The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu for November 2011

2011-11-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

Reassessing Time

Making More Room For Good Growth

Spirit Out On Point

IN LOVING MEMORY

2011-09-30T13:39:00.001-07:00

"GRACIE"

Beloved Friend and Family Member

2003 - 2011

You Gave Each of Us Your Furry Face

And Helped Us All to Find Our Place

You Gave Us All Your Unselfish Love

And Brought Us Closer To Spirit Above

You Were There When We Were Ill

And Slept By Our Side Til' We Were Well

You Ran And Jumped and Barked For Joy

You Loved To Squeak Your Favorite Toy

When You Sat Up, You Looked Like Little Bear

And Were So Cute, You Made Us Stare

Curled Up By Our Feet at Night

We Then Knew We'd Have No Fright

You Went So Fast, We Hardly Knew Thee!

This Special Soul, Four Footed Beauty!

Goodbye Gracie! From Me To Thee. . .

You Slept On My Head, One Year After Oh-Three

And Made Me Well...

This Memorial Is All For Thee!

Our Little Bichon Frise

2011-07-23T18:06:00.001-07:00

This is the epitome of cute!

Science History In A Nutshell

2011-07-10T18:15:00.001-07:00

Newton was a mad man, laden with gravity; Einstein burdened by quantum uncertainty; Both knew Schroedinger who knew where it was at.....All three were torn to pieces by Schrody's non-existent cat!

--FduJ

HumFisheKu For July 2011

2011-07-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

Future Unfolding

Making Plans And Points Ahead

Unfolding Today

A Very Relaxing Day

2011-06-13T14:24:00.001-07:00

Peace & Joy To Everyone! :-)

A New Story Emerging

2011-06-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

My story isn't quite completed yet (not that anyone's is complete, ever, as we're all experiencing the NOW at any given time), that is, not all of my long-term goals have manifested fully yet. Still, there are signs that things are getting closer, so I thought I'd share.

I'd been trying to become a commercial truck driver for a long time. I have some problems that have kept me from succeeding in a college atmosphere for all of my life, and I thought that over-the-road trucking might be a viable choice. Some call them 'learning disabilities,' and I can say that, although I don't like to admit to it, that moniker has, more or less, been true; especially in mathematics, where my other interest in computer science is seriously hindered due to my lack of numerical knowledge and processing ability.

Well, I went to a total of four trucking firms, all of whom paid for my bus ticket to get there. The most recent was in Arkansas. I signed up for a very expensive employment contract, whereby the company would pay for a three week refresher course at a nearby truck driving school, and then I'd be employed by them for a year.

Well, I take the course, and pass. So far, so good. Two weeks later, I find myself going to the company's orientation program in Arkansas, which I also pass.

So I go home for week and a half, then get a call that a trainer is available, and I get on a bus and go back.

Well, I'm weary to death of bus travel at this point. I'm experiencing fatigue the likes of which I've never experienced before, and mostly from dealing with the 'Dawg (Greyhound Bus Lines.) I've never been so tired or worn-out by travel in my life. (Since then, I'm determined to never, ever use the bus again; only flight or ground-vehicle.)

Well, I get assigned my truck, and after waiting for three days to get a load, I head out on my first training assignment, and Oh! What a doosy! Nearly 80,000 pounds of steel wire. The trainer wants me to drive the thing out of the yard, but I can't seem to get out of the passenger seat. Something's dogging me, something I can't stop fighting with inside my head.

Alarms, Bells, and Whistles are going off, and my stomach is doing flip-flops; anxiety is forming and is head-rushing me like a center against a quarterback in the playoffs! Something is nagging me, saying: 'do you really wanna do this, do you really wanna do this; what do you really wanna do, what do you really wanna do?'

Knowing what I'm responsible for--80,000 pounds of rolling steel, aluminum, and fiberglass--and seeing that I'm having all sorts of problems with doing all the paperwork--as well as not really liking all the rain/hail/wind that is currently hitting the windshield--I finally arrive at a decision.

All this time, the anxiety's been mounting while I'm sitting in the cab, my 'future' passing before my eyes, and my ability to focus on the NOW is completely shot. The thing is, I hate the profession, I can't stand it! Why I spent so much time doing something I continually fail in, is completely beyond my reason at this point.

So I calm down, and focus on the NOW. I make a decision to go home. All of a sudden, many things stop. The anxiety for one.

I've made a decision, and it feels right. I know I'm probably going to have to face my father-in-law's outrage at my 'quitting' this job I've put so much effort toward (my wife and I have been living in their basement for a year, now, and he--and his wife--desire us to move; I feel the same, as we have no real privacy there.)

Coming to the point: I got home, faced the father-in-law, was forced to sleep in my car in the driveway for an evening (I wanted to throttle him for that ;->), and was allowed in the house after a couple of day's, thanks to my wife's efforts, God/Dess Bless Her! (Luckily, I spent a good amount of my waking hours with my wife at our local Internet hot spot, which is a local 24/7 grocery store; it's practically our second home, as well as where I'm typing this right now.)

I knew I had made the right decision as my actions were showing forth what was up-and-coming--and I'm in the process of manifestation right now as I type this, even though it's still early in the process.

Now, on to the meat of the matter:

I've always wanted to be a computer service technician. I already do contract employment with an out-of-state placement agency that works in all fifty states, and have had reasonable success with them. All of the jobs I've been on have been challenging, interesteing, engaging, and have kept my scatterbrain from becoming too scattered. (I have ADD and some other nuisances.)

During the course of these assignments, I've never had a single, solitary symptom. I just have trouble in college, with math, and some study habits. Well, that's all going to change! Since I got back from the trucking fiasco, I've been in contact with a local disability services agency, who has, in turn, contacted an outsourced employment services agency that works with those with learning issues, such as myself.

I was also motivated to do my taxes (they've always been late), which didn't seem to be as hard as I thought, fill out my FAFSA student aid form, and apply to the school of my choice for Computer Networking classes, which are to start in the Fall of 2011. (I'd already been there in 2008, and had similar issues as in the past, but I feel different about the entire matter now.)

I find I love, absolutely love working with computers, especially laptops. I'm also a GNU/Linux Operating System nut, and use it on a daily basis. I'm a strong advocate of open sourced and free software, and find I align with the philosophies of most of the Linux world. Add to the fact that most of the Internet uses Linux, and I find myself all that more pumped to learn more!

So, summarizing the above, we have:

1. I quit a job I hate
2. I 'get through' some issue with a relative with whom I'm living.
3. I'm going to be working with a dynamic woman from the employment agency.
4. I'm going to college in the Fall.
5. I'm learning to re-focus my efforts to obtain jobs that matter.
6. I've learned that I can be strong, deal with life, and survive.
7. I believe that I will be wealthy beyond my wildest dreams, and CAN SEE IT HAPPENING VERY SOON!

I Can See It Happening NOW! That's me, on my Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive Motor Scooter, driving out of the posh campground that my New Custom NuMar King Air Motorhome is located, where my wife is happily surfing away on her New Custom Macintosh computer. (My wife loves Macs!).

All this and My Taxes Are Paid, My Bills Are Gone, and I'm Living My Dreams, Giving My Wife All Of Hers, and Have Already Paid Off The In-Laws Mortgage and Sent Them On A Cruise! :-) Imagine All Of This!! I Certainly Am!

Will get back to you as future NOWS unfold....

Warm Regards,
Stephen

Some Blogs Deleted

2011-05-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

I've deleted the following blogs:

http://18wheeledadventures.blogspot.com/

http://nobletruckershaiku.blogspot.com/

After many a long year of trying to be a professional truck driver, I'm calling it quits for good! No if, and, or buts! I'm done. Forever!

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

A Long Look Ahead

2011-04-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

The last few months have found me talking over a variety of things with educational professionals, and the results have been nothing short of miraculous.

I've come a long way, and contribute this to 'following spirit' (no religious elements should be inferred), calming my emotions (always a challenge in this world), and pursuing my spirit-led dreams, which, at length, are at the behest of my own true desires, anyway.

I'm finally pursuing my 'means to the ends' of what I desire; for me, my wife, and my family.

It's a great feeling :-)

Warmest Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu For April 2011

2011-04-17T21:36:00.001-07:00

holding out for joy

a streak across velvet skies

nighttime is on nigh

HumFisheKu For October 2010

2010-10-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

fly upon the breeze

homing toward the windward north

on my way back home

HumFisheKu For December

2009-12-19T00:56:00.000-08:00

Love, sometimes I see...

Can be hard to find, unless...

One loves one's Self well.

Sprint, The Palm Pre, and Tethering

2009-10-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

First, let me speak frankly: I Am A Palm Pre User and Sprint PCS Customer! I'm on a plan that includes everything for about a hundred bucks a month, enjoy using my Pre, and am loathe to switch to any other carrier at this time because of the quality of the service I currently have.

That said, I think it's imperative to understand that there is a basic functionality that the Pre is lacking, which, in The Humble Fishe's opinion, needs to be remedied.

That is the ability to 'tether' the Pre to a computer, either via a USB cable or a Bluetooth wireless connection. The Pre has the technical ability to do these things, as it--like all data devices--has an internal modem that connects it to the network for using all the wonderful features--like the Pre's great web browser--that are so data-intensive.

Still, Sprint hasn't developed something like a simple add-on plan to provide for tethering on the Pre. This doesn't make sense from a marketing perspective or a technical perspective. Sprint has a device one can buy and use on a special plan that allows for five computers to connect to it via a localized, short-area-coverage, wi-fi connection.

Five computers! So if Sprint is worried about all those Pre users out there who might use tethering on their devices (Hypothetical) clogging up the data network, then why offer a device that can do it for five?

The Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion for Sprint: All of your customers who use the Pre understand about marketing, for most of us are very savvy at understanding cellular networks and handhelds, and the limitations of both.

What we don't always comprehend, is why such a basic feature like tethering--either via USB or Bluetooth--is unavailable on such an advanced device like the Pre?

Answering this question would help a lot of us--both technical users and laymen alike--comprehend where Sprint--our chosen carrier--is going with their thoughts. It also would help if you'd ask us--on the forums, especially--what we'd like to see and what features we'd like to use.

The way The Humble Fishe sees it, based on what I've read on the forums, as well as my own personal thoughts on the matter is this: Tethering Is Needed On The Pre.

That's all I'll say on this matter, out of politeness and respect. I've shared my Humble Thoughts on the matter. Sprint...The Rest Is Up To You.

Thanks for reading...THF

Where The Spirit Dwells

2009-10-16T00:45:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I could say in a heartfelt manner that I was calm enough to sit down and write something down without trepidation or fear of reproach--reproach from myself, not anybody else.

I've been working on developing my spiritual side, and it seems to have paid off recently. My spiritual life is quite eclectic, as I draw from many new and old spiritual pathworkings. Neopaganism plays a major role these days, as do many other Earth-Based spiritual paths. I draw a small amount from Christianity through my Episcopalian upbringing, obtaining from that experience my sense of community and service-to-others.

Together, all these things are coalescing into helping me become more Aware (relating to Consciousness) of myself, my world, and others within those worlds, both physical and spiritual.

My wife and I happened to have the pleasure of visiting a wonderful new-agey, witchy-type store in Kansas City, Missouri that goes by the telltale name of Aquarius--an apt moniker for a wonderful shop that caters to not only the New Age and modern neopagan set, but also for those with a love of fine, handcrafted jewelry.

Some of the items we found on this visit (we visited once before a few weeks earlier) were a simply delightful, handmade cape made from black, shiny acetate-silk, adorned with little owls with painstakingly-applied faux-jewel eyes on purple material of the same type. This same cape comes with drawstrings that allow a hood to be made, and I have to say, it's striking on my wife, who was pleased as punch that the cape was still there. Needless to say, we picked it up at once!

We did a lot--and spent a lot ;-)--on this trip. The highlight of the visit was getting our auras photographed and having Barbera, Aquarius' resident expert Intuitive, interpret both our photographs. The results were meaningful and helpful beyond words. Also delightful was a tarot reader

Aquarius is really two stores in one, the other store the jewelry side called Vulcan's Forge, which has many interesting, one-of-a-kind jewelry products.

Many other items too numerous to mention exist within the walls of this interesting emporium. Web sites are below:

http://www.aquariusbooks.com/
http://www.vulcans-forge.com/links.html

Give yourself a treat if in the Kansas City, Missouri area and give Aquarius/Vulcan's Forge a visit.

More later. . . THF

HumFisheKu For October 2009

2009-10-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

Storms have abated,

Processes make themselves clear,

Soullular phone calls.

HumFisheKu For September, 2009

2009-09-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

Dancing in the dark,

Feet molding to small points of,

Echoed, shifting light.

My Opinion on Veoh's Recent 165-Country Lockout

2009-09-02T02:46:00.001-07:00

Veoh started out as a decent video site, with very little difficulty in watching what was available on their servers. Then, the problems began.

It began when Veoh started to get into what I like to term the 'Secondary Software Scenario.' This happens when, instead of just linking the video, itself, and letting the user use their browser's own embedded video viewing capability to handle the matter, they just had to have people use 'yet another piece of bloat code' to do what is, essentially, a fairly easy-to-manage operation.

The ads are acceptable, and, although being the usual annoyances that ads are, remain a good source of revenue so that the general public can watch their moving pictures for free.

Now for the improper part. The Internet is just that: 'Inter'. Not Intra (meaning, 'from within') but rather 'Inter' (mutually, together), meaning a collective of computer users from around the globe.

The People of the Internet are not unthinking, uncaring individuals. We are dynamic, broad-minded, and desirous of the countries of the world to foster the ability to foment peace, clean up their collective acts--be they environmental or social--so that they get along and are respectful of their neighbors.

Having to have region codes on DVD's is bad enough. Censorship is bad enough without that kind of nonsense keeping openness from becoming a reality in our collective lifetimes. Too many people want to control others, exclude others from what they believe to be 'their share of the pot' and 'their information.' There is altogether too much of the attitude of "I know what's best for you, you can't watch that, watch this instead."

The People of the Internet are not morons! We are not automatons living in a turn-of-the-century 'Metropolis' vision! We represent the brightest Minds of the Twenty-First Century! We are tired of censorship in the media, weary of media industry associations working to place electronic limitations on digital files--both audio and video--and are equally tired of prejudice of one country over another.

All that said, here is the crux of my comment: Veoh's limiting of it's audience to only 33 countries smacks of disrespect, prejudice, and bigotry! It looks to me as if Veoh's Board of Directors let marketing have 'Carte Blanche' on the management side of the company, something that, if true--although I am not accusing anyone--smacks just a tad bit aloof of the Sarbanes-Oxley doctrine.

If not, then with what are we left? Simple commercial prejudice based on nothing more than ad-money intake? If so, that's a crappy way to run a business, Pure, Plain, and Simple!

Ad-revenue is certainly a major part of any online enterprise, and I see plenty of sites doing it and doing well, without any repositories of bloatware-based video and music players, crappy ad-runs, or region-limiting (Read: IP Address Range Blocking!) practices. Limiting your viewing audience doesn't increase revenue, it limits it.

