The Dodge Retort

Someone was extolling the virtues of magicJack recently at a party. magicJack is the $40 gizmo you plug into any USB port. Then you plug in any conventional phone into magicJack and presto, you have land line phone for free – sort of.

I ordered a magicJack and it arrived promptly, but I never tried it. Why? Because, it was a great idea  - six months ago. The relentless pace of new technology marches on.

Now, Google has come out with Call, a free service where you can dial any phone in the U.S. and Canada from Gmail. Google’s international rates can be a bit pricey or cheap  - two cents a minute for Australia and 37 minutes for Algeria (Guinea Bissau was the most expensive I found at 75 cents a minute).

So I’ll stick with Google Voice or Call…it’s not clear what the name is…and Skype. I returned my magicJack for a refund…I don’t need another small piece of hardware to lose when the capability is already built into the five PCs I have.

One thing that irritated me about magicJack was how it boasted free service, but when I was ordering, magicJack was continually trying to up-sell me on expanded services and to buy other magicJacks. Somewhat ironically, magicJack’s splashy web site excerpts glowing reviews from the likes of New York Times, Boston Globe and CNBC.

“Skype and Vonage killer. Company must be watched,” gushes CNBC, the same network that gave us such horrendous  stock buying advice in 2008.

Much of this praise is undated and the magicJack reviews that are dated on a separate web page are mostly from 2007-08. In any case, it’s Google Call and Skype for me.

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A story a few days ago about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in The Economist pointed out:

“When The Onion starts making fun of your company’s problems, you’re in trouble. It means that those problems are well-known enough to be funny to a mass audience. That’s the sign of a badly damaged reputation.”

Indeed, the hilarious online news parody did cover the most recent delay in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner whose first commercial deliveries will commence in the first quarter of 2011 instead of the fourth quarter. My only comment is that The Economist is UK-based and, as a result, is pro-Airbus – translation – anti Boeing. Financially, Boeing is humming along these days with its reputation quite in tact (my bias, perhaps).

“CHICAGO—With the airline industry continuing to suffer under the ongoing recession, the Boeing Company was forced Monday to lay off Al Freedman, the only guy left at the corporation who knows how to keep wings from falling off planes. “We used to have a whole team of engineers who knew how to make the wings stay on, but those days are long gone,” Boeing CEO James McNerney, Jr. said. “We’ll make it work, though. The wings are not necessarily the most important part of the plane, anyway.” McNerney added that at least they were able to save the job of the guy who knows how to prevent jet engines from exploding.“

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A week ago, I did something uncharacteristically impulsive…or stupid: I bought a 1967 Camaro Sports Coupe at the 33rd annual Owls Head Transportation Museum auction in Maine.

The 200 cars up for auction were going for short money. A mint 1989 Jag XJS convertible with a V-12 and only 34k original miles went for $13,000. Many, many deals and I am hoping I got one of them…no sense in hiding what I paid because you can look it up on the auction’s web site (mine was car # 135). The good news is that it was appraised, according to it owners, for $36,000. I paid about a third of that.

As for impulsiveness, I totally got caught up in the moment. After a desirous 1967 and 1968 Chevelle SuperSports 396s went for well above my budget, I still hankered for a car. The Camaro came up and I prevailed against two other bidders. It pays to come to one of these auctions as a spectator, but I didn’t exactly follow that advice. It’s very easy to get caught in the moment.

I agonized all last week because I had never driven or sat in it before I won the bid for it. I had never even heard it run except from a distance. All I knew if that it made it onto stage on its own power and that it was in excellent condition in appearance.

On Friday, I picked it up after the usual rigamarole getting insurance and tags. It far and away exceeded my expectations. It ran like a top. The first 60 miles from Owls Head to Bath were no sweat and it wasn’t bad on gas despite a 355 CID V-8 (350 bored) with a lots of racing components. It turns out that just like the owners said, it has been lovingly restored.

It sounds like a hot rod with a deep throaty sound. Puts my wife to sleep, but she’s been great about this latest acquisition.

I took several side trips in beautiful weather around Bath this weekend and brought my 81-year-old aunt and 86-year-old uncle home from a cocktail party last night (see photo). It was a fun evening and we had to stay over with them as we could not return from Birch Point to Bath because someone didn’t make a curve and took out a utility pole blocking the road until 3 a.m. the following morning.

I drove the car 110 miles back to West Newbury, Mass. this morning without a hitch – down I-95 all the way cruising at 60-65 despite the former owner’s wife telling me last week that I should shift from 3rd to 4th at about 90 MPH. No thanks…not yet anyway.

The 1967 was the first year for Camaros and was GM’s answer to Ford’s wildly successful Mustang which had been introduced two and a half years earlier. Ford apparently spread the world that Camaro in Spanish means “tiny little shrimp” or “loose bowels.” Regardless, GM sold 220,000 of them that year.

