Back at it .. Since I can't find the motivation (or time) to write anything of substance, the least I can do is share some links. I've set up my new del.icio.us account to post links here daily. They'll most likely be music, technology, or Internet -related (with the occasional silly YouTube video, I'm sure).
2:11:41 PM chica1153: do you want to meet at the PO? 2:11:55 PM chica1153: omg! I just got wat PO box stands for! 2:12:03 PM bmartus: HAHAHA 2:12:11 PM chica1153: PO=post office! 2:12:11 PM bmartus: JACKIE!
1. Pinback - Nautical Anthems : It's a rarities/b-sides/unreleased compilation. If you like Pinback, get this. Enough said. (sample) 2. Man Man - Six Demon Bag : Wikipedia says: "Man Man is an American experimental rock band from Philadelphia. Their style has been compared to a mixture of Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, and Captain Beefheart. Man Man is known for their distinctive live shows where the members of the band dress in white tennis outfits and don war paint. During their sets the band does not take breaks between songs in order to keep a constant energy level." When I first heard it, I thought Gypsy Punk. It's definitely weird, but it's very cool. (sample, sample) 3. Tunng - Mother's Daughter and Other Songs : If you like The Postal Service and Pinback, you'll like this. Wikipedia classifies it as Folktronica. Think acoustic guitar + sampled drum beats + vocals + other samples. It's great. (sample)
automated: Thank you for calling DTE Energy. Please say your 12 digit account number.
me: 0 .. 0 .. # .. * .. # .. 0 .. 0 ..
automated: I'm sorry, I didn't
me: <dialing> 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. # .. # .. #
automated: I don't understand. Let me send you onto one of our associates.
lady: Hello, DTE Energy.
me: Hi. I have a billing issue, can you please help me?
lady: Yes I can. <gets account info> Ok, what's your question?
me: My online banking this morning showed two pending charges for $170* this month. Can you verify that only one of these will go through and the other will be removed?
lady: <few minutes of silence> Oh, we have a news bulletin -- the billing system is charging people twice. What will happen is, once the second one goes through, we will automatically refund that amount to you.
me: I guess that's a problem, then, eh?
lady: Yes, you are among many who will get charged twice. We are having trouble with our auto-pay system. me: You don't say. This is the third time in 6 months I've had to call in and correct your billing mistakes. How about you take me off of auto pay. Your auto-pay system sucks.
lady: Ok, I've removed you can I do anything else?
me: Nope. Bye. <click>
* Jackie likes to be as cold as a penguin. Or eskimo.
For two non-consecutive months in the past year, DTE Energy auto pay has decided to send me a $0.00 bill, and then follow it up the next month with both months bills combined in one. After fixing it once, it took 2 months for it to come back again. They were able to fix it .. or did they? Grr.
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