Month: September 2007

Advertising Age – Garfield The Blog – Comcast Must Die

Carl Setzer

Advertising Age – Garfield The Blog – Comcast Must Die

Reading this first reminds me of my own Comcastic experience (shudder). However, I also think about these at a larger level. Customer service is a serious problem industry-wide, and it might be so throughout significant segments of the economy. Consider Jeff Jarvis’ “Dell Hell” campaign, or the constant vilification of every cellular carrier (just read the comments in any CNET carrier review). Service is dreadful on a macro level. Those companies that specialize in exceptional customer experiences (Nordstrom’s the first to come to mind) seem to be thriving. The anger that these experiences generates needs to considered by these companies. No amount of PR will rebuild relationships thus sacrificed. Steven Covey’s model of the emotional bank account is apt. Sadly, so many companies are grossly overdrawn, and will be forced to declare bankruptcy.

Online predators keep the police busy

Carl Setzer

Online predators keep the police busy
Seattle police detectives in the Task Force on Internet Crimes Against Children haven’t seen a significant drop in their caseload and say online predators aren’t deterred — even though most end up convicted.

 

What I find the most fascinating is that this tactic still works, and works well for the police. You’d think that the predator community would have “wised up” when you consider the increasing numbers of arrests and captures, along with the high profile nature of so many of these busts (many on live tv). Perhaps this speaks to a hidden desire to be caught, as Freud would’ve said. Or that this disorder causes a shutdown of certain logic centers. Or, perhaps, the compulsive need is so great as to blind them to the likelihood of capture and arrest. Hard to say, I’m afraid.

Rock bottom for Palm and Hawkins? | One More Thing – CNET News.com

Carl Setzer

Rock bottom for Palm and Hawkins? | One More Thing – CNET News.com: “The company is in danger of watching a category it helped create leave it in the dust.”

This sums up the situation at Palm rather well. It’s quite sad, as I’ve been a Palm fan for years. But this year, when my Treo was near the end of its useful life, I went with a Blackberry 8700 and have been quite pleased. The issues and anguish of the Palm have become seriously entrenched. I know several companies that were complete Treo operations (mine included) that are now completely pulling the line. With Good porting it’s service to anyone who asks, the new Exchange server/Windows Mobile synergy, as well as Blackberry offering serious new offering every few weeks (so it seems), I can’t help but think that the Treo is doomed. And, to be frank, if the Treo is doomed, Palm is doomed. PDA’s are dying out. I only know a handful of people who use them anymore. So many more use a smartphone, or are unwilling to go that digital.

Palm needs to do something quite spectacular in the next few months in order to be relevant. Perhaps something as dramatic as retooling the entire line. I’d like them to get a Treo 680-esque device that breaks the $100 price point (not with rebates, but the unlocked device straight from Palm), as well as a whiz-bang upper end device. The smartphone’s most underserved area is the low-end bracket, and if they could secure this, along with offering something to capture the imagination, they might just pull themselves back together.

Leech invasion makes residents see red

Carl Setzer

Leeches really suck.

(Forwarded to me – I’ll track down a link soon)

Leech invasion makes residents see red

 

TOKYO (Reuters) – Long confined to the mountains, Japanese leeches are invading residential areas, causing swelling, itching and general discomfort with their blood-thirsty ways.

 

Yamabiru, or land leeches, have become a problem in 29 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, according to the Institute for Environmental Culture, a private research facility in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo.

 

The little suckers are riding into towns and villages, hitching lifts on deer and boar whose numbers have grown due to re-forestation and dwindling rural populations.

 

Once there, the leeches, which measure in at about 1.5 cms before a meal, take to feasting on warm human flesh.

 

"Yamabiru will climb into people’s socks and stay for about an hour, growing five to 10 times in size. Unlike with water leeches, people don’t immediately realize they’ve been bitten. Only later when they see their blood-soaked feet, do they realize what has happened," said Shigekazu Tani, the institute’s director.

 

"The real problem is that the bleeding won’t stop and the affected area swells up and really itches," he added.

 

The best way to deal with the tiny vampires?

 

"We can cut down trees and mow long grass to dissuade wild animals from coming too close, and create sunny habitats that are inhospitable to leeches. We can also spread pesticides that kill the leeches," Tani said.

 

"Or we can just tough it out."

 

Short Celtic Christianity Rant « haligweorc

Carl Setzer

Short Celtic Christianity Rant « haligweorc
Reading Derek’s post at Haligweorc, I’m deeply struck by my ignorance on the Celtic faith. I’ve been an Celtophile for many years, but have not had the opportunity to delve quite a deeply as I would like. Particularly, the works of Pelagius. I’m familiar with the critical debate between Pelagius and St. Augustine, but haven’t gone further than the summation. I know of Columcille, Patrick, and many others. In other words, I have breadth but lack depth. Perhaps the dearest irony is reading this while listening to Liveireland.com.

Continuing the spiritual theme, I just finished reading Francis S. Collins “The Language Of God”. Dr. Collins presents a compelling argument for the coexistence of faith and science. I found the book interesting and well written, and well beyond the scope of my scientific knowledge. Here’s one review of a dissenter, Sam Harris. However, Harris’ derision of everything spiritual and contemptuously arrogant tone detract from his argument. In the end, whatever merits Harris might have are offset by his rhetoric. A much better written, one is Gert Korthof. Mr. Korthof offers and much more detailed and rationale critique of the work. (I cite Mr. Harris since it’s the first critique listed when the book is Googled).

Both thoughts point out to me core intellectual weaknesses of mine. I lack depth in both science as well as theology. Limited by time and energy, I will need to limit my studies and accept a level of ignorance on other subjects. This I do with sadness.