Port Fourteen http://www.port14.com Something attempting to be useful, mostly failing. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:32:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Adventures in Customer Support: Sprint http://www.port14.com/2011/10/adventures-in-customer-support-sprint/ http://www.port14.com/2011/10/adventures-in-customer-support-sprint/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:29:27 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=103 I find myself looking for a new phone, and potentially a new carrier. I tried to check with Sprint, my current carrier, to acquire a discount of some kind in obtaining a new handset after being about 1 year in to a 2 year contract (which they have done in the past). I went to a Sprint store and after being told that I’m essentially screwed and that I have to wait out the contract before they can do anything at all.

Mathematically, I could walk into a Sprint store, terminate my contract, pay my Early Termination Fee, walk out, walk back in, sign up for a new line of service and get a phone for less than what I would be able to right now or even what I would be able to after waiting for my contract to end.

What follows is the chat session with a Sprint rep, in all of its hilarity. Sprint, if you somehow come across this post, here’s everything you’re doing wrong. My comments in italic bold.

Jessica: Thank you for visiting Sprint. What questions can I answer for you today?
You: Hi there. I’m currently with Sprint, and at about a 1 year mark in a 2 year contract.
Jessica: Thank you for your patience. If your question is account or order related, please have your order number, account number and PIN ready.
Jessica: That’s Great! That’s Questionable!
Jessica: What questions can I answer for you?
You: What I was wondering is why I can only get $150 off of a new phone after that contract is complete, when I can walk into a sprint store, pay my ETF, sign up for a new account and get $450 off of a phone
You: It just seems like bad math, unless I’m missing something. Oh, I’m missing a few things.
Jessica: I will be happy to assist you regarding your discount query.
Jessica: Let’s move this chat and make it a window of its own. It will be out of the way and I can stay with you in case you have any questions or any concerns. Just click on the “Yes” button below and we can continue.
Jessica: Simply click on the white “Yes” button below and we can continue.
Jessica: Thank you for moving the chat.
You: not a problem.
You: I apologize if I seem a little frustrated, but after doing some shopping around and a fairly bad experience at a sprint store today, I’m finding little reason to stick with Sprint. I get this is a human (I think it’s a human, unless this thing is damn close to passing the Customer Support Turing Test) and they’re subject to press these idiotic policies. It’s not “Jessica”‘s fault.
Jessica: No problem. Just to confirm, are you talking about $150 Upgrade Savings?
You: Yes
You: Is that $150 in addition to whatever other discounts are available? If so, is there any plan in place for a 1-year upgrade?
Jessica: One moment please.
You: Sure thing… no rush
Jessica: Thank you for your patience.
Jessica: I would like to inform you that $150 Upgrade Savings is the symbolic discount.In this you also get an instant rebate.Over all conclusion is that when you are eligible for $150 upgrade savings , then you can purchase the device on online price. INVOKE THE BABELFISH.
You: “Symbolic discount”?
You: So, there’s not really a definitive amount that I would be getting in waiting.
Jessica: Actually this means that $150 upgrade savings doesn’t means that $150 will be deducted from the regular price. But it means that you are now eligible to get the device online for the much lower online price. “What we’re saying you’re going to get is not what you’re going to get.” Strangely, this is unsurprising.
Jessica: Amount depends upon the device you are selecting at the time of upgrading. “So if you buy a $100 phone, don’t think for a second that we’d be handing your plebian ass 50 bucks!”
You: So $150 isn’t really $150.
Jessica: If you are eligible for $150 upgrade savings then this means that you are eligible to receive a savings of $150 with an instant rebate and with a two-year contract extension. By upgrading online, we waive your shipping and handling charges.
Jessica: How are things coming along? She asks after 10 seconds… I’m still mildly reeling from the 150!=150 math problem.
You: OK, so to go back to an earlier point – at the moment I could end my contract early, pay my ETF, get a new account with a new phone and still come out ahead rather than waiting for about one more year. There was a policy in place a few months back that allowed me to get a new phone every year. Is anything like that in place currently?
Jessica: We recently have made changes to our upgrade program which will eliminate the 1 year upgrade savings of $75 with a new 2 year agreement and $25 savings with a 1 year agreement.
Jessica: Are you still with me?
You: Which, if the previous logic holds, $75 is not really $75. ZING! In any event, what is keeping me with Sprint? If I cannot upgrade my phone at a reduced cost, and my ETF is more than offset by the savings in getting a new account with Sprint or another carrier, what is the advantage of staying with Sprint at this time?
Jessica: One moment please. BABELFISH, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
Jessica: Thank you for holding.
Jessica: I appreciate your patience!
You: No prob! I appreciate your help and time. Please still be a human…
Jessica: Customers eligible for $150 with two-year subscriber agreement can either get $150 off or Sprint’s nationally advertised price on a new device, whichever is better. Nationally advertised price reflects regular price minus all eligible mail-in and instant rebates.
Jessica: &75 is off the regular price of phone. $75 & $25 upgrade savings are no more offered after the policy change.
Jessica: $75*** is SKYNET’S WEAKNESS IS SPELLING. RELEASE THE SPELLING BEES.
Jessica: How are things coming along? Jessica may be moonlighting as a chatsex operator.
You: So in summation, there’s no early upgrade path or any customer retention program in place for someone in my situation?
Jessica: There are over 250 million valuable reasons to choose Sprint. We’re the only carrier that lets you call Any Mobile, Anytime with any one of our data plans. 250 Million? The ad copywriter for this one is really stretching it.
Jessica: Our data plans include unlimited GPS, whereas AT&T and Verizon charge an additional fee every month. When did they write this line? 2000? Google Maps, scallawag!
Jessica: Sprint’s NOW network is larger than AT&T and T-Mobile in voice and data. That’s not hard.
You: Gotcha. Thanks for your time Jessica. You could have just said “No, you’re fucked and our policies are stupid” and saved us both some time. Time that I will use to find another carrier.
Jessica: You’re welcome.
Jessica: Would you like to purchase any accessories today?
You: No, I’m good. Thanks for that. “That”, being the actual, out-loud belly laugh that pitch just gave me.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/10/adventures-in-customer-support-sprint/feed/ 0 First Impressions: Deus Ex Human Revolution http://www.port14.com/2011/08/first-impressions-deus-ex-human-revolution/ http://www.port14.com/2011/08/first-impressions-deus-ex-human-revolution/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:05:24 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=101 I loved Deus Ex 1. I hated Deus Ex 2. I love Deus Ex Human Revolution thus far. Here’s why.

