Journals : 2002 : November

Previously...

4 November 2002 | Link this

So just how many PacBell technicians does it take to get a DSL connection working properly? Evidently, the answer is "more than three", as that's how many we've had here so far and it's still screwed up. After two months. And still (here's a surprise), no one at Pac Bell has accepted responsibility for the problem...

Since I'm now convinced that everyone employed by SBC Pacific Bell either is a flaming moron or just doesn't give a shit, I'm asking online. The symptoms are thus: (1) there's intermittent data noise on the voice line (sometimes it's so loud you can barely hear the phone), and (2) intermittent inability to make a data connection unless we simultaneously pick up the phone and make a voice call. The problem seems to be much worse on weekdays during the daytime. Any ideas?

The lastest guess (from a technician who arrived after the end of his appointed time, kept two of my friends waiting an hour for dinner, and didn't apologize once) is that maybe we need to rewire the line into the apartment. This would, of course, result in a fee, making me wonder why I've been paying for that inside wiring maintenance contract all these years...

Ever tried asking a company like Pac Bell a rational question like that? They don't even try to answer; they just sit there looking (or sounding) befuddled...

5 November 2002 | Link this

Voted. Feel dirty. Must shower...

5 November 2002 | Link this

Funny, those projects you just sort of get started on even when you had no intention of doing so. Tonight's involved cleaning up the old bookmarks file. I killed off a few I'd had around since about 1995 (many of which havn't worked since 1996) and organized the rest. I keep a pretty organized set of bookmarks anyway, but it was getting a little hairy in there...

Now if I could just do something with the "in progess" directory on my hard drive...

7 November 2002 | Link this

Without hesitation, I deem the first paragraph of this page the best-expressed and most sensible election commentary I've read on the web this week...

Last time I checked, the apocalypse had not yet occurred. And those who are currently feeling suicidal, planning that move to Canada, or whatever will probably -- given the passage of a few days -- find some excuse to continue living life pretty much just as they've been doing for the past few years...

Today in San Francisco? A beautiful, stormy day with a rare clap or two of thunder, even. I just get all giddy when the rainy season finally arrives...

10 November 2002 | Link this

Fucking miserable Pac Bell DSL. This is the first reasonably stable connection I've had since Friday, and it's Sunday now and it's too late for me to care. That said, though, Mark did manage to get his revamped site uploaded. You should go see it now...

Technician number four comes tomorrow afternoon...

11 November 2002 | Link this

After two and a half months, I think the DSL issue is finally resolved. And the connection is about five times faster too. That vibration you just felt was a dramatic shift in my disposition...