Recent Stuff

Wow, a good rant feels great.

What have we been up too?

In the last few weeks Sandra hosted 50 parties in about 8 days for work and her Newfoundland trip and such - that was busy. I played with the Alysha Brooke Band, the Kris Miles Blues Band and Kevin Coates at some fun gigs, locally.

Day gig-wise, I've been developing curriculum for grade 10's, introducing a new novel to the school, "Memory Boy" that has been doing very well. Recently I've been researching grade 9 and 10 graphic novels for use next year. That's on top of the usual course work, parent conferences, meetings and classes, as well as my two 'clubs', Reach for the Top and the Writers' Guild.

We've done a bit of work around the place. Sandra has the gardens rolling. Apartment is ready for a renter - have to find one, though.

That's the news from the Isle of Nod - oh, and that the web site is back up and running, of course - www3.sympatico.ca/donfeatherstone

Happy May Day!

nod

For Whom the Bell Toll

"What are they smoking at Bell?"

Well, many of us have to ask about the "toll" we've paid Ma Bell. Here is the abridged version of my own Bell Sympatico odyssey.

---A few months ago I could no longer upload changes to "The Isle of Nod"

(which is why it hasn't been updated in so long...)

---I called and got patched through...eventually...to India where they said they'd change my password to reinitialize. Didn't work.

---I called again. After more stretches of hold listening to Gershwin Muzak, they said maybe my account was in default. They patched me back to Canada (I think). They then patched me back to India when they realized I was all paid up. They said I could have an upgraded modem, though, for FREE (Who knows when I was eligible for that) and would send one. Besides that, there was nothing they could do - the problem was at my end.

---I downloaded new FTP software (to 'file transfer') - 2 different versions. I tried every combination of passwords, etc. I could think of. Well, being a borderline Ludite (and I'm thinking of going full bore soon!) I assumed it was my fault for being so stupid.

---I called Bob the computer guy, paid him. He said I was doing everything fine and the problem was there's. We called their 24 hour help line - to find that is only 24 hrs if you pay more per month. (Even though they advertise that, I guess it's the 'small print'.) Since he has a day job (computers), I'm on my own again.

---I phone the tech help line again. I forgot to mention, but they read off of one of those dreaded "scripts" that don't allow them to actually do any thinking. Every time I've called about this I've had their caution - printed on the internet, too - that they don't support your web applications, they just provide the space. I can probably recite the paragraph they read you by now. The guy in India said I needed the new modem. I told they had ordered one for me a month ago but it hadn't arrived. He said no one had sent one. BUT when it arrives, all will be well again. BUT I'll have to PAY for it. I complain and he says to wait and see if they bill me(?).

---I hook up the modem when it finally comes. Internet all works. I STILL cannot upload to my webspace.

---I call the help line, having taken a day off work to take care of this during their business hours. I'm patched through to India once again. All of the operators in India have been very polite and apologetic so far. This one is snippy. She reads me the "we don't support your problems running your website" paragraph at least four times. I try to explain the problem to her - I can't access it on their end; it's their problem!!! I ask to speak to someone higher up who can help. She reads the paragraph again. Ugh! I ask to speak to her supervisor. After more lovely muzak listening, she comes back on and says my password isn't working. Duh!? She then says we'll change it and that will fix it. I've heard that tune before, but I go with it. She changes it and it still doesn't work. FINALLY someone there believes me. After more time on hold, she says there is a problem at her end. DUH!!! It will be fixed in 48 hours. I ask if someone will email to notified when it is fixed? No. But they'll fix it.

---FINALLY they fixed it.

THE ISLE OF NOD LIVES AGAIN!!!

(www3.sympatico.ca/donfeatherstone)

I'm wondering if I should send them some of the above, plus a bill for the hours of time - not to mention the computer technician's - that their inept line of service has cost me. Maybe I should send them a "toll".
But guess what just arrived in the mail - a Bell customer satisfaction survey!!! I never fill those out, but this time...

Rant out.
Nod

Tunes, apartments, report cards, Rik etc.

Hello Nodblog Readers!

Busy week here on the Isle of Nod. We've been working hard on the apartment. I don't think we're slum lords - I'd live there. If anyone knows anyone who is looking for a place in KW, let us know!

Played with Kevin Coates on Friday. It was a wild night as university comes to an end. Drunk guys unsuccessfully hitting on young ladies, dirty dancing, unlimited requests - the crowd literally went wild many times. Kevin had to pull out the Tom Waites tunes to settle them down and save his gear from beer drenching in the limited dance space. The show was definately entertaining for all involved. Good bye students - we will miss you in the quiet summer gigs - but fall will come again and the rituals of youth will continue, unabated.

I played a cool blues gig with Kris Miles last night, a new thing happening at a pool hall in Fredrick Street mall. The crowd is slowly growing and playing pool while listening to blues sounds like a natural combination. I might do it again, so stay posted!

Report cards are finally done. Here's a question for the logic based, left-brained, computer experts out there: if computers work logically, why can't we have software that works properly. Microsoft has rarely improved my computer with its updates without at least partially screwing it up. The school's computer systems and the programmes for report cards - that thousands of schools use - are similarly flawed. I can't fix the Isle of Nod without 10 hours of phone consultation and an hour of personal service - and then the programmes to carry it still don't work. Computers can do some wonderful things, but why do they so frequently not work right? I know, I know...computers are made by humans and humans are flawed. I know, I know....there's no such thing as a computer error, just human error. But why does every 'upgrade' not fix but break something that didn't need an upgrade in the first place? Rant over. Next computer: a MAC.

Saw Rik Emmitt and a bunch of other singers and the KW orchestra play Beatles tunes on Wednesday. It was a great show. I got to shake hands and have a brief chat with him after the show. That was cool.

Anyway, that's the news here on the Isle of Nod. Website status: the guy in India said it might work once they get me the hardware (new modem) they said they were sending me over a month ago. We shall see...

In the great words of...someone..."if it aint broke, don't fix it"

nod

Happy Hoppy!

Happy Easter and all that!

Spent some time up at the cottage with the family this weekend - that was fun. Lots of good visiting.
Nothing like a snowy Easter! After a very green Christmas, it appears that perhaps we have completely screwed up the planet.
Pet peeve of the week - maybe a repeat - people NOT signalling turns or lane changes. Too tired to go on with that rant right now, but let's just say that they could be too lazy, they could be full of hubris concerning their road awareness, they could be rude morons, or perhaps they have something more important to do with that hand, like shoving their finger up their nose past the third knuckle so they can fish around in their cranium trying to locate something resembling a brain.
Busy week ahead: report card week at school and lots of music related evenings. Playing with Kevin Coates, Alysha Brooke and perhaps Kris Miles in the coming days. Should be fun!
Website update: The Isle of Nod is still not updateable. I had a computer guru here tonight. Seems I'm doing everything right. So we called BellSurf for Sympatico's 24/7 help tech support...and they were closed! Grrrrr...

Easter bunny, forget the chocolate crap and bring some warm weather, wouldja?

Happy Hoppy to all!
nod

April Fools

It's April. Bring on the good weather! Sleep appears to be optional again tonight, so I thought I'd update the ol' BLOG!

Sandra is working hard (too hard?) at a new job. We're both brushing up our vacant basement appartment - clean here, patch there, paint over there. If you know someone who'd like a large, clean place in Kitchener, let us know!

Hooray for short weeks! Off to the cottage for the long weekend coming up.

New sign up in the neighbourhood....

Have a great April!!!

NOD