What A Steaming Pile...

is my ISP ...has been for as long as I've been connected (since 1985). In the beginning, it was a great company, with efficient service, lot's of dial-up access numbers, and then later, a very economical and reliable DSL connection, and most importantly, local customer service. If you had a problem, with your account, your connection, or whatever, you could speak to someone who spoke your language, and if necessary, could communicate with other departments within the organization to get answers to, and rectify the problem. The only drawback was, depending on the time of day you tried to "call" them, you might have a little wait time. Ha-ha In retrospect, it was not really a drawback at all, but more than reasonable when considering some of the ridiculous hold times currently encountered.

But alas, Earthlink went the way of AOL. They got so successful and so big, they couldn't do the job well; they couldn't provide that one-on-one customer service at which they were so good. As is the custom with so many large American companies, and probably out of financial necessity, they automated everything, and outsourced all their so-called human contacts to call centers in India. (I won't even go into how wrong I think that is and how much I abhor this practice).

Now this may sound a bit racist, but believe me it has nothing to do with that. I have nothing against Indians, or any other ethnicity for that matter. Dare I say it, some of my best friends are of Indian descent. The problem is ... and this applies to any situation where the other person speaks English "as a second language" ... there is an obvious communication gap that no one wants to address for fear of being politically incorrect. The subtleties of the communication are lost. [Their] areas of so-called expertise are narrowly defined so they can only respond in routine ways to routine questions. Any problem of any intricacy or complexity is met with what can only be perceived as incompetence. And because they are only trained to respond in very narrow parameters, there is no cross-department communication, so you get one answer from one department, you get transferred, wait on hold, then have to start all over again with another department from which you get contradictory information, and they lack to ability to go beyond their limited responsibilities, so they refer you to another department, where you again get put on hold, get contradictory information, and in the end, no resolution to the problem. Oh yes, they apologize a lot... "I'm very sorry for your inconvenience". Obviously a key point in the training requires them to be "polite" at all times.

I'm extremely pissed over my recent communication ... well actually it's been going on for sometime ... with this piece of shit company. I won't go into the details of the problem(s) as that would require another 2000 or so words. My frustration arises simply from the fact that you can't communicate with anyone except one of these "automatons". Damn! It might as well be a computer with programmed responses. My only recourse is to terminate my service with them ...in favor of an American company, with American employees who speak Amercian. My reluctance to do so is because of my long-established web-site(s) and email addresses. So, in the meantime, while I decide what I want to do, I'm releasing a little of the pressure with this rant. "Recommend Earthlink to a friend?" Yeah, right! In fact, I'm on a bit of a crusade to inform anyone I know just what a steaming pile of crap this company has devolved into.

Jumper

I just saw "Jumper" which was just released on dvd. I was so looking forward to seeing this, but alas the actual experience was very much a let down. It had so much potential, and it was perhaps because of my heightened expectations that I failed to really appreciate the movie for what it was.

My main problem with the movie was the lead actor (and I use the term very loosely), Hayden Christensen. I've really grown to hate this guy. I don't know if he's selected for the roles he gets because he's good at playing that "type" of character, or if he brings that aspect to all the characters he portrays. All I could think of was how annoying he was. He's such a whinny brat ...very much like a child having a temper tantrum. He wants what he wants, when he wants it, without any awareness (or concern) for the consequence to others. Then when he fucks up, he say, "I'm sorry, I didn't know...". As if that make everything all right. In this particular movie, even though I knew it wasn't going to play out that way, I kept rooting for him to get killed ...and that Jamie Bell's character (Griffin) would carry on as the lead.

I would attribute my dislike of the character to the way the part was written, but he, Christensen, continues to play the same character, so I'm inclined to think it "is" him. He played the same annoying creep as he did in "Shattered Glass" and "Star Wars III / ...Sith", but at least in those movies, he got his comeuppance. In this movie, he emerges unscathed as the hero ...and that really pissed me off. If it weren't for that, I might have come away with a higher regard for the movie.

The story is set up to be continued in possible future sequels, but since it's not part of a trilogy, per se, it fails to stand on it own ...too many unanswered questions, too many plot holes, not enough backstory. I'm not at all looking forward to any of these sequels, although I may read the book on which the movie was based. Problem is, I can't shake the image of Christensen playing the lead, and I'll probably continue to "see" him in my minds eye as / if I read the book.

