. Completely do-able and I'm psyched...now I just need to wait for bike to arrive from the factory.

This week's peddling

2009-07-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

I put around 180 miles on the bike odometer this week...pretty good considering the heat Portland has been experiencing. Tomorrow is forecast for 100 degrees but the humidity will be low, so I'm not especially concerned. I'll have my CamelBak of water and a good portion of my ride is along the Willamette river. The hot-spot will be riding up Interstate...a treeless asphalt oven.

old friends in the house

2009-06-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few old friends have come back into my life. For years they've been locked up in box in my basement. But now they're shaking the walls and disturbing my neighbors. You probably know some of them well...no, you say?

C'mon, you know Jimi, Ian Paice, Robert Plant, Jon Lord, Geezer Butler, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Tony Iommi, John Paul Jones, Bill Ward, Richie Blackmore, Roger Glover, and Ronnie James Dio. Really? The names aren't ringing any bells? Well, how about Ozzy Osbourne? Surely you've seen him and his family on TV.

Well, anyway -- the music of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and many other were big part of my life before I slowly transitioned to Trad-Jazz, Jazz-Fusion and Progressive-Jazz. But now, thanks to wireless technology and a 500-Gig music server, I have my entire music library at my fingertips. And it is good to have everyone around again.

The Easter Bunny wouldn't like ProFlowers

2009-05-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

Judging by the number of folks searching Al Gore's Internets for "Pro Flowers + Easy Saver Scam" and "Pro Flowers Supervisor", I'm guessing ProFlowers and Easy Saver have pilfered a ton of money this Easter. My Blog has seen a record number of hits...which really pisses me off.

The folks at ProFlowers (aka Liberty Media, Provide Commerce, Cherry Moon Farms, Secret Spoon Sweets, Red Envelope and Shari's Berries) and Easy Saver (aka Encore Marketing)have visited my Blog too...using the same search criteria. Yep, they know about all of the pissed off consumers. Do they care? Apparently not...if they did, they'd probably clean up their act and drop the deceptive tactics. Money is their addiction and, until consumers and the legislature stop them, they'll just keep taking your money and skip to the bank.

Okay folks, I'm not trying to embarrass you...they got me too. I got my money back but I'm spreading the word until these scammers stop. I have blogged about this scam since Nov 2007 (check out my earlier posts) and I have spoken to the Director of Marketing at ProFlowers...and they're still scamming. So, if you're gonna send flowers to mom on mother's day, use FTD or Florist.com but please don't order online from ProFlowers.com. And, if you have already been scammed by Easy Saver and ProFlowers, don't give up until you get ALL of your hard-earned money returned!!

related posts:
March '09
November '08
November '07
May '10

Pro Flowers Easy Saver scam continues

2009-03-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

You may think that ProFlowers would finally get tired of the bad press resulting from their "partnership" with Easy Saver. Apparently that is not the case.

Easy Saver stole money from me nearly two years ago. ProFlowers gave Easy Saver my credit card info, so it was a joint effort. I did get all the money returned to my bank account after calling both scammers.

Since then, I have blogged about my experiences and have seen increase traffic to my blog. The search terms which bring folks to my blog? Yep, "Easy Saver scam" "Pro Flowers Easy Saver Scam" etc.

And if I didn't have a calendar, I'd know a holiday just passed by because of the increased activity on my blog. Valentine's Day was almost exactly a month ago and folks are wondering "What did I buy from Easy Saver?" Believe me, I know...been there, done that! They scammed me for over $100.

My advice to anyone who found this blog-post is, be diligent! Call ProFlowers, call Easy Saver and demand a FULL REFUND! Then call your local BBB and DA...let's put an end to this type of scam! Some day, I hope folks won't be searching the web for information about Easy Saver Scam. Easter is coming up...if you're sending flowers to someone, beware of the Easy Saver Scam on ProFlower's website.

related posts:
May '09
November '08
November '07
May '10

I made a bad career choice

2009-02-04T21:07:00.001-08:00

Actually, I mostly like my job and, don't get me wrong, I am really not obsessed with money. But let's look at Major League Baseball (MLB to us sports fans) salaries.

In the news today, Manny Ramirez turned down two contract offers from the LA Dodgers. One for $45 million over two years, the other $25 million for one year. Figures like that would make him the SECOND highest paid baseball player. A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) has a 10-year, $275 million dollar contract with incentives for another 30 million.

So, I like watching baseball and I know the baseball owners and some other folks are making big bucks on baseball. The players must feel justified asking for "their share"...after all Manny and A-Rod are great, right?

Let's look at Manny's salary a little closer:
$25,000,000 per year
$156,250 per game (based upon 160 games)
$17,361 per inning (based upon 9 innings)
Hmmmm, I'm not feeling very sympathetic yet.

Let's look at how his salary compares to "normal" folks salaries and expenses:
$20,000 = Median Individual Income (high-school grad)
$71,000 = Median Individual Income (doctorate degree)
$25.40 = average MLB single-game ticket price (up 10.9% in 2008 season)
$320 = 2 adult tickets, 2 child tickets (at the average if available), 2 beers, 4 soft drinks, 4 hot dogs, parking, 2 programs and 2 adult caps for one game at Fenway Park.

What I'd like to know, Mr. Ramirez, is WHO in this economic climate will be able to afford baseball? Sure, you're not affected by the recession YET but nearly 10% of America is unemployed and the rest of us are cutting back. $320 for a SINGLE game would almost buy a brand-new Playstation or WII, so who needs arrogant assholes like you!

PHEW, that felt kinda' good. Luckily, there isn't a MLB team in Portland, just a Minor League team with Major League beer and food prices.

slick & icy roads

2009-01-04T10:12:00.001-08:00

I was driving back from an early morning Photo-safari today when I saw this accident. I'm not exactly sure what happened but the roads were sure slick today. The temperature was about 27 degrees when I left the house and the fog made the road icy and slick.

Everyone was able to walk away from this wreck but I'm sure they're shaken up. The car stopped about 10 feet above the chilly waters of the Columbia River (on the bike path)

a balmy 48 degrees

2008-12-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

after 8+ days of snow and freezing temperatures, I finally drove my truck today. The snow and cold began over 2 weeks ago, but I was able to drive during the light snow. However, as the temperatures hovered in the low twenties, the black ice kept me from driving...thank god for remote network access.

Sure, the snow was fun, at first. But after nearly 12" accumulated, I began to get stir-crazy. My truck is 2WD and chains didn't seem to help most other drivers so I just walked to the grocery store or McMenamins. Playing in the snow would have been an option if I didn't have a gnarly cold.

Yesterday was the first day without snow or sub-freezing temperatures and today, to celebrate the fact, I went grocery shopping in shorts. Compared to the recent 20 degree temps, today was a much welcomed change.

very interesting...

