I wrote about my recent, and on-going problems and issues with Comcast's service (first and second post dated October 24th and 26th, respectively). Well, they called to arrange a time to "talk" (I'll leave the rep's name and number out of conversation for now) about my problems and issues.
Well, I will respond here publically. First of all after raising my voice, it seems standing on an Internet street corner does work on occasion, beside reading where it pays do publically complain because it gets their attention. That said I have decided to pick up my soap box and walk away. While the problems persist, and likely will until Comcast decides to do a better job of fixing their own software, I don't see the need or any reason to continue to speak about it.
The problem of late is small, as described before (above), and simple to resolve by unplugging the HDMI cable or turning the TV off and on, which resets the bad HDMI signal. I don't see where a technician can help matters by replacing the cable box when the cable box is not the problem. It worked fine before the software upgrade and doesn't now. What's not to understand?
As for the other problems, the bandwidth, that was fixed until recently when it restarted, usually in the evenings or other busy times. Again, that's a network problem, not a cable box problem. And the SPDIF output on the cable box? Well, it's been there almost 3 years now and I haven't seen any interest on Comcast's part to fix it. It's a simple software fix too, because it's digitizing a digital signal which doesn't need it, simply not do that.
So, Comcast, I'm done with this issue. I've looked at satellite TV and I notice their prices are cheaper by a significant amount, so it's an option should I decide to change. And I'm curious how Comcast can offer very low rates to new subscribers for 3-12 months for services continuing customers are paying full fare. Are we subsidizing their cheaper service? If so, why? Why not give longtime customers some breaks, or do you think we won't leave your service? Or simply reduce your rates?
Anyway, enough venting at and about Comcast. While they're a nice target and a good enemy, it's fair to say 90+% of the time they're ok. But for now, I'm satisfied to let things go, and if they get worse I'll call the dreaded 1-800 number for service and go through the loop that never fixes or resolves anything, but merely seems to appease management they care about their customers.
So, in short, thanks for the offer but no thanks. Talk is cheap (and yes, like this post). And I'm out of wanting warm and fuzzies.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Marriage choice
As with abortion, the question is the obvious, what don't people understand that marriage is right and privilege with all its protections for all. Everyone. Not just those who think their idea of marriage and family, despite all the statistics of domestic abuse and violence, child abuse, violence, rape and incest, divorce, and so on, is the only definition of marriage.
This country was founded on the idea of equality, and while we haven't always been there or done that, we've always strived for it and often achieved it, with the abolition of slavery, voting rights for all men and later all women, civil rights, and so on here too. We've always tried to be a better society, country and nation. And marriage is no different.
It's not about the exaggerations some try to convey the issue in the media, it won't lead to other forms of marriage. The answer and solution is very simple. All other criteria being the same, two people have the right to enter into a marriage with all the rights, privleges and protections as defined in the laws.
That's not hard. See, very easy. It doesn't change your marriage or your view of marriage, and if it does, then maybe the problem isn't gays and lesbians, but you. Because try as you might, the view the Bible bans some marriages is just your interpretation of a Bible that's been translated, transcribed and interpretated so many times no one really knows anymore. The Bible as you think yours is, just isn't necessarily what was said when it was written.
But that's another issue, read Karen Armstrong's books. It's about equal right to marriage. Nothing more, nothing less. Just equality. So, banning that is discrimination is the least, prejudice in the obvious, and bigotry in the worse. And that's something the Bible doesn't tolerate, and we all know Jesus wouldn't condone, but condemn.
Because it's about acceptance of all citizens, regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, and on and on, into the diversity of people, cultures and societies making up America. It's about America and American values. Easy and simple. Equality for all.
This country was founded on the idea of equality, and while we haven't always been there or done that, we've always strived for it and often achieved it, with the abolition of slavery, voting rights for all men and later all women, civil rights, and so on here too. We've always tried to be a better society, country and nation. And marriage is no different.
It's not about the exaggerations some try to convey the issue in the media, it won't lead to other forms of marriage. The answer and solution is very simple. All other criteria being the same, two people have the right to enter into a marriage with all the rights, privleges and protections as defined in the laws.