New Shoes

There's a lot of music out there, most of which is just so much noise. However, every once and awhile a new voice emerges, with a sound that breaks through the clutter and catches my attention. I really like this track by Paolo Nutini.



The Lyrics:

Woke up cold one Tuesday
I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick
I felt like there was
Something missing
In my day to day life
So I
Quickly opened the wardrobe
Pulled out some jeans and a T-Shirt that seemed clean
Topped it off with a pair of old shoes that were ripped around the seams
And I thought
These shoes just don't suit me

Hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right
I said
Hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling
It's so inviting
Oh, short on money
But long on time
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
And I'm
Running late and I don't need an excuse to wear in my brand new shoes

Woke up late one Thursday
And I'm seeing stars as I'm rubbing my eyes
And I
Felt like there were two days missing
As I focused on the time
AS I made my way to the kitchen
But I had to stop from the shock of what I found
A room full of all my friends
All dancing 'round and 'round
And I thought
Hello new shoes
Bye bye blues

Hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right
I said

Hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling
It's so inviting
Oh, short on money
But long on time
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
And I'm
Running late and I don't need an excuse to wear in my brand new shoes

Take me wondering through these streets
Where bright lights and angels meet
Stone to stone they take me on
I'm walking till the break of dawn

Take me wondering through these streets
Where bright lights and angels meet
Stone to stone they take me on
I'm walking till the break of dawn

Hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right
I said
Hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling
It's so inviting
Oh, short on money
But long on time
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
And I'm
Running late and I don't need an excuse to wear in my brand new shoes

Oh hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right
I said
Hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling
It's so inviting
Oh, short on money
But long on time
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
And I'm
Running late and I don't need an excuse to wear in my brand new shoes

Antitheism

Today is Easter Sunday. As usual for this time of year, the networks are broadcasting religious-themed programming. Last night it was "The Ten Commandments"; today, "Jesus Christ Superstar". I mention theses two movies because I always re-watch them in a sort-of observance of the holiday. I have them in my film library, and like them both ...or at least I used to enjoy watching them. But, as I tried to watch The Ten Commandments, I found myself periodically switching to other channels because I was so turned off to the message conveyed by a particular scene ...so turned off, I couldn't bare to sit through it.

My transition from christian to antitheist was gradual. I was never really a devout christian, but as a child, raised in a god-loving, or more accurately god-fearing environment, religion was forced down my throat, and I reluctantly acquiesced, having no other option. However, as soon as I reached an age to just say "no", I did so, and refused any further participation in those activities I so came to resent.

I did still "believe" in the concept of an anthropomorphic, omnipresent, omniscient, benevolent, celestial being to whom we all were prompted ...either by love or fear ... to pay homage. Nevertheless, being the extreme egotist that I am, the concept of having to worship someone, was anathema to me.

Over the years, I shed my belief in such a being, but lacked conviction, so my attitude was more one of defiance ...choosing not to believe, and the consequences be damned. However, as I found myself not believing in anything, lacking the ability to believe in anything greater than myself, I began to realize that a belief state, no matter how bizarre or unrealistic, was in fact an asset. It was useful in helping one rise above the ego, a dynamic for tapping into one's own higher self. During this period I was what you would call agnostic ...ambivalent in one's own beliefs, but respectful (and sometimes envious) of the beliefs of others.

Now I'm much older, and I've become much more cynical. I've experience all the malice, corruption, and evil that's been perpetrated in the name of a god. I've come to resent this concept, and any that asks people to blindly follow doctrine, set down by persons concealing their own agendas under the guise of divine inspiration, and to inflict that belief on others ...either by way of law, social mores, or terrorism. I not only developed the conviction to declare myself an atheist, I've gotten to the point of complete intolerance of involuntary exposure to it, in any form, from anyone.

I don't make an issue of someone saying, "god bless you", but as soon as someone starts to talk about religion or spirituality in any way, I immediately halt the conversation and assert my refusal to listen any further. As an anti-theist, my intolerance is so profound, I can no longer watch those faith-based films without anguish and resentment. So I'll have to let this Easter, (and future observances), pass without the usual once-loved ritual.

