05.27.08
Sigh
I’m gone for a week, and I manage to get 12 spam comments in the mean time. I think my CAPTCHA is broken, time to finally switch to ReCAPTCHA. Of course… I need to get my ‘net connection back first.
Our connection went mental on Wednesday - it didn’t die, it just sort of lost its mind. About half the pings we send time out, and when we do manage to connect to a site, it goes incredibly slowly. Most of the time I can’t connect to MSN, and when I do, about half my messages are never delivered or received. Worst of all, I can’t get my mail. I had 41 mails waiting for me when I last tried to check on Friday night, and surely I will be drowned in mail when I finally regain my connection.
The main problem is that my ISP, YouSee, has pretty terrible service. It’s not for a lack of trying, but their internal communication could use some work. It seems their support department and their technician department only communicate through some sort of helpdesk system, and I can’t contact the tech department directly. So I need to talk to the supporters, who then tell the technicians they should call me, and the technicians will then call “between 8 am and 4 pm”.
So, uh, I should just stay at home waiting for them to call…? The first appointment we made with them was for them to call us Monday between 8 and 10, but they never did. Then we called their supporters, who reminded the techs (via the helpdesk) to call on my cell phone, which they did 4 hours later. In the middle of my second viewing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. At this point my dad was home, but they didn’t think to try the home number when nobody answered my cell phone.
So, uh, if TDC Cable wanted more customers, maybe they should’ve improved their customer support workflow a little instead of just changing their name to YouSee?
After a week without ‘net at home, I’m seriously starting to go a little crazy. Not a lot, I’m just constantly slightly frustrated, restless, and uneasy. It’s a mix of boredom and the complete absense of my social network. Sure it’s not a disaster for TNM if I take a week or so off from the project, but it’s a week I could spend improving the mod and fixing bugs which is instead being spent playing GTA4 when I don’t really want to play at all.
Three things I’d take to a deserted island:
- My computer.
- A solar power plant.
- The Internet.
EER said,
May 27, 2008 at 13:57
You should take a nuclear power plant, it will probably last at least your lifetime
Lawrence said,
May 27, 2008 at 15:02
I’d certainly be insane if my internet was on the fritz for a week. At least when I go camping or something I have nature to entertain me.
Jonas said,
May 27, 2008 at 15:03
I’d have to handle all the depleted nuclear material myself though, and I don’t feel too comfortable with that. Plus, we all know a nuclear power plant in my hands would make Chernobyl look like a tiny mishap.
This just in: The technician will fix my connection next Tuesday. In one week. It was nice knowing you all, I will clearly not last until then.
fox said,
May 27, 2008 at 15:05
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/166179
fox said,
May 27, 2008 at 15:21
“The government has sent their best people to to the internet in order to repair it.”
Too bad Jonas won’t be able to read this in time. Goodbye, Jonas.
Lawrence said,
May 27, 2008 at 16:25
Tuesday!? That’s some crappy tech support o_0
Maybe you could take up knitting until it’s fixed.
I guess I’m on my own if I want to do a media update, then :-p I’ll wait until you’re around though, as I’m sure you’re bursting to post the actual news part.
EER said,
May 27, 2008 at 16:31
Yeah ok, if global warming pulls through you might just have enough energy for the PC.
@Trestkon: So there is news! HA! Now I’ll have to kidnap you to find out what exactly.
Jonas said,
May 27, 2008 at 16:54
Larry, why aren’t you on MSN!? You better be on Friday!
Going home now… back to my offline existence
EER said,
May 27, 2008 at 17:03
I have him locked up in my basement until he reveals the news.
Lawrence said,
May 27, 2008 at 17:05
The goverment frowns on MSN in the workplace :p Happily, I can still access the forums and several other excellent websites \o/
I’ll be on MSN on Friday, but not ’till after work, so at 5pm my time.
EER said,
May 27, 2008 at 17:07
HOW HAVE YOU ESCAPED!?!
Lawrence said,
May 27, 2008 at 18:04
Mirrors.
EER said,
May 27, 2008 at 18:18
I should have thought of that, damn magicians. All the same.
Jonas said,
May 27, 2008 at 21:27
5 pm your time is WAY TOO LATE. No can do.
When I worked for the government we weren’t allowed MSN either, but since we all had full admin access (the only benefit of being tech support), we didn’t give a damn.
(Also: W00T my message got through! And OMG! MY MAILS ARE EVER SO SLOWLY TRICKLING IN! Very… VERY slowly though
)
Lawrence said,
May 27, 2008 at 22:00
Even too late on a Friday?
Jonas said,
May 27, 2008 at 22:15
Too late if I have to hang around at work waiting for you, yes!
But it kinda looks like my internet connection has restored itself. I’m loathe to celebrate yet, but it looks promising!