2008-11-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Last year, I was the victim of fraud. A company called Easy Saver / American Leisure stole over $100 from me in 7 sneaky transactions. They claim I authorized the payments when I bought flowers from ProFlowers....ProFlowers said I gave permission when I entered my e-mail address and zipcode into a pop-up window on the ProFlowers site. The bottom line is, I never gave Easy Saver my credit card info....ProFlowers.com did.

I received a full refund after contacting both companies. Shortly after my first blog post on this event, the director of marketing at ProFlowers commented on my blog. The marketing director, Hannah Blum, and I spoke on the phone and I asked why they were allowing this to happen. Ms. Blum said ProFlowers felt their partnership with Easy Saver was providing a service to ProFlowers customers but offered to investigate my claim that their website was automatically "opting in" clients.

Anyway, since posting my warnings about ProFlowers & Easy Saver's sneaky practice, my blog has been getting loads of visitors who have been searching for information about this scam. I've even had several hits originating from ProFlowers themselves.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a "consumer alert" website. Apparently there was a law firm pursuing a class action suit against Easy Saver. I have contacted the law firm and with any luck, they'll be filing soon.

So, what's with the image above, you ask? Well, someone hit my website today and I followed their original search query but the page was no longer there (less than a half-hour after posting). The cached page was still on Yahoo's servers, so I tried posting a reply but, funny enough, Yahoo Answer's wasn't accepting comments.

Links:
complaintsboard.com
419legal.org
shopping.com
ripoffreport.com
amazon.com
pissedconsumer.com
consumeraffairs.com

related posts:
May '09
March '09
November '07

John McCain is a slimeball

2008-10-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

phew....i feel better now

The Friday morning commute

2008-08-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

So, I have been riding my bike to work 2-3 days a week since May. Nothing new really, I did it all the time in San Diego. My current commute is 20 miles each way, with a few hills on the way, which isn't too bad. An hour & 20 minutes is my usual transit time lately. Today I am taking a break to post this blog (yes, I am a geek).

The route is mostly on dedicated bike paths but there are a few gnarly stretches to contend with. The recent "Bike vs. Car" tensions haven't been a problem for me...I have always been very alert to drivers. If anything, most drivers are uber nice.

Well, I better clip into my pedals and hit the trail...ya'll have a great day.

Come ride with me

2008-07-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to lunch with a few co-workers. On the way to the restaurant, we drove past the construction of a new extension of Portland's light-rail mass-transit, The MAX. After co-worker one commented about the construction, I said "Yeah, I can't wait till it is done!". Another co-worker asked, "Oh, you'll be taking advantage of the new MAX line?", to which I responded "You bet!". Co-worker one then responded with "Enjoy my portion of the MAX, I still haven't ridden on it".

Then I started wondering - what is SO awful about mass-transit? Sure, it's not always as convenient as driving your car. But, there are SO many benefits! Less stressful, CHEAPER, entertaining, scenic, social, FUN, and if you walk to/from the stations, you'll be healthier. My commute recently went from 5 miles one-way to 20 miles one-way, so I'm definitely counting the days until the new line is operational. For now, I'll be riding my bike 2 or 3 days a week (saving $10 a day in gas! woohoo!)

So today, Co-worker one shocked me by visiting the transit company's website to plan a trip on the MAX. In a couple weeks, he and his family will be riding MAX to the airport...to which I say "AWESOME!"

Oh, yeah. Click on the photo for more info on the new MAX line -- there's even a cool video on the website.

It's time for some innovation!

2008-06-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember the "fizzy-powered" boat in Willy Wonka & the chocolate factory (the original version)? The boat was super-fast and powered by fizzy drinks and other household items. Well, it is now time to find other sources of fuel for our vehicles! C'mon, let's get some good ol' fashioned innovation going. Seriously, beer is now cheaper than gas...crappy beer is at least.

Think BIG...

2008-05-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

...I mean REALLY BIG!

Whenever I read about someone who robbed a bank and netted only a few thousand dollars, I think "that's not enough to risk 20 years in prison!" Well, this guy in Texas had high hopes. Here's part of the article.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Charles Ray Fuller must have been planning one big record company. The 21-year-old North Texas man was arrested last week for trying to cash a $360 billion check, saying he wanted to start a record business. Tellers at the Fort Worth bank were immediately suspicious — perhaps the 10 zeros on a personal check tipped them off.

What are you gonna do with Bush's $600 check?

2008-03-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

$600 doesn't buy a whole lot these days. Here's a few I thought of...

- 150 gallons of gasoline. Good for about 2700 miles of driving at 19 mpg.
- a Transit Pass for 9 months (unlimited miles!)
- 240 grande americanos at Starbuck$.
- one year membership at my gym plus 4 personal training sessions.

...then I started thinking just how much more Uncle Sam could afford to put back into the US economy if the Iraq War didn't suck us for $5 TRILLION. Oh, sure some of the money we're spending on the war is landing in Halliburton and Blackwater's bank accounts. But $5,000,000,000,000 would make for a $16,666 "stimulus check" for EVERY U.S. citizen (based upon a pop. of 300MM)! Wouldn't that make you more likely to spend frivolously? Makes that $600 check seem like pocket change...may as well just put in the bank.

And the hits keep coming

2007-12-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

An update on my experience with the Easy Saver Scam.

I have received a full refund, even the $1.95 "Set-up" charge. My calls and e-mails to ProFlowers were effective. As you can see in my initial post's comments, the ProFlowers Marketing Director was interested in resolving this matter to my satisfaction. I encourage anyone else who has been SCAMMED to contact Easy Saver / American Leisure AND the company guilty of providing the aforementioned SCAMMER with your credit card info.

My blog has received a lot of hits since I posted my Easy Saver Scam report and I hope more folks will find it. Online retailers need to learn a lesson from this!

As this link will show, ProFlowers is not the only online retailer guilty of screwing us over

Beware of ProFlowers.com

2007-11-21T09:19:00.001-08:00

I don't know how many of you have heard of or have used ProFlowers.com. They're an internet based flower delivery service, who until today, I used to send flowers to friends and family.

ProFlowers is based in San Diego, although their flowers ship from satellite locations (independent growers, I suspect). My former employer in San Diego was a vendor of theirs, we printed a bunch of their promo literature and they sent us some beautiful tropical flowers. The flowers arrived in perfect condition, which impressed me. I began using ProFlowers to send flowers to my friends and family, mostly without a hitch. The quality was always great, however they did deliver late on one order.

Today, ProFlowers lost my business and my trust forever and I hope that this posting warns others of ProFlowers predatory, deceptive, sneaky and thieving practices. While reviewing my online bank statement today, I noticed a charge for $14.95 which posted yesterday. I did not recognize the company....EASY SAVE, So I Google them. The search results, an article on ripoffreport.com immediately raised a red flag.