Limiting a readily-available, worldwide audience is the realm of morons; egos-gone-bad and egotistical marketing practices, throwback, pseudo-idealism--which is not idealism at all, but another descriptive for prejudice!

Veoh, in limiting it's reach within a medium that spans the entire Planet Earth, builds bridges between nations, and fosters congeniality among individuals and groups, is doing nothing more onerous than showing forth it's own limiting--and limited- view of the World.

A view that shows a desire to continue a prejudice that should have long since died out.

My Gentle Suggestion To Veoh: Understand that the Internet is the best hope for peace the Planet Earth has ever had, relative to communications.

Instant translation of web pages into one's own language, the ability to share one's ideas with others of like--and dissimilar--minds, via the advent of audio and video, is a technological masterpiece of innovation that might have fostered less wars and more understanding a long time ago had it then been around.

Remove the limit of what countries can watch your videos. The 'net is made for everyone, not just 'a select few with money.' Even those in smaller countries have 'something to spend' and might just subscribe to your services, should they be available. Even YouTube has a subscription model for premium content and allows that expansion. (Makes you think about just who your competition is, eh? If not, it should!)

I wish Veoh the best of everything in the present, and the near and far future, for as long as this type of medium is present. Technology changes so fast these days, who's to say that we won't be direct-downloading live streams into our noggins by mid-century, with the full realization of just what that means, as well as the ethical and moral understandings to go along with it.

Should that technical advent come to pass, there won't be any room for exclusivity for the type of marketing prejudice in which you--Veoh--are currently engaged.

Wake Up! Open Up! Enough is enough!

Warm Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu for July, 2009

2009-07-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Dancing in the dark,

I whirl around, awestruck,

Moon! My dark mistress.

My Post on Charles T. Tart (A Really Guuruood Guy!)

2009-07-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

*POOF* "Hey, Look! Cheese Weasels!

Thus endeth my post on Charles T. Tart.

-- ;-)

HumFisheKu for June

2009-06-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Bravest of all,

Having a choice before them,

Choose the safest path.

***although***

The safest pathway,

Although being inviting,

May not help me grow.

...and as of today, I just don't know...

June - Catching Up

2009-06-22T02:33:00.000-07:00

June, already! Last post was late May, so I want to bring everyone up to speed on what is going on out here in The Humble Fishe's world.

One item of note is my search for a suitable job, one that's tailored just for me, so I don't have to continue searching forever and ever, going from position to position. Have any of you had to deal with that? Hopefully, not, as it's a pain in the ass when you're 43 years old, learning disabled, and not able to fit in to a normal college curriculum.

So what do I do? I've gone to truck driving schools, worked with Vocational Rehabilitation in my local area to try to get me retrained *after* the truck driving school fiascoes of blog posts past, and I went to college last Fall at a nearby technical college for computer programming; all that last one got me was a new loan, which got me a new computer (my old one broke) but left me cold so far as the educational element of it was concerned.

I've decided to take out no more loans for education. Either I pay for it directly, someone else pays for it directly, or I go to school, gratis! I'm tired of the cost increases versus not-quite-enough-bang-for-the-buck in the United States education market--and let's face it folks! It's become a market first, quality or quantity of product, second.

I'm not paying for any more education that lacks substance, and I believe, based upon my own experience, that most modern education lacks a lot of substance. To me, it's mostly air, and low-oxygen-content air, at that!

--

Spiritually, I've been working on not-working-so-much. It seems more and more that I'm trying too hard to achieve when spirituality is one of those strange realms that works best when I'm not trying to achieve, but rather allowing things to come into my life as a river flows through the countryside. The river doesn't have to work, it just flows where the course of the riverbed directs it, and even the riverbed changes over time, and the river self-adjusts.

Automatic self-adjustment should be in operation all day, every day. If that were 'turned on' in my daily life, I believe that things would start 'flowing in,' just like a river!

Generally, in spiritually, I tend toward the neo-pagan/new-age sides of things, although by no means strict or the follower of any particular guru or instructor, creed or faith. However, this does not mean I lack either instruction, interaction, or a path to follow.

Hmmm. Just what does The Humble Fishe believe? I've never really discussed it here, so why not now? I believe that the 'school of direct spiritual experience' is the best teacher, and one's own personal interpretation of that experience is equally the best way to understand the unseen world of Human Consciousness.

It's not rocket science, folks! Too many rules equal too much dogma, and as the old saying goes, 'my karma ran over my dogma' many years ago! ;-)

Seriously, though, I'm not so flippant when it comes to desiring new and meaningful experiences in my spiritual--and physical--life at this point. 43 is no place to be treading water, but that's where I am. Luckily, Nature has allowed me the ability to fashion a 'spiritual antigravity platform,' so I no longer have to tread H2O in the spiritual sea. Nikola Tesla would've been proud! Carl Jung, too!

Well, on to other subjects.

--

The Work I Desire...Writing? I dunno...
-
Writing is another area I've been playing around in for a while. I'm working on a novel at the moment--the first of a six-volume series called 'The Sacred Dances of the Cosmos.' Archives will show a poem entitled My Beach©, which I am going to publish soon.

I actually wrote the poem well after I had started on the first volume--originally a one-book-story--which I've named The Light and Dark Moon Dancing. The story centers around Sam, a man of youthful middle-age who is drawn back to his beach front hometown in Michigan.

(THF Note: Michigan is my home state, and the events portrayed in the book take place near a lakeside town I used to frequent during the summers when I lived near there--the beach is awesome!)

Whether or not this project gets off the ground and yields up something tangible (read: money) remains to be seen. I'm still dealing with a lot of inner demons. Gads! Aren't all writers? Sheesh!

(Actually, though, writing is an area in which I'd really like to succeed, especially in New Age/Spiritual Fiction; and I'm not being flippant about that! -THF)

Well, that's it for now. More later on toward July.
Blessings and Light to Each and Everyone,
Warm Regards from The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu For May, 2009

2009-05-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

Strewn upon the sands,

My boat has found it's safe shore,

My liferaft is beached!

Asus & Best Buy - Asus G50V-X1 Gaming Laptop - Service, Repair, Damage, Exchange, and Replacement Journal

2009-04-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

Hello, Friends O' The Humble Fishe! Stephen here, asking everyone who happens across this post to please read it over and let me know what you think? Also, any *SOLUTIONS* that any of you fine blogger folk might have for me, would be welcome.

I bought an Asus G50V-X1 notebook computer from Best Buy Electronics in October of 2008. I developed a problem with it beginning in mid-March of 2009, and sent it out to be serviced on March 20th, 2009.

Due to the drawn-out nature of this issue, as well the repeated delays I've been experiencing, I decided to keep a log of my experiences on the Forums at www.notebookreview.com. Here is the link:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4729784#post4729784

I update whenever there's a major change--such as a delivery, answer to a phone call or email inquiry, etc., or when I want to share my feelings if the experience has been somewhat stifling, a bit shady (my experiences with my local Best Buy store are a good example of the latter), or any other time I feel the information pertinent.

I've striven to keep this log as factual and as free of overtly-emotional language as possible, except where circumstances warrant such a response. Even then, I've done my best to be as polite as possible.

This matter has yet to be resolved, and the growing delays, excuses, and ineptitude--both on the part of Asus *and* Best Buy's representative staffs--are trying my patience. This has caused tremendous frustration, worry, and unhappiness, as I had read so many good things about Asus and their tech support and customer service being among the best in the world.

I am disappointed to say that I can not say that the above is--from my own perspective and experience--true in any way, shape, or form, in terms of overall experience. There have been some high points--such as my RMA (Return Material Authorization) processing going smoothly at all times--but these have been rare.

Considering just what had to be done, and considering my own personal level of expertise, I can heartily say that, were it not for the machine being under warranty, I could've done a better job, myself, rather than the half-assed tripe that Asus and Best Buy possess that passes for customer service.

What I can say is that I expect to receive a new-in-the-box, upgraded computer for all the trouble both Asus *and* Best Buy have caused me.

Enough said. I present to you the original forum post from Notebook Review's web site (www.notebookreview.com), pasted below:

-----------------------

[Update to Notebook Review (www.notebookreview.com) Forum Post Update, May 12th, 2009, Tuesday]

[BEGIN PASTE]

Re: How bad is the Asus support?

How bad is Asus support? Well, I won't throw stones, but instead, just write down my list of experiences thus far.

My computer is a G50V-X1, purchased from a Best Buy electronics store in a suburb south of St. Louis, Missouri, in October of last year (2008).

The computer had been working flawlessly until mid-March of 2009, the problem being a loose center conductor on the left-side USB port. Deciding and thinking that the factory service center would probably be better suited to handled a motherboard replacement (the location of the USB connector), I decided to go through Asus Technical Support, rather than through the 'Geek Squad' division of my local Best Buy retailer.

I have two choices on service here: Asus Repair or Best Buy's Warranty Service.

First Choice: Asus Repair
Repair Facility: Asus Indy, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Log of Service:

FIRST INCIDENT

1. March 20th, 2009: Received RMA from Asus via Email.
2. Shipped computer out via local FedEx depot. (Asus sent Ground label instead of standard FedEx overnight. Shipped anyway.)
3. March 30th, 2009: Received email indicating my computer shipped out, on it's way back to me.
4. Received computer back within 2 days or so of March 30 email.

REPAIR SUMMARY: Repair Order Document in box indicated a new motherboard was installed. However, upon inspection, left USB center pin was still loose--tighter than original, but still loose. 'Loose' here refers to a vertical, 'up and down' movement of the USB port center conductor pin, indicating weak anchoring, either in the aluminum body of the port, itself, or to the motherboard, specifically. I don't know if this is particular to that motherboard, or just a bad lot of them at the factory; all other USB center conductor pins solid and tight.

Motherboard also reassembled incorrectly, in that the external WLAN slide-switch on the front edge of the G50V-X1 wasn't aligned with the motherboard hardware part. This alone brought on the need to obtain a 2nd RMA and once again ship it back to Asus Indy.

SECOND INCIDENT

1. April 1st, 2009: Had 'Live Chat' session with Asus Tech Support via Asus' web service portal.
2. April 2nd, 2009: Received RMA in Email
3. Shipped out via local FedEx depot, this time with proper overnight label.
4. April 7th, 2009: Received email indicating my computer shipped out from Asus Indy.
5. Received computer in about two days.

REPAIR SUMMARY

G50V-X1 Damaged! OLED board cracked in two places, which I could see through the cover-glass, and also indicated by lack of ability to display anything properly, save for battery charge indication. Body of laptop also appeared warped toward the front-top of the laptop, just back from the OLED display.

The WLAN switch was properly aligned with motherboard part, at least.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

During both courses of shipping, I had used the original boxing and packaging. This included a foam 'pocket' the laptop came in, as well as a clear piece of rectangular plastic that covered the keyboard and another, similar piece of soft, spongy material that went on top of the plastic keyboard cover-film, used to protect the screen from scratches in shipping. (The rectangular, rubber-like piece is similar to the stuff that comes on paper-towel like rolls, used to keep cups and dishes from slipping in trailer and RV cupboards).

When I opened the outer, brown, corrugated cardboard original outer box, I then removed the box with the handle and the 'Woman With Sword' graphic on it. I then opened the top of the inner 'graphic' box, and found my laptop in a thin, plastic bag--not the foam pocket in which I shipped it to Asus Indy!--flopping about loosely between the cardboard end-pieces that keep it from moving up and down and side to side! Saying I was livid is being generous ;-).

In short, Asus Indy didn't pack it properly, resulting in damage during shipping, handling, or the OLED break happened on the bench. Maybe one of the technicians or shipping and receiving clerks dropped it, banged it, dropped a tool on it when the unit was apart, or something similar. I'll probably never know the truth of it, at this point.

What's even more irritating, is a talk I had with Asus Notebook Customer Service in California, in which the CSR with which I spoke admonished me to not send it in the original packaging 'if I ever wanted to see that box again' (referring to the 'Woman With Sword' box). Just in what kind of box did she expect me to ship it? Her attitude was condescending and I felt she took me for some kind of an idiot. Don't ship it in the same box??? Sheesh!

Continuing: Before I shipped it, I used a thick, black, Magic Marker to place control numbers, my name, address, and phone number, all over the inner cardboard pieces contained inside the 'Woman With Sword' graphic box, including the cardboard end-pieces for the computer, itself. This strategy was probably what kept anyone from messing with the box-in-general, as indicated by the presence of every one of my marked-up inner box-and-parts. Pity I didn't do that with the laptop's original foam pocket; I might've gotten the computer back in one piece--provided the OLED wasn't damaged in-house.

I called customer service once again, and was given a new case/incident number to give to repair. I have not acted on that yet, but it is good for 30 days.

----

Second Choice: Best Buy Electronics
Repair Facility: Best Buy's Asus Certified Repair Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Store Location: Jefferson City, Missouri

When I purchased my G50V-X1 from Best Buy, I also purchased an Accidental Damage Policy/Extended Warranty combo package for $99.99. Everyone who buys from Best Buy or any other retailer should have this kind of protection, period! It's worth every penny. . .at least, I'm hoping it is. Let me explain:

I took the laptop into my local Best Buy (not the store from which I bought it) and took it up to Customer Service who referred me to the Geek Squad bench. Just as luck (bad) would have it, the 'Agent' I usually talk to wasn't there, and there was only a 4-day-old newbie and an ASSistant Manager (no misspelling here ;-> *snark*) with which I had to (or-)deal.

Here's how this went down:

1. Brought computer to Geek Squad counter. Opened computer bag and procured G50V-X1.
2. Showed to Agent.
3. Agent requests help from Assistant Manager.
4. I show AM problems: a) Loose USB center pin b) Broken OLED screen c) Warped casing.
5. Manager says he'll have to send it back.
6. I tell him of my Asus Repair 'Sagas' and he says they can look at it at their 5-Acre repair facility in Louisville, Kentucky (saying this proudly).
7. I ask for new unit.
8. AM refuses to replace unit with new one.
9. I end up resignedly having to accept AM's refusal.
10. AM assigns rest of process to newbie Agent.
11. Newbie Agent processes my forms, I reluctantly leave my beloved G50V-X1 with Agent, but before I leave, talk again with AM, who assures me that the forms are all correct and that their boxes are 'made especially for laptops to keep them form moving around (after telling him about my Asus Return Packaging Material experiences).

12. I leave store, dejected and tired of people 'not taking responsibility' for my needs as a consumer of a device which cost me over thirteen-hundred dollars ($1300), paid for with student loan funds whilst I was attending technical college back in October of 2008!

Present Situation: I am waiting for Best Buy. I will update this thread as soon as I get my computer--either repaired properly or replaced--back from Best Buy's service center in Louisville. If this proves uneventful, I'll have my G50V-X1 back in a few weeks. If not, I still have the ASUS incident number with which to generate a new RMA and shipping label from Asus Repair.

April 11, 2009 - End of Log

--------

So that's it forum folks. Please share your comments, thoughts, opinions, and such. Anyone else having trouble? I know I sure am.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

----------------------------------------------

UPDATE: April 15, 2009

Unit is currently still with Best Buy's servicing center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Will be calling my local store today to see how the repair/replacement is progressing.

