Monthly Archives: October 2007

General, Uncategorized

Useless

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So I tried to figure out how to log in to the website for WorldPerks, the Northwest Airlines frequent flyer club. I haven’t bothered doing that in years, since I haven’t actually flown on a Northwest flight for almost five years.

Why would I be trying to do this again, in that case? Well, I had a mailing reach me here on Wright St somehow that said I have about 12,000 miles saved up, but they expire at the end of this year. The mailing suggested that I could immediately redeem these miles for a bunch of shitty magazine subscriptions that no one has time to read. I thought to myself, “well hell– if I’ve got miles saved up, I might as well see if I can redeem them for anything, flight-wise, and then seriously contemplate booking something before the end of the year…”

So I get on to this website and I can’t remember my silly PIN for their site. I don’t even know what the hell my email address might have been back when I registered with these people. I tried a couple things I thought it might be, and soon I was locked out, but the page suggested that I try a “live chat” with a CSR.

So I put in my info (which, as I said, was on the mailing that I received) and say, “look, I don’t remember hardly anything about my account, much less what the PIN would be for their online service, but– well, y’know, here is a transcript that they emailed to me. Peruse for your enjoyment:

Q: Re: WorldPerks PIN Reminder
From:
Jason Bock
6524 W Wright St
Wauwatosa, WI 53213

WorldPerks Number: some number
Haven’t logged in on the web in a very long time. Can’t remember PIN or even what email address was at the time I registered.
A: Hello, you have reached Blanche with nwa.com Customer Service.

I am unable to verify the address you provided with the information on file in your WorldPerks account. Please respond with any other mailing addresses and ZIP codes that may be associated with your account, including past residential, business, or post office addresses.

I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested information.

Sincerely,
Blanche
nwa.com Customer Service

Q: 470 N Main St apt E
Oshkosh, WI 54901
A:
I am unable to verify the address you provided with the information on file in your WorldPerks account. Please respond with any other mailing addresses and ZIP codes that may be associated with your account, including past residential, business, or post office addresses.

I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested information.

Q: I’ve moved several times since I opened my WorldPerks account. Not sure what address you might have. Somehow, though, a mailing reached me at my current address.
A: I would be happy to assist you with your PIN. For security
purposes, please reply back with any full postal address, including ZIP code, that may be associated with your WorldPerks account. Once I have verified this information, I will delete the PIN and you will be able to create a new one online. I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested information.

Q: 2080 Dickinson Ave
Oshkosh, WI 54904
A: I am still unable to verify the address you provided with the information on file in your WorldPerks account. Please respond with any other mailing addresses and ZIP codes that may be associated with your account, including past residential, business, or post office addresses. I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested
information.

Q: 2716 Woodridge Ln
Waukesha WI 53188

606 Nelson Story
Bozeman MT 59715

Johnstone Hall, Rm 4415
Bozeman MT 59715
A: I am unable to verify the address you provided with the information on file in your WorldPerks account. Please respond with any other mailing addresses and ZIP codes that may be associated with your account, including past residential, business, or post office addresses. I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested
information.

Q: You have to be kidding me. Is this a real person or a machine?
A: We are indeed real people.
I am unable to validate the address or zip code you provided with the information on file in your WorldPerks account. For security reasons, this verification is necessary before I am able to reset your PIN. If you are unable to provide the correct address and ZIP, please answer the
following questions:
– Last flight activity on the account
– Last redemption activity
– Last non-flight mileage posted to the account
– Birth date
– Telephone number
– E-mail address

I trust that once we have all the necessary information we will be able to assist you. Please click “Reply” to provide the requested information.

So anyway, I’m gonna get Sports Illustrated, Time, Esquire for 2 years, Cigar Aficionado, and US News & World Report. I predict that I will read barely any of these, but I might get some ideas for haircuts or wardrobe in Esquire.

What a waste of 90 minutes.

General, Uncategorized

A Little Time Off

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On Wednesday night, Mundschau and I made our way up to Ma & Dad’s house in Eagle River. We were planning to try to get some wireless internetting rocking and to help Dad with his project du jour. In this case, it was putting in the OSB on the ceiling of the garage. That needed to go in so the insulation could be finished.

Dad had off from work on Friday, so we wrapped that up that day. Today (Saturday), Joe and I slept until about 8:30, then by about 10 or 10:30, we took a ride to town to get on the webs. The coffee joint in ER that we’ve used in the past went from charging 2 bucks to completely free internet access, so I guess we don’t even need to be inside, technically speaking. Nice to have the power outlet, though.

The drag is the handful of screaming children that a parent just brought in a couple minutes ago. It really does make it hard to concentrate. Note to self: upon procreation, make sure there is a room in the house that kids don’t enter, as a refuge from the madness.

It’s nice to have a few days off from work. I don’t know why, but I’ve been a little paranoid lately that I’m going to do something to get fired. I don’t think I’ve been doing anything that would actually be grounds for termination, but I guess I just have this streak of paranoia in general. It’s not that much fun.

Reminds me– I should really go to a doctor. And a dentist. And an eye doc. I need to make a whole bunch of appointments.

Jesus Christ these kids are loud. I mean, holy shit.

59 and sunny here in ER. We should try to wrap up the Interwebbing and get back outdoors. I need to pick up some booze.

General, Uncategorized

I'm Gonna Start Forwarding THIS Stuff…

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Sorry for all the microblogging, but I’m coming across good tidbits here and there.

Remember that telemarketers will not and CANNOT call your cell phone.

And of course, our friend and colleague Joe Knitt would just tell you not to get a cell phone.

    • and a ‘PS’ Just to clarify– Joe Knitt did NOT pen the above-linked tale…
General, Uncategorized

Tommy's Done Already??!??!

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But the primaries haven’t even started yet! I was really looking forward to the former governor making himself look like a jackass a few more times in public before this was all said and done. Apparently, TT was done back in mid-August, but, like every other moment in his campaign, I didn’t even notice.

Ah, well… it was a ridiculous, abysmal run.

General, Uncategorized

Empty List!

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This is the first time in the history of my instant messaging that I signed on to see a COMPLETELY empty buddy list. Glad that everyone is getting out for the weekend.

I’m just working on some crap w/ the computer quick before Joe shows up so we can head to Mt. Morris. We’re going to help Uncle Bob w/ some computing and telephone stuff @ the retirement home, I guess.

Kind of a bummer that I started running a task on my laptop that I didn’t think would take that long, but as it turns out, is going to last about 4 hours. Hence, no laptop at the cottage for me. Probably not too big a deal; I rarely use the computer when I’m traveling on the weekend, but of course, if I don’t have it, I’ll probably be thinking about it the whole time.

If you didn’t have a chance to take a look at my Flickrs lately, I moved into a new office this week, so that’s something new. I have a window now. Being able to see out is nice. The breeze is good, too.

I think Joe might be here, so I’m gonna roll. Good weekends, y’all.