I am not a happy camper. Staples has their "techie desk," and a month ago I had them diagnose for me why this computer had no audio.
Regular readers may recall that one of my new years' resolutions was: "Regarding technology: enter the 21st century. For example, get audio back for my computer. Get Skype capacity for it. Learn how to use -- heck, become comfortable using -- my scanner."
Anyway, mid-January, I went to the local Staples for the diagnosis. They told me its a simple matter -- the old "audio card" is kaput, they need a new one. At this point they made it seem as if I could expect the new audio card any hour. By the nonce, I left the computer in their care.
After the first day went by, I told them I needed the computer back, sound or no sound. But I left money on deposit with them so they could do whatever they had to do to get the part and give me a call.
More days go back, and January gives way to February. They start telling me that supply problems were created by the tsunamai in Japan, the flood in Thailand, every damn thing.
Last Thursday (Feb. 9th) they told me that their wholesaler, who is only about 40 miles away from them, expected to have the card the following day, so they'd probably have it Saturday.
On Monday (Feb. 13th) they couldn't explain to me what had happened to that card, but they were sure trying hard to get me one, you betcha.
On Wednesday (Feb. 15th) they told me that they had a firm date. February 21. Next Tuesday. A month after the diagnosis. I'm not sure how they can be "firm" about this, if they couldn't accurately ascertain what was happening 40 miles away last week. But hey ... patience ain't just the alter ego of Catwoman.
I'll let you know how it goes next week.
Showing posts with label New Years resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Years resolutions. Show all posts
17 February 2012
01 January 2012
Resolutions
Last year my New Year's Resolutions were straightforward. I have achieved four out of five of them.
1. I promised to take good care of my car. Well, I did, although the "car" involved in that resolution changed through no fault of my own! An idiot ran a red light in February and ruined my old Toyota. But it was in great shape right up to that moment, and I've done a fine job thus far with its replacement.
2. Keep up with the insurance on car. Done.
3. Venture outside of the borders of the U.S. Oops. Never got that done in 2011. I did get as far as Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, though.
4. Make progress toward the publication of another book. This, I've accomplished. I've accepted the fact that the publication of this book will have to be self-financed, but that is more of an observation on the state of the commercial publishing world today than on the merits of my book. At any rate, I've come to a point where the wording of the corresponding resolution for next year will be unconditional.
5. Keep track of Nassar Saber. Done. He is still writing about how he is working on his next book. Maybe 2012 will be the year it actually comes out. But I've decided not to include such tracking on my next list.
This year....
1. Get my car ("Doug") through December 2012 in good working order
2. Make an entrepreneurial investment. Shouldn't just talk a good game on the anarcho-cap stuff.
3. Regarding technology: enter the 21st century. For example, get audio back for my computer. Get Skype capacity for it. Learn how to use -- heck, become comfortable using -- my scanner.
4. Publish GWBCs and sell at least 1,000 copies.
5. Venture outside the borders of the U.S.
1. I promised to take good care of my car. Well, I did, although the "car" involved in that resolution changed through no fault of my own! An idiot ran a red light in February and ruined my old Toyota. But it was in great shape right up to that moment, and I've done a fine job thus far with its replacement.
2. Keep up with the insurance on car. Done.
3. Venture outside of the borders of the U.S. Oops. Never got that done in 2011. I did get as far as Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, though.
4. Make progress toward the publication of another book. This, I've accomplished. I've accepted the fact that the publication of this book will have to be self-financed, but that is more of an observation on the state of the commercial publishing world today than on the merits of my book. At any rate, I've come to a point where the wording of the corresponding resolution for next year will be unconditional.
5. Keep track of Nassar Saber. Done. He is still writing about how he is working on his next book. Maybe 2012 will be the year it actually comes out. But I've decided not to include such tracking on my next list.
This year....
1. Get my car ("Doug") through December 2012 in good working order
2. Make an entrepreneurial investment. Shouldn't just talk a good game on the anarcho-cap stuff.
3. Regarding technology: enter the 21st century. For example, get audio back for my computer. Get Skype capacity for it. Learn how to use -- heck, become comfortable using -- my scanner.
4. Publish GWBCs and sell at least 1,000 copies.
5. Venture outside the borders of the U.S.
01 January 2010
Resolutions
My resolutions from last year were as follows:
1. Resume my morning walk.
2. Be more frugal in general, this year. Pay down debts.
3. More specifically, don't leave the US this year (travelling is my most expensive indulgence).
4. Forget about the novel. Focus on production/sale of a non-fiction work on the criminal prosecution of insider trading.
5. Learn some Cantonese.
6. Don't lose glasses.
The results? I did pretty well on (1) -- walking early in most reasonably clement mornings.
I have succeeded with (3), but it is chiefly meaningful as a token of (2), and I can't claim success with (2) in general.
I haven't gotten anywhere with a work on insider trading, so black marks for that.
I didn't learn any Cantonese.
I have hung on to my glasses, but I can't give myself a gold star for that, since one of the two lenses keeps popping out. I need to get a kit and figure out how to fix that for myself when it happens.