The action feels solid, stealth is handled brilliantly (with augs that add even more to it!), you feel like a complete badass finding alternate paths to flank a group of enemies, the close quarter takedowns are a welcome addition (albeit pulled from Splinter Cell) and the guns feel right (Iron sights aren’t super accurate laser sights, guns have waver and variance, bullets have drop to them). The open-ended situation handling remains from Deus Ex 1 – if you see a group of enemies, you can engage them directly, you could sneak and stealth around them entirely or use that as a tactical advantage to suppress the group, you could find a security system terminal and hack it to turn the security bots against the group, or you can divert completely around them using the environment. This allows you to play the game your way and you can complete it without firing a shot (or by using non-lethal tactics).

The spoken dialogue is amazing and well written with excellent voice actors rounding it out. Even though the Eidos team seems to have unabashedly lifted the conversation system from Mass Effect 2, they add to that side of the game with an augmentation that gives you a polygraph and a few other gizmos to help determine which conversation flows would work best for your situation. The contextual conversation choices are more cut-and-dry than just “Save the orphans” or “Murder the orphans” like in Mass Effect. It says the point you’re going to make, but there’s ambiguity behind if it’s a “good” response or an “evil” response… or there may not be a morality swing either way with a conversation. It’s fluid, realistic and believable. The first time you really use this mechanic will sell you on its use through the game, and swayed my first aug purchase away from a stealth or accuracy mod to the polygraph mods.

I’m on the fence about the augmentation system. I really liked how it was handled in Deus Ex 1. You had to go to a medibot to get a new aug installed, and based on what augmentation canister you get determines what you could actually install. Having everything open right from the get-go makes your first few choices agonizing and being able to upgrade an aug or get a new one right in the middle of a firefight really removes me from the meaning behind the augs themselves. In the story, augmentation is treated as an extremely heavy decision but the mechanic in the game is a mouse click away whenever you want to get better at something. I would have liked to see a bit more gravity behind the system, but I suppose they had to make some kind of concession for the more casual out there. Having to trudge through with the means to turn yourself into an augmented monster of destruction but not the ability to do so would have been maddening for some players I’m sure, and the converse of this argument would be all over the internets.

The hacking minigame is a welcome change of pace and is just hard enough to make you think about diving in, but there’s usually enough reason (XP or creds) to give it a shot.