This is not a 100 percent original car. It has a newer engine and can run on unleaded regular. But other than the engine, it appears to be original. For me who turns 61 tomorrow, 1967 seems “so close but so far away” as the song goes.

GM made a Sport Coupe and a Convertible in 1967 and mine is the former. It’s easy to tell it was a 1967 because that was the only model year that had fly windows.

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You’ve heard of the lifetime warranty, but I just got a Stanley Bostitch (SB) nail puller with a a “100-year limited warranty.”

Warrantied for a full century

Limited? I’ll say. I think this $12 tool will outlast me so I found the 100-year warranty to be pretty humorous. After all, it’s a steel shaft with no moving parts, but I have broken stuff like this before. Here’s how Stanley Bostitch describes its century long limited warranty:

“At Stanley® Bostitch®, our high quality products are supported by an equally strong promise.  If a product fails to perform due to defects in material or workmanship, we will replace it up to 100 years from the original date of purchase.  This 100 year limited warranty is given in lieu of all other including the implied warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and excludes all incidental or consequential damages.  Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so these limitations may not apply to you.  This 100 year limited warranty gives you specific legal rights that may vary from state to state. Proof of purchase is required. Warranty is not transferable.””

So save those receipts and if you happen to have my nail puller in 75 years, just remember that if it breaks due to workmanship, SB will replace it for free. I wonder who has ever tested this absurd warranty after a year or two. It’s a marketing gimmick as far as I can see.

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My long time friend Tom Abbott just participated in the Pacific Cup 2010 sailboat race from San Francisco to Hawaii. I posted videos he e-mailed to me below, but found another of sailing with relatives in SF Bay last October. It has more of Tom. That’s him at the helm.

The Hawaii race was a well-deserved break for Tom because he has a lot on his plate these days.

Tom comes from the early seventies generation of Boston cabbies (I was one, too). And he also drove in the Twin Cities and San Francisco. Today’s college grads can’t find good jobs, but trust me, it was worse in 1972-73, hence so many college educated hackney coachman back then. We all inspired the show, Taxi.

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Hilarious video of former Red Sox lefty Bill Lee showing no remorse at the death of George Steinbrenner…Bill, we love ya! Follow me on Twitter.

I’ve been invited along with 600 others by the Verizon folks to watch the first NFL game ever broadcast on 3D TV. The game will be between the New England Patriots (my team) and New York Giants Sunday night Sept. 2.

The event is at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. It’s an away game – no crowds!! TDR (me) will file a full report about the experience.

For those already with 3D sets, it’ll aired on FIOS channel 834. Bring your 3D glasses. Here’s the news release from Verizon.

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Media contacts:

August 11, 2010 See below

Verizon FiOS Scores First NFL Game on 3D TV: Giants-Patriots Preseason Match-Up on Sept. 2

Company to Produce and Broadcast the Game,

Exclusively for FiOS TV Customers

NEW YORK – Verizon is kicking off the football season with the production and broadcast of the first National Football League game in 3D on television for the company’s FiOS TV customers in parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts andRhode Island.

The game is the Sept. 2 preseason match-up between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.  Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m., with Verizon FiOS1 pre-game, half-time and post-game shows – all in 3D.  The game begins at 7 p.m.

Verizon FiOS1 is producing the 3D broadcast, which will be shown on FiOS Channel 834 for FiOS TV subscribers in theNew York City area, including Long Island and Westchester and Rockland counties, as well as for subscribers in northern New Jersey, Mercer County, N.J., Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  Similar to previously offered 3D programming from Verizon, customers must have 3D TV sets, 3D glasses and a high-definition set-top box to view the broadcast.

The veteran on-air broadcast team includes play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes, analyst Howard Cross and sideline reporter Kimberly Jones.

“This is the next major step in our development of 3D experiences for our FiOS TV customers,” said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon.  “Broadcasting the first 3D NFL game delivers on our promise to FiOS customers to provide a superior TV offering, including 3D, HD and VOD programming, as well as interactivity that cable can’t match.”

Giants Chief Marketing Officer Mike Stevens said, “The Giants are excited to host the first 3D broadcast of an NFL Game in our new stadium.  We have worked closely with our partner Verizon in developing new technology throughout the stadium for our fans, and now Verizon FiOS and the Giants will be taking the next step in innovation for our fans at home.”

In support of the 3D broadcast, Verizon will host customer viewing parties at New Meadowlands Stadium and at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.  Guests at Gillette Stadium will include youngsters from local Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Verizon also is working with two popular sports bars in the New York and New England markets — Slate Bar in Manhattan and Snookers in Providence, R.I. — to give consumers a first-hand look at the power of Verizon’s 3D experience.  The company will set up 3D TVs at each location and hold promotional events there.

The broadcast marks Verizon’s third major 3D initiative this summer.  On July 10 and 11, the company broadcast the first Major League Baseball games in 3D, between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners.  And on July 15, Verizon announced that it will carry 3D programming on FiOS TV Video on Demand from WealthTV.