I am embarrassed to say that Easy Saver had be siphoning $14.95 per month from my checking account since May, for a total of $104.65 without my knowledge. I contacted Easy Saver and asked what the charge was for and was told that I signed up for their services while ordering through ProFlowers. Since I HAD NOT authorized this charge, I asked for a complete refund immediately. The woman could only credit my account for the 2 most recent charges...in order to get credit for other 5 charges I would need to send a letter to their Consumer Affairs Department in PA.

Not satisfied with Easy Saver's response, I contacted ProFlowers. The woman who answered my call at ProFlowers had been contacted by other EASY SAVER SCAM victims and eventually transferred me to a ProFlowers supervisor. The supervisor put me on hold and contacted Easy Saver directly to get ALL of my money returned. The credits will take on or two credit card billing cycles to post.

Okay people, you've been warned. Check your bank statements and stay clear of the crooks at ProFlowers.

More similar complaints here AND, a follow-up posting here

related posts:
May '09
March '09
November '08
May '10

bikes are big in PDX

2007-08-15T21:45:00.001-07:00

I can
get
behind
this!

from the
Bike Portland
website

I need a Mexican vacation

2007-08-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

quiet beaches

friendly locals

bumpy pothole-ridden roads

coca-cola in glass bottles (made with azucar, not corn syrup)

cheap plaster bart simpson piggy banks

your name on a grain of rice

fresh ceviche

pulpo cocktail with homemade salsa

red snapper tacos from a roadside stand

jicama con chile y limon

a margarita made with hornitos, cointreau, fresh limes and crushed ice (no mixers)

mole chicken with real tortillas

caramel flan for dessert

are there any early morning flights to Baja?

Did Hank Aaron use steriods??

2007-08-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well, Barry did it. 755 Homeruns, in Petco Park, against my San Diego Padres. Geez, and the Padres former skipper - now Giants manager, Bruce Bochy was there to see it. But there will always be that pesky asterisks on Barry's shoulder....'roids.

Don't get me wrong, Barry's a good player...not much of a role model tho'. Steroids aren't cool...steroids are dangerous.

c'mon people!

2007-07-24T20:38:00.001-07:00

Let's have some fun! If ya' get a bill stamped with www.wheresgeorge.com go to the website and enter the serial number...it's fun! No, it isn't sponsored by Big Brother or Uncle Sam....relax.

The bill I received in my change at Fred Meyer over the weekend was in Alaska two years ago....TWO YEARS AGO! And, unless the bill was in someone's piggy bank for the past two years, it tells me that there's a lot of fuddy-duds who don't have much fun.

Okay, I'm done. Adios!

Airplane eating monster...AAAAHHHHHHH!!!

2007-07-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

This video is pretty funny! Almost freaky, the machines are alive! Apparently, Uncle Sam doesn't want Evil Iran to get it's hands on any spare F-14 parts, so they've hired a contractor to destroy the obsolete aircraft. In case you've forgot, Iran was once considered an ally (after all that hostage stuff). But now our everso wise leader, George W Bush, considers them part of the Axis of Evil.

The whole story is here.

chewed up...

2007-07-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

...and spit out

Bad Spock Drawings

2007-06-19T16:19:00.001-07:00

There aren't many blogs which I find blog-worthy...not even mine (if that makes sense). Actually, I should post links to my favorite blogs so you can see what my warped mind appreciates.

Anyway, Bad Spock Blog is awesome. Take a look...there's a lot to see.

Summer is...

2007-06-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

frisbee on the beach. water-gun fights during a heat wave. laying on cool green grass. BBQing with friends. diving into the cool water. the smell of honeysuckle at dusk. pink skin and sunburn lotion. sleeping with the windows open. walking barefoot everywhere. that wet concrete smell when you wash the car. watermelon and potato salad. napping in the shade, just cuz you can. burying your feet in the sand. ice cream dripping on your hand. flip-flopping flip-flops. butterflies, bees and flies...lotsa flies. sky-writing planes. smelly animals at the fair. driving with all the windows down. sand in your swimsuit. suntea brewing on the back patio. swooshing skateboard wheels. bohemia, jicama con limon y chili.

...Summer is magical

digital distance

2007-06-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Time and distance, basically the same.
Electrically speaking, in this current age.

Closely together, far apart.
Far from distant, near but so far.

Digital facades, to fool our brains.
Binary proximities, to drive us insane.

living

2007-05-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

live [liv] verb
[Origin: bef. 900; ME liven, OE lifian, libban; c. D leven, G leben, ON lifa, Goth liban]
1. to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions.
2. to continue to have life; remain alive.
3. to continue in existence, operation, memory, etc.
4. to maintain or support one's existence; provide for oneself.

we live...

we breathe;
air fills our lungs,
nourishes our cells.
with a sigh,
our tension flows away.

we release;
strands of our being,
slowly unfurl.
our bodies calm,
peacefully at ease.

we think;
thoughts of ourselves,
with others.
forming bonds,
removing barriers.

we progress;
missteps teach,
sometimes with pain.
vowing to change,
exceeding expectations.

we gather;
sharing knowledge,
of understanding.
giving more,
taking less.

...we live

what's new?

2007-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well, on Monday, I finally received my Oregon license plates (after a 3 month wait), so the bluebomber is street-legal now.

And, two days after changing my computer's password to "new job", I was called in for an interview and hired about 15 hours later...pretty cool, huh?

Tomorrow I'm changing my computer's password to "powerball winner"...couldn't hurt.

intelligent beings?

2007-04-16T12:02:00.001-07:00

it hurts to read about it.
it hurts to think about it.
31 killed...

outrageously violent.
incredibly senseless.

our race is threatened by our hostility.
our hostility is our fate.

say a prayer for those who perished.
say a prayer for those who lost someone.

Calm is good, jah!

2007-03-28T16:32:00.001-07:00

I'm actively seeking harmonious calmness...*sigh*, there I'm feeling better already.

Qwest DSL and Actiontec modems...a match made in hell!

2007-02-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Shortly after moving into my new home, I signed up for Qwest DSL. My goal was to set-up DSL on my desktop computer then configure my D-Link wireless router so I could use my laptop on the porch or patio.

Initially, I attempted to set-up DSL with my old SBC/PacBell DSL Modem. No luck, but since I bought it for $25 from Craigslist over 2 years ago, buying a new one wasn't a big deal.

BestBuy had a Zoom DSL modem for $99, which seemed a bit pricey at the time but i bought it anyway. What I didn't realize while at BestBuy was, the wireless was built into the modem and my plan was to connect my current D-link router to the modem, rather than spend additional money on something I didn't need.

So, off to CompUSA I went. I had seen a "Qwest approved" Actiontec DSL modem at the Tigard CompUSA a couple weeks earlier but we were going to the JantzenBeach store and the selection wasn't the same. I found a different Actiontec modemfor $69, no wireless (I checked before buying this time). Satisfied with my purchase, I figured the DSL & wi-fi would be flowing in no time. HA!