The visual cues and style are incredible. Blacks and golds everywhere, with a Victorian edge and flair to everything inside of a Blade Runner styled city. Extremely interesting and it makes you wander around and really look at your environments when you’re not busy shooting/not shooting/sneaking/diverting/hacking your way around set pieces.

Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the game, and I can’t wait to dive into the world more.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/08/first-impressions-deus-ex-human-revolution/feed/ 1 Demo Review: Bodycount (X360) http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-bodycount-x360/ http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-bodycount-x360/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:31:05 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=97 If Bodycount has one thing going for it, it would be that it’s safe. From what I’ve seen from this demo, there’s nothing that makes this game stand out.

Guns? Check. They sound good have have enough punch to them. Nothing to write home about though – you’ve got your AR bullet hose and a shotgun. Ta-da.
Auto health regen? Yup. Can’t have a console game now without that wonder of modern medical science.
Iron Sights? In all of its remarkable uselessness. I’ve seen Iron Sights done well (Red Orchestra). This ain’t it.
Leaning? Yes. I do really like how they do this – half pull the right trigger and you go to Iron Sights with movement, full pull and you get Iron Sights and your right stick will lean you instead of move. Ropeadope marksmanship?

I’ve been trying to determine what makes Bodycount different than every other game out there. When you kill enemies, icons drop on the ground that you can pick up to replenish different skill bars. Interesting mechanic, but it really pulls you out of the game. The game assumes you’re going to die, so respawns are quick and painless… I like that.

Essentially they take the class-based systems from…well… everything now-a-days, then they grab the combo and skill shot system from Bulletstorm, and then pray that the gaming masses haven’t played a FPS since 2003.

Controls are floaty and slow, the world is not compelling, the set pieces are bland and predictable, it does nothing to warrant money from your pocket. Pass.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-bodycount-x360/feed/ 0 Demo Review: Madden 12 http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-madden-12/ http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-madden-12/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:18:51 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=93 Regardless of my better judgement, I downloaded the Madden 12 demo, just to see where things got with the series. My opinions on the game seems to remain the same from last year. Weird AI calls (Punting on 3rd and 4?!) and logic problem still pervade the game, but the biggest sin is that the presentation is still just so uneven. For every filler shot they have (Hey! It’s the coach! Let’s watch the coach yell while the clock runs down!), it looks amazing, but there’s always SOMETHING weird going on. 5 fans in the background standing next to each other look like clones and are moving at the exact same time, for instance. During the team intros, you’ve got guys carrying team flags and banners, which is a really awesome touch, up until the cloth physics on the flags go batshit crazy and you’ve got a 30 foot flag stretched out and flapping wildly.

The controls still feel sharp on the run, but if I were to have one major complaint against the game’s control scheme, it would be this: Please, please, please PLEASE just pick a kicking method. This year’s PAT/Punt/kickoff mechanic was different than last year’s, which was different than the year prior, which was different than the year prior. Any one of those methods would be fine – just pick one.Out of all the things that need revised, that’s not it. No one cares about HOW they kick, so long as the ball goes in the air.

Madden will always sell. They don’t even have to try. EA puts in enough new stuff to make the series grow JUST ENOUGH to warrant that next purchase from the football fan. Me? Yeah, I’ll pass this time around. Maybe next year.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/08/demo-review-madden-12/feed/ 0 On Computer Science and Software Development http://www.port14.com/2011/07/on-computer-science-and-software-development/ http://www.port14.com/2011/07/on-computer-science-and-software-development/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:56:48 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=89 Recently I had a discussion with a friend regarding teaching computer science and producing actual programmers out of university. I’m posting the original post and my response for a few different reasons, but primarily I want to archive it for review later on in my career to see how my mindset and the topic in question has changed.

Keith B. : Computer Science college = more theory, little application. Why isn’t there more “we will make you a motherfucking programmer!” courses?

My reply, with added line breaks for readability:
I apologize in advance for the amount of hot air I’m going to lay down here. What developers do is a craft (yes, I’m going to mention that ugly phrase ‘Software Craftsmanship’. Deal.) and the trappings of which follow any other craft or art. Schools can teach you the basics and principals of the craft as well as rounding you as an individual with other topics that may or may not pertain to said craft. However, for the practitioner of the craft to fully bloom, they must build – not only on their own but under the tutelage of other more experienced developers. Schools can facilitate this using labs and other free-form projects, but sadly, this doesn’t occur too often in my experience or from the experience of others I’ve talked to. Schools aim for simple regurgitation of information, not the application thereof; it’s easier to put a binary pass/fail on such things which gives them metrics to pass along to the regents or greater shareholders of the school.