--Firefishe

----------------------------------------------

UPDATE: April 18, 2009

Unit is back from Best Buy's Louisville, Kentucky Service Center.
Best Buy Corporate has authorized an exchange, however, issues still abound:

Consideration 1: G50V-X1 with the Nvidia 9700M GT GPU is no longer available. G50Vt-X5 with Nvidia 9800 GS GPU is available, but has no modem, which I use now and again.

Consideration 1a: Case color is atrocious, LED side lights are white, instead of blue, and the flame graphic on the lcd topside is just a bit too much for me; also, the trackpad buttons are now a ridiculous HP-ish 'super shiny'; I prefer the 'brushed stainless' buttons of the G50V-X1/9700M GT system much better. (It should be noted here that all other available G50V's still use the brushed stainless buttons and have a solid black lcd topside, with blue side LED's and the Asus Logo light and the LED blue stripe. Aesthetics were part of the original reason I bought the G50V-X1 from Best Buy back in October, 2008. As it was, it could be used for both business and personal use, but I'm not into fancy case graphics with what I want to do, wish to display to others. The orange/black lcd topcase or solid black version will work for me; weird graphics won't. I want solid colors or solid color combinations.

Consideration 2: Replacement, Black, G50V-X1 with the P8400/Centrino 2 processor and the newer Nvidia 9800 GS GPU is available from Best Buy's online store, but, once again, doesn't come with a modem, which I use now and again. It does, however, come with Bluetooth, so I could, in theory, wirelessly tether it to a cell phone, which, in theory, might make up for the lack of the modem. (I usually use the modem in motel rooms that don't have WLAN connectivity.)

Consideration 3. My local Best Buy may not give me a cash refund. They want to give me--if it comes to this--an in-store credit. I've been looking around online and have found some Asus resellers that have some systems that might work for me, but I need to have my money back from Best Buy to purchase them. I've found a good deal on the G50Vt-X9 from www.btotech.com for $1449.00 plus shipping which would do just fine--as long as btotech has them in stock, anyway. I'd have to add a bit from the $1424.xx I paid to Best Buy, but this is minimal. I'm tired of waiting for both Asus and Best Buy to get with the program and stop 'fluffy bunnying' my customer service issues around with semi-desirable attempts-at-solutions.

Consideration 4: The Asus G50V-X1 I currently own has been mishandled, misrepaired, mis-shipped, and either damaged in-transit or murdered at the Asus Indy repair center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. So far, I'm looking at mild case warpage/bending, OLED Display Glass Breakage, and who knows what else under the re-assembled parts I can't see. I do not feel that any type of repair should be effected upon this machine. Replacing it with a new, in-the-box G50V-xx-xx is what I want!

If anyone has any useful information on how to resolve this problem immediately, please email me at sabrown@inbox.com .

--Firefishe

---------------------------------------------

UPDATE: April 20, 2009 Monday
Jefferson City, Missouri Best Buy Store
--
Detail Log: Walked in to the Jefferson City, Missouri (MO) Best Buy store, ready to utilize an Exchange Authorization that Best Buy Corporate's Customer Service Division had provided for me--presumably after a very long and detailed email I wrote to them. Okay, fine. Let's exchange the G50V-X1 for another one, or perhaps something just like it.

I walk in to the store and make my way back to the Geek Squad counter. What followed immediately after my arrival just begs to be shared and put down in print, so here it is. My more immediate issues follow the next paragraph:

I observed, upon arriving at the Jefferson City, MO Best Buy Geek Squad counter, a person I knew to be a very new Geek Squad employee re-fitting a cover to the bottom of a customer's laptop. This employee seemed to be having trouble getting the little memory cover back in place, and I could see that the cover wasn't set flush in the proper manner. This employee was screwing down this one screw, causing obvious stress on the cover-in-quesition; I knew it had to be under stress, because there was a tab sticking out of the opening that wasn't seated well, and as the employee was screwing in the fastener (screw), the board was becoming *CONCAVE* as he was doing so. Eventually, he finally seated the cover correctly, but had it been my laptop, his ears would've been verbally boxed for doing such as shod-job to my machine. (I'm not doing business with this company, anymore; details to follow.)

I had decided, after mulling it over for a while, whether or not I was going to exchange my G50V-X1 for a new G50V-X5 (the one without the modem, but with the better video card and the horrid 'paint job') 8-P. Well, as I was getting tired of not having my G50V-X1 in a damaged and mangled condition, so, weighing the differences, I decided I'd 'go for graphics-cardage,' and get the G50V-X5. Or...the new Gateway P7805u. Or...An HP multimedia computer that also didn't look bad.

I was given a $1200.00 return credit, so I thought I'd shop around for a bit. I ended up at that store for five and a half hours (5.5 Hours) before I finally decided on one Gateway P7805u with a 1900x1200 resolution screen. The display model of this laptop is, quite probably, and older P7811-FX, left over from last year, even though it bears the tags of the P7805u. Now, I did some online searching while I was there, and through various Best Buy customer reviews, was able to ascertain that--depending on what UPC # the box has, one might get a P7805u with a 1900x1200 screen resolution, or one with a lesser, but still respectable, 1440x900 screen resolution. The four-numbers-and-one letter designation appears in the middle of the UPC code for the P7805u, and are as follows:

P7805u, 1440x900 UPC with "3908B" (appearing in the center part of the UPC code)
P7805u, 1900x1200 UPC with "3910B" (appearing in the center part of the UPC code)

As luck would have it (and I have not had a great deal during this experiences), Best Buy Jefferson City had one of the high-resolution models! It had been opened and the hard drive 'optimized' by the Geek Squad dept., and then re-sealed, and a sticker affixed accordingly, indicating the service that had been performed. Now, what this 'service' is, in actuality, is a $39.99 'extra fee' that the Geek Squad tech dept. tacks on to some laptops so 'people who want to have this service performed, don't have to do it after they buy it.' {paraphrasing of what a Geek Squad employee told me today}.

Continuing; The Best Buy Customer Service desk--just to the left of the Geek Squad counter at the opposite end of the service area in this store--let me open up the laptop box, take the Gateway P7805u out, and look at it. It seemed fine, save for a few forgivable finger smudges left by the Geek Squad folks. Fine, no problem. No apparent breakages, cracks, or anything else I could see. So I decided to get it.

It was a toss-up between the Gateway P7805u (1900x1200) and the Asus G50V-X5 with the 1366x768 screen, no modem, and flashy paint job. The Gateway's Nvidia 9800M GTS chipset and that gorgeous 1900x1200 display (of which I tweaked the display model's settings to find this out) won me over to the Cow Collective *Moo*...or at least, so I thought.

I bought my original G50V-X1 with student loan money, and my financial situation is quite sparse at the present time. Wifey works at a McDonald's and Hubby (Me) is on disability and unemployed (though looking) at the present time. I literally had zilch on my pocket, not even a penny to spare. I had enough gas in the car to drive to Best Buy and back home. I mention the previous so I may present the following:

________________________________________
Original Best Buy Receipt Details
--
$ 1249.99 G50V-X1 Laptop Computer
$ 99.99 1 Year - Accidental Damage Policy
$ 75.94 Tax @ 6.75%
_________
$ 1425.92

Hmmm. . .

$1425.92 - $1200.00 = $225.92 ($1200 being the amount I was given by Best Buy Corporate for the 'exchange') See anything even remotely fishy here?

***Counting the tax I paid, I was shorted $225.92 on this 'exchange.'!!!*** Now, if this was supposed to be an 'even' echange, why is this even an issue?

The reason this is an issue is that I was told that this was going to be an even exchange. My original computer--the G50V-X1 cost me $1249.99 plus tax! (I include the tax amount, as I had to pay it, and must consider it part of the *actual cost*, which is the only amount that we're interested here, anyway! Counting the Accidental Damage Policy @ $99.99, and the price of the computer @ $1249.99, the tax came to $75.94).

The Gateway P7805u was listed at $1149.99, $100.00 less than my original G50V-X1 @ $1249.99. To me, this indicates nothing being owed. Well, when they tallied everything up, I was told I had to pay additional tax of $18.xx (and some change, I forget the actual amount; I left in disgust after that.)

Tax for an exchange? For a computer that cost me $100.00 less than my original? I don't know what kind of 'equity' that Best Buy is thinking it's giving me, but it's definitely not fair by any means. $20 bucks may not seem like a lot of money, but when we're talking about an exchange that's supposed to be 'merchandise for merchandise,' and they tally up tax of $18.xx on the difference (there shouldn't be any 'active different,' as this was just supposed to be, again, a merchandise exchange, no money changing hands, at all!), it means everything!

Read also into this equation, is the fact that I've been out this laptop for over a month--no thanks to Asus! GADS! Who's going to accept responsibility for my problems? I'm taking as much responsibility as I possibly can. I can only do so much. When I'm faced with managers who constantly hand me off to subordinates, when I'm nickeled-and-dimed to death in a situation where I'm positively flat-broke (My wife's ATM card bought the gas!), no cash-in-pocket today (April 20, 2009 Monday), and where it's just supposed to be 'stuff for stuff,' and not 'stuff-with-a-money-kicker,' I just don't know how much I can take!

I took a lot today. When I got out to my car, I was in tears, due to the horrible way Best Buy Jefferson City nickeled-and-dimed me to the point of mental exhaustion. It was to the point where I was getting physically ill; I *had* to leave, due to the stress levels this store's employee's were causing me. Right before I left, I asked the manager 'what's the deal' about the tax issue. He responded with something to the effect of:

"Well, I'm not responsible for tax. It'd be nice if we all didn't have to pay taxes, but that's not my problem."

That's when I asked for my computer, and then walked out the door. I'm not going to go back to this store. There's another in the area I'm going to try, but I don't know at this point. I may not be able to get any closure on this issue, at least not with Best Buy Jefferson City, Missouri (MO).

My next alternatives are pretty much limited, but are, as follows:

+++DESIRABLE ACTIONS / POSITIVE OUTCOMES+++
1. Activate standing service order from Asus and get RMA; send to Fremont, California (of which I've heard shudders) instead of Jeffersonville, Indiana,
2. Contact Best Buy Corporate, go to the other nearby store and get a full and complete rufund, IN CASH! (Bank Acct. xfer, Visa Cash Card(s), what-have-you are fine.)

+++NOT-SO-DESIRABLE ACTIONS / POSITIVE OUTCOMES+++
3. Contact my local office of police and their fraud division, file complaint, get money back. (Issue: Can Take Longer Than Above Items.)
4. Sue. (She can be a nice lass, if treated properly and if she hasn't had too many unreasonable demands placed upon her ;->; mostly, this path is the most expensive and takes the longest. I don't really desire to wait.)

The bottom, numbers 3 and 4, are only as a very, very, last-ditch resort! I have no desire to encumber myself with such matters if I can avoid it. Additionally, I also don't think Best Buy Corporate was thinking that any type of monetary difference on a sub-$1249.99 to the original $1249.99 computer was going to even occur. I'm going to have to get back to Best Buy Corporate now and talk to them about this. Not today, though. It's late, I'm tired, and it's time for a pop (Michigan-ese for 'Soda' as it's called in Misery...Sorry, I meant Missouri.) At this juncture, I really wonder if there's any real difference.

I'll post again with another update as soon as the next stage occurs, which will occur soon, probably tomorrow!

Thanks to those who are following this diatribe, I appreciate it. *Toss* (Ice Cold Cherry Coke!) ;-)

Be Well Forum Folks,
Warm Regards,
Firefishe (Stephen Brown)
sabrown@inbox.com
---------------------------------------

UPDATE: April 22, 2008 Wednesday
--
As of the very early morning of Wednesday, April 22, 2009, I've sent an Asus VIP Member technical service request email, outlining the issues experienced, and my desired outcome. I include the email in it's entirety below:

To: tsd@asus.com.tw
From: sabrown@inbox.com
Date: 4/22/2009 5:19:10 PM
Subject: Notebook G50V
Apply date : 4/22/2009 4:34:26 PM

[Contact Information]
*Name : Brown
*Email Address : sabrown@inbox.com
Phone Number : 573-418-4627
City : Jefferson City
*Country : United States

[Product Information]
*Product Type : Notebook
*Product Model : G50V
*Product S/N : 87N0AS14721228G
Place of Purchase : Best Buy
*Date of Purchase : 2008/10/5

*Operating System : Vista 64bit

[Problem Description]
This notebook has been misrepaired, and damaged.

The left USB port (as if the laptop were facing you with screen/lid open) needed replacement, and the job was botched.

The motherboard had to be replaced--as this is where that particular usb port is located; the motherboard used to replace had both a loose, defective left-side-of-laptop USB Center Post, and the board component that mates with the plastic WLAN (wi-fi) switch was not properly aligned, instigating the need for a second shipping.

When I received it back, upon opening of the box, I observed that the original, protective foam pocket I sent the laptop in--and also used for the first shipping, was replaced with a thin, plastic bag. Even doubled over, this bag was not enough to protect the G50 from being loosein-the-box, even with the laptop's cardboard box supports.

I attempted an exchange with a local Best Buy store--the chain I originally purchased it from in October of 2008--on April 20th, but to no avail. None of the store's laptops have a model that can replace this one. I also was treated rudely and had my case handed off to just about every other employee in the store, anything to keep the managers from working with me.

I had decided upon an exchange, but as it was supposed to be 'item for item,' and they tried to hawk off a so-called 'optimization' package on the laptop chosen in the form of an additional $40.00 dollar charge, and tried to get me to pay tax differences on the exchange, I negated the transaction immediately, obtained my unrepaired laptop, and left the store.

Legal actions against this store may be pending.

In actuality, the store isn't responsible for the damage, Asus Indy (Jeffersonville, Indiana) is.

Let me be frank. Polite, courteous, but frank: This laptop has now been shipped SIX TIMES in one month! I've had enough. I could have done this repair thoroughly myself on my own bench, but did not as it is under warranty. I have modified, repaired, and replaced my own, personal laptop parts on many other machines; this was also when they were all out-of-warranty. I do not disassemble in-warranty machines, I should not have to do so, and don't as I--hopefully *obviously*--I won't void any active warranties I may have on any machine that is new.

Well, this machine isn't new anymore. It's broken, the casing is cracked, my OLED info screen is cracked, and who knows what else might lie broken underneath in the areas I cannot see.

So here's what I have:

1. Three repair cycles, two with Asus, one with Best Buy.

2. One botched repair/delivery cycle; One damaged computer/delivery cycle (2nd time *did* fix the WLAN switch issues, so I'll give credit where it's due) and a cracked/broken OLED display.

3. One out-of-Asus-repair-cycle with store chain where purchased, consisting of one mailing to (supposedly) certified Asus Service Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Exchange given via corporate consumer relations office after two emails were sent, and all details--including the Asus repair experiences--shared with Best Buy consumer relations staff member via email.

3a. Exchange impossible due to mitigating factors, including the possibility of in-store fraud, in the form of failure to exchange for similar equipment as corporate consumer relations indicated. as well as questionable financial handling of the matter.
(I am pursuing this matter separately at the local level, and it has nothing to do with Asus in any way, shape, or form.)

Okay, now that I've said that, what do I want? A new computer! A similar unit, new-in-the-box. NOTE: NO REFURBS ACCEPTED!