As it turns out, the Actiontec modem which I had just purchased had a built-in router (for wired networks). I was able to connect to Qwest DSL but could not create a wireless network using my D-link router (despite the Actiontec claims that the router function could be turned off). SO, I boxed up the modem and headed back to CompUSA to get a single-port DSL modem.

After explaining my situation to the clerk at CompUSA, I was able to exchange the 4-port modem for the basic single-port Actiontec modem. Oh boy! Now I'm really gonna be set to surf the web!! By this time, I had contacted Qwest's tech support a couple times and had my User Name / PPPoE password and I felt very confident that hooking up my wi-fi rounter to this modem would be a cinch...just like it was when i had SBC's DSL. WRONG!! Still no go. I could connect to Qwest if I had the modem wired to my ethernet card but not through the D-link. I tried turning off various functions, resetting the modem and the router....nothing doing. I knew from reading the modem's documentation that I could get tech support for advanced issues (like this one) for a mere $29.95 per session. No way!! Not going that route! So, at 11pm, I disconnected the modem and re-packed it in the box.

Then, a moment of weakness...I unpacked the Zoom DSL modem (with wireless router) just to see if it could be nice. If it worked, I thought, the D-link router could go on E-bay or Craigslist.

The cables were conncected to the modem and I popped the install CD in. A quick software install, User Name / PPPoE password entered and PRESTO it worked beautiffully (and the modem wasn't approved by Qwest)!! Easier to configure than the D-link router plus a more robust interface and selection of features. Such a deal and to think, I had bought this modem first but never tried it out. What an IDIOT, I could have been wallowing in 54mbps of Wi-fi days ago.

Anyway, if even a couple Qwest DSL users in the blog-o-sphere reads this, don't buy Actiontec's DSL modem if you plan on creating a wireless network. The Zoom DSL wireless modem is your best bet.

mi nombre esta Pasquale

2007-02-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

A cartoon from my boss, so I never forget that I missed a day of work due to snow.

Protecting me from myself.

2006-12-29T18:55:00.000-08:00

I love my bank. Maybe not as much since they have "upgraded" the online banking log-in security.

A few weeks ago, when I logged into my online banking page, I was asked to provide answers to 5 questions. Some of the questions were silly, others pretty standard (mother's maiden name, first pet's name, etc). I answered them all and was allowed to continue on to my account info page.

A few days before Christmas, I logged on to check my account balance and scanned for any suspect transactions, but haven't logged on since then....until last night. After I typed my user name and password, I was redirected to a "security challenge" page and was asked one of the questions which I answered previously. The question was "What is your favorite candy?" Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm not much of a candy eater and I certainly don't have a favorite. So, when asked that question at nearly 11pm, I was bamboozled. Hmmm, let's see...was it Reeses Pieces? Nope. Snickers? Nope. Almond Joy? Nope! "ACCESS DENIED: contact our customer service representative at this number". Oh-fer-godsakes!!

So I call my bank and immediately go into the hold-music-hell. 10 minutes later a woman picks up. I explain my situation and she asks me "the amount of my last deposit?". Well, my paycheck is direct-deposited and the I can't remember if I sent the Microsoft Rebate check before payday or after. Another strike out. "The amount of your most recent checkcard transaction?" she asks. Easy, I thought...I just paid for dinner using my card....$15.50, I answered. "Can you think of any other recent transactions, sir?" Well, I have been spending the cash I took out prior to Xmas and using giftcards, so I have no idea. And if someone stole my checkcard or my wallet, wouldn't they know where my last debit card transaction was anyway? Finally, she lets me off the hook and asks "What is your mother's maiden name?".

She then reset my password and I had to answer the 5 questions again. Finally!

By the way, now my favorite candy is Almond Joy ( hopefully I'll remember).

Tis the Season

2006-12-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

Brrrr! My first Winter in Portland...well, officially Winter in a few days. It certainly is cold, 28 degrees when I took my morning walk. Right now, at 1:20pm, it is 38 degrees. Actually, I'm getting accustomed to it, it's all how you dress.

Despite the cool weather, I'm just not feeling the Christmas "spirit". Holiday music seems to make me feel melancholy more than anything else. The lights around downtown are nice, no pressure there...unlike the TV commercials.

Now is the time to prepare resolutions for the New Year. There have been a few rattling around in my noggin for a while. I just want to put some thought into how I'm gonna stick to these resolutions...a plan for success if you will. In general, I intend to take better care of myself. More exercise and a better diet (which may be meat-free, not sure yet). Also, I'll probably start the New Year off with a Master-Cleanse...haven't done that since last March or so.

The move to Portland, plus the pre-planning and adjustment to, have thrown me off-course from my old exercise and eating habits. Getting back on track will be tough at first but I'm motivated. The extra pounds are wearing me down, so off they go!

Next Saturday, I'll be flying back to San Diego to visit my folks. Gotta be on the MAX around 4:30am so I can get checked in for a 6:30am flight. Going First Class this time...was only $12 more, so what the hell. Flying back on Christmas evening, not the way I wanted to do it but the only flights I could get on Boxing Day involved flying with one or two stops...6 hours to get home!

Fifteen days 'til Xmas

2006-12-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

Sunday afternoon already...the weekend flew by.

The Chargers beat the tar out of the Broncos. The Chargers are now the AFC West champs but I won't get too excited about their prospects at making the SuperBowl....been there, done that. I'm happy Phil Rivers is playing so well, must be tough for such a talented player being drafted by the Bolts, considering Ryan Leaf's turmoil a few years ago.

I read the Offbeat News most days, usually after I read the NYT front page news. One story really made me laugh. Drunk Parade Float Driver Arrested. Although, I suppose it's really not a laughing matter, especially not for him. He faces 36 charges including drunk driving and assaulting an officer.

We're apparently in the storm track again, the rain started early Saturday morning and will be around for most of the week.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2006-12-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it's freaking cold here in Stumptown! Even tho' it's 10 degrees warmer than it was last week, it feels colder. Strange, but I didn't expect to be saying 44 degrees should feel warm but why am I feeling colder when it IS warmer?

Today was interesting. Until 4:45pm, it was a normal crappy day (sorry, but my work day never changes...I feel like a cookie-cutter at work). But, once I got off the bus at Glisan and 21st, my day changed.

Trader Joe's wasn't overly crowded, in fact it was quiet. Then, as I'm checking out, the cashier says "Hey, you're the Charger-guy, aren't you?". I've talked to this cashier twice since moving to PDX...he saw my Charger hat the first time and then I mentioned the Chargers on another visit. This may be seem very unimportant, but I've felt very anonymous since moving to PDX - almost invisible at times. It's nice to be acknowledged, hell, it's nice to be remembered. I miss that...you know, walking into a store or a tavern and people say "Hey, how ya' doing?" or "Where have you been?". Anyway, yeah...a nice surprise.