The true craftsmanship of development and programming comes in to play when you have that understanding of the tools, the application of the tools, and then the desire to continually improve on your art, the mind knowing how to flex the tools to its whim, the drive to do so and finally the work ethic to see it all through. These are all things that CAN be taught; but taught through experimentation, failure, retrospect and improvement.

Consider the carpenter – there’s a lot of parallels with that vocation and ours. They can be shown the hammer and read about the history and uses of the tool, but a student of the craft will never build a house on that information alone – they must swing the hammer and pound nails to perfect their skill and art.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/07/on-computer-science-and-software-development/feed/ 0 Tech Support Hell http://www.port14.com/2011/07/tech-support-hell/ http://www.port14.com/2011/07/tech-support-hell/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:18:26 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=86 What follows is some hilariousness from Time Warner Cable/Road Runner’s tech support. Long story short, anything that requires a solid data connection lags out. Hit the jump for the entire transcript if you’re in the mood for pain or watch a tech blame Google’s servers for being slow.


User Chris_ has entered room

Analyst Mattew has entered room

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:34:34 EDT 2011)>Hello! Thank you for choosing Road Runner Internet Technical Chat Support. My

name is Mattew, how may I assist you?

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:35:00 EDT 2011)>Hi Mattew, I’m having some issues with latency and ping times

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:35:15 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:35:32 EDT 2011)>Can you be more specific with the issue?

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:35:37 EDT 2011)>About once every 2 or 3 seconds, one packet takes an abnormally long time to get to the destination

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:35:44 EDT 2011)>For instance:

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:36:02 EDT 2011)>If I were to run ping -t google.com from my command prompt

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:36:28 EDT 2011)>The ping times hang around 39-45ms for about 8 pings, then the next one would be 994ms

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:36:33 EDT 2011)>then it’s fine again.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:37:22 EDT 2011)>I will help you with that.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:37:45 EDT 2011)>For normal browsing, this is fine, but it’s cauing large issues with online gaming, to the point of unplayability. The games run fine single player, but the moment I take any game to multiplayer, every 2 or 3 seconds the packet gets that hitch and I lag out, sometimes to the point of getting booted by the server

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:38:05 EDT 2011)>To assist in troubleshooting, here’s what I’ve done thus far:

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:38:11 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:38:21 EDT 2011)>Please give me a moment.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:38:25 EDT 2011)>Went from wireless to wired connection to the router

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:38:40 EDT 2011)>Changed to a different computer, also trying wired and wireless

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:38:53 EDT 2011)>Tried plugging directly in to the cable modem from both computers

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:39:10 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:39:24 EDT 2011)>All cases exhibited the issue

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:39:46 EDT 2011)>Please give me moment.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:39:54 EDT 2011)>Sure thing. Take your time

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:40:15 EDT 2011)>Thank you.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:42:25 EDT 2011)>Can I know which browser are you using to surf internet?

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:42:45 EDT 2011)>Chrome

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:43:24 EDT 2011)>However, the issue isn’t with web browsing – the problem is exhibited when simply pinging other servers.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:43:45 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:43:58 EDT 2011)>I will check with that.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:46:41 EDT 2011)>Please give me some more time.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:46:58 EDT 2011)>No worries Mattew, take your time. Thanks for your help

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:47:23 EDT 2011)>Thank you.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:50:52 EDT 2011)>Please perform the trace route and let me know the results.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:51:24 EDT 2011)>Sure

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:51:44 EDT 2011)>All hops are looking clean, except one.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:51:48 EDT 2011)>Let me know the result once you have done with that.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:52:23 EDT 2011)>Please send me the results.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:52:32 EDT 2011)>490ms tge4-0-0.tr00.clmkohpe.mwrtn.rr.com

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:53:00 EDT 2011)>I’ve also got another hop at 216.239.47.34 that’s at 747ms

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:53:53 EDT 2011)>that tracert was to google.com

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:54:33 EDT 2011)>OKay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:55:55 EDT 2011)>Please perform the trace route in the cmd and let me know all the results.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:56:53 EDT 2011)>sure, I’ll copy and paste the whole thing. One moment while I run another one

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:57:19 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:57:29 EDT 2011)>Take your time.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:57:50 EDT 2011)>There’s actually a lot more timeouts on this one. Might be a bit more useful.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:57:51 EDT 2011)>tracert google.com