Wizards and Fairies

The doctor was late, as usual, and the waiting room was filling up fast. All the people were sitting around, trying to busy themselves so as to avoid staring into one another's faces. I wasn't interested in reading, but where else was I to direct my gaze ...I was starting to feel stupid looking at the blank wall above the heads of the people sitting in the row of seats along the opposite wall of the waiting room.

"Oh what the hell", I sighed as I reached for the latest issue of People Magazine. I couldn't care less about all the celebrity crap, but I leafed through the pages looking for something of interest. Then all of a sudden, I came across this article about the Harry Potter Books ...the last one in particular in which it was revealed that Dumbledore was a homosexual. What the ....!!!

Incidently, this is not the issue I was reading, it's the image I retrieved from a google search. Obvious, this story broke last year (Oct. 2007). I'm always behind the times when it comes to celebrity gossip.

Anyway, just as I was about to delve into the article, the physician's assistant called my name. Damn! I hadn't finished the article, but I had read enough to conclude that J. K. Rowling had made this declaration while talking to a group of people about the book. She was talking about how his proclivity was something incidental ...that he was just a human and that this was just a human trait which he happened to possess.

Now, I'm a huge HP fan, and I've read all the books ...as soon as each was available, and I hadn't read anything about this. Even if it were subtly implied, being gay myself, I think I wouldn't picked up on it.

I hadn't finished reading the People Magazine article, but as soon as I got home, I Googled "Dumbledore homosexual" and was amazed at the number of pics and articles ...evidently this is old news. Anyway, I retrieved the following excerpted from a Newsweek.com installment...

J. K. Rowling, author of the worldwide best-selling Harry Potter series, met some of her American fans Friday night and provided some surprising revelations about the fictional characters who a generation of children have come to regard as close friends.

In front of a full house of hardcore Potter fans at Carnegie Hall in New York, Rowling, sitting on the stage on a red velvet and carved wood throne, read from her seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," then took questions. One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."

So evidently, I really didn't miss anything while reading the book. Dumbledore just happened to be gay ...it had nothing to do with his motivations or the story plot. It's just that in order to write such a rich, thoroughly detailed story, [she] would have to have the whole wizarding world in her head, and as such, the characters would be real people, with all the personality and idiosyncrasy that make for a complete person ...stuff that wasn't actually a part of the HP story.

In any event, I'll have to re-read "HP and the Deathly Hallows", this time with the updated "perception" of Albus Dumbledore.

The Ritz (Redux)

The Ritz -- I can't say enough about this gem of a movie. I've had the VHS for many, many years, and each time I watch it, I still end up laughing out loud ...it's just as hilarious every single time.

The plot is simple. Jack Weston plays "Gaetano", a garbage man who's on the run from his mob brother-in-law who's put out a hit on him. He hides out in the last place his pursuers would look for him ...a bath house ...a gay bath house. Unbeknownst to him, the bath house is actually owned by "the family".

The laughs ensue and don't let up -- you don't have to be gay, or have ever been to a bath house to "get it". But if you are, and you have, then all the better. Although the original play wasn't written specifically for a gay audience, it was written by a gay man (Terrence McNally), and for those with gay sensibilities, it's sort of an "inside joke". To paraphrase Barbra Streisand (as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl"), "...it's our joke, so even though the laugh is on us, you're laughing with us, not at us".

A blond Treat Williams, (in one of his first film appearances), is priceless as "Brick", the detective with the falsetto voice. He's been hired by Carmine (the brother-in-law) to track down Gaetano in the bath house and, under the pretense of being gay, seduce him. Rita Moreno as "Googie Gomez", the in-house entertainment, will leave you aching from laughter. While at the bath house, Gaetano ...very much a heterosexual, runs into, and is persistently pursued by, an old gay army buddy. So now he's hiding from Carmine, and "Get-away-from-me Claude".

Jerry Stiller as the mob brother-in-law, and Kay Ballard as his sister, (Weston's wife), round out the ensemble. Oh, let's not forget a pre-Amadeus F. Murray Abraham, who's way over the top as "Chris" the resident bath house queen who takes the newbie Weston under his wing.

You may want to set aside your "political correctness" for awhile. This film does exploit a few stereotypes ...but never in a mean-spirited manner. Besides, it "IS" so very, very funny.