Then, as I'm walking toward my building's entry, my buddy "the lil' black kitty" appears from under the gate. He / She seemed very fit and vocal as ever. I thought the cat was "catnapped" or dead (hoping for catnapped). Was good to see Kitty again, alive and well. Someone's taking good care of Kitty and that makes me happy AND I'm glad he/she remembers me.

Finally, I found a promising job while checking the postings on Craigslist. Not sure where this will go, but at least I've made an impression with the HR person and the owner about 6 months ago. I've never been a fan of changing jobs but when the shoes don't fit it's time to find a new pair.

You mean like this?

2006-11-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

How damn ironic can this be? The last paragraph makes me laugh...

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A schoolbus driver who was fired for allegedly making an obscene gesture to President George Bush during a visit to Seattle is demanding her job back, media reports said.

The King County Journal reported that the 43-year-old female driver was sacked in September for giving Bush the finger when his presidential motorcade passed her bus during a visit in June.

The driver, who has not been identified, landed in hot water after she was reported to the school district by Republican Congressman Dave Reichert, who was accompanying Bush at the time.

The paper said the woman had filed a grievance seeking re-instatement.

A statement from the the Issaquah School District meanwhile said the bus driver had been sacked for making the gesture in front of children.

"This incident has to do with the responsibility of an employee who is supervising students to act professionally and serve as a role model for appropriate behavior," the district superintendent said.

Dread

2006-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

There was a stranger in my bathroom mirror this morning. A tired, unhappy man who could have passed for my older brother... if I had one.

He seemed distracted by his day ahead. Uncertainty swirled around him as he sluggishly brushed his teeth.

I asked him 'what's wrong?'. He shook his head and stepped into the shower...vanishing into the steam.

The image of this stranger is stuck in my mind. He made an impression on me....one that I shall not forget. I hope he finds happiness.

Crikey!

2006-09-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

Today, like most days, I checked the news on my Yahoo homepage. Most of the headlines were about the death of Steve Irwin. In case you're not familiar with Steve Irwin, he was the craziest Aussie croc-lover on TV. He truly loved animals of all types and wasn't afraid of their ferocity. Yesterday he was killed by a giant stingray in what is being called a freak occurance. He died doing what he loved the most.

We're gonna miss you Steve and I'd like to apologize for all the times I called you a stupid idiot when you were pushing your luck with giant crocs or enormous snakes.

Cheers Mate!

It's just a freaking concrete cross fer christsake!

2006-08-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I can honestly say there is ONE GOOD THING that George W Bush did during his presidency. Today, he signed a bill which transfers the land under San Diego's Mount Soledad cross to the federal government.

For years and years now, there has been near constant controversy and court battles surrounding this concrete and and brick memorial cross. A San Diego atheist sued to get this war memorial removed from city land. Recently, a superior court judge ruled that the city must remove it or face fines of $5000 per day until it is removed. George Bush was the only person who could prevent the cross from being moved.

Why do I care, you ask? Well, I'm not religious...agnostic is probably accurate. But seeing a cross certainly doesn't offend me, especially a cross at a war memorial. C'mon people, let's put our energy towards something important...helping the poor and homeless, the Big Brother/Big Sister organization or anyone of hundreds of groups that make America a better place!

I'm certain this battle is not over, the atheist group will probably sue the federal gov't (further slowing down the court system).

If you'd like to read more about this, check out Wikepedia's info

photo credit: timothylang.blogspot.com

One Month Later...

2006-07-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

It's official, I've been unemployed for one month (voluntarily) and I'm not quite bored yet. And I've been a Portland resident (actually living in my apartment) for two weeks. So, here's what I know...

- I miss my old daily routine. Get up, shower/dress/etc., hop on the trolley, make coffee, sit at my desk....NO, wait a minute, I miss part of my daily routine.

- Before I retire, getting a long-term, involved hobby is a must!

- Portlanders drive pretty damn slow! Except for the old men driving Oldsmobiles, who the hell drives slower than 55 mph on the freeway in SoCal?

- Not being able to pump my own gas feels really strange. The first couple times I wanted to tip the pump attendent. Is this normal for a long-time SoCal resident?

- Fred Meyer rules! What else can I say...is there another major chain-store where you can buy groceries, clothes (decent quality stuff) and housewares all at once?

- No hard alcohol in the supermarkets. Why? Not that I give a shit but I just have to wonder.

- I'll never rent a top-floor apartment in an old-old building again...unless the elevator is less than 40 years old and there is central a/c or good cross ventilation.

That's all for now. I'm sure there's something I've left out.

T-minus 36 hours

2006-06-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Phew! I'm almost finished with the packing, just a few bits to wrap and box in the kitchen. Now I remember why I stayed at my house for so many years....I don't enjoy packing. Unpacking isn't so bad, everything gets put away in a somewhat organized manner.

My plan is to have the truck loaded and on the road by noon-ish on Saturday, with the intention of making it to Buttonwillow before sundown. Completely do-able even with a couple short stops on the way. Initially I was going to make the drive to Portland in two days, but there's really no reason to burn myself out...a nice leisurely drive sounds much better.

I've broken the trip into 4 segments. Day one and day three are nearly the same length, 270 miles. Day two will be a total of 570 miles but broken into 2 segments, Sacramento will be my lunch stop on the way to Medford Oregon. The last segment should be very nice and scenic.

the countdown begins

2006-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

14 days and counting (13 if you include packing day)...

I think the move will go very smoothly, most of the details have been worked out. Organizing is a skill of mine, so I'm not surprised it's coming together so well. I keep going over details in my head, trying to flush out the overlooked "wrench" in my works.

Since I haven't driven up to PDX before, I'll be relying upon MapQuest directions for the drive...and my GPS. With any luck, I'll make it past Sacramento by Sunday evening. May even reserve a motel room up there just to keep me going. That seems like an incredibly long drive for one day but I've done long hauls before. The second leg will be shorter and more mountainous.

I can't wait to be in the trees!

i am so fucking sick of war, murder, hatred and violence!

2006-06-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

Another Mother's Day has past and Father's Day is coming up -- Children, spouses and parents of US Soldiers wonder if their loved ones are alive....many have already lost someone to this idiotic war.

Would 'W' changes his stance on the war if one of his daughters were driving in military supply convoys?

Then there's the the dumb-fuck robber who kills a family of 7 in Indiana. And the haters who protest against our gay soldiers....i'm leaving out a lot of rant-worthy morons, I know. I'm not religious, can someone tell me how religion can make someone a suicide-bomber. Killing for "God"? Could that be right? Seems kinda' ridiculous.

What's so fucking hard about getting along and behaving like the 'intelligent species' that we CLAIM to be. Do you see any other species treat their own kind the way we treat each other? Okay, let's not include the Praying Mantis.

I am so sick of haters...

END OF RANT!

Ahhhh, the great outdoors!

2006-04-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

After spending two days camping in the mountains I have determined this...