The closest model I've found with similar features is the G50V-X9. This model would also provide the following, which I would consider as equitable, considering the loss-of-productivity, as well as the botched repair and damage issues:

1. 1680x1050 high-definition screen, over the G50V-X1's 1388x766 resolution.)

2. Bluetooth (which I need for connecting my cell phone to the laptop.)

3. The fax/modem none of the Best Buy store models have and I need.

4. An upgraded video chip 9800M GS, vs the G50V-X1's 9700M GT.

5. A 9-cell, extended-life battery.

6. Both laptops (The G50V-X9 with no additions or upgrades) come with one (1) 320GB hard drive. This is acceptable, as my original laptop only had the one 320GB drive. I desire equitability only--and a little upgrade for the trouble caused me--not exorbitance.

I paid $1425 for my original G50V-X1 in October of 2008; this included a $99.99
Accidental Damage Policy.

The G50V-X9 is being sold by www.btotech.com (also a contributing author for the Asus Forums @ www.notebookreview.com) for $1449 plus shippping (as of April 22, 2009.)

I've looked around the 'net, and this is the best price I've found. It's $25 more than my original purchase price, the laptop provides *all* the features I want, and allows for more uptime on battery. It also allows me to take advantage of Asus' 2-year warranty, and by registering the laptop within 60 days, I can still have the one year damage protection in place. All in all, I think a win-win situation.

Please provide for me a new-in-the-box G50V-X9, with the aformentioned features, and we'll call it quits on this issue. I think my request is a fair one.

Please contact me via telephone at (phone # removed) to speak to me directly. Email at sabrown@inbox.com.

Thank you for your consideration.

Warm Regards,
Stephen Brown
--

The email has been sent, I've talked with notebook support earlier today (April 21) via livesupport.asus.com, and I need to speak with a supervisor during normal business hours, as the repair facility can't do any replacements, only warranty repairs.

Again, I'll see how it goes.

Warm Regards,
Stephen
----------------------------------

UPDATE: April 23, 2009 Thursday
--
I still have not heard back from Asus Customer Service, nor have I received the promised call-back from a Supervisor.
I will wait until tomorrow, Friday, Apiril 24, 2009, and see what happens. I will also attempt to contact a Supervisor directly.
I have been told that the Supervisors we're in meetings a couple of days ago, so I will hope their meetings are concluded.

Although that may be a reason I haven't been able to speak to anybody during the course of the past week, it doesn't really seem like much of an excuse to not even give me a call-back. Two emails have been sent to the Supervisor--according to Asus Technical Support and Asus Customer Service staff, and I still don't have anything, either via my phone's voice mail, or in my email inbox.

I shall wait another day.

Warm Regards,
Stephen
--------------------------------------

UPDATE: April 27, 2009 Monday
--
Asus Supervisor contacted me on Friday, April 24, 2009. Received email after this, indicating that upper management had been made aware of my case history, and that the matter was under review.

Will call today at number given in email and verify nature of matter, ergo, whether or not I am going to receive a replacement G50V. I will do this *before* sending my laptop back to Asus in Fremont, California (CA). Sending to the facilities in Fremont, CA to avoid any more pitfalls with the Indiana facility.
--
LATER UPDATE: Call Accomplished! Spoke to helpful customer service representative, and am hopeful of positive outcome via this channel. Am FedEx'ing G50V-X1 shortly after this post.

Will continue to maintain log here, and hopefully, will be able to post MATTER CLOSED, CONDITION: SATISFIED! after all this is done. It certainly would make me happy.

Warm Regards for now,
--Firefishe

---------------------------

UPDATE: Friday, May 1st, 2009
--
I spoke with Asus Customer Service today, calling them around 6pm Central Time.

Having verified with the FedEx Office (formerly FedEx-Kinkos)--the location from where I shipped my computer--that my G50V was, indeed, delivered and signed for, I was hoping that maybe Asus Fremont would've gotten around to replacing my ailing machine.

Shipping Note: According to FedEx, it was signed for by someone named "Y.Man"; What does this mean? 'Yes' Man? Yo', Man? I'm beginning to wonder about the professionalism of this company, at least the United States offices. Would this type of thing happen in the Asian countries? I suspect not. I prefer straightforward names that can be easily traced, not simple initials that sound like a high schooler's!

As of the time of this update (May 1, 2009 Friday), I was informed that there was a five-day backlog of repairs, and that my machine had not been gotten to yet.

*SIGH*

I'm getting tired of this. . . (more later...)
--Stephen
---------------------------

UPDATE: May 3rd, 2009 Sunday
--
Waiting until Monday. Will call Asus back early in the morning, Pacific Time. I've been calling in the late afternoon, so perhaps I'll have better luck early in the morning.
---------------------------

UPDATE: May 4th, 2009 Monday
--
Feeling a bit ill, today, so I could not get out and contact Asus. I've checked my RMA's status on Asus's web site, and it's still showing as not being in the repair network loop. This probably means one of two things; One, that my G50V-X1 is still on the waiting list for service; or Two, that my case is being handled as a replacement by upper management. Replacement is my preference and the only solution I shall accept at this time for this broken and abused (by Asus) notebook).

If I happen to get the same notebook returned to me, instead of a new-in-the-box model with a different serial number, I'm going to start the processes that may lead up to litigation.

I'm tired of this. I've been waiting since March 20th to have this matter resolved. My local Best Buy store won't be fair with me, has tried to shaft me on a simple exchange, as well as having staff at my local Best Buy store (Jefferson City, Missouri) treat me as if I'm a secondary reason for their being in business; as mentioned in the relevant paragraphs above this one, I waited for over 5 hours and was treated with contempt, as well as being constantly handed off to subordinates by managers who didn't want to handle the matter personally. (There's only one person in the Jefferson City store I would trust to handle this matter, and, unfortunately, he wasn't in the store at the time.)

Asus Fremont (California) has my notebook, complete with my system disks, power supply, and everything that came packed with it--including the microfiber cloth used to clean the screen; I've kept that computer in tip-top condition up to the time Asus Indy's (Indiana) service people botched the original repair job and damaged the notebook, either in shipping or on the service bench, causing internal damage to the inset display/board.

The laptop has now been shipped physically *SEVEN (7) TIMES*! That's a bit too much for my blood. Coming new from the factory in new boxing is one thing, followed by a single shipping cycle (2 shippings, 1 to get it there, the other to bring it back) for any needed repairs--properly done--is fine. Seven physical shippings is beyond the realm of sanity for this type of thing, and, considering that the notebook is already physically damaged internally and externally, it's time for a new-in-the-box replacement--plus perhaps a few upgrade for my trouble--to be shipped to my door, post-haste!

If the last seems a bit too much, consider the above. Re-read it *ALL* and then you tell me if I don't deserve a bit of value-added-service. I think you'll come to the same conclusion.

All for now, will update toward the end of the week; I want to see what the outcome will be on Friday.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe
---------------------------

UPDATE: May 7th, 2009 Thursday
--
Just a quick note: I had a quite-friendly contact with a helpful Asus CSR this afternoon. I am assured that my notebook computer is currently being reviewed by the upper management at Asus Fremont (California). It was suggested I wait until Monday, May 11th, 2009. The CSR said that if I hadn't heard back by then, to call them at that point.

I have agreed to this.

I'll post another update after Monday or if something positive happens in the meantime.

All for now, more later as things develop.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe
---------------------------

UPDATE: May 12th, 2009 - Tuesday
--
Just sent off a Technical Inquiry via Asus' VIP Member's site at usa.asus.com. I need to call Asus' customer service later today and see how my RMA is progressing. I'll post another update after that call.

All for now, more later today.
----------------------------

UPDATE: May 15th, 2009 - Thursday [A Bit Ranty, Just Be Warned!]
--
I called Asus Customer Service today at about 4pm Central Daylight Time via their toll-free notebook support hotline. I experienced something both extraordinary and exceptional, today! That of not being on hold for twenty or thirty minutes, only to have to hang up because of something pressing I had to do; I was on hold for only about TWO MINUTES! (Can you believe it??? I couldn't, and was flabbergasted to the point where my jaw dropped, my tongue rolled out onto the pavement, and my eyes came out of their sockets!)

To top it all off, I actually got someone who...get this...ACTUALLY SEEMED CONCERNED AND WORKED DILIGENTLY TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME! Something to the effect of emailing a supervisor--probably on the super's BlackBerry--while they were in a meeting! Go figure! Can something be up? (SARCASM) I sure hope it isn't my used G50 up for grabs at a company staff drawing and the help I received wasn't a social front for the not-seen-in-the-background intern doing a study on customer service customer frustration levels for their psychology degree! (/SARCASM)

Okay, so much for the venting. Thank you! I needed that! Fact is, I needed it so much I decided to something positive today and take a motorcycle test ride at a local dealer. 2008 Kawasaki Versys to be exact. Very nice machine. Now to get my computer back so I can write that million-copy best seller and retire before I'm 50!

I *will* be calling them back tomorrow if they don't call me first. If this doesn't get handled, someone's going to make me a millionaire, that's for sure.

--Firefishe

Special Note: For practical, legal, and other purposes, the following, below, should be used for official use:

1. Called Asus Notebook Customer Support at about 4pm Central Daylight Time.
2. Waited on hold for only two minutes, and was answered promptly by a Very Courteous CSR.
3. CSR seemed genuinely concerned for my problem, and took steps to get my message to their supervisor.
4. CSR informed me that my matter had been emailed to their supervisor.
5. I'm now awaiting a phone call from the supervisor.
6. I will call supervisor on Friday, May 16th, 2009, probably sometime around 3pm Central Daylight Time (1pm Pacific Daylight Time).

Special Notation: Customer Service Representative (CSR) was the friendliest I have experienced in nearly two months, and, if this matter is handled quickly, will make up for all the previous 'faux pas' I have experienced, to date.

More as things progress...

Warm Regards,
Firefishe
----------------------------

UPDATE: May 15th, 2009 - Friday
--
Having been away from my computer for a bit while my wife was using it, and not being able to check my email until today (May 15th), I wasn't aware that Asus sent me the following email correspondence on May 13th, 2009.

I'd paste it here, but the formatting is in an HTML Table and wouldn't go well with the code on this forum, so I've text-formatted out in simple form, below:

[BEGIN EMAIL PARTIAL PASTE]

Dear Mr. Stephen Brown,

Firstly, I do apologize for the delay in the process of your RMA.

Please review the spec below as we will be replacing your G50Vm-X1 with the G50Vt-X1. The main difference between the two has been highlighted to you in RED/YELLOW.

SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT
--
Model Name: G50Vt-X1
Part Number: 90N-SSZA2411131KQL0Y
LCD Panel: 15.6" WXGA (1366x768)
CPU: P8400, 2.26GHz *HIGHLIGHTED*
Graphic Card: Nvidia 9800M GS 512MB *HIGHLIGHTED*
Memory: 4GB DDR2
Hard Drive: 320GB *HIGHLIGHTED*
Optical Drive: Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Wireless LAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: 6-cell
Web Camera: 1.3 million pixels
FingerPrint: No
Bluetooth: No
Operating System: Vista Home Premium SP1 (64 Bit)

--

YOUR CURRENT MODEL
--
Model Name: G50Vm-X1
Part Number: 90N-SPYA5714656KQC0Y
LCD Panel: 15.6" WXGA (1366x768)
CPU: T5750, 2.0Ghz
Graphic Card: Nvidia 9700M GT 512MB
Memory: 4GB DDR2
Hard Drive: 200GB
Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti with Light Scribe
Wireless LAN: 802.11 b/g/n
Battery: 6-cell
Web Camera: 1.3 million pixels
FingerPrint: No
Bluetooth: No
Operating System: Vista Home Premium SP1 (64 Bit)

Signature Lines, Corporate Emails, Web Sites

[END EMAIL PARTIAL PASTE]

--

Summary
--
1. Missing Modem (G50V-X1 has modem, G50Vt-X1 does not).
2. G50Vt-X1 Optical Drive Not Listing Light Scribe (Best Buy web site lists it has having Direct Disc Labeling).
a. assuming light scribe or equivalent based on Best Buy web site data.
3. Color of Casing is not the same.
a. G50V-X1 Orange and Black Case.
b. G50Vt-X1 case is black with blue, garish graphic on top of LCD/Cover.
i) not suitable for business.
c. Trackpad Button Area is bright, shiny chrome, instead of brushed aluminum finish.

These are the principal differences. I've already gone over this model in my earlier posts, so I won't list any more here.

CONCLUSION: G50Vt-X1 not suitable for replacement of G50V-X1. Suggest replacement with G50Vt-X9 or same computer configuration as G50Vt-X9 but without the 9-cell battery. Either acceptable.

Again, will they do it? I'm calling them tomorrow as soon as they open and I can get to a phone.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe
----------------------------

UPDATE: May 17th, 2009 Sunday
--
I have decided to accept the offer from Asus regarding the replacement of my G50Vm-X1 with the G50Vt-X1 (The 'm' designates my original computer and is accurate, as this number is on the back of the notebook, itself.) There was some confusion on my part with regard to what I thought was the G50Vt-X1; ergo, I mistook some of the G50Vt-X5's nomenclature for the G50Vt-X1's. Well, I know when to admit when I've made a mistake, and I have made one here.

Granted, the G50Vt-X1 isn't orange and black--it's black and silver, with blue side lights, cover/logo lights, and blue trackpad lighting--but I'm going to accept it on the grounds that my major concern--a lack of a modem--has been ironed out with the availability of a usb-based modem from U.S. Robotics--Hayes Compatible--that won't give me the problems that software-based (so-called 'win-modems') modems are prone to cause gnu/linux based systems.

So that's solved! :-) The rest of the differences are mainly case color, and I've decided the graphic on the G50Vt-X1 isn't so garish after all--unlike the G50Vt-X5 (my personal opinion, only, others may like the -X5's coloring).

Well, that's it! I'm awaiting a confirmation email from Robert Diaz or whoever wants to finalize this. I'm sure they'll be happy to just get it done; Although I'm not completely satisfied, the situation is fairly equitable as to features and function of the old notebook, save for the absence of the internal modem. Again, that problem has been solved, so I'm not sweating it.

I am including both emails sent to Robert Diaz, postebed below. Please note that these were copied and pasted from the email, the email had Rich Text encoding and displayed the primary differences of my computer and the replacement computer inside of an HTML table. That formatting is not included in the paste, so I ask that readers reference my previous post--meaning, the last post of the May 15th, 2009 Sunday entry.

Quote:

(Begin Email Pastes)

First Email Paste

--

Mr Diaz, Stephen Brown replying.

Regarding my contacts of May 15, 2009, it appears I may have been mistaken as to just what model I surmised the G50Vt-X1 to be. Having looked it over carefully, I can see I have made a mistake with regards to color and some other issues.

I was thinking the replacement was the G50Vt-X5--which is not the G50Vt-X1 at all--which was being suggested as a replacement for my G50Vm-X1. Please accept my apologies, I made a mistake.

The G50Vt-X1 will suffice for a replacement to my G50Vm-X1. If you could ship it out immediately, that would be fine. Since it's so late, I suppose Monday would have to suffice. Please ship via standard FedEx overnight if you would be so kind.