It has been my custom at this point to let you in on my resolutions for the coming twelve months. I'm afraid that custom is one I have to bring to an end -- or at least a hiatus -- now. My resolutions for 2010 will have to stay offline. If things do work out, though, I'll tell you about it a year hence.
1. Resume my morning walk.
2. Be more frugal in general, this year. Pay down debts.
3. More specifically, don't leave the US this year (travelling is my most expensive indulgence).
4. Forget about the novel. Focus on production/sale of a non-fiction work on the criminal prosecution of insider trading.
5. Learn some Cantonese.
6. Don't lose glasses.
The results? I did pretty well on (1) -- walking early in most reasonably clement mornings.
I have succeeded with (3), but it is chiefly meaningful as a token of (2), and I can't claim success with (2) in general.
I haven't gotten anywhere with a work on insider trading, so black marks for that.
I didn't learn any Cantonese.
I have hung on to my glasses, but I can't give myself a gold star for that, since one of the two lenses keeps popping out. I need to get a kit and figure out how to fix that for myself when it happens.
It has been my custom at this point to let you in on my resolutions for the coming twelve months. I'm afraid that custom is one I have to bring to an end -- or at least a hiatus -- now. My resolutions for 2010 will have to stay offline. If things do work out, though, I'll tell you about it a year hence.
01 January 2009
Resolutions, old and new
It's time to come to terms with my resolutions for 2008, and how I did or didn't do. Then to launch the new ones.
Last year at this time I wrote as follows:
1. Set my feet down in some far Eastern city at some point this year
2. Learn some Cantonese and/or Mandarin
3. Weigh no more than 180 at some point this year
4. Forget about agents, pitch my novel outline directly to book editors
5. The Met. In a Tux.
I can credit myself with success on points 1 and 5 on that list.
As to (2), I bought Cantonese-language tapes and listened to them prior to my travels. But the only but that has stuck in my mind is the word for "thank you," which I used liberally in Hong Kong. But I don't thing "dah-jay" (a more-or-less phonetic rendition of that word) by itself warrants a claim of success for (2)! I'm going to make it a carry-over.
Numbers (3) and (4) are even more abject failures. Further, I went backwards this year in one crucial respect. I've lost the habit of taking daily morning walks. I want to reacquire that one.
Also, I should mention here that I lost my prescriptionglasses well traveling in mid-December. I've been using drugstore glasses since. I've got to re-acquire new proper eyeglasses and resolve to get through a year without losing them.
The new list of resolutions is as follows:
1. Resume my morning walk.
2. Be more frugal in general, this year. Pay down debts.
3. More specifically, don't leave the US this year (travelling is my most expensive indulgence).
4. Forget about the novel. Focus on production/sale of a non-fiction work on the criminal prosecution of insider trading.
5. Learn some Cantonese.
6. Don't lose glasses.
Last year at this time I wrote as follows:
1. Set my feet down in some far Eastern city at some point this year
2. Learn some Cantonese and/or Mandarin
3. Weigh no more than 180 at some point this year
4. Forget about agents, pitch my novel outline directly to book editors
5. The Met. In a Tux.
I can credit myself with success on points 1 and 5 on that list.
As to (2), I bought Cantonese-language tapes and listened to them prior to my travels. But the only but that has stuck in my mind is the word for "thank you," which I used liberally in Hong Kong. But I don't thing "dah-jay" (a more-or-less phonetic rendition of that word) by itself warrants a claim of success for (2)! I'm going to make it a carry-over.
Numbers (3) and (4) are even more abject failures. Further, I went backwards this year in one crucial respect. I've lost the habit of taking daily morning walks. I want to reacquire that one.
Also, I should mention here that I lost my prescriptionglasses well traveling in mid-December. I've been using drugstore glasses since. I've got to re-acquire new proper eyeglasses and resolve to get through a year without losing them.
The new list of resolutions is as follows:
1. Resume my morning walk.
2. Be more frugal in general, this year. Pay down debts.
3. More specifically, don't leave the US this year (travelling is my most expensive indulgence).
4. Forget about the novel. Focus on production/sale of a non-fiction work on the criminal prosecution of insider trading.
5. Learn some Cantonese.
6. Don't lose glasses.
05 December 2008
Heading to the Met
I'm going to NYC one week from tomorrow -- December 13th -- for an evening performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni.
This time I've rented a tux in advance. I know I risk looking goofily overdressed, but hey: I haven't worn a tux since a mid-1970s prom best forgotten. I'm bloody well gonna wear one in 8 days.
But enough about me. What about the opera? Here's the story.
And the cast? Erwin Schrott has the title role. Dorothea Roschmann is Donna Elvira: Tamar Iveri, Donna Anna: Isabel Leonard, Zerlina: Matthew Polenzani, Don Ottavio: Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Leporello: Joshua Bloom, Masetto. Kwangchul Youn plays the The Commendatore. Lothar Koenigs will conduct.