What I love about camping:

- Fresh air, peace and quiet.
- Lotsa Pine trees, green meadows and babbling brooks.
- Birds, Birds, Birds
- Squirells, Coyotes, Frogs, Bobcats and Snakes
- Freedom from modern technological annoyances.

What sucks about camping:

Wimpy campers who retreat to their cars and idle their engines all night to keep warm.

Weenies who think it is fun and macho to throw big knives and axes into living trees.

Lame campground management companies who fail to manage national parks as promised.

Overall, it was good camping trip. I came back a day early but got in two days of great hiking...I've got the blisters and sunburn to prove it.

BANG-BANG! BANG-BANG-BANG!!

2006-04-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

My neighborhood is usually very quiet at night...something I really enjoy. If I ever wake up during the night it's because of a neighbor calling for his cat or a racoon scratching by the fence...then I usually fall back asleep while listening to the barn owl hooting.

This morning, around 2:30am, I was awoken by 5 gunshots. The first two woke me up and seconds later the next 3 rang out. The gunfire was very near, within a couple hundred feet.

I laid in bed for a few minutes afterward. Wondering if it was just a dream...fighting my curiousity, I stayed indoors. Every window within sight was filled with light, nobody could have slept through that clamor. Was it the police shooting an armed criminal? Was it a few "gang bangers"? I don't know but it scared the crap outta me.

There were no sirens afterwards, but I did hear a few vehicles driving around the neighborhood. Policecars?? I dunno -- Perhaps but my urge to live overpowered my curiousity. I'm glad there was no blood on my driveway, I'm glad there were no news reports of a fatal shooting...but it sure made me aware that my neighborhoood isn't as safe or quiet as I'd thought.

Still Rushin' after all these years

2006-04-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

So, tonight I'm taking my evening walk about the 'hood. I hear a riff of Rush's Twilight Zone coming from a passing car and began humming the tune for the next few minutes. I get home and pop in the CD to continue the experience. It has always been one of my favorite albums but who'd a thunk I'd be sitting on the couch drinking a glass of Aussie cabernet and listening to Geddy Lee belting out a tune?!

I can't tell you the exact day or year that I bought my first Rush LP or 8-track (yeah, remember those?) but I'd have to guess it's been over 25 years. I do remember grabbing several European releases while wandering around in Nottingham in the Summer of '81. The band was at their height of popularity...Moving Pictures was an effin' awesome album. Who doesn't know Tom Sawyer by heart? The following year they released Signals, which blew me away! Subdivisions and New World Man are still two of my favorite tracks. Their Moving Pictures and Signals albums were a huge part of my senior high school experience.

Geddy, Neil, Alex...a 3-man band from "the great white North" who gave us tons of timeless great rock-n-roll. Thanks guys!!

Spam Poetry

2006-04-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone gets spam e-mail. Usually, I'll delete anything in my inbox that isn't from someone I know.

Sometimes I read 'em tho'. This one is almost poetic. Other than adding the line-breaks, this spam is unedited.

From: "Samuel Benton"
Subj: wall

smooth, are excursion graphic
was Democrat about-face misc
a drug goody survive

self-service manor
as deep-seated
root beer secluded!

Yankee failing mooch lawn cure
are counteract a as
outback in as receiver as c/o

hatch in of chocolate overstep
was carrot to chamber of commerce,
agile rootless the hither to was bric-a-brac.

relentlessly emission?
exceptionally: an stick shift bum
southern twin-size buffoon supposition

a apprehensive marquee a
and gallantly machine
whose and performance the and fan

ordinary mannerism in outcome grove
a stylish anticipation on excitable tender,
entitle comprehension baffle aristocrat

is reconstruct of that harsh
the abhor limp tamper acute mount nature,
homogeneous as wise guy interconnected plywood

as assorted this scorch but algae
electoral college enigma effectively subdivide,
butterfly, relaxation to that ulcer compliments

infringe ornithology in as ingratitude earache,
jet engine helmet unconcerned tardiness,
poll of dire as shawl of seem wastebasket a wide,

as oilfield canal,
to tinkle of as provision,
wholeheartedly dribs and drabs conference

the errant ophthalmologist,
as gunpoint to amidst bland
that reorganize the pane as analogy a are defiance

bath as well-read erotically
innocuous inoculation,
this taxation to that as unparalleled.

as an injection eyesight?
preventive verdict at
unfamiliar of askance in profiteer,
---------------

dumbing down cookbooks?

2006-03-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

I was reading an article in the Food section of washingtonpost.com today. The article was about how American's cooking skills and knowledge have diminished over the past two generations. Here's a little tidbit that made me chuckle...

"At a conference last December, Stephen W. Sanger, chairman and chief executive of General Mills Inc., noted the sad state of culinary affairs and described the kind of e-mails and calls the company gets asking for cooking advice: the person who didn't have any eggs for baking and asked if a peach would do instead,..."

Tee-hee! An entertaining article. Click on this post's title to see the article.

Sunday papers

2006-03-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning is all about drinking coffee, relaxing and reading the newspaper. Today's news just makes me uptight. Within the first 5 pages were no less than 4 articles that just make me mad.

The Bush admin selling Washington and Oregon forest land to generate funds...nice.

San Diego Airport Authority is proposing an airport 110 miles from town, in an area known to contain endangered wildlife...and who is gonna drive all the way out there to fly?

Children's book moved to the fiction section. A book about two male penguins adopting an egg (true story apparently) was found objectionable by some parents, they thought it was overly homosexual...tell those penguins to knock it off!

Guantanamo bay prisoners...content of this article doesn't matter, the whole thing is cruel, drawn-out and becoming a bigger mess every day. Bush and Cheney wonder why so many people wanna kill Americans...hmmm.

Well, I need to move on to the Travel section for a bit of light reading.

epicur-iousity

2006-02-28T15:53:00.000-08:00

Food, food, food! We all need it, we all love it...

Today I was at the local green-grocer stocking up. It dawned on me that I haven't shopped at a "normal" grocery store in quite a long time. I get all of my foodstuffs at Henry's Marketplace (fruits, veggies, bulk grains/beans, dairy) or Trader Joe's (seafood, wine, cheese, ehtinic foods, etc). For some reason I remembered how much pre-packed prepared foods I used to buy years ago. Basically I would just buy "dinner stuff"at the supermarket and grab lunch at a fast food joint everyday.

Most of us know what's good for us and what we should avoid. Yet it seems like the rules (according to the "experts") change a lot. First we're told that fish is really good for us, helps protect your heart. Then we're told that fish really doesn't make any significant impact after all. Trusted celebrities pounce on us during our favorite TV shows...eat Quaker Oats and lower you cholesterol x-many points. Magazines, newpaper articles, website pop-ups all try to sell us everything from healthy breakfast bars to quick-n-easy frozen nutritional meals.

