Tag: help
I know that winter comes as a surprise to so many people, one moment it is sunny and the next it’s really quite cold. Then all of a sudden strange white stuff falls from the sky: what a surprise! Who would of thought that in the UK the temperature could drop bellow zero in winter?! I am sure it didn’t used to happen like that.
An open and sarcastic letter to my council, but it might easily refer to any other from what I have seen…
This June there will be local government and European Parliament elections in the UK, this will occupy many peoples minds and for the first time it will challenge me personally. Mainly because it looks like for the first time ever: I will be voting.Yes, I am twenty nine years old and I have not yet voted. Personally I have always disliked the idea and these are my reasons:
That struck me as an interesting comparison to consider:
Starbacks waste of water!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/blog/editors_corner/article/3239/
Cholera in Zimbabwe!?!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20081205/thl-zimbabwe-pleads-for-help-amid-growin-da1a740.html
Our call centre isn’t big, but then again it is very efficient and rarely has dropped or missed calls. Plus we have sufficient measures in place to allow us to call people back as soon as things slack off.
However, yesterday a client called to ask about something (which being a broadcast problem wasn’t our problem and wasn’t our fault), and he called during a busy period. After being on old for 4min 31seconds he was offered the opportunity of being called back rather than waiting, he could leave a message with his details and normally we call back within a couple of hours at most. He left this message:
NSFW: http://www.orbit.me.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1206
Pleasent chap to use that kind of bad language to some people who are there to help and who weren’t actually responsible for his troubles. But it’s our box they are using it must be our fault.
He was called back, around 10min later, funnily he hadn’t left his phone number on the message but everything is logged anyway. He was very sheepish and humble; surprised to be called back by someone so helpful.
A lovely article in the Guardian newspaper starts with:
"A quarter of Freeview households in Wales and Northern Ireland – and a fifth in the Meridian and Anglia regions of England – will not have full access to the digital terrestrial TV channels after analogue switchoff, according to media regulator Ofcom"
I attend a large number of meetings where this subject is covered. Yes, quite a few people won’t get all the muxes, but that is for those commercial channels to decide if they want that extra coverage (much like it is their choice to exist or not). The three core ‘PSB’ muxes will be available to nearly everyone who currently receives a TV signal, and in many cases reception may be improved after switch-over.
An excellent example of sensationalist journalism based on selective statistics interpretation. So, after switch off people will have more services, but because of logistical reasons not all of the possible channels. However that’s not good enough for some people and they feel it’s their god given right to watch shopping channels.
One thing that this doesn’t take into account is current research work which could help in the long run such as same-channel COFDM repeaters which could be wind or solar powered to fill in coverage and there will be more options in the next few years. Not to mention that satellite services are soon to be even more accessible to a wider range of consumers due to the opening up of competition in the market place.
Please save me from this world of head-line grabbing journalism… to paraphrase the classic line: "Lies, Damn Lies and Journalism."
So,
We've just returned from Venice, it was lovely and well worth the time. I realised several things while I was out there:
1) I still hate crowds and tourists (wish I could take a tazer on holiday with me)
2) The average American tourist is the most annoying in the world.
3) The Italians are more helpful and friendly than I could have imagined.
4) It's expensive to be trapped on an island who's main income is tourism.
5) Book major attractions off-season and book hotels directly.