That's not hard. See, very easy. It doesn't change your marriage or your view of marriage, and if it does, then maybe the problem isn't gays and lesbians, but you. Because try as you might, the view the Bible bans some marriages is just your interpretation of a Bible that's been translated, transcribed and interpretated so many times no one really knows anymore. The Bible as you think yours is, just isn't necessarily what was said when it was written.
But that's another issue, read Karen Armstrong's books. It's about equal right to marriage. Nothing more, nothing less. Just equality. So, banning that is discrimination is the least, prejudice in the obvious, and bigotry in the worse. And that's something the Bible doesn't tolerate, and we all know Jesus wouldn't condone, but condemn.
Because it's about acceptance of all citizens, regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, and on and on, into the diversity of people, cultures and societies making up America. It's about America and American values. Easy and simple. Equality for all.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Abortion choice
What's hard to understand that abortion is just one of the choices women should have with respect to their rights to family planning and birth control information and services? It's not about restricting or eliminating choices but about expanding them to cover the whole range of choices. And it's about the right of a women to make their choice without those restrictions and without the interference from anyone else.
A woman's right to control her birth control options, including abortion, is between her and her physician. And, no one else. Period. And especially anyone outside her family, like you or me, regardless of our view on abortion. While it's our right to free speech on issues, it's not our right to interfer with her choices and decisions. It's her mental, emotion, and physical health that matters.
That's it. It's that simple. And sorry guys, including myself, we're not in the issue. We're only fathers, and have responsibilities and obligations with respect to birth control issues, but no rights over a woman's rights to choices and her decisions. It's the old and simple idea, we're not the one who gets pregnant.
It angers me that people, and especially men, have the (proverbial or literal) balls to say they have rights over women. Especially women over any woman. What don't women understand? We're not interfering with your right not to consider abortion in your choices, so why do you think your values should be enforced on another woman? Are you really so inconsiderate and insensitive to their situation you want to demand you control their body?
Would like us controlling your body? Or other women doing the same to you? You wouldn't and you know it. So why be so arrogant about other women? They have rights just like you. We don't interfer with your choices and rights. But you expect to have that over other women?
I'm not going to apologize here for my view on abortion and women's rights. I don't owe anyone anything about my views here, it's the same as you, a right to free speech. You argue, and often demand, the right for the freedom of choices in our life and work, but then argue and even demand the right over abortion. Sorry, you can't pick and choose like this, and you know it.
And consider there really are situations where an abortion, over the current restrictions that anti-abortionist say are the maximum they'll toleratere (not personally accept, just policitally accept) won't help. And that's where and when there are clear medical evidence that the baby has a serious disease and their life would be short and not without pain. Is life so important you would demand a woman bring that baby into this world?
Would you? Even after the birth and the baby has a short and pain-filled life? Is that your view of life? Force the woman to care for a baby she didn't want because she believed it wouldn't be a good life for the baby? Who would know better, the mother or everyone else? And you would believe abortion wouldn't be a choice in her decision about her pregnancy?
I'm always fascinated with people who express the value and importance of human life in a pregnancy, but then aren't concerned about the life after birth. How many abandoned babies are there? They don't count? How many children are wanting for adoption? They don't count? How many children life in dangerous homes? They don't count?
You're only concerned about a mother and her baby? Your family experience and your personal beliefs are more important than human rights? And the rights of people to make their own decisions? And then you demand we can't interfer with your life? Are you really that dumb you can't see the contradiction, or you decide to be blind? Is that your belief, blindness to the consideration for others? But simply focuses on the idea of life than real life? Real people?
And so what it's worth, I accept your right to speak on the issue, I just don't have to accept or tolerate your right to interfer in the life of women for reason that aren't humane. And I'll argue you need to rethink your belief. That's my right.
A woman's right to control her birth control options, including abortion, is between her and her physician. And, no one else. Period. And especially anyone outside her family, like you or me, regardless of our view on abortion. While it's our right to free speech on issues, it's not our right to interfer with her choices and decisions. It's her mental, emotion, and physical health that matters.
That's it. It's that simple. And sorry guys, including myself, we're not in the issue. We're only fathers, and have responsibilities and obligations with respect to birth control issues, but no rights over a woman's rights to choices and her decisions. It's the old and simple idea, we're not the one who gets pregnant.
