The Vent and Rant Thread

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by TGS

Now, I want to make it clear that I'm not ranting at anyone - the people at IREX have been as helpful as they can (apart from some snotty cow who answered the phone this morning and initially refused to put me through to the shop manager). Their credit card collection service is very tight because they have apparently had trouble with credit card fraud - so that's understandable enough. But these companies rely on the infantile pleasure we all get from having a new gadget and they need to make it as easy as possible for us to get them when we want them. Otherwise we will throw our doll out of the pram, skulk about on the darknet and make do with reading dodgy PDFs on our netbooks

Nevermind. Soon enough, you'll have your reader.

Don't worry about becoming a luddite. Once you start, you'll never look back and wonder why it took you so long.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by TGS

I would like to be mad because my ebook reader was playing up or something, but I'm not in that privileged position. Here's what happened: after spending a few days lurking on here I made the decision to jump in and get my first ebook reader. Not one to do things by half, and rather than get something relatively inexpensive just in case I turn out to be some closet Luddite when it comes to reading, I went for the new IREX 800. So, I placed my order on Friday 5th Feb. Of course, nothing happened over the weekend, but on Monday 8th Feb I expected to see some action. However, on checking my order on the SHOP section of the IREX site it was still showing "Pending Credit Card Authorization". Curious I thought, so I rang them and initiated a support ticket. Unfortunately though nothing could be resolved because the "shop" manager wasn't in that day. OK, be patient I thought, you've lived this long without an ebook reader, another day isn't going to hurt, (even though I have this conversation with myself, and even though it's true that I've lived this long without an ebook reader, we all know that when we've decided we want it NOW).
So, Tuesday Feb 9th comes. I log onto my account at IREX and, lo and behold, my payment has been approved!! My heart quickens, the world looks brighter - soon I will have an ebook reader and my life will be complete. But then...ten minutes after the message that brought me such joy, another update to my order status...CANCELED.
So, I get on the phone to IREX and ask why. "I had just put your order through when my colleague who spoke to you yesterday said you wanted to cancel it", came the reply. "But that's not true", I protest. Alas, to no avail - after trying to retrieve the order and finding that he can't the chap at IREX tells me to re-order. But after trying to order three times, using three different payment methods, and three times having my payment rejected, I ring back to plead for some mercy. "OK, I'll send you an invoice", says the chap. Invoice duly arrives, I make a payment through my bank - which will take somewhere between 24 and 48 hours in IREX's account. So next week I hope to have an IREX 800 - I'll let you know!

Now, I want to make it clear that I'm not ranting at anyone - the people at IREX have been as helpful as they can (apart from some snotty cow who answered the phone this morning and initially refused to put me through to the shop manager). Their credit card collection service is very tight because they have apparently had trouble with credit card fraud - so that's understandable enough. But these companies rely on the infantile pleasure we all get from having a new gadget and they need to make it as easy as possible for us to get them when we want them. Otherwise we will throw our doll out of the pram, skulk about on the darknet and make do with reading dodgy PDFs on our netbooks

Oh, you've got a ways to go to be the longest rant. Click here to see the current champion and that was in the first few days of the thread. Welcome to MobileRead, by the way.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I think I just broke a bone in my right hand.@#$%%??$#@$%

I was moving a machine and my hand was banged between the machine and the carryall. I was starting on a new contract promised to a friend to be delivered in two weeks and.... Aaaaaaargh!

It's blue, twice as thick as normal and I have difficulty moving the middle finger.

Going to the clinic now, that means about twelve hours of wait at the least.

@#$%?&*(?RE@#$%?&*(&?%$#@%?&.

Oh no, Yvan, I am so sorry. I hope it's better soon.

Last edited by TGS; Today at 09:58 AM. Reason: Sorry if this is a bit long, but this is the place for ranting, and ranting is one of the few things that I excel at!

and an excellent job you did at it, too. Excellent rant, my friend, and welcome to Mobile Read!

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by TGS

But these companies rely on the infantile pleasure we all get from having a new gadget and they need to make it as easy as possible for us to get them when we want them. Otherwise we will throw our doll out of the pram, skulk about on the darknet and make do with reading dodgy PDFs on our netbooks

Very good reading of our feelings!

[Patricia]

I do hope that your hand heals quickly, Yvan, and that it's not a serious injury.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

I hope your hand heals quickly, Yvan, and that you don't have too long a wait

[badgoodDeb]

Yes, we need details when you come back from getting it looked at!

[kindlekitten]

I hope he iced it!

[yvanleterrible]

Thank you everybody for you concern. It took only 8 hours because there was no treatment necessary. My middle metacarpal was crushed and did not break. The doc said that such bones can be flexible, kind of rubbery, and will not always break under such an impact. I still can't use the hand for a while and that sucks. I have to tell my client that his furniture will be late.

But I did get to read a translated paper version of Orson Scott Card's "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy"

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

So glad you haven't broken it - but do heed the docs advice if possible!

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Thank you everybody for you concern. It took only 8 hours because there was no treatment necessary. My middle metacarpal was crushed and did not break. The doc said that such bones can be flexible, kind of rubbery, and will not always break under such an impact. I still can't use the hand for a while and that sucks. I have to tell my client that his furniture will be late.

But I did get to read a translated paper version of Orson Scott Card's "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy"

Glad to hear it's not broken. Still sounds painful though!

[yvanleterrible]

Painful indeed. It's enough of a signal to keep me still.

[Katti's Cat]

Glad that it's not broken Yvan - although tissue damage can take longer to heal sometimes. But don't worry - I am sure there are heaps more people here crossing their fingers for a speedy recovery for you. And if you are in need of the middle finger - let us know. I'm sure we can raise it on your behalf too.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

Glad that it's not broken Yvan - although tissue damage can take longer to heal sometimes. But don't worry - I am sure there are heaps more people here crossing their fingers for a speedy recovery for you. And if you are in need of the middle finger - let us know. I'm sure we can raise it on your behalf too.

[jaxx6166]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

What's so bad about South Florida? I live in Tampa and really like it here.

Tampa doesn't count

South Florida (Vero Beach south to Miami) has pretty much become a cesspool over the past twenty years. I've been here roughly since 1989 and the area I'm in has essentially killed the middle class. It's either super wealthy or super poor.

The crime rate has gone down since the war on drugs, but violent crime has spiked and it's become downright scary. There was an active shooter at the Wendy's here about a year ago for no reason. Guy just went into the restaurant and started blowing everyone away.

Then around Christmas time there was an 87 year old man killed in front of his wife in a botched robbery. We also had the gang shooting in the Boynton Beach Mall around Christmas.

Vagrancy is out of control in Palm Beach County. It's not so much of an issue in parts north of PBC in SFL. On a good day, just about every intersection and shopping center is stuffed with vagrants drinking in public and harassing people for money.

Port Saint Lucie is becoming the foreclosure capital of this area, thinktanks have called this metro area one of the 6th most depressing places in America. We're going through a major cancer cluster in the western part of the county. The Sheriff's helicopter flies over my place on average once a night.

And I live in one of the nicest parts of my city.

I could go on.

Truth is, Bob - - I'm trying to get the hell out of dodge. If I stick it out in Florida, I want to move north. The farthest south I want to be in this state is Lake County. I'd go as far west as Tallahassee.

I've also considered Tampa and some of its suburbs (Pasco / Hernando area) as a better alternative as well.

Plus, temperature wise you guys are right on the barrier of the arctic north We're getting another freeze watch here tomorrow night, which will be nice.