“We are committed to bringing our customers a consistently high-quality TV experience with the best programming available over the country’s only all-fiber network,” added Denson.  “And there’s so much more yet to come, with new programming, applications and other enhancements that only FiOS can deliver.”

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 565 all-digital channels including up to 142 HD channels and 18,000 monthly video-on-demand titles.  FiOS also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social networking, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband or cell phone; and more.

In addition, with NFL Mobile only from Verizon, Giants and Patriots fans can get news, scores and highlights all season long on their Verizon Wireless smartphones.  For information on how to download, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/nfl.

For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter andhttp://www.verizon.com/athomeblog.

In a world of shoddy customer service, it’s not hard to stand out when you’re really good. Amazon has been leader in great customer service, but two I want to cite today are American Express and GEICO.

GEICO's gecko rocks!

Amex as I like to call it forgave me for lots of interest recently on a large bill that was late and included a semester of private college tuition. So you know the bill was large! That said, Amex likes me because I usually pay my entire bill and pay it on time. I’ve been late on a number of occasions and Amex always comes through. This time, it ate a considerable amount of interest.

Amex: All is forgiven

Yes, I’ve switched to GEICO for auto insurance and its customer service has been fantastic. You press 4 for customer service and it comes on in an instant. And GEICO customer service resp extremely knowledgeable. GEICO also saved me $800 in annual premiums over my previous agent based insurance (One Beacon was the carrier) .

I have yet to test GEICO with  claim, but I fully expect it will be breeze (on that score, One Beacon was fine). I would expect nothing less from Warren Buffett.

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A gentleman named Mel Raskin sent this to me via e-mail. It’s an incisive essay about his loneliness as a 92-year-old. Mel mentions clerical work might help which made me think of my dear Aunt Ruthie who at 81 still works two days a week in a physician’s office. Ruthie’s filing assistant is her 86-year-old husband who happens to be my Uncle John.

Meet Mel Raskin:

We never think we will grow to be 90 years of age and beyond—but  when age has diminished your eyesight— your hearing— your balance , you realize that you are old .

Society has reacted to this final phase of life in several ways— some families house and care for their elderly in their own homes—others  have institutionalized  theirs—-privately if they have the means or governmentally otherwise—a very few can and want  to live independently–with periodic supervision—but society services primarily the ill, both physically and mentally . The nonegenarians  who have retained their mental facilities are lumped in with all the other elderly regardless of age or mental status .

I am 92  years old–live in an assisted living complex–having lost my wife to Alzheimers over a year ago—had heart valve replaced 7 years  ago and while I retained my faculties, my head is not clear–probably from the open heart surgery anesthesia.

This facility is probably one of the best available . The staff is very caring and helpful . Housekeeping, laundry,food, and daily activities are all provided, but even so there is much free time for residents like me.  Loneliness is  the biggest problem for me—

Over 80 % of the  70+residents(inmates) here are women—about 10-15%  of the residents have much of their faculties–but only about 5-6 can manage on their own for the most part—e.g. take their own medications,etc.

I have come to realize that those few nonagenarians– -but increasing in numbers– who still retain their mental faculties must help the younger generations to create a specific type of lifestyle which addresses their special needs and to offer them a vast library of life’s experiences.
Programs outlining such needs must be  created. social as well as mundane.  Meeting and mingling  socially with comparable nonagenarians  would be desirable.

Another similar one  might be arranging a group of nonagenarians to discuss their personal situations and compare them.  Many situations at this stage of life might be common and treating them solely  with  hypnotic drugs might not be wise.

Another might be setting up volunteer groups to do minor clerical work–such as labeling items for mailing or sorting.

For those computer literate suitable programs of research etc. might be considered. E-mailing could be instituted.

any interest? contact me at melrask1@cox.net

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You’d think FAST LANE makes life easier getting you through tolls faster. But if you’re account does not stay current which can occur quite innocently, FAST LANE makes you’re life slower – and harder.

My account briefly was not current because a the expiration date on my credit card was not updated. I thought I had updated it in time, but apparently not. So we got three tolls violations in New Hampshire.

I wrote about the experience a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the update.

I called Mass FAST LANE this morning to find out if my updated and functioning account would cover the three violations which total $9 (three $2 tolls plus a $3 processing fee). She said is perfect bureaucrat-ese “Oh, we don’t cover New Hampshire, but I can give you the number.”

I fumed. I had been on hold listening to irrelevant instructions for 15 minutes. I asked if violations get picked up automatically by my credit card on file. She talked right through my question about something I did not care about.

So I am sending New Hampshire a check for $9 because I can’t stand calling to so-called service center. Maybe this is all working according to the FAST LANE plan – be such a thorn in your side, you won’t screw up again. But it’s infuriating.

So you think firing all the toll-takers and installing FAST LANE gear is cheaper. Think about this: there’s a whole new FAST LANE bureaucracy behind the scenes, processing violations, credit cards and generally being a pain.

I’m giving back my transponders and getting back in line.

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