It angers me that people, and especially men, have the (proverbial or literal) balls to say they have rights over women. Especially women over any woman. What don't women understand? We're not interfering with your right not to consider abortion in your choices, so why do you think your values should be enforced on another woman? Are you really so inconsiderate and insensitive to their situation you want to demand you control their body?
Would like us controlling your body? Or other women doing the same to you? You wouldn't and you know it. So why be so arrogant about other women? They have rights just like you. We don't interfer with your choices and rights. But you expect to have that over other women?
I'm not going to apologize here for my view on abortion and women's rights. I don't owe anyone anything about my views here, it's the same as you, a right to free speech. You argue, and often demand, the right for the freedom of choices in our life and work, but then argue and even demand the right over abortion. Sorry, you can't pick and choose like this, and you know it.
And consider there really are situations where an abortion, over the current restrictions that anti-abortionist say are the maximum they'll toleratere (not personally accept, just policitally accept) won't help. And that's where and when there are clear medical evidence that the baby has a serious disease and their life would be short and not without pain. Is life so important you would demand a woman bring that baby into this world?
Would you? Even after the birth and the baby has a short and pain-filled life? Is that your view of life? Force the woman to care for a baby she didn't want because she believed it wouldn't be a good life for the baby? Who would know better, the mother or everyone else? And you would believe abortion wouldn't be a choice in her decision about her pregnancy?
I'm always fascinated with people who express the value and importance of human life in a pregnancy, but then aren't concerned about the life after birth. How many abandoned babies are there? They don't count? How many children are wanting for adoption? They don't count? How many children life in dangerous homes? They don't count?
You're only concerned about a mother and her baby? Your family experience and your personal beliefs are more important than human rights? And the rights of people to make their own decisions? And then you demand we can't interfer with your life? Are you really that dumb you can't see the contradiction, or you decide to be blind? Is that your belief, blindness to the consideration for others? But simply focuses on the idea of life than real life? Real people?
And so what it's worth, I accept your right to speak on the issue, I just don't have to accept or tolerate your right to interfer in the life of women for reason that aren't humane. And I'll argue you need to rethink your belief. That's my right.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Comcast revisted
Ok, I wrote an entry (previous one to this one) about Comcast and their new software package. And while I got some good responses from the company, noted on the previous post, it hasn't changed the problem, which is two fold with an old one.
One, the new software screwed up the HDMI color signal when changing from a HD channel to a regular digital channel. Turning the TV off and on clears problems as does unplugging and plugging in the HDMI connector on the back of the cable box. And running through the different other non-HD(MI) signals doesn't change the HDMI signal.
Since everything worked fine before the software upgrade, meaning the cable box wasn't a problem and tests have isolated it to the output signal from the cable box, it's clearly caused by the new software. It worked reasonably well Saturday but today (Sunday) it's never failed to fail the color switch.
And on top of that, the older problem of the bandwidth showed up in the middle of the first half of the Seattle-San Francisco game. Good timing. The HD signal began pixelating and then vanished altother, and was intermittent the rest of the game. This included losing channels 110, 111, 113, 505 and 537 for periods all afternoon. Right now, 113 (game) it's in and out.
Add to that the really old problem of the SPDIF audio signal problem, and you wonderful service to customers who like to use the full features of Comcast's advertised service, HD video and Dolby 5.1 audio.
Gee, thanks Comcast. Since there is little if any difference in price between the satellite companies and Comcast, it really makes you wonder if and where there is any real competition. Maybe the FCC should remove the monoply power of the cable companies. Surely a competitor couldn't be worse than Comcast? No? Well, maybe we should give it a try?
So, Comcast, do you really want my money and service? You have all the information to solve this problem along with my help (offered). How about some assurances you really did fully test your software (or your contractor)?
And the alternative now? I have to go through their 800 number to get a technician to replace a cable box with no assurance anything will be fixed, just like past times when nothing was fixed. And yes, I'm venting here over small problems. The lost channels was fixed, or so I thought, but obviously not. And the color switching is new.
And that's the story to date. I'll keep you posted here, with comments, or a new post, if anything significantly changes.
One, the new software screwed up the HDMI color signal when changing from a HD channel to a regular digital channel. Turning the TV off and on clears problems as does unplugging and plugging in the HDMI connector on the back of the cable box. And running through the different other non-HD(MI) signals doesn't change the HDMI signal.
