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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Email vs Phone

Okay, so in today's world, when texting is a major part of people's lives, why do some people/companies still insist on using the phone? If they have a website, with an email contact, then they should be able to respond to a question via email . . . shouldn't they? It drives me nuts when I email a company with a simple question and I get an email response to call them. Why? If they can take a few moments to type in the words, "call us at this number to discuss your concerns", then they should be able to type in a direct response to an inquiry.

I can understand if it's something private or secure (such as giving account numbers etc.). Then the phone is probably a better choice.

What if you register with an organization via their website and all communication is done via email, then suddenly you have a request and their response is to ask for your phone number. Why can't they respond via email then too?

Yes, as you can probably tell, I don't like doing business over the phone, especially when it can be done via email or online chat. Of course, it doesn't help when you call customer service and they put a person with a deep foreign accent on the other end so that you can't understand a word anyway.

I realize for a lot of people, it's easier to talk than to type, but then I have to ask again, why have a contact email if they really don't want to respond via email?

I do like, however, some places that ask whether you want to be contacted via email or phone. At least they give you an option to choose and don't just demand you call them or ask for your phone number to respond.

What do you think -- phone vs email for simple stuff?

Additional rant:

Okay, so I wanted to downgrade my home phone service. You can't do it online. You have to call the idiots. I call and am put on hold, and then I speak to one girl. She says she can't do it so she has to transfer me to someone who can. I wait on hold for a few minutes longer and get a second girl. She wastes about ten minutes of my time until she says she can't do it either. She has to transfer me to yet another person. I wait on hold for awhile this time and I get to the third person, who the bloody hell can't hear me and I can barely hear her! So I end up hanging up and not getting my issue resolved, after wasting a good half an hour on the phone (when it could have been fixed with a simple ten second email request). What's so great about the darn phone? I don't have time to wait on hold and be transferred around. That's ridiculous.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Word Whomp

For more Word Whomp go to Pogo to play 100s of Free Online Games!For more Word Whomp go to Pogo to play 100s of Free Online Games!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

More Food For Thought!

Orson Scott Card is the man! Check out his weekly columns at The Ornery American. Here's a good one:

One Party Rule Forever!

or this one:

Putting the Press in Their Place

Hmm, makes you wonder just what is really going on in america today, huh?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Monday, February 2, 2009

Groundhog Day

Well, surprise, surprise. The groundhog saw his shadow this morning, predicting another six weeks of winter. Like that's no news. I can't remember if there was ever an early spring in my lifetime. Does anyone know if there ever was, and if so, what year?

The records indicate that since 1887, the groundhog has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years. So what was the last year when he hadn't seen his shadow, and did we really have an early spring that year?

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early.

Food for Thought

Although it's a bit late now for election "truths", I just thought these essays from Orson Scott Card were very interesting.

Nobody Was Listening

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

Upholding the Constitution

What Really Matters As We Vote

America Unplugged!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Pop Quiz, Hotshot!

Just curious.



1. Would you be disappointed in a book where the main hero is killed off?



2. Would you want to read a book where the bad guy gets away at the end?



Friday, January 23, 2009

How many rejections is too much?

Just a quick question. How many rejections should a story get before you should dump the story? Is there a limit? Do too many rejections mean the story sucks, or should you never give up? What's your take on this nightmarish aspect of the writing process?

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Be Wary of False Gods (Messiah's)!

Exodus 20:3-6 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Another One Finished!

Okay, folks. I just finished a novel-length manuscript and could use a few readers to help me improve the story. If you're interested, email me at blackwidow@shelbypatrick.com. The story is approximately 300 pages long, double-spaced.

Here's a summary of the story:

She met him online. He was sweet and charming and so adorable. They chatted for a year until he invited her to come visit. She gladly accepted, but her two-week vacation time in Montana turned into a two-week nightmare as she became prey for a serial killer. Now the man she came to see would either have to step up and become her savior or reveal himself as her stalker. It was time to become one of THE HUNTED.

The title is still being worked on.

If you're interested in reading any of this story, I need readers that will give good constructive criticism -- on grammar, sentence structure, plot line, etc.

Thanks in advance.