I'm not a diet fan, starving yourself for 2 months and returning to your old crappy eating habits after you've reached your "target weight" isn't healthy. It just confuses the hell out of your body. You don't need to buy special frozen meals or snacks. Don't believe anyone who says a "popcorn diet" is good, you may lose weight but you're gonna return to your old eating habits and put it back on.

Since I've never been on a diet plan like Jenny or WW or Atkins, I don't know if they teach their clients about long-term eating habits. I'm not a nutritionalist or whatever but what is wrong with eating naturally pre-packaged (courtesy of Mother Nature) foods like fruit and vegetables? They're portable, readily available (in this country, at least), healthy and best of all not expensive. And there's no wrapper or packaging to dispose of / recycle.

Okay, so I'm an apple-aholic. Nothing's better than a crisp, tart, juicy apple for breakfast or as a snack. Oranges....yeah, they're messy but your body loves all the C it gets. Carrots make a great crunchy snack and you'll see in the dark a lot better (at least that's what Mom always said), Celery and peanut butter, yadda-yadda-yadda!

Protein you say, how about some protein? Tofu, fish and beans for starters. Yes, it's okay to add a little meat. I was recently in a chili cook-off and was one of the few folks to bring a meat and bean chili instead of all MEAT chili. Our bodies actually need a lot of what meat provides, but eating a slab of meat everyday isn't necessary.

Me? I eat beef or pork once or twice every two weeks, fish a few times a week and beans, tofu, grains, dairy, veggies for the rest of my meals. I am a few pounds overweight, I LOVE to cook(and eat, obviously) and believe in using spices instead of that nasty old salt.

WOW! I really dragged this subject out. I'm done now....thanks for listening.

You're kidding, right?

2006-02-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was on the phone with my Mom. Just chatting about the usual stuff, then she tells me that Dad bought a new car today. So, my Dad gets on the phone and I say "gotta new car, huh?". "Yes" , he says "a Ford Escape". My Dad never buys anything but white vehicles, so I say "lemme guess, it's white ins't it?". To my surprise he said "No, it's blue." I was shocked "BLUE? You bought a blue car? I don't believe it...I have to see this. Blue, like my truck?". He said "No, a metallic blue, not too dark."

Well, I saw it this evening and indeed it is blue. A fine vehicle. Dad and I are basically "Ford guys", we've both owned nothing but Ford cars (but that new VW GTI is pretty damn tempting tho'). So, if you see a tall bloke with thick glasses tailgating you on the I-5 in a blue Escape it's probably my Pops.

Finally back to cool weather again!

2006-02-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

At this time last year, SoCal was being pounded by heavy rains. This year we're way behind our normal rainfall amount...what the hell gives?

I enjoy a good sunny day but a few rainy days now and then is good too. Seems like the weather has been warm, dry and sunny since New Year's day.

Today was a the break in the dry and warm weather...much cooler and very breezy tonight. A good chance for rain this weekend too. I'll be doing a rain dance tomorrow and Friday.

Superball Camera

2006-01-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

I have to get one of these...once they start manufacturing. The inventors have an "interest list" on their website, they're hoping to get enough interested parties to sign up before they begin production. Check out their website!

Bouncing ball Camera SatuGO
“Imagine combining your love for bouncing balls and your obsession for taking pictures into one, now it has a name SatuGO. Simply Throw SatuGO into the motive to catch the moment, where it hits you get a picture, or take air photos by activating the timer before throwing the SatuGO. Other than being a camera SatuGO can act as a mobile storage facility for your personal data and function as a webcam. Help us realize this product by joining the SatuGO mailing list and be one of the first to be offered a SatuGO! chances for realization increases with the amount of people joining the list. “
We are two designers Eschel Jacobsen Industrial designer and Mads Ny Larsen Interactive media designer trying to realize this brainchild, by begging people to enter the SatuGO site herby being part of the birth of this radically new gadget, and at the same time be one of the first to be offered one when it goes into production.

www.satugo.com

Progressing @ a snail's pace

2005-11-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I have made some progress on my photo-website. Hoping to have the catalog online by year-end. This may require switching to another web-hosting company but that should be relatively "painless" (famous last words). If you're interested, check it out...there's still A LOT of work to be done.

The Forest is my church

2005-10-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Living green giants tower above
Giving their shade to all below

Tender green saplings eagerly await
the fall of the elderly giants

The smell of oak, cedar, pine, rotting leaves
fill the air with life and tranquility.

My steps are cushioned by the leaves
quietly crunching as I wander in awe

Wind can be heard blowing high above,
barely a wisp reaches forest floor.

Such a simple yet complicated creation
The forest commands my respect and admiration

Giving so much to us
Often taken for granted

This living church captures my attention
soothes my soul, recharges my spirit.

Palomar Mountain / French Valley Trail

Shiver me timbers!

2005-09-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

A post from an over-committer

2005-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

How does my life get SO damn busy?! I haven't posted in a while, too much going on...a 4 day seminar in Eugene Oregon (more to come about that), long hours at work, exploring job opportunities in other fields and other cities, filing court papers, yadda-yadda-yadda....

I had one day to explore Eugene and fell in love it the town, so much green! And berries galore, reminds me of my hometown in the UK. Whenever I go up to Oregon, I am always amazed at the lushness (is that a word?) and the kindness of the people up there. SoCal is dry, not so green and full of stressed out, rude, A-type people.

I'm looking forward to some down-time this weekend, to rejuvenate, reflect and read.

The Gigapxl Project

2005-08-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

I finally checked out the Gigapxl Project at MoPA today. Graham Flint's pictures are outstanding. Standing in front of them is like standing at a window, there is no grain in these pics. His camera is a custom-built 4 GIGA-Pixel camera (imagine the file size!). Visit the GigaPixl Project website to learn more about this fabulous project.

How I'm doing

2005-08-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been getting messages and e-mails from friends and family asking how I am doing. My answer is -- EXCELLENT!!

Back on April 21st, I tore my achilles tendon while skateboarding. That weekend, before I saw my Orthopedic doctor, I thought my summer of outdoor activities was shot. Every article I read about tore achilles tendons made me believe that I'd be laid-up until September and still in therapy at Halloween. But that's not the case.

I was extremely lucky to have such a fantastic doctor. He's my age and an avid cyclist as well. When he asked me if I wanted to have the tendon surgical mended I asked what he'd do. He told me that surgery has risks but would make the tendon 4 to 8% stronger. However, for cycling, jogging, hiking and most other "weekend warrior" activities, letting the tendon heal by itself would be fine. So, I was put in a hard cast for 4 weeks, then should have worn a removable "orthopedic boot" for 6 weeks after that. After 4 weeks in the "boot" I began physical therapy & my doctor gave me the okay to ride on flat-land... I never put the boot back on (don't tell my doc).