Since everything worked fine before the software upgrade, meaning the cable box wasn't a problem and tests have isolated it to the output signal from the cable box, it's clearly caused by the new software. It worked reasonably well Saturday but today (Sunday) it's never failed to fail the color switch.
And on top of that, the older problem of the bandwidth showed up in the middle of the first half of the Seattle-San Francisco game. Good timing. The HD signal began pixelating and then vanished altother, and was intermittent the rest of the game. This included losing channels 110, 111, 113, 505 and 537 for periods all afternoon. Right now, 113 (game) it's in and out.
Add to that the really old problem of the SPDIF audio signal problem, and you wonderful service to customers who like to use the full features of Comcast's advertised service, HD video and Dolby 5.1 audio.
Gee, thanks Comcast. Since there is little if any difference in price between the satellite companies and Comcast, it really makes you wonder if and where there is any real competition. Maybe the FCC should remove the monoply power of the cable companies. Surely a competitor couldn't be worse than Comcast? No? Well, maybe we should give it a try?
So, Comcast, do you really want my money and service? You have all the information to solve this problem along with my help (offered). How about some assurances you really did fully test your software (or your contractor)?
And the alternative now? I have to go through their 800 number to get a technician to replace a cable box with no assurance anything will be fixed, just like past times when nothing was fixed. And yes, I'm venting here over small problems. The lost channels was fixed, or so I thought, but obviously not. And the color switching is new.
And that's the story to date. I'll keep you posted here, with comments, or a new post, if anything significantly changes.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Why Comcast really sucks
Update in comments following this post..-- I wrote a tale of problems I've had with Comcast, see July post. Well, apparently they really haven't learned much beyond pissing off customers. This week (Tuesday) they loaded new software into the system, meaning everyone's TV cable boxes. Well, it's all flash and dash, and a little better, but they obviously didn't fully test drive it.
If you subscribe to both analog, digital and HD channels, you will discover switching between HD and other channels loses the color in the other channels, and this can't be undone except by unplugging the cable box for 20-30 seconds which erases the memory, both the software and the schedule. This resets everything.
If you stay on digital channels. you're fine. And if you stay on HD channels, you're fine. But switch from HD to digital channels, and you're screwed, the color goes away, not entirely. You get a black and white and purple screen. On every digital channel. Yup. go back to square one and reset things.
And three days latter they haven't seen to caught on to tell anyone let alone appear to fix the problem. And e-mails? Well, I haven't received my answer yet which they promised yesterday.
So, Comcast, tell me why I should remain a customer when I'm paying good, hard-earned money, for what now? Black and white, and purple TV shows? Wow, the 1950's all over again. What a concept. Suffice it to say I'm not holding my breath, but I know it will eventually be fixed. But when ? That's the $64,000 question we're all paying for Comcast's answer.
Well, Comcast, it's in your court, or software now. And you still haven't fixed the Dolby 5.1 sound output problem that's been there since January 2006. But you did solve the bandwidth problem which was there for over a year.
If you subscribe to both analog, digital and HD channels, you will discover switching between HD and other channels loses the color in the other channels, and this can't be undone except by unplugging the cable box for 20-30 seconds which erases the memory, both the software and the schedule. This resets everything.
If you stay on digital channels. you're fine. And if you stay on HD channels, you're fine. But switch from HD to digital channels, and you're screwed, the color goes away, not entirely. You get a black and white and purple screen. On every digital channel. Yup. go back to square one and reset things.
And three days latter they haven't seen to caught on to tell anyone let alone appear to fix the problem. And e-mails? Well, I haven't received my answer yet which they promised yesterday.
So, Comcast, tell me why I should remain a customer when I'm paying good, hard-earned money, for what now? Black and white, and purple TV shows? Wow, the 1950's all over again. What a concept. Suffice it to say I'm not holding my breath, but I know it will eventually be fixed. But when ? That's the $64,000 question we're all paying for Comcast's answer.
Well, Comcast, it's in your court, or software now. And you still haven't fixed the Dolby 5.1 sound output problem that's been there since January 2006. But you did solve the bandwidth problem which was there for over a year.
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