Again, my mistake, and I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused your staff, today, both on the phone and via email. Also, regarding the modem replacement, it is not necessary, I have found a suitable solution locally for that issue.

Please be so kind as to ship my G50Vt-X1 as soon as is possible. I look forward to using it. Color is fine, lights are blue. I thought they were white--which they are on the G50Vt-X5, but not the G50Vt-X1. Again, I accept the G50Vt-X1 as a replacement, it is a good looking unit and is suitable for my needs.

My Warmest Regards,
Stephen Brown

-----Original Message-----
From: robert_diaz@asus.com
Sent: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:55:06 -0700
To: sabrown@inbox.com
Subject: RMA #EI943617

Dear Mr. Stephen Brown,

Firstly, I do apologize for the delay in the process of your RMA.

Please review the spec below as we will be replacing your G50Vm-X1 with the G50Vt-X1. The main difference between the two has been highlighted to you in RED/YELLOW.

(SNIP) Computer Model Comparison (SNIP) - (See Last Post of May 15, 2009 Friday Entry)

Let me know if there are any questions or problems.

Best regards,

Robert Diaz
ASUS Computer International :: 800 Corporate Way, Fremont CA 94539
robert_diaz@asus.com :: http://usa.asus.com :: http://livesupport.asus.com :: http://support.asus.com

Inspiring Innovation • Persistent Perfection

-----------------------------------------------------

Second Email Paste

--

Mr Diaz, Stephen Brown again.

Just reiterating that regarding the email below, this is an acceptable solution to me.

Please ship the G50Vt-X1 as soon as possible. Thank you.

Warm Regards,
Stephen Brown
personal address

-----Original Message-----
From: robert_diaz@asus.com
Sent: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:55:06 -0700
To: sabrown@inbox.com
Subject: RMA #EI943617

Dear Mr. Stephen Brown,

Firstly, I do apologize for the delay in the process of your RMA.

Please review the spec below as we will be replacing your G50Vm-X1 with the G50Vt-X1. The main difference between the two has been highlighted to you in RED/YELLOW.

(SNIP) Computer Model Comparison (SNIP) - (See Last Post of May 15, 2009 Friday Entry)

Let me know if there are any questions or problems.

Best regards,

Robert Diaz
ASUS Computer International :: 800 Corporate Way, Fremont CA 94539
robert_diaz@asus.com :: http://usa.asus.com :: http://livesupport.asus.com :: http://support.asus.com

Inspiring Innovation • Persistent Perfection
(End Email Pastes)

As it is the weekend as I am writing this, I will have to wait until Monday to see if everything is going through as planned. I feel I can say with reasonable certainty that, even though I initially did not accept the offer, Asus will probably be happy to realize that I am open to the exchange as proffered.

I am eager to get my new computer and be done with this experience so I can get back to business, both personal and commercial.

More on Monday.

Warm Regards,
Stephen Brown
----------------------------

UPDATE: May 19th, 2009 - Tuesday, Early Morning
--
Well, I guess everything is in the works. I received this email from Mr. Robert Diaz:

Quote:

RE: RMA #EI943617
From: Robert_Diaz@asus.com
To: sabrown@inbox.com
Date: 2009-5-18 20:46:18

Hello Stephen,

I will process the replacement for tomorrow Tuesday, May 19.

Let me know if there are any questions or problems.

Best regards,

Robert Diaz
ASUS Computer International :: 800 Corporate Way, Fremont CA 94539
robert_diaz@asus.com :: http://usa.asus.com :: http://livesupport.asus.com :: http://support.asus.com

Inspiring Innovation * Persistent Perfection

Upon receipt of my new G50Vt-X1, subsequent inspection of same, and after I make certain everything is working properly and in order, I will consider this matter closed.

More later in the week. . .

Warm Regards,
Firefishe
----------------------------

FINAL UPDATE! May 24th, 2009 - Sunday - 11pm Central Daylight Time
--
I have my new Asus G50Vt-X1, and after all of my prior experiences to date, have to say that I am quite satisfied and happy with it! :-)

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not capitulating to the poor customer service I received from either Asus or Best Buy in Jefferson City, Missouri beforehand; I'm just saying that I have my new machine, I'm back online, and I'm being productive again. I already have Ubuntu back on it, and I have 120GB more hard drive space with which to play.

(Non-Customer Service Observations and Musings)
--
3D works great on Ubuntu GNU/Linux with Nvidia's proprietary driver. I've never seen CoolIris--a popular 3D plugin for Firefox--work on a gnu/linux based system, before. It's nice to see that 3D and Ubuntu work well together, with very little problems, overall.

The Nvidia 9800M GS is a wonderful chipset (PCIe Form Factor in this notebook; i.e., a removable card) and handles all my 3D needs well. I have yet to test it with EvE Online, but I'm going to have to re-download the high-resolution version of the game, and that will take some time--if I do it that way, at all. I'll probably just buy the DVD online this time, and forget about downloading so much data via a 100KB-per-second line. It's good for gameplay, as it's steady, but not so good for 4.5GB files.

It's a nice little powerhouse, even if it doesn't have a built-in modem or Bluetooth--two items which, if I'm savvy, I can install soon enough with little trouble, although my warranty will probably be toast. I'll probably just stick with USB externals and be done with it!

(Final Customer Service and Repair Service Summaries)
--
Asus needs to get on the ball or it's going to end up as roadkill on the customer service super highway! When I received my G50Vt-X1, the computer was moving around inside the box. Thank the deity or impersonal force of your choice that it was shipped Federal Express Standard Overnight, and wasn't on the truck for more than a day! If it had been, I believe that the brand-new unit I received could have easily been damaged!

The G50Vt-X1 came in a very used Asus Pundit P1 Barebones Laptop box--a box that was much too large for the notebook. What's up with this? Shouldn't the unit have come in a standard retail box packaging, with proper internal dimensional spacing??? The lack of credulity on the part of Asus' shipping clerks boggles the mind!

Luckily, the notebook didn't arrive damaged, but whoever is in charge of packing the notebooks, both at Fremont, California *and* Jeffersonville, Indiana, need to have their heads examined! Had I been their supervisor, and had received complaints like this, there would've been a very specific meeting and re-training session for the shipping department! Either that, or I'd just recruit new help. Enough is enough!

As for Best Buy in Jefferson City, Missouri, that store has seen the last of me! I'm never going to do business with them again. The way I was treated was atrocious, and the managers, callous! I left in tears, and it takes a lot for me--a 43 year old man of many seasons--to get to that stage.

My energy was so completely drained after dealing with them that day, that I won't recommend them, won't suggest anyone work for them at all! I've been through one of their job interviewing processes, and it resembled something more like a new-age encounter group session than a real interview. Also, save for one helpful and intelligent Geek Squad Technician with whom my wife and I know locally from other venues, and perhaps one other person in the entire store, the collective intelligence of the Jefferson City, Missouri Best Buy Electronics Store is, in my opinion, barely above that of a popped resistor!

It's *that bad* folks! Just don't do business with them, and with that said, I'll say no more.

MATTER CLOSED, CONDITION SATISFIED...but only barely.

Ending This Thread Now
Respitefully,
Firefishe
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Last edited by Firefishe : Today at 11:34 PM. Reason: Ending Thread on Sunday, May 24th, 2009. --Firefishe

[END PASTE]

HumFisheKuDarke Final: Ahhh! Respite At Last! :-)

2009-04-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

Way of the Wizard,

Dawn of the eternal One,

Finally, A Peace!

HumFisheKuDarke ~ More Light

2009-03-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

Light upon my path,

Walking to the center part,

Core of my being.

HumFisheKuDarke ~ Revealing Light

2009-03-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Proximity fuse,

Ignites as one get closer,

Closer to the Light.

HumFisheKuDarke

2009-02-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

Reaching, I find naught,

My desires, wants, goals,

Dissolve in fine mist.

A Gentle Suggestion for Employers

2009-02-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

Hello there, Friends of the Humble Fishe.

I would like to share a Gentle Suggestion for the people of today who are in charge of doing the hiring for businesses, from fast-food to retail.

I write this down because of a recent application process to which I was ignominiously exposed during a recent application put forth to the Dollar General store chain.

Dollar General is a national (US) chain of small stores, with various household products, ranging from the usual toilet sundries (toothpaste, anti-perspirant, shampoo, etc.), to cleaning chemicals, cat and dog food, and even clothing to a small extent.

Most of these items are priced between $1.0- and $6.00 dollars, with the high-side items mostly found on brand-name merchandise, as opposed to the lesser known store brands. It's called a 'dollar store,' but isn't necessarily one of the 'everything's a dollar' dollar stores. It is, however, one of the largest in the US, so it's a (I'm assuming) stable chain that isn't closing anytime soon.

That said, it's still a store that pays well below the national average for cashiering, which is the job for which I was applying. Now, let me explain why I'm a bit up in arms about this situation:

When I was in my teens and early twenties--from about 1980 to 1986 or so--I was able to go to any local business, get a paper application at that store, fill it out at home (usually, sometimes they wanted it filled out there), and bring it back; after this, there was a good chance of being able to speak with a hiring manager or other such person. If an interview were scheduled, I stood a good chance of getting hired.

The basic elements of prior work history were there, under the heading of Past Employment, Previous Employers, Work History, and the like. There were the Name, Address, City, State, and Zip Code lines. Education was there, and a place to list my (then) high school experiences, extra curricular activities (school clubs, what-have-you).

These were entry-level, largely minimum wage jobs. They didn't require a degree, just a reasonable understanding of life-in-general, with a modicum of an ability to work with the public, operate a cash register (scanners had just been implemented at that time), *Know How To Count Back Change Manually!* (is this taught anymore?), as well as expectations of reasonable honesty with the company money for which you were responsible and accountable at the end of the day.

It was also expected that you would have a reasonable amount of integrity in your personal life to be understanding to the employees with which you worked, and to know enough to keep personal things personal and work things at work. It was inevitable that some personal elements would cross over on to the work field, such as needing to pick up children from school, go to Boy and Girl Scout meetings, take the babysitter home, and such, but these were understood as more-or-less 'standard things' that happened all the time, were easily managed, and didn't overly disrupt the day-to-day operation of the store-at-large.

What wasn't done is probe intensely into the internal psychology of company employees to the extent that a person was expected to 'bare their soul' against the wall for all to see; which brings me to the crux of this blog entry:

Modern retailers go too far when they ask prospective employees to submit to a 'voluntary,' subjective, values-clarification/psychological test for a job that does not require it. It is invasive, nosy, and invades the privacy of everyone. Please allow me to illustrate below, via my own recent experience.

I go into the Dollar General store to get something I needed, pay for it, then leave. Looking back at the door, I saw that they were looking for an assistant manager. Well, I'm not so sure of my ability for that position, but it couldn't hurt to ask, so I went back inside, asked the cashier on duty who I needed to talk to, was told that *she* was the one, and was told to come back the following day, and 'we could talk about it.'

So far, so good. Morning comes and I arrive at Dollar General to talk to the manager about the position. Well, she didn't feel anything listed on my job history was specific enough for her to give me the assistant manager's job, but she suggested I could apply to be an 'associate,' meaning a cashier-cum-stocker. The only way a cashier does *only* that particular job is at a large grocery store, and even then, is probably expected to keep the candy rack stocked; it's just part of the job.

The job isn't hard. It's simple. Blindly simple. So simple, I, a person who can utilize five or six computer operating systems, regularly uses four (Vista64, XP Pro, Mac OS-X, and GNU/Linux), can play improvisational piano (my own very basic, specific style), and even sing when I put my mind to it. Not hard at all.

Take the till money, count it at the beginning of the shift, compare it to what is on the ticket, sign off on it, put it in the drawer, sign on to the register if needed, and start ringing up customers. Stock the shelves (being sure to lock the register before doing so) if required, tend to customers as needed, keep a sharp eye for shoplifters and other forms of trouble, keep scanning merchandise, bag up the customers' parcels, say 'thank you for your business' and allow them to go on their way; move to the next customer. Repeat.

This job doesn't require a college degree, folks!

So what is The Humble Fishe all up in his fins about? What is it that is so nagging on my ol' Fishey Brain? I respectfully invite you to continue with the coclusion to our little story:

After accepting the invitation to apply for the 'associate' position, I was waived over to the side of the store away fron the checkout line and given a paper application, that is, I was *shown* the application, then had it explained.

I've never had an application explained to me before, save for some state jobs that had a common process for everyone at a central meeting (these types of jobs have this as a fairly standard practice).

Anyway, she goes over the usual Name, Address, State, etc. lines and then gets down to the part that First, made me cringe--as I always do at subjective values-clarification exams--, and the Second, that made me decide to walk out and forget the whole affair.

The dialog went something like this:

Manager: First, we'll need you to fill out the top half, with your Name, Address, and such, then you'll need to go down to this part.

Me: (Manager waiting to see if I understand so far:) "Okay, got it (nodding head.)

Manager: "You'll need to fill out this section, and you'll need to call up a number I'll give you to take the test. *Do You Have A Cell Phone?* (My Own Emphasis)

Me: "Well, yes, I do have a cell phone, but it's one of those prepaid jobs and it's just about out of minutes."

Manager: "Oh, okay, well I suppose you can use the one here.

[At this point, the Manager walks over to the check-out counter (presumably that's where the phone is located) while I follow and continue to watch her go down the application list.]

Manager: (Looking at the application, moving in a generally 'I've Explained This A Thousand Times Before' manner, making hand gestures to get me to understand, etc.:) "After the test is done, then we get to the Desired Behaviors List and. . ."

[It was at that point my subconscious had had enough. I was wondering if I was applying for a job or being being subjected to some psychology student doing a double-blind study :-P.]

Me: (Interrupting:) "Ma'am, I've had enough. This is way too invasive for a mere cashiering job. Thank you for your time and have a good day. Goodbye."

I thanked her for her time, and walked out of the store.

Summary

The company and its store manager went too far in two areas: The first was in asking me to use my own phone time and expenditure to perform what was a company function. This is a serious breach of propriety, and, to me, is highly unethical. It makes the job applicant wonder if the company can be so insolvent as to not be able to provide for a desired function for its employees, and just makes the company appear to be, directly put: "Just Plain Cheap!"

The second area concerns the intense focus on the nearly ubiquitous question-and-answer, subjective values-clarification testing regimens that just about everyone is using today in their search for the Perfect Employee (Insert Photo of Sun-Drenched, Sparkly Employee Here :-P.)

The forty question test I could have accepted. Accepted, that is, had it not gone farther than that. The Manager, at that point, was intensely into the breaking down of the test results into what she--ergo, the company--had down as a list of 'desirable behaviors,' and I was not going to have any of it!

'Desirable' is me not stealing from your till, shoplifting the merchandise after hours as I'm closing (also known as Malfeasance, or Employee Theft) the store. 'Desirable' is me having not only a calm, controlled, and self-directed, useful demeanor to your customers, but also having a slew of product knowledge as well as being able to tell a customer in ten seconds flat or less where a product is located, whether or not we're out of a product, and when it's going to be back on the shelf.