Tracing route to google.com [74.125.91.147]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1]
2 8 ms 7 ms 7 ms xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
3 9 ms * 710 ms network-024-095-086-145.columbus.rr.com [24.95.86.145]
4 8 ms 10 ms 9 ms tge1-1.clmboh1-rtr2.columbus.rr.com [65.25.129.139]
5 9 ms 11 ms 20 ms tge3-0-0.tr00.clmkohpe.mwrtn.rr.com [65.25.137.45]
6 19 ms 22 ms 18 ms ae-4-0.cr0.chi30.tbone.rr.com [66.109.6.68]
7 20 ms 20 ms * ae-1-0.pr0.chi10.tbone.rr.com [66.109.6.155]
8 * 50 ms 44 ms 74.125.48.109
9 19 ms 19 ms 21 ms 72.14.236.178
10 59 ms * 39 ms 72.14.239.90
11 240 ms * 40 ms 209.85.254.46
12 38 ms 43 ms 41 ms 209.85.254.235
13 44 ms 59 ms 1037 ms 209.85.240.25
14 44 ms 48 ms 40 ms qy-in-f147.1e100.net [74.125.91.147]

Trace complete.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:58:18 EDT 2011)>Thank you.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 12:58:31 EDT 2011)>Thanks for your help!

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 12:58:51 EDT 2011)>Please give me moment.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:01:09 EDT 2011)>Have you removed any timed out messages?

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:01:40 EDT 2011)>No. That was the whole command output

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:01:52 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:04:31 EDT 2011)>I find that there is some issue with the google servers.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:05:01 EDT 2011)>Do you have another server you’d like me to ping instead?

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:05:02 EDT 2011)>So please kindly check after some more time.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:05:11 EDT 2011)>No.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:05:24 EDT 2011)>This has been going on for a week.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:05:29 EDT 2011)>Actually the problem is with the servers.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:05:37 EDT 2011)>Yes.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:06:42 EDT 2011)>I see that there is no problem with Time warner servers so please contact google support team.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:06:48 EDT 2011)>Just tried Yahoo, and I’m getting more of the same

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:07:04 EDT 2011)>tracert yahoo.com

Tracing route to yahoo.com [209.191.122.70]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 2 ms 1 ms 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1]
2 8 ms 9 ms 8 ms xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
3 598 ms 17 ms 7 ms gig3-10.uparoh1-swt401.columbus.rr.com [24.95.86.177]
4 8 ms 8 ms 9 ms tge1-1.clmboh1-rtr2.columbus.rr.com [65.25.129.139]
5 8 ms 7 ms 8 ms tge4-0-0.tr00.clmkohpe.mwrtn.rr.com [65.25.137.21]
6 19 ms 27 ms 28 ms ae-4-0.cr0.chi30.tbone.rr.com [66.109.6.68]
7 41 ms 39 ms 39 ms ae-2-0.cr0.dfw10.tbone.rr.com [66.109.6.22]
8 40 ms 43 ms 42 ms ae-3-0.pr0.dfw10.tbone.rr.com [66.109.6.209]
9 40 ms 38 ms 40 ms 66.109.9.101
10 115 ms 40 ms 47 ms ae-2-d100.msr1.mud.yahoo.com [216.115.104.105]
11 41 ms 41 ms 41 ms te-6-2.fab1-a-gdc.mud.yahoo.com [209.191.78.145]
12 42 ms 42 ms 40 ms te-8-1.bas-c2.mud.yahoo.com [68.142.193.7]
13 758 ms 40 ms 42 ms ir1.fp.vip.mud.yahoo.com [209.191.122.70]

Trace complete.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:07:05 EDT 2011)>Yes.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:07:20 EDT 2011)>Jump 3 – 598ms

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:08:40 EDT 2011)>I fount there is no packet loss for yahoo.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:09:19 EDT 2011)>It’s not packet loss that’s the issue – it’s lag for those packets. They eventually get to where they need to go, just a lot slower than they should.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:09:48 EDT 2011)>There is some problem with the servers so please kindly contact them.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:10:04 EDT 2011)>So, essentially what I’m gathering from you is that the problem doesn’t sit with the road runner service, but every other server out there.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:10:21 EDT 2011)>I will send you some refresh signals to your modem.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:10:53 EDT 2011)>Please check after 1hour and get back to us.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:10:57 EDT 2011)>Appreciated.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:11:08 EDT 2011)>I have understand your consent.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:11:38 EDT 2011)>But I see there is no outage in your area.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:12:29 EDT 2011)>If you face the same issue after 1hour please get back to us.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:14:52 EDT 2011)>Just to know what steps you took on your side so that I can relay that to the next tech I speak to in an hour.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:15:08 EDT 2011)>Okay.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:15:13 EDT 2011)>For more information about the products and services offered by Road Runner, you can visit this link anytime to get more help and knowledge : http://help.rr.com and check for online tutorials, FAQs and more details about Road Runner features.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:15:26 EDT 2011)>Thank you for contacting Road Runner Technical Chat Support, again my name is Mattew, we value you as a customer. Have a nice day!