When I saw my doctor on July 20th, he was amazed at my progress. The muscles on the injured leg were building up and I was walking with just a slight limp. He believes the pre-injury condition of my leg and non-smoking/healthy lifestyle were key in my recovery. I went back to therapy for 2 more weeks and as of August 3rd, have regained 100% flexibilty in my right leg.

Turns out that cycling was the best therapy, I could ride for hours without any discomfort and had only minimal swelling afterwards. Other than some tightness after a prolonged period of sitting, my gait is nearly normal again. I feel very fortunate to have healed so quickly, it could have been much worse. On Saturday, while shopping in Target, I ran into a young guy (25 or so) who tore his achilles in January. The tendon was slow to heal and had formed a rather painful lump where it reconnected. The chap was still wearing a "Boot" and only had 40% flexibilty.

So, I have to say that I'm thankful for all the great treatment from the folks at Sharp Rees-Steely and really appreciate all the words of encouragement from my friends...AND thanks to everyone who shuttled me around, brought coffee and tea to my desk, carried my lunch from the kitchen and put up with my griping.

And for now, I can put up with the teasing of my cycling partners -- "looks like you have legs from two different people" and "are you part white and part mexican...you have two different colored legs"

Poor little Eddie

2005-08-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

The other day a troll named "Eddie" left nasty comments on my blog. I can deal with that part, no problem, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But what ticks me off is the fact that he did it under the guise of someone else's username, pretty damn cowardly. Why he did this I'm not entirely certain. Word has it that he didn't agree with another blogger's post and chose to use the "offender's" username to insult, ridicule and harass other bloggers. Real nice. If he had a problem with someone's posting, he should have handled it maturely - instead, he upset a bunch of uninvolved persons.

Well, Eddie hit the wrong blog yesterday, You never know who you'll run into on the blog-O-sphere and Eddie will realize this very soon.

If you'd like to visit one of Eddie's blogs, click here OR check out one of Eddie's racier blogs (ROWR!!) click here

Today's my LUCKY day!

2005-08-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the day is half over and I'm not feeling any luckier than usual. That doesn't mean that I'm not lucky, I consider myself rather fortunate in many ways. There are many far "less lucky" folks in this world, for me to expect anything more than usual seems greedy. I've got my health, a decent job, a roof over my head, food to eat and a wealth of good friends and family. Yeah, today IS my lucky day and I appreciate everything about it! So, this is probably the most accurate fortune that I've ever received, it would have to read "every day is your lucky day" to be any more accurate.

Webpage update

2005-08-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been working on the webpage just a little bit. Should be done by September 1st.

Taking down the fences

2005-08-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

The next few months will be liberating in many ways and will provide me with a new direction. There are many new paths before me...all are exciting but some are scary. The scary paths offer rewards, uncertainty and, as I continue, more paths to choose from. A year from now I will look back without regret and wonder why I didn't venture past the fence sooner...but right now I'm teetering between excitement and fear.

Public Transit in San Diego....ha!

2005-07-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you San Diego Metropoliton Transit for screwing up the trolley system. The 20 minute trolley ride to work now takes 40 minutes.

Yeah, the new Green Line has impacted the commute for a lot of folks. This morning myself and 100 or so other passengers were stuck in the stationary trolley (100 yards from the Old Town Station) for 5 minutes as our connecting trolley (the blue line) pulled out of the station. The 15 minute wait for the next Blue Line gave us plenty of time to vent our frustrations about the "improved trolley system".

I'm guessing that unless schedule changes/improvements are made quickly, plenty of riders will be driving or riding the bus to work. If or when the Trolley is extended to UTC, I hope the folks at MTS figure out a better way to configure the timetables.

Ahhhh, the great outdoors!

2005-07-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a short camping trip in the local mountains. The pups and I left early on Friday, our destination was Laguna campground (about 50 miles East of San Diego). We arrived at Laguna just after 8am only to find the campground had no running water and wasn't allowing campfires. So, off to find another campground we went. Ended up at Pasa Picacho campground (about 3 miles from Lake Cuyamaca). Our campsite was lovely, a large California Live Oak tree provided lots of shade and we really needed it, as the temperature reached 90 degrees by 10am.

My webpage

2005-07-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has visited my website lately has noticed that it's gone...temporarily. I just got tired of how it looked and figured that taking it down would motivate me to revamp it. I have the images ready and just need to sit down and finish it. I am hoping to have it up again by the end of July. I'll post info here when it's done.

I haven't been taking many pics since I tore my achilles, so you're not missing out on anything.

Simple pleasures

2005-07-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Went for a ride today, my second since Dr. Sitler gave me the okay to ride. The Doc told me to ride on flat or gently sloped roads. It's rather difficult to find a cycling route that doesn't include at least some hills, but I managed to ride for over 1.5 hours. My tendon loosened up quickly and didn't get too sore -- my butt is a bit sore from sitting on the seat for so long.

Damn, I miss being active!

2005-07-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's been 2 months and a week since I tore my achilles and I'm really tired of being inactive! Sure, I can walk around without crutches now, and I'm glad about that. But riding my bike, walking on a sandy beach or just wearing two shoes would be nice. Heck, I really just want to carve a few lines in the asphalt on my skateboard again (I'm a masochist, I know).

My PT (phyiscal therapist) gave me some strengthen and flexibility exercises, they're really helping. I didn't think the muscles in my foot could be so important but trying to walk without my "boot" makes me realize just how much the muscles in my right leg have atrophied.

Let the Tour begin

2005-07-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Tour de France starts tomorrow! It's my favorite sporting event next to the Olympics. This year's race will be exciting because it is the last time Lance will enter the race. Would sure be nice to see him win #7.

Since I'm not able to ride my bike just yet, it will be bittersweet to watch "The Tour" this year. I am aching to go out on a long ride but won't be able to until late July, and even then, leisurely rides will be necessary until I get my right leg strengthened and my stamina back to where it was. 3 months without serious cardio excercise worries me....I feel so sluggish right now. I'll just have to start slow and work up to my previous level. Hopefully by Winter I'll be riding at my usual pace.

Podcasting

2005-06-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Richard Vobes Show!

So, I have become a Podcast junkie lately...could be worse I suppose. Anyway, I've found a load of good stuff to listen to. Many NPR, PBS and BBC programs are available for download on a daily or weekly basis. It's actually a bit overwhelming sometimes, especially for an info-maniac like me. Lots of commerical-free music too.

Currently, my favorite "variety" podcast is the Richard Vobes show. Being an expatriated Brit, I appreciate his humor and sillyness. His show is a mish-mash of news and interviews peppered with crazyness. I especially enjoy the beer tastings on Fridays.

Posting has resumed

2005-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

I started a blog in April of 2004 and after a couple months it became a "whine blog". So I deleted all the crap from the blog and left it alone, hoping I'd find a theme or purpose or a way not to whine so much.

Now I can start posting stuff that's upbeat and hopefully interesting to anyone (someone) who happens to stumble here.