What the Manager at Dollar General was going to go over as 'desirable' didn't interest me at that point. I expect it was very specific, and probably had absolutely nothing to do with me, but applied to the maladapted part of society prone to some of the aforementioned uglies.

It did not, nor would it *ever* apply in any way, shape, or form, to The Humble Fishe! Not now! Not Ever!!

The modern workplace is turning into a playground for human resource management paranoia freaks. I, for one, do not take these tests and would advise every one reading this to do the same. Find an employer who will deal with you directly and keep their nose out of your personal psychology. As long as one is able to do the job-in-question and get along with others, that is the only reason to hire a person.

Subjective values-clarification tests do not give accurate results, invade people's privacy, and are unethical as hell to use in the workplace to screen employees!

The Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion for Dollar General:

Get your head out of mine! Politeness dictates that you don't prod too heavily into my background for such a mundane job as cashier. A background check will handle that information, is cheap, and can be had during any business week.

Asking me to give responses to subjective, adroitly-personal questions, then furthering the miasma by having your store manager go over a list--presumably to tell me what behaviors are desirable versus those that are not--is an insult to my intelligence and a breach of manners I am not wont to forgive.

Please be of a mind to respect more the privacy rights of your employees, and please stop being so nosy! Until you walk the proverbial mile in my moccasins, Ladies and Gentlemen of Dollar General, you have no right to even consider asking me to bare my soul to you.

I wanted a job, some eventual management training, and some self-respect. I received none of it!

Warm Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu For December

2008-12-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Feathers against face

Burning cold, tho' 'wakening

Snow on Niseko

(Note: Niseko, in the SW part of Hokkaido, Japan, is famous for ski resorts and outdoor activities. A place I'd like to visit.)

Kitty N Me :-)

2008-12-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

This is Me and my kitty, 'Motor.' I named her that because she has quite the engine under the fur.

A special note goes out to my friend 'onetinsoldier': Thanks for all the help, man! :-)

Warm Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu for November, 2008

2008-11-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

Although I Am Cold,

Winter's Early Kiss Behold',

Jenn Still Warms My Soul!

--Lovingly Dedicated To My Wife, Jennifer! :-)

--Jenn...The first three have been Wonderful! Let's make the Fourth and the ones to follow the Best There Is! I Love You, Wifey! --Fisheyfurbles!

A Moral

2008-11-17T16:53:00.000-08:00

Give unto others the freedom to be themselves at all times. Discount minor offenses and look to the bright side of having a cover on a cup with a lot of joy inside of it. The joy will usually be drawn up through a straw of direct intention after the whipped topping is scooped out by a spoon of alacrity that fits perfectly through the hole in the top of the lid!

Warm Regards,
--Firefishe

HumFisheKu for October, 2008

2008-10-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

Life, a warming trend,

Bundled up, waiting for cold,

Springtime rains wake me!

HumFisheKu For August 2008

2008-08-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Myriads of Founts,

Mercuric and Acidic,

Raining on my Soul.

Hum Fishe Ku for Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

2008-06-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Mountains of newness,
Rise up, graciously giving,
Me all of my dreams.

--Firefishe

Hum Fishe Ku for June, 2008

2008-06-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Emotions leveled,
Preparing for the trek home,
I begin anew.

Life Lessons From The Fishe 1 - Quelling A Lifetime of Overreacting

2008-06-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

I grew up as a Small Town American, and very very proud of that fact. Most people I encountered--primarily friends of my Father and Mother--were willing to lend a hand when asked.

I was also willing to lend a hand, and did not even need to be asked, but often--as a child--offered to help out first, before anyone asked at all.

I have been away from the idyllic life of my youth for many years now, and have come to regret it! I have become an overreactive machine, running on autopilot, reacting strongly to the slightest misgiving and slights. Is it a wonder I don't have many friends?

The Firefishe isn't a bad guy, but neither is he a prime candidate for Mr. Congeniality, either. My life has been one of having to deal with other people in my formative years, largely adults, of course, but also having to put up with rude behavior and the subject of that rudeness from within my own peer group.

I know I didn't do the best I could, or I wouldn't be blogging this. I overreacted most of the time to the slightest prevarication, usually to my detriment, as those involved were usually stronger than me. I've never been a Charles Atlas. I'd learned to become passive, and then, as I became an adult, I learned to put up a defensive front not even an interplanetary invasion force could penetrate.

Such has been my experience, of my dealings with people on a day-to-day basis. I've been rather lackluster in the area of Human Friendship Building, and it has hurt me greatly.

So here I am now, at 42, and wanting to 'go back to the way it was.' It's not just a 'flash in the pan' desire, either. I feel that my past is calling for me to come back to an earlier time of Joy, Happiness, and Full Desire! Okay, so what does that mean? It means that, Today, I can choose to incorporate what my childhood-from-my-past wants me to experience in my Present Today.

Sounds new-agey, doesn't it? Well, yes, and it is! I have been new-agey for a very long time, and resonate with this view: That we all are capable of experiencing a 'new age' of Joy, Love, and Fulfillment in our lives. (Disclaimer: --> I desire this and want this, but I've found it very difficult to allow it and those feelings to bloom forth as flowers in my present-day life. Why? Keep reading!)

The 'why' part stems from the aforementioned defensive psychological shielding I put up in my formative years to 'protect' (we're never really in need of psychological protection, as we have strong minds; if we'd only choose to use them!) myself from what I perceived then as 'possibilities of 'imminent attack' from 'other people,' a label I would use repeatedly as a means of comparison.

Ergo, I, Myself, was never as good as 'other people,' and never would--or could--be.

I mistreated myself like this for many years, until the day I couldn't take any more of it, turned off my emotions successfully for about an hour and a half, and was forced to pull over to the curb and park, so heavy were the tears that poured forth after having been forcefully held in check, I could not drive anymore! I thought I could self-hate indefinitely and decided to withdraw my participation by forcing myself mentally to exclude all emotional channels and outside emotional influence--a/k/a 'involvement with people.'

The human body, it is said, has a variety of subtle energy bodies that interpenetrate this physical universe and the non-physical, spiritual, part of our existence. This would seem to be a correct assumption: Forceful mind-focus upon a part of one's being one considers a 'non essential' part of the body as a whole--namely the emotional body--and try to force it's exclusion. Well, it didn't work.

It doesn't work. It won't work. It can't work. We are emotional beings, and that emotion is what gives us our Drive, gives us our Passions! Passions uncontrolled may lead to addictions, but Passions properly channeled lead to Victory! Victory in Joy, Love, Happiness, and Fulfillment.

I bring this up today because of an incident that happened at a local place I and my wife frequent. The store in question is a book and music store that has--treasure of treasures--a cafe with Free Internet! My wife and I met Online, and we are always to be found doing something creative with our computers, especially at this particular venue.

I had purchased a large tub of microwave popcorn and had asked the clerk to microwave it for me. I also presented a coupon for a free drink I had been given two days before. The drink was prepared first, and I made the request that the clerk make it without a cover on it, so that I could get to the whipped cream easier. Well, the clerk responded in a manner which was quite unlike her normal responses, replying with something like 'I'm not going to prepare it that way, because it's messy and, besides, you won't be able to enjoy 'all the good stuff' properly, anyway.' (Whatever that means--the entire drink is crushed ice, flavoring, milk, and whipped cream--ergo, it's all 'good stuff!').

So I, somewhat disgruntled at being 'told off,' let her do her thing, and I got my drink. I don't know if this was a matter of 'instant-karma' coming to the fore, but I tried to take the lid off, and it was practically welded on to the rim of the plastic cup! This met with disaster, as I worked to pry off the lid, finally doing so and splashing about a third of the top-contents of the drink on my table, part of my laptop computer--fortunately not on anything vital--and the floor!

Now on to the popcorn tub. This store rents and sells movies and movie related items, such as tie-in products, action figures, and the like. They sell these big theater tubs of Act II brand Movie Theater Butter popcorn. This tub has a microwave-reflective bottom which has the unpopped kernels in it, with an expanding piece of plastic sandwich bag-like material over that to keep them captive during microwaving as they rise

Well, the end-result of this monster tub of RF-induced movie theater madness is that the plastic bag material tends to rip apart, spewing popcorn everywhere in the microwave oven, necessitating its regular cleanup. The clerks have gone to not following the directions on the popcorn, listening for the kernels to stop popping as it's written on the side of the tub and, instead, doing it their own way.

I should've let the matter go. I should've let the matter go. I should've let the matter go! But I didn't!!

Another clerk popped this popcorn for me two days prior to this, giving me the coupon for the free drink I used today--at my behest, as I suggested that I would have unpopped kernels in the bottom of the tub. Well, I didn't then and I didn't today. Both times the clerks prepared my popcorn and not a single unpopped kernel in sight when I reached the bottom, save for two or three, which are normal for this type of popcorn.

The Entire Point: I ended up ranting that I'd go inform the manager, which I did, ending up pouring all the popcorn out of the tub into a plastic bag, realizing the error of my ways when I found that there were no unpopped kernels, apologizing to the manager at that point as well as the clerk at a later point. I ended up feeling useless, foolish, and wanting for social decorum and feeling as though I had really messed up on another daily chance of personal friendship building!

I felt deeply sorry, and apologized to the clerk again, after an hour or so had passed. I asked the clerk for forgiveness. I'm not afraid to admit when I've been wrong so I asked her for her forgiveness. She gave it to me! Simple and direct forgiveness!! I decided to give my emotional self a break for a change and accept it without judgment.

The Moral

Give unto others the freedom to be themselves at all times. Discount minor offenses and look to the bright side of having a cover on a cup with a lot of joy inside of it. The joy will usually be drawn up through a straw after the whipped topping is scooped out by a spoon of alacrity that fits perfectly through the hole in the top of the lid!

Warm Regards,
--The Firefishe

Verizon Wireless, The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Smartphone, & The GPS Safety Net

2007-10-31T20:43:00.001-07:00

There is just so much I can stand when it comes to companies trying to make a buck! I especially eschew any attempt by a company to negate my personal safety when it comes to use of the Global Positioning System.

Let me be succinct: I bought a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone through Verizon Wireless this past summer, complete with a two-year customer service contract, to boot!

I bought this email-oriented PDA phone to be a do-it-all solution for my phone, email, and GPS Location Based needs. There are many fine third-party programs available for BlackBerry, and they are increasing in number each year. Some of the more notable software includes the following:

BlackBerry Maps (A mapping and location lookup tool produced by Research In Motion, the company that makes the BlackBerry handsets. Enabled for phone calls from location searches.)
Google Maps (Another mapping and location lookup solution used by a majority of BlackBerry owners nationwide. I use it constantly, and can make a phone call from the location listing when it appears.)
MapQuest Navigator (While not specifically for the 8830 model (yet), I was able to install it, MapQuest Navigator being a Third Party J2ME Software Application, capable of being used on many J2ME Java Based Handsets. The software recognizes the GPS Chip Hardware on the 8830, but alas, can not access the GPS Data Stream, due to Verizon Wireless disabling this feature at the firmware (software-on-chip) level. This program has a GPS Satellite Screen Dialog, which shows that is "Acquiring Satellites." Due to Verizon Wireless negating the GPS Chip Hardware Dataflow, MapQuest Navigator's satellite screen only shows that the software is "Acquiring Satellites," but never does.

{Technical Note: The GPS Chip Hardware Dataflow is not an easy feature for the average end-user to re-enable, themselves, and requires an extensive knowledge base of information to perform successfully. One needs to have extensive knowledge of computer programming at the very least.}

What this means to me as a Blackberry Power User can not be overstated enough: It completely negates my overall safety net and performance goals for this phone on this network. All that Verizon Wireless has to do is enable GPS and negate their stand that they do this for 'security reasons'--an argument that has very little merit, considering the fact that the lack of GPS on this GPS-Native handset does just that!

To this end, I am considering filing a complaint of criminal negligence against Verizon Wireless if they don't re-enable my GPS Data Stream IN FULL so that other applications of my choice can access the GPS Data Stream from the GPS Chipset on my BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone.

Please understand this: I Like Verizon, overall! I do not have any beef with the coverage, or the high-speed EV-DO network. Fact is, I'm with Verizon because of that very same EV-DO network!

However, the negation of the GPS Data Stream from the on-board GPS Chipset Hardware negates my full-enjoyment of this phone for both Safety--as well as my favorite sport: Geocaching! (Click HERE for more information on Geocaching).

I've been thinking of writing an application for Geocaching enthusiasts who happen to own BlackBerry handsets. This software would also, as a GPS Enabled Application, allow BlackBerry owners with GPS Enabled Handsets, to use the application as a stand-alone GPS application; it would be complete with a traditional GPS Satellite Page (which has a world graphic with satellite positions with their signal strengths), a Compass Page (which has a Compass Graphic, shows To and From Information Fields, and the like. Geocaching Information, as well, would be available, including use for something called Pocket Queries. (See the GPS FAQ Link Above for information on Pocket Queries.)

I can not do this when the carrier negates the Native GPS Safety and Enhancement features of the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, or when Qualcomm negates the ability of the same handset to use the GPS features when the phone is in overseas GSM Mode. Why would anyone in their right mind negate GPS Location Information for a client base that does international traveling?

GPS IS International! GPS Location Information IS Safety! GPS Mapping Software IS A Safety Solution for Overseas Travelers! Disabling native-GPS features on an so-called worldband phone in any mode is Just Plain Stupid, Idiotic, and Negligent!

I am going to go forward with this matter if I do not receive satisfaction! Please Stay Tuned!

=-Warm Regards from The Humble Fishe-=

Hum Fishe Ku for August

2007-08-22T19:56:00.001-07:00

It's been a while.

I've found my way home again.

Water and I join.

The Humble Fishe Goes Treasure Hunting

2007-03-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Wanting to try my hand at the Narrative, I present my fellow Geocachers with this small anecdote of a cache find, from start to finish.

--Firefishe and the Burr Oak Cache--

Part One
--
"A Chanceful Hike, Rotted Out Boots, and a Photographer"

I originally intended to just take a short walk for an hour or so in Grindstone Park, but decided to see if there were any caches nearby.

Having already logged one other cache in this park, I decided to do so; seeing as my cache finds only number 103, I figured this would be a fairly easy, though reasonably challenging regular style cache to find.

So, off I go, following the trail, going *across the bridge* and pausing just slightly after the silo on the right hand side where the trail makes a gradual right turn and goes off to where people and their dogs run.

That's when I decided to look at the gps. A bit on my trusty gps tool (and probably a shameless plug, as well ;0): My Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has been the best of everything to me in the handheld gps world. The SiRF Chipset receives signals my eTrex Vista Cx might otherwise not (although the Vista Cx is a bit more handy when it comes to 'stealth' activity), and really makes Garmin's '76' series of handhelds with the built-in compass--which works only when the handheld is held level--shine!

My old GPSmap 76S doesn't even come close, when the unit was held level, the signal reception suffered greatly, as the '76' series' antennas are all vertically polarized and work best when held nearly straight up and down! And I really needed the compass in this densely wooded area!

Getting back to where I was before: I stopped at the junction just past the silo, took a look at the gps, then looked at the trails around me.