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:16:20 EDT 2011)>That didn’t answer my question.

Mattew(Sun Jul 10 13:17:55 EDT 2011)>I have checked all the servers I did not found any outage.

Chris_(Sun Jul 10 13:18:25 EDT 2011)>OK… thanks.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/07/tech-support-hell/feed/ 1 Gig Review: Camp Mary Orton, June 2011 http://www.port14.com/2011/06/gig-review-camp-mary-orton-june-2011/ http://www.port14.com/2011/06/gig-review-camp-mary-orton-june-2011/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:13:46 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=82 The gear - Numark NS7, Yamaha ClubV 15s, Alienware M11Xr2Had an awesome time on Friday spinning at a company outing in the middle of a campground. I got to roll through a huge range of music during the 5 hour set.

Started off with some downtempo and trip-hop stuff while people were eating lunch – low energy stuff to acclimate them to having music in the background and to facilitate conversation. I also threw some Latin flavors in there for a little spice. It fits well into a mix and is like the lime in a gin and tonic – contrasting, but refreshing. During activities, I progressed into some funk and soul, bouncing back and forth between new to old  - RJD2 has a lot of work that meshes amazingly well with some James Brown era music. From there, I was requested to get into something a bit more upbeat, so I moved into the Dance portion. A little bit of house, a little bit of breaks and some traditional club dance stuff. Oh, and a Nine Inch Nails dance mix. That may be a little bit of heresy, but it sounded good. From there, I moved on to the mashup portion. Daft Punk and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme might have gone a touch over the top, but that’s kind of the point of a mashup.

Lesson learned:

  • Speakers are heavy. Getting someone to help carry them will make setup and teardown way easier and leave a lot more energy for the gig.
  • Speakers are fucking heavy. Having a spotter for getting them on the stands is sort of essential if you don’t want to compress more vertebrae than you can count to.
  • Park as close as you can to the setup location. Be lazy. No one gives a damn if you can carry your gear a mile uphill both ways.
  • Spend the time getting all of your levels right. Just because you’re not going to use the mic much does not mean you’re not going to use it at all. The dynamics of a mic are way different than music – get some ears on the far end of the range to give you a thumbs up.
  • Having a portable fan is a lifesaver. In a closed area, there may be no air moving and the place could smell like ass. Outside, there could be no air moving and the place could smell like ass. Move some air around so nothing gets too stagnant and you can actually breathe.
  • HYDRATE LIKE WHUT.
]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/06/gig-review-camp-mary-orton-june-2011/feed/ 0 Audio: Curumin – Vem menina http://www.port14.com/2011/06/audio-curumin-vem-menina/ http://www.port14.com/2011/06/audio-curumin-vem-menina/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:27:16 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=75 I love Latin (OK, Brazilian in this case) inspired chill out tracks. Especially when it’s hot as balls outside.

The flow on this makes me want to get a very large fan, an iced beverage, a large lawn chair and a gigantic plastic palm tree. I would then set up shop outside on my front lawn, drink said drink in said chair under said plastic palm tree with said very large fan running at full tilt with this song blasting, with my middle finger firmly extended in Nature’s direction.

Of course, that’s when the freak thunderstorm rolls in and zaps my boastful ass with a shot of lightening.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/06/audio-curumin-vem-menina/feed/ 0 No posts for a few days http://www.port14.com/2011/06/no-posts-for-a-few-days/ http://www.port14.com/2011/06/no-posts-for-a-few-days/#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:10:43 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=73 I’m getting ready for a few DJ gigs, so I won’t be posting for a few days. Based on my traffic numbers, that may depress all .3 people reading.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/06/no-posts-for-a-few-days/feed/ 0 … http://www.port14.com/2011/06/70/ http://www.port14.com/2011/06/70/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:42:23 +0000 Chris http://www.port14.com/?p=70 I think I fell asleep and dreamt about being an old man, ranting hysterically about music. I hate when that happens.

I also have the distinct mood to listen to some Prefuse 73.

]]> http://www.port14.com/2011/06/70/feed/ 0