When I realized this title had finally been released on DVD, with improved picture and sound, and easy access to specific scenes, I brought a copy to add to my home library. Although, I just became aware of it's availability yesterday, this was released on DVD 8 January '08 and is available at most DVD retail outlets ...as well a rental services like Netflix etc. I'm patiently waiting for my delivery from Amazon. If you haven't already had the experience, treat yourself to a gay old time at "The Ritz".

Throttling, Starring Netflix

I'm an avid movie watcher, so naturally I subscribe to a dvd service ...in this case, Netflix. I used to go the movies alot, but I can't say that I prefer it over watching a movie at home. I really don't see the advantage of "the shared experience". All the people just prove to be an inconvenience, something that you have to tolerate in order to see the movie ...which in so many cases you can't enjoy because of the big head sitting in front of you, or the inconsiderate asshole who insists on answering his mobile, or the the kid constantly kicking the back of your seat, or the guy crunching on his popcorn, or the women with that most unfortunate perfume, or just the annoying practice of people whispering to each other during the feature. Long story short, I haven't been to a movie theater (or complex) in well over ten years. I simply wait for the dvd ...since it's only a few months (as opposed to "years") from screen to dvd.

With my Netflix account (3-at-a-time), I watch between 15 and 21 movies a month, (depending on how quickly I view them and get them back in the mail to exchange for the next title on my list). I not only watch the blockbusters, but all those minor titles that I wouldn't have gone to the theater to see, or that I possibly might have overlooked altogether if I didn't have such a large database to peruse and choose from.

Now, on an avid cinefile like myself who sometimes, most times, watches around 20 movies a month, Netflix doesn't make much profit ...when you factor in the postage that [they] pay both ways on each of these dvds.

To counter this, Netflix "had" engaged, (and I think sometimes still do), in a practice called throttling. That is where they give preferential treatment (with regard to who gets the available titles, expecially the new releases ...and who gets to wait) to those with the lower rental activity. In addition to the throttling, they've even discontinued processing shipments on Saturdays (which is a valid mail day) in an attempt to slow down the turnover, reducing the number of rentals per month, and therefore, increasing their profit on each individual account.

There was a successful class-action law suit against Netflix for this very practice of throttling. Since their agreement states "Unlimited rentals", there should be no restrictions or actions that restrict renting as many titles as you want as long as you are within the parameters of your plan (three out at a time, four out at time, etc.). The courts agreed.

As a result of this suit, Netflix, allegedly, no longer throttles, but I suspect that there are still practices in which they engage that are intended to draw out the turn-around time. Case in point; when I put a disc in the mail on a particular "mail" day (in time for pickup on that day), Netflix receives, processes, and mails out my next selection on the following day. Sometimes, a disc doesn't show up in their system until the day after that. This doesn't happen all that often, and can always be attributed to a "glitch" in the mail service. It's funny, however, that this only happens when my number of rentals starts to approach 20 - 21 discs over the last thirty days.

Getting a new release of a popular title can be a headache ...you may have to wait for up to a month 'til there's an available copy. However, I've discovered, quite by accident, a way to get a copy of a new release on the very day of release.

If you have no available titles in your queue -- (by available, I mean in stock and available to be mailed out to you) -- and the next selection is a title that's not yet released, but will be released "tomorrow", [they] will send you that selection for receipt "tomorrow". And since it hasn't yet been released, there will undoubtedly be a copy available. This way, I always get first crack at a new release.

The key is that you have to make sure there is a returned disc in the system. If you're banking on them receiving your returned disc on that day before, it may not show up ... especially if your disc rental activity is high. The disc doesn't show up in their system until the follow day ...the day of the release, and you get lost in the deluge of all the subscribers that are requesting that title and, since you are a high-volume renter, you get passed over. The only way around this is to allow an extra day for the return of the disc, with nothing in your queue available to be sent out. If they receive it the "next" day, it'll just sit there. If they "hang onto it" for the extra day, it will still be positioned to get that first crack at the "new release".

I may be "shooting myself in the foot" by revealing this, but most people keep lists filled with available selections, so, even if the "new release" were next on the list, Netflix would pass over it on that "day before release", and select the next available disc in the list. Also, it's unlikely that these people would be willing to remove all the selection in their respective queues, and then have to put them back later ...although there is purportedly software that someone has developed for just this very purpose.