Ms Roschmann has only recently stepped into her role. Before Dec. 1, this production's Elvira was Petra-Maria Schitzer.
Going back a bit further, in the Vienna premier of this opera, in May 1788, the part was originated by a soprano with the lovely name Caterina Cavalieri. And wikipedia tells me that Catarina had studied voice with ... Antonio Salieri.
I imagine he was teaching her well, when he wasn't too occupied cursing his own mediocrity.
This time I've rented a tux in advance. I know I risk looking goofily overdressed, but hey: I haven't worn a tux since a mid-1970s prom best forgotten. I'm bloody well gonna wear one in 8 days.
But enough about me. What about the opera? Here's the story.
And the cast? Erwin Schrott has the title role. Dorothea Roschmann is Donna Elvira: Tamar Iveri, Donna Anna: Isabel Leonard, Zerlina: Matthew Polenzani, Don Ottavio: Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Leporello: Joshua Bloom, Masetto. Kwangchul Youn plays the The Commendatore. Lothar Koenigs will conduct.
Ms Roschmann has only recently stepped into her role. Before Dec. 1, this production's Elvira was Petra-Maria Schitzer.
Going back a bit further, in the Vienna premier of this opera, in May 1788, the part was originated by a soprano with the lovely name Caterina Cavalieri. And wikipedia tells me that Catarina had studied voice with ... Antonio Salieri.
I imagine he was teaching her well, when he wasn't too occupied cursing his own mediocrity.
01 January 2008
Janus
Here we are again, and here are the two faces of Janus. It's time to come to terms with my resolutions for 2007, and how I did or didn't do. Then to launch the new ones.
Last year at this time I wrote as follows:
"1. Breakthrough at work (I'll leave the nature of it indefinite here -- but I'll know it if it happens)
"2. Weigh no more than 185 at some point this year
"3. Contact agents/editors who might be interested in my novel on antebellum US. Begin work on revisions.
"4. Be in Dublin for Bloom's Day
"5. Follow-up on Reason publication, place something else there."
I can credit myself with success on points 2 and 4 on that list.
I accomplished 2 in early November, and again in mid-December. I'll make a related resolution, going a bit further, for this year.
As to 3, I did contact some agents, but those who replied said they couldn't help me with the kind of book I'm trying to sell. And I did no work on revision at all. Black ball for me.
I was in Dublin, though, for Bloomsday 2007 and aye, a fun time I was havin'. There was no Bloomsday tour such as I had envisaged. There were various events that day centered on the James Joyce Centre, and I attended the breakfast. The novel has two breakfast scenes -- one at the castle and one at the Bloom household -- ingrediants from both were included. I also saw a play with a Joycean theme that evening, Himself and Joyce, and generally explored the city for myself the rest of my stay.
No follow-through on the Reason publication. Nor can I claim the kind of dramatic "breakthrough" I had in mind for my resolution 1 of last year, although my worklife has been satisfying in general this year. I feel that when a breakthrough comes, it will involve the rise of the far east within global finance and my ability to contribute to coverage of that trend.
So ... where is the new list of resolutions? Here:
2008
1. Set my feet down in some far Eastern city at some point this year
2. Learn some Cantonese and/or Mandarin
3. Weigh no more than 180 at some point this year
4. Forget about agents, pitch my novel outline directly to book editors
5. The Met. In a Tux.
Last year at this time I wrote as follows:
"1. Breakthrough at work (I'll leave the nature of it indefinite here -- but I'll know it if it happens)
"2. Weigh no more than 185 at some point this year
"3. Contact agents/editors who might be interested in my novel on antebellum US. Begin work on revisions.
"4. Be in Dublin for Bloom's Day
"5. Follow-up on Reason publication, place something else there."
I can credit myself with success on points 2 and 4 on that list.
I accomplished 2 in early November, and again in mid-December. I'll make a related resolution, going a bit further, for this year.
As to 3, I did contact some agents, but those who replied said they couldn't help me with the kind of book I'm trying to sell. And I did no work on revision at all. Black ball for me.
I was in Dublin, though, for Bloomsday 2007 and aye, a fun time I was havin'. There was no Bloomsday tour such as I had envisaged. There were various events that day centered on the James Joyce Centre, and I attended the breakfast. The novel has two breakfast scenes -- one at the castle and one at the Bloom household -- ingrediants from both were included. I also saw a play with a Joycean theme that evening, Himself and Joyce, and generally explored the city for myself the rest of my stay.
No follow-through on the Reason publication. Nor can I claim the kind of dramatic "breakthrough" I had in mind for my resolution 1 of last year, although my worklife has been satisfying in general this year. I feel that when a breakthrough comes, it will involve the rise of the far east within global finance and my ability to contribute to coverage of that trend.
So ... where is the new list of resolutions? Here:
2008
1. Set my feet down in some far Eastern city at some point this year
2. Learn some Cantonese and/or Mandarin
3. Weigh no more than 180 at some point this year
4. Forget about agents, pitch my novel outline directly to book editors
5. The Met. In a Tux.
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