The indicator was showing I needed to go left, instead of right as I had originally planned. Well, I figure the 'gps don't lie' (it usually doesn't, so long as I have the 'map' for the area in my head, first) so I started moving in the direction of my bearing line on the gps's displayed map--then currently set to the routable roads map set. I quickly switched to topo mode (I have a 1gb card in this thing with just about all of the Eastern United States in it!) so I'd have a few more notable land features, such as the local river and rivulets--including one labled "Intermittent Stream" (which I'll get to later).

Well, I followed the only available trail, keeping track of where I was walking in my head as well as what was happening on the gps screen. I walked through a narrow part of the trail where the woods came close to each side, then came to an open area--complete with a strangely curved, cast iron pipe coming out of the ground. I also came to a place where I figured I might have some difficulty, and so I did! The trail ended at the water's edge, or just a bit up on a sort of mini bluff where the trail ended, forming the bank up from the river.

I was at a loss, so I looked at the gps again. The bearing line to the cache was indicating somewhere off to the right, so I followed it...straight along another trail that I thought might lead to a decent river crossing. When I arrived at a point nearly opposite the cache (on the other side of the river, and up and over a rocky bluff), and indicating something like 435 feet or so, I looked around for a way to cross.

I went up the trail a bit, then back to where I had originally been standing, as I could find nothing that looked workable without swimming. Not having swimwear on helped in this decision making process ;o). Coming back, I looked down to an area that looked like it might be workable, then looked across the bank and noticed something I had not noticed when walking from the other direction: a person with a 35mm camera doing a close-up shot of a flower on the other bank!

Well, not wanting to disturb said person, I quietly meandered my way down a small wash, to the river's edge, then proceeded to take closer inventory of my choices. The overall condition of the crossover area in question might've been fairly workable to a person with hiking boots that did not have a hole where the upper had recently come apart from the outsole, and I didn't really care to get the inside of my Merrel's soaked, thus ruining an otherwise worthy cache attempt--as well as a pair of fairly costly hiking boots!

The person across the way was standing up from their flower photo session, and I was able to strike up a conversation. Apparently, they had crossed in this very same location, probably having come from the same parking lot where I was parked. Their hiking boots were apparently in better shape than mine, so, after inquiring as to whether there was a more workable crossing up or downstream, I was pollitely referred to a 'possible bridge,' then decided to persue my quarry from the other side of the main walkway bridge near the parking lot. I waved goodbye, wished the photographer well, and began the second leg of my journey.

Part Two
--
"A Different Trail, Working the GPS Electronic Compass, and an Intermittent Stream"

Having crossed the bridge back to the other side of the river, I began looking for a trail that would take me along the proper side of the river and then to the cache.

The Grindstone Park parking lot is really a small, self contained park area in and of itself. It has a nice paved section of trail that winds along a short distance to the bridge (the trail turns to dirt on the other side of the river), a covered picnic pavilion, and a large, plastic 'privy' for when-you-just-have-to-go *snicker* ;o). Apparently, there is also another trail head of sorts, as well.

This trail is another path that has been worn into the side of the bank on the park side of the river, and apprently sees heavy use. Seeing as I really had no other choice in the matter, I decided, wisely, to follow this trail's course. The trail took me up onto the bluff, and causes one to pass directly underneath a condo or apartment complex of some kind, although not really so near it due to the rocks and outgrowth from the side of the bluff face, itself. The trail is narrow, rocky, and it is not recommended that small children be allowed on it without a tremendous amount of adult supervision, if not outright hand holding and rope tying (to the parent, presumably, and not the family dog!)

Having passed this narrow piece of [i]Sod du Mort[/i] I was faced with a small stream, or rivulet, crossing. This was easily accomplished thanks to a relatively small opposite bank with a lot of hand holds, primarily consisting of young saplings and other plant matter. Having availed myself of 'Nature's Bannisters', I found that I was a bit in a pickle about where my course should be. Enter the electronic compass!

The Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has a very accurate electronic compass that, so long as it is calibrated prior to each trip (which is standard for this type of system regardless of manufacturer, at least to date that I am aware), is as highly functional as its manual counterparts. I usually keep the compass function turned off to conserve battery power, so I turned the function on by holding down the Page button for a few seconds until the 'Compass Turned On' display popped up on the bottom of the screen.

Then the fun began! :o) It's nice to not have to carry multiple instruments when desired. (Although it's wise to *always* carry more than one when you're out in rougher and more remote country, actually, it's a requirement and would in all probability save one's life in a jam!) Having the entire navigational system in one complete package makes more sense to me as the years progress.

Before I turned on the compass feature, the Bearing Pointer arrow was pointing this way and that, waiting for me to move the gps to get the compass indicator to move, which is my usual method. With the compass on, all I had to do was wait for the fluctuations to stop, then look in the general direction of where the Bearing Line on the map was indicating I should go.

A word about Bearing Lines vs Course Lines. Course lines are great when you need to know and keep tabs on the route from where you initially started, then use something called the Course Pointer to keep you properly in the center of the course line. This is fine for boats on open water, but I find it rather useless in heavy forest cover, such has Grindstone Park. To me, the Bearing Line, which moves with you as you move, is a bit more helpful, as it gives a visual reference to your destination--in this case Burr Oak Cache--directly from where you happen to be. So long as you make a Waypoint at where your car is parked, not using a Course Line isn't a liability, so as finding your original starting point is concerned.

So I let the compass point the way, then looked around for visual references. As I'm behind some trees, and can't really see anything toward the larger river which this stream runs in to, I decide to let the compass and gps have their way; I didn't regret this decision. I did end up having to go up a fairly steep and rocky ridge, then down a decent hill, but this didn't deter me. I had to move a bit more slowly than usual up the slope, and selected my footing--and my young tree hand holds ;o)--somewhat more carefully than usual, as the slope was wet and slippery from recent rains.

Compressing this up a bit, I made my way down hill to a well-marked trail, with a well-marked and worn (looked like it was burned!) trail sign indicating Burr Oak. The Burr Oak was defniitely there, huge and round and decently old, so far as trees go. I was a bit confuddled about location, and I didn't want to really poke around too heavily as the area was fairly open. However, there wasn't anyone around save for that photographer I met, and I didn't see anyone else at all. Still, it's nice to read about your cache, so I popped out my equally trusty Palm Tungsten T3 PDA and CacheMate, a PalmOS geocaching application.

The Description section was similar to the note on my Garmin's waypoint note, so far as the Author was concerned. The Hints section gave me what I needed to be quick and decent about logging the cache. I use the Hints often and regularly, especially in urban locations where stealth and brevity in 'presence before the cache' are necessities if you don't want to find it plundered later by uncouth geomuggles. I may keep off the Hints section on days in which I really desire to 'test my mettle,' but I'm in this sport/pasttime/addiction ;o) *snicker* for a reasonable treasure hunt, not as a difficulty and/or speed maven; in short, I just like to have fun, and not get too competitive with it, least of all with myself.

Well, I found it in the place indicated, and I have to say that, for an open area, the hiders did a bangup job of keeping the thing hidden. I didn't even see it at first until going past it, down to a small creek, than back up again. It was coming back that I found it.

Took: kcmose carabiner signature item
Left: Loose change from pocket

I went back trying out the TrakBack feature of the GPSmap 76CSx, but found it to be too cumbersome. Unless you're going to be going in relatively straight lines with well-defined turns at well-defined corners, I don't advocate the use of TrakBack or other similar features on other gps units when you walk ten feet, turn around, go back twenty feet, turn around again, then walk five feet, go right for 100 yards, then turn left for 50 feet...you get the picture!

After logging the cache and rehiding the container in a more or less similiar fashion in which I found it (just where did that camoflage piece of *forest material go, was it on top, or on the side? ;-?), I took another look at the gps map. I was still in topo mode, and I needed to plot my way back, as I had gotten needlessly turned around whilst cache logging. I took a look at where my CAR waypoint was, and panned my cursor arrow on the gps display toward that general location. During the act of panning, my arrow stopped momentarily over a small water course, and the words "Intermittent Stream" popped up.

This was right along my original breadcrumb trail I had been logging since starting out from the parking lot, and made a perfect proximity waypoint to indicate where I needed to turn to go back along the bluff.

I made it back to my car without incident, and relished in the logging of a way-overdue geocache, #104 for me! A long way to go to 1000, my next goal!

I hope everyone enjoyed this narrative.

Warmest regards from,

Firefishe
Caching In On The Journey

Note: Firefishe is my Geocaching Handle or Nickname. Look for me at www.geocaching.com. Let's Go Geocaching!

HumFisheKu for November

2006-11-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

Yearnings of the past

Fate grasping for a lost heart

Spirit dancing home

Reminiscings

2006-11-14T00:39:00.000-08:00

I am at a stage now in my life where I am not sure of where I am going or where I 've been. Have any of you out there ever been there, now, where I am? I'm sure many of you have.

I don' t know what it is that I'm seeking. Everything seems elusive, tenuous, filmy, foglike, and cloudy. Nothing is solid. Even the good ol' solid Earth under my feet and around me seems to be wavering of late. I feel lost in time.

Time. That is one elusive construct. To me, it doesn't seem so far from the days of my youth. I'm not elderly at 41, but I still can almost taste the ice cream cones, if you know what I mean? The thing is, everyone else around me has seemingly grown up and I feel like I've been left behind.

The emotions from the past are so strong, it's like they're calling me back, calling me...home? I've never felt as if I've ever been home since I moved out of my parent's house. I've never had a house of my own. Heck! I live in an RV for crying out loud! That's not to say I'm not an RV nut--don't get me wrong, I am--but at least other people who own RV's also own some private land to keep it on, a garage to keep it in, and a house to go back to. Some people even own two houses, if they're well-heeled enough.

What that last sentence should articulate to everyone is: "...if they've prepared correctly." That's my problem. I'm 41 and I'm not prepared for anything. I've done poorly at school all my life, and have been virtually shunned by people of my own peer groups. High school was bad enough, but my middle and elementary school years were hell! I wouldn't want to re-live them at all, except to go back in time, present myself as a representative of the state educational dept., and give some of my former so-called 'teachers' (and I use the term loosely, very loosely) a run down on what not to do with a particular student.

So where does that leave me now? Pining for the days of yore, that's certain. But also desiring to be able to accept where I've been with grace and push forward with vim, vigor, and a renewed and matured energy, the likes of which I've never had in my younger days. So what do I do, kind readers, what do I do?

I'm camping on a crossroads in my life, longing for more solid lodgings. I need something, something that is calling me back. Something...a part of my Spirit that was left behind or something. or something... left behind... I need to help that lost part of me find home. Here I go...

--Stephen

My Beach

2006-09-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

My Beach

Lingers on the outside edge of ecstasy,

Meandering shoreline, hugging the bleeding edge of experience,

Whole, blue sky, expanses from the horizon, to overhead, down the other side,

Heralding a dome of Life. My own experiences.

My Beach

Bridges gaps, creating, fashioning broad pathways,

A place where dimensions coalesce, intertwine, and meet.

My Beach

Is a place where the gods of old dance,

Giving the Knowledge of old to the people of today,

Blending their spirits, coupling their hearts,

Teaching how to do the sacred Dances of the Cosmos,

The Dark and Light Moon Dancing,

The Creation and Fire Dance of the Sun,

The Roiling River Dance of the Waters,

The Underworld Dance of The Passing,

The Intertwining Spirit Dance of Love,

The EnJoining of the All.

My Beach

Encompasses All That...

And is a Great Place to Swim in the Summer, too!

To walk, hand in hand, and watch a sunset,

Or a sunrise,

Or cuddle with The One That You Love.

My Beach

Is Forever.

What Kind of a Life Is It That I'm Leading?

2006-09-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hello faithful readers. I'm sorry I have not posted in a while. *Sigh* I'm a bit tired of late. I've been wandering around the countryside, traveling somewhat aimlessly in a fog of sorts.

I can't seem to see where I am going. I went back to where I've been before, but found no solace there. I should've stayed home, saved my money, and started a small business of some kind. Well, one can always start over, I guess.

What I'm struggling to say is that my inner person--you know, the one that Just Is?--has become fatigued and is running out of ideas. I'm wanting to do things, be successful, but I'm finding that I just can't seem to pull through.

I've tried everything I can think of to make forward progress. Still, that 'little, inner voice,' the one that gives out the ideas, is becoming tired, and feels worn out. Vacations do not help. Postive thinking is quickly dissipated by negative reaction, often to mundane things.

I'm hoping a recent thought to do a book series might help me realize my truest potential. If so, I must start at once. I am a horrid procrastinator, so I know the odds are not in my favor of starting it, let alone finishing it.

Does the Universe recycle and give to those who need, those things that those in need but didn't act upon them at one time owned?

I think my time grows short. Shall I Move? Shall I Dance Upon The Beach?

I think I shall.

Respectfully waiting for a Miracle To Happen,
THF

HumFisheKu for September

2006-09-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Great wings bind me fast

Heralds trumpet my stillness

I move not forward

Evidence of the Paranormal? You Decide! :-) (Shockwave Flash Required)

2006-05-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

I have always been interested in paranormal investigation, and I feel that the SciFi series "Ghost Hunters" is, to the common man, what Hans Holzer is to the upper crust. (And I do like reading Hans's literary exploits in the paranormal, as well ;-) ).

Furthermore, I feel that Ghost Hunters has a little more down-to-earth approach that more people can identify with. It's fresh, in-your-face, and they don't pull any punches, at least none that I can see.

I present then, some clips from the youtube.com site from Ghost Hunters.

Feeling Tired and Wondering Where We're Going

2006-04-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

This is the hardest part of my existence: Waiting. Waiting for something to happen...to me.

My heart is filled with longing,
My Head is full of pain,
My eyes are steeped with crying,
Due to the sorrow that remains.

My wants they all are wonting,
My hopes and dreams, are unfullfilled,
My planet's people, dying,
Asleep still in their shells.

They prim, and prime, and focus,
So intensely all the day,
Upon what they call real,
And still woe rules the day.

People destroying each other,
In the name of their gods,
To light yet another fire,
Oh yes the beast of war rolls on.

I'm not afraid to fight for,
The things that we believe in,
I'm just so goddamn tired,
Of the ways that we deceive in.

Mockery of others' ways,
Indignant to their light of day,
Uncaring to the sacred ways,
Sacred ways of every other.

All things they must stay the same,
Woe to any others' games,
No way! we shall look to their ways,
Ours are *always* brighter!

I tire of the endless dreams,
That go out unfullfilled,
I tire of the tireless streams,
Of thoughts that shoot to kill.

I want us to all finally see,
Desires of our most sacred dreams,
Come upon unto our reality,
And change our aching world. . .

Into an Awake world!

Humble Fishe's Thought for the Day:

WAKE UP! SEARCH FOR PEACE! FIND IT WITHIN! SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! SHARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS! --The Humble Fishe

SIMPLE ADVICE FOR LAZY RV OWNERS <*|(())))>< <--Recalitrant Fishe!!!

2006-03-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

DO NOT EVER LET YOUR DISHES IN YOUR RV SINKS SIT FOR OVER THREE WEEKS!

*Gag Choke Cough Wheeze*

--THF

HumFisheKu for February

2006-02-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

Thinking of changing

Multiple paths converging

Observe the quantum!

Humble Fishe Haiku (HumFisheKu) for January

2006-02-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Bold, saucy, life is

Pretentious, yearning for zeal!

Drink of life's boldness!

Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion for December

2005-12-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

December is here. Cold is here. Snow has fallen! Welcome To The Winter Season :-)!

This the season of drawing close to one's family, friends, and neighbors, for putting aside any petty (or even non-petty ;-) ) differences and tending to the soul-needs of our fellow humans.

Many people will be caught up in the material aspect that attends this season in modern culture, namely that of buying gifts and such. This is Fine.

Many people of the Christian Faith will celebrate this time of year as the Sacred Birth of The Savior, Christ Jesus. This is Fine.

People of the Jewish Faith will be celebrating The Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah. This is Fine.

Wiccans and other Neo-Pagans will celebrate the Time of the Winter Solstice, the time of the season when the God of Summer 'dies' and the Spirit--or Father--of Winter, is born, to take command of the winter elements, including the element of the Winter-Soul. This is Fine.

Still others will yearn for something simpler than they are currently experiencing in their lives, either in work, play, or general relationships. This is also Fine.

Those who are drawn to the Autumn-Time-of-the-Soul will be pulled to draw upon the limitless supply of Love that the Universe has to offer at this time for such individuals. The Humble Fishe is drawn to such matters, as it so happens. This is Fine and Dandy with The Humble Fishe <*(((((>< :-). Some in the northern climes will have their Senses broadened, and their Heart of Hearts opened wide to receive what the Chill of the Winter Wind (best received properly dressed ;-) hee) has to offer in the way and manner of Winter Winds. I have received many inspiring thoughts from Just This Source ( ;-) wink wink to my Family and Friends up in Michigan...this is for you!) Still others will draw from the Bountiful Wealth of Love from the seasonal features in their given areas, whether cold or warm. The Humble Fishe's Suggestion for December:

Live and Let Live. Know what is on your side of the fence in minute detail; don't look over the side of the other person's fence, only to pine away at what you don't have.

If you want changes, then implement them, but please remember to ask your Soul and Heart-of-Hearts to be certain it is beneficial, and not cluttering to your Soul-Work.

Be Aware. Be Generous. Be Helpful. Above all though, Be In Love...With the World Around You, your Neighbor Next Door, and your Inner Self. This last one is, perhaps, the most important, for Within, One Finds The Universe, and Eternal Love.

Blessings and Light
The Humble Fishe

Humble Fishe Haiku (HumFisheKu)

2005-12-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

December snow fall

Fashioning forgiving thoughts

Yearning wont to heal

HALLOWEEN!

2005-10-31T17:45:00.000-08:00

It's off to the Halloween bash at MoJo's in downtown Columbia, Missouri! I'll let you know how it went after a bit.

Ta Ta, and "BOO!" HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOLKS!(XX O===|>

Can A Wounded Heart Heal Through Time? A Soul's Journey May Tell.

2005-10-26T01:24:00.000-07:00

Can a soul--one with a wounded heart--escape the accumulated experiences of a lifetime, release them, and then go on its way?

I asked myself this very question after a viewing a moving animated film called Kimagure Orange Road, Summer's Beginning. Kimagure has been a franchise in Japan for quite a while, going back the late eighties and early nineties.

While a plethora of anime' titles deal with everything from intergalactic conflict to the essential battle robot scenery, the Kimagure Orange Road franchise deals with affairs of the human heart, primarily through it's three protagonists, Kyosuke, Hikaru, and Madoka. I don't really want to get too tightly focused on Kimagure Orange Road here, I just wanted to say that it is the most moving animated series of any that I have ever watched, and whilst watching, it brought back memories. . .

Enter the opening question about a soul's wounded heart.

The question may be a bit broader than perhaps first thought, if it is considered closely and thoughtfully. This is deep stuff and I don't expect everybody to 'get it.' Still, it's not unbearably hard to fathom, and I feel a distinct need to...well...'get it out.'

A friend of mine, one that's very close, once told me a story. It was the story about a man, who, when reflecting on his life of forty years, suddenly realized that he had a knack for bringing up nearly photographic memories of his past, something he had not been able to do before. It was then that this man thought to himself: "What if I could change my past? What would I do? More importantly, what would I do differently? Would I interact with the same people, only in a different way? Would I choose new people, and change my entire spectrum of friends, all together?"

These things the man pondered, until he could ponder them no more. The man was tired after this exercise, and had to wait a few days before he was able to consider these questions at any length again. When he was rested, a few days later, he went back to this pondering. The questions seemed primal to him, for he was considering that the ability to relive--in his mind--the events of his past might just one day be so real so as to allow him to 'step back' in time for a while, to interact with his past.

One day, during an especially vivid memory, he was able to do this, and it scared him. He found himself face to face with a love interest from his past, only this time, it wasn't in his past, it was in what was now, his present, relative to his position in time. The present he had left was his future, and the past he had traveled to was his present, at least for the moment he was there.

Considering that he was now able to interact with the past he had envisioned interacting with, he realized what that ramifications of this meant: He could change his past!

But wait! What was that calling to him from the place he had just left? He felt an overwhelming burst of emotion rush over him, seemingly begging him to return to the place he had left. He knew what it was, and became even more scared when he realized that although he was where he wanted to be, he knew that if he took this path, there might not be any turning back, and he might not even be able to remember the future that he left.

The Love-he-had-before, stood in front of him, beckoning him to her, but the man could not move. He was dumbfounded at what he had done, was even surprised that he did it in the first place, and realized that this gift was also somewhat unsettling if not dangerous, to himself. The man had always been an upstanding person, careful in his deliberations with relationships. Honesty pervaded his being and his moral training came to him as if to say: "Think of your loved ones."

He bowed to the love-interest in front of him, then indicated that he had learned his lesson. The love-interest bowed in return, then disappeared in a flash of brilliant white light. The man, too, was engulfed, and found himself standing before his bedroom mirror, the place he had been standing when the vivid memory caused him to be transported back in time.

The man looked at himself in the mirror: He seemed a bit different, but he could not put it to words, at first. Then it came to him. He said inwardly: "I am who I am because of all my past experiences, each one moving with, cascading into, and having become part of the others, to make up the whole of what I am now. All my experiences, all my relationships, all the things that make up what I call 'me' is as it should be--because I experienced them the way I did, all the way up to now, in this moment."

The man thought of the love-interest from his past that had appeared before him. It occurred to him that he didn't now remember that person as a love-interest, but that is what she had been to him during sojourn back in time.

There was a long pause. Then the 'Ah Ha!' aspect of the experience reverberated through his being. That so-called 'love-interest' was his soul, showing itself to him in a form he could understand. He knew what it meant, and suddenly, his life was changed from within. He could go back in time if he wanted to. The memories were there, just as vivid as before. Perhaps, he thought, he should take a real loved one along with him--perhaps his wife--so she could share in his past. Maybe he could teach the technique to others.

A feeling of concern uprooted the man from his current line-of-thought: it came through him from his inner self, as if it was talking to him through a long tunnel. It said, simply, "Experience, Know W hat Is Truly Real, and Know!" "Learn, Learn, Learn!"

This message was not lost on the man, and he knew what could be done if he wanted to. He also knew that he had reponsibility to not hurt the feelings of others, and be faithful to them, as well. This made the man a bit more purplexed about his position in the universe-at-large, but he also knew it made him more than he had been.

The man then went downstairs to have dinner with his wife.

The moral, if any, of this story is this: Be who you are. Know who you are. Learn who you are and where you came from, before you appeared on Life's Scene. Know where you've been, why you're here now, and where you're going. It isn't enough to just go along in life, one must experience to get anything of any real lasting value to take with you when you depart this mortal coil.

Live, however, as if this is the only place you need to be, for--whatever it's worth--it probably is.

No Suggestions, Only Love. Be Well My Friends.
Respectfully, Stephen

Cell Phones, Bad Company Policies, and Wages

2005-10-19T02:47:00.000-07:00

October 18, 2005 Wednesday
Dateline - Missouri
---------
Cell Phone Miasma

All the cell phone companies in the world need to take a lesson: Do Not Create Stupid Policies!

Case In Point: Cingular Wireless

Money's been a little tight these last couple of months, so I finally had to call the cell phone company to (I loathe these words, their use takes so much time in maintenance after you use them) Make Payment Arrangements!

So what do I get? I've had service with these guys for about four months now. Four months, out of a two year service agreement. Two years! You'd think that a company as large as Cingular would want to consider helping a long-term customer with a bit of minor financial trouble. All I needed to do is extend the payment time a few weeks--no more than three--so I would have enough moola in the bank for rent, food, and my phone bill.

This is no minor account, it's connected to a Handspring Treo 650 Smart Phone with all the trimmings that PalmOS has to offer. I have full MediaNet GPRS on this thing, and pay $145 a month for 1500 standard minutes and 3000 nights and weekend minutes, and pay an extra $7 bucks a month to up my weekend and night beginning time from 9pm to 7pm.

So I call these bozos and what do I get? I get this response from a first-level customer service tech: "You can't make payment arrangements until you've had a minimum of six months of service."

Now what is that all about? What kind of nonsensical inc. bureaucrat sets up a policy like this? So they think that customers in the first six months don't have to juggle the money around a bit if they fall short of the due date, and those with six months of service and beyond, do? Nay, I say! Foul, I cry! Foul as a week-old free-range chicken flattened by a semi baking in the sun on a Nevada highway! (And that's one rank-smellin' chicken, folks 8-P)

So I get transferred to a supervisor, but no answer cometh for a while. I think the XFER may have failed, as all I'm getting is silence. No hold music or nothin'! So I wait for a bit, then hang up. Just glad my minutes don't get used for service calls to Cingular Customer Service.

Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion to Cingular Wireless: Nix the no-payment-plan-before-six-months-has-passed rule, treat your customers who are conscientious enough to call you and make payment arrangements like friggin' Royalty, and give your first-line customer service techs the authority to assist someone who needs payment arrangements, without having to call a supervisor, save for the most obtuse difficulties where liability is a real issue and a pro's advice is needed. <*((((><

Temporary Services, Wages, and Wage Slaves Revisited
--

Temporary services are those somewhat-sought-after venues for people in between what are termed real jobs. Those people who are in between the rings of the upwardly-mobile employment ladder often turn to these temp services as a means to an end, primarily that of being able to have at least some work before the next canoe leaves the shelter of the cove, bound for your new, permanent employment horizon.

First off, I want to state plainly that I have not had any trouble with any of the major names in temp services. I have worked for the likes of Kelly and Manpower, and have had my share of good jobs and not-so-good jobs. I have also never worked for over $8 bucks an hour, which brings me to the second part of this missive:

Temporary Employees Need More Money in 2005! This is not--decidedly NOT 1960!

So why rehash this overstated state-of-affairs of what has become known as the wage slave? Because it needs to be! Over and over and over again! Just because someone doesn't have a degree in something or other is no excuse for not paying someone commensurate with the cost of living in a given area. That's for the nice apartments, people, not the run-down ones in slumville. Come to think of it, there shouldn't be any slums, either, but that's for another post **-].

So what am I saying? I'm saying that $8 bucks an hour for unloading and moving heavy furniture is not--decidedly not appropo! Today's financial climate for housing is astronomical in contrast with what non-degreed people with little experience have to settle for when it comes to wages. $15 an hour is more like it!

Now to those of you who think that $15 an hour is way way too much, I have to ask, Why? Don't you want me to be able to buy my expensive jewelry from your jewelry store? Don't you want me to purchase my expensive cellular phone/pda from your cell shop? Trust me, folks, I ain't doin' it on $8 bucks an hour.

Waitstaff also has it rough, when congress allows restaurant owners to pay their so-called Tipped Employees $2.13 (varies by state) an hour as a base rate. $15 an hour is a more balanced minimum wage. Hell! Even entry-level workers in the trades (and they're not skilled at that level) make more than your average waitress, although the waitress can do well on a good night, but this type of income is not regular, and that is where the $15 an hour allows someone to pay their rent, food, and utility bills without worrying at night.

Another thing crosses my mind--and happened to me recently. I just dealt with a locally-owned temporary service that has been in business for eighteen years (according to the owner), that wouldn't give me the name of the company they were calling me about.

They called me this afternoon, offering me a job loading and unloading trucks--a permanent job--for three to four days a week, at $7.50 an hour. When I queried them on the name of the company, they said I wouldn't be able to get that information unless I took the job first.

Humble Fishe Asks: What Gives? Why the hush-up routine? Didn't you, the temp service, realize that you made me feel like a piece of gum on the bottom of a shoe that, before it arrived on the shoe, did 1800 miles on the left-front driving wheel of a Kenworth? Well, you did!

I want to know who a company is and what they do, decidedly before I give my consent to work there! When I asked this question: "Why do you feel a need to be so clandestine about the name of the company?" I received something completely unexpected: That of having to explain to this supposed owner of an eighteen-year-old, evidently-successful temporary service what the word clandestine meant! All I could do is think geeeeeeeeeeeeez!

That was when she reminded me of an interview I had the next day, on the 19th of October, to establish just what it is that I'm interested in. Let me tell you, that I'm not at all completely secure in these folks when their head honcho doesn't even recognize a common word in the English Language. Guess she was never a fan of Double-Oh-Seven 8-P.

Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion To Temporary Services: Pay your workers $15 bucks an hour minimum (at present costs of living for a basic apartment, utilities, and groceries) and don't be so damn secretive 8-P about your clients! If you're in need of that much security, then you're a government front for the (here's that word again) Clandestine Services and you shouldn't be running a 'secret' recruiting station out of there, anyway! <*((((><

Peace, Health, and Happiness to All of You
--The Humble Fishe

Announcing The Humble Fishe <*((((><

2005-10-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

The Humble Fishe. Why humble? Why not brash, or cantankerous, onerous, or angsty? Ideally, for the same reasons that you--the interested reader--are reading this blog in the first place: Freshe Aire!

Freshe Aire of the literary-online variety, that is! ;-) Go ahead! Pat your Self on the back! It's perfectly all right to do so! You're tired of the same ol' song and dance of negative feedback, so you've come looking for a word or two that's written by a fellow cohort salmon. . .

ouch!

Pun ridden, to say the least! However, a blog of humility whose author knows where his meals are coming from, and why he wants to offer this place of humble, literary prose for your enjoyment and relaxation.

So what will be here? What might be subjects of inquiry in the days to come that will, perhaps, raise an eyebrow, turn an ear, or maybe,--just maybe--change a life for the better?

Many different subjects, with many different outcomes, meanings, and menageries of depth, character, and insight. The one common theme that will run through them, however, will be evident: Humility and Respect!

Humility, in keeping with responsible, traditional journalism; journalism which assumes the inherent worth and intelligence of the reader, and does not purport to be something it is not.

Respect, in being sensitive to the needs of those who are being discussed, regardless of background or condition of life.

Lastly, to discuss everything discussed here responsibly, being accurate when facts are being presented, and being focused and succinct whenever an editorial commentary is being published, without being overly ranty.

Oh, one other thing: Everything posted here will be done out of a condition of Love for the Human Race, Life in General, and with a positive, life-affirming view of the future!

So here we go: Blogs Away!