Posts by Fatman 2400 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Apr 2008
Is people abandoning landlines, and going to a cell phone for their calls.
I decided to ditch Verizon back in 2013 when their single locally limited landline went beyond $40.00. Once you add in the fees charged to get any kind of long distance service tacked on top of that already expensive cost, you were getting close to a 'price pain point' and one had to wonder if a copper landline was worth it.
At the time I looked at Virgin Mobile PayLo plans which allowed calling costs to drop to as low as $25.00 a month.
Decision was simple - good fucking bye Verizon.
I resisted Verizon's constant pleas to switch to FiOS, but I had reservations about Verizon's intentions. In my market there were competing local exchange carriers who were operating by renting Verizon's wires due to the Telcom Act of 1996; but I was quite certain the Act did not cover those subscribers who cut loose the copper in favor of FiOS. I never trusted Verizon to act in the consumer's interest unless they can tack on all kinds of fees and surcharges.
One last thing, I was so dammed lucky that I did not experience all of the bullshit former Verizon customers got once Frontier took over in our area:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/can-frontier-communications-get-over-its-fumbling-takeover-of-verizon-fios/2271934/
It is clear that Frontier's executives have forgotten one very basic rule: excessive debt will drag you down. In times where revenues come up short, you still have to service debt.
<quote>When I was born the possibility that this could happen would be inconceivable to most people (many seem unable to grasp that fact even now) but it is the case. It must seem as inconceivable to must USians but, having watched it happen to the UK, I have no difficulty visualising it happening to the US.</quote>
It will be a shocking day when the rest of the world stands up and tells the US Gubmit to
"FUCK OFF!!!!"
An appropriate icon: https://c7.uihere.com/files/534/152/58/the-finger-fuck-decal-youtube-youtube.jpg
<quote>Any server farm worth using would have at least one spare rack already in place just waiting to be connected, powered up and configured. Then the faulty rack can be removed to a workshop for attention.</quote>
Said the beancounter:
"You can not do that as it represents an unnecessary CAPEX cost, which does not increase shareholder value. Budget request denied."
<quote>the world's first pneumatic suppository – so the Boss understands firsthand what a pain in the arse is</quote>
I have a better suggestion for demonstrating what a pain in the ass is:
Conceal a 5 HP, 3600RPM motor under the seat of an executive chair with a 12inch diameter concrete drill bit coupled directly to the motor's shaft. Mount this on a pedal operated mechanism to force drill bit upward, through the seat. Convince your victim executive in need of education to take a seat. Fasten restraining straps. Fire up the motor, and finally demonstrate exactly what a PITA (he/she) is.
Me Too!
At home, I have a very low volume printing requirement, and just wasting ink """cleaning the ink cartridges""" suddenly didn't make sense; especially after taking a look at the cost of ink. So I went for a low end Brother wireless lazer printer, and tossed the HP inkjet into the garbage can.
Actually, the saying goes:
You socialize the risks and privatize the profits.
Case in point:
Progress Energy (now a part of Duke Energy) bribing providing campaign contributions to lobbying Florida Legislators to allow billing customers in advance for a nuke plant, which was never built.
Some background (if you are interested): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levy_County_Nuclear_Power_Plant
Do you remember the days of using QIC tapes as backups???
One day, after a catastrophic hard drive crash, I had to rebuild a system from scratch. First load the operating system on a new drive, and then restore the system with the most recent backup.
I put in the O/S install tape, did a re-tension, and the fucking band snapped. Stopped dead in the water because of a 1/8 inch wide tension band.
Luckily for me, another company locally used the same hardware system, and I was able to use their install tape to load the O/S. Saved my ass!
After that, and making sure that manglement understood where I was 'coming from', we started purging all QIC tapes older than 3 years from routine backup use.
I have always thought that Apple was rotten to the core, and the FBI were the good guys.
But in light of the FBI's latest antics, and the general behavior of US Government since 9/11, it looks like the positions have switched, and the US Government is now rotten to the core.
We all know what distortions of the truth Marketing types are capable of.
I wonder if the timing of this announcement was made to put pause to plans to spend budget cash on hold awaiting its release ("Oh, look at what is coming soon, hold that purchase order.") Me cynical? Of course!
<quote>You say that like there was a 'correct' way to do it?</quote>
Actually, there is. Especially, in her case, after all, she is a judge. And, that way is to contact the FBI, and let the Feds handle it. IF the DA is spying on her without the backing of a court order, then (s)he (the DA) is in a lot of hot water, and